What should you be checking out? We’re glad you asked. Here are 10 maintenance tips and to-do’s that every RV owner should take care of before hitting the road this Spring or Summer.

1. Replace the water filter in the water filtration system. Making sure your water filtration system is sanitized is incredibly important before hitting the road. Replace the water filter, if it’s needed.

2. Double-check your air conditioning and heating systems for proper maintenance. A non-functioning air conditioning system can put the brakes on any road trip – double-check the functionality of both your A/C and heating systems.

3. Take a look at your LP tank – check for both rust and leaks. Make sure there aren’t any leaks in your propane tank, and make sure there’s no rusting in the tank, which can cause problems on the road.

4. De-winterize your water system. This helps prevent any water contamination in your system, and is especially important if your RV has been winterized and parked for a season.

5. Test all of your detectors – fire detectors, CO detectors, and LP leak detector. Also, test your fire extinguisher to make sure that it’s in working order.

6. Re-pack your RV’s wheel bearings. The wheels of your RV take on much more weight than do a normal vehicle, so making sure they’re in great shape is of utmost importance.

7. Check your engine fluid levels, and change the engine oil. To increase the longevity of your engine, make sure to check your engine fluid levels and change out the engine oil on a regular basis.

8. Clean interior and exterior windows, and air out the RV’s interior. Spring is a great time to clean out your RV from your winter travel. Clean interior and exterior glass; freshen up interiors and open windows to air out the entire RV.

9. Test the monitor panel to make sure it’s working correctly. Your RV’s monitor panel gives you an overview of how your RV is performing. Make sure all of its components are working properly before you hit the road.

10. Test exterior lights and replace ones that aren’t working. Besides being a ticket able offense, malfunctioning headlights and tail lights can cause serious road accidents.

1. RV Payments – Your RV payments, whether you’ve bought or are renting an RV, are akin to your rent or mortgage payments with a house or apartment. This will likely be your largest expense, if you’re still paying it off on a monthly basis.

2. Maintenance Costs – RV maintenance costs are difficult to estimate since so much depends on what type of RV you’re driving. Larger diesel models are going to have much higher requirements than a pop-up trailer. You will want to remember to account for gas, Internet (if you want it), and electricity at camp sites.

3. Supplies – Obviously you’ll want to have a budget for food, clothing, and other essential items you’ll need – just as you would if you were living in a house or an apartment. Keep in mind that costs will vary depending on what state you’re in, as well tax.

4. Parking and RV Fees – Campsite parking can run anywhere from $20 a night to upwards of $70 a night, depending on the campsite or park location. Make sure you check out campsites beforehand so that you’re aware of the costs involved in parking there. Mapping out routes and planned stops ahead of time can help avoid any unplanned, surprise stops (and the fees that come along with them).

Driving an RV isn’t like a driving a car – you’re navigating a much larger machine on the road and sometime the logistics of that can get tricky. So what’s a novice RV’er to do? Enroll in school, of course. Even better, many insurance companies will offer breaks or incentives to RV drivers who complete a program through one of these schools, which can help keep your maintenance costs down.

There are a number of great RV driving schools around the country, and they can offer novice RV drivers a great overview of safe RVing. Here’s a few of the most important things you’ll learn in an RV school:

1. Parking and Spacing. RVs are large road vehicles, and most people (unless they’ve driven large trucks or vans before) aren’t accustomed to the size and spacing needs of a large vehicle. An RV school (or a private instructor) can be an priceless asset when they help you figure out and establish reference points for parking and navigating other vehicles.

2. Inspecting your Vehicle Components. Just like professional truck drivers, RV drivers need to be able to look over their vehicles to inspect it for basic maintenance and upkeep. A great RV school will teach you what components to check before hitting the road and what warning signs to look out for when driving.

3. Height and Width Precautions. RVs are taller and wider than most other types of road vehicles, and as such, it’s important to understand how this affects your driving. A number of things are affected by your RV, including which routes you can safely take, where you can park, and which roads your RV is allowed to drive on without violating weight restrictions.

Once you’ve got a good baseline knowledge of how to handle your RV in a number of situations, you should be ready to hit the road in your new RV. For a list of great RV schools in Denver, check out: http://www.yellowpages.com/denver-co/rv-driving-school.

Winter roads covered with ice and snow can be really dangerous and hold the potential to cause serious wrecks and automobile accidents. If you’re taking the RV out to check out some of the local wintertime sights, be sure to keep these RV driving safety tips top of mind.

Before you hop on the road, though, remember to have your RV checked out by a professional to make sure that it’s winterized and ready to weather the storm.

1. Keep fuel tanks at least halfway full. By keeping fuel in your tank, you lower the risk of fuel freezing in the lines, as well as making sure you won’t get stranded somewhere because of inclement weather without any fuel.

2. Avoid using cruise control in snow and ice. This makes it harder to react to driving situations that need quick attention, like sliding on ice or needing to break to avoid hitting another car or object.

3. Drive slowly, especially in fog or low visibility. If your ability to see the road becomes blocked, stay in one lane and slow your speed down so that braking quickly won’t end up with your RV in a tailspin.

4. Pay special attention to bridges and overpasses. Roads that aren’t driven on a lot, as well as overpasses, bridges and other structures that are open underneath will freeze over much more quickly than frequently traveled on roads. Make sure to pay more attention when driving on these surfaces, and keep your speed to a minimum to avoid any accidents.

5. Pull off the road. If snow starts falling heavily and it’s cold enough to ice over the roads, pulling over and waiting the storm out is always a smart option. Even sliding into a ditch can cause structural damage to an RV, so aside from keeping yourself and your passengers safe, you’re also protecting your financial investment.

Being on the road for days (or even weeks) at a time can be a strain on adults. It’s no wonder that it can be even more trying for kids. When you’re logging a full day on the road, and your family is anxious to get to the next location, keep the peace with these tips.

• Find a routine and stick to it. Routines are great for setting expectations for family members, so have a plan for day-to-day activities – even when they’re inside the RV.
• Involve kids in the trip planning process. Let kids choose activities and plan out the itinerary for a day or two in the next town or area you’re in.
• Have an arsenal of activities for kids, including board games, car games, books, and movies. There’s a ton of fun and interesting activities for the road on the Alpha Mom blog.
• Make frequent stops to get out, stretch, and get some fresh air. Being cooped up (even in a spacious and luxury RV) can get repetitive. It’s always a good idea to make stops every few hours to break up the driving and take in some local scenery.
• Encourage assisting in household chores in the RV. Washing dishes, making up beds, putting away laundry, and cooking meals are great ways to keep kids engaged on the road – especially if they have certain tasks to take care of on a daily basis.

Do you have any additional tips for traveling with children? If so, let us know in the comments.

RVs aren’t exactly known for their eco-friendliness. In fact, with their large size and the amount of fuel they use, they can be pretty anti-green machines to drive. So what’s an Eco-Conscious RVer to do?

1. Install solar panels – Solar panels work especially well in RVs since they use DC power and there’s no need to convert to AC power. You can opt for either portable solar panels (you can set them up whenever you park) or you can install them directly onto (or on top of) your RV for more ease of use.

2. Switching to a composting toilet – You may have not heard of composting toilets, or toilets that use aerobic decomposition, but they’re a great way for RVs to cut down on water consumption. Some models don’t use any water at all, and they completely remove the need for pump-outs.

3. Use an alternative fuel – Alternative fuels, like biodiesel, is an easier way to be more eco-conscious when you travel. However, make sure you carefully check your engine requirements beforehand, as this type of fuel may not work for your RV and could seriously damage your engine if you’re not careful.

There are many more ways to “go green” in your RV, such as cutting down on the amount of disposable items that you use and being conscious about the types of products you use inside of your RV. What ways do you try to keep your carbon footprint in check?

While the Fall can produce beautiful foliage and great weather for hiking and scenic drives, the winter can be a great time for other types of outdoor activities – especially in one of the greatest national parks in the US, the Rocky Mountain National Park. Here’s four of our favorite outdoor winter activities to try in the park. Be sure to make it out there for at least a weekend over the January and February months.

1. Ice Fishing – Ice fishing is a fun and interesting sport (especially if you’ve never tried it before), and Rocky Mountain National Park has twenty-four lakes available for fishing. But before hopping on that frozen lake, you’re going to need to get a Colorado fishing license from the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

2. Skiing – Not as formal as a ski lodge (meaning there’s no central common area and no ski lifts), but that means it’s more legitimate. According to the park’s website, snow coverage varies across the mountains, but the west side of the park is generally better for the fluffy snow that’s best for skiing. Do note, however, that these slopes aren’t for beginners.

3. Snow Shoeing – While Rocky Mountain National Park isn’t ideal for beginner skiers, it’s fine for beginner snowshoers, and there’s a good helping of beginner trails along the west side of the park and rentals can be found at the local shops nearby.

4. Snowmobiling – Have a snowmobile and want to have some fun? You can head over to a two-mile snowmobiling trail on the southwest area of the park, which connects to National Forest trails nearby

• · RV owners are getting younger. It used to be that RV ownership was for the over 55 crowd, but young families and couples are increasingly jumping on the RV bandwagon for the freedom and adventure that the road brings.
• · RV sales have increased, despite an overall decrease in travel industry purchases. With the cost of flights and hotel expenses, many families are probably seeing RVs as a way to still take their families on vacations without the large overhead costs of traditional travel.
• · The more affordable, towable RV units have been the biggest sellers so far this year. This is likely because they start at prices around $6,000 and RVs manufacturers offer a larger range of towable units.
• · People are spending more time outdoors. Likely another byproduct of a down economy, more and more people are heading outdoors to find fun and explore activities. RVing is the perfect basecamp for exploring the great outdoors.
• · RV travel is 78% less expensive that other forms of travel. Like we mentioned earlier, RV travel cuts down on the costs that airlines, hotels, and restaurants require offsetting the initial investment required relatively quickly, since RVs can provide years of travel.

Overall, RVs have become a much stronger staple in travel and are being adopted by a much wider audience. We’re excited to see more people seeing the benefits and opportunities that exist with RVing. Here’s hoping that 2013 brings more of the same!

RV travel and camping wouldn’t be complete without having the obligatory snack food to nosh on during time on the road and exploring the great outdoors. The best types are the ones that require little prep work, don’t have messy ingredients, and are easily packed for long stretches.

To help you curb hunger on the go, here are four of our best on-the-road or off-the-road snacks.

1. Sweet Walnuts
Ingredients:
1 cup of shelled walnuts
4 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of brown sugar

Melt butter in a small skillet, add brown sugar and stir over low heat. When sugar is mixed in well with the melted butter, add shelled walnuts, making sure to coat evenly with the butter/sugar mixture. Take off heat and let walnuts sit for 30 minutes. Once walnuts are dry, toss in some cranberries and throw in a ziploc bag.

2. Peanut Butter Mini-Bagels
Ingredients:
A dozen mini bagels
Peanut butter
Raisins

Slice mini bagels and spread peanut butter on both sides evenly. Add raisins on top of the peanut butter and close bagels back up. Throw in a bag and you’ve got a quick sandwich to eat on the go.

3. Pita Pocket
Ingredients:
Pita bread
Lettuce
Lunch meat
Sliced cheese

Cut a small corner off of the pita and gently open up the middle – be careful to not tear it. Take a large piece of lettuce and layer and add a thin layer of lunch meat and cheese. Roll up loosely and slide into the pita bread.

4. Fruit kabobs
Ingredients:

Grapes
Sliced strawberries
Pineapple
Sliced apples
Sliced bananas

Take 6-inch wooden kabob sticks and slide sliced fruit onto each. Wrap individually in foil for a quick, healthy snack. You can also roast each in the foil for a warm, delicious dessert.

New Mexico is a beautiful state full of striking scenery to take in, interesting communities and historical sites. In our blog post today, we wanted to spotlight some of our favorite cities in New Mexico, as well as tips on which spots, landmarks and attractions are must-sees. So jump in your RV and head south because New Mexico has a lot to offer the RV warrior.

1. Taos, New Mexico. A small town of 4,700, Taos is mostly known for the Native American village nearby – Taos Pueblo. However, the city of Taos has its own landmarks and boasts a thriving art community and is known as an outdoor enthusiast’s haven with fly fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking during the summer, and skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing during the winter.

2. Roswell, New Mexico. Roswell is a kitschy town in the southeast corner of New Mexico. It’s largely known for the Roswell UFO incident in 1947 where debris from a flying craft was collected – and some say covered up. This happening has shaped Roswell into an interesting kind of tourist destination. Not your typical tourist trap, Roswell has a few fun places to visit ranging from the more traditional Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art to the more unique “Alien Zone” where the largest collection of alien and UFO related items supposedly lives.

3. Santa Fe, New Mexico. The capital of NM, Santa Fe, has a rich and interesting past rooted in both Spanish and Mexican history. The downtown area in Santa Fe has beautiful architecture and plays host to a number of museums and historical sights like the Museum of International Folk Art, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and the San Miguel Mission. The city also has a thriving outdoor community and there are a number of hiking and bike paths nearby, as well as an impressive Audubon Center.