The RV industry has done a stellar job of selling the RV lifestyle, most would agree. Drawn to the call of the open road and hoping to find the peace and serenity only nature can provide, an estimated 61.3 million camping households will go camping in 2022, according to a recent Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) study, up from 42.9 million just three years ago.
With this tremendous growth comes the importance of understanding the dos and don’ts of being a responsible RVer and courteous campground neighbor, according to THOR Industries. For this purpose, the company has created a series of information guides to help families RV camp responsibly.
Found here on THOR’s website, the guides are authored by THOR ambassadors, all of whom are experienced RV users. Numerous topics are explored, which we expect will become more relevant as the RV camping population continues to expand.
Here’s a sampling of the advice:
How to RV with R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: Authored by Karen Blue, an entrepreneur, scuba instructor, and photographer who has lived on the road full time for four years in their Airstream. Karen’s fundamental principles, which she illustrates in detail, include Reduce, Educate, Sustain, Protect, Enjoy, Connect and Travel.
Fire safety should remain top of mind: Although a subject few keep top of mind, Brandy Gleason, the co-author of Midwest Road Trip Adventures, brings to the forefront some common sense fire prevention and safety tips every RVer needs to remember. Brandy, along with her husband, Matt, and kids travel in a Heartland Sundance Ultra-Lite.
Practice proper trail etiquette and responsible adventuring: Before your next adventure, say authors and adventurers Dustin and Sarah Bauer, who own a Tiffin Wayfarer Class C, make sure you have all the right gear, are prepared for any weather, share your plans with a confidant, and have an emergency plan just in case. While on your hike, follow yielding rules, stay on marked trails, and if you plan on bringing a pet, make sure they’re allowed.
Take only pictures and leave only footprints: Author Alison Takacs is an avid photographer of America’s public lands and travels in her Jayco Jay Flight travel trailer with her husband and two sons. Her advice boils down to “don’t put anything in the environment that wasn’t there already and, whenever possible, leave a place better than you found it. As campgrounds, parks, and public lands continue to be heavily used, Alison’s message becomes even more relevant.
