4 Top RV Camping Tips for Beginners

Have you recently developed a liking for RV camping and looking forward to your first trip? Look into these tips that aim at teaching the basics of RV camping:

1. Should you buy or rent an RV?

Buying an RV is not a one-time investment, as you will be required to take care of the vehicle as well. However, possessing an RV has its share of advantages as well. Foremost, you can go on a road trip whenever you want without worrying about the availability of hotels. With a well-equipped kitchen and familiar bedding, trips in an owned RV become very comfortable for the elderly. Overall, you should go for a rented RV only when you wish to experience firsthand RV camping, or when you plan to go on road trips only occasionally.

2. Understand how an RV works

Being in charge of a road trip comes with responsibilities. You will learn what they are by paying attention to the way a motorhome works. While travelling on your rental RV, make sure you check the working of the plumbing, the way refrigerator works and also perfect the leveling of your motorhome. Balanced leveling is important because on it depends how well you will sleep and how well the refrigerator will keep the beverages/food cool. 

3. Practice driving

Do an online search and learn the conditions of the roads through which you plan to travel with your RV. Now, drive your RV on a similar type of road. It will allow you to understand what you still need to fix in your RV. For instance, you will know if the drawers slide out when the RV goes up hill. Moreover, there may be things that you need to fix to the floor of the RV or change their place so that they do not rattle or shake while the RV is in motion. 

4. A tool kit and spare parts are necessary

Even if your RV is brand new, you may require tools to fix parts or do a couple of adjustments. Therefore, it is better to make a toolkit. It should have nuts, bolts, wrench, screwdrivers of basic sizes, etc. You should also pack in extra bulbs, jumper cables, connectors, and fuses. There must be parts that are exclusive to your RV and cannot be replaced by general spare parts. You should place order for the exclusive parts beforehand so that if they go bonkers afterwards you need not stall your trip and wait for the new ones to arrive.   You can find reasonable prices on RV parts and supplies at Amazon.

Tips on How to Look For Free RV Camping Sites

By being a regular RV camper with a curious mind, you can discover places, which offer free camping sites. However, if you do not wish to spend time exploring the possibilities and directly head to a free site, the following paragraphs will help you in this regard.

RV parking and RV camping are not same

Most campers are unaware of the difference between the two terms and understand them to be interchangeable. It is not so. RV parking means you could just park your RV and spend the time inside it. You cannot camp and will have to sleep, cook inside it even though your RV will be parked. Most importantly, the stay will be of one night. RV camping, on the other hand, indicates that you are not only allowed to park but also set up a camp. So you could sleep under the stars, cook food, and stay for several days.

Free camping grounds are available on both private and government lands. The size of your RV is an important consideration; the smaller it is, the fewer accommodation hassles you will have. Now, follow the below mentioned tips, and select the best free RV camping ground:

Ask your friends and colleagues

Experience counts heavily, as experienced campers can direct you to free campsites that have better facilities than others do. Once you collected the names of campsites, check them over the web for confirming if they are still available for free RV camping. 

Get in touch with the police

The Sheriff or any other police officer can help you zero in on free campsites. All you need to do is call the local police station.

Get a recreation atlas

You will find recreation atlas for different states, which list free camping sites. Hence, you should get maps of the states that you plan to cover. Maps range from being basic to advanced. The basic ones name the campsites clearly but the advanced ones also provide information about who owns them. 

Equip your GPS with mapping software

It is a good idea to get topographical mapping software installed on your GPS. It provides details of campsites along with their physical features. In short, you will know what natural attractions you should visit and how you should spend your time. You will also find information regarding the routes and through them, you could devise various shortcuts to reach more interesting locations. The 3-D viewing facility will enable you to discern what awaits you before you reach the campsite.