Time to get your Christmas on – string those lights!
Even RVers Hang Christmas RV Lights. Here’s How.
Putting up RV Christmas lights is a great way to get in the holiday spirit. For some of you, this is the first step in signaling the season has started.
It may be your first attempt at celebrating the season in an RV. Setting up RV Christmas decorations is easy, cost effective, and safe if you follow a few tips.
Power use
If you want to go enormous with your lighting effects, tally the wattage. Depending on where you are camping, there may be limited ability for you to add a ton of RV Christmas lights. If you are boondocking, even more so. Just be aware of the draw your lights will use compared to what electricity you will have available. If you are not sure, maybe test a small string of lights while monitoring your use before you put them up.
Select LED lights
There are lots of light selections now that are LED (Light Emitting Diode). They use the diode instead of a filament to produce the light. This makes them not only more efficient for park use, but they also last longer – up to 25 times longer. LEDs are also considered safer because they don’t put out as much heat as incandescent bulbs.
Are you using LED or incandescent bulbs? This one has a filament so it burns hotter.
Hanging RV Christmas lights
Think about where you want to place your lights so you know what you need to get to affix them to your RV.
- Rooftop – Lighted blow-up ornaments look great on the roof. You will want items you can tie down against strong winds.
- Awnings – There are special clips you can purchase if you want to do string or rope lights.
- Lawn – An easy setup is a lawn Christmas light. Just plug it in and point it at your RV. Just make sure before purchasing that you have a blank spot somewhere on your RV where you can see the lights. Dark colored RVs may be harder to see your lights – and purchasing lights the same color as your RV isn’t an option.
- Chairs, rails, umbrellas – The easiest way to attach lights is with cable ties. Purchase ties that are the color of the item you want to attach them to, so they don’t show. When you tighten the ties, leave enough space to slip a pair of scissors or clippers in them to cut them loose later.
- Inside – Use Command Hooks so you can easily take the hooks down without damage to your walls or ceilings.
Plugging in
If you have decided to run multiple lights around your RV, you need to plug them all in. Select lights you can chain together into one plug. Also make sure you selected outdoor, weatherproof lights. Any open plugs should be turned so they don’t catch water or snow.
Wildlife
Some RV parks may have a lot of wildlife. You will want to avoid placing Christmas lights within nibble range or path of the area deer, rabbits, armadillos, etc. Keep everything close to your rig or on it.
Park Rules
Staying at a campground? Be aware of the park rules. Here are some RV park rules that may affect your Christmas lights plans:
- Bright lights must be lowered or turned off by 10 p.m.
- No items on the lawn.
- No excessive decor. You may check with the park host as there may be exceptions for holiday decor.
- No attaching items to trees or shrubs.
Storage
Don’t forget everything you are purchasing for the holidays needs to be stored. When you make all your decoration purchases, buy your storage bin at the same time. This way you know you have enough bins for the RV Christmas lights you want to keep.
LED bulbs can be plastic, making them lighter than glass. So, they don’t add weight to your RV when storing. Or, package your lights back up carefully and donate them to a thrift store – make someone else’s holiday bright next year!
No matter how you decide to display your Christmas lights, have a wonderful time decorating your RV home for the holidays. From my RV to yours, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
One of the best parts about RVing is engaging with the community of traveling enthusiasts. iRV2 forums allow folks to chat with other RVers online, and get other perspectives on everything RVing, including products, destinations, RV mods, and much more.
Related articles:
- How To Find The Perfect RV Christmas Decorations
- DIY RV Christmas Decorations That Are Easy To Make
- 8 Useful Christmas Gifts For RV Owners
Since 2019 Lucinda Belden has been a full-time RVer and travel writer specializing in topics such as living on the road, working while traveling, RVing with outdoor recreation toys, and discovering unique location experiences. She is also the Program Director for MyRVRadio, a non-stationary radio station for RVers broadcasting news, events, culture, expert advice, humor, and entertainment. As a skilled entrepreneur, promoter and travel industry consultant, she and her husband Will Belden organize national events for the outdoor industry, such as the Direction Wide Open RV & Motorcycle Rally. She draws daily inspiration from the full-time RV lifestyle, motorcycling and world travel expeditions.
Dear Lucinda, thank you for the piece. I must say, string them where you like and plug them in!
So true friz! Something magical about seeing lights everywhere for the holidays. Thanks for sharing.