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RV Trip Planning: 15 Tips to Know

When you're getting ready for an RV road trip, what do you need to do? Above all, you should reference the following checklist to ensure you're really good to go for the RV adventure of a lifetime!

15 Tips for RV Trip Planning

Ready to head out on your road trip? Not so fast: Here are some tips to ensure you do it right!

1. Decide Where to Go

Yes, you can hit the open road with no particular destination in mind, but it's better to plan things out a bit . Decide where you'll be driving to first — the main destination — and then be open to finding and exploring new places along the way (and be prepared for plans to change!).

2. Decide When to Go

Traveling in season to certain places is challenging for many reasons; there may be no camping spots available, and crowds may be overbearing. Plus, everything can be more expensive! Do you really need to travel in peak season, or is traveling in the off-season a possibility? What about the weather you'll face on the road? You need to think about all of it!

3. Choose Your RV Wisely

Think about how long your RV trip is going to be and who is going on it with you; will you have enough space with a smaller rig? Will you have too much space with a larger RV? Take a look at different RVs and floor plans to see which goes best with your travel party size and travel plans.

4. Learn How To Operate Your RV

It's been said before and needs to be said again: RVs aren't like other vehicles — unless that "other" vehicle is an eighteen-wheeler commercial vehicle. If you've never driven an RV before, or are just out of practice, head to an empty parking lot to practice your wide turns.

5. Buy an RV-Specific GPS Device

Okay, yes, there are also smartphone apps that perform the same function — but you'd be better off buying a GPS unit specifically made for RVs . An RV-specific GPS can help you find RV-suitable routes and avoid potentially disastrous RV height-clearance incidents !

6. Buy a Road Map (Yes, a Real Physical Road Map!)

Smartphones and GPS units are all well and good, but nothing beats knowing where you are and where you're going, like the back of your hand. Traditional road maps might seem outdated, but never put too much trust in modern technology. Always have an actual map on hand in case batteries run out.

7. Make Your RV Campsite Reservations Well in Advance

Some destinations always have a campsite available for drive-ins, but other campgrounds can fill up months in advance — especially at popular times and well-traveled locales.

Don't take anything for granted, and see if your preferred campground has spaces available early on. Have a few backups ready, too, just in case your preferred campground has already filled up (it happens).

8. Check the Weather Forecast Before Leaving

It's important to know the conditions you may be driving in since driving an RV is a bit different from driving your normal (smaller) personal vehicle. You should also be aware of what kinds of clothes you'll need to pack for the journey.

So, check the weather forecast as your trip gets closer.

9. Check Your RV Tires

Whether you're renting an RV for a road trip or dusting off your own RV after months in storage, you need to check your tires before heading out . Make sure they're filled up and in good condition — and not just before you first head out but also periodically throughout your RV road trip.

10. Stock Up on Food and Drinks

One of the joys of RV travel is having almost everything you need with you wherever you go, and there's no knocking the convenience of an RV fridge. Be sure to stock your RV fridge and shelves with your favorite snacks and beverages, along with special meals/ingredients.

11. Budget for Gas

Gas will be one of the biggest expenses on your RV road trip . How much you may spend will depend on the size of your rig (with larger RVs having 100-gallon tanks and smaller ones around 25 gallons), and how much driving you'll be doing. Be prepared to spend big bucks at the pump; you may even want to get a gas card to earn points/free gas!

12. Learn How To Maximize Limited Space

RVs are known for being big, comfortable homes on the road...but "big" does not usually describe the storage space available inside. Before you head out on your road trip, see what you can do to make the most of the limited storage space you have (shelves and stackable dishes are your friend!).

13. Make Sure Your Propane Tank is Full

Some RV campgrounds offer propane for sale, but you can't count on that. Propane helps keep your RV heated in winter and also often powers your appliances in the absence of hookups. Even if your campground offers full hookups, it never hurts to have a full tank of propane on hand — and to know where you can fill it up again !

14. Watch Cruise America's Renter's Orientation Video

If it's your first time renting an RV, you might be thinking you're out of your league. That's not the case, though, and watching Cruise America's RV renter's orientation video before you head out on your first (or even fourth) road trip will help you get as ready as you could ever be.

15. Have Backup Plans — and Backup Plans for Your Backups!

While planning before the trip is important, anything can happen while on the road, too. No-reservation campsites can fill up, and inclement weather (rain or snow) can also shut down attractions, sites, and roadways. Don't be wedded to plans or destinations; be flexible, be prepared, and have some activities ready to go in your rig, just in case!

Plan for a Great RV Adventure With Cruise America

Cruise America has numerous resources that can help RV renters like you fully prepare for their next road trip. Visit Cruise today to find an RV or even just double-check that everything is ready for your upcoming travels!

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Travel Tips

Cruise america rv rental tips [video included].

Cruise America RV Rental is very well established, with a history that dates back nearly 50 years. In this post and video I will share a number of tips, tricks and expectations when renting a Cruise America RV. BTW, everything contained within this post is related to their standard size unit.

Cruise America RV has three C-Class options (small, standard and large), which are all essentially the same, except for the space and ability to accommodate more people. Cruise America also has a pickup truck with a camper in the bed as an additional option for customers.

Cruise America is headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, however they have over a hundred locations around the U.S. as well as operations in Canada.

Checkout Process

The check out process is quite straight forward, similar to renting a car, with the exception of a tour and explanation of how to operate the unit, which is quite easy. Cruise America has made RV’ing very simple for the newbie. If you ever have any issues, they have a hotline you can call with any questions.

At first you may find driving such a large vehicle intimidating, but you will quickly get used to it, at least I did.

RV Interior

This is what you can expect from the interior of the standard size Cruise America RV. [ Click the following link for a downloadable RV Rental Packing List . ]

• There is a 3 burner stove and good size refrigerator and freezer, both work really well, but one tip is to make sure you hear the door(s) click to insure they are properly closed so they don’t fly open while driving.
• Speaking of which, be sure to go through the RV and make sure everything is batten down before driving.
• You’ll find plenty of storage, both inside the unit, as well as down below in the rear of the RV.
• The mattress is not the highest quality, and because it is lined with vinyl, you may tend to sweat at night. To prevent this, bring an extra blanket to create a barrier between the sheets.
• There is plenty of lighting on board, just make sure to shut them off when not in use if you’re not connected to shore power. The lights are one of the only things that run off of the batteries.
• There are plenty of outlets, some have USB charging integrated. Unfortunately, the outlets don’t work unless you are plugged into shore power, or, the generator is running. They don’t work with the vehicle running, which is a real shame when you are driving for hours and can’t charge anything. If you want to charge a phone (or equivalent) bring a cigarette lighter adapter with USB. Or, you could also plug in a small inverter.
• The dining area can be folded down for extra sleeping accommodations. Standard RV sleeps 4-5 in three different areas.

Suggestions & Information

• Highly recommend bringing a small broom and dust pan so you can sweep the unit out once in a while, because you will track in dirt and debris.
• Beware that the space between the door and cab of the RV is narrow, so when opening and entering the vehicle, take care not to bang your knee or shin. While in a hurry I pinched myself in between the door and cab on more than one occasion.
• When taking a shower, be sure to give the water heater about 10 minutes to warm up before jumping in. If you are boon docking, but sure to use the water sparingly by wetting yourself down, then soap/shampoo, then turn back on to rinse.
• The control panel shows the various levels of water, take capacity, etc. For example, the first button shows LPG, which is the propane level. The next one is the battery level, the 3rd level is fresh water, the next one is black water or sewer, and the last one is the grey water tank, which is from the sinks and shower.
• At a campground hooking up or unhooking is quick and easy, just a few things to do, such as hooking up to water and power. Some campgrounds have sewer at your spot, others have a station near the exit.
• All you have to do is take the large black (sometimes grey) hose from its storage area and hook it up to the sewer. You want to make sure to pull the black handle first, which is the black or toilet water. Next, to clean out the hose, pull the grey handle, which is water from the sinks and shower.
• You can fill up the fresh water tank on the passenger side of the RV.
• Make sure the valves are closed, stow the hoses and you’re on your way. While it may look intimidating, or even disgusting, it’s actually quite easy.

Cruise America RV Rental Final Thoughts

• While the Cruise America RV rental units lack the luxury of some other rental companies, they are good for the first-timer as they are designed with simplicity in mind.
• If you’ve never been RV’ing before, this is the perfect time to do it as most couples and families are looking for vacation options closer to home due to the pandemic.

If you’d like to get some road trip ideas, have a look at part one of our Cruise America RV Southwest Road Trip .

If you have any questions about a Cruise America RV rental, leave a comment below. Until next time, we’ll see ya on the road…

Mike Shubic

Tags: Cruise America , Cruise America RV , Cruise America RV Rental , RV Rental Tips

16 Comments

I am thinking about retiring to the RV life for a few years. You state you have a list of suggested items to have when renting for the first time. I see broom, dust pan, but not a more comprehensive list. Do you have one?

Hi Kathy, “broom and dust pan” is all you got our of the post and video? There is a lot more info. I also included a downloadable PDF checklist.

I think Kathy was looking for the downloadable list. The YouTube video suggests the link was in the video or below in the description. I couldn’t find the PDF there so followed the only link to your site. I did find the PDF after browsing around a few times under the “Interior” section. Thanks for preparing the video and PDF.

Thank you! This is exactly the RV rental information I needed to feel at ease. Great video too.

So glad you found it helpful. Thanks for stopping by.

Great post and video. My wife and I have been thinking about renting one and found your information to be helpful. Thank you, Michael

Thanks for stopping by. Glad to be of help.

Fantastic article and video, really helpful. Thank you so much for publishing. Best, Thomas

Thank you so much, glad you found it helpful.

Fantastic tips and video for RV’ing. My family and I are planning a trip this summer and found your information very useful.

So glad.Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

It was a great tip when you said to bring brooms, because it’s most likely that you’ll be bringing in dust to the RV. My son and I are planning to camp soon, and we’re both very excited about it. Thank you for your helpful tips, we’ll keep them in mind while we try to find the best RV rentals near our area.

Hey Luke, glad to be of help. Thanks for stopping by. All the best, Mike

Such helpful info, thank you for sharing. Great job on the video too BTW.

Thanks so much for sharing my video. Cheers, Mike

Comments are closed.

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