How do you get ready?

[gymbabe]

I bought a used 27' motorhome, had it inspected, everything is fine. What should I do to get it ready for my long trip around North America with my 2 daughters? What seems to break most frequently? Are there many break ins when you are parked in parking lots or at campgrounds? What is your #1 advice for having a wonderful time?
How do we stay as safe as possible? If we don't reserve campsites and decide to wing it, is it easy to get a spot without reservation? We still have 4 months before departure, that is 4 months of planning to make this trip an unforgettable one for my daughters and I.
:o

[rvspace]

First make certain that all FIVE of your tires are excellant. No side cracks. Plenty of tread. If they are over two or three years old...get NEW ONES.
buy new wipers...Thats first if your really gonna --do America.
Join AAA club., get RV coverage. gET THERE FREE...TRIP PLANNING GUIDES .THERE MAPS HAVE ALL THE AAA LOCATIONS ON THERE MAPS.
Check all your fluids(and bring extras). CHeck out all your appliances on a local TRIAL run. Make it a two or three day camping trip Bring a pencil and paper ...While on the trial run campout.. WRITE down everything you forgot to bring,,,and everything YO'ud like to also...bring...This goes for every facit.
Bring this list every time you camp. and continue to add to it. When you get home use the list then be sure to pack the list.
To start, the list could be:
Tire chocks,planks to build up under a tire to level, DOOR mat ,fLASHLIGHT/BATTERIES,
First aid kit, tool kit,with two pair of pliers,, dump kit, tire gage,tire jack and tools, Safe water hose, 30 amp extention cord,clothes and hat,sunscreen, STURDY SHOES, FLAPS/THONGS,water,food,paper plates,cups, plastic forks, dry cereal,bread,FRYPAN, coffee and coffeepot, sugar, creamer, soda,BBQ stuff /utencils, PAPER TOWLES, plastic Bags, a sharp knife,hatchet, can opener, matches, medicine,fishin pole, Marshmellows,and SMORES.;)

BREAK TENDANCY...Fanbelts, and hoses , batteries,fuses.

NEVER stop IN REST STOPS....Dangerous with 2 girls. Stay closeby to the girls 24/7 .:eek:
Stay in at nite, lock ALL the doors. leave porch lite on ..so you can see if anyone is outside...at your door. Stop at "large" repetable gas stations for gas and serviceing, and purchases. dONT GIVE TO PANHANDELERS.:eek:
Stay out of high crime areas...ask eACH TOWNS AAA, OR your campground office for info about your next planned stop. Youll be surprised what some will tell ya. You can also ask clerks in Major Markets about the area, RESTAURANTS,or campgrounds OR AT THE EVENT OR ACTIVITY YOU ARE ATTENDING.
Best advice..ONLY STOP IN CAMPGROUNDS THAT ARE WITHIN A FEW MILES OFF--- THE MAIN HIGHWAY. (MORE LIKELY TO GET STUCK ON A POOR ROAD)
Plan I nite in a campground with full hookups, next nite in ("some" Walmart parking lots), next nite in a full hookups, or every third nite to shower and dump black and grey wATER. YOU GET THE IDEA...
always make a reservation.....( REASON YOULL GET STUCK IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY AT NITE AND your EXHAUSTED..AND NO PLACE TO PARK/CAMP.)
ps iF YOU STAY IN wALMARTS ...MANY HAVE FOOD STORES AND
MC DEES FOR BREAKFAST...IN ADDITION YOU CAN BUY MANY...RV PARTS THERE ALSO.
oK SO i HAVE GIVEN YOU A $500.00 TOUR... HOPE THIS HELPS.;)
RVSPACE

[seatinkers]

Never park in Rest areas too many trancients. Flying J gas station has parking spaces for RVers. You can gas up there, empty your black water, buy propane and they even have a restaurant. Flying J is great to stay for one nite when you are traveling. Cracker Barrel Restaurants also honor us RVers with letting you stay for one nite. Walmarts are great they have survelance cameras and some have around the clock security guards that ride around in a car all nite. When you go to a Walmart you should always go in and ask the Store manager if it is OK that you park there for the nite (it is just a courtesy we should do). Also, when staying there you should not break out the chairs put out awnings, etc. Remember they are doing you a favor.

Also if you are an Elk member or Moose member some of the Lodges will put you up for a small donation. I am a Elk Member and they have a small paperback book you can purchase with all the Elk locations and their phone numbers so you can call them and ask if they have accomodations for an RV. Some of them have everything and some do not.

We found making reservations were sometimes a problem because when you travel if you like an area and want to stay longer you couldn't because you had to get to point B because of your reservation. But then again sometimes it was neccessary because of the demand in that area. Call ahead of time but call a few of them in the same area. Some have a tendency to tell you what you want to hear and some are just plan honest. Good Luck and Safe Travels to the family and you!

[retusnldo]

As a realatively new RVer, I found it very beneficial to take a few overnight local trips to get familiar with the RV and how things are done. Also, the experience of driving, and probably most important, backing the RV has been very helpful and improved my confidence.

[rvsince92]

There are a few rv parks in cities that are free. Haskell, Rule and Perryton, TX and there is one in Tatum N. Mexico. These are on Hwy 380 except for Perryton. There are books that tell where free and unexpensive campgrounds. Traveling in a full contained RV is the safest way to travel. You don't have to use the public facilities.

[joe589]

ANother good idea is Good Sam road service. Comes in real handy. If you go on line you can download the locations of all the Flying J's, truck stop america

[teemroper2]

As a realatively new RVer, I found it very beneficial to take a few overnight local trips to get familiar with the RV and how things are done. Also, the experience of driving, and probably most important, backing the RV has been very helpful and improved my confidence.

Take what this person said and camp locally with the girls. You will find out waht you forgot, can get comfortable with setting the camper up and taking it down. BIG QUESTION do you know if the girls are going to like riding in a motorhome accross country. Might be worth the experience. MY wife and I camped three weekends in a row 5 miles from the house. I can't tell you how many trips home we made...:)

[frank]

I was ready to give you a lot of advice and then read RVSPACE post and cannot add to it!!!

Follow that advice!!

Enjoy!!

[cruiser]

Hey gymbabe, don't be afraid to stop at rest areas, my wife and I usually take our driving breaks there during the day. A lot of states make it illegal to spend the night and I wouldn't do it except as a last resort. As for reservations, it depends on the part of the country. Some areas are loaded with campgrounds and don't require reservations unless you plan to arrive late. Some are few and far between and reservations are a must. Get a Woodall's or Trailer Life Campground Directory. I would recommend road service with Camping World or Good Sam over AAA. Both have lots of benefits that you can access on line. Also, get your coach weighed after you have it loaded for a trip. You can create a lot of problems if it's overloaded. Keep an eye on your tire pressure, also.

And hey, thanks for the info on crossing the Canadian/US border. Cruiser

[trvlnthrds]

Don't make reservations but have 2 places in mind. If #1 is full you have a backup plan. The only places I make reservations are for the popular national parks like Yellowstone. If you are planning on seeing a lot of the Nat Pks get a Golden Age passport if 62 or their other one for $50 good for a year. Lets you in the parks free. If Golden Age also give you 1/2 price on camping.

[ryegal]

I'm not new to rving but let me advise you check and re check before pulling out step inside your coach scan and keep in mind what is not on the floor or down will be on the first turn or break. Check the fridge door is it locked, I remember when it wasn't and the doz eggs were scrambled only it was on the floor.most rvers have a checklist they check before leaving they are very helpful. enjoy and keep posting so we know how your doing. If you have a laptop you can get wifi by parking near or outside of a libary:) ryegal

[vulcanmomma]

A safety tip for overnight parking.....just remember you don't ever have to open your door. If someone should bang on your door, turn your lights on, maybe even start the motorhome, and shout thru the windows, till you find out what the party wants.

Happy traveling, Vulcanmomma

[tcwal]

If you really want to see America, travel on the U.S. Highways not the interstates. A 27' MH is small enough to fit in most National Park, State Park and Forest Service campgrounds. If you and the girls like lakes, the Corps of Engineers campgrounds are usually excellent and reasonably priced with at least water and electric hookups available at some sites. Many small towns allow RV parking in their parks. I've stayed at several that even provide free electric hookup. Checkout www.freecampgrounds.com.

You did not say how long you had for your trip around North America. I suggest you do not rush. You and the girls will not enjoy the trip if you are driving long distances and rushing from one place to another. Unless this is a trip without time limits, I suggest you be conservative about how far you can travel and how many places you can visit.

Enjoy your trip and travel safe.

[catchthe]

We have been full-timers for 5 years. It is the exception when we make a reservation. The one time the park we wanted to stay at was full up and we left to go to find another campground and we found the nicest little park on the water at a cheaper price. It seems when we make a reservation something comes up along the way that we want to do and we have to miss it.
Don't get stressed out it's suppose to be fun. If you forget something it can usually be replaced. If something breaks just replace it with something unbreakable if possible. You'll meet a lot of interesting people and it's nice if you don't like someone you can just move on - which you can't do if you have a home.
Hopefully we'll meet along the way.