Unfortunately, an idyllic family vacation in the RV can turn into a disaster if proper precautions are not taken into account. Before you set sail in your motor home, make sure you’re not going on a road to ruin by making one of these five mistakes.
- Not bringing enough water.
Anybody who drives any type of automobile should have extra water for the engine – preferably a few gallons worth for an RV – in the event you over-heat. This is ESPECIALLY important when driving in a notoriously hot environment, which includes almost anywhere in Arizona, Nevada, and many parts of California, Texas and Utah.
This disaster could become even worse if your RV decides to overheat on an especially obscure road. As a rule of thumb, the more distant and remote your route is, the more prepared you should be in case of an emergency.
- Driving Without Road Insurance.
Triple-A or a similar road insurance service is very important for anybody who is driving with their loved ones as passengers. There are many types of unforeseen circumstances that could come between you and your journey, from flat tires to transmission failures. Regardless of whether you’re near the big city or in the furthest reaches of Kansas farmland, a proper road insurance service will locate you – and take care of you.
- Driving Without a Satellite Phone
However, the road insurance will do little good if you’re miles from cell-phone reception and have no way to call for help. If this occurs, your only option is to have some type of satellite communication that you can use to phone from anywhere with a clear blue sky. Monthly satellite services are more affordable now, just be sure that you keep your satellite phone charged and that you don’t accidentally drain the battery by leaving the thing on instead of keeping it charged in your cigarette lighter.
- Forgetting to Perform a Full Service
Many of these possible disasters can be avoided if you get your RV fully serviced before your trip. Ensure you have a quality service-station that can check for – and prevent – all manner of hiccups during your trip. This is especially important if you’re driving a used RV with a lot of mileage on it. After 100,000 miles, your RV is prone to a lot of potential malfunctions and may require a fair amount of service to ensure optimal safety and performance.
- Taking a Road Trip South of the Border
In a quest to be exotic, it’s not uncommon for families to decide to hop on their motorhome and head south toward Rocky Point or Cabo San Lucas. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with taking a vacation into Mexico, it’s very important for travelers to be aware of the current dangers associated with the border. Increasing cartel violence – especially in regions close to the Texas border – has prompted warnings by the State Department. While many people commute through Mexico with no problem, it may not be worth the risk if you fall into the small category of tourists who end up caught in the middle of a potentially dangerous situation.
In Summary
The military has a motto about prior planning, and you should consider it before any type of RV trip. Your best bet is to create a checklist and begin marking off every important bit of information to ensure you did not forget a critical detail before you begin your RV road adventure.
Jay Allen writes for Lazydays, a RV Superstore which offers recreational vehicle enthusiasts a place to search motorhomes for sale, stay at a campground, or service their RV.
