What I wish we had on our first trip
When we first began RV traveling, we went for a ‘dry run’ less than an hour from home to try out our systems and get comfortable with the RV. We purchased a ton of stuff for the RV that we thought we should have. We stuffed nearly every free inch of the storage areas and cabinets. We overpacked and over planned. And even still, there were quite a few things we didn’t have but wish we did – and added once we regrouped.
- Toaster – I never expected to miss a toaster, but there’s something simple about a toasted bagel or bread to add to a meal that was missed. And it never fails that once one of us smells toast, everyone else wants it too.
- More charging blocks/cords – I thought we had plenty of chargers, but we either didn’t have enough or perhaps we needed to be more organized but nevertheless, someone always seemed to need a charger or charging block and couldn’t find one.
- Fans in each of the bunks – Our first long trip was during winter, so I never expected that we would be too warm in the RV. We found that it gets really warm in the bunks and bedrooms overnight, so we ended up adding a fan for everyone to keep temperatures more comfortable.
- Hooks – I read something about adding hooks in key areas of the RV, but before our trip, I wasn’t sure where exactly I’d need them. I added hooks in the bathroom for bath towels, a hook to hang dog leashes, hooks to hang keys, hooks in the bedroom for my favorite sweatshirt or jacket, and considered some hooks in the kitchen for pot holders or utensils. I recommend you bring an assortment of command hooks and put them in key places once you figure out how you’re using your space.
- A pair of slip-on, water-proof shoes – Inevitably, it was rainy, snowy, or there huge puddles right around the campsites and hookups. It was awful to have soggy feet as you drive 6 hours to your next campground (because I almost never remembered to put a change of socks/shoes out before locking up the RV). Next time we travel, I’m bringing my duck boots and I will not care how big the puddle is.
- Checklist for what needed to be completed before leaving the site (both interior and exterior) – We talked about creating a checklist or using one of many that exist, but we never really formally used the same checklist each time. We should have taken a little time to write everything down and check things off each time we moved sites.
When it comes to RV travel, it will take several times setting up and tearing down to feel like you know what you’re doing. Practice doing it at home or a local campground, and if you need to, make notes along the way. I felt so helpless as I didn’t know what anything did or how it worked. It took several times of following my husband around and asking questions to truly understand, and still I made mistakes. Give yourself time and grace. You will make mistakes but you will learn a lot and have a lot of fun too.
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