I have a great friend who recently purchased an RV with living quarters in the front and horse stalls in the back. She goes to many horse shows and loves her new RV because it has made life less stressful on the road. After a four-day event she and her family noticed a strong odor coming from the living quarters. The new RV owners had company on this trip, but they did not visit the dump station more often. The tanks over filled and you can picture the problem. This was only one of the problems. Being new owners they just took a roll of toilet paper from the bathroom not knowing RV toilets can't handle two-ply paper!
You can laugh if you want, but it could happen to anyone. When you purchase a unit make sure the salesperson walks you through the ins and outs of it. How large are the holding tanks? Where are they? Where are the connection hoses? How do I use them? How do I clean my tanks?
If you camp in cold areas, buy a unit with heated tanks. This way you can prevent freezing water and busted pipes. Always use antifreeze just for holding tanks. This is different from the type you put in your car. It has a light pink color and can be purchased at camping stores or the Wal-Mart.
If you have a trailer or a motorhome, always make sure the shower allows all family members to stand up without hitting their heads. Most shower areas have a skylight. Don't buy a unit that has a clear skylight. The sunlight will warp the plastic fixtures in the bathroom if the light is coming in directly. Many skylights come in white -- make sure yours does too.
The toilet needs to be kept clean. Use only products made for RV toilets. Otherwise you may damage your gasket which could cause leaking. Make sure to keep extra paper in the bathroom so users are not tempted to use anything other than RV toilet paper in the toilet.
Tanks should be dumped on a regular basis. Always dump the holding tanks when leaving a campground to go back on the road. The tanks are easy to clean and you carry less weight. Less weight means more miles per gallon.
The shower is a great place to hang a line and dry clothes when you are driving. Take advantage of the extra space when moving down the road. Use lighter towels than at home. Thick towels feel great, but they take forever to dry and they add weight to the load. It does not take long to smell the thick towels in the bathroom if they cannot air out properly while traveling.
I hang a fishnet laundry bag in the bathroom for dirty clothes. They can air out if damp and they are all in one place. My bathroom folds into the wall, so space is important for me.
When dumping the tanks, always wear gloves. I think the throw away type are perfect. You really don't want to touch anything in the area with your bare hands no matter how clean it looks. Always leave the dumping station as clean as you found it. If you have an accident there, do not leave until you clean it up. Always wash your hands after you are finished. I cannot tell you how many people I have seen handle food at the dump site!
If you have to wait in line at a park or campground, don't be rude. Wait your turn. Each RV is a little different and each owner has different size tanks to work with. Large tanks take time to unload. Honking the horn or huffing and puffing won't dump the tank any faster.
I keep small hotel-size bars of soap in the RV. I also keep small one-or-two-use laundry soap in the bathroom. That way all the soap is in one place. If you're using thin towels, you will have room for a towel for each person on the trip without a problem. Don't forget to pack beach towels and keep them in the RV. You may not think you will be swimming on this trip, but you never really know until you get there.
Always keep all medicine in the bathroom. You do not need to fumble around when someone is hurt or sick. The more certain you are of where everything is, the better the trip.
If you like to stand in the shower for long periods of time it would be better to use the campground shower. RV showers are meant to get in, wash, and get out. Make sure your unit has proper drainage to avoid damage to other living areas.
There are many styles of bathrooms. Only you know what feels right to you. Whatever that may be -- if you take care of your bathroom, it will take care of you. If you don't, there will be large repair bills in your future and a smelly RV to boot.
Next up -- the beds.
