There are an incredible number of ways you can explore the world. One of these ways is through RV camping.
There are plenty of horror stories people like you experience every day while on the road. However, there are bad things that could happen with just about anything we do.
We can’t let worry stop us from enjoying life!
The important thing isn’t what happened in the past; it’s what we can learn from it. Therefore, we have highlighted some of the top tips for staying safe while you enjoy time spent traveling in your RV.
It’s easy to get complacent when it comes to driving, most people have been driving for years, decades (and a very rare few closing in on a century).
But as I’m sure you’re familiar with, not everyone turns that experience of driving into actually being good at driving, or even safe.
Add on top of that the difference in size an RV makes and you’ll start to see how problems can arise.
Get prepared for your holiday trips by practicing driving somewhere safe. Especially if it’s your first time.
Most industrial areas have wide roads and low traffic levels, perfect for practicing on a weekend. We recommend starting there as it’s good to get a good grasp of the basics, understand the size of your machine enough to manoeuvre in traffic and tight spots safely.
In most states and most RVs, you only need a standard driver’s license to drive it legally.
However, if your RV and anything else you are towing is above a certain amount, you might need a special license to drive it. You should also check in with length restrictions since they vary from place to place.
When you think of RV camping instead of camping in a tent, it can be easy to think that you’re sheltered from the elements.
That’s truer than if you were staying out in a tent. However, you shouldn’t underestimate how dangerous the weather can still be for you in an RV, caravan or motorhome.
Keep an eye out for dangerous weather alerts, be aware of how wind, flooding, heat, snow and hail can impact your RV. Even when you’re parked up and away from the road in your toasty warm caravan, the weather can flip in a second and turn dire quickly.
On that note, it’s best to have multiple ways to leave your RV should an emergency occur. All RVs, caravans and motorhomes will have multiple escape routes, such as through doors and windows.
When you purchase your vehicle, these should be one of the first things you acquaint yourself with to stay safe.
One of the most dangerous parts of camping in an RV is the false sense of security within the four walls of your RV, caravan or motorhome.
However, most RVs are not incredibly secure. That is why it is essential to know where you are staying, check into the area’s safety, and know how your campsite is laid out.
There are plenty of walk-up campsites where you don’t necessarily have to plan and book to get a spot at night. However, if you decide to do this, research the area and ensure everything is locked before sleep.
Even if an RV isn’t incredibly secure, it is still important to lock the door before you leave. It is at least a deterrent for people who want to break in. You should also make it clear that it is locked and secure when you do leave.
A neat trick is to keep an extra pair of shoes by your door, especially when you leave.
Then set them by the door so it seems like someone’s home, even when they aren’t.
“The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry. That’s why it’s best to have a backup plan for your plan.
In those instances, make sure you have multiple emergency contact details on hand. These will help you get help as soon as possible. It’s also valuable to camp in places with decent mobile phone coverage.
Getting to know the hosts of your campsite is also an excellent way to stay safe in a campground. They can guide you to the right places, advise on future stops, and give you safety advice and information about the surrounding area.
Even the people around your campsite are sure to be full of surprises, get to know them and learn about where they’ve been, where they’re going and if they have any tips for long holidays on the road.
You and I both know Social media is incredibly popular nowadays. It’s fun to keep up with your friends, show everyone the latest destination your travelling too and much more.
But it’s good to be a bit cautious, especially since you might not know who’s viewing your posts about where you are.
Either post about where you stay multiple days after you have left so that it isn’t easy for someone to know right where you are or keep control of who gets to see your posts so any malicious actors can’t get a hold of your info.
Sometimes, locking the door and leaving extra shoes outside your RV still might not be enough.
It’s incredibly valuable to have a GPS tracker in your RV in these cases. Although it might not prevent theft, it will help you find your property before it goes too far.
A GPS tracker is also good for when you’re leaving your caravan, RV or motorhome parked up for months on end. Either in a storage facility or your front yard, you’ll be notified instantly if your vehicle leaves one of those areas.
Keeping safe while in and outside your RV is mostly about getting comfortable and familiar with your vehicle. You should:
1. Familiarise yourself with how your RV, caravan or motorhome performs on the road
2. Get to know your RV, it’s escape routes and how it operates in different weather conditions.
3. Look up the facilities and campsites before arriving so you know what to expect.
4. Keep your caravan, motorhome or RV locked up when you leave, pack away valuable items and keep an extra pair of shoes outside the door when you leave. (As a thief may believe someone’s inside when you’re gone).
5. Make friends with the people around your campsite, the owners of your campsite and it’s always handy to keep emergency contact info nearby.
6. Avoid constantly posting to social media about your whereabouts or at least clamp down on your social’s security so only people you know has access to your info.
7. If worst comes to worst, invest in a GPS tracker so you can recover your pride and joy if it’s stolen.
Enjoying your holiday in a caravan, RV or motorhome is incredibly rich and rewarding, but it doesn’t take long to unravel into chaos.
So take that extra bit of time to do your research, plan your trip and prepare.
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