If you are pondering the purchase of an RV, you may be wondering how much you will use it. My wife and I bought a used travel trailer a year ago. We've found that a key to getting maximum use is being able to "get out of town" in a hurry. We have developed a system where we can be fully packed and hooked up in well under two hours. There are five major components to that system:
TRAILER STAYS FULLY STOCKED
Cooking and eating utencils, bedding, and clothing for a two-night trip. We also have it stocked with things like warm hats, tweezers, bandaids, a selection of DVDs, device chargers, batteries, etc. We have all the supplies we need for camping in all seasons, including swimsuits for summer and winter coats for cold weather.
CAMPING RESERVATIONS MADE WELL IN ADVANCE
Many campgrounds and park systems have an on-line reservation systems. Soon after we return from a trip, we begin thinking about possibilities for our next adventure. Reservations are normally made several weeks in advance.
FOOD BASKETS PRE-PACKED WITH STAPLES
We keep two crates in the house, pre-packed with food and toiletry staples that we can grab and go. We keep them stocked with spices, cans of soup, pancake mix & syrup, cooking oil, brownie mix, etc.
CAMPER IS CLEANED AND "RESET" AT THE END OF EACH TRIP
Towels and sheets laundered, bed made, bathroom cleaned, floor swept. An added benefit is that the camper is ready in case of a power failure (hook up to generator and have all comforts of home) or if we need to evacuate.
A MASTER LIST OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS WE NEED TO PACK
Space heater, wife's special pillow, inflatable kayak. Grabbing those additional items is quick and easy. The master list also includes refrigerated items such as milk, butter, eggs, mayo, sandwich meat, and perishable "staples" such as potatoes and onions.
Develop your own system for making a quick get-away to get maximum use of your RV.
