Hitting the open road with your camper is supposed to be a care free, relaxing experience away from the stresses of daily life. Unfortunately road trips can sometimes be fraught with challenges and problems. In our camping adventures Chris and I have struggled with our share of roadside emergencies and camper problems. Being prepared for a roadside emergency or equipment problem ahead of time can help you to not only survive any mishap along the way, but speed the return to trip enjoyment. Here are a few tips we have learned along the way to help you prepare for and respond to a camping mishap.
Melissa Maples on Flickr
Before you pull your camper or RV out of the driveway or you hit the open road, it’s really important to check out the equipment you will be bringing along on your trip – a pre-trip inspection can save a lot of heartache down the road. Start with your pull vehicle (if you’re pulling a camper) or your RV. Check all of the fluids – engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, wiper fluid – and make sure everything is topped off. Be sure to check your tire pressure on your tow vehicle or RV and anything you’ll be towing as well. While you are inspecting tires, check your spare tires too. Nothing ruins a good day camping like a flat tire followed by a flat spare. I know all of this sounds like it should go without saying, but more than once I’ve found myself along side the road wishing I had aired up a spare tire or had topped off my wiper fluid before I departed.
For small repairs and quick fixes to anything that might break or leak along the way, bring along a small tool box in your camper or RV. You don’t need to bring along tools to rebuild the engine, but a few simple tools can save you from a bad trip experience. Here is what we carry in our tool kit: screw drivers, adjustable wrenches, pliers, locking pliers, wire stripper, electrical tape, teflon tape, wire ties, hose clamps, hose washers, butt connectors, 12v fuses, and a few bungee cords. With this handful of tools we have fixed a multitude of problems from leaking water hose connections to a broken door knob.
If you do break down or have to stop along side the road, there are a few safety items that can make a big difference for you, especially at night. This summer, Chris and I lost the tread on one camper tire while driving across the Mobile Bay causeway late at night. The bridge was narrow and had we needed to stop on the causeway we would have blocked a traffic lane on the Interstate highway putting our camper, our tow vehicle, and us in jeopardy. Fortunately, we were able to limp off of the bridge, but we now carry a few reflective traffic cones and ANSI Class 2 reflective safety vests to increase our visibility if we have to stop alongside the highway. Skip the road flares (fusees), at best those will burn out before help arrives and fusees can be a safety hazard. Instead we like collapsible traffic cones that store easy, take up little room, and are light weight.
Chris and I hope that you will never encounter a breakdown or equipment problem with your RV or camper when you hit the road. Making a pre-trip inspection and bringing along some basic tools and safety items can reduce the impact of a problem, should you encounter one while away from home. Tell us your story…how did you cope with a travel emergency while out camping? Share your experiences in a comment. Best camping wishes and safe travels everyone!
