10 Camping Tips for First-Time RV Renters

Spread the love

Hey, just so you know ... This post includes affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. You can read my full affiliate disclosure HERE.

I remember the excitement – and apprehension – of our first trip in a rented RV. I didn’t want to tent camp anymore. Nor did I want to travel far with our five kids arguing in the car. Getting an RV rental was a great option for us, but I couldn’t have done it without getting RV camping tips from experienced RVers.

But, we made some mistakes on that first trip. We didn’t inspect the rental well enough when we picked it up. We took too much stuff, but still missed packing some crucial items we needed. We had a water tank overflow. And we traveled on some roads that were not meant for a big motorhome.

Hopefully, I can help you avoid some of these mistakes.

Before you venture out, you should be well prepared so that you can have an amazing experience camping. Here are some tips you need to take into consideration when you are RV camping as a newbie if you want to have a great experience.

10 RV Camping Tips for Newbies

Just carry what you need

There is no need to carry everything in the house. You will not have much time to enjoy everything anyway and they will just be getting in your way.

Just carry the necessary items that you are absolutely sure you will require on your camping journey. Ensure that you have the right camping gear and enough fuel for the RV.

Ensure that your RV is fit for travel

Whether you’ve borrowed or rented an RV, you should always make sure that it is fit for travel before you leave for the wilderness. Do a thorough inspection when you pick it up. Ask about past service. And if the rig isn’t adequate, trade it out for a different one.

Choose a good camping ground

Your choice of camping ground also determines the kind of experience you will have. Do your research before booking. Some grounds do not allow RV camping and others charge hefty rates. Choose a good ground and book in advance. You do not want surprises after you reach your destination.

Have emergency contacts ready

You should always have emergency contacts at hand and let someone who is not with you know where you are going camping. This allows you to have a stress-free experience as help would be within reach whenever you need it.

Do not go too far from home

For your first experience, it would be advisable to camp not very far from home. This will enable you to gain the experience you need while being in a position to quickly call it off should something not work.

Also, being in familiar territory takes away the trepidation and allows you to enjoy your experiences.

Carry tools and spare parts

You really do not want to have your RV breaking down on you. However, accidents do happen and while you are not a mechanic, you should know how to change a car tire in the event something happened out there in the wild.

That is why you need a spare tire and some other tools such as a digital tire gauge, jumper cables, and wrenches.

Pack everything in advance

Do not wait until the last day to pack. Ensure that everything is already set inside the RV before the final day comes. You will reduce the chances of forgetting crucial items.

Have a checklist

It’s possible you might not remember everything you are supposed to do or carry. That is why a checklist comes into play. Check items off this list as you accomplish each one of them. It will keep you very much on track.

Plan your route in advance

Know which route you will use to get to your camping destination. You should take into consideration matters to do with security, ease of use, traffic jams and other issues that make your journey easier.

Get to your destination early

It becomes very tough to set up camp at night and I advise newbie campers to always get to their destination early. That is the only time you can do things the right way.

Keeping these camping tips in mind is crucial for your first RV trip to be a success (and you won’t need to learn the hard way like we did).

Tell me – which of these tips surprises you? Got any other tips to share with first-time RV renters? Comment below.

10 Camping Tips for First-Time RV Renters