There’s nothing better than packing and hitching up in readiness to hit the road on that next adventure. But it doesn’t matter how much trip-planning you’ve done, Mother Nature has her own ideas once you’re out there travelling. While you can’t prevent what she dishes up, you can certainly be prepared.
BEATING THE HEAT
Aussies love to get out during warm weather, but it’s the sun’s damaging UV that gets absorbed by most things. You’ll find heat can affect your RV in all sorts of ways. It can warp and buckle plastics, cause metals to expand and mechanical equipment to work harder. Things like a sticking RV door and windows are just two examples of being affected by heat compared to their smooth operation when the weather is cooler.
Parking your RV in shade seems like the obvious way to help keep your RV cool, but sometimes that’s not always possible. With many RVs having an awning on their door side, think about having an awning on the RV’s offside as well. They’re quite simple to install, using sail track that’s attached to the RV, and some shade cloth or canvas for the verandah. With most RVs’ offside being the side where the fridge is located, having an extra awning here can help it run more efficiently.
Don’t overlook the need to have more water on board when it’s hot. Budget for at least 5L of water per person per day as a minimum, and more for showering if you’re free-camping. These days there are several ways to add extra water to your setup, depending on your needs. A few jerry cans here and there, portable bladders, or a range of storage containers scattered throughout your RV, will all do the trick.
We added another water tank for a more permanent solution that we use with a transfer system. This allows us to choose which of our main tanks we put the additional water into only when it’s needed, otherwise we’d be carrying unnecessary extra weight if we always travelled with them filled.
WET WEATHER
Driving in wet weather creates risks for all road users, and the risk increases if you need the windscreen wipers on fast speed. This is when visibility can be impaired, so your safest option is to get off the road and wait for the rain to subside, especially when towing.
Another thing to consider is where you set-up camp. Being in a valley would normally raise little concern during fine weather, especially when you’ve found that cracking camp spot. But things can quickly go pear-shaped and turn into a sloppy mess with a bit of rain. We’ve seen it before – that welcoming campsite which originally had firm ground when setting up is now a quagmire, making leaving camp more challenging.
With less vehicle traction, be prepared for your tow rig to work extra hard to pull your RV to firmer ground. If you leave it too long to make an exit, you may find that you need a winch to pull your vehicle out due to a loss of traction.
Our tip: Think about how you’ll set up camp when it’s raining. Aim to have your RV tilted to help with water run-off. By simply raising the A frame slightly, and with a small tilt to your RV’s offside, it can help reduce any water puddling at your door.
BLOWING A GALE
Travelling with an RV in strong winds is just like towing a windsock, so you really need to decide whether it’s actually safe to be on the road when high winds are forecast. It could simply be a safer option to stay put for an additional night until it subsides.
If you can’t avoid driving in the wind, slow down to minimise any vehicle and RV sway. It’s also a good idea to have a UHF radio so you can communicate with other road users about overtaking and general speed control. It adds another level of safety in difficult conditions.
Having a shady campsite is nice in warm weather, but eucalypts are renowned for dropping their limbs. The simple action of checking your overhead surroundings before setting-up camp is something that’s often overlooked. Avoid parking directly underneath these trees during long heat spells and wind, as these are the times when trees are likely to be stressed.
On more than one occasion, we’ve seen unexpected wind gusts play havoc with RV awnings. Yep, it’s happened to us, too. A good habit to get into is to use awning de-flappers, spreader bars and appropriate tie towns each time you set-up. Alternatively, consider putting your awning away nightly or if you’re going to leave your campsite unattended.
Dust and dusty conditions aren’t necessarily caused by wind, but driving conditions can be more challenging when the wind aggravates the dust kicked up by your travelling set-up. A good safety practice is to drive with your headlights on whenever you hit the dirt. That way you can be seen by oncoming traffic and anyone coming up behind you.
Our tip: Make a quick phone call to your insurance company before travelling to a cyclone-prone area and have them verify your coverage should you need to make a claim. Not all insurance companies are the same when it comes to ‘acts of God’, and you don’t want to find out later there’s a clause that lets them off the hook.
MORE THAN JUST THE ELEMENTS
After you’ve pulled up for the day and think you’ve found that perfect campsite, there’s nothing worse than finding it’s the campsite from hell. Pests may not always be easy to control, but you can pay close attention to where you set-up.
If you’re parked by trees and vegetation, look up and then down on the ground for any tell-tale signs, particularly if the area is renowned for bats, possums, and other tree-loving critters. Their noise is one thing after dark, but removing their poop from vehicle and RV paint can be a challenge – it’s something you want to avoid.
Some places are notorious for their pests, although less likely to be bothersome if you can remove a food source. We’ve found that dingoes, quolls and rodents love to get into everything. Rodents in particular like the warmth under a vehicle’s bonnet, so leave the bonnet up for a short while to help everything cool down.
As a general camping rule, avoid leaving any food and rubbish around your campsite, and the same goes for any buckets containing wastewater. Also, get into the habit of putting things away nightly to help deter unwanted guests from pinching them. It happens! Things like shoes, thongs and other chewable items are regular animal favourites, so remember to put them away.
INSECTS AND CREEPY CRAWLIES
Insects tend to leave their ‘sting’ behind which in reality contains saliva, faeces, or venom. They also generally come out as the day cools down. For these reasons, it pays to cover up early, well before the sun has set. Also remember to wear long clothing around camp to avoid any skin being exposed.
It’s also important to keep your body cool because it’s your body’s warmth that can attract insects like mosquitoes and midges. For camp lighting, aim to keep it high and use warm coloured LEDs to reduce attracting insects.
Our tip: Pack a comprehensive Australian first aid kit that’s suitable for your trip requirements and that you know how to use. Other useful travel items include a range of free apps that help identify snakes and other venomous creatures.
SUMMING UP
While it might sound obvious, dealing with the elements and everything else that Mother Nature dishes up is all part and parcel of travelling. It’s easy to be caught up in the moment of the great adventure you’re experiencing, and that’s when complacency creeps in. Devoting a little of your trip preparation to working through how you will react to these types of situations can go a long way towards helping you better deal with the unexpected.
