There is no doubt that RVing is a challenge. The first thing needed is a sense of humor, because things will go wrong. Here are three problems that can occur, along with tips to minimize the issues.
1. RV dimensions
RVs are much taller than cars. We've heard a story where someone with a new RV got it stuck in a tunnel, and traffic was backed up when the police showed up. After surveying the problem, the officer told the guy to just keep going. The RV was already damaged, so he had to power through while dragging the top along the roof of the tunnel.
We encountered a similar issue once. We accidentally found ourselves on a cars-only roadway in New York where the short height of every tunnel scared us so much my husband was riding the center of the road to make it through the arched roof.
RVs (especially with toads) are also much longer than cars, so the turning radius is large. We heard about a long RV that decided to ignore the length restrictions on a mountain with switch-backs. No one knew the end of the story on how the RV made it down the mountain after it got stuck on a curve.
Once, our GPS had us make a U-turn, and we ended up stuck in the middle of the road with traffic completely stopped thanks to our large turning radius.
Tips: Measure and record the important dimensions of your rig. This includes the highest point, the full length of your RV and toad, and the weight. Keep the note in the cab so you can read the dimensions quickly. Some RV GPS units can be programmed to handle your rig and keep you on safe roads. Learn to disconnect your toad quickly to make those short turns.
We have found that cheap dryer sheets and plain water is the best method to clean off bugs on the front of the RV.
2. Bugs
You are basically living outdoors, so seeing bugs inside the RV is nothing special. The problem is when they take over. We've had ants and stink bugs invade our RV at different times.
Another problem with bugs is when they are swarming outside, and the windshield and grill is covered with the hard-to-clean bugs.
Tips: It is best if your food is in plastic containers or sealed tight. When we see anthills at a campground, we have bug spray that we use to spray the tires and anything that would be a route for ants. We also keep ant traps ready just in case. The worst case (with stink bugs) was when we had to bug bomb the RV.
We have found that cheap dryer sheets and plain water is the best method to clean off bugs on the front of the RV.
3. Weather
Rain, wind and cold means more when you are inside an RV. We've experienced most types of weather in our RV. I have no solution to the loud noise from a rainstorm other than to wait it out. This also applies to windy days. We try to schedule extra days at our current stop versus driving in high winds.
Tips: Either bring in your awning when it may be windy or tie it down tight. Always angle the awning so rain drains to one side, since water tends to pool and stretch the awning fabric over time. Keep a large tarp available to cover the roof for sudden major leaks. Bring extra towels and blankets. Towels can soak up leaks. We've also used both towels and blankets hung over windows and doors to keep in heat when the weather was colder than we planned.
The RV life is not always perfect, but no matter what happens you will have stories to tell. Do you have a story to share?
Always angle the awning so rain drains to one side, since water tends to pool and stretch the awning fabric over time.
