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How to Choose the Right RV for Your Lifestyle

If you are thinking about buying an RV, you might be overwhelmed by the many options and types of recreational vehicles available. How do you know which one is right for you? Here are some tips to help you narrow down your choices and find the best RV for your lifestyle.

• First, consider your budget. RVs can range from a few thousand dollars for a small pop-up camper to over a million dollars for a luxury motorhome. You also need to factor in the costs of maintenance, insurance, fuel, and storage. Decide how much you can afford to spend on an RV and stick to your budget.
• Second, think about how you plan to use your RV. Do you want to travel across the country or stay close to home? Do you want to camp in RV parks or boondock in remote areas? Do you need a lot of space and amenities or prefer something simple and cozy? Depending on your answers, you might prefer a motorhome, a travel trailer, a fifth wheel, a toy hauler, or a truck camper.
• Third, compare the pros and cons of different RV types. Motorhomes are convenient and easy to drive, but they are also more expensive and harder to park. Travel trailers are versatile and affordable, but they require a tow vehicle and can be tricky to maneuver. Fifth wheels are spacious and comfortable, but they are also heavy and need a special hitch. Toy haulers are great for hauling motorcycles, ATVs, or bikes, but they sacrifice living space for storage. Truck campers are compact and nimble, but they have limited amenities and capacity.

Finally, do your research before you buy. Read reviews, watch videos, visit dealerships, and talk to other RV owners. Find out what features and brands are important to you and what issues or problems to avoid. You can also rent an RV before you buy one to get a feel for it and see if it suits your needs.

Buying an RV is a big decision that requires careful planning and research. By following these tips, you can find the perfect RV for your lifestyle and enjoy the freedom and adventure of RVing.

Once you have chosen the right RV for your lifestyle, you might want to learn some tips and tricks to make your RVing experience more enjoyable and hassle-free. Here are some of the best RV hacks that every camper should know.

RV Camping Hacks

1. Use bungees and ropes to stop RV awnings from flapping. Tired of listening to that annoying fluttering awning? This simple RV awning hack will show you how to keep RV awnings from flapping in the wind.
2. Set up an exterior handwashing station. One of the simple tricks to help family members avoid going in and out of the camper and heavy use of the grey water tank is to create a make-shift bathroom sink outside. Set a 7 gallon water jug or extra large water bottle on a flat surface, like the edge of a table or tree stump. Set liquid pump soap or bar of soap nearby. Hang hand towels on bungee cords from a nearby tree or RV ladder for easy access. This is the perfect solution to avoid using the RV bathroom throughout the day and encourage kids to stay clean, which is one of the most important camping safety tips to stay clean and healthy.
3. Create an external portable RV fresh water tank to refill your onboard tank in the wilderness. What do you mean we ran out of water? You’ll never have to worry about running your tank dry with this portable RV fresh water tank hack.
4. Place rubber band around rolls on paper towel holders to keep them from unraveling in the wind. Did you ever find yourself dishing out bowls of food at your picnic table just to look up and see a “paper towel kite” flying over the next campsite? This is a good hack for any outdoor picnic experience in windy conditions!
5. Refill one pound propane bottles from larger tanks. You can save money and be environmentally friendly if you refill 1 pound propane tanks with a propane refill adapter.
6. Use gizmos to charge your phone without shore power when boondocking. Keeping your phone charged when boondocking is easy … if you know how! These hacks to charge your phone without power will keep your phone alive when there is not an electrical outlet within a hundred miles of you!
7. Make homemade fire starters with dryer lint and toilet paper rolls. How do you start your campfires? This dryer lint tinder hack is a great way to reuse empty toilet paper rolls and dryer lint!

RV Cooking And Food Tips

1. Use an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. The Instant Pot pressure cooker will allow you to make almost effortless, delicious meals in a lot less time than traditional cooking methods. You simply put the ingredients in, set it, and the Instant Pot takes it from there. Bonus: You can vent the Instant Pot outdoors, so cooking won’t add to the humidity levels in your RV. Get recipe inspiration from Do It Yourself RV.
2. Bring a basic tool kit. Be prepared to make minor repairs if you need to by having a basic tool kit with just the essentials. This includes a screwdriver or cordless drill, a few different bits, some screws, an electrical tester, and wrenches like a torque wrench.
3. Pack a hairdryer. A hairdryer can be used for more than just giving you good hair. You can use it to dry wet shoes, thaw frozen pipes, remove stickers, heat shrink tubing, and more.