Purchasing an RV is one of the bigger investments you will make in your lifetime. The average RV owner uses their rig about 21 days a year, and while you can’t put a price on the memories you will make in it with family and friends, doesn’t it make sense to maximize your investment by finding more ways to make use of it?
Here are eight tips to get more use out of your RV:
1. Consider using it for day trips with the family.
Taking the RV to the beach or up to the mountains skiing for the day will make a more enjoyable day for all. By taking your RV, you have a place to carry your gear, change clothes, use your own bathroom, take a break from the sun or cold, shower, fix a meal how you like it, and carry everyone more comfortably.
Spend a day at the beach with your RV
2. Use the RV for a spare bedroom when guests come to visit.
With the RV, your guests will have their own private space to retreat to in the evening. They won’t have to worry about making noise and waking up others in the house. They will also have their own bed and bathroom, eliminating the need to share with others in the house.
The RV is especially appreciated when those with infants or toddlers come for a visit as their sleep schedule is not likely to match yours. My wife and I live just minutes from an international airport and let out of town friends use our RV for somewhere quiet to sleep before or after their early morning or late night flights.
3. Football fan? Tailgating is a great way to get some extra use out of your RV.
You can take your family and friends in one vehicle, get to the game early, enjoy some great food, take shelter in the RV or under the patio awning if it rains, have a close and clean restroom available, and are able to wait out the traffic after the game in the comfort of your RV.
Tailgating
4. Use the RV for transportation to concerts or festivals.
Just like tailgating, everyone can ride in one vehicle, saving gas and the cost of paying for multiple parking spaces, and you have all the comforts of home with you.
5. If you have kids in sports, the RV is a great way to travel to away games with the family.
You can comfortably travel to the game, use the RV as somewhere for the team to hang out before, during half-time, or after the game, and take shelter under the patio awning during inclement weather.
If it is your turn for half-time or end-of-game snacks, you can become your child’s hero by serving hot or cold treats from the RV. Think hot chocolate during frigid January soccer games or ice cream after a hot day of playing baseball.
6. An RV makes a perfect she-shed or man cave without costly additions to your home.
7. Use it as a home office for a place to get away from the kids when you are working and need a quiet refuge.
Use the RV as a home office, personal she-shed or man cave
Getting the most of your RV investment, just another adventure in RVing!
See also: 6 Reasons Why RVs Make It Easier To Travel With Kids
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
Great ideas. I had no idea the average RV is used so little.
I like to smoke a big bowl in my motor-home while we are at home.
RV’s make great hobby, kid sport and pet event support vehicles. Take your RV to the Zoo, theme park, county fair, local parks, airshows, 4th of July picnics, etc. A simple day at the park with kids and dogs, eats and drinks and simply relaxing with all conveniences. My wife and her friends enjoy an evening gabbing and laughing, playing Yahtzee, and eating popcorn in our MH without disturbing anyone.
Yep, used a tent trailer sitting on the driveway as a study hall when in college. Nice place for peace and quiet.
yuppers, used our travel trailer as a spare bedroom. I think our neighbor does as well. Just remind folks to come into the house to use the bathroom.
Great for going to dog trials especially when they run more than a day.
Indeed, especially since after a long day there can atill be a long drive home.. a place to unwind before driving is a good thing.
Keep it stocked with basic necessities and ready to “bug out” if an emergency strikes. We live in So Cal so always worried about fires. We have a 24′ C which fits easily in our driveway. It’s great peace of mind knowing if we need to evacuate we can do so in minutes with all basic needs for pets and ourselves taken care of.
Wow. This is great. Good clean reading.
We use our Class B camper van as a scenic dining room after picking up a take-out meal from a restaurant during COVID-19 months. We pick up the food and then go to a scenic spot for dinner. Our spring evenings have not often been warm enough for eating outside. We also play a game or read after dinner!
I love the ideas. Unfortunately many places in Florida don’t allow RVs, campers or trailers in their parks unless you are camping. We just had that experience with two parks in the St Pete area. Even the park with a campground did not allow rigs in the day areas.
I thought we we weren’t getting enough use out of our rig, so we joined a local chapter of Good Sams Club. Now we go camping somewhere with a group every month except Jan and Aug. We have met a lot of very great people and made very good friends. The group usually takes an extended trip a couple of times a year like Big Bend, Hot Springs, Branson, etc.
Our house is only avg. sized and it’s not in a neighborhood that has an HOA so my RV camper TT is always parked in our yard and plugged in. As the house spare room downstairs is used for storage, the TT will serve as a guest room for out of town visitors. Also functions as my personal man cave since my wife and kids never go into it when it’s parked at home. Nice to lounge in it and turn up the stereo to listen to classic rock & pop, watch TV, or take naps, especially on a nice summer day with the windows opened. The microwave is great for making snacks like popcorn, instant noodles and hot drinks. These were my intentions and uses before I found this article. Since 2021, also made a conscience effort to use the TT much more compared to 1st few years when bought it new in Spring 2017. It wasn’t used at all in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and a minor physical ailment that temporarily limited my mobility.
Can an old camper be turned into a food truck?