Tips and Tricks for New RV Owners

You have just gotten the keys to your RV and are ready to get started with your first adventure. However, you don't know where to go, what to pack, what to eat, and you're not quite sure what that button in the back corner of your RV does. Not to worry, below are a list of tips and tricks to make your first time traveling in your RV a lot easier!

1. Plan Ahead- The best way to make sure your first RV trip goes right, make sure you plan before you hit the road. Knowing what to bring, making reservations in advance, and knowing everything you want to see and do while on the trip can help comfort you if you begin to feel overwhelmed.
2. Know your Measurements- Knowing how big your RV is will make sure you don't hit the bottom of a bridge or the yellow bar in the McDonalds drive thru. Also, will help at weighing stations and knowing where you can and can't park your RV. Don't forget to take measurements of your RV and car together so you know how long your entire caravan is while you are on the road.
3. Less is More- Overpacking is a big issue for most people, myself included, but in an RV there isn't room to fit your entire house inside so make sure you only pack the essentials. A good tip is to make a list of everything you need to pack to survive during your scheduled journey. If you come across something you didn't pack, put that on your list for what to pack next time.
4. Bring Essential Tools- While everyone remembers to pack food, clothes, and toiletries; make sure you have a small box or bag of tools on standby. Having a 4 way wrench, duct tape, needle nose pliers, multi-bit screwdriver, and a tire gauge are all things that could come in handy. 
5. Bring a Companion- Whether it's your significant other or mans best friend, everyone needs someone to share the open road with. 
6. Biodegradable Toilet Paper- Charmin is not an option for your RV bathroom. To make sure that you don't have any unexpected issues with your RV sewage systems, make sure to purchase biodegradable toilet paper. https://backpackerverse.com/biodegradable-toilet-paper/
7. Test Your Systems- Before you get too far from home make sure all of your systems are ready to go. Testing all of the lights, engines, and even your toilet are all working will help make your first time traveling a lot easier. If anything isn't working quite right, come stop by our store in Nacogdoches before you hit the road!
8. Join a National Camping Club- Traveling across the United States and staying at different national/state parks can get very expensive very fast. In order to save some money and get some fun perks, join a National Camping Club. Click here for some more information: https://campaddict.com/discount-camping-rv-clubs/
9. Don't Go Too Far From Home- Planning a trip close to home for your first outing with your RV is a good idea, just in case something went wrong, you wouldn't be a million miles away from home. A trip to a nearby state park or historical site is great idea for new RV owners, to learn more about parks near you, click here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/ 
10. Get a Hotspot- If you want to be able to stream tv shows or movies or if you need to do some work while you are on the road, a hotspot is essential. While most camp sites will have internet connection, it will probably be very slow because everyone else in the park is using the same WiFi. Here is a link to some hotspots to travel with: https://www.wifionthego.com/?source=google&medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Non-Brand+-+RV&utm_content=Hotspot+-+General+-+RV+-+BMM&utm_term=%2Brv%20%2Bhotspot&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIurO7p9aO4QIVDEsNCh1SuQEoEAAYASAAEgKUQPD_BwE
11. Keep a Journal- Taking notes and writing about your experiences helps you remember all the places you've been and the people you met on the way. Also, create a scrapbook with pictures from all your destinations because pictures always speak louder than words.

Hope these tips and tricks helped prepare you for your first outing in your RV. Happy Travels everyone!