Planning a First RV Trip? Here Is What You Need to Know to Keep it Budget-Friendly

We are caught up in our lives so badly with all those personal and professional commitments that carving out a time slot to plan a getaway becomes a distant dream. Nevertheless, it is really important to break free from the lackluster everyday routine and to enjoy life outside of its fixed monotonous frame.

RV trips are one of the best ways to unwind with friends and families.  Besides providing a raw and unbridled sense of adventure, RVing is a great way to discover the beautiful landscape of the country. If you are one of those lucky people who have finally succeeded in planning an RV trip, then congratulations! You have made a great decision.

However, if it’s your first time with an RV trip, then it is really important to make sure that you are not going to blow your budget.  Any RV trip spans on several days or even weeks and not having any idea on how to plan the financial side of it can make it a really expensive affair.

For that matter, in this blog, we are going to discuss some tips and measures that can help you in keeping your RV trip more budget-friendly.

Plan the Trip Off-Season

Yes, RVing also have its seasons. Families mostly plan RV trips during summers when kids have long vacations. Moreover, many people also prefer summers for their RV trips because they are able to scale the large part of the country during the season.

This is the reason why peak summer is considered a peak season for RVing. From campgrounds to items that are available on highway filling stations, the price of everything is hiked up during the 2-3 months of summer. If you are traveling with children, then you might not have any other option.

However, if your RV group consists of all adults, then we would recommend you to plan the trip off-season. Besides saving a substantial amount of money on any service and amenity that you are going to avail on your route, you will get a more serene atmosphere in the off-season.

The campgrounds won’t be bustling with noise and you can easily pick up the spot of your choice. Moreover, you will find roads with low traffic volume, which are perfect for a more fulfilling cruising.

Efficient Use of Fuel

Your RV trip is literally powered by fuel. If you are not being diligent with its use, then the cost of fuel will knock your entire budget off balance. There are certain things that you should take care of while planning and during the trip to make the entire journey more fuel-efficient.

Don’t Drive Against the Wind

Before heading out, check what’s the direction and speed of gust on your departure route. You can easily find it through the internet. If the wind is in the opposite direction with average speed lingering around 10 knots, then it is recommended to change your route. Strong winds can put a lot of drag on heavy RV bodies, which affects its fuel economy and also makes the driving more challenging.

Don’t Overspeed

When roads and tracks are empty, drivers often get overwhelmed by an impulse of accelerating the vehicle to its top speed. But you have to be careful when you are at the wheel of an RV. First of all, it will unnecessarily increase your fuel expenses. Secondly and more importantly, it will cut short your journey. What’s the point of an RV trip if you want to end up the journey in haste?

Use Renewable Energy

If you are spending nights within your RV or even making a small camp outside, you will need a sizeable amount of electricity that can’t be fulfilled through the vehicle’s regular batteries. For that reason, many people carry along with a diesel generator that consumes a lot of fuel and makes a lot of noise.

You can get around the entire fuel cost and noise by getting a portable solar generator for your journey. Solar generators are a one-time expenditure with no overhead and maintenance costs. You can use them besides your RV trips as well. You can cut down your utility bills and lessen the burden on the main grid by using a solar generator.

Getting a portable solar generator is an investment that will continue to pay dividends for a long time. PoweredPortableSolar.com can guide you more regarding these renewable portable options and how they can be used in different settings.

Save on Food and Other Basic Amenities

Many people don’t have any idea how to manage the food on an RV trip and as a result, they end up spending more than their dedicated budget. To begin with, don’t plan to spend money on convenience foods along the trip. RVs have enough space. So, you can take a large supply of canned food and dry snacks with you.

And for roadside restaurants, plan your itinerary beforehand. Search all the establishments along the route on the internet and compare their prices and service through Yelp or TripAdvisor. It will help you in making a predefined budget for your restaurant spending. If possible keep a portable stove with you to have some occasional cooking out there in the open.

Similarly, make sure you are packing enough toiletries and other basic items with you so that you don’t have to pay extra for them on the trip.

Circumvent Big City Centers and Events

Remember that the main objective of an RV trip is to get a break from a formulaic and frenzied metropolitan life. So, there is no point in traveling your RV from one city to another. Similarly, you have the entire year to attend events and performances.  So, it is better if you avoid both these things on your RV trips.

A more cleansing and fulfilling experience would be driving around in any National Park.  Vehicle passes for National parks are available in nominal prices and you can use them all around the year.

We hope that these tips will help you in keeping your first RV trip a budget-friendly affair.

Bon Voyage!