Preparing for an RV trip will require you to do many things: rent an RV (if you don’t already own one), budget your expenses, pack the RV, gather the ingredients you’ll need for meals, etc.
When it comes to packing, things will always be easier if you only take what you need and leave all of the unnecessary stuff behind.
If you agree with that but aren’t sure about what is necessary and what isn’t, you’ll want to keep reading.
Here are the top items you probably won’t need on your RV trip:
TV
The idea of hooking up a TV and watching it outside while the fire crackles may sound fun, but a TV is hardly a necessary item for an trip. Besides, this is your opportunity to spend time outside doing outdoor-type things.
At the very least, you’re probably not going to use your TV as much as you think you may.
Boots
Wait, you seriously shouldn’t bring boots on your RV trip? What about for hiking?
You can certainly bring boots if they are your choice of footwear, but the truth is that hiking shoes or tennis shoes are a more comfortable choice for hiking. They’re lighter and have better ventilation while still offering plenty of traction.
Boots in contrast can be sluggish and heavy, meaning they can weigh your feet down and create an overall less pleasant experience.
Firewood
Even if you want to build a campfire, firewood will be an unnecessary thing to store in your RV. It simply takes up too much space and the RV park/campground should have firewood available already.
Otherwise, if it’s allowed, why not collect firewood from the woods? Collecting firewood on a cool evening before building the actual fire is actually a fun activity.
Canned Food
Canned food is appealing for the fact that it’s easy to store and prepare, but that’s about it. It’s not exactly tasty and even if you want to keep your meals simplified on your RV trip, you have far better options.
Washing/Drying Machine
Many people insist on buying a washing and drying machine (usually a combo model) and installing it in their RV.
It’s easy to see why, but at the same time, combo washing/drying machines rarely work as advertised. They take twice or more as long and furthermore you can’t have one load in the wash and the other in the dryer (since it’s a combo unit).
As an alternative, use the laundromat provided by the RV park, or just pack clothing for each day and then wash everything when you get back home.
Items You Won’t Need
You may disagree with some of the above items and bring them along, and that’s fine. What’s more important is that you simplify your preparation by leaving behind the things you probably won’t need and sticking with the things that you absolutely will.