4 RVing Myths That Defy Common Sense

Few long-term RV owners would deny the fact that there is a lot to learn about owning and operating a motor home or travel trailer. But unfortunately, as is the case with most things, the internet is rife with misinformation about RVing. There are so many RVing myths floating around out there that it can be difficult to keep up.

Some of the myths are harmless. Believing them doesn’t make much of a difference at the end of the day. But others can be harmful to an RV, its owner, or both. So how do you dispel the myths? Through experience and interacting with experts – both professional and amateur.

There are too many RVing myths to dispel them all in a single post. However, here are a few that are easily dispelled simply because they defy common sense:

1. Driving with a Full Water Tank Is Dangerous

For some inexplicable reason, there are those RV owners who insist that driving with a full freshwater tank is dangerous. It is as though travel is going to cause the tank to burst. But think about it. The reason RVs have fresh water tanks is so that owners can dry camp. That being the case, does it make sense for manufacturers to design a tank that would be unsafe to fill prior to travel?

It is completely safe to drive with a full freshwater tank. The tank and frame are designed to handle cruising down the highway. Now, if you are thinking about leaving the tank empty because you’re too close to your GVWR, that’s something else entirely. But perhaps a better solution is to lose some excess weight elsewhere.

2. RVers Are Party Animals

Have you ever heard someone say that all RV owners are party animals? As the myth goes, they all love to stay up until the wee hours of the morning drinking, telling crude jokes, and generally making a nuisance of themselves. The number one reason this is a myth is as follows: it is not true!

RV owners are average people. While some are retirees, others are working people who have regular jobs. They use their RVs to enjoy camping vacations. They have families and pets. They celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. They even get sick from time to time. You are unlikely to pull into a campground and find it filled with a cult of party animals.

3. RVs Are Uncomfortable in the Winter

Yet another strange myth is that RVs are uncomfortable during the winter. They are so uncomfortable, according to the myth, that only the truly crazy will camp between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Once again, it is not true.

You do have to button up an RV a little bit more tightly when temperatures begin to drop, but it’s no big deal. Connecticut-based AirSkirts says a good RV skirting product, combined with good window and door seals and an efficient furnace is all you need to stay toasty, warm, and dry.

4. Boondocking Is Wide Open

The final myth, one that suggests boondocking is wide open, is as easy to dispel as mentioning private property rights. It doesn’t need a whole lot of explanation. Simply put, boondocking requires parking your RV on someone else’s property. RVers do not have that right by default. Boondocking is completely up to property owners. They call the shots.

If you are new to RVing, do not believe everything you read online. Do some hard-core research on your own and be sure to talk to some experts. There are too many myths out there that can cause problems if you blindly believe them.