First time RV seasonal campers

[cb0024]

Hello! My name is Christine. I travel with my husband and two kids, boy age 13 and girl age 14. We bought our Keystone (a.k.a. Wanderlust) last year as something to do during COVID. We only went out about 3 times and only about 15 minutes away from home. Each time was a hassle with hook-up, towing and unhooking on Friday then repeat in reverse order on Sunday. It was a hassle each time that did not make the experience very pleasant. So, this year we decided to try season camping 30 minutes from home so we can just pack up and go camping. So far, this has been the best decision! Our kids are making friends (some are even here from their school!) and we are enjoying the R&R. There are some things on our TT that we still finding out about and things we would like to improve, which is what brought us to this forum.

[sourdough]

Welcome to the forum Christine. Lots of good, helpful and knowledgeable folks here.

It should not be a big hassle to hook up, tow, set up or break down. Now some things are what they are but the should go quick and seamlessly once you have them down and a process established. You might just post what the problems are so we can help. IMO setting up a trailer in one place as seasonal, eliminating any/all possibilities of spontaneous travel with the RV is counter to what the RV is for. The fun and joy is in seeing new places, doing new things and all that goes in between; getting ready to go or get back should not be in that mix. Let us help.

[flybouy]

Welcome to the forum. I completly understans the frustration with week end camping with two kids. Seems like you just get everything out and set up anjd it's time to turn around, go home and unpack. Thankfully for us the Friday night setup in the dark with hunmgery kids after a long drive can be unpleasent. Let us know how we can help.

[gearhead]

I'm thinking you just need to do more travelling. 15 minutes from home isn't enough time to catch your breath and get comfortable. Try something like 1-2 hours. Don't get all stressed over it. Take a breath, slow down, and do one thing at a time.
A mix of seasonal and long weekends to new places will take the edge off.
It can be overwhelming. We've all been there. The first time I hooked up to a small 5th wheel I about soiled my trousers.

[Gary R.]

Hello Christine, welcome to you and your family to the forum!

Congrats on the new RV!

Take care!

[spicercars]

Welcome from northern MN.

[dutchmensport]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on the purchase of your camper.

I have a feeling you, like so many first time RV owners, have made the camping experience much more complicated than it needs to be. I think the first mistake new RV owners make is to go out and purchase every type of RV gadget they can find, then once they get to the camp site set it up all up as if they are saying .... "Hey world! Look at us! We the ultimate camper people here! Look at all our toys!"

We use to to do that. We had so much extra RV "junk", lights, yard ornaments, folding chairs we never used, dragging along tools, equipment, clothing, and food, one would think we were going on a world tour for 10 years, instead of a State Park for just a week-end.

After a while, this got old. Setting up, tearing down, and cleaning everything. It took years to down-scale to simplicity. And we found out, less is better. Take only what you need for the time you will be gone. Camping 2 nights, take 3 pair of underwear not 3 dozen! (you get the idea).

Hitching and towing should not be a stressful experience either. If you find it difficult, challenging, or intimidating, you are making it too hard, harder than it has to be. The only way to get comfortable with hitching and towing is to do it, over and over and over. Traveling 15 minutes from your home is really cutting yourself short. No wonder you are overwhelmed.

Remember.... there are two aspects to RV ownership ... 1) the Destination. 2) the Journey.

Too often folks get exclusively focused on the Destination. Getting "there" and spending the time "there." So they will do anything and everything to just get there as fast and as panicked as possible. Then they stay to the very last second so they can get the most out of their time there, and then panic and hastily have to pack up and drive like wild idiots to get back home in time.

The "Journey" should be just as important and just as fun as the destination. The planning, the preparation, the anticipation should be just as much "fun" (or maybe even more) than seeing how fast you can get the bicycles out and turn turn the kids loose. I think, the farther you travel, and the long the trip, the more you realize this.

The "Journey" should include time to stop on your route and take the time to see the sites you are driving through. Take to time to stop at that restaurant that's had signs for miles and miles advertising their "foot high pie" (which we actually did). Take the time to swing over and look at that "grand vista view" from the top of the mountain range overlooking the valley below. Take the time to travel secondary roads and get off the interstates, drive through the small "country" towns and stop and just walk around the center of town for a break in your travels. Stop at someone's house where they are having a yard sale. Stop to see that world largest ball of twine, or the baseball hall of fame on your route.

These events and experiences become MORE meaningful and MORE memorable than just spending the entire time seeing how fast you can cram in as much as possible at the campground in the shortest time available. That is simply exhausting, frustrating, and overwhelming, and it NOT a break mentally, emotionally, or physically form your routine at home.

Bottom line, when RVing, it's not about "keeping up with the Jones" to try to impress everyone around you, or even the people in your social circle at home. The fact of the matter is, your social circle at home probably thinks you are nuts for getting an RV, let alone actually using it. Our family, friends, and people we work with have all voiced their opinion on how stupid we are and how we are wasting our money RVing. And we get it from all side.

Here is where you draw a line in the sand! It's NOT about anyone else. It's NOT about THEM. It's not about trying to impress anyone. It's not about trying to make other people happy. It is all about the enjoyment YOU get out of your RV and the ENTIRE RV experience! From the offset of planning out a trip, to the preparations, to the packing, the hitching, unhitching, the actual driving journey, what you see and do along the journey, as well as the time and the things you actually do and plan once you get there. It's also about dumping your holding tanks, cleaning up your stinky-slinky hoses, sweeping the dirt out of the camper when leaving, checking the air pressure in your camper tires, and washing the windows of the camper occasionally.

RVing is a life-experience! It is not a one-time, plug-and-play, and unplug again experience. It's a life-experience! If you switch your mind set about everything you "though" when we first purchased your camper, you find EVERY aspect of RV ownership is fun! Even when they break down and need repairs! There is nothing "part time" about RV ownership! They are a full time experience!