Our First RV Trip: Lessons Learned and Keeping It Real

When we decided to embark on our very first RV trip, we were filled with excitement. The idea of exploring new terrains while traveling in our own mobile home seemed perfect. Yet, as many seasoned RVers will tell you, it’s not always a glamorous experience. This blog post serves up the real and raw moments from our trip, sharing the lessons we learned while ensuring that our dog family and ourselves were ready for anything life threw our way.

Embracing the Learning Curve

Driving a 36-foot RV is nothing like cruising in a regular car. Our initial experience was a raw wake-up call. The sheer size of it made us feel like we were piloting a ship. Turning corners required what felt like a mind-bending degree of spatial awareness, and navigating busy streets turned into a tense game of patience and practice.

To make our journey easier, we watched several tutorials on driving RVs before hitting the road. To aid in learning, we suggested Sketching out routes in advance, including where we could stop for breaks and find fuel. A GPS designed for RVs also proved invaluable, helping us avoid smaller roads and low bridges.

Tom pulling out of our Neighborhood at the start of our trip

The Challenge of Traveling with Dogs

Traveling with three dogs can transform a straightforward trip into a logistical puzzle. Our fluffy trio includes two playful 15-week-old puppies and a 7-year-old with severe anxiety. Keeping everyone calm and collected during travel was a task of its own.

We learned quickly that frequent stops were essential. A strict potty schedule combined with short romps allowed our pups to stretch their legs and burn off some energy. Packing carefully was also important, ensuring we had plenty of their favorite toys and comforting items to ease travel woes.

Oliver and Cooper in their travel crate

Preparing for the Unexpected

While preparing for adventures, we discovered that no number of checklists could cover every possible scenario. One such unexpected challenge was forgetting to flip the switch on our tow vehicle for the break lights. This caused the cars battery to be drained. We learned of this when we got to the site and had a dead battery.

Another valuable lesson was to create a master checklist of essentials—getting into the habit of cross-checking before we left home would save us from forgetting important items and task.

Throughout our journey, we found ourselves asking one important question: What would help us avoid these challenges next time? The answer was simple—preparation.

The Reality of Setting Up Camp

Despite every intention of having a seamless campsite setup, it was more chaotic than we had anticipated. Unraveling hoses, establishing power connections, and leveling the RV demanded more than just enthusiasm.

When we arrived it was feeding time for the dogs and we needed power ASAP but also space. Power is easy leveling an RV not so much. This added to our stress but we now know the order in which we need to do things next time.

No amount of YouTube videos can prepare you for the real thing. You have to experience it hands on and accept you will have mishaps. Learn from those mistakes, you are human and mistakes are going to happen.

Setup of our RV at the campsite,

Finding Joy in the Chaos

Despite the rocky start to our trip, we discovered moments of absolute joy. The spontaneity of RV life taught us to savor every moment. We realize that the trip was not about attaining perfection but about creating lasting memories. Every unexpected hurdle transformed into a story we’ll tell for years. And while the challenges tested our patience, they also brought us closer as a family.

Being in nature, surrounded by the sounds of crickets and crackling wood, reminded us to focus on the present rather than the mishaps. The laughter caused by our puppies and the warmth of the fire became our highlights—these were moments that would last far longer than the pressures to appear perfect online.

Ready for Our Next Adventure

As we look towards our future RV trips, we feel an undeniable sense of readiness and excitement. We plan to apply our hard-earned lessons, both in driving and setting up. Our checklist has become a vital tool, and our experiences have opened our eyes to what it truly means to embrace the RV lifestyle.

The next journey may not be without hurdles, but we’re confident that we can tackle each one with a sense of humor and preparedness. Our first trip may not have painted the polished picture often seen on social media, but it was our trip, full of authentic experiences and lessons learned.

The RV community knows the beauty lies in the flaws, and we’re grateful for the journey—both the fun and challenging parts. If you're also venturing into RV life, remember to give yourself grace, expect the unexpected, and most importantly, find joy in every twist and turn.

Stay tuned for our next adventure next weekend when we head to Camp Margaritaville in Georgia!