10 DIY RV Camping Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Top 10 RV Camping Tips for Beginners

Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or you’re just getting ready to take your first trip, the RV camping tips below are sure to help you out. Some of them are just fun little tips to help make your camp life more enjoyable, while others are totally genius hacks that will save you time, money, and headaches.

P.S. If you haven’t already purchased an RV and you’re not sure about it, get your feet wet with an RV rental from Outdoorsy. They’re the largest and most trusted RV rental site (the Airbnb of RV rentals, if you will) and they have a ton of options to choose from. 

1. Power Cord Cover

Using power cords while camping can be a risky move if you’re not careful. Dirt and sand can easily find it’s way inside the plugs which could cause them to stop working after a while.

An easy solution to this problem is to use a plastic bucket with two holes to keep the extension cord raised and protected. Pretty clever!

2. Tabletop S’mores

Image from Zillow

S’mores are a classic camping treat but with campfire bans happening all over the place, you may need to find alternative ways to cook them. No worries! All you need is a terracotta pot, some tin foil, and some charcoal, and you can build your own DIY S’more cooker.

3. Towel Rod Bathroom Organizer

Image from Five Fs

One of the things you have to think about when using an RV is that items are going to move around while you’re driving. If they’re not secured, you’re not going to have a good time.

An easy solution to holding certain items and keeping things tidy is to install a towel rod low on the wall in your tub or on a counter. You can then put bottles, cleaning supplies, shampoo, conditioner, and other things behind the towel rod to hold them in place.

4. Use Command Hooks Everywhere

Image from SeguinRV

Another easy way to keep things organized and secure in your RV is with command hooks. There are so many things you can use them for:

• Hanging kitchen supplies
• Organizing cords
• Installing lightweight curtain hangers
• Hanging bags
• and more!

5. Pool Noodles on Awning Arms

Image from What’s Newell

If you’ve ever smacked your head on the awning arms of your RV, you’re not alone! Some RVers came up with the smart idea of putting pool noodles around the arms to soften the blow.

6. Awning Light Hangers

Whether you want to hang a tarp, some lights, or something else from your awning track, these DIY hangers work great. They’re strong, cheap to make, and simple to assemble. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 10 inches of paracord
• 1 inch of 1/4″ aluminum tubing
• 1 M10 washer

To see how to fully make it, view the full tutorial here.

7. Shower Caddy

Image from Cecilia the Shasta

If you want to make campground shower-time as hassle-free as possible, making your own convenient shower caddy is super helpful. All you need is a lanyard and some travel squeeze bottles. Alternatively, you can buy a pre-made caddy here, but that’s not very DIY!

8. Go Solar

Image from Outside Pursuits

Although this one will take a bit of money and require more work to get set up, if you often camp in places without power hookups, it can be an investment that really pays off. Plus, living on solar power is pretty awesome!

Before you take the leap on this major upgrade though, read these posts for more info:

• RV Solar Panel Tips
• Is Solar Power For Your RV Worth It?

9. Insulate with Reflectix

Image from RV Lifestyle

You can buy Reflectix pretty affordably from almost any hardware store or online from Amazon and it’s great for insulating your camper. Just buy a roll, cut pieces to fit your windows and roof vents, and you’ll stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

There are some other neat ways to use Reflectix on the road as well. Check out these 5 tips.

10. PVC Drying Rack

Image from Happy Wanderers

If you need a place to hang your clothes to dry outside your RV, building a simple PVC drying rack is the way to go. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and it easily comes apart for compact storage.

Cool RV Travel Spots to Check Out

Ok, you’ve got all the RV camping tips above set up, now it’s time for the fun part: traveling! Depending on where you live you may already have some destinations in mind, but here are a few other suggestions just in case you’re not sure where you want to go yet:

California Beach Trip

If you want to soak up as much sun as possible and visit some of the nicest beaches in California, this is the trip for you. First, you’ll hit San Diego, then Dana Point, then Long Beach, and finally, Malibu.

To see the full details of the trip and some other awesome California road trip routes, view the full post here.

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon may not be the first place that pops up in your mind when thinking of RV destinations, but it’s worth considering! There’s a beautiful 252-mile long river, several lakes, it’s dog-friendly, and that’s just the start.

St. George, Utah

We took a trip to St. George a while back and although we didn’t stay in an RV, I think it would be an awesome destination for RVers! There are a lot of affordable activities to do there and there are some beautiful sights to see too. If you want to learn more, check out these 7 fun activities to do in St. George, Utah.

Want to Make an Extra $2,000/mo with Your RV?

Let’s be honest: Unless you’re living in your RV full time, it’s probably sitting somewhere unused for longer than you’d like. If you’d rather turn that idle time into money, you should look into renting out your RV on Outdoorsy.

Right now Outdoorsy has about 15,000 other RVers renting out their motor homes earning an average of $2,000/month in rental income!

Best of all, listing your RV on Outdoorsy is completely free, they just charge a service fee for successful bookings. And to top it off, they offer great coverage for RV owners and renters to make it all a stress-free process:

• $1m insurance + theft and damage coverage
• DMV check on all drivers
• 24/7 RV rental roadside assistant
• Dedicated customer support
• 93% Average 5+ star reviews

To learn more, visit Outdoorsy.com.

Have Any Other RV Camping Tips and Tricks?

Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or just a beginner, you may still have some of your own RV camping tips and tricks up your sleeve! There are so many different ways to make RV life easier so let us know what you do to improve your time on the road.

Even if you don’t have any tips to share, leave a comment below letting us know where you plan on taking your RV to next!

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