Money Saving Tips for RV Travel

If you love RVing but hate the costs associated with it, we hear you. While some costs may be unavoidable, others can be significantly lowered with smart planning and energy conscientious camping habits. So follow along as we outline money saving tips for RV travel from elevating your coach’s energy efficiency to improving gas mileage to help you get the most out of every road trip.

5 Tips for Saving Money on the Road

1. Energy Efficiency Equals Savings

   The overall efficiency of your RV and the components you choose to outfit your rig with make a substantial difference in the amount of energy needed to maintain comfort onboard. And since energy cost money, reducing your need for it is one money-saving step you can take to lower the overall cost of RVing whether you’re a year-round traveler or seasonal camper.

There are three different ways to look at improving energy efficiency on your RV. First, look for products that encourage lower power consumption like soft start air conditioners that reduce inrush amperage by up to 75%. Second, invest in passive climate control products like window shades and vent/fan shades that increase the insulation on your coach, which improves efficiency in the cold of winter or the heat of summer. Lastly, be conscientious of weight since it affects fuel efficiency when on the road. When buying a new RV look for builders using innovative materials for sidewalls and laminates like Elkboard from ECI or composite panels from Vixen Composites to start with an RV already better optimized for weight efficiency.

2. Cook in Your RV

   Whether your home is a RV cruising down the interstate or a brick-and-mortar residence at the end of a cul-de-sac, cooking at home is always a money saving tip. The cost of eating out at restaurants adds up fast, but smart shopping and meal planning help keep this cost down. Update your RV kitchen with residential style kitchen appliances so that cooking in your RV is easier and more enjoyable; and learn more about RV Cooking Made Easy through our recent blog.

3. Stay Longer When You Get There

   The beauty of RVs is that you can travel at your leisure and on your own schedule, after all it’s your RV. However, when you’re planning your stay know that many destinations offer discounted rates if you stay for longer periods of time. Instead of a weekend, can you stay a week? Instead of a week, a month? Inquire at your favorite destinations about money saving rates if you’re willing to stay longer.

4. Keep Up on RV Maintenance

   Maintenance will always cost less than repairs, especially emergency repairs that pop-up during a road trip. Keeping up on all RV maintenance not only helps you avoid those unexpected repair costs, but good care practices also help to extend the longevity of your RV components so you’re not paying to replace items before their full lifecycle is complete. For Airxcel brands there’s a handy, online Service Center Locator that lets RVers find service centers closest to their home or campsite with a network of locations across the U.S. and Canada.

5. Improve Gas Mileage

   Since RVs are road worthy vehicles, they’re vulnerable to price increases in gas and diesel. Improving gas mileage can be a key part of saving money on the road, and there are several things RVers can do to help improve their road trip gas mileage. To begin with, make sure all tires are in good condition and inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Next, try to stay as lightweight as possible and to reduce drag choose low-profile exterior components when available. Also, you’ll want to avoid driving aggressively with rapid acceleration or hard stops, instead try to maintain a steady speed avoiding traffic when possible and taking advantage of cruise control. Finally, don’t idle for too long, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends that after 10 seconds of idling vehicles should be turned off.

Don’t sacrifice your RV travel because of cost. Instead make smart choices when upgrading the components on your coach and plan ahead to find the most cost-effective ways for your family to travel.