How To Handle A Long RV Road Trip
Long RV road trips allow you to experience exciting destinations far from home, but the journey itself poses some challenges. It can be tough to log many miles without experiencing an issue, whether it's kids suffering from boredom or a tank running out of gas. We created the following long RV road trip guide to help you prepare for a successful trip. If you want more travel tips or want to explore RVs for sale, head over to Jubilee R.V. Centre. Our dealership is based in Kamloops, British Columbia, and we also serve those in Vancouver and Prince George.
RV Preparations
The first step is ensuring your RV is ready for the road trip:
- test the lights and replace any burnt out bulbs
- check that the appliances are in good working order
- measure the tire air pressure and adjust as needed
- get any issues you've noticed lately addressed long before the travel day
If you own a towable RV, you'll want to inspect your tow vehicle as well.
Emergency Preparations
There's always the chance you could run into a problem on the road. Long RV road trips mean more time on the road, which means a greater chance of something coming up. Pack a first aid kit for handling medical issues and a toolkit for handling mechanical issues. If there are any natural disasters common in the area you'll be traveling, make an emergency plan for handling said disaster.
Food Preparations
Junk food tastes great and fast food is convenient, but try to plan for healthier meals and snacks. Highly processed foods that are full of salt and fat will leave everyone feeling sluggish, which isn't a pleasant feeling when you're stuck in a vehicle for an extended period of time. Healthy foods help keep energy and focus up, which is especially important for the driver.
Entertainment Preparations
One of the biggest challenges of a long RV road trip is fighting off boredom. It can be tough passing the time on long road trips, but there are a few resources at your disposal:
- download a funny audiobook or a comedian's stand-up routine
- download podcasts on your favorite subjects (you can find plenty of travel-based ones for a start)
- create a playlist of your favorite songs to sing along with
- look up road trip games
If you're traveling with kids, try to keep them active and engaged. Bored siblings often turn into grumpy and fighting siblings. If you are traveling with pets, be sure they have toys and treats to help keep their spirits up and stress levels down.
Take Lots Of Breaks
It's tempting to want to push forward and arrive at the campsite sooner, but breaks are really important on a long RV road trip. Your body needs to move throughout the drive, especially if you are driving. Pull over to stretch, walk around, get fresh air, and enjoy a change of scenery.
Try to encourage everyone to get out anytime you stop. Sure, only one person may need a bathroom break. But everyone can benefit from walking around the rest stop.
You can also proactively plan fun stops for your breaks. Maybe there is a quirky roadside attraction along the way. Maybe there is a charming mom and pop restaurant known for their root beer floats. You have to take stops anyways, might as well make them part of your trip agenda!
Switch Up Drivers
It's tough to stay focused for extended periods of time and maintaining focus is an important part of safe driving. Here the goal is to prevent highway hypnosis, which happens when you start to zone out and realize you can't remember the last stretch of road. Change up drivers often enough to prevent highway hypnosis and ensure the driver is focused.
Visit Gas Stations Often
When you drive around your hometown, you are usually not too far from a gas station. You can let the gas tank get closer to empty without worrying about finding somewhere to fill up.
It's a different story on a long road trip.
There could be long stretches of rural areas without a gas station in sight. Or you may finally find a gas station...only to discover it's closed. No one wants to derail their RV road trip because they ran out of gas! A good rule of thumb is keeping your gas tank about half full.
We hope you found these long RV road trip tips helpful! If your RV needs any repairs before your vacation, bring your rig to the experts at Jubilee R.V. Centre. We can get your RV repaired and ready for travel. We also offer a range of RVs for sale if you are looking to upgrade. We proudly serve those in Vancouver and Prince George, British Columbia.