Brian and I rented an RV for the weekend! This was our first time RV camping. We rented one through Outdoorsy, a service kind of like airbnb but for RV’s. This way we got the full experience without having to buy one of our own. Which, by the way – did you know that RVs run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars?? I guess you could technically live in it, so being a house that’s also mobile could be considered a 2 for 1 deal.
If you’ve ever thought about RV camping but don’t know anything about it, here are some things we learned along the way that will help prepare you. There were several surprises for us – some good, some not so good, and some that I definitely could have prepared for if I had but known.
But with RV camping, like so many other things, you don’t really know what you don’t know. So read this and consider yourself forewarned! 🙂
Driving an RV
Most RVs can be driven with a normal class C driver’s license. However, they are quite a bit bigger than your standard car (duh) and will take some getting used to. Turning will be especially tricky. When making a left turn you’ll want to watch your left wheel placement from your side mirror.
Accelerating will take longer, but more importantly, braking will take more time. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of wiggle room to get to a complete stop.
The biggest difference though, is that rearview line of sight is going to be about zero since you have an entire house behind you instead of just a backseat and a window. However, some RVs are equipped with amazingly helpful rear cameras with a screen mounted where the rearview mirror would be. These are like a little security camera tv, showing you everything going on directly behind you and to the left and right.
Fortunately, ours had these rear cameras (by sheer luck, not planning) and it was a game changer. Some of the listings on Outdoorsy call this a “back up camera” although it’s on all the time, not just when in reverse.
Choosing the Right Size RV
We rented a 32 foot Yellowstone RV which was much bigger than we really needed. There was plenty of space but it was mostly extra bedding which, as a couple with no kids, wasn’t super useful. We ended up using the two bunk beds as a staging place for our luggage and games.
Our first choice RV was 24 feet. That would have been ideal for space and easier to maneuver on the road. However, it was being serviced on the weekend we chose. (I’ve read that they need service way more regularly than a car. Another reason we were happy to just rent one!)
There are RVs that are even smaller than our original choice, but they didn’t seem as comfortable inside.
Getting Oriented to Your RV
When we rented our RV from Outdoorsy we had the option of picking it up ourselves or having it dropped off to us. We chose to pick it up because the drop off fee was hefty! I think it was something like $350.
For picking it up yourself, you can choose contactless or in-person. In-person is sometimes a small extra fee but I highly recommend it anyway. Unlike a vacation rental, which will be outfitted similarly to your own home, an RV has a lot of bells and whistles that are not intuitive and that you may not even know you’re supposed to be doing anything with, unless someone tells you. For instance:
Levelers
When you park the RV you’ll need to drop levelers that basically form a mini foundation for your RV. It ensures that the RV is level, and it is much more stable than resting it on the wheels. Most RVs have auto-levelers so a one-button push is all it takes to get these in place. When the front wheels come off the ground, they will tilt inward a little bit. This is completely normal.
Pop-outs
Chances are that your RV will have pop outs on one or both sides. These are sections that literally pop out of the side of the RV to expand your inside living space. You will need to be parked and have the levelers down before the pop outs will engage. This is also usually as easy as pressing a button.
Hook Ups: Water and Electric
Water hook up: there is a tank under the RV that holds fresh water but if you will be camping for several days and you want to cook, shower, and use the restroom as you would normally, you will need to connect the RV to an outside water source. Check in advance that your RV comes with a hose.
Electric hook up: there will also be a way to connect to electricity at the campground by plugging into a (usually) 30 or 50 amp outlet. You’ll want to make sure your RV is equipped with a power cord for this.
Getting Your RV Ready for Camping
I can’t overstate how much nicer it is to pick your RV up the day before you need to leave. This way you’ll have plenty of time to do your walk through and get your bearings in the RV before hitting the road. It will also give you time to pack it with everything you’ll need for your trip. Remember, this is your house but will also be your main mode of transport. Once you park this bad boy, it’s not like you can just pop out to the store to grab the firewood you forgot.
If you want to drive somewhere in the RV not only will you need to pull the pop outs in, disengage the levelers and unhook the water and electricity, you’ll also have to basically re-secure everything inside it so that you can drive without your dishes and luggage sliding all around. So…better to take your time packing, and check that list twice!
After you pick up your RV, double check that it has all the things it said it would come with. Like vacation rentals, the amenities provided differ. Some will provide all toiletries and a fully outfitted kitchen, while others may just offer soap and a few cups and plates.
Packing List for RV Camping
Be prepared to supplement the RV amenities yourself if you are missing some essentials. Here’s a list of a few things you’ll want to have:
- Hand soap
- Shower toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, soap
- Toilet paper
- Dish soap and sponge
- Towels: full size, hand towels, kitchen towels
- Utensils for cooking and for eating (don’t forget a cutting board!)
- Plates, cups, mugs, bowls
- Any cooking pots and pans that you anticipate needing
- Trash bags and paper towels
Even though you won’t need a tent, you may still want to bring camp chairs, picnic blanket/table cloth, firewood, and other items to create a nice outdoor living space at your campsite. You won’t be spending all your time in the RV!
Where can you drive an RV?
You can drive on most roads in an RV but know that some roads do have restrictions. For instance, you can’t take an RV up to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. A little research ahead of time should tell you all you need to know.
Where can you park an RV?
Parking an RV overnight may take a little more planning. You can reserve an RV camping spot at campsites across the US or in National or State Parks. Most will have hookups where you can connect to water and electricity. Many large retailers like Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam’s Club, and truck stops let you “boondock” – that is, park overnight to sleep, with no hookups for water or electricity.
The Dreaded Black Tank
There is one last thing I need to mention. The toilet in your RV needs to be dealt with. That thing is not hooked up to a sewer line! It goes into a tank under your RV and will need to be manually emptied. Ew!
The good news is that a lot of the RV rentals have an option to have this done for an additional fee. We would totally have gone that route except that our friends are expert RVers (and actual saints) who kindly offered to help us with ours. But if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty (mostly figuratively, but possibly quite literally…), check out this helpful Black Water how-to post from Outdoorsy.
Our Take
We drove our RV about 3 hours away to Garner State Park. In my opinion, that’s the max length per day we’d want to drive that thing. Riding and driving in an RV is exhausting in its own weird way.
We hadn’t adequately checked our kitchen situation so ended up missing some utensils that we’d have liked to have. Ours didn’t come with camp chairs or any other fun stuff so we were a little under-prepared to actually “hang out” at the campsite. Luckily, our friends let us share theirs.
We also forgot firewood like boneheads and had to do the whole unhook rigamarole so we could drive 2 miles to the camp store. Yes, we could have walked, but no one wanted to lug a bunch of firewood back 2 miles.
Overall, renting an RV was a fun experience, made super easy by going through a vetted rental site like Outdoorsy. It was nice to dip our toes in, with none of the stress or overhead of actually owning one.
Kind of like when we see our fave little camping buddy: great to play with, but easy to give back when he needs “maintenance.” 😉
Theresa, this was an outstanding and informative introductory course for those who want to try an RV to see if it’s a good fit for future adventures. Good post.
Thanks Don! I certainly hope it can be helpful for newbie RVers. RVing isn’t hard, but there definitely is a learning curve. I’m glad you enjoyed the post!