Safety Tips and Advice from Female RV Owners

Keeping Safe on the Road

RV travel is poised to become one of the summer’s fastest-growing trends and is seen by many as a viable option for social distancing. Just the idea of being able to sleep in your own space is enticing. But for those who have never driven an RV or have limited experience getting behind the wheel, there is more planning involved than simply clicking ‘book’ on a rental website.

If you are planning a long driving trip and your region lifts its coronavirus-related restrictions, consider these tips from experienced RV owners to stay safe and lower your risk of getting sick both on and off the road. The CDC recommends that if you must travel, pack PPE/hand sanitizer, masks and disinfectant. And before you head out, please check local and state guidelines.

While it looks appealing, even to me, RVing poses special safety concerns for women, particularly those who travel solo. To get the real deal, I spoke with one of the original OG RVers, Maurrie Sussman, who started Sisters on the Fly (SOFL) almost 30 years ago, in a similar era to JourneyWoman’s origins! Something tells me she and Evelyn would have found lots in common!

Maurrie started RVing in 1997 with her sister, Rebecca. Her family camped a lot when they were kids, spending summers on the Oregon coast. She came to love rivers. “Anywhere there was a river, I was there!” she says. Under the guidance of one of her sons, she learned how to fly fish in Montana from one of her sons. In addition to Big Sky, Montana, one of her favourite places is the Gallatin River in Montana, where ‘A River Runs Through It’, was filmed. Sisters on the Fly is now a national group of over 8,000 paid members, ranging in age from ’21-105′, which organizes camping, kayaking and fishing events through local ‘wranglers’ in each state. SOFL also offers skills training to women, such as changing a tire or welding.

Maurrie, who has five trailers, says the RV lifestyle resonates because it represents freedom. Her pride and joy is a 1943 Franklin.

“With my RV, I am free,” she says. “I’ve got my own bed, my own time out place.”

JourneyWoman Deborah Schwartz is newer to RVing. Two years ago, she started RVing with her partner Chris. Deborah lives full-time in her RV, a 23-foot 1997 silver Airstream she calls ‘ The Ark.’ When I spoke with Deborah she was preparing for a trip to Maine as a lighthouse keeper.

“I’ve always had a feeling of wanderlust,” she says. “With this lifestyle, I can live anywhere in the world.”

When she wants to travel in the US, Deborah uses TrustedHouseSitters, a UK-based company that coordinates house and pet sitting engagements.

Choosing a RV

If you’re considering renting or buying an RV, it’s important to first evaluate what kind of car or truck you have. What can you safely pull behind it? What do you feel comfortable driving?

GoRVing.ca, a national industry association in Canada, suggests the following factors:

• Type: What is your type of RV lifestyle? There is an RV for every lifestyle and it’s important to know your preferences before visiting a dealership. For example: Are you often spending your summer weekends camping? Are you looking to travel south every winter? Or are you a digital nomad who is consistently on the road?
• Affordability: What is your budget? Most RVs start at $10,000 (for purchase).
• Frequency: How often will you be using your RV?
• Size: How many people will be enjoying the RV (how many people can sleep in the RV)?
• Other considerations could include: Preferred amenities, type of storage space required and if you have a preference to tow or drive your RV.

Understanding the different types of RVs available

Maurrie drives an F350 Diesel. She chose a larger truck because of her physical size. “I’m little – 5’2” and 110 pounds!”

For solo travellers who may not be used to pulling a trailer, Maurrie recommends trying a larger van first to get used to the feeling of a larger vehicle. She also recommends that women learn how to not only change a tire on a trailer but know how to change a car battery too.

“The last thing you want is to be driving along a beautiful country road and get a flat tire,” she says. “There could be no one around for miles to help you, or worse, you could get taken advantage of.”

Deborah, who drives a Chevy Suburban, agrees saying: “I’m not mechanically inclined but I’ve learned how to do everything.”

Planning Your Trip

When it comes to planning a RV trip, it’s a little more complicated than we might think!

Deborah highly recommends (with no solicitation or compensation), using the Allstays Camp & RV app, which is available for download for under $10 USD and covers the US and Canada.

“It provides every piece of information you could need or want – GPS locations and directions for bridge, tunnel & lane heights & widths, camping locations, dump stations, food, fuel, general supplies, local points of interest, RV repairs, rest/service areas, welcome/information centers – plus reviews of other RVers’ experiences at many of those locations,” she says. “At $9.95, it’s been a priceless investment providing peace of mind on the road.”

Deobrah’s planning tips include:

She also recommends that you plan for a shorter driving day than you would in your car.

“It takes more mental energy to drive a wind-catching, slower-stopping RV than a car.,” she says. “So even if you consider yourself an accomplished road warrior, you may find a six-hour RV driving day more desirable than your usual 8-12 hours in a car. This is especially true if you intend to enjoy dinner preps and the rest of the evening after arriving, finding the “perfect” spot, and setting up for your stay, whether for one or multiple nights.”

Getting Out on the Road

Getting out on the road requires bravery. But once you’re on it, Maurrie recommends that you have two important items in your car. The first is a (large) dog, which she believes can be an effective deterrent for strangers. Another special secret is a can of wasp spray, which she keeps in the driver’s side panel of her truck. She hasn’t used it yet, but it gives her a little more confidence when she’s on her own.

On the more delicate side, Maurrie notes that going to the bathroom can be tricky when you’re travelling on a highway, particularly when you’re hauling a large trailer. She doesn’t go into a rest stop unless there are lots of people.

“Trust your intuition,” she says. “When you feel the little hairs go up on the back of your neck, you know it’s a bad idea.” Instead, she finds isolated sideroads to do her business. Other times, if she’s with a group of other women hauling trailers, they use walkie talkies and coordinate together so that they can keep an eye out for each other.

Knowing the rules of the road has been vital. In her experience, she has found truckers to be her partners on the road. “When we’re in a group of 20 trailers, the truckers will separate and let us in and out to let cars pass.”

Even if you have camping reservations, Deborah suggests you call ahead to confirm that something hasn’t changed and they just haven’t gotten around to notifying you. Pre-pandemic, the fee to cancel a reservation was almost as much as the reservation itself. For that reason, Deborah usually travels without reservations, except around federal and state holidays.

“If you choose the no-reservation route, start stopping to check sites no later than 3 pm, as it could take you another four hours of stops to find the proverbial room at the inn,” she says. “Setting up in the dark is not fun, even if you know what you’re doing!”

Refill your water tank and food supplies before you “need” to. Always keep ready-to-eat, shelf-stable, nonperishable beverages and snacks in the cab with you for quick, accessible and healthy eats: water, granola bars, nuts, dried fruits, whatever you like. BYO TP too! Especially now, don’t assume information on websites is current or that restaurants or stores are open; it’s not business as usual. Make sure the TP you purchase is septic tank-safe.

When you park, even in a large lot, give yourself a wide berth, and park as far from the entrance as possible. Deborah recommends using large parking lots, like Costco, Dick’s or strip malls.

“Many non-RV drivers have no clue as to the room you need to maneuver,” she says. “By parking a distance from the entrance, you will have a better chance of retaining your maneuverability and walking off some of those seated miles, an added benefit!”

When I last heard from Maurrie, she had just returned from her first RV trip to New Mexico. Thirty women brought their own masks and practiced safe social distancing.

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