RV sales are hot right now, but not nearly as scorching as the climate change impact on RVing we’re about to experience. You don’t need to hang up the keys, but rather learn to stay alive during cataclysmic weather events predicted for the future. Here’s what you need to know to keep climate change from ruining your adventures.
Get Ready for the Climate Change Impact on RVing Adventures
According to the experts at the Fall 2018 Northwest Climate Conference in Idaho, the U.S. and the rest of the world will see more wild weather in 2019. “If the guesses are right, if the models are right, things are not looking good,” a University of Idaho scientist told colleagues at the conference, according to the Idaho Statesman Newspaper.
If you camped beneath the smoke-filled skies of the west in 2018, you know what these scientists are talking about. During summer, over five million acres of forest lands burned to the ground.
More unpredictable and scary weather events are expected to follow. Watch for flooding, severe storms with high winds and more out of control wildfires.
For a preview, check out the 2018 Climate Assessment Report. Published by over 300 U.S. scientists, weather predictions include less snow, more flooding, droughts and increasingly unpredictable rain dumps across the west. In the Midwest, flooding, soil erosion, and water quality issues from agricultural runoff will dominate the landscape. Back east, worsening humidity, rising sea levels, algae blooms and record numbers of tropical storms will continue.
In addition, the effects of the upcoming weather phenomena known as El Nino and La Nina will likely have a tremendous impact on the planet’s climate. Climate change will impact RVing into next year and well into the future. Here’s how to deal with it.
Choose a Boondocking Campsite with Care
Your first step in staying safe is to pick a campsite carefully. For instance, secluded boondocking campsites are lovely but in a fire or other emergency they are deadly. Look for a spot with multiple exits. And when you get there, keep your car keys and vehicle nearby, prepped to go in the event of an unexpected evacuation.
Live to Tell About Your Flash Flood Camping Weather Disaster
Spring runoff is often dangerous. RVers camped along rivers and streams are at great risk. If there’s even a small chance of rain in your region, don’t camp close to water. Also skip camping in a canyon, near low spots or anywhere with steep mountain walls closing in on you.
Practice Wildfire Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life
Keep an eye on current wildfires near your camping area. Learn which agencies are reporting on burn activity. Facebook and Twitter are helpful tools to check for the latest updates. Remember, road closures are common, so monitoring road condition websites is also important.
In addition, these other tips will help keep your rig, your family and you safe in all of the extreme weather events expected to roll our way in 2019.
Don’t Freeze in Winter
How To Avoid Winter Camping Problems In Your RV. Frozen holding tanks, poor insulation and poor refrigerator performance are common issues you might encounter during unpredictably cold winter RVing weather. Here’s how to cope with them.
8 Ways To Stay Warm While Camping In Cold Weather. Don’t let the cool temperatures keep you from getting out and camping. Here’s how to stay comfortable in cooler temperatures and keep on adventuring.
Hot Tips to Stay Cool in Summer
(Don’t) Get Injured Or Die In The National Parks. Most tourist deaths are the result of overconfidence or just simple bravado. Check out these surefire ways to end your national parks vacation on a bad note.
Keep Mosquitoes Away in Summer. Keep biting pests to a minimum with these camping tips to avoid mosquitoes.
Memorize these Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Symptoms and Prevention. Remember the symptoms to watch for and the steps to take to prevent heat-related problems that can ruin your trip and threaten your health.
Got any other extreme weather camping tips? Share them in the comments below, let’s all learn how to stay safe in a climate change RVing world!
Pete Miller says
Tick and chigger issues? Not uncommon in many parts of the country. I tuck my pant legs inside my hiking boot socks and dust the boots and socks with sulfur powder. I store it in an old sock kept in a ziploc bag. Sulfur powder is available at many plant nurseries.
david shipp says
Just don’t confuse Climate change with Weather.
Not So Free says
Amen!
Augie Mattheiss says
Many now use the phrase “climate change” as a supposedly scary negative without providing data, “it is a thing” nowdays.
Heime Waters says
Don’t confuse climate change when thinking the earth is flat.
Harvey Finders says
God changes climate 4 times a year spring summer autumn winter
Gary Stewart says
The caption for your photo reads “Climate change will impact your travels in 2019.” Weather may affect my travel plans, climate change will not. Although weather and climate are related, they are not the same.
Greg E Sowards says
How about changing the headline “Get ready for Summer RVing; How to Cope with another one.”
Marty says
PLAN A was “Global Warming”, which was proven a lie and fell into disrepute. PLAN B calls for renaming the lie as “Climate Change,” because it does and is beyond dispute, and the numbnuts will equate the two names as one. Why don’t you stick to facts of weather and leave your agenda out of it?
Walter Hall says
I agree 110%, There is no Global Warming, climate changes every day, it is called WEATHER.
Philip M Johnson says
You’re right. I can’t believe the number of people who are so gullible as to believe the total scam that is “Global warming/Climate change.” It really is true that “there’s a sucker born every minute.”
John slayton says
I cannot believe how many people keep their heads in the sand, like some sort of birdbrain. The science is there. There are wider swings in temperatures and precipitation. Give the author a break. You know what was meant.
Gary Levet says
Marty I would love to believe you but unlike you I struggle to ignore the evidence all around me. I really admire your capacity for self-delusion. I find the best way to face reality is to accept it and deal with it.
David Nelson says
WELL SAID!
Codie Rae says
Rene is right, the science is there…climate change is here and obviously driving more extreme weather–from stronger storms to extreme drought. Therefore to say that climate change may impact your travels, albeit through local weather, is not necessarily incorrect.
Charles says
No, the “science “ is NOT there. This science is based on computer models with manipulated inputs. To think that all these events are new or more frequent is ignorant. If the planet is 4 billion years old as “scientists “ say, then this new era of catastrophic climate change could have been repeated many times before. But none of us were there to verify the weather. Science by definition is facts repeatable in experimental conditions. We have absolutely o idea what this years weather will be. Here in the Northeast we were supposed to have colder and snowier winter. We are still camping and where I am is snow free bare ground.with above average temps. Climate change science depends entirely on straw men. I pay no attention as far as camping. Plain common sense planning. Works every time. If you see bad weather coming, prepare or move. That’s why rv’s have wheels.
David Nelson says
WELL SAID, THANK YOU!
Bruce says
Couldn’t agree with you more. Well said. I agree they should leave their personal politely agenda out of these articles!
Gary J Hironimus says
We are not experiencing “stronger storms” nor “more extreme drought”.
Brian Burry says
The Sky is NOT falling, As the Global Warming Religion Kool-Aid Crowd wants us to think. 2 issues, glaciers melting and CO2. First water levels. Today the Earth is nearly 29% land, 71% water covered and millions of years again the Earth was only 13% land mass and 87% water covered. CO2, the Global Warmists want us to think the human race has 10-12 years left, yet they do not even know WHAT percent the current CO2 is, let alone what humans (per actual scientists) can live with. The answer: we are near .35% and that has only grown .03 in hundreds of years- humans can exist with CO2 levels of 5%. That, could take 60 to 100 billion years or more. So we will be RVing many, many generations down the road. Thank God.
Jim says
Hey, I’m as open-minded as the next guy regarding “global warming”, “climate change’ or ‘weather’ issues.
What I’m absolutely against is any new legislation or especially taxes/fees meant to regulate any of those things!
People who believe that the Government is the ‘fix’ for anything outside of their initial charter, well, I don’t even know what to say.
Monty says
Heck, we take in ~6000 ppm of CO2 when we drink a can of pop.
Charles says
Climate Alarmists once again scaring us with their dire predictions. At 64, I’ve seen everyone of these scenarios since first camping trip in 1960. Weather happens, always did, always wil. Foolish headline to a foolish article. Campers are a hardy bunch with more common sense than the writers allow. Go corrupt some other lifestyle.
Kevin says
This is the second time this media site joined the hype and pseudo-science of climate change, When I began RVing in the late 80’s an ice age was ominously coming and we (USA) were complicit in its cause. Do any other readers think what I do, that this content casts a shadow over the general magazine veracity when this stuff appears in regular articles like genuine news?
Philip M Johnson says
Actually, wasn’t it in the 1970″s that Time magazine sported the cover proclaiming the coming ice age? The same brilliant “climatologists” pontificating the same nonsense that proves “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,”
Jeff says
When I saw this I thought, not you too ! Give it a rest. Your “Climate Change” agenda has no place here on this site. It is based on bad science by psuedo experts with an agenda. Of course the climate is changing, it has been since Earth first got an atmosphere 3billion years ago.
Hugh Ripple says
I’ve been camping for 50 years & these are nothing new. Back in the “old days” we didn’t even have cell phones. Use your head for something other than a place to put you cap!!!
David Lee says
Apparently you’ve bought into the leftist communist climate change scam. I expected better from you. I suppose if all the alarmists start complaining about the flat earth, you’ll be right there with them.
FMB says
I am amazed that there are so few options for electric, plug in hybrid or even just hybrid RVs. At some point, in the not too distant future, electric or other non-fossil fuel modes of transportation are going to multiply and when that happens, the cost of fuel will rise. Not only that, but the value of your combustion engine RV will drop considerably. At this point in time, do people really want to spend a huge chunk of money on an RV that could become obsolete faster than they do now?
Charles says
Combustion engines aren’t going anywhere soon. The amount of fossil fuel energy to produce lithium ion batteries is staggering, not to mention the mining waste. There will not be in the next 50 years anything such as an electric 25 Ton Rv. And even if we get to that, how is it you’ll charge your batteries? Fossil fuel, as long as it is available, and that’s hundreds of years into the future, will still be cheapest means of mass producing electricity at ever increasing demands. Especially with electric vehicles. I’ll keep my 400 HP cummins for as long as I can drive, thank you very much.
J Hannagan says
Personally, I find paying attention to the weather forecasts is the a simple way to avoid problems. This past fall we were parked in Hatteras NC as both Michael and Florence came up the coast. In both cases we left early and headed inland away from the projected path and while wet avoided damaging winds and flooded camp grounds. The idea of sitting in a campground and watching a dumpster float by does not appeal to me,
Ray Trimble says
You speak of the smoke from the fires as if it was caused by climate change. The fires are directly related to the tree hugging laws that prevent clearing the underbrush and such. There have been floods and drouts for ever. Listening to b.s. like man made climate change us what causes these fires to be the super large ones that they are.
Bill Calvert says
Can’t believe you’re politicizing the great life of RVng. One of the few remaining avenues left to get away from politics and the politicians. It is good see that the majority of those replying to this nonsensical article read it for what it is—nonsense;;;;
Monty says
There is no such thing as man-made climate change.
Jim says
There may very well be something called ‘man-made climate change’, but even if there was, quantifying it and trying to stop it is futile. The only reason for politicians to ever mention ‘climate change’ is to try to gain more control over our lives.
Monty says
Since the premise of global change is due to carbon dioxide is wrong, man can’t be blamed for global climate change.
Gary Dent says
Another BS story. I too, remember the “scary” headlines and stories in Time and other magazines, about the coming “ice age”. Since that scare didn’t work as planned, the name was changed to gather up another load of “gullibles”. Here’s a question I have that I have never seen asked or answered. Since most of the current “evidence” is based on tracking temperature changes over a period of time…and these temps are measured by instruments that must be “calibrated” at various times……who “watches” the people doing the calibrations? I.E., a “slight” miscalibration by someone with an agenda can easily tilt the results one way or the other. Setting a “thermometer” to read slightly higher than the actual temp can result in inaccurate data. And don’t say this can’t happen or doesn’t happen…there is way too much money at stake for honesty.
Kevin says
So true sir.
Tim Bailey says
Good morning, I am thankful that the readers are speaking out against this “Climate Change” political junk. Evidently the writers for RV Life don’t actually get out in the weather very often and speaking to the readers who also do not get out very often. To the RV Life writers, please stop spewing the false information. This is not a political site, it is an RV or camping site. We do not want to hear your pseudo science. Spend some time out side, any place in North America and Mother Nature will surprise you from time to time. The True RVers or Campers know no matter where you are be prepared as weather will change quickly. I am trying to stay engaged with RV Life however if you are going to continue to speak of false information how can I believe anything on this site? Get outside and you will figure it out. All the best and safe travels, See you down the road.
SlimShady says
Keep burying your head in the sand. I’m assuming you’re Forrest Gump slow if you really can’t see it.
SAMUEL W ARNOLD says
Good job, just bad mouth people. Great liberal debate method!
Tim Bailey says
You are the perfect example. If my opinion differs from yours, you automatically begin insulting me. I’ll look for you in the Left field.
Have a nice day.
SAMUEL W ARNOLD says
I don’t come to RV Life to get political OPINIONS! Drop it or I drop you! If you want to have Social Justice Warriors write your articles just let me know and I drop your forum now.
Kevin says
Ditto
Gary J Hironimus says
This article has absolutely nothing – ZERO – to do with so-called “climate change”, even if it did exist.
Billy Bob Thorton says
Global warming. There is a mini ice age upon us. But then again that would be climate change, right
Lee Jarvis says
I can confidently predict that “climate change” will have absolutely zero impact on your RVing activities in 2019. And I’ll stick my neck out to make that very same prediction for 2020 as well.
Monty says
RV’er’s that believe in global warming should stop RVing.
Pacifica says
Keep doing what you are doing. Calling science political is a sad result of too much information and too little education. Harping on a blog post about a leftist communist agenda is a full illustration of information that hasn’t been used judicially. My science educators and instructors, with no hidden political motivations, were talking about man-made global warming 40 years ago. This is not new data. The only thing new is a pseudo-news service that has no regard for or understanding of the scientific method. Thank you.
Gary Stewart says
Perfect example of what I am talking about. A lot of bashing, trashing, insults, but little substance or facts.
Gary Stewart says
Interesting comment “too much information and too little education”. Sounds like the old days did not want commoners to read the Bible, or whites didn’t didn’t think blacks didn’t need to know how to read. Questioning is the basis for understanding. Does education always result in learning? Unfortunately not. I think we can all agree that we all have seen, I know I have had the opportunity to see some highly educated ‘with the paper to prove it’ who cannot critically analyze a task and come to a logical conclusion. So pardon me for not accepting as truth all that I am told or follow the crowd without knowing the destination.
Onshi says
Talking about predictions: I can predict that when you blog about science you will immediately be noticed by bot farms and ignoramus alike.
Jim says
I believe you meant ‘pseudo-science’.
Or maybe you meant ‘the religion of climate change’?
Oh, sorry, I didn’t notice that you are much smarter than I am. Apologies.
Gary Stewart says
?????
What is a bot farm; say what you mean man. Are you a scientist.? Perhaps you can tell me what percent of warming is the result of man made fossil fuels? How about why, with the billions of tons of CO2 spewed into the atmosphere each year for the last 70 years, why has the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has only increased from .03 to .04 percent? I have done a lot of reading on the subject, but it is hard to get scientific information, most just turns out to be political science.. A lot of people think electric cars are the answer, but what happens when not enough fuel is refined to be profitable for fuel companies. I don’t think electric airplanes are anywhere on the horizon. Fuel is absolutely necessary for defense. There are a lot of questions out there and I get a little tired of guys like you that will fling words like ignoramus regarding anyone that questions the thinking of the masses. There has been many times settled science has been proven to be not as settled as once thought.
Andy says
I doubt that any of the deniers commenting here are actually scientists. Let’s see what the rocket scientists at NASA say about climate change:
https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
Tango says
NASA? Science? Data?
Don’t try and confuse me with facts, my mind is made up. Trump told how things really are and Trump NEVER lies.
Denlin says
Climate change is real. You deniers will take us all down with you. I’m enjoying RVing while I still can. Too bad for our kids and grandkids.
Monty says
You believe that climate change is real and things will be bad for your children, Yet you still are willing to contribute to this climate change.
Gary Stewart says
Climate change is real. Climatic change cycles. What has caused it to cycle down in the past. Will it cycle down again? If it did can Canada and New England survive glaciation? What can we do to make it cycle down? What are we willing to give up. Is the whole world willing to go back to a pre industrialized society? The problem is that unless everyone takes steps to stop the increase and reduce the amount of CO2, nothing I do will matter. How many of you are heating your homes with solar panels? Climate change advocates know there’s little we can do at this point to reduce CO2 levels. What they want to to tax the masses into the third world. They pay and want everyone to pay carbon offsets in order to produce CO2. When you can no longer pay your offset, your rig becomes stationary. If you move it without paying, it gets seized and given to someone who can pay for it, or rendered undrivable and given to a homeless person. It’s clear that some climate change advocates have not given a centilla of thought as to what the result of a successful climate change reversal will take; it is also clear that there are those who deny human activity has any impact on climate at all. In reality, it is just another subject used as a bickering device between those who like to bicker. But, as for me, I will continue to burn fossil fuel in my Ram, and I believe climate change advocates will do likewise. I ask you then, who is true to their beliefs.
Sue says
I wish the global warming and climate change deniers would tell me why they think the scientific world would lie. What do they have to gain?
Monty says
Funding. But only for the scientist who is on board with the politics of global climate change. Papers by skeptics were blackballed and not published in U.S. professional journals. However, more than a 1000 papers published n Europe and Asia show that solar, oceanic and other natural cycles are the drivers of climate change, not CO2..
Maxdog says
One word MONEY Not a coincidence it’s called the green movement
Gary Stewart says
Agreed. I would like to add prestige. Amount their colleagues.The problem with this debate is so many pseudo scientists spout off with blatantly false information. Living here in Louisiana, I remember after Katerina, the word from the experts was that we would have more hurricanes and the ones we had would be more severe. This did not happen. We were told that melting of the north polar ice cap would cause sea levels to rise. This is floating ice. It has no impact on sea levels. They tell us that burning ethanol is good, but CO2 is still produced. It is good for the corn farmers. There is a lot of money to be made and the government is funding a lot of it. Is a new cash cow. And where does the government get the money? What causes sea levels to rise? Well adding more water from melting land based ice will certainly make it rise. But is there anything else that can make it rise? How about water displacement. We have recently seen volcanoes in Hawaii add acres of lanugo what was once water. That probably did not significantly change the sea level, but what about those under sea activities that we know very little about.
I’m sorry that I am a skeptic, but I am not going to be bullied into silence. Climate is changing, that is for sure. The trouble is, if we did everything the experts say do, will it reverse it. I don’t know. Short of going back to the Stone Age, I am not sure it will make a difference.
Rod Hankamp says
Amazing that when you are 20 yrs old and something different happens it’s “I’ve never seen this before!!!!” Hopefully the younger generation will wise up before the sky falls on them and realize there are trends, some good, some not so good. Get used to it and don’t panic over them. Enjoy love and live.
Joe says
On a macro level, here in Indiana, the climate changes about 4 times a year. It’s called the seasons! On a micro level, the climate changes about every 12 hours. It’s called night and day!
Monty says
Man-made global warning/change is a hoax. It’s all political.
John says
The climate cycles…hot decades, ice ages, hot decades, ice ages. Decades ago we were being warned of the coming ice age.
Bill says
I had a feeling this would be a hot topic as soon as I read the headline…people love a crisis.
William Guy says
For 90% of geological history Earth’s climate was warmer than it is today. We are still emerging from the last and coldest ice age so naturally the climate is warming. This is not caused by human actions. If you ask a climate alarmist “What is Earths normal temperature?” They cant give you an honest answer. The Pleistocene? The Eocene? The Jurassic? The Carboniferous?