Your RV looked so homey in the brochure. And when you finally toured the inside of it, you knew it was exactly how you wanted to hit the highway. But now that there’s an actual RV parked in your driveway, you’re feeling a little . . . intimated. You’ve got a week-long excursion ahead of you and absolutely no idea how to start packing a vehicle this large.   

If you’ve never loaded up an RV before, don’t worry—these six tips will give you the basics for getting your vehicle road-ready.

1. Pack light.

This may just be the golden rule of RV packing. Why? Because more stuff means more weight, which can put you over the maximum recommended load for your RV—and that can make the vehicle downright dangerous to maneuver. Here's an article with more information about weight guidelines and how to follow them; but bottom line, packing minimally can help prevent unsafe overload.

And if that’s not enough to convince you to leave the second air fryer at home, keep in mind that, unlike an oversized suitcase that you can just dump in your hotel room, whatever you pack in your RV will be with you for the duration of your drive. Crowding yourself with stuff can make for a pretty miserable ride.

2. Decide your plan of attack.

So you know you need to pack carefully. But what items should make the cut? To help you decide exactly what you’ll need, write a list of what each day of your trip will look like. What activities do you have planned? What supplies and clothes will you feasibly need?

For instance, if you’re camping, you may need items like flashlights, sunscreen, insect repellent, and clothes that are suitable for the outdoors. If you’re just going to cruise down the highway with occasional stops at scenic overlooks, you almost certainly don’t need multiple outfits each day (and you can probably get away with wearing the same pajamas for at least a few nights).

It’s a good idea to start your list at least a week before your trip—rather than the night before—so you have plenty of time to think through logistics and gather your gear.

Speaking of which . . .

3. Plan your meals ahead of time.

While you’re making your packing list, it’s a good idea to add meal planning to your agenda. Decide what dishes you’ll be making each day, and then list what ingredients you’ll need for each one (if that seems cumbersome to write out, imagine how much more cumbersome it’ll be to make a detour for oregano in the middle of prepping spaghetti for a group of hungry passengers).

In addition to ingredients, don’t forget what supplies you’ll need to actually make your meals. Similar to listing out the ingredients, you may want to think through the step-by-step process of every recipe you’re cooking so you know what tools are required—like pots and pans, measuring cups, aluminum foil, and cooking spray, to name a few. Don’t forget the clean-up: you’ll want to bring food storage containers, dish soap, trash bags, and other cleaning supplies. And of course, unless you’re keen on eating cereal with a fork, make an inventory of what cutlery you’ll need to pack.

Got all your food together? If you’ve got perishables, turn the RV refrigerator on a day before you put them in. That gives the fridge enough time to get cool.

4. Figure out your RV essentials.

You’ve got personal supplies and meals all squared away—but now it’s time to pinpoint what you’ll need to make a home-away-from-home out of the RV itself. For instance, you’ll need sheets, blankets, and pillows when you’re ready to settle down for a good night’s sleep (maybe leave that 20-pound weighted blanket at home, though). You’ll need towels for bathing, and possibly flip flops if you’re planning to shower at a campground. You’ll also want to pack toiletries like toothbrushes/toothpaste, cleansers, and hair care items—and going travel-sized for all of the above will help you save space. Consider what cleaning supplies you’ll need too: wipes and sprays, paper towels, and laundry detergent are all good starts.

Along with creature comforts, think about what you may need for RV maintenance: coolant, motor oil, and a small toolbox with basics like a hammer and screwdriver could potentially save you a lot of heartache. Just make sure you aren’t bringing heavy tools unless they’re absolutely necessary for the RV.

It can be helpful to reserve a closet just for these kinds of essential supplies, so you always know where your stockpile of must-haves are.

5. Don’t forget important documents.

When your mind is on supplies, it’s easy to overlook some of the physically small but hugely imperative items: documents you’ll need for your travels. Remember to pack your vehicle registration, campground reservations, and roadside assistance information. It can be helpful to keep everything together in a waterproof folder so you aren’t scrambling to find the paperwork you need.

Got an Allianz Travel Insurance plan? No physical papers required if you download our free Allyz® app; you’ll have quick digital access to your plan details and you can connect with our 24-hour assistance with just a few clicks.

6. Know what to avoid.

When it comes to packing your RV, what you don’t bring is just as important as what you do bring. So what should you definitely cross off your list?

First off, don’t overdo it on the kitchen appliances—if you’ve never used your juicer before, your RV trip definitely isn’t the time to start. You should also be careful about carrying along anything in bulk, from food to paper towels. If you’re worried about running out of these sorts of supplies, remember you can always get more on the road.

If you’re camping, you can also forgo firewood; many campsites won’t let you bring your own due of concerns about invasive pests that may be hitchhiking on your tinder. 

Finally, just forget the breakables altogether. With limited room to maneuver in the RV, your favorite objects may not survive the drive.

A final essential to pack for your RV trip? An Allianz Travel Insurance plan. Along with benefits to keep you and your travel investments safe, you’ll get 24-hour assistance for travel and medical emergencies, which can be a big relief on the open road. Find a plan that’s right for you.

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