Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

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Washing Dishes In An RV: What’s The Best Method For Handwashing?

Washing dishes in an RV is not that much different than handwashing dishes at home. However, in an RV, we’ve got limited space.

When we’re boondocking, we’re trying to conserve water and keep the gray tank from filling up too fast. Once we run out of water or our gray tank is full, we have to pack up camp to get the freshwater tank filled and to empty the gray water tank. No one wants to do that more than they have to.

Conserving water while handwashing dishes can save you from having to run to the dump station to empty your tanks. Over the years, we’ve discovered some hacks for washing dishes in your RV that you might not have heard of. Here’s what we’ve found to be the best way to handwash dishes in your RV.

Assemble your dishwashing tools

You’ll need to get a few things together. Here’s what you’ll need:

The popularity of teardrop campers has skyrocketed in recent years. From national parks to high-end RV resorts, you’ll see them everywhere. But there are so many designs out there that it begs the question: which teardrop camper is right for you? 

What is a Teardrop Camper?

Teardrop trailers are named for their iconic shape. From a profile view, the teardrop begins wider at the front of the trailer and tapers off towards the rear. They are also known to be lightweight and compact, but they can vary dramatically in size, weight, and shape. 

Teardrop campers are an excellent first step into the RV world for those who are tired of tent camping. While most aren’t fully self-contained like larger RVs, they will eliminate the hassle of dealing with a wet tent first thing in the morning. 

Without investing in a massive RV or travel trailer, teardrops get you off the ground and provide a more sturdy hard shell exterior to protect you from wildlife and the elements. Dealing with rain, snow, and other inclement weather is much easier in a teardrop than in a tent. 

The Pros and Cons of Teardrop Campers

It helps to know if a teardrop camper is the right RV choice for you at all. The debate over towable versus motorized RVs has raged on for years, but teardrops have specific advantages and disadvantages. 

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We rounded up some of the best RV trips in the South where you can experience all the wonder the lower half of the nation has to offer. The South is famous for white sandy beaches, down-home cooking, blues and jazz music, along with manners. “Yes, ma’am” and “no, sir” are staples within many Southern citizens’ vocabularies. You can find even more great RV trips in the South while planning your travels with RV LIFE Pro.

1. Charlotte, North Carolina

Situated conveniently on the North Carolina/South Carolina border, Charlotte offers up a large variety of indoor and outdoor activities and attractions.

Known as the Queen City, Charlotte is also home to one of the state’s largest theme parks, Carowinds. Spaced out over 400 acres, this park has a little something for everyone. A ticket to the theme park also grants you entrance to the attached Carolina Harbor Waterpark for even more fun under the Carolina sun.

Set up camp at the theme park’s campground and you’ll be just a few steps away from all the action. Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort offers full hookups and paved sites for RVs that are less than 41 feet long. The amenities are nice, ranging from a pool to a game room and a camp store for everyday needs.

Many people associate RVing with retirees who have saved for years to travel in an RV. While they make up a good portion of the RV community, so too do young solo travelers, couples, and families in all stages of life. Many have even sold their houses and embraced the full-time RV lifestyle.

There are a lot of benefits to living in an RV, but if you’re wondering whether the RV lifestyle suits your preferences, you should know that renting an RV is a great option when you start. That way, you’ll have more experience to draw from when deciding whether to buy a new or used RV.

The Benefits of Living in an RV

There are many benefits of living in an RV, from the flexibility to work anywhere to the chance to set up a seasonal RV basecamp for your favorite adventure sports. Full-time RVing isn’t reserved for retirees anymore. 

Here are a few reasons people are choosing the RV lifestyle.

Live Simply

The idea of downsizing and traveling lightly appeals to many. RVing forces you to consider every item you bring on your journey, forcing you to purge possessions that might be weighing you down.

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Kids will love recording their outdoor adventures in this new National Parks Journal by Jason and Abby Epperson. Recently published in August 2022, the beautifully designed journal contains a variety of guided activities as well as fun questions, park trivia, and space to log up to four national park trips. 

“This journal provides a fun and interactive way to capture all the memories made by your child in our beautiful national parks. They’ll have so much fun journaling their adventures, they won’t even realize they’re learning along the way!” —Marissa Moss, Less Junk

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Summer is starting to wind down and the RV travel season tends to go with it. RV owners look at putting their rigs in storage, emptying and winterizing the tanks, and getting ready for the flurry of holidays coming down the pipe.

This is a real shame. When summer winds down, so do the crowds, traffic, park and campground fees, hot weather, and bugs. This not only makes for a more pleasant camping experience, but it also keeps you in the RV mood, no matter what the weather.

Weather and camping conditions are just one reason to travel more in your RV. There are a few others that we want to discuss below, but before we do, we’ll talk about the elephant in the room: fuel costs.

Putting away the RV for the season will definitely save you money on gas and diesel. However, there are other things that will suffer if you quit RVing for the next six to eight months. These include your RV “muscle” memory, your rig’s systems, and even your sanity. These ten reasons go beyond just the price of fuel and cover things you may have never thought of during the RV off-season.

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What Are The Signs Of An RV Pest Infestation?

Nobody wants to share their home with pests. This is especially true if you’re in a small space like an RV. Mice, flies, and other bugs can quickly take over your RV if you’re not paying attention. If you keep your eyes open for signs of pest infestation, you can stop these vermin before they get out of control.

Some signs are subtle, while others are quite obvious. It might not always be easy to identify the source of these issues, so look around carefully if you think that pests are to blame. Sometimes it might turn out to be mold, water damage, or mechanical problems instead. All of these are serious issues that need to be fixed, but first, you need to clearly identify the problem.

Below we have some common signs of pest infestation in RVs. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, it might be time to take action and/or call an exterminator. 

Bad smell

A bad smell in the RV is one of the telltale signs that something is wrong. It may not always be due to pests, but this is a common cause. If the odor comes from moist areas like the bathroom or kitchen, the culprit might be mold.

Nevada’s Great Basin National Park is a land of contrasts and diversity. Located not far from the state’s border with Utah, the park includes arid landscapes, towering mountain peaks, and ancient bristlecone pines. It is a place where visitors can climb above 13,000 feet on Wheeler Peak or drop beneath the surface of the Earth in a vast network of subterranean caves.

Here, you’ll find high alpine deserts, wide-open spaces, and a mountain glacier, all within one sprawling ecosystem covering more than 77,000 acres. Best of all, you’ll also find silence and solitude.

Since the park receives about 90,000 visitors annually, it is often all but deserted. This allows adventurous travelers to explore everything that it has to offer without having to deal with large crowds, long lines, and packed trails.

Here’s what you need to know before RVing Great Basin National Park.

Why Visit Great Basin National Park in Your RV?

For adventurous travelers and avid outdoor enthusiasts, RVing Great Basin National Park has a lot to offer. Where else can you go mountain climbing and spelunking all on the same day? Visitors can wander amongst the bristlecone pines—among the oldest species of trees on the planet—and hike miles of trail with the Sierra Nevada mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop.

One of the significant benefits of the RV lifestyle is the ability to sleep in a real bed every night.  But even the largest luxury RVs can’t fit all of your friends and family should they join your next camping trip. 

That’s why all RVers need to know how to make tent camping comfortable. Even if you don’t have to use a tent for your own sleeping accommodations, there’s a lot to be said for going above and beyond as a camp host.

Here are some camping hacks to improve your tent camping experience: 

Pick a Good Tent Spot

The best camping equipment can’t make up for a poor tent spot. You might know the feeling. You thought you scoured the ground for sticks and rocks, but somehow you wound up with a tree root right in the middle of your back, ruining all chances of getting a good night’s sleep. 

The trick is balancing the “Leave No Trace” principle of always camping on durable surfaces with your desire for a carpet-like surface to set your tent on. A healthy bed of pine needles is always lovely, but you may not have that option in your specific locale. 

Let’s take a look at some of our favorite RVs that are built to give you the freedom to camp all year long! We’ll show you five incredible cold weather RVs for year-round camping that will help you and your family enjoy vacations whenever you want!

There’s no better way to save on your family vacations than snatching up this incredible deal on this used 2019 Jayco RedHawk 24B class C motorhome! You’ll love that this comfortable RV offers sleeping for four and makes the perfect couple’s coach for fall weekends! You’ll love the large pantry and the over-the-cab bunk that provides sleeping for the kids or additional storage space.

Additional Features:

Another fantastic couple’s coach that you’ll love for all-season camping is the Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 261RK fifth wheel. This unit offers a private master bedroom with a closet with washer/dryer prep and a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower. In the living room, you’ll find a fireplace, a free-standing table, and chairs, and a large rear kitchen to make cooking fun!

Additional Features:

One of the best parts about owning an RV  is the ability to travel with the comforts of home. Your home probably has a few products that make your life easier and more enjoyable. RVing too can be improved with some handy items that enrich your outdoor experience. It’s these little things that make a big difference.

We’re talking about the things that put the “fun,” in functional — the gadgets! Gadgets to an RV enthusiast are like toys to a kid, you can never have too many and they get cooler every year.

We asked you what your favorite RV gadgets were, and you didn’t hesitate to answer! Check out RVers favorite camping gadgets. We’ve rounded up where to find these items below.

Grills & Griddles

From tailgating parties to weekend getaways, everyone loves eating tasty meals when they’re on the road. Whether you’re cooking up dinner for the family or appetizers at the campsite, a quality grill or griddle is always a favorite way to fire up the tastebuds.

“Our Blackstone griddle… my husband and daughter have made fried rice and then added chicken. They have done burgers. The nice thing is you can have dinner cooking all at once.” -Alice D.

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It’s safe to say there are few people who like going camping in crowded campgrounds. Most of us camp to get away from the noise and hubbub of day-to-day life.

The problem is that camping is more popular than ever because more people have discovered RV camping in recent years. It seems everyone wants to get away in their RV these days. This is leading to more competition than ever to get a campsite. 

We’re also seeing crowded campgrounds full of the very hustle and bustle we are trying to escape. Luckily, we’ve found five ways to avoid crowded campgrounds so you really get away from it all in your RV.