I've noticed a couple trip reports from this summer that involved motorhomes. Over the past decade or so, we've taken quite a few motorhome trips, and here are some tips that might help others:
[Disclaimers: we have never done a peer-to-peer rental, which may be different. I was working on this when someone else posted a motorhome tutorial for newbies. This was not meant in the same way, and from looking it over, has very little overlap. Apologies in advance for repeats. Some of this may seem obvious, but it has taken years to iron out (almost) all the kinks.]
PACKING
Keep motorhome-specific items packed away separately. This should include items that you wouldn't take when staying at hotels: tire pressure gauge, flat and Phillips screwdrivers, Allen wrech set, tape, scissors, wheel covers, disposable gloves, toilet chemicals, RV TP, towels (bath and kitchen, plus one to use as a bathmat), extension cord (in case the outlet is not in a good spot), linen, sleeping bags, night light, timer, camp stove, cooking utensils, camp plates, camping cutlery, tape. Don't use your household extension cord/screwdriver/tape; have another one. You are less likely to forget something if it is already packed.
When we have a trip coming up, we pull out the specific items that the trip will require, and repack them among the rest of our luggage. Most motorhome rentals will provide you with a single toilet chemical treatment and a single roll of TP. We have never had a problem finding either of these in Walmart. We still take some along in case our flights are delayed and we won't be able to get to Walmart until later on. Make sure you get the TP for boats/RVs.
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ARRIVING
Realistically, if you're scheduled to arrive shortly before your pickup, and your flight is delayed, you will likely miss the pickup, as there is usually a window of only a few hours to pick up the RV. The check-in process can take over an hour, even longer if there are people ahead of you. Especially if it is your first time renting a motorhome, you will be shown a video on the workings of all the main systems and slight differences in driving. Turning, backing up, going over a bump/dip. It's a lot to absorb, so try to become somewhat familiar ahead of time by watching some YouTube videos.
Make sure to take pictures/video of the inside and outside.
ASAP, transfer frozen food to RV freezer.
Our first stop is usually Walmart to pick up various items. From airport arrival to Walmart averages 2-3 hours. Plan for that, and have enough food/snacks so you don't have whiny kids. That's not a fun way to begin a vacation.
Keep motorhome-specific shopping list for when you arrive: disposable gloves, RV TP, toilet chemicals, fuel for camping stove, lighter/matches, plastic cutlery, paper plates, ziploc baggies, foil, foil pans, dishwashing liquid, SoftSoap, laundry detergent, paper towels, pillows, sleeping bags/blankets, canned goods, snacks, condiments, coffee filters. Highly recommend stocking up on non-perishable drinks for the full trip: water, Gatorade, etc. There is usually space under the sink/refrigerator/dinette seat to keep them. Replenish the fridge supply every evening. We are not hardcore hikers, and find that a 16-oz bottle is the right size for most hikes (none of us like to drink from a hydration backpack). You will almost certainly finish the drinks faster than expected. Go easy on perishables, as fridge space is severely limited.
We like to stock up on ice cream at Walmart, keeping in mind that the freezer is usually pretty full at the beginning of a trip. If you do want to stock up but prefer your ice cream not melt, choose what you want but don't take it. When almost done at checkout, send a kid to grab what was chosen. Walmart usually only has chalav stam ice cream, but national chain supermarkets will often have pareve varieties, like Mauna Loa.
Before connecting hookups, make sure the RV is as level as possible. There are some apps that measure motorhome levelness, but I did not have success with the ones I tried. The AC and refrigerator need a level motorhome, as do slide-outs. Bear in mind that an unlevel absorption fridge (what most RVs have) can catch fire.
[After accounting for cleanliness,] All items should be put away in a place that makes sense. All produce in one place, snacks in another, paper goods in a third, etc. Take advantage of all the cabinets that are available. You are moving in to the motorhome for the duration; make it at least as organized as your home. If everything can be easily found, you will waste less time and be less stressed.
Upon arrival at your first campground, unpack your luggage and set up the beds. Put all unpacked items where they belong. When packing for any trip, we make a list of what is in each item of luggage (then share to family chat). If we arrive tired and want to go straight to bed, we find the suitcase(s) that has LINEN, NIGHTWEAR, and ONE DAY'S CLOTHES, pull those out, and deal with the rest another time. For the flight out, we try to pack clothing grouped by day rather than person.
I highly recommend bringing along linen, even if you think that you'll just sleep in a sleeping bag. When you arrive at your first campground, wipe down all of the mattresses with a wet paper towel or the like. They can be kind of gross. If you're a real first world-er, put down a mattress topper and then a sheet. I'm seriously contemplating getting a mattress topper for motorhome vacations, as the mattresses in most rentals are plasticky (hence wiping them down). You will sweat and stick to the bed, and the sheet will come undone as you move around. We have two sets of sheets: one queen size and one twin size. Most sets will come with a fitted and a flat sheet. The fitted queen fits in the main bed, and the flat queen is used on the overhead bunk. The twin sheets are used on the other beds.
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DEPARTING A CAMPSITE
It's best to set a routine for every morning before pulling out: one person disconnects hookups and locks all outside storage doors, one person makes sure the counters/tables are clear, one makes sure the cabinets/vents are closed, one shuts the hot water heater/heat, etc., etc. Even little kids can be tasked with simple things like shutting the lights.
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SHOWERS
Most RV showers are no fun to use. They are usually so small that you can not comfortably turn around, let alone lather up. Also, the hot water tank holds only a few gallons, so is good for only a quick shower. Don't expect an entire family to be able to take hot showers before Shabbos.
Fortunately, there is a better option. Most campgrounds have decent, or even nice, facilities. In most cases, they are separated in 2: one male, one female, with a row of toilets, and a row of shower stalls. Some have individual toilet/shower rooms instead. The showers in the individual rooms are usually much roomier. One campground we stayed at had a waterfall/rain shower head. Most of the individual rooms (and some of the others) require a PIN given by the campground, and may be an issue for Shabbos, so you may have to plan to use the RV bathroom over Shabbos. We stayed at one campground where there were Shabbos issues with the campground bathroom lock and the light went on automatically, but luckily, there was another restroom off the campground office that was Shabbos-friendly. (At least one family member absolutely hates using the restroom in the RV.)
Each family member should ideally have a shower bag containing all of the items that are needed in the shower. Don't forget shower slippers. For little kids, a bathrobe might work better than a towel. I need multiple hands to count the number of times that I have left something important back in the RV. Don't share soap unless you want to risk leaving it behind. You could go back to get it, but if you're showering during a popular time, you may have to go to the end of the line. At least one campground we've stayed at had only two toilet-shower combo rooms. The wait at night was easily half hour.
Our last motorhome rental had quite a few hooks on the wall, and after cleaning the wall area, we hung our towels to dry. This made it clear to me that not having such hooks is terribly inconvenient, and I would consider bringing along Command hooks on future motorhome trips. (Just be careful not to damage the walls, which are often cheap quality.)
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LAUNDRY
Another thing we hung on a hook was our laundry bag. Bring a large sturdy one that can be thrown in the load together with the clothing and then used to bring the clean clothes back. Don't forget to keep a tzitzis/lingerie bag packed together with the laundry bag. Most campgrounds, including state park campgrounds (and on occasion national park campgrounds), have laundry rooms. They usually take quarters and only sometimes have change machines. Best to bring your own laundry detergent, but many sell boxes of powder for $1-$2 per load. We used to bring Tide pods for their ease of use, but we stopped as we just don't like them.
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HOOKUPS
When booking campgrounds, it's a good idea to make a list of items you want, and call to verify that you'll have them: laundry room, fire pit, specific hookups, level site. For most motorhome rentals, a 30 amp electrical hookup will be sufficient. A water hookup is usually important, but a night or two without a water hookup could work on a full tank. Most campgrounds will have a dump station for those that don't have a sewer hookup. Using the dump station takes about the same amount of effort as a sewer hookup (unless there's a wait for it), so if we're leaving during the day anyway, we can just plan to dump in the morning or evening. If the savings is significant, we're happy to take a campsite without sewer. Over Shabbos is different, though, as the time between dumps will be longer (let's be real: no one wants to disconnect the RV motzaei Shabbos to go dump the tanks) and the RV will start to smell, even with toilet chemicals. If you do spend Shabbos in the RV without a sewer hookup, put plenty of chemicals in.
If you won't be connected to sewer for some time (like if you go out for the day or are driving), make sure to flush a toilet chemical pod or two down the toilet. We prefer the pods and don't like the liquid.
Some campgrounds require an airtight seal for the sewer connection. If you plant to go RVing often, this is a good investment, as it has the added benefit of keeping the hose out of the sewer.
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COOKING
Here are a number of cooking methods that you might consider.
1) campfire
This is allowed in most campgrounds. Best way to cook is with good quality marshmallow sticks. Everyone cooks their own hot dog/sausage/marshmallow over the campfire. Disadvantage of this method is the inability to cook things like burgers/steaks. For that, use a grill basket (preferably without a hinge as the thickness is not adjustable and items within will shift uncomfortably), they're but heavier, and heat distribution is not as good as a stick. Different kinds of campfire tripods may be an option but will not necessarily fit all fire rings.
Regarding wood, many campgrounds allow wood only bought from them, as transporting wood can transport pests. In some places that is the official policy. In one case, when we were going to arrive after hours at a campground, and I was concerned about buying firewood, I was told, "yeah, we don't care and don't enforce it. That said, we do try to buy firewood where we use it to reduce the spread of pests.
To start the fire, you'll usually need some sort of firestarter. Each campground will sell a different kind, some better than others. (Walmart probably has as well.) When you find a kind that you like, stock up for the remainder of your stay in the motorhome. We like Pull Start Fire, where you pull the string and it bursts into flame. Please, please, please don't squirt lighter fluid onto your fire.
2) motorhome stove
We don't feel comfortable using the burners, so have a makeshift system that is somewhat flexible (not all RV stoves are alike), but far from ideal. When cooking inside the motorhome, the AC unit should be off, and the stove fan on.
Some motorhomes may have an oven, but don't count on it. The single time we tried to use one, it was not a success.
3) electric burner
Use inside the motorhome, instead of the built-in one. This has been the worst solution for us, and causes much aggravation. Perhaps best to use with extension cord on dinette table. Same deal with the AC.
4) camping stove
Butane or propane. Butane is easy, but can be difficult (not impossible) to find outside Walmart/REI. Propane can be easier to find, but slightly more complicated. Propane stoves come in a greater variety of sizes. Some places will have restrictions on butane or propane, so do your research, and make sure you'll be able to get the fuel you need. Don't bother with alcohol/white gas stoves unless you are hardcore and that's the only option for where you'll be. Use these stoves outdoors.
5) Crockpot
This is one of my favorites. Put all the ingredients in at night, it's ready in the morning. Put all the ingredients in in the morning, it's ready at night. We have at times cooked a roast or soup overnight Thursday, chicken for Friday night all day Friday, then cholent Friday night. It doesn't get much easier than that. In a motorhome, however, it's not so simple, as you'd need to be plugged in to shore power to power the Crockpot. If you leave the campground for an activity, you're not going to have power to your Crockpot. Yes, you can run the generator to cook, but personally, this is not something I'd do. If you do choose this, make sure to have the Crockpot in a place where it can be for the drive as well, like the floor (don't forget an extension cord). Two other issues with the Crockpot are relatively minor: they usually take up quite a bit of space in luggage and fridge space in an RV is minimal, so you'll need to transfer food to foil, as the entire crock probably won't fit. Or plan to cook overnight only/get to your Shabbos destination at least 4 hours before Shabbos and cook on high.
6) HotLogic
Not exactly a cooking solution, but if all you'll be doing is heating up food, should be OK. Remember to take extension cord, just in case, and don't leave it on the counter where it could slide off while driving.
7) Betty Crocker
We don't own one. Americans ingest about a credit card's worth of plastic each week. Imagine a stack of 52 credit cards. That's about the amount of plastic you eat in a year. We prefer food that is not seasoned with plastic, and so stay away from non-stick cookware, silicone, parchment paper, etc. You do you.
8
) Toaster oven
A couple of times in the past we have bought a toaster oven on vacation, but unless you want fresh challah, there are better options.
9) Grill
We've used a George Foreman grill on vacation once, many years ago, and hated it. We don't like cheap supermarket grills, and we are happy with the other options, but I imagine that in some cases it would be easier to cook over a grill than a campfire. IMO, grilling is for the backyard, and campfires are for vacation.
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COOKWARE
For campfire cooking, the best things are non-hinged grill baskets or individual sticks, as we already mentioned.
For any of the stove options, you will need cookware. We prefer camping cookware, as they take up relatively little space. Some pots can nest for extra convenience. Make sure that before you buy, you understand how large the cookware is, as most camping cookware is quite small.
If you eat chalav stam, highly recommend a milchig frying pan, for all of the convenient items that can be found in a U.S. grocery store, especially breakfast items like waffles (don't forget the whipped cream!) and veggie sausage. If your kids can't live without mac n cheese, use the frying pan for melting cheese on macaroni cooked in a pareve pot. (Cooking macaroni in a frying pan can get messy.)
Pareve pot, for those that don't eat All Fleishigs All the Time. Good for cooking side dishes. We also use it as a mixing bowl for eggs, etc.
Fleishig pot, fleishig frying pan, mostly for Shabbos prep, as all other fleishig cooking we do over the campfire. Also for breakfast if you like green eggs and salami in the morning.
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FOOD PREP
Many campgrounds have a dishwashing sink for campers. This makes life easier and drier. Most motorhome rentals don't exactly have large kitchen sinks. No, the bathroom sink is NOT larger; that is barely large enough to wash one hand at a time. Bring dishwashing liquid, MPF* sponge, and paper towels.
Other kitchen items to bring: can opener, peeler, corkscrew and wine bottle stopper (some Walmarts and many wine stores sell Bartenura, primarily Moscato), measuring spoons, collapsible pour over, soup bags, MPF spoon, MPF knife (in cover), MPF cutting board, MPF grater, MPF tongs, MPF turner.
MPF = milchig, pareve, fleishig. No, we don't bring each of these items in M,P,F, but only you know what you need to feel comfortable. For us, tongs are a necessity; they make motorhome vacations that much easier and therefore more enjoyable. Use them to flip meat/chicken in a pot, or if a frank or chicken is stuck on the grill basket, tongs are there to the rescue.
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FOOD
Simplify your meals, and bring along the food that you may not be able to buy at your location. This usually means to bring all of your meat and chicken, grape juice (a 3-pack of drink boxes per Shabbos in case you can't find wine), matzah (don't count on finding any type of challah, but we have come across Pretzilla buns), marshmallows, and cheese. You can bring frozen pre-cooked vacuum-sealed protein (meatballs, chicken bottoms), but we usually bring raw. We did do some frozen pre-cooked vacuum-sealed chicken on a recent trip, and plan to explore that a bit more---Shabbos prep would be much quicker. Most other meat items can be well-cooked over a campfire in a short amount of time, just make sure to defrost it in advance.
We don't check our cooler bag on the plane, as it would be disastrous if it was lost. The couple of times we were asked to check it because we were flying to Nowhereville on a tiny plane and it wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment, we were able to convince them to allow us to try to put it under the seat in front, where it actually did fit, BH. On one of those trips, when we realized they were asking people to check even normal-size carryon, we started duct-taping/signing anything that was not sealed in the store, just in case. (Very handy to keep some duct tape in your carryon bag.)
To keep things super organized, we make two lists: one with all items in the cooler bag, and another list of what will be for supper each night/when each item will be used. The first list helps ensure that all items that you planned to take make their way into the cooler bag right before you run out the door. We try to build a bit of flexibility into the meal plan and also plan for some quick meals for when activities have run longer than expected. One favorite of ours: brown a pack of cocktail franks in a bit of oil, dump in a can of baked beans.
If G-d forbid something happens with your food, most larger supermarkets carry Beyond/Impossible/Lightlife burgers/franks/sausages. If you're near a Trader Joe's, they used to have kosher chicken (Empire) and meat (Teva).
Any special spice blends should be premixed and bagged: shwarma spice, Yemenite soup, Moroccan fish, whatever. Just because you're in a motorhome doesn't mean your food needs to be bland. Just don't bring the entire spice cabinet. Having typed "Moroccan fish" I'm realizing that we should've planned for that, rather than eating meat just about every night. A simplified version can be just as delicious, served over rice. Rice is an easy enough campground starch, especially when you use the Boil-in-a-Bag kind. The rice won't stick to the pot, and clean-up is a breeze, much like using soup bags to cook beans.
Bring your own cheese, if that's important to you. There are very few kosher options when out of frum areas, and all you're likely to find is chalav stam string cheese, cream cheese, and cottage cheese. We used to freeze blocks of cheese to bring along, but that messes with the texture. Now we just add it to the cooler bag on top of the other items. Non-creamy cheeses should have no problem getting through security.
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CAMPGROUNDS
KOA is the only national campground chain that I know of, but they're hit or miss. Pronounced kay-oh-ay, not koa like the wood endemic to Hawaii. There are actually three KOA brands: Journeys, Holidays, and Resorts. KOA Journey campgrounds are geared toward travelers; KOA Holiday campgrounds will have fun amenities like bounce pillows or mini golf; and KOA Resort campgrounds are a destination in itself. Generally, with increased amenities comes increased cost. I'm sure there's some kind of standards KOAs have to follow, but I just haven't quite figured it out yet. Some are beautiful and modern, while some are dumps. The best thing about them is that they're easy to find online and reserve. They also have a rewards program, where you can save 10% on all reservations. This currently costs $36 per year. If you are renting a motorhome from a large company, there's a good chance that they have a deal with KOA. If they do, your keyring will have a rewards card, good for 10% off, and it can be added to your reservation when you arrive at the campground. Don't buy a membership, too, as they do not stack. They sometimes allow you to choose a specific campsite for an extra fee.
Another great resource is recreation.gov. This covers most campgrounds in National Park Service areas that require reservations. (They don't list campgrounds managed by a concessionaire, which are probably better, albeit more costly, campgrounds.) A great many of them will not have hookups, and those that do will fill up early. From what I can tell, all reservations are for a specific site in the campground. Inspect the listing for each site; some even include photos. Once you add the booking to your cart, you have 15 minutes to check out. If you need more time, add a random booking which you can then delete.
Wherever you stay, campsites will be pull-through or back-in, which is exactly what it sounds like. Either you will be able to drive straight through the site---in on one side and out on the other, or there will be only one way in/out, and you will have to do some more maneuvering. You will either back in or pull in head on, depending on where the pedestal is---you want the street side of the RV where it can easily connect to utilities. Usually electricity, water, and sewer are near each other, but there are some poorly designed campgrounds that have the hookups all over the place. I've seen sewer hoses stretched clear across to the other side of a rig because of sewer placement. Ouch! Pull-through sites are usually larger and more expensive, but not always. Back-in sites may be along the highway (groan!) or a river.
There are many very nice campgrounds throughout the country that are not KOA or on recreation.gov. The problem is finding them. If you have an area that you want to be in, look up the Chamber of Commerce for that area. They'll often have a list of campgrounds. We highly recommend looking them up on Google Maps/Earth to get an idea of what they're like. There was one campground I checked out that looked like an empty lot, and had a butcher shop abutting it. Crossed that one off the list of possible campgrounds. Then there was the time that I did NOT look at a campground in Google Maps, and we were actually just feet away from train tracks. Not unused tracks. Throughout the night, trains would pass and woke us repeatedly.
In the past, I've bought books on campgrounds in a region, where they rate various aspects. Waste of money, as the authors clearly have not been to all of the hundreds of campgrounds that are included, and you can't get a sense of what they're like.
There are some nice campgrounds we've passed where we said, "that would've been a nice place to stay," but they seem more like places you'd find through word of mouth. If you're only going to be at a campground for a night or two, the campground is usually not a big make it or break it part of the vacation.
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SHABBOS
(Some Shabbos tips sprinkled throughout.)
Shabbos in a campground can be very nice, but we've never had other frum Jews at a campground with us. (Never, not just not Shabbos.) It's very relaxing to hang out at a campground for a day, and you'll often meet interesting people. (We're not exactly sure why a non-Jew would choose to do nothing for an entire day, but we see plenty of them.)
We try to make Shabbos as nice as possible, setting up the table with a white tablecloth and bringing along even more treats than usual. If you want pastries for a second Shabbos on the road, bring along a box of individually wrapped pastries, as those will last longer. Bring along some plastic bechers, or at the very least, a pack of 7-oz cups. This is not a standard size outside of frum stores, but will hold exactly the amount of grape juice in a box drink. Tea lights and a nice tray, recommend to put in stove area. Take along a chumash and do shnayim mikra even if you normally don't. Bring along some divrei Torah printouts.
We typically use a CrockPot/HotLogic for cholent. It may be possible to put a blech on the stove, but depending on the size of the propane tank, you may burn through all the fuel. You may be responsible for refilling the propane tank, while shore power is essentially free to use.
Regarding an eiruv,
@Something Fishy posted some photos of an eiruv he had built by a motorhome, but when I asked a Rav about it, I was told that a rabbi would have to have a look. It doesn't sound like something most people would do, but if you plan to be on the road a lot, it could be worth learning. Keep in mind that not every campground will be suitable for, or agreeable to, having an eiruv.
Most rental RVs do not come with the ability to put lights and AC on a timer. You can bring your own light and timer, or keep the house lights on in the dining area and anyone sleeping there can use an eye mask. Regarding AC, that is more complicated, and we have not yet come up with a solution (I'm not a fan fan). The nights can be quite cool---we've had it dip into the 30s in the summer---and the afternoons in the 90s. The best we've come up with is to keep the AC on and sleep in winter pajamas, socks, a sweater, a hat, etc. Reminds me of the time I asked my son if he needed his sweater in class because of the AC. He says, "yes, and I think I'll bring gloves, too." Portable AC units don't seem practical.
When searching for a campground for Shabbos, keep in mind that many motorhome ACs will only cool to a certain amount below the outside air temperature. If it's 110 outside, you won't get it cooler than 90 inside. Best to find something in a cooler locale for Shabbos so that you can be comfortable. You may be able to find a campground in higher elevation that's not too far off your planned route. Likewise, it might make sense to check day/night temperature differences, and if possible, choose a location where they're closer together.
Remember to shut/tape the light in the refrigerator. I've seen mention of a light that goes on when you open the RV door, but most rentals are not fancy, and we've never had that.
I recently came across a kosher campground, Camp Shabbat, in upstate New York that looks interesting, with tents, RV spots, and RVs in place to rent. I would love to go to a place like that for a late summer Sukkos.
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GARBAGE
Campgrounds have dumpsters for you to dump your trash. Throw trash out at night, in the morning, and before you pull out of your campsite. We use shopping bags as garbage bags, and haven't quite figured out a great spot to keep it. When we had hooks, that worked well. If not, we usually hang it from a low cabinet; a twist tie can be good for this.
This goes without saying: don't leave trash/food outside overnight. You don't want that kind of visitors.
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RETURNING THE MOTORHOME
We pack up as much as possible at the last campground in the morning before we leave, as most of the items are still in use into the morning. We usually finish our packing at the motorhome return. When at the return, empty the cabinets and external compartments, and leave them open, so you can see at a glance that they're empty. Some places will check through everything to make sure nothing was left behind, but not all places will, and it would be a shame to leave things behind.
Take the minute or two to sweep out the motorhome. Some places may charge you a fee if it's returned dirty.
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ENJOY!
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