Planning an Extended Camping Trip with Your RV

Hitting the road on a camping trip that includes travel of some distance is an exciting event. There will probably be many new places to visit and things to do and see along the way. Add camping a few nights here and there, and it is an unbeatable combination! Unless you have an unlimited amount of free time and plenty of money to spare, a carefully thought-out plan, itinerary and budget is indispensable. Good planning can make the difference between an unforgettable camping trip and one that you wish you could forget. A spontaneous approach is not the way to go! It could spell disaster. Here, is a guide and some suggestions for planning your next vacation or camping trip.

Begin your Planning

The first thing to consider is your trips proposed end-point; the place you wish to visit that is the farthest from home. You may wish to visit a National Park, a coastal resort or relative for example. If your trip is a sightseeing drive—to a point and then back home—determine its apex. From this information you can determine the approximate total distance you will be driving. Now, decide about how many miles you want to drive on average per day. Next, divide the your average miles per day into the total trip miles. This will give you the number of days needed to drive your projected trip. Subtract the arrived at driving days from the total number of days you have available for your vacation. The number remaining will be the number of days you have for camping, side trips or visiting with friends or relatives. From these figures, you can now plan a more detailed route, itinerary and budget.

How to Budget for RV Camping Trip?

Lastly, it’s time to calculate a trip budget. It is, of course, important to know how much money this wonderful trip will cost. If you must watch your dollars, a comprehensive budget is a necessity before getting on the road. It is a fairly simple task. You should know how many miles per gallon of gas your vehicle gets before starting to estimate your gasoline costs. To determine this budget category, follow the formula below: 1. Divide your projected total trip miles (including any extra driving miles) by your expected miles per gallon. 2. Multiply the above answer (the gallons of gas you will consume) by your estimated cost of gas per gallon. This is the amount you will spend on gasoline.

Next category, calculate your camping fee expenses. Do this by adding up the nights you plan on camping, and total the fees charged each night. If you know where you will be camping, it’s easy to acquire this information. All state, federal and private parks specify their charges per night to camp. (Be sure to include any park entrance and pet fees.)

Another budget category to include can be listed as other camping expenses. Under this heading, we estimate our propane, fire wood, shower fee and extraneous other costs.

Now work out a reasonable estimate for your food expenses. You will find that this category is higher than all others are. How you go about figuring your eating expenses depends upon each individual’s circumstances. Variables include the number of people in your party, what you eat, if you plan on eating out or cooking over the ole camp fire—to name a few.

Finally, to complete your budget, consider how much money to include in a miscellaneous category. You might want to include the cost of souvenirs, gifts, tour fees, film, oil for your vehicle and such. Don’t forget to add something to cover any emergency expenses. All you need do to finalize your budget is total the separate categories. These should be (1) gasoline, (2) camping fees, (3) other camping expenses, (4) food costs and (5) miscellaneous expenses. This will give you the projected total cost of your trip.

To determine your average daily costs, divide your projected total cost by the number of days you have for your trip. Our costs usually run between $90 and $120 per day, but yours will probably be much different. Oh yes, a word of warning! If your total cost is more than your pocketbook will allow, you had better go back to the planning stage and start over!

How to Prepate Your RV for the Trip

A month or so before hitting the road, get your tow vehicle or motorhome’s routine maintenance taken care of. If it is time for an oil change, tire rotation, alignment, brake check, wiper blades, transmission service and such, have them completed before your vacation begins. If you have been putting off some repair work, get those taken care of also. Just prior to departure, check your tire pressures fluid levels and lights. It’s a good idea to carry with you an extra quart of oil, a gallon of coolant, jumper cables, windshield washing solution, a first-aid kit and—if you have the room—a gallon of gasoline. Nothing can put a damper on a camping trip like auto troubles. It is also a wise idea to have some sort of emergency road service coverage.  A wireless phone can also come in very handy for emergencies.

Pre-Trip RV Care

As with the tow vehicle, your trailer or RV should be inspected, and routine maintenance completed on it. My RV mechanic recommends checking the brakes and wheel bearings about every 5,000 miles. Many RV dealers have pre-trip maintenance packages that include servicing the refrigerator, furnace, air conditioner, stove and batteries. If your fresh water system has not been used over the winter, running a weak solution of vinegar through the pipes will serve as a disinfectant. (Be sure to flush thoroughly with fresh water before using.) If you have a generator, you may want to get that serviced. Finally, a good wash and wax job will get your “castle” looking sharp for the road.

Home Preparations Before RV Trip

No one wants to leave on a long anticipated trip and then worry about their home all the while they are gone. There are a number of things you can do to give some peace of mind. You can ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your place.  You can also hire a lawn service to cut the grass. A house sitter is invaluable when you are on an extended camping trip!

Before the departure, you should unplug the TVs, stereo, computers, lamps and such. Doing this can reduce the risk of fire and save some electricity. It is also a good idea to place a lamp or two on a variable timer. They turn on and off at different times and hopefully discourage would be burglars. To be safe, don’t tell too many people that you will be away. This news could tip off a crook of your absence. You want to return to find your home as you left it!

Another important consideration is the timely payment of your routine bills while you are gone—utilities, loans and such. Make arrangements to pay your bills before leaving or mail them along your route. If you have at-home banking you can call in from anywhere to pay these bills. If you bring along a computer, and have online banking, you are all set up!

What To Do With Your Pets ?

If you do not take your pets along, be sure to have someone responsible to care for them. Many Veterinarians offer good kennel services if you don’t have a reliable sitter. Remember, animals are people too! Treat them right and they will love you for it.

Many folks, like us, camp with their dogs, cats and even birds. There are many campgrounds that require a certificate of rabies vaccination before they allow pets in their parks. You should check that they are up to date on all of their shots, and have had their annual physical. Some people keep their  dogs on heartworm medications the year round. Immunization for Lyme disease—carried by ticks—is also available. A way to prevent this disease is to give them a tick check every night you are on the road. If your pets are on any medications, be sure to have an adequate supply. Another option is to carry a “pet first-aid kit” that includes drugs for diarrhea, rashes, fleas and the like. A pet can add or distract from your camping trip. Don’t forget their care in the excitement of your vacation. Be sure they have plenty of room to move about in your vehicle while on the road—stop occasionally to allow them some exercise and to visit with Mother Nature!

A camping trip of any extended length requires a lot of preparations. Just loading up and hitting the road can result in some unwanted problems. Worrying about unattended to things back home can ruin a wonderful vacation. Now you know, make a few checklists and scratch off items as you complete them. Enjoy your camping adventure, and enjoy your return home. Some good preparations will make it all worth while!