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Living With An RV – The Beds

Keeping your RV ready to use is not difficult if some simple rules are followed. Always keep your holding tanks clean. Have plates, forks, placemats, pots and pans that are just for the RV. Towels, soap, laundry supplies stowed in the bathroom help keep what you need on board without constantly loading and unloading the motorhome.

Keeping track of the RV bedding is a bit easier than items that can be used both inside the house and the RV. Motorhome beds are not the size of standard beds at home. Therefore, there is no real need to remove bedding from the RV as it can't really be used anywhere else. Still, you need to keep the bedding clean and dry so when you crawl into bed at night, sleeping is pleasant and comfortable.

When my family is on the road I wash the bedding every 7 days. We unzip sleeping bags for blankets because of their light weight and easy stow abilities. They are also more dirt resistant so they require less attention than bed spreads and there are some really attractive sleeping bags on the market today. I have light blankets for less chilly nights that fold and stow easy. I use flannel sheets for fall and winter weather.

If you are having a time of it keeping your sheets on the mattress because of the odd size, just use some Velcro on the corners. The sheets can be washed again and again without a problem, and they will stay put each time they are used.

If you are like me and use your RV every other weekend or so, you wot have to worry about things getting musty. If your unit tends to sit for long periods of time, it is time to wash the sheets and blankets and hang them in the closet on clothes racks so they are ready when you need them. Just cover the beds with an unfitted sheet or bedspread to keep the dust off. Pillows can be left on the bed with the sheet pulled over them as well.

Now is a good time to check your unit for leaks. Make sure that the windows get attention as well as the roof seams. While you are at it, check the vent seams in the bath and kitchen. The last thing you want in the spring is a soggy bed.

There are a couple points of view on covering your RV. If you cover your RV and it cannot breath correctly, it will mildew. Keep a lamp on inside with just a 15 or 25 watt bulb. This will keep the damp air from collecting inside your unit. You can run a cord from your house or garage to keep from using the RV batteries.

If you are not sure what type of bed to get in your RV, think about who will be sleeping in it. Lots of kids? Buy a unit with bunk beds and let the little ones get the top bunks and larger folks have their own bed below. Remember if you have bunks in back you wot need to tear down the eating area for sleeping each night. If you have a sleeping area over the driver as well, Mom and Dad can have a little space away from the kids.

If you are going to full time with just your spouse, bed space may not be as much of a concern as stow area. You may want to turn the space over the driver into a entertainment center with cabinet space. A sofa bed may be all you need for the grandchild that sleeps over now and then.

Dot fall into the trap of purchasing more space than necessary. You have to pay by the gallon for every extra pound carried. If you dot have a king size bed at home, why have one in the motorhome? If you have a bad back why climb up a ladder every night to get in bed? If you're a light sleeper, don't push the bed up against the bathroom wall? Every time someone goes in, you will wake up! Think about regular habits and buy a floorplan that fits those needs. Dot get talked into something else because it is on sale, or the color matches everything you have in the old RV. A deal is only a deal because it works for you.

When my son was small, our RV was perfect. We slept like logs. Now my son is almost as tall as I am. Our needs have expanded. My Mom needs her bed. My son needs his. I need mine. I am going to test drive three different models in November. All will be under 23 feet. The family will go with me and I will tell you how well each unit does.

Next time we will discuss my test drives.