Category: RV Living

RV Safety Tips And Information That Could Save Your Life

In this article we’re going to be talking about a very important subject. And that is RV safety tips.

And we’ll cover items and procedures that can save your life.

Now I know that there’s a lot of folks that are a little hesitant to talk about safety issues.

Either it kind of bores them or they may feel a little uncomfortable talking about things that could possibly happen.

But as RV inspectors, it’s amazing how often RV safety items are not getting the attention that they deserve.

Maybe the owner is taking care of all the other items that are mechanical. Or maybe they are maintaining all of the RV appliances.

But very often they are not thinking about the safety items in the RV. And that’s really not a good thing to do.

Watch my video about the best RV safety tips

Table of Contents

Why Talking About RV Safety Is Important

You know, most of my articles and videos are usually about how to save money with RVing.

Or how to make your time spent RVing more enjoyable and that kind of thing.

But this article’s information is some of the most important that I can share with you.

And that’s because I’m really not going to be talking about saving money in this article. Instead, I’m going to be talking about saving lives.

So this is very, very important information to consider.

RV Safety Hazards When RVing

Now there’s several things that could become issues that can arise around an RV. And the first that could become very hazardous is fire!

I mean that could happen anywhere, almost wherever we go in an RV.

But you also have to be careful about inhaling too much LP or propane. That’s because propane is a big part of RV living for the most part.

You also need to be concerned about inhaling too much carbon monoxide as well.

Carbon monoxide is formed whenever there’s combustion of any kind of fuel.

And because there’s usually a few different kinds of fuels on an RV, there is the possibility of that being an issue.

Also there’s the whole subject of road safety. As you know going down the road, there’s the possibility of a tire blow out.

And that could cause a loss of control or you could get in an accident, things along that line.

So clearly there are hazards that we need to be aware of and that we need to prepare for.

And that’s what we’re going to talk about in this article. Ways to prepare so that we don’t get into a major issue and problem.

Or if a major incident does unfortunately develop, we know exactly how to handle it when it happens.

RV Safety Tips #1 – Smoke Detectors

Now the first thing we want to talk about is fire safety. And with fire safety, the first line of defense really is your smoke detectors.

So, along that line many wonder how many should you have?

Well for us, we have a 40-foot motorhome and I’m not comfortable with just one. We have one in the front and one in the back.

There is one important thing to note here. And that is no matter how many you have, you need to make sure that they’re not only there.

But you’ve also got to make sure they’re actually working and functioning.

To do that there’s usually a test button on it somewhere. So when you press the test button, you are making sure that the power is available for that smoke detector to actually work.

Now if it does not test as working, usually it’s just a battery or maybe a couple of batteries.

And if they need to be replaced, replace them right away!

Smoke detectors do no good if they don’t have the power to actually be able to function.

Now the other thing is, you need to make sure that smoke detectors are not out of date.

And it’s generally recognized that there’s a 10-year life span for most smoke detectors.

However, make sure that you consult the manufacturer for the ones that you have and follow their directions.

Generally speaking, in most cases it’ll be about a 10 year life span. And if they’re beyond that, don’t take the chance, just get rid of them.

Get some new ones. They’re not that expensive anyway, and once again, it’s really about saving your life.

RV Safety Tips #2 – Fire Extinguishers

Now the next line of defense on fire safety is fire extinguishers. If a fire breaks out, you want to be able to curtail it as quickly as possible.

The number one place to have a fire extinguisher is right by the entry door to the RV.

And that’s where you’ll notice almost all manufacturers put them, right by that front door. Why?

Well because that enables you to use the fire extinguisher both inside and outside. It’s quickly accessed for either place.

But now once again, if you have a bigger RV, you may consider having more than just one.

For instance, we have three fire extinguishers in our RV. There’s one by the front door and we have one in the very back closet too.

But we also have one right in the middle of the RV underneath the sink.

The point is to make sure you have a fire extinguisher that’s easily available to you.

And that you can access it within just a few steps from anywhere you may be in the RV.

But, as with smoke detectors, you need to make sure that these fire extinguishers are not out of date.

Generally speaking, most fire extinguishers are out of date after 12 years.

However, once again, make sure that you follow the manufacturer guidelines on that extinguisher. And if it needs replacing, replace it immediately! Again, lives are at stake!

RV Safety Tips #3 – Exit Windows

Now there is a third point we want to make about fire safety. And this is one that I see a lot of folks do not follow.

They may be good about smoke alarms and great about fire extinguishers. But they don’t know where their exit windows are in the RV.

You know we all generally think, if a fire happens I’ll just run out the door. But what if there’s a fire by the door?

Well that makes things a lot more difficult. So manufacturers of RVs usually place an exit window somewhere.

This is a window that is easily removed. And one where it’s big enough that you can actually get out of your RV.

For us, in our RV, we have two of them. So, you need to know where they are. How do you do that?

They’re very often actually labeled and say “exit window” on them.

Or another dead giveaway is red levers on that window. If you see red levers where you pull them to push the window out, that’s usually where your exit window is.

So know where they are! And make sure everyone who’s going to be traveling with you in your RV knows where they are as well.

Again, it could really save a life!

RV Safety Tips #4 – LP Detectors

All right, let’s move along now from fire safety to LP or propane safety.

The RV manufacturers usually put an LP detector on every single RV out there.

You’ll find them usually kind of low to the ground in the RV. The reason for that is because propane often stays low to the ground.

And since it stays in a lower area, they put it down closer to the floor. Usually it’s on a wall or maybe a cabinet.

But it’s often going to be within about a foot or two from the floor. And when you find it, once again there’s a test button.

Usually that test button allows you to make sure that the detector has power, and it’s actually able to function.

If it’s functioning, the next step is to take the screws off. There’s usually one on each side of the detector.

After taking those off, then pull the detector out and look on the back plate.

And what you’re often going to find there is the manufacture date of that detector.

Now this is important because you don’t want one that’s beyond its lifespan.

Typically LP detectors are designed only to last for about five years.

Once again, check the manufacturer guidelines for the one you have. But most are around five years.

If it is beyond its lifespan, take that one out and get another one in there right away.

Is Your LP Detector Actually Detecting LP?

Now there is one more thing to do. So far, you have made sure you’ve got a current LP detector. And you made sure that it’s got power coming into it.

But all of this still doesn’t tell you if it’s actually working . So here is what I do to test a LP detector while I’m inspecting an RV.

It’s a little trick that inspectors like to use to test LP detectors. It helps make sure that they’re actually detecting LP gas like they should.

All you need to do is use a little butane lighter which is a very common thing to purchase.

First you pull the trigger and ignite the flame. After the flame is lit, while still keeping the trigger depressed, blow out the flame.

Now because the trigger is still depressed, there’s a little bit of butane that’s coming out of the end.

All you need to do then, is put the end of the torch down by the sensor of the LP detector.

It’ll still be emitting that little bit of butane. And usually within two to three minutes the detector will pick up on it and it will sound the alarm.

If it does, then you know everything’s working the way it should. Now if it doesn’t, have it examined by a qualified RV technician or just go ahead and replace it.

You don’t want an LP detector that does not detect. So this is a little trick that RV inspectors use to make sure that LP detectors are actually working.

So there you have it for LP safety. Make sure that you’ve got a current detector. And that it has power, and that it is actually detecting LP or propane properly.

RV Safety Tips #5 – Propane Leaks

Now next on our list is that we want to check for LP leaks too. You can forestall a lot of problems if you know that a leak is starting to happen.

So look for wherever there’s some kind of connection for the propane line coming out of the tanks. For instance, maybe going into the hot water heater or the furnace.

Or wherever else you find an LP line that has a connection.

Then get some soapy water that will allow you to be able to test those connections. Or there’s also solutions that are actually sold on Amazon for that purpose.

Now you never want to test those connections with any kind of flame. But what you can do is take that soapy water and spray it on the connection.

Initially you’re going to see some bubbling take place just from the soap that’s in the water. But that’ll fade very quickly.

Then before the water in the soapy solution actually evaporates, look for bubbles.

See if you see any bubbles happening while there’s still solution on there after that initial bubble up.

If you do, there’s a leak there. And that’s something that needs to be addressed right away by a qualified RV technician.

All right, so we’ve covered LP safety. Now let’s move along to talk about carbon monoxide detectors.

Why Carbon Monoxide Is Dangerous In An RV

We mentioned before that carbon monoxide takes place whenever there’s any combustion of fuel.

Well often, especially if you have a motorhome, you’re going to have a few sources of combustion.

Number one, you have your engine. So the engine itself is combusting fuel as it’s moving down the road.

Also, you could have other kinds of things running that could produce carbon monoxide.

You could have carbon monoxide being formed by your generator when it’s running.

Or by the propane that’s being used by your hot water heater or by your furnace.

All of these are things that can create carbon monoxide. And if you aren’t careful, sometimes these items may not be working like they should.

So some carbon monoxide can begin to build up inside in the living area and could be lethal to you.

RV Safety Tips #6 – Carbon Monoxide Detectors

So you need carbon monoxide detectors or “CO detectors” to warn you.

Now in order to do that you’ve got to have enough for the size of your RV. They’re similar to smoke detectors in that respect.

You need to have enough for your RV’s size. And once again, make sure they’re not expired.

When it comes to CO detectors, it’s generally a five year life span. But again, check with the manufacturer of the one that you have and follow their guidelines.

And make sure that you test them to verify that they’re actually working. You want to be sure that they have some kind of power going to them.

And if batteries need to be replaced, go ahead and do that immediately.

With CO detectors and smoke detectors, they need to be RV approved too.

So don’t go down to Home Depot and buy ones that are used in residential homes to put in your RV.

You really need RV approved smoke detectors and CO detectors.

Now sometimes the CO detector will be combined with the LP detector.

But if it’s not in your LP detector, make sure you have a separate CO detector.

RV Safety Tips #7 – Your Tires

So far, we’ve covered a lot of RV safety topics. Now let’s shift gears a little bit to start talking about road safety.

This is an area where I often see more problems than almost anywhere else. There are many RVs on the road not being handled safely.

The first way to make sure that you’re practicing road safety is to take care of your RV tires.

You know, tires are the thing that actually is gripping the ground.

So that’s the one thing that makes your connection with the road. And if something goes wrong with that, well you can easily lose control.

So the first thing you want to know is: what should the tire pressure be for the weight of my RV? That’s number one.

And the manufacturer of your RV tires usually makes a chart for this purpose.

Then you need to make sure that you keep your tires at the correct tire pressure.

And if you have a tire pressure monitoring system, well that makes it pretty easy.

In fact, you can at a glance make sure that the proper tire pressure is in your tires.

But if you don’t have one of those, then make sure that you regularly check that tire pressure manually. And that everything is what it really should be.

RV Tire Age Is Very Important

Now you also don’t want to run on tires that have aged out. And the truth is that RV tires usually age out before they wear out.

In your car, you run your tires so often that they usually wear out before they age out. But not so on RVs.

So there’s a need for you to monitor the age of your tires. How do you do that?

Well on the tire sidewall just look for a four numeral code.

Know your RV tires date code for RV safety tips
A typical RV tire date code

It may be difficult to find sometimes. But if they’re located on the outside of the tire, that’s when it’s easy.

There are other cases when it’s on the inside of the tire because that’s just the way it was mounted.

Now after locating this four digit code, notice the first two digits of that code. This is the week that the tire was manufactured.

The second two digits is the year of its manufacture. And check to see if that year of manufacture date is more than six years old.

Why? Because most tire manufacturers recommend that you replace them at six years of use.

So make sure you know the age of your tires. That way you won’t be driving on tires that have aged out. That could be potentially a very serious safety hazard.

So monitor the age of your tires very, very closely.

RV Safety Tips #8 – Highway Speeds

Now the next point we want to make on road safety is to drive at a safe speed.

I can’t tell you how many times that we’re going down the road and we get passed like we’re standing still.

By RV’s, big RV’s, going 80 to 85 miles an hour and sometimes more. I can tell you that those tires were not made to be traveling at that kind of speed.

So it’s better to slow down a little bit. Most tires for RVs are made to travel somewhere between 60 and 65 miles per hour.

Maybe a little bit more at times, but don’t make a habit out of it.

If you run those tires at the right speed, then heat doesn’t build up excessively in the tire. And that is what often causes a blowout in many cases.

So that’s the number one reason for driving at a reasonable speed. It’ll make sure that your tires have the optimum conditions for traveling.

Keep Your Distance On The Highway

But there’s a second reason that you want to slow down and keep a normal speed. And that is because your RV weighs a lot.

So since RVs have a lot of weight behind them, what happens if you’ve got to stop them quickly?

Well the longer you have to do that, the better the likelihood you will stop safely.

I personally like to have plenty of space between us and the vehicle in front of us.

That way if anything happens, then I can stop that RV as quickly as possible. And without fear of running into something when I do.

So it’s important to make sure that you keep that space between you and the next vehicle.

By the way if you’re traveling at a little bit slower speed that kind of happens automatically. Because people just go around you and pass you and go way ahead.

And that’s great because that gives you plenty of room in case something does happen.

So for road safety make sure that you keep a safe speed. And that you keep those tires in really good condition as you’re traveling down the highway.

Why RV Safety Is So Important

Well my friends, RV safety is just not that exciting until your life is in danger.

And then it becomes very exciting! But the wrong kind of excitement at that point.

That’s the kind of excitement we can all live without, right?

We just don’t want to be in those stressful kinds of situations. And remember you can’t unring that bell when tragedy has already struck.

So the solution is prepare well beforehand. Put safety first!

And that’s the way that very often you can avoid different kinds of bad situations. Or maintain control if they do happen.

Now we don’t want to say that you’ve got to live in fear of RVs. Or worry about traveling in RVs. That’s going a little too far in the other direction.

But what we can say is this. If you practice the safety procedures that we have talked about today.

And if you keep them as part of your regular RV maintenance routine.

Then most likely that will ensure that you can safely enjoy your RVing adventures pretty much anywhere you want to go.

Have safe and happy travels my friendsโ€ฆ until next time.

RV Fuel Savings That Help Lower Your RVing Travel Costs

In this article we’re going to be talking about RV fuel savings.

I did a video on this subject a while back, but time marches on and changes keep happening in the world.

So there’s new methods now that have become available for saving on fuel costs, and that video kind of needs a little updating.

And we want to include more than just information on how to save on diesel fuel.

Instead, we are also going to cover how you can save on gasoline costs as well.

So bear with me because there’s something here for everybody. You’re going to find some way to save on fuel costs.

You know this really is an important subject for RVers. Because when you add it all up at the end of the month, fuel costs can be one of the largest expenses.

This is true especially for full-timers RVers that are really traveling and moving a lot.

So if you can save a little bit each time on your fuel ups, well by the end of the year it can add up to a lot of money.

In fact it certainly worked that way for us in our RVing travels.

We’ll talk a little bit more about that as we go along. But let’s go ahead and get started on the first way to save money on RV fuel.

Watch my video about RV fuel savings

Table of Contents

RV Fuel Savings For Diesel Engines

The first problem I want to talk about is for those of us who have an RV such as a diesel pusher motorhome.

Or it could also be a big, long fifth wheel or an RV that is something like that.

This problem is not for those folks that can get up next to the pump with a smaller RV. On most occasions, there will be adequate room for that.

The problem is that those with big rigs can have a hard time getting in and getting out of fuel stations. Which can cause quite a problem at times.

You know I got caught a couple of times on this in the past. I mean I really sweated it, because we had pulled in to the station and we got our fuel.

But then getting out was a real challenge. In fact, I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get out at all a couple of times.

So i just decidedโ€ฆ hey, I’m not putting myself and my rig through that anymore.

I’m going to the bigger fuel centers, you know the truck fuel centers. So we decided to do that. But now how do you save money there?

Clearly these fuel stations are set up for the big commercial trucks. So how do you save money as an RVer?

Well the good news is we found the program that’s called TSD Logistics.

Disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means โ€“ at no additional cost to you โ€“ I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our affiliate links. I only link to products and companies I use and feel comfortable recommending. The income goes toward supporting the free content on this website

Using An RV Fuel Card For Savings

And TSD Logistics is a program that allows RVers to share in the discounts and savings that commercial trucks are able to get when they go to the big truck centers.

So when you pull in, you just use your card and you get similar savings to what the commercial truckers are getting.

Why? Because lots of RVers are banding together and using their buying power together to get those discounts. So it’s really good for big rigs.

But again, it’s not just about where you’re actually fueling up. It’s also about being able to get in and get out too.

If a big commercial truck can get in there, fuel up and easily get out, well then, my rig can too.

We have found that it’s not a problem for us and makes things much safer, more comfortable, and just much easier.

It also usually makes it very easy to get off the highway to one of those fuel centers and get back on. So that program has worked well for us.

Our Savings Using The RV Fuel Card

But you know we really didn’t understand exactly how well it had worked for us. Not until we added up all the savings over the course of the last year.

What we found is that we had saved over seven hundred dollars by using the TSD card at these truck centers as we went across the country.

Very often we will get savings of 60 to 80 cents a gallon off what the listed price was. That’s really good and it’s added up to quite a bit for us.

How The RV Fuel Card Works

Now one thing to know about the TSD card. And this is the thing that some some folks have a little issue with.

That is that they’re going to require that you attach the use of their card to a bank account.

So after you use the card, about a day or two later they withdraw the funds. The discounted funds then come out of your bank account.

Some folks are a little leery about that and I can understand that. But you know we went ahead and decided to give it a try.

And we have never had a problem. We have used it multiple times across the country on our travels so far. And It has worked very well for us.

I know several other folks in the full-time RV lifestyle who use the same card too. And they get the same results.

Generally everyone’s very happy with it. So I can highly recommend it for those of you with big rigs with diesel engines.

RV Fuel Savings – How To Get An RV Fuel Card

I’m going to put a link to it below here. You can go there. You can check it out and see what you think.

RV fuel savings with the TSD fuel discount card
Click here for more information about the TSD fuel discount card

If you want to go ahead, you just fill out the information and they’ll put your application in process.

Now it will ask for a referrer. And if you don’t mind please put in RV Inspection And Care as the person who referred you to them.

Click here to apply for the TSD fuel discount card

That’s helpful for us. It’s not necessary, but it would be appreciated.

Another Great RV Fuel Card To Consider

Well now that brings us to our next program. Again this is more for RVers with bigger rigs as well.

It’s an alternative to the TSD card. It is a program called My Diesel Savings Program.

RV fuel savings with the "My Diesel Savings Program"

It’s very similar and is used in the same places. And you’re going to be able to get discounts for your RV diesel fuel.

But probably the advantage here is that you can choose to link a credit card to receive your savings rather than just a bank account.

So that is something that a lot of folks are a little more comfortable with.

I don’t have this program. But I do know folks that are in the RV lifestyle that have this card and they use it.

They have very good results and they’re very happy with it as well.

An RV Fuel Card Comparison

Now I made kind of a little bit of a cursory comparison. Not very in-depth at all, but just a generalized comparison of fuel prices.

A comparison between what they offer as a discount and what TSD offers generally speaking.

And I still think TSD offers a little more of a discount. But you may choose to get the My Diesel Savings Program card instead.

That’s because you like to to link it up to your credit card. Either way is a savings though. In fact, you could have both cards if you want.

There’s nothing wrong with that. And that way you would have access to something no matter where you go.

It’s just that for us the TSD card is already something we use. We are very comfortable with it, and we just haven’t added the other card yet.

But on the basis of others I know who have it, I can recommend it at this point.

RV Fuel Savings For Smaller Diesel Engines

Well now, we’ve talked about the big rigs. But there’s a lot of RVs out there that aren’t big rigs.

What about all you folks that have diesel engines in your RV such as maybe a smaller Class A, Class C, Class B?

Or maybe you have a towable RV that uses a a truck with a diesel engine in it.

You’re not really considered a big rig. Your size is more manageable and a little more nimble than the big rigs.

Well, you could use all a lot of other fuel stations that are available out there.

And the good news is there is an app that will allow you to get discounts on your fuel there too. This app is called MudFlap.

RV fuel savings using MudFlap

Now again, I don’t use this app. However, I think I can recommend it.

This is because MudFlap operates on both the Apple platform and the Android platform. And the reviews for the app on both places is very good!

For instance, on the Apple platform it gets a 4.8 star review and that’s pretty good for an app.

How To Use The MudFlap App

What this app really focuses on is not using the big truck centers. That’s because if you don’t have a big rig, you don’t need to be going in there.

It focuses more on the normal type of fuel stations across the country. On the mom and pop stations and the chains that you see along the roads and highways.

All you do is go in and use the app along with your credit card. Then you get savings. And those savings appear to be fairly substantial too.

So this is something for you to consider, the use of the MudFlap app. Once again it’s use is with a credit card not with your bank account.

So a lot of people like it for that reason as well.

RV Fuel Savings For Gasoline Engines

Well, we have talked so far about diesel fuel savings. But what about all you folks out there with gasoline engines?

You know, it could be Class A, Class B, or Class C or you could have a truck that has a gasoline engine in it. One that’s pulling your RV as well.

Are you just out in the cold? No! The good news is there are choices there to save on your fuel costs as well.

And probably the first one I’d like to mention on that is a program that we do use. It’s called Gas Buddy.

RV fuel savings using GasBuddy

Now GasBuddy is an app you can download and it works in two different ways.

How To Use The Cheapest Gas In Your Area

It just depends on how much discount you really want depending on what you do. The first way is one that is totally free for you to use.

This app is used to find the lowest price gasoline cost in your area wherever you are.

You just hit a little spot on the app that says “Find Gas”. And it goes out there and it will search your local area.

Then it will come back with a list of all the fuel stations in the area you are in, and their prices.

So all you have to do is find the lowest price and see if it’s within a reasonable driving distance.

And very often you’re going to save 10 to 15 cents or more a gallon. Just simply because you know where the lowest cost fuel is in the area. And that works out really well.

A Way To Get Even More RV Fuel Savings

But now if you want to take it to another level, GasBuddy also offers a credit card.

If you use their credit card along with finding the lowest cost fuel stations you’re going to get even more savings.

There’s incentives, further discounts and so on available by using their card.

Now GasBuddy users often say that they can save 20 to 25 cents a gallon fairly easily. And some even much more. So this is something to consider.

I mean you can’t go wrong just using the app to find the lowest cost gas in your area.

But if you get the card, it could even lead to much greater fuel savings.

Now we find that this works very well for us to use it just to search out the local savings on gasoline.

But that leads us to our next point about ways to save on gasoline costs.

RV Fuel Savings Using Discount Clubs

We shouldn’t forget the discount clubs that are out there. You know, Costco and Sam’s Club especially.

They’re the two biggies. And don’t forget about them because they often provide really good low-cost fuel, especially gasoline.

So if you get a Costco card, that’s the one we have because we just prefer Costco, then you can use it all across this country. Just as we’ve done as we have traveled.

We, of course, don’t use it for our RV because we have a diesel engine.

But we also have a tow vehicle. We have a CRV. So why not save money on our gasoline costs as well?

And it really adds up when you keep getting your gasoline at 10 to 20 cents a gallon cheaper than you would by just paying the normal price for it in the area. So you may want to consider that.

And there’s another advantage of having the card for either Costco or Sam’s Club. And that is it doesn’t just help you with your fuel costs.

Other Reasons To Join A Discount Club

You get discounts on tons of products by going in and shopping there.

And we really do mean we have gotten a lot of savings from using the Costco card.

There’s a lot of things we like to buy as we go along. And then sort of take them with us on our travels.

Now there is a membership cost for getting either a Costco or Sam’s Club card.

But when you add up the savings of the fuel and all the other things that it can save you, we feel it’s worth at least looking into.

Which one should you get? Well, it’s kind of a personal decision.

We like Costco. But you may find that Sam’s Club works better for you. Or you could even get both of them.

I know some people who have both discount cards. Either way you’re going to save money.

Conclusion

Well, that kind of brings us to a conclusion on what I wanted to talk about today.

About my suggestions for saving on fuel costs for your RV.

But I would love to hear from you as well. Please share with me any tips, ideas, or suggestions that you have come across for saving money on RV fuel costs.

Please put that down in the comments below. Because we all benefit when we share the knowledge that we have on RVing.

Well that’s it for now. As always have safe and happy travels my friendsโ€ฆ until next time.

Campgrounds vs Boondocking

The following is a transcript of my podcast on “Campgrounds vs Boondocking”:

“Hello everyone and welcome to the RV Inspection And Care channel podcast.

Today’s subject is “campgrounds versus boondocking”. And you know, really there’s so many ways to go camping in your RV.

And there’s no one right way for everybody. Lots of folks love to spend most of their time in campgrounds, if not all of their time.

Then there are others that love to spend most or all of their time boondocking. And then there are those that mix the two together.

Whatever works for you is fine. Now, for the sake of our discussion today though let’s go ahead and define what boondocking is.

That’s because it means different things to different people. But for this discussion, boondocking doesn’t mean overnight stays.

You know, at rest stops and Walmarts and places like that. No, boondocking refers for this discussion to going out in rural areas for an extended period of time with no hookups.

Okay, so now that we have that definition going for us, let’s get started on the pros and the cons of campgrounds vs boondocking.

Click here to view all of my RV podcasts

The Pros And Cons Explained

And the first pro of campgrounds is the hookups. The easy hookups that you have available to you.

It’s so nice to just pull into your site, hook up your electric, hook up your water, and probably even be able to hook up your sewer in many cases.

And then you’re all set. Then when you leave, you just unhook and you’re gone. Well, that’s a real advantage!

Campgrounds Pro #2

Another advantage is having access to larger bathrooms and showers.

A lot of people like that. Rather than using the bathroom and shower that many times is smaller and more cramped in their RV.

Instead, they have these really nice showers and bathrooms, and so that’s an advantage too.

campgrounds pro #3

But now, the next pro for campgrounds is amenities. Things like pools and volleyball and mini golf.

And all those other things that campgrounds love to give you to make your stay there enjoyable.

Well, that’s that’s a real advantage. That’s a pro, especially if you have a family.

campgrounds pro #4

The next pro is that when you stay at campgrounds, you usually have the best possible internet access while you’re camping.

And what I mean by that is that usually campgrounds are located fairly close to towns or urban areas.

And this is where there is access to the internet, especially on a cellular use of the internet.

So that’s an advantage. And you know, I have to say that for us when we have gone across the US camping, we stay in campgrounds most of the time.

And roughly 90 to 95 percent of the time, using our hot spot, we have excellent internet access. So that’s a pro for campgrounds.

campgrounds pro #5

The next pro is that you can plan your travels out in advance well if you’re a planner.

And the reason you can do that is because of reservations. You just call in advance and you make a reservation.

And so when you show up you’re pretty well assured that you’ve got a spot. And that’s nice for those who like to plan in advance.

campgrounds pro #6

The next pro is that you can often be very close to urban areas or towns or places that have attractions.

You know, like museums and things like that, that would be nice to go and visit. So that’s a pro too.

campgrounds pro #7

The next pro is about security. But it’s not really about being secure because that’s kind of controversial.

Some people that are boondockers are quick to tell you: “Hey, we’re just as secure as anybody where we are, even though we’re out there. There’s no problem with security there”.

But we’re not going to talk about that. We’re going to talk about how people FEEL.

And very often people FEEL more secure in campgrounds. When they know especially that there’s maybe a gate at the entrance, or maybe a security force that patrols and things like that.

So oftentimes people feel more secure in campgrounds.

Well now, let’s move on to the cons of campgrounds. Because it’s not all pros.

Campgrounds vs Boondocking – Campground Cons

And the number one con is the expense of campgrounds. Yes, if you stay every night of the year in campgrounds, well you’re going to run up a pretty good bill.

Especially if you don’t have something like a discount membership, or a membership like Thousand Trails.

Those can really bring your camping costs down quite a bit. But even so you’re still going to be spending more money in campgrounds than you will boondocking. And that’s pretty clear.

campgrounds con #2

Now the next con is that you’re going to have to camp next to other RVers. And when I say next to them, usually there’s very little separation between sites.

And in some cases, it’s kind of ridiculous you know, how close you are.

In some campgrounds, you’re within inches of each other slides. And so that can be kind of irritating. So that can be a con for staying in campgrounds.

campgrounds con #3

The third con is a big one. And that is the irritation of some campgrounds.

You know, when we’re talking about staying next to other RVers, well it could be any number of things.

They could be playing loud music. Their dogs could be barking all the time.

They could be just loud people and have lots of people over. And they’re all just partying out there.

Well this can be a little bit of an irritation. Because you’re really close by someone else, and that noise just filters right over to your campsite. Well, that’s a con for some campgrounds.

campgrounds con #4

The next con for campgrounds is less nature intensive experiences.

You know, campgrounds, many of them get you closer to nature. But you you’re not really immersed in nature like you are when you’re out boondocking.

So for some that’s a con. Because they still have to get out and drive to go and really be in nature.

campgrounds con #5

The last con is if you don’t like to plan, if you’re spontaneous, well then you’re going to have a struggle for reservations.

These days especially after Covid, reservations are becoming more and more vital to be able to get a spot in campgrounds.

And so if you’re kind of spontaneous, the old days of just being able to show up and make sure you get a spot, well they’re getting harder and harder to find. So that can be a con with campgrounds too.

Campgrounds vs Boondocking – Boondocking Pros

Campgrounds vs boondocking - a lovely scenic boondocking spot
A beautiful and scenic boondocking spot

Now let’s talk about boondocking pros though. And the number one pro for boondocking is that it’s CHEAP!

In many cases when you’re staying on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, it’s even zero dollars a night.

And that’s hard to beat. So it’s a very economical way to camp in your RV.

boondocking pro #2

The next pro is that there are tons of scenic spots to choose from for boondocking.

And when I say “scenic spots”, I mean just blow your eyes out, drop dead, gorgeous spots.

And there’s lots of places on the internet where you can find out about these spots.

So you can go out there and enjoy the most beautiful places to camp. That’s so huge, and that’s a great pro.

boondocking pro #3

And the third pro is that you have more opportunities when you’re boondocking. For things like hiking, biking and kayaking.

That’s because you’re right out in nature. You’re right there!

So if you’re adventurous, and if you love to be active, well then boondocking can be a real help for that.

boondocking pro #4

The next pro is the space that you enjoy when you’re out boondocking.

As opposed to campgrounds where you’re right by other people.

In fact, it could be miles before you find another camper when you’re boondocking.

Or it could at least be several hundred yards. So if you like a lot of peace and quiet, that’s where you’re going to enjoy it.

Or if you like to play your music loud, well you can go ahead and do that.

You’re not going to bother anybody else, because you’re out there and there’s nobody near to you. And that’s a big a pro!

boondocking pro #5

The next pro is that when you’re boondocking, these boondocking spots are very often close to national parks and national forests.

So you really have a lot to choose from in those areas. Especially again, if you’re adventurous and you love nature.

So all of those are great pros for boondocking.

Campgrounds vs Boondocking – Boondocking Cons

But what about the cons? Well, the number one con is that you have to get very good at conserving power and water. (edit – you must also conserve waste as well)

And if you don’t, you’re not going to be boondocking very long.

When we’re talking about conserving, you have to bring your power along with you, your electricity.

And you have to bring your water along with you. And then you have to manage it while you’re out there.

Because it’s not an endless supply like you have when you’re in a campground.

So you’ve got to learn how to do that. And for some, that’s a real challenge. So we’ll put that down as a con.

boondocking con #2

The next con is that there’s often no nearby convenient place to resupply.

You’re often very far away from grocery stores and Walmarts and things like that.

So you have to plan those out. And then you usually have a pretty good drive to go take care of those things.

boondocking con #3

The next con is that boondocking can be very difficult for those with larger rigs.

The smaller your rig is, the easier it is to get in and out of boondocking spots wherever you want to go.

But the bigger the rig is, the more difficult it is to go out in those really rural areas.

You know, the ones way out there. So that can be a con if you have a bigger rig.

boondocking con #4

The next con is internet connectivity. Again, if you’re way out there, then the chances of cell towers being out there for internet access can be very small.

And even phone access too. So that can be a con.

If you really need access to the internet, then you’ve got to rely on something like a cell booster to get it.

But even then, that can be really challenging in some way out areas.

boondocking con #5

Now the next con is there are no reservations. You can’t call ahead and reserve a spot for your boondocking.

So it means that sometimes you’re going to drive out there and find out that it’s already taken.

Or that it’s just not what you thought it was going to be. So reservations are not something that is part of the boondock camping experience. And that can be a con for some.

boondocking con #6

The last con is that there are far fewer spots available to boondock in the eastern part of the US.

Especially as opposed to the western part. But now, the flip side of that is there’s so much land in the western part of the US that’s BLM land or available for boondocking.

In fact, you could camp for years and never camp in the same spot twice.

So you’ve got plenty of availability out in the West. But the eastern half of the US gets much more challenging.

Now that doesn’t mean that there aren’t boondocking spots there. But it’s a lot more difficult to find.

Well, those are the pros and the cons of campgrounds versus boondocking.

My Overall Conclusion

And here’s my conclusion on the subject of campgrounds vs boondocking. My general take is that campgrounds are best for RVers that like convenience.

So if you want convenience then that’s the best way to do it. If you like to stay in control of things.

And not be too challenged by camping itself, then campgrounds are the way to go.

But boondocking is best for those who love adventure. They love nature, and they’re happy to get out there in it.

They don’t mind having inconveniences and so on. Well then, boondocking is a great experience for them.

And as I said earlier, either way you go, you’re going to be able to enjoy your RV camping.

Well that’s it for now. Have safe and happy travels my friends …. until next time.”

Get My FREE Camping Guide

“The Top 5 Ways To Save Money On Campground Costs”

Get My Newsletter

Save on RV repairs

Get the best RV gear

Learn about RV life

RV tips and tricks

And get my free guide – “The Top 5 Ways To Save Money On Campground Costs”