There is no substitute for experience in life and so it goes for RV travel as well. All RVers make that fateful bumbling first trip. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for the learning to begin and for RV travel hacks to become second nature. The RV community is generally very helpful in sharing their tips and tricks for the newcomers. That can certainly help hasten the process of converting a newbie to a pro. Here are some RV travel hacks from the pros to help on your next RV journey.

1.) Pack light for safe travels. With all the space in your RV, you will likely be tempted to fill every available nook and cranny of storage space with all the comforts of home. Don’t do that. Pack what you need and nothing more. That will keep your vehicle weight lower. If you are not sure if you need a particular item and it is not expensive then leave it. You can always buy it on the road if you need it.

2.) Quick meals. Eating out can be the most expensive and one of the most common reasons to hit the local restaurant while RVing is that it takes too long to cook. Fast, delicious meals can make with an Instapot. That ability coupled with their compact size makes them one of the most popular RV appliances.

3.) Command Hooks. Command hooks are an outstanding way to organize and affix things to the walls of an RV. They do not require any holes to be drilled in walls and they are removable. They also prevent accidental damage to your RV from using screws that are too long. RV walls are much thinner than residential walls. There are many people new to RVing who have had their days ruined by accidentally running screws through their outside shells. Command hooks are a great way to prevent that.

4.) Pods for a clean black tank. Several RV-specific chemical treatments can be put into a black tank to keep the smell down and most of them work great. If you run out of your regular treatment or do not want to carry the extra stuff then try using a standard laundry detergent pod. Just drop one down the tank and let it work its magic.

5.) Visit the parks, know the park discounts. If you frequent the US National Parks, then you should get to know all the discounts available. These discounts are not widely advertised. Discounts for active-duty military, veterans, and seniors, and others are all available. There is also the Interagency or “America the Beautiful” pass which is a single fee to cover entry to all the fee parks in the country. The pass is good until the end of the month you purchase it in the following year. If you buy it on the first of the month it is good for 13 months, if you buy it on the last day then it is only good for 12 months. If you have a 4th grader in tow, you can also get a free pass for the school year with the “every kid in a park” pass.

6.) Know your routes. Traveling in an RV brings a lot of special circumstances. You are most likely carrying propane, and your vehicle is large and heavy. Rules governing some of these issues also vary by state. Given that, it is best to invest in a quality RV-specific GPS for navigation like the Garmin RV 770-LMTS. These find safe routes for your specific RV to travel and alert you to local laws regarding propane tanks. They also alert you to upcoming obstacles like sharp corners or steep grades. Finally, always ask the RV parks you are visiting if there are any recommended routes to get to the park. In many cases, RV parks are located in areas where there are only one or two good ways to get in.

7.) Know where cheap or free camping is. This can be a significant time and money saver, especially when traveling and only staying a night. Apps like Allstays Camp and RV or websites like freecampsites.net can help you find these locations.

8.) 6 o’clock to back up your trailer. If you struggle backing up or parking your trailer, then follow the 6 o’clock rule. When backing up, put one hand on the bottom (6 o’clock position) of the steering wheel. The back of the trailer will then go in the same direction as your hand movements. Move your hand left, the tail of the trailer will go left, move it right and the trail will go right.

9.) Post-it notes for safe driving. Write down your RV’s weight, height, and width on a post-it note and stick it on your dashboard where you can see it while driving. Reference this when approaching bridges, construction areas, or restricted roads to make sure you will fit before you get in trouble.

Traveling by RV is meant to be fun and flexible. You can take your time and explore or hop from destination to destination. Whatever your travel plans, by using some of these tips, you will avoid some of the difficulties people do not expect. You will also set yourself up for a relaxing and enjoyable experience for their particular situation. RV travel hacks from the pros will help anyone get the most from their RV adventures.