RV Camping Tips for Beginners

There is something special about being out in the great outdoors – the smell of campfires soaring through the campground and the sight of the night sky shining bright above you.

Camping in a RV feeds the soul. It can provide the most epic views and countless adventures that lead to the most incredible memories made, especially when you are out there with some of your favorite people.

Before we can experience those incredible adventures, there’s some leg work that is involved. After all, camping in an RV in the wilderness takes work! Luckily, we’re going to equip you with some of the must-have RV camping tips for beginners to help level up your RV camping experience. From apps that will help you find the perfect campsite to camping items that just make sense to have on board, when it comes to RV tips and tricks, we’ve got you covered!

1. Pre-Flight Check

Nothing can stop a fun RV camping trip faster than realizing you have issues that prevent you from hitting the road. Here’s some of our suggestions to help prep your RV:

• Pull your RV out the week prior to your trip to inspect your RV components. This should include:
  • Tires (pressure, tread, etc.)
  • Pulling out your slides and awnings
  • Verifying that your water pump, batteries and, if applicable, solar are working properly
  • Inspect your tow vehicle as well

For a full list of things you should do before you hit the road, check out Lippert’s Ultimate RV Maintenance Checklist.

2. Know Your Limits

You’d be amazed at how fast your RV can become overweight and this is just something you don’t want to do – EVER. When your RV is overweight, it can cause unnecessary strain on your RV and your tow vehicle.

One way you can prevent your RV from exceeding its weight limit is to weigh your RV dry, allowing you to get a baseline, then load your RV up with your personal items and weigh it again. We know this can sound like an inconvenience but weighing down your RV can also be extremely unsafe for you and other drivers on the road.

Pro tip: When weighing your RV dry, be sure to leave extra wiggle room to account for items such as gas and water in tanks.

3. RV Packing Tips for Beginners

I cannot tell you how many times we have been sitting outside our camper watching people pull the most random things out of their RV, just for a weekend camping experience. In some cases, less is more. A camping experience should not leave you exhausted from planning and packing/unpacking your RV. Make a list of must-have items and as you bring them on board, check them off.

Our Packing List of Must-Have RV Camping Items

I’ll be the first to admit, it does not matter if I’m camping off-grid, camping in a camper at a KOA, or in a “boujee” campground, there’s just certain things I don’t want to go without, and you shouldn’t either. There are also items that you absolutely need. Here’s some of our must-have camping accessories:

• Big Bear camping chairs
• Propane firepit
• Surge protector
• Sewer hose
• Walkie talkies
• Fresh water hose
• Water pressure regulator
• Water filter
• Leveling blocks and chocks
• Basic tool kit

4. Download Your Maps

If you are camping in a national park or off-grid, chances are you will not have cell service. As a matter of fact, there’s a chance that at some point during your drive, you’re going to lose service. One of the best tips for RV camping we were given was to download our route and hiking maps ahead of time.

5. Camping Apps You Cannot Live Without

Finding a place to park your RV can be intimidating and stressful. Luckily, the camping and RV community understands your struggles which is why they created apps that help you find the best site for your camping needs. These apps not only help you find a place to camp, but they list places where you can dump your grey and black tanks, fill your fresh water and more.

Our favorite camping app is hands down Campendium. Not only have we found the most epic places to park our motorhome, but this app also provides reviews with pictures, max rig size, if we are going to have cell service and so much more valuable information. Check out these other great camping apps:

• The Dyrt
• iOverlander
• Hipcamp
• Recreation.gov

If you’re interested in discovering more travel apps that make RV life easier, check out this blog post titled, “20 Best RV Apps Recommended by Real RVers.”

6. Money-Saving Camp Memberships

Not everyone wants to camp off-grid. Having the amenities that campgrounds offer can bring on a wonderful experience, but campgrounds can get pricey. As full-time RVers, there is no way we could afford the RV lifestyle if we didn’t find budget-friendly campgrounds. Plus, the part-timers and full-timers that we have met within these campgrounds have really leveled up our camping experience.