At first glance, it may seem that renting a recreational vehicle is a no-brainer. You can drive, so slipping behind the wheel of an RV should in many ways be a familiar exercise. But it’s not. You must take into consideration that the vehicle you drive day-to-day isn’t as long as a school bus, or as sluggish as a 13-year-old listening to her iPod. Yes, an RV has a steering wheel, an accelerator and brake pedals, but it takes more than just filling out a rental form to make an RV experience a pleasant one.

“RVing is really quite fun,” says Gerard Pedata of Pedata RV Center. “But jumping in and not knowing what you’re doing at all is definitely the best way to lose all the fun of camping and RVing. I suggest that new RV owners drive their RV around town and on familiar freeways and highways prior to taking their first trip. Everything is more fun if RVers are comfortable with their vehicle.”

Here, courtesy of Pedata, are some tips to make that first-time RV experience a success:

1. Know your RV

Find out everything you need to know about your vehicle prior to departure. For instance, learn how to hook up all the electric running lights and connections on the camper or tow vehicle. This is the type of stuff that needs to be figured out before you need it.

2. Have a plan

There is a lot of information available online regarding appropriate campgrounds. Guidebooks are also excellent sources of valuable information. Before you head out on your adventure, make sure you have a plan and study the layout of the campground you will use. Know where your water hookups and electrical connections are -- this will save you a lot of headaches once you arrive.

3. Make it brief

For the first outing, keep the length down to a few days. This will give you a good stepping stone to a more extended adventure if you like the first experience. The next trip will find you a much more comfortable driver and camper, and you'll feel more confident about taking a longer trip.

 

Tom Ripley is a contributing editor for Driving Today. He writes frequently about autos, safety and the human condition from his home in Villeperce, France

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