Six things NOT to do when renting an RV

Forget your trailer park misconceptions: If you’re planning a long haul road trip, either in the U.S. or abroad, renting an RV may be your most cost-effective way to travel.

At least that’s what my husband and I found when we took a 24-foot-long campervan through the South and North islands of New Zealand last fall. Not only did we have more freedom to go where we wanted without waiting for buses or trains, we saved money on eating out – and had fun meeting other travelers at our campsite each night.

RVing does have its pitfalls, however, and we noticed plenty of them on our week-long trip. Here’s a few things that could inject a sour note into your open road opus:

Rent the biggest vehicle you can find. You might see this trip as a time to indulge your Big Rig fantasies. But you’re much better off renting a smaller campervan that handles well, particularly if you’re going anywhere that involves twisty roads or mountain overpasses. Smaller RVs are also better on stretches of open highway, where strong winds can push your vehicle around the road.

Ignore vehicle briefings. Our campervan came with a DVD that cut off halfway through the instructions. “We’ll figure it out,” said my husband, who was eager to hit the road. Ha. Those 15 minutes we saved by leaving the parking lot early were nothing compared to the hour it took us to figure out how to dump out the sewage. Never again.Pack too much stuff. Most campervans have elaborate storage systems, with cubby drawers, hidden compartments and spaces under seats to place your things. Which you’ll need, because if you don’t put your hiking shoes away, they will become projectile missiles during the next curve in the road.

We passed several RVs that looked stuffed to the brim, with stressed-out people in the driver’s seat. Only bring the basics; most RVs come with all of the dishes, silverware, bedding and towels that you’ll need.

Fail to check your surroundings. The scene unfolded like one from a Chevy Chase movie: Our mouths screamed “Nooooo” as a neighbor pulled out of his campsite with his RV electrical cord still hooked up to the outlets. The resulting noises were not pleasant. If you’re absent-minded, write your debarkation routine on a slip of paper that you review each morning.

Annoy your neighbors. RVers are an early bunch, with many hitting the road before dawn. You’ll be the star of the holiday park if you invoke MI6 agent stealth and leave noiselessly, without rattling all of the recycling bins (you know who you are).

Once you’ve selected your campsite for the night, it’s also considered poor etiquette to walk too close to your neighbor’s vehicle. Saying hello at the communal BBQ pit is fine, lurking outside someone else’s windows isn’t. And when that van is rocking, definitely don’t go knocking.

Plan a packed itinerary. Sure, you could take 72 hours to criss-cross Arizona. But where’s the fun in that? Plan two-day or three-day stops at RV parks so you have time to leave the vehicle and see the sights. Otherwise, you might as well fly.

Travel writer Chris Gray Faust writes about Value Luxury Vacations on her website, Chris Around The World.

RVs: Handy Tips

Two years ago we sat in an RV of a friend of a friend contemplating buying it. It was a passing fancy, but it was fun to look at the bathroom, open the cabinets and watch the walls whir out as the owner flipped the switch to show how we could make it expand. My son mentioned buying an RV this week. I don’t know where he got that idea.

There is something about the idea of driving a vehicle you can live in around the country that has some appeal. But, on the other hand, every time I see one, I think of the gas they use.

Here is a resource I came across if you are thinking about putting an RV in your future. DMV.org has pages devoted to RVs. There is a link devoted to stocking an RV. Another tells you how and where to park it. Another gives handy info about how to drive it and not get stuck under overpasses. I read about a particular overpass in Colorado where RVs are always getting stuck which gave me the idea for this post. I can’t find the specifics now that I’m looking. Just be careful.

Maybe I think of RVs from time time since I once had fantasies of becoming a truck driver. Since the car I’m most comfortable driving is a Toyota Corolla, I’m not sure how that would have worked out.