The space over the side door of some RVs is great for a bookshelf. Hold the shelf up with angle brackets, put cup hooks at each end between cabinets, and attach bungee cords between the hooks to hold the books on the shelf when traveling. If you have upholstery above the door opening, remove it and tack it to the underside of the shelf. Be sure the shelf is high enough to clear your head when you climb the steps to enter the RV.—Mary Jo and Bill Cornell, Fairfield, CT

In a motorhome, a drapery often hangs over a large part of the side passenger window. When driving past beautiful scenery, gather the drapery beside or around the adjacent vertical handle bar. Then wrap a short bungee cord around both the drapery and the bar. You may want to secure the drapery at a second place on the bar with a second bungee cord. Bungee cords are available in various sizes at many RV dealer accessory stores, camping stores, campground stores, and hardware stores.

A quick, easy, and inexpensive way to keep cabinets from opening while moving is to use elastic ponytail clasps (the kind with two balls on the ends of the elastic band). Where two cabinet door handles are placed next to each other, run the elastic portion of the clasp through the handles and then secure the clasp with the decorative balls. These little elastic ponytail clasps do the trick and are amazingly strong and cheap. (Go to the dollar store and buy them by the bag!)—Ed Holm, Millsboro, DE

For hidden storage for valuables or for canned goods, pull out the bottom drawer of cabinets. There is always dead space between the floor and the drawer bottom—usually nicely padded with carpet.—Mary Jo Cornell, Fairfield, CT

A strip of hook-and-loop fastener will keep draperies tightly closed where they meet in the center of the window. Sew one side of the strip to the front of the leading edge of one drapery panel and the other side of the strip to the back of the corresponding panel. Press together, of course, to keep the draperies closed.

Use carpet on the shelves of cupboards. It cuts down on noise and decreases vibration that could cause breakage. Carpet samples or remnants can be obtained at carpet stores inexpensively or sometimes for free. Use a razor blade knife or a carpet cutter to cut pieces to fit the shelves. Heavy scissors such as tin shears are also useful for cutting.—Joyce and Carroll Dell, Littlestown, PA

Having a tiled shower/tub means it must be wiped down after each use. Keep a towel or microfiber cloth at hand (use the rack on the shower door perhaps) specifically for this purpose.

Insert clear acrylic strips at the front of shelves in the medicine cabinet or other cupboards that hold small items. The clear strips will keep items from falling forward when you open the cupboard door, and you can easily see what’s behind the strips. You can buy the strips at a local lumber yard, where someone there will cut them to the size that you need. Measure the width of the space plus the framing behind which you will place the acrylic strip. Decide on what height you want the strip to be. Have these measurements with you when you go to the lumber yard.

To keep dishes from rattling, store them in bags made from quilted fabric or put quilted material between them.—Elizabeth Graybeal, Hanover, PA

A small clock affixed to the dash will help you keep track of the time as you drive. A thermometer attached to the driver’s side mirror also provides useful information.

For hidden storage for valuables or for canned goods, pull out the bottom drawer of cabinets. There is always dead space between the floor and the drawer bottom-usually nicely padded with carpet.

Use strips of self-adhesive hook-and-loop fastener (such as Velcro) to hang small framed pictures to the walls of your RV. Stick pieces of the fastener to the back of the picture frame, either on all four corners or along the top and bottom, and corresponding pieces to the wall. To hang the picture, press the fasteners on the picture frame onto the fasteners adhered to the wall until the frame is secure.

Before you leave a campsite, walk around the motorhome to check for connected or items left behind.—Pete Jones, Westminster, MD

When draining the holding tanks of an RV, release the black water first and then the gray water, which helps clean out the system.—Richard Hayden, Leonardtown, MD

If you like a busy calendar of activities to choose from at a campground—exercise, painting, music--look for resorts that cater to long-term residents. Often a full-time leader plans social events.

Use a water pressure gauge to check the pressure coming from campground spigots. The regulator on the gauge allows you to set the amount of pressure entering the plumbing system of the RV. Too much pressure can pop loose various connections and cause leaks. To be on the safe side, turn off the campground water just before you go to bed each night.

Laundry may not be your favorite task on vacation, but you’ll nearly always find the campground laundry is clean and well maintained. Campground owners want to make sure their laundry facilities are given high ratings in campground directories. Usually laundries are busiest during the evening hours.

Use a directory such as the Trailer Life Directory for Campgrounds, RV Parks & Services to locate campgrounds. Directories let you know campsite sizes as well as activities and facilities. They also give clear directions to campgrounds.

Sometimes in larger resorts, especially if many of the units stay parked for an extended period, an LP gas truck will deliver gas directly to the sites. Let the office staff know if you’re interested in delivery.

If you plan to take your pet on vacation with you, when you call campgrounds to make reservations, be sure to ask whether the campground welcomes pets.—Lt. Col. Virginia Dillon, Alexandria, VA

If a campground is full and you cannot camp in an overflow area, ask the office staff to refer you to another campground that has space.

Traveling to many different campgrounds and needing sanitary hoses of long lengths has sometimes been a problem. I carry both a 10-foot and a 20-foot sanitary hose. I glued a female connector to the 90-degree elbow red connector that has the screw-in adapter for campground pipes so I can connect it to either the short or long hose. Both hoses have male and female connectors on opposite ends so they can be used as extensions. —Howard L. Wright, Havre de Grace, MD

Make sure that the type of campsite you reserve is what you really want. For example, you might call a campground and say you want a site with electric and sewer service. If you realize on arrival that you really wanted full hookups, the staff may not be able to accommodate you. Also, if you don’t stay at a campground where you have made a reservation, don’t be surprised if you are charged as a no show. If you can’t go to the campground, call to let the staff know, and be sure to get a cancellation number. Without a cancellation number, credit card companies will not reverse the charge. —Paul LeClair, Fort Welikit Family Campground, Black Hawk, SD

Keep all your campground membership cards together in the glove compartment so they’re handy when you register at a campground. Also, you won’t have to carry them in your billfold or purse.

On soggy ground, avoid using metal jacks to level the RV since they will sink deeper in mud than the tires.

Before you level your RV, make sure the cord and hoses can reach the electricity, water, and sewer hookups.

It’s always best to make reservations so the campground can plan to accommodate your rig, especially if the area you’ll be visiting has a lot of visitors. Also, unless you’re familiar with an area, you never know what special events might be going on. The campground you want to stay at may be full of people in town for an event.—Selena Littman, Candy Hill Campground, Winchester, VA

Consider joining a local camping group that camps together perhaps once a month during the camping season in your area. It’s a great way to meet congenial people, make new friends, and learn about RVing.

Expect to find places without full hookups. Know how to boondock, or dry camp (camp without any hookups). Always keep a sufficient supply of fresh water and leave empty space in the gray and black water tanks.

If possible, choose a level or mounded site. With rain, a little valley can turn into a huge headache of a pond!—Lorraine Jones, Westminster, MD

Most campgrounds have a night registration procedure so that if you arrive after the office is closed, you can choose a site and pay in the morning.

Put something on the gearshift lever to remind you to lower the antenna before you leave a campsite, or make a checklist and follow it.—David Craft, Anderson Campers, Anderson, CA

If your travel schedule is such that you arrive early at a campground, let the office staff know that you will not stay longer than 24 hours overall.

Before you leave a campground, be sure to turn off the water pump switch and the water heater switch in your RV. The water pump switch has an automatic on/off pressure switch. If it malfunctions, causing the pump to operate without actually pumping water, the pump’s bearing could be damaged. Since the water heats up quickly when you need it, you’ll save propane by turning it off when you’re traveling.

On a cold night, if the hose to the RV from the campground spigot freezes, detach it and put it into the shower to thaw.

Before you leave the campground, take a quick look around the RV’s interior to be sure everything is stowed. Check screw tops on jars (especially those in the refrigerator) occasionally to make sure they’re still tightly closed. That way you’ll be able to enjoy yourself at your next destination instead of mopping up items that spilled or broke.

Check your turn signals and lights before you leave and make sure you have at least one-fourth of a tank of fresh water on board.

Be alert for unusual wildlife, flowers, and scenic beauty. Enjoy nature—touch it, feel it, smell it, listen to it, and look at it.

For RVing genealogists, before photographing an old gravestone, wet it with water so the lettering will show up better.

You'll take more pictures if your camera is handy. Keep it beside the passenger seat and have a purse or fanny pack that's big enough to hold it.

If you'd like to travel to a remote location such as Alaska but are not sure you can handle it on your own, consider an RV caravan. Touring by caravan has a lot of advantages. The sponsoring group plans the itinerary and makes advance reservations for campgrounds and group activities such as meals, ferries, sightseeing, and shows.

When you’re heading for higher elevations, watch out for altitude sickness. Allow extra time to acclimate yourself to the thinner air. It’s a good idea to stay at 5,000 feet for a day or two before going higher. At 5,000 feet, it’s normal to notice a faster heartbeat and increased breathing rate due to lower oxygen levels. For the first two or three days, some people may experience dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nasal congestion, and difficulty sleeping. If the altitude starts to bother you, take deep breaths; avoid overexertion; eat high-carbohydrate foods; go easy on alcohol, caffeine, and salty foods; and drink more water than usual.

The most dramatic way to see Sedona and the red rocks is to approach from the north. (From Flagstaff, take Exit 337 off I-17, turn left at the stop sign, and follow the signs to Route 89A. Turn left again to Sedona on 89A South. Travel 23 miles to Sedona on a two-lane, paved road through a forest of mostly pine trees. Descend a winding road along mountain rocky walls.)

Pay close attention to the directions to your campground and orient yourself using a map. You may need to know later how to go into town and back.

When planning a trip, leave some free time to see whatever museums or other places that interest you as you go along.

Motorhoming genealogists know that their mobility affords them unique opportunities for family tree research. They can plan trips to research areas, taking photos of ancestral homesteads and church sites and cemetery tombstones, and gather "obits" and other pieces of family history from the pages of local newspapers. Contact local genealogical societies in your area and let them know your routes and destinations. You may find members, unable to travel themselves, who will pay you to act as a researcher/ photographer for their family tree needs. Plan your trips so you arrive on a day when civic offices are open—not weekends.—Bruce Allsen, Moreno Valley, CA

The Grand Balloon Ascension near Tucson, Arizona, is known as one of the 10 best hot-air balloon events in the nation. It’s worth seeing on your RV trip.

Check road maps for upcoming rest areas or picnic areas and welcome centers. You may not think you want information at a welcome center as you approach it, but experience tells me that every time I pass one by, I later wish I had stopped either for a map of that state or for general information that would help me identify what I was seeing.

One major benefit of an RV with a diesel engine is that all engine noise is in the rear of the motorhome, not in the driver’s area. Also, there is normally more storage room in the basement compartments, which is especially useful for full-timers. You can have larger floor plans and more and larger slideouts with greater carrying capacity.—Curtis Greene, Service Manager, Endless Summer RV’s, Frederick, MD

The diesel fuel-dispensing equipment at a truck stop is faster than that at an automobile service station because the dispensing nozzle and hose are designed for a greater volume for flow.

If you overfill with diesel fuel at a truck stop, instead of wiping off the fuel spilled on the motorhome with a cloth, take the water hose nearby and wash down the area and then wipe it dry. This will prevent dirt in the diesel fuel or on the side of the coach from scratching the paint.

Buy diesel fuel at truck stops and high-volume distributors because it minimizes the chance of water in the diesel fuel. If water gets into the fuel, it will shut down the engine.—Curtis Greene, Service Manager, Endless Summer RV’s, Frederick, MD

Keep a calculator handy in a dashboard compartment so you can quickly figure gas mileage. Divide the number of gallons of gas purchased into the number of miles traveled since the last fill-up.

If you don't keep your headlights on all the time, be sure to turn them on when it rains. In many states, you're required to do so.

As you approach a line of barrels in road construction areas, watch out for any that are protruding into your lane.

When it’s time to fuel the RV, choose a gas station carefully. Using a gas station on the right side of the street is easier than crossing traffic. Before pulling up to the pump, check to see how the station is laid out. Is the roof over the pumps high enough to clear the fifth wheel or motorhome? Is there enough room to maneuver to and from the gas pumps? Are the entrance and exit level enough that the rear hitch on the motorhome won’t drag on the ground?

Share the driving if possible. Even drivers who say they like to drive appreciate a respite from a full day behind the wheel. Every driver in the family should practice and become comfortable driving the RV before the trip.

If your new motorhome is getting terrible gas mileage, don’t despair. Once the coach is broken in, you can expect better mileage. (One trucker reported that he started to get maximum mileage when his vehicle’s odometer read 30,000 miles.)

On a road with three lanes, consider which lane you want to drive in. By driving in the right-hand lane, you have to watch for traffic on only one side. On the other hand, if you drive in the middle lane, trucks and faster traffic can pass you from the rear on either side.

Truck stops stay open all night. You can buy a directory that lists the locations of truck stops across the country.

For those who need to limit the amount of fluids or caffeine they drink when traveling, freeze a small bottle of water, then put it in an insulated cup holder. You can sip from it all day as you drive.—Robert Witter, Westminster, MD

Always expect road construction when you travel—you won’t be disappointed!

To get better mileage, (1) avoid driving with the water tank full (a gallon of water weighs about 8.2 pounds), and (2) drive at 55 miles per hour for gasoline engines or in the economy mode for diesel engines. The more weight the engine has to pull, the more fuel it uses.

If semi trucks seem to blow you off the road when they pass you, Camping World sells a product called Steer Safe Stabilizer. It really helps also on soft shoulders.—Louis and Ann Beeler, Salome, AZ

Truck stop stores carry all kinds of merchandise that truckers, RVers or other travelers might need or want—from travel logs to clothes to snacks and souvenirs. And of course the adjoining restaurants usually serve good food because that’s especially important to people making their living on the road.

Try to keep your last travel day short. If you arrive home by midafternoon, you’ll be able to unload in daylight and do all the necessary tasks when you’re not weary from a long day’s travel.

Keep your gas tank at least one-fourth full at all times. If you’re in an area where gasoline stations are few and far between, try to keep the tank more than half full.

Be alert to possible overhead obstructions. You’ll avoid having a tree limb, low fuel station roof, or low overpass tear off your antenna or rooftop air conditioner or scratch or dent the exterior of your RV.

Here’s another good reason to bring your cell phone: you can call ahead for reservations at campgrounds as you drive along, using the toll-free numbers you’ll find in campground directories. This can be especially useful if you’ll be arriving at the beginning of a busy weekend.

A wireless doorbell works well when set on the 110-volt setting.—Karl M. Green, M.D.,Westminster, MD

RVers who want to watch television in a campground have several options: a standard antenna on the RV's roof that receives whatever television signals are available locally, a satellite dish, or the campground's cable hookup, which usually costs extra. Take an extra length of coaxial cable in case you need it to reach the campground's source (usually on the same post as the electricity hookup).

On bumpy roads, to keep your thumb from accidentally hitting the touchpad on your notebook computer, lay a piece of heavy paper or a business card over the touchpad. The paper will not keep you from using the touchpad when needed.

A surge protector for your computer is a must.

If your children or other passengers like to play hand-held video games on the road, purchase an inexpensive headset for each game unit so the beeps and music don’t bother other people in the vehicle. (And don’t forget to pack extra batteries.)
—Steve and Debra Draper, Yorba Linda, CA

When traveling in a caravan, keep in mind that CB radios have a range, depending on the terrain and the unit itself, of four to ten miles.

You’ll find all kinds of uses for two-way radio communicators--guidance in backing, keeping in touch with children in campgrounds and communicating between two vehicles on the road.

Each brand of digital camera is different, so read the owner’s manual before taking a new camera on a trip.

Practice until skilled with any new computer hardware or software before hitting the road. You won’t have time to train as you travel.

When you shop for groceries during the trip, pick out the frozen items last. They'll be that much colder when you get them back to the RV.

Your RV's refrigerator is already small. Don't let it fill up with old leftovers no one will ever eat or soda bottles with two sips left in them. Sort through the contents regularly.

When transporting fruit and vegetables in an RV, package them so that they do not move around. Rolling and bumping can cause bruising, which may hasten deterioration.—Donna Scott, Food Safety Specialist, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Entertaining in an RV comes without the stress and anxiety that one suffers at home, where the house must be perfect, clothes right for the occasion, and food extra-ordinary. On the road, people expect everything to be casual—living quarters, traveling clothes, and meals. Informality and understanding come with the territory.

Keep all sandwich-making items in a plastic container in the refrigerator to cut down on opening and closing the door. Group other supplies in the same manner. Take along canned carbonated beverages instead of bottled. Pressure builds up with vehicle motion and tops can blow off bottles.—Herb and Mary-Lou Pletcher, Taneytown, MD

Although the actual space in an RV kitchen is quite small, you’ll manage quite well if you make sure the counter is cleared off and the sink is free of dirty dishes before you begin to cook.

Be sure to stock plenty of s’mores-making supplies. They are really expensive in the camping supply stores. (S’mores are sandwiches made of graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows toasted over a campfire.)—Lorraine Jones, Westminster, MD

Meat keeps better if it’s frozen in the house before leaving home.—Charlene Schweikhart, Indianapolis, IN

Unless you have a filtering system in your RV, you’ll want to carry gallon (or larger) jugs of drinking water with you. Refill the jugs at rest area spigots, campground faucets where the water is potable, and at the homes of people you visit along the way.

Whether entertaining at home or on the road, the principle is the same: do as much as possible ahead of time so you can enjoy the company of your guests when they arrive.

Before a trip with friends, discuss what each of you wants to include in your trip. It’s good to actually write down an itinerary, even if it is tentative and you change destinations as you travel.

Remember that in the RV lifestyle, domestic duties know no gender. Everybody pitches in wherever necessary.

A simple thank-you builds good relations. For example, thank your friends for waiting for you if you have been delayed at a rest area or looking for booklets at a welcome center.

Remember that the trip is an adventure, so if you think rock hunting is boring, but someone else wants to do it, try it.

Freedom is basic to camping—freedom to relax, or to shop, or to cook, or to read, or to eat in your own vehicle, or to stay inside when others sit at a group campfire, or to sleep late, or to sightsee. Camping is vacation. Try not to infringe on the freedom of others in your group.

Consider going one way to a destination with another couple and coming back independently. That way you’ll each have the satisfaction of being on your own schedule for part of the trip.

When caravanning, keep the other people in your group informed as much as possible if you have mechanical or other problems. When everyone knows what’s going on, they can understand and support the person with the problem.

Communicate in an informative manner, sticking to the subject. Simply describe what you see. Say, "There’s a truck parked on the side up ahead with a man walking beside it," instead of "Don’t hit that man."

When hosting another couple in the same RV on a trip, limit the amount of luggage each person brings because of the storage space available. It also helps if the trip is new to everyone so that all are interested in stopping to see the sights and experiencing the adventure for the first time.—Bonnie Talbert, New Windsor, MD

When traveling with friends, just as when traveling with your spouse or children, be willing to give and take, be willing to accommodate and accept, be generous and gracious and courteous. Concentrate on the good points of your traveling companions.

As you travel on the road with another RV, agree upon who will lead and who will follow. You can take turns or one person may do all of the leading. The leader should let the follower know by CB what’s coming up, and the follower should let the leader know if traffic is backed up behind them so the leader can pull over at an appropriate, safe place to let the traffic pass.

If you’re normally the leader, be open to letting someone else try planning and navigating. You may learn something new yourself.

If you want to stay friends, overlook your companions’ habits that bother you. One trick is to tell yourself that no one except you is perfect; therefore, as a perfect person, you can be gracious toward your imperfect fellow travelers.

It seems obvious, but tell your traveling companions about your telephone conversations that involve them. For example, when you call a friend that you all will visit, tell your traveling companions and give them any details that they need to know. This way, everyone will be on the same wavelength.

Try to stick to your budget, but don’t get upset if your companion spends money on something you think is frivolous—the item could have a lot of meaning to the spender, now or later, or it could just be a "mad money" expenditure. You are already saving money by RV travel, so relax about what is spent on the trip.

Speak slowly and distinctly into the CB. It helps the other person to understand better.

If you are following a leader in a small RV caravan, refrain from telling the leader what to do. Instead, offer encouragement and support.

Being together day and night in a small space demands patience, a determination to understand and accept each other, and sometimes a real effort to be funny and compatible. Be ready to keep learning about each other, no matter how long you've known each other.

Offer options instead of making demands. Instead of saying to your travel partner, "We have to go to the grocery store after breakfast," say something such as, "Can we discuss when we can go to the grocery store next?" That way, you both have a voice in the decision.

Sometime on the trip home, it's time to start your "To Do" list of tasks for when you get home. The list will keep you focused and prevent you from trying to do everything at once. At the top of the list should come calls to friends and family to let them know you are home safely. The laundry will wait.

Always have a checklist of procedures to follow when moving or parking your vehicle. Follow the procedures in a systematic way and check off each item as you go.—Anne Carney-Brown, Finksburg, MD

When you begin a task in the RV, try to complete it before moving on to something else.

Make the bed every day. An unmade bed is often visible in the rest of the RV and casts a disorganized mood over the whole interior. If the bed is made, the entire RV looks better even if dishes are piled in the sink, magazines and newspapers are strewn on the couch, and the table has things piled on it.

If you're traveling and you want to remember to do something at the campground, write the task on a sticky note and stick the reminder on the dash door frame at the entry to your vehicle. You will see it as you go in or out of the vehicle.

When on a trip and you think of ideas for the RV, make a To Do list. Keep a running list of items you need to purchase so that when you have the opportunity, you know what to buy.

When you’re doing laundry in campground facilities and you return to your RV during cycles, use the timer on the microwave in the RV to remind you when the load will be finished.

Store items near their point of first use. For example, store plates and dishes above the dinette table, and store sunglasses in a drawer near the driver’s and passenger’s seats.

A plastic garbage bag in the tow vehicle or in a compartment under the RV will keep laundry out of the way until you're ready for it.

In a single bag or backpack—separate from other toys and games—keep the items that your children use to entertain themselves while traveling. That way, you can easily move their special travel items from your RV to the tow car and back again.

Take along a receptacle for receipts, campground maps, and other printed material that you want to keep after the trip. Keep these items in chronological order.

When you take photos, take the time at that moment to write down in a small spiral tablet the time, date, place, and any other comment you want to remember about it. You’ll be glad you have this information when you want to identify your pictures after the trip is over.

Use a separate set of towels and sheets of a different color from what you use at home. When you do laundry, you’ll know exactly what goes back to the RV.

—Luther and Alverta Showalter, Edgewood, MD

Make "reverse lists" to help with stocking perishable food for consecutive weekend trips. For the first trip of the season, plan your menus, make a shopping list, and stock the kitchen. As items are used up, list them on a shopping list in the RV. When you arrive home after a trip, move perishable items from the RV to the house and list the items as you unpack them. That makes stocking for the subsequent weekend easy: you won’t have to remember what you left in the RV, just replace the used items and restock the items on your "unpacking" list. —Connie Burk Davis, Westminster, MD

Never "temporarily" put something (especially a heavy or bulky item) on top of something else unless you want to move it in order to get to what’s underneath!

Put items away when you are finished using them. It’s a simple rule but one that’s easy to procrastinate about. Things that are not put away keep getting in your way, so you save time, energy, and frustration by putting items away in the first place.

One way of remembering something is to put an object out of its usual place. For example, placing a box of tissues on the floor can be a reminder to buy some milk when you get to the campground.

When you take photos, take the time at that moment to write down in a small spiral tablet the time, date, place, and any other comment you want to remember about it. You’ll be glad you have this information when you get your film developed and photos printed after the trip is over.

Prepare an itinerary with phone numbers, dates, and places so your family and friends will know how to reach you if necessary. It also helps you feel in touch when you are far away on the road knowing that they have some idea of where you are.

Standing or storing items such as books, magazines, and file folders on end takes less surface space than laying them flat and makes them easier to find.

When making checklists, be sure to include "one for the road": windows, vents, refrigerator, water pump—everything that should be closed, stowed, turned off, or locked. Keep it in a handy place or posted by the door. Don’t forget to include the television antenna.—Herb and Mary-Lou Pletcher, Taneytown, MD

Make a list or a copy of the credit or debit cards you’re taking along and the telephone numbers you need to call if they’re lost or stolen. Try to limit the number of cards you take with you.

On your computer, make a checklist of items to always take on trips and print out a new one for each trip.—Pete Jones, Westminster, MD

If your toddler just can’t get to sleep without a favorite toy, blanket, or story tape, by all means don’t forget to bring it along with you.

Always bring cord and plenty of clothespins for a makeshift clothesline for wet clothes, towels and blankets.—Lorraine Jones, Westminster, MD

If your trip will take you across state lines, do not take along live plants in your RV because some states do not allow them.—Bonnie Talbert, New Windsor, MD

Keep a checklist of things to remember at home before you leave and a checklist of items you’ll need at the campground. Planning menus ahead helps. Small containers of personal items can be left in the camper so it isn’t necessary to pack them each time.—Mary-Lou and Herb Pletcher, Taneytown, MD

Leave your house clean and orderly. When you return, you’ll be glad you did.

Save steps and time when loading your rig by designating a table or area in your home (a place that is on the way to the RV) for items you want to take along on the trip. As you accumulate items, such as laundered towels for the RV, place them on the table. When you go to the RV, the items are in sight, ready to go along with you. Also put notes there of what you want to remember to bring into the house from the RV.

Before you leave home, take a minute for one last trip through the house to reassure yourself that you haven’t overlooked something. It’s better than worrying later about whether you unplugged the coffee maker or locked the back door.

Before you leave home, test your RV’s gas stove, hot water heater, and furnace. Be sure that your propane tank is filled to the proper amount.

Figure out a budget and then decide how you’re going to pay for the trip. Take enough traveler’s checks or make sure you have money in your checking account or can transfer funds while you’re on the road.

If you want to get an early start, sleep in your RV the night before your departure so you can pull away without the usual last-minute check of the house. Transfer any breakfast items to the RV in the evening and eliminate the frantic rush—and cleanup—in the morning.

Leave your cares at home—but take a cellular phone along for emergencies on the road (and so that family members can reach you, if necessary).

Try not to store heavy items, such as large bottles of soda, in the refrigerator door because this stresses the hinges of the door and can possibly cause the door to come open on the road.—Curtis Greene, Service Manager, Endless Summer RV’s, Frederick, MD

Before you leave home, test the RV's air conditioner and the auxiliary generator to be sure they run properly.

Take along a reliable alarm clock. Yes, you're on vacation, but you won't want to miss out on special events because you overslept.

Turn on the refrigerator in the RV a day before you begin loading it (two days before in hot weather) to confirm that it is working and sufficiently cool.

When packing the RV, remember to put lighter items in the upper cabinets and heavy items in the bottom ones. Storing cans or bottles in boxes keeps them from shifting while on the road.

Take rain gear and an umbrella even if you think there is no possibility you might need them. The same goes for warm jackets and blankets.

A portable clothes rack in the house can make packing easier. Hang clothes on the rack as you decide to take them. They’ll stay neat and in view until you’re ready to hang them in the RV.

If space permits, take along two or three weeks’ worth of clothes so you don’t have to do laundry very often on a trip. If you’re taking young children along, pack about twice as many clothes for them as you do for yourself. Children and messes just seem to go hand in hand. Campground laundries are usually well equipped and clean, but it’s a lot more fun to be with the rest of the crowd instead of alone in a laundry room.

The day before you take off on your trip, as you go through your daily routines, think about whether you need to take along that medicine or those cosmetics or that cereal. If so, put it in the designated area with items to go to the RV.

Stock up on brands that you like at home so you’ll have a supply to last the trip. Stores in other areas may not carry your favorite brands, and campground stores usually charge higher prices.

Keep an RV supply checklist at home. When you’re ready to go camping, just pull out the list. It makes it easy to gather supplies, and you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything.—Cinda and Jim Showalter, Mt. Airy, MD

Some police/sheriff departments will do vacation checks of your home on request. Some homeowners use a dawn-to-dusk light mounted on the garage that lights up their area. A lot of people use timers to turn on lights inside at different times so their place looks lived in.

Plan a place for maps, tour books, and campground directories within reach of the passenger seat, where the navigator can use them as you travel. For example, stow the items in a compartment above the dashboard on the passenger side or store them just behind the passenger seat in a box.

When your unit is in storage, moth crystals in an open small jar placed in outside access compartments to the heater and refrigerator help keep spiders from building nests in the gas nozzles (jets). Always remember to remove the jars before activating the appliances—the crystals are flammable.—Shirley and Jack Lippy, Westminster, MD

At the end of each trip, pour two ounces of chlorine bleach down each drain and flush with water to retard bacteria and keep odors down.—Herb and Mary-Lou Pletcher, Taneytown, MD

At the end of each trip, pour two ounces of chlorine bleach down each drain and flush with water to retard bacteria and keep odors down.—Herb and Mary-Lou Pletcher, Taneytown, MD

Rubber molding covers screwheads on an RV’s outside seams. Water can collect beneath it and become stagnant, and mold can form. To clean the molding, remove it and soak it overnight in a chlorine bleach solution. (Use a 5-gallon bucket filled three-quarters full with water and add 1 pint of bleach—or more if mold is excessive.) Wash the area where the rubber molding was removed with the bleach solution. This kills the fungus that causes the mold. Also you can wipe the molding with a rag dipped in acetone. Acetone should be used carefully as it is highly volatile.—Carroll and Joyce Dell, Littlestown, PA

Put mothballs in a metal (nonflammable) jar lid and place inside the water heater door (away from the main burner). This will deter spiders from nesting and/or laying eggs.—Pete Jones, Westminster, MD

If you normally keep plants in your RV, remove them whenever you plan not to use your RV for a while. Plants cannot tolerate the extreme high and low temperatures that might occur in a vehicle out of operation.

If you cover your RV, protect the cover from sharp corners by adding suitable padding at those places. Tighten the cover tie-downs so as not to put excessive strain on the tie-down eyelets, which will cause them to tear away from the materials around them.

Every so often disconnect the battery terminals and clean them. Corroded battery terminals can keep your engine from starting or operating properly.

If you haven’t used your motorhome for a month or so, take it out for a drive so the fluid and lubricating systems reach their normal operating parameters as shown in the owner’s manual.

To keep the refrigerator smelling clean while the RV is not being used, fill an old stocking with charcoal and leave it in the unit. Put one in the freezer compartment too.

Know how to get assistance to repair your motorhome and any other equipment that you have with you, such as a car, auxiliary generator, or boat. It’s a good idea to purchase an emergency road service policy for your RV. Also, a dealer directory for your brand of RV usually comes with your vehicle.

Pack an old rug or mat to lie on when you need to check under the RV.

Get copies of wiring diagrams from your RV manufacturer and chassis manufacturer. If an electrical problem occurs, service technicians can get you back on the road sooner because they will have the information they need about your RV.—Henry Ross, Randallstown, MD

Most RVers love to talk shop. Be ready to learn from other campers, dealers, and truck drivers. Read all the articles and books you can find and study the manuals that come with your equipment. Then be willing to share what you’ve experienced.

Make sure that you put lubricant on the hinges of your RV’s steps at least once a month.

—Shari Williams, Adventureland RV Rentals, LLC, Wichita, KS

Use a notebook to record RV maintenance, listing the date and odometer reading along with other details. Set up a separate page for oil changes, oil filter changes, and other maintenance tasks. You may find it convenient to have separate notebooks for some pieces of equipment, like the generator.

Reseal the edges of rubber roofs at least once a year and wash rubber roofs at least four times a year to help maintain their life expectancy.—Shari Williams, Adventureland RV Rentals, LLC, Wichita, KS

Sometimes after a long period of disuse, an RV’s furnace won’t start because its microprocessor board needs to be reset. Try removing the fuse for the microprocessor board for at least 60 seconds and then reinserting it. The location of the fuse panel varies with each manufacturer. It could be either inside the vehicle or outside in a compartment. If you can’t find your fuse panel, ask a knowledgeable friend or your RV dealer. The most common types of fuses are cartridge, blade, and miniblade styles.

After you dump, pour Aqua-Kem Concentrated Liquid Holding Tank Deodorant into the toilet and flush it into the black water tank. This product deodorizes and helps disintegrate the incoming waste and tissue and also helps keep the holding tank clean.

Surprisingly, most truck stops don’t carry propane (also called "LP gas"). If you’re looking for LP gas while on the road, try a campground that’s near the highway.

When your engine seems to be gasping for breath, impurities in the gasoline may have clogged the in-line filter between the gas tank and the engine. Remove the filter, blow out any silt and dirt, and replace the filter. A spare filter is handy to have along.

Don't overinflate your tires. When you check tire pressure, keep in mind that cold temperatures normally cause tire pressure to drop. The pressure will build up as you drive.

A wood tire knocker (available at truck stops) is handy for quickly checking tires to see if they sound solid or might be leaking air.

Make sure your RV is equipped with an LP gas detector. Check it regularly (per the manufacturer's instructions) to make sure it's working.

Your daily maintenance routine on the road should include cleaning the windshield and checking the oil levels in the engine and the auxiliary generator. Walk around the RV to check the tires and look for signs of fluid leaks. Dust off the headlights and taillights.

Before you travel and at each evening stop, check all external lights as they will sometimes come loose during travel.

To clean bugs and insects off your RV with ease, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda (to adjust the pH—bugs and insects are acidic) to a 10-quart bucket of warm soapy water. Be sure to use a mild dishwashing liquid, not a harsh detergent that might damage the RV’s surface.—Carroll and Joyce Dell, Littlestown, PA, and John Graybeal, Hampstead, MD

When you hear a rattle in your rig, check for loose screws, such as those that attach the cover on the range.

Navigators should be able to tell the driver what the exit numbers are so the driver will know when to leave the interstate highway. Also, by knowing the last exit number before leaving some states, you can determine how many more miles you will travel in that state on that highway. For example, in Mississippi, the last exit number for I-10 as shown on the map is Exit 75. As we traveled east on I-10 toward that exit, we passed a sign for Exit 61. We subtracted 61 from 75 and learned that we had 14 more miles in Mississippi.

Be sure your state maps show rest areas and exit numbers. This helps you to plan stops as you travel. Some highway signs will tell you the distance to the next rest area.

A state map is usually larger than the page in an atlas and contains more information such as smaller towns. Atlases do come in handy when route planning involves several states at once, and because of their size, they are easy to handle.

Before hitting the road in the morning, get out the maps and tour books you'll want during that day, as well as the campground directory. You'll be glad to have them handy when a question comes up.

Get a map of each state you will drive through either from your automobile association before you leave home or at the welcome center for that state (where they are free).

Take a road atlas or map of each state in which you plan to travel. Also keep a truck stop directory on hand. You may need to use it to find propane, fuel, or impromptu overnight parking.

Lost? Don’t panic. Look at the map and ask for directions at the nearest fuel station.

Use a yellow felt tip pen to highlight the next day’s route on your map. This helps the navigator follow the route and give information to the driver as requested.

Keep your map folded open to the relevant section.

Write down the day’s route numbers for the other drivers in your caravan if you are the one who figured out the itinerary. Having information written down makes navigation easier and more accurate. Discuss and review your notes with the other drivers also.

When you are staying with friends in their driveway, identify a billboard or another landmark to look for to know when to turn onto their street or road. This is especially helpful at night.—Annie Carroll, Panama City, FL

Learn how to read a road map. The legend on the map will show you what all the different symbols mean. It may indicate scenic routes and exit numbers too. You should also find symbols for rest areas and picnic areas and even campgrounds.

In addition to carrying campground and truck stop directories with you, stop at city and state visitor centers, talk to campground hosts, and pick up maps of the area and brochures on what to see and do.

If you plan to purchase an RV, talk with other people who have purchased RVs and find out if they were happy with their dealer. Our job as a dealer is to find customers the best built camper for the dollar. Every once in a while a customer gets a camper with problems that they will want the dealer to take care of; therefore, it is important to buy from a dealer recommended by others.—Jane Bauder, Sterling RV Center, Sterling, CO

If you like to take your pets when you travel, remember when choosing an RV that linoleum or vinyl flooring is easier to keep clean than carpeting.-Jean Stahla, Eastside Motors & RV's, Inc., Gillette, WY

Young customers with growing families should consider the resale value of an RV. Items such as bunk beds and booths that convert into beds are great for young families or for couples who want to take their grandchildren camping with them.—Jean Stahla, Eastside Motors & RV’s, Inc., Gillette, WY

For dry camping without an auxiliary generator to provide electricity, many people here in Wyoming purchase 15-watt solar panels, mount them on the roof of their trailer, and use them to keep extra batteries charged.—Jean Stahla, Eastside Motors & RV’s, Inc., Gillette, WY

Carefully consider all your needs before buying an RV. The most common mistake is buying a unit that’s too small.—Jean Stahla, Eastside Motors & RV’s, Inc., Gillette, WY

In this area (where there are 2,000 campsites nearby), a lot of people don’t want to own a travel trailer but prefer to rent one. That way, they don’t have to worry about storage or maintenance.—Carl Rochelle, Diamond Lakes RV Rentals and Sales Co., Hot Springs, AR

Even if you're in a hurry, don't drive off in a rented RV until the dealer has gone over the whole vehicle from front to rear and showed you how to work the awning, microwave, stereo, VCR, and so on.

Consider renting an RV before buying so that you know what you really want. If you purchase an RV from a dealer who also rents, see if a credit for the rental can be applied toward the purchase of the RV.

When you rent an RV, make sure you fully understand how everything works. (Before our customers leave with their RVs, we do a walk around and walk through.) You should know how to use the stove, toilet, and shower, what to do when the pilot light on the water heater goes out, how to read the gauges, and how to dump.—Paul LeClair, Bates Motor Home Rentals of Rapid City, Black Hawk, SD

Make sure you know where the RV’s main LP gas shutoff valve is located. (Ours is on the outside of the motorhome. I open a small square door and inside that opening is the intake nozzle for the gas. Above that is a small knob that when rotated counterclockwise turns off the gas. A red light glows in an adjacent indicator when the gas is turned on.)

When you park your rig, watch out for remnants of old tires. They sometimes contain wire that will damage your tires if you run over them.

Always lock your RV’s door when leaving for the day. Don’t assume a traveling companion will do it for you.

When you’re traveling in a caravan with another RV, write down the route numbers for the day’s travel for each driver. It’s easy to forget whether U.S. 84 or U.S. 82 was the right road. Be sure to keep your travel partner’s cell phone number handy too, in case you lose contact by CB.

Always station someone behind you when backing up so you don’t run over or into anything.—Paul LeClair, Bates Motor Home Rentals of Rapid City, Black Hawk, SD

Read all operation manuals, especially the safety information in them. Pay attention to the warning symbols (a triangle with an exclamation point inside), and follow the instructions.

Tune in to local radio occasionally as you travel. If there's a storm warning or other potential emergency, you'll want to know about it. Keep your ears open at fuel stations and truck stops and you'll hear news about flooded areas and other road hazards.

If you must walk inside a motorhome when it is in motion on the highway, hold onto pieces of solid furniture or walls and try to look forward as much as possible to see what curves, hills, or traffic is ahead. A sudden stop can throw you down when you are unaware it’s coming. (That happened to me three times before I learned this lesson.) This is especially important for diesel pusher users with air brakes that grab quickly and for motorhomes that do not have tag axles.

Drive with the headlights on all the time in order to be highly visible to other traffic and thereby lessen the chances of someone running into your vehicle.

Wash the windshield every day so that you have a clean windshield for clear vision when driving.

While traveling in cold weather, consider using the heat pump rather than the furnace. The furnace uses propane gas and the wind can blow out the flame, causing noxious fumes. The heat pump, on the other hand, uses electricity, which is furnished by the auxiliary generator when on the road or by the campground's electrical outlet when in camp.

Be prepared to work with the weather, whatever it turns out to be.

Don’t let time pressure cause you to take risks in passing other traffic or driving over the posted speed limit. If a campground or friends are expecting you, phone ahead to let them know your time dilemma. Know that it’s better to get there late in one piece than not at all.

Try to travel in pairs or groups. There really is safety in numbers. If you have to (or prefer to) travel alone, give your itinerary to a friend or relative and check in with that person every couple of days or so. This is especially important if you have any health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. If you break down in an isolated area and you don’t check in when expected, your contact can tell authorities where to look for you.

When you hope to visit friends or relatives en route and plan to call them a day ahead, before calling, figure out approximately when you will arrive at their residence so they can arrange their schedule accordingly.

Before you go on a trip, print out small adhesive labels addressed to the people you want to send postcards to. As you find cards you like, simply affix a stamp and preprinted label, then write a personal note. When the labels are all gone, you’ll know you’ve written to everyone that you promised to.—Debra Draper, Yorba Linda, CA

You do not need a credit card to call long distance if the area code is 800, 866, 877, or 888. These numbers are all toll free. (The list of toll-free area codes is continually growing as the demand increases.)

Before you go on a trip, print out small adhesive labels addressed to the people you want to send postcards to. As you find cards you like, simply affix a stamp and preprinted label, then write a personal note. When the labels are all gone, you'll know you've written to everyone that you promised to.

If you plan to mail several packages along the way, buy a few Priority stamps so that you can drop the packages in a mailbox and avoid a long wait at the post office.

When using a pay phone to call ahead for reservations, don’t forget to take along change or a calling card for the phone as well as a credit card in case you need to make a deposit to hold the reservation.

At some truck stops you can find restaurant tables with a telephone—a great convenience compared to a regular pay phone.

Before leaving home, shop for greeting cards you’ll need on the trip—birthday, anniversary, even get well and sympathy cards just in case. At home, you know where to find just the right cards for the special people in your life.

As you cruise through small towns at a slower speed, look for post offices. They are easier to spot there than in cities—just look for the U.S. flag.

Be sure your tow car is attached safely. While parked on a level place, measure to make sure that the center of the ball on the motorhome hitch is about an inch and a half higher than the pivotal point on the tow bar attached to the car. This keeps the car from pole vaulting into the motorhome during a sudden stop.

Take a test drive of your motorhome with the tow car attached before your trip. While you’re out, use the nearest truck scale to be sure the combined weight of the tow car and the motorhome does not exceed the gross combined vehicle weight (GCVW) recommended by your coach’s manufacturer.

Towing a car will actually save gas, since you won't be using the motorhome for shorter trips.

When towing a car, follow the car manufacturer’s instructions. Sometimes you must stop at a rest area every 200 or so miles, start the engine, put it in gear in order to circulate the oil, and let it run a while. Also you may have a speed limit for towing your car such as 55 miles per hour. Some newer cars do not have these same limitations—you may drive 65 miles per hour and do not have to start the engine to circulate the oil.

Believe it or not, you’ll soon forget the tow car is there except when you’re passing, parking, stopping quickly, or turning sharply. When passing, make sure both the motorhome and the tow car are completely clear before going back to your lane. When you pull into a rest area or parking lot, allow for the added length of the tow car.

When towing a car, allow 100 feet more for braking because you have two vehicles to stop instead of one. Towing a car also affects how closely you should follow another vehicle.

If you want to be independent and not inconvenience others when caravaning, tow a car yourself.

When you arrive at your campsite you must chock all four wheels both forward and backward. This is especially important to do if you are pulling a trailer, whether it’s a 10-foot pop up or a 37-foot fifth wheel, before you unhook from the tow vehicle.—James G. Brown, Finksburg, MD

Store a small square of carpet on top of your hitching tools. When you arrive at a site and are ready to unhitch, place the carpet piece on the ground near the hitch. Then you can kneel on it rather than on the ground.—Connie Burk Davis, Westminster, MD

Put white lithium grease on the trailer ball. It helps stop squeaking and rust and is a good ground for the wiring.

If you’re concerned that the dash air conditioner takes too much power away from the motor, use the auxiliary generator to run the overhead air conditioner instead.

Most RV mattresses aren’t as comfortable as your bed at home. Adding an eggshell foam mattress, placed with the smooth side up, makes sleeping more comfortable.—Louis and Ann Beeler, Salome, AZ

If you find the curtains in the bedroom don’t make the room dark enough, try hanging heavy towels over them until you get home and can fix the problem with heavier lining material or new curtains.

A shopping center or Wal-Mart parking lot is a good place for a rest stop on a secondary road that does not have designated rest or picnic areas.

If the RV's propane furnace doesn't keep your rig toasty warm enough when you're parked at a site, try a small electric heater with a thermostat.

If your bed mattress shifts on its wood platform while you're traveling over bumpy roads and during sudden stops, place a piece of rubberized matting between the platform and the mattress. This will eliminate your having to push the mattress back into position after a day's travel. You can buy the matting at carpet stores and RV dealers.

Who knows what weather you’ll be traveling through today? Dress in layers so you can adjust to changing conditions.

To decrease the heat/cold transmitted through the bath skylight, solar windshield covers for cars can be trimmed and attached with Velcro. Clean the area for the Velcro with rubbing alcohol to increase the adhesiveness.—Karl M. Green, M.D., Westminster, MD

When you stay at a campground for several days running, you can stay hooked up to the sewer site and let the gray water run into it instead of into the RV’s holding tank. The result? A nice long shower without worrying that the tank will fill up and let gray water back up into the shower.

Be sure to include some no-travel days. Don’t try to crowd too many miles or activities into the time available. You need time to rest and catch up with chores (and yourself).

One of the great features about RV travel is that you can visit friends or relatives along the way and still sleep in your own bed—because it’s parked in the driveway.

When three or more vehicles are backed up behind you and road conditions permit, pull onto the shoulder to let traffic pass.

Try to go with the flow of traffic, unless it’s over the speed limit.

Be sure to ask if guests would like to see the inside of your vehicle. We all like to see how other people camp. It gives us new ideas for our own RVs.

When you’re traveling in a caravan, stay at least a quarter of a mile behind the RV in front of you. It gives the leader room to maneuver in case of stopped traffic or unexpected road conditions, and it gives people passing you a chance to get in and out of your lane. More space between the RVs also gives you a broader view of the countryside.

Honor the campground’s checkout time. Someone may be waiting for your campsite.

Have a friendly attitude toward other drivers, whatever their vehicles. Give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their motives. Road rage/revenge leads to tragedy.

Blink your headlights when a trucker passes you to let the driver know that it's safe to pull back into the lane. At night, flash your high beams for the same purpose. When the driver gives you a double wink with the lights, it means "thank you."

Be aware that using the auxiliary generator at rest stops stirs up dust outside the RV. Other travelers who are trying to eat their lunches may not appreciate it.

Slow down when driving on dirt campground roads so you don’t raise too much dust for campers or for any vehicles following you. Also, although the children in your group may love shuffling in the dirt, stirring up big clouds of dust, remind them to do that far away from where people are camping.—Louie and Kiyo Shiroma, Culver City, CA

Never dump except at a dump station or a sewer connection at a campsite.

When you park on the street, make sure you aren’t blocking anyone’s way.

Mind your manners wherever you roam. People everywhere appreciate a "please" and "thank you."

Don’t run your generator (or vehicle engine itself) and appliances all night long or early in the morning. Consider that in "mixed-use" campgrounds, you are sharing the area with tent campers. Most people who use campgrounds are there to enjoy some peace and quiet and to commune with nature. Noisy generators and loud televisions ruin the experience.—David Iler, Cyberwest, Denver, CO

When you’re staying with friends, use your calling card when you make calls on their phone. Better yet, if possible, use your cell phone.

If you camp in national parks during the summer, take advantage of the many free ranger-led activities offered by the National Park Service, such as campfires, nature hikes, and informative talks. You may find a few activities offered in the off-season as well.

Keeping a rug or old piece of carpet outside the door helps minimize the amount of dirt carried inside on everyone’s feet. Better yet, leave your shoes at the door.

When camping with children in a pop-up trailer or other vehicle that does not have a bathroom, experienced parents choose a campsite close to a campground restroom.

Bring along a few birthday napkins and candles if someone in your family will be celebrating a birthday on the road. (Parents appreciate a little festivity on their special days too.)

Involve the whole family in "departure" meetings so everyone knows the day’s plans and destinations and routes.

Keep a small whisk broom handy near the entry so your family can brush dirt or sand off their shoes and clothes before they enter the RV.

Bring plenty of items that will keep your children active after a long day on the road—sports gear, snorkels, bikes. At a campground, two people throwing a football around can soon become a full-fledged touch football game.

—Fran Lathe, Westminster, MD

Overpack when it comes to toys and games that will keep everyone busy and happy.—Kathleen Bailey, Westminster, MD

When you camp with children or grandchildren, keep the following items on hand to entertain them if the weather is bad: games, puzzles, videos, coloring books and crayons, and snacks such as popsicles, juice, and pretzels. Outside items (for when the weather is good) can include any throwing game, such as a Frisbee or a Velcro ball and catch mitt, which keeps the children busy in the campsite without bothering neighboring campers. —Joyce and Carroll Dell, Littlestown, PA

Using a sleeping bag for children at bedtime eliminates making up a bed with sheets and blankets, and the children like it because it seems more like camping. Simply roll up the sleeping bag in the morning. —Joyce and Carroll Dell, Littlestown, PA

Take food that everyone likes, but be prepared to eat out too.

Take along a little portable swimming pool for the children to enjoy in camp on those hot days.

—Kathleen Bailey, Westminster, MD

Pack After Bite in your first aid or toiletries kit. It really works to stop the itch of mosquito bites. It comes in a small lipstick-sized tube with a screw top.

To keep children involved and interested on a long road trip, refer to a map of your itinerary and list all the towns, cities, counties, and points of interest and use it as a geographic treasure map. The children check off each site as they travel through it. They could also use a highlighter pen to trace the trip on their own map, circling stops and points of interest.—Jack and Shirley Lippy, Westminster, MD

If your RV is usually overflowing with extra children—friends or cousins along for the trip—bring along a tent for them to camp in beside the RV.—Fran Lathe, Westminster, MD

We feel that our teenagers are safer in most campgrounds than they would be in a hotel or motel. We can let them roam a bit on their own. Family communicators keep everyone in touch and round up the kids from wherever they are in the campground. We make sure they know the campground rules, especially about safety and noise.—Fran Lathe, Westminster, MD

Pay attention to the campground rules and explain them to your children. Most of the time they are there for the children’s safety. Don’t be one of those parents who turn their little ones loose to annoy other campers or get into dangerous situations.—Fran Lathe, Westminster, MD

Even on the road, your children and their young guests should have certain duties to be responsible for. Such tasks help each person feel like part of the group.—Fran Lathe, Westminster, MD

Many campgrounds have special weekend events for children during the summer. Campgrounds where you’ve stayed before may send you a calendar, or try searching the Internet for campground Web sites. Start planning in early spring so you won’t miss out on the fun.

—Kathleen Bailey, Westminster, MD

An RV can be the ideal way to travel with any pet. Nevertheless, some animals travel better than others. Only you know your pet’s personality well enough to decide whether bringing him or her along is a good idea. The best travelers are confident and accustomed to change and trustworthy around strangers.—Cynthia D. Miller, Yuba City, CA

Try to stick to your regular feeding routine whenever possible. When traveling, give the main meal at the end of the day or after you have reached your final destination. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

While on the road with your pet, use caution when leaving your pet unattended in a vehicle. The temperature in parked vehicles can climb quickly and endanger or kill your pet. Lock all doors and open enough windows to provide adequate ventilation. If the windows are not screened, remember to limit the opening so your pet cannot jump out or get its head stuck. In warm weather, ensure that the air conditioner is functioning and that there is constant access to a fresh supply of cool water. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

Have your pet wear a collar with a securely attached identification tag at all times on your trip. The tag should list the telephone number of a friend, relative, or veterinarian at home plus the number of your cellular telephone, if you’re bringing one along.—Cynthia D. Miller, Yuba City, CA

At campgrounds, keep your pet on a leash and in sight at all times. In rural areas, skunks, snakes, coyotes, raccoons, and even other camper’s animals can bite or injure your pet. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

Don’t give your pets too much water or food before you get on the road. Carry your pets’ current identification and be sure you have clean-up equipment. (Your neighbors will thank you.) Take a swivel stake for tying your pet and a square of linoleum or carpet to place under food and water dishes.—Herb and Mary-Lou Pletcher, Taneytown, MD

Ask your veterinarian what paperwork you need if you will be crossing state lines or over the border to Canada or Mexico. No matter where you’re going, you should bring along a copy of a current health certificate, immunization records, and rabies certificate for your dog. Rabies tags are not always enough proof. Each state has different rules about what is considered a "current" health certificate, so check what the rules are in each state where you’ll be stopping. —Cynthia D. Miller, Yuba City, CA

Before you travel with your pet, take your pet to the veterinarian for a physical exam and update on all vaccines. Most vaccines are updated yearly.

—Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

Your pet will need a travel checklist too, so you won't forget to pack everything he or she needs for a comfortable trip: food and treats, medicine, bedding, grooming necessities, collar and leash, pooper scooper, food and water dishes, and toys.

Tell your veterinarian where you plan on traveling. Your veterinarian may recommend specific medications or vaccines depending on your destination. For example, mosquitoes in many regions of the country (and North and South America) carry a heartworm parasite, which can cause heart disease in dogs. Giving a monthly medication during mosquito season can prevent heartworm infection. Your veterinarian may also recommend that your dog receive a vaccination against Lyme disease, which is spread by ticks in certain regions of the country. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

If you plan to cross an international border, request a health certificate and proof of rabies vaccination from your veterinarian. Generally, health certificates must be signed within 30 days of travel. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

Traveling and unfamiliar settings may cause your pet to become nervous, and familiar objects may help reduce anxiety. Remember to bring your pet’s favorite bed, toys, and dishes.—Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

If you plan to travel with your pet, update your pet’s identification information (tags). In addition, it is now possible to have your veterinarian implant a small microchip under your dog’s or cat’s skin. The information from the microchip is reported to a national registry that shelters can contact to reunite lost pets with their owners. Most shelters now routinely scan all pets for microchip identification when they first arrive.—Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

If you plan to visit a state or national park with your pet, check to see what the rules are before you go. If dogs are allowed, you must have them on a leash at all times. Be aware that a lot of parks and campgrounds will not let you tie your dog outside. Some major attractions, such as Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and most of the Disney parks, have kennels where your pet can spend the day while you visit the attraction.—Lt. Col. Virginia Dillon, Alexandria, VA

Obtain a copy of your pet’s health and vaccination record. This information may be helpful if you have to visit a veterinarian while you are on the road. In addition, if you have to kennel your pet while you are on the road, you will need to provide proof of vaccination before most kennels will accept your pet. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

If your pet takes medication regularly, remember to get a supply that will carry you through the whole length of your trip. This same recommendation is true if your pet requires a special diet. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

Before you leave home, prepare a small card listing important phone numbers. You’ll need numbers for your veterinarian, the American Animal Hospital Association Veterinary Emergency Information (800-252-2242), the Humane Society’s Lost Pet Hotline (900-535-1515), and the National Animal Poison Control Center. Have the card laminated (or do it yourself) and carry it with you at all times.—Cynthia D. Miller, Yuba City, CA

If traveling with dogs, it’s important to obedience train them, control them, and clean up after them immediately. Teach your dog to stay alone without barking (unless someone is trying to get into the RV). If you can’t train on your own, find a group through a veterinarian, kennels, or the yellow pages, and don’t give up. Patience, persistence, and practice will pay off. You won’t believe the compliments you’ll get on your dog’s manners.—Lt. Col. Virginia Dillon, Alexandria, VA

Consider traveling with a kennel to contain your pet at campgrounds and at other times when you don’t want it roaming around the RV. —Guy Mulder, DVM, Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California, Irvine

When traveling with a dog, you must plan to stop every hour or two for at least 10 minutes. Highway rest areas provide grassy plots for caretakers to walk their pets.—Cynthia D. Miller, Yuba City, CA

If your pet is not accustomed to travel, take it for a few short rides before setting out on a long trip.