Pack and Prep for Your RV Trip

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I grew up with camping trips being most of our summer vacations.  It meant shoving tons of supplies in our car, spending hours fumbling with the tent at the camp site, eating wet sandwiches or burnt weenies, and sleeping on the rock hard ground praying no snakes got in the tent.  

​As a grown-ass lady, I am not doing that nonsense again, ever... but I love nature and want to my kids to have great memories in beautiful parks across America.  A few years ago, my husband and I rented an RV for the first time and had an amazing experience and trip.  I've since learned many lessons to have great trips, an organized set-up, and awesome eats (no matter the weather).  I won't impart all my wisdom on you in this post, but will share the key packing and prepping tips that I've learned (often the hard way).  
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PACKING TIP #1
If you have little ones in the RV, the best way to organize their outfits and maximize your storage is to roll each kid's outfit (complete with undies, socks, matching bows, etc) and stuff it in an over the door shoe organizer, https://amzn.to/3eMZssH.  This is a game changing move; you can tell when you need to do laundry in a second and don't have dumped bags of kid stuff all over the RV. 

​PACKING TIP #2
Put everything in baskets, bins, and organizers BEFORE packing in the RV's cabinets/drawers.  Things get bumpy on the road and without a containment situation in your storage areas, you're going to have a big mess, promise.  I love using a cutlery caddy, https://amzn.to/2NMyViY, for plastic forks, spoons, knives, paper plates, and napkins; this way your family has everything in front of them (no matter if you're eating on a picnic table or in the RV).  Plus the caddy helps limit all the opening and shutting drawers in cramped spaces in the kitchen (ouch, my knee hurts just thinking about those drawers).  
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​PACKING TIP #3
Pack an Instapot, https://amzn.to/3dPHG6F!  Inclement weather can make dinner camping a major drag.  I always check the forecast but no matter the prediction, I have a couple Instapot "dump and click" meals prepped and packed (future post with recipes - stay tuned).  Also, the Instapot is key to moms actually enjoying nature during your RV trip.  Instead of hiding out in the RV cooking breakfast, I'll drag the Instapot out to the picnic table and make scrambled eggs while the kids play ball or dig in the dirt.  

PREPPING TIP #1
The packing tip on Instapot is the perfect segue to what you'll need to prep.  Most of the prep is meals #sorrymama.  In addition to the "dump and click" meals, I also have a list of usual suspects for all our RV adventures:

• Homemade breakfast burritos (frozen and ready to throw on the camp fire or microwave)
• Hobo foil packs (made with Kielbasa, not ground beef to avoid some previous issues)
• Camp fire brownies in oranges
• Grilled ribeyes & corn
• Loaded potatoes (I usually make a huge pulled pork dinner before the trip, save some pork so that night, I just need to get taters on the fire and have my fixin's all chopped packed)
• Pancakes (If your kids are pancake junkies like mine..... I'll make a monster batch at home, freeze them and nuke them in the RV for the fastest, easiest breakfast -- perfect for early morning fishing days)

PREPPING TIP #2
Drinks are a key component for our RV enjoyment <<CHEERS>> and having some fun vacation drinks is a nice way to feel like we're out of the norm.  In addition to some wonderful bottles of wine (those ribeyes need a bottle of Bonanza Cab), I prep some other lovely elixirs: 

• Sangria after a long hike is your friend - before you hit the road, just freeze your favorite fruits (or those looking sad in the crisper drawer) with a sprinkle of sugar.  Then take a swig out of a bottle of club soda (to make room for a shot or two of Cointreau).  Then at the camp site mix it all and add a cheap bottle of vino (please, not that bottle of Bonanza Cab)
• Ranch water is a sunshine staple - lugging all the ingredients isn't ideal.  Prep another club soda (perhaps pour out a whole cup for this guy) to make room for a splash of Agave, a lot of lime juice, a generous pour of of your favorite Tequila, and another shot of delicious Cointreau.  Don't forget to rim your glass with some spicy Tajin (https://amzn.to/3gi9fab, if you clicked that link, I know you're not in Texas, my friend). 

PREPPING TIP #3
As delicious as that spicy Tajin will be on your ranch water, lugging another item is not reasonable. 
​A big shout out to www.organizedchaosonline.com for this hack I love - repurpose a pill organizer, https://amzn.to/38hMyjR, for your spices in the RV.  So brilliant; I just can't even take credit.  The five minute this prep requires will save so much space and digging around drawers on your camping adventure.  

I'll pull together more RV hacks and tips soon; until then, let me know what awesome ideas I missed.  While you're waiting, check out some other top finds here!