RV Beginners Tip: Take a Practice RV Road Trip

Renting an RV for the first time can be a thrilling experience however, there are some things you should do to make sure your RV road trip is a memorable one and not a nightmare.

If you are renting from an RV dealer they will typically take you through an orientation to familiarize you with the particular vehicle you plan on renting.  If it is your first time, you will definitely want to start with a C Class as they are much more user friendly and don’t require a special license to drive.  In fact, you can rent a Class A motorhome in all 50 states without a commercial driver license (CDL) as long as it is 45 feet or less in length and under 26,000 GVWR.

If you are renting from a private owner, you may want to bring a checklist of questions to ask as well as requesting the owner to take you on a test drive and provide an orientation to the vehicle.

Some common questions to ask:

• What is included in the rental price?
• What happens if there is damage to the vehicle or contents?
• Who pays for insurance, what is/isn’t covered, who pays the deductible?
• What happens if the vehicle breaks down?
• Is there a refund policy if trip is cancelled?
• Is everything in good working condition? When was the last vehicle inspection?

When planning your first RV road trip you will want to consider a suitable campground or RV Park that is close to home and has the amenities you desire.  TripAdviser is a great resource for campground and RV Park reviews and would be a great place to start!

You’ll also want to consider the type of roads you will be driving on and your comfort level.  The last thing you want is to find yourself on unfamiliar roads or lost!  Like any seasoned road-tripper, you will want to plan out your travel route ahead of time and account for rest stops, fuel stops, overpass height and weight limits, and places of interest along the way.  A AAA triptik in the hands of an experienced co-pilot or turn-by-turn directions pre-programmed into your smartphone, will allow you to focus on the road ahead of you and enjoy the ride.

A great way to document your experience is to keep a journal of your practice rv road trip.  Some things to include: orientation notes, loose cabinet drawers or unusual noises, how the RV handles, fuel mileage, impressions of the campground/RV Park, and general notes about your RV experience.

By planning ahead and sticking close to home, your first RV road trip will be the first of many RVing trips!