The best part about camping in an RV is, of course, being able to take along some creature comforts. “Roughing it” is even easier when you follow the advice of veteran campers and campground owners.
It’s always best to make reservations so the campground can plan to accommodate your rig, especially if the area you’ll be visiting has a lot of visitors. Also, unless you’re familiar with an area, you never know what special events might be going on. The campground you want to stay at may be full of people in town for an event. Courtesy of Selena Littman, Candy Hill Campground, Winchester, VA
Make sure that the type of campsite you reserve is what you really want. For example, you might call a campground and say you want a site with electric and sewer service. If you realize on arrival that you really wanted full hookups, the staff may not be able to accommodate you. Also, if you don’t stay at a campground where you have made a reservation, don’t be surprised if you are charged as a no show. If you can’t go to the campground, call to let the staff know, and be sure to get a cancellation number. Without a cancellation number, credit card companies will not reverse the charge. Courtesy of Paul LeClair, Fort Welikit Family Campground, Black Hawk, SD
If you plan to take your pet on vacation with you, when you call campgrounds to make reservations, be sure to ask whether the campground welcomes pets. Courtesy Lt. Col. Virginia Dillon, Alexandria, VA
To save time starting a fire, bring a bundle of fire-starter logs and use a small piece to light the fire.Courtesy of Pete Jones, Westminster, MD
If possible, choose a level or mounded site. With rain, a little valley can turn into a huge headache of a pond!Courtesy of Lorraine Jones, Westminster, MD
Put something on the gearshift lever to remind you to lower the antenna before you leave a campsite, or make a checklist and follow it. Courtesy of David Craft, Anderson Campers, Anderson, CA
When draining the holding tanks of an RV, release the black water first and then the gray water, which helps clean out the system. Courtesy of Richard Hayden, Leonardtown, MD
Traveling to many different campgrounds and needing sanitary hoses of long lengths has sometimes been a problem. I carry both a 10-foot and a 20-foot sanitary hose. I glued a female connector to the 90-degree elbow red connector that has the screw-in adapter for campground pipes so I can connect it to either the short or long hose. Both hoses have male and female connectors on opposite ends so they can be used as extensions. Courtesy of Howard L. Wright, Havre de Grace, MD
Before you leave a campsite, walk around the motorhome to check for connected or items left behind. Courtesy of Pete Jones, Westminster, MD
This is it for today, and enjoy your summer camping.
I’ll be back with more…
Bernice Beard