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How to Pack an RV for Camping

How to Pack an RV for Camping
In some ways, packing for an RV is more demanding than packing for a regular camping trip. Imagine putting a studio apartment on wheels and taking it on vacation, and the potential pitfalls should become clear. To properly pack an RV means not just bringing everything you might need on the trip, but putting everything in its proper place and securing it all for a bumpy ride.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Plastic bags
  • Scrap packing foam
  • Scrap cardboard
  • Tool box
  • Packing tape
  • Bungee cords
  • Plastic storage crates and/or cardboard boxes
  • Bubble wrap
Step 1
Secure and protect your cups, dishes and cutlery for the trip. These can move around while on the road, and are prone to damage if you need to slam on the brakes. You should be using plastic or metal plates, so put or wrap them in plastic bags and tie these up tightly. This will keep everything organized during the trip. Ceramic and glassware are a bad idea for an RV, but if you are using them you will need to wrap those with newspaper prior to putting them in a plastic bag, just like you would if you were moving.
Step 2
Secure your pots and pans. These tend to rattle around obnoxiously during a cross-country trip. Put inserts of foam or folded up cardboard to both pad the pots and fill up the space they can move around in.
Step 3
Store all your short tools (hammer, screwdriver, etc.) in a tool box, and store that with your long tools (shovel, wood axe, etc.) in the same cabinet.
Step 4
Lock off all the cabinet doors. If your cabinet doors are not secured by snaps, latches or magnets, they can come open and create a huge mess if you need to stop suddenly. Lock off their handles by tightly binding them with bungee cords, or by taping them shut with packing tape.
Step 5
Put any loose appliances, such as a toaster, into their original boxes and packing material and strap them to the walls with bungee cords. If you do not have the original box, use a plastic storage crate or suitable cardboard box with styrofoam peanuts or bubble wrap.
Step 6
Strap any lawn chairs, camp tables, and other furniture meant for use outside the RV to the walls with bungee cords.
Step 7
Check the bathroom to make sure that everything is put away in the medicine cabinet and drawers, and secure those with packing tape or bungee cords. If your RV has a shower stall, make sure the shower head is properly secured as well, and not laying loose on the floor or cradled above the faucet.

Tips & Warnings

 
Avoid traveling with heavy firewood or storage tanks full of water. Whatever money you save by filling up with cheaper water or wood than what is available at the campground will probably be lost and then some in the added gasoline costs of hauling the extra weight.

Resources

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

Write for Trails.com

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