RV Safety Tips

RV travel is a great way to get out with family and friends to see new sights, visit new places, and meet new people.  As you venture out and embark on your journeys, you will discover the magic of the RV lifestyle in becoming friendly with new people and sharing in a great community spirit that comes with RV living and travel.  It is important, however, to not forget some important things regarding your personal safety and keeping your belongings safe.

The benefit to RV travel is that you have many of your things with you.  In the case of RV full-timers, you have ALL of your things with you, including valuables such as digital cameras, video cameras, money, cell phones, etc.  Having these items in your rig or in your dinghy (towable vehicle) can make them targets for thieves.  In many cases, an RV is easier to break into than a car, making them even more vulnerable.  They simply aren’t built as burglar-proof as the typical car. 

Rest Areas and RV’s

Rest areas are ideal places to stop and take a break. However, because it is easy to come and go quickly with many unfamiliar faces around, rest areas are very attractive for thieves. Be extremely cautious opening your door to someone who knocks. Ask for identification and have them show it to you through the window. Before you get out of your RV to use the facilities, try going in shifts so there is always somebody with the RV. When moving around the rest area, be aware of what is going on around you. Many states post security staff at rest areas, but being smart is the best deterrent. Thieves look for easy targets, so take steps to make sure you and your RV are not easy targets.

Safety Tips While Parking Your RV

As with many things, common sense goes a long way towards keeping you safe when traveling in your RV. When choosing a place to park, look for an area that criminals won’t like. For example, if you are choose to park in the parking lot of a store, make sure you find an area that is well lit that has other vehicles in the area. While at a campground or RV park, you may be tempted by the lure of getting away from it all by finding that perfect out-of-the-way location, but that is precisely where thieves prefer to work, where others are not likely to see them. Just as you would do with your automobile, keep your valuables out of sight so thieves can’t glance through the windows of your RV and see purses, wallets, cameras, etc. Whenever possible, lock up those items that are outside your RV such as grills, bicycles, etc.

Quick Stops

Many times, making quick stops for things like gas, ATM machines, fast-food, etc, are when thieves strike, usually because the victims are distracted with what they are doing. Be especially vigilant at night. As with rest areas, be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to what is going on outside your RV. If something doesn’t look or feel right, find another place to stop.

RV Travel Plan

It is always a good idea to let someone else know what your RV travel plans are and check in with them at regular intervals. Should something happen while you are traveling, they will know something is amiss when they cannot reach you or haven’t heard from you. If you have left them with a travel plan, they will have a pretty good idea where you are so they can summon help.

RV Roadside Care

Take extra care when pulling your RV or motorhome off to the side of the road. Though not as common, there have been incidents where criminals have faked accidents or pretended to be motorists in need of help. Before pulling off the road, make sure you are comfortable doing so. Many states have direct numbers for cell phone users to contact the state patrol. Anytime you have a roadside situation, contact the authorities for your protection as well as others.

If you pull your RV over because of mechanical problems or a flat tire, be extremely careful as there are vehicles are passing by within feet of you. If you get out of your RV, remember that a simple misstep on your part or momentary lack of concentration on the part of the passing driver could spell disaster. The best course of action is to stay in your RV and call for help, either from your road side assistance plan or from local authorities.