Making the Most of Your RV This Spring and Summer

A major factor in making the most of your RV travel this Spring and Summer is proper de-winterization in plenty of time for your first road trip.  Making sure that everything is ship-shape on your vehicle will allow you to enjoy yourself much more than if you have to spend your time worrying about things that might happen or actually having to deal with things that DO happen.  We all know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially if you find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere, broken down, with no cell signal and no working jack or spare tire.

Avoid Mechanical Problems Before They Happen

To avoid the no working jack or spare tire problems, simply go through your RV with a list of things that need to be checked before your RV travel to make sure they're covered.  If you're pulling a fifth wheel or travel trailer, many of your RV safety checks will be mechanical since the towing vehicle requires most of the attention to make sure it meets the safety standards that everyday driving require.

Common sense tells you that before going anywhere you should gas up, air up your tires, make sure your battery is charged and that your fluids are topped up.  What may not be so obvious is to check your brakes, your shock absorbers and your axel bearings.  These last items may require service by a professional mechanic, so it's important to get these things done in plenty of time before your departure date.

First Aid Travel Kit

An important item you need to make sure you have on hand during your RV travel is an emergency first aid travel kit.  This should be a collection of items to deal with minor emergencies or illnesses, basic first aid items, medicines for skin problems, for stomach and respiratory problems.

In addition to these important first aid items, you should also have a basic emergency travel kit in your vehicle.  This kit should include, among other things, a flashlight, battery-operated or hand-cranked radio, extra batteries, local maps, pet supplies and basic hand tools.

You'll also want to make sure you have some entertaining activities for the kids if you have any children along on the trip.  This can include books, comics, video games, puzzles, etc.  These items may come in handy during a long drive to overcome the boredom.