The RV lifestyle is not all sunshine and roses. There is work involved. For example, there are a number of set tasks you have to perform when you first arrive at a campsite. And depending on whether the site is modern or primitive, there may be extra work to do.
Are you an RV owner? If so, you probably have plenty of great stories to tell about setting up and breaking down. What is the hardest set up task for you?
Leveling Your RV
Leveling an RV used to be a pain in the bum a few decades ago. It might still be if your unit is older than 20 years or so. That’s because automatic leveling systems were the exception to the rule back then. Most older units were leveled manually.
It is a lot easier today thanks to automatic systems powered by computers and hydraulics. But in the absence of such technology, you have to adjust leveling jacks yourself. With every adjustment you have to climb inside and check your progress. This back and forth, in and out procedure can take a frustratingly long time.
Deploying RV Skirting
Another set up task that can be potentially time-consuming is deploying RV skirting. A conventional skirting system consists of canvas or vinyl panels that hang from the rig with some sort of fastener. The hardest part is installing the fasteners when you first buy the kit. When it comes time to actually set up at the campground, you walk around the rig and snap the panels in place.
A Connecticut company known as AirSkirts has developed a new kind of skirting system that doesn’t require snaps, hooks, or any other fasteners. It is inflatable. You just place each piece in the right location, connect the pump, and fill it with air. They say their skirting can be deployed in under 20 minutes.
Setting Up the Awning
Maybe the hardest set up task for you involves setting up the awning. Again, newer RVs come with automatic awnings that can be deployed with the push of a button. But older units have manually operated awnings. You have to unroll the material and attach the support frame to the side of the unit. It is not terribly complicated, but things can get messy if your awning is outfitted with mosquito netting.
Hooking up Sewer and Water Lines
Visit a national park or public campground and you are looking at water and sewer hookups. That’s a good thing. The convenience of having running water and plumbing in your own unit means not having to use public facilities. But before you can run the water or flush the toilet, you have to hook up your sewer and water lines.
It is not a big deal in most cases. However, it can be unsettling if you are the type of person who despises all things plumbing. Just the thought of wrangling those hoses can be enough to turn your stomach – and that’s provided nothing goes wrong. If you do run into problems, it could be a long day.
The thing about setting up is that it is somewhat personal. Yes, there are some standard things all RV owners have to do. But much of what goes into set up depends on personal preferences. Everyone has their ways of doing things. The good news is that setting up and breaking down become pretty routine over time. If you are good, you can do both in under an hour. That leaves plenty of time to enjoy all the things that makes RV camping what it is.
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