How to Prepare for Your Next Road Trip

Do you need help on how to prepare for your next road trip? Before getting your RV on the road, there are some things you need to do to ensure that you and your vehicle will remain intact. You might want to consider creating a checklist of these 4 must-do things before you head out on your trip.

1. Filling propane and water tanks

Depending on your vehicle, you might have to bring it with you to a gas station or somewhere that sells propane and have someone help you with filling it up. Or you might have a detachable propane tank, in this case, you can park your RV and remove the tank and then take it with you to anywhere that sells propane to have it refilled, conveniently Pikes Peak Traveland offers propane fills and charges by the gallon. Water tanks can be filled with a freshwater hose or with a quality water filter on a hose (we offer FREE water fill ups for your freshwater tank!) You will need to keep an eye on the water level monitor because you don’t want to overfill it. Once you find the correct place to attach the hose to the valve, you can go ahead and fill it up. Be sure to have a designated hose for fresh water to ensure that it stays safe for drinking!

2. Securing everything in place for transport

When preparing for a road trip, whether short or long distance, you have to make sure everything is secured in place so that it doesn’t move and possibly break. Starting with the exterior of your vehicle, you may need to remove anything that can’t withstand high winds such as solar panels, satellite dishes, and porch lighting. Next, depending on your RV, some might need to have doors and windows screwed shut, you might not be able to do so and you might have to find another way to secure them in place. Next, you have to secure everything in the interior of the vehicle, including things on counters, drawers, cabinets, doors that might not stay closed, shower or medicine cabinet doors, and anything else that might be shaken loose or opened while you are on the road. Doing this will ensure that nothing breaks or possibly flies around while you are driving or towing the vehicle.

3. Tire checking

To make sure your RV is safe and ready for travel, you need to check all the tires and even the spare tires too. If your RV has been sitting for a while, there is a high chance the tires might need to be filled or maybe even replaced due to the weight that’s been on them. Another safety precaution is to check how old your tires are, if they are over 6 years old you should consider investing in new tires. Checking for tire pressure is a must, the correct pressure depends on your RV’s weight and ranges from 35-80 PSI to 280-550 kPa, if the air pressure in the tire is not suitable for your RV’s weight you will need to fill them before your trip.

4. Measure the height and length of your vehicle

One thing you might not have considered is making sure the route you are taking is safe for your vehicle. To prepare for a road trip, you have to consider that there might be tunnels that your RV won’t fit in or winding routes that are not safe for traveling on. Before you leave for your trip you want to measure the height and width of your vehicle to ensure that the roads you’re taking won’t require a u-turn, and if they will you will have to find another road to take. Doing so will save you time before you leave and prevent a possible accident, our priority is for you and others to be safe while driving. We hope these tips and suggestions will help you on how to prepare for your next road trip. If you have any more concerns about your vehicle, please reach out to us at (719) 596-2716 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have! Make sure to check us out on Facebook and Instagram and give us a follow!