An epic road trip will create memories that last a lifetime and beyond. Whether those memories are good or bad all depend on your attitude, and your planning. If you’ve made the decision to tow a luxury aluminum travel trailer with you on your journey, half the battle for the best road trip has already been won.
Traveling with an aluminum travel trailer means you don’t have to worry about booking countless motel reservations, covering a certain amount of miles per day to ensure those reservations are kept, or missing out on all that a particular location has to offer simply because there are no accommodations nearby.
Related Read: 14 of the Best Road Trips to Go on Around the World
In addition to towing an aluminum travel trailer, here are three secrets to making your long-distance journey the best ever.
- Route Outline. With GPS available on practically every device we carry, it can be tempting to just loosely map out your journey from points A-E without doing any hard research on the current travel conditions between those locations. Take some time to research your route before you leave. This can help you avoid heavily trafficked locations at peak times, re-route if there are road closures or construction, avoid expensive and unnecessary tolls, and ensure your trailer will meet all clearance guidelines.
In addition to avoiding travel pitfalls, outlining your route can also reveal places of interest you may not have known about previously. You can also call ahead and find out if these attractions will be open, if they are currently under remodeling or construction, and what the entrance fees will be.
- Decide Your Off-Grid Needs. Because you are traveling with an aluminum travel trailer, you have the distinct ability to go “off-grid” if you so desire. To go off-grid means you are spending time in an area that does not provide ground electricity. In other words, your trailer will need to have the battery power to operate the systems you need (heating, cooling, galley appliances) for as long as you will be without a ground hookup.
It’s a good idea to decide prior to leaving for your trip where you’ll spend time off-grid, and when and where you will recharge before your next off-grid session. Off-grid travel can be some of the most relaxing and enjoyable of experiences, but if you aren’t meticulous about recharging in a timely fashion, you can run into problems that can really derail your trip and cost you precious time.
- Scheduling. Sticking to a rigid schedule and timeline of events doesn’t sound like a great time; it sounds stressful. We suggest creating a schedule with padded flexibility. Instead of scheduling a night’s stay at Campground A, followed by a subsequent night at Campground B which is 200 miles away, plan for a little wiggle room. Perhaps you spend two nights in Campground A and skip B completely, or get to B a day late. If you’ve factored in a day of grace for your trip, this won’t seem like you’re off schedule or behind.
Scheduling with flexibility in mind also allows for the unexpected. Come across the world’s largest rubber band ball and want to take an epic selfie? Not a problem-you’ve definitely got time to stop if you’ve been gracious with your scheduling.
Embarking on a family road trip is truly a lifetime event. Nothing is impossible when you hit the open road and explore the land thoroughly. Outlining your course map, carefully planning your off-grid rv road trip stays, and scheduling with flexibility can all help ensure you have the most relaxing, stress-free, and memorable time of your life. Being ready for the unexpected and expecting the best trip possible will make any trip an even more enjoyable experience.
