So You Bought An RV? Tips From the Dirty Girl (part 2)

If you’ve read my bio, you know that I LOVE ME SOME LISTS! And as a self proclaimed RVing expert, I have compiled another list but this time it’s tips to help you get your camping on without getting your stress on.

Tip: When you’re stocking your RV for the first time, it’s like outfitting another home so look for deals where you can. Use duplicate items that you may have in your own home. Shop at your local thrift store, dollar store or online source like Kijiji. Ask family and friends if they have old or extra items they want to get rid of like old towels, plastic dishes, extra cutlery, etc.

Tip: With 4 kids we have A LOT of clothes. Every spring I go thru their closets and pull out all the old, stained, cheap, excess clothes for the season. These become our camping clothes. The laundry gets done when we return home and the clothes go right back into the trailer. I stock up on sun shirts, swim bottoms and sun hats. Leaving clothes in the trailer cuts down on my prep/packing time for each trip.

Tip: Depending on the climate you’re camping in, pack for any and all kinds of weather. We camp in the Rocky Mountains so we plan for everything from 32+ degree days and -1 degree mornings. Fleece is your friend. Rubber boots are a MUST. With warm socks they’re better than winter boots for keeping the troops dry in the dewy mornings.

Tip: Our trailer is set up with quad bunks in 1 room. This room is used as a bedroom, playroom, craft room, storage room and closet. My kids sleep in sleeping bags instead of sheets and quilts. Sleeping bags make for quickly making the beds and they’re light weight. And if one of them wants to have a camping sleepover at a friends trailer, they can take their sleeping bag with them. My kids end up playing in their bunks and think of it as their private space for their toys or reading. A sleeping bag makes it easy to strip the bed so it’s a flatter surface to play. Besides, it is still “camping”, you might as well use some camping gear in your house on wheels.

Tip: While I do have a large variety of games, colouring books, crayons, scissors, glue and books to keep the kids happy, sometimes they just want their favourite toys from home. I give each kid 1 rubber bucket they can fill with their own toys. These toys are then stored in their bunk room in those same buckets. This also controls the amount they are allowed to bring with us.

Tip: Glitter was sent to this world from the devil himself. No Glitter!

Tip: If you’re camping in a wooded area where there are random fallen trees, you might be able to find yourselves some great walking/bear protecting sticks. Trim the sticks to about shoulder height and then strip the bark with a knife. Once the sticks are dried out for at least 24 hours, paint and decorate them with bells, feathers, streamers, etc.

Tip: Each person in our family has an emergency whistle on a lanyard. As a rule, when we go for a hike or walk-about, each person should have their walking stick and a whistle. When we are not using them they hang on a hook inside the door to the trailer.

Tip: Home Depot sells small pots of paint samples for $5 each. I asked for exterior paint and picked out 6 different fun colours. The pots are the perfect size for small projects like walking sticks and bird houses. While you’re there, pick up a bunch of foam brushes in different sizes. They’re cheap and disposable.

Tip: Home Depot also sells reusable wall decals in a variety of themes. I got a forest animal themed set and let each of the girls decorate the walls around their bunk beds. And because they’re removable with no damage, I can easily take them off if they grow out of them or we sell our trailer.

Tip: 3M removable hooks are your friend! We have many of them in all sorts of sizes. Keys, hats, flashlights, whistles, towels…you can’t have enough hooks.

Tip: Line all the cupboards and pantry shelves with non slip stuff. You can buy it in a roll and cut it to size. This will keep all your dishes from sliding around while in transit.

Tip: Have fun and make memories!

Do you have an RVing tip? Leave it in the comments below and I will add it to my list. Like this article? Feel free to Pin It!