RV and camping show: Tips for the road

Bob Livingston is so serious about his "RV lifestyle" that he had a custom mattress made for his recreational vehicle, a 33-foot fifth-wheel — which by today's standards is medium-sized.

"My wife and I got a custom-made mattress for our house, and we figured, why not have the same exact one made for our RV, too," said Livingston, of Ventura, Calif., the publisher of Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines. "Since we travel so much, we thought it would be a wise decision. As it turned out, it was."

Livingston, 65, a self-described travel junkie, is one of the featured seminar speakers at the 49th Annual Minneapolis / St. Paul RV, Vacation & Camping Show. The four-day event is considered the Midwest's largest RV show, with dealers from Minnesota and across the region attending. The show began Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Dozens of 2015 motor homes, travel trailers, fifth-wheels, tent trailers and other RV models ranging from $4,500 to $400,000 are on display. The show also will feature information on regional RV campgrounds, as well as the latest in RV and camping accessories.

"The best thing about going to a show is that it's one-stop shopping — everything is right in front of you to look at, feel, to take photos of, to ask questions about, etc.," Livingston said. "Having all the dealers in one location makes for a better overall shopping experience. You can take notes and compare models without all the travel of searching out dealers. If you're looking to purchase an RV, it's the best way to shop."

Livingston has traveled by RV for 43 years. He has owned, driven or pulled every RV model, from budget-friendly pop-up tent campers to multimillion-dollar motor homes.

"My wanderlust for travel bit me at an early age," said Livingston, who, by virtue of his job, frequently test-drives or pulls RVs. "My wife and I have traveled across the United States in an RV, as well as into Canada and Mexico. We've even traveled by RV in Germany and Finland. The RV lifestyle gives you the freedom to go where you want when you want to go … with all the conveniences of home. I've logged a lot of miles in airplanes, too. But when you're traveling by RV, you don't have to deal with all the crowded airports and make reservations for hotels and restaurants. That's a real hassle and really gets old. But traveling in an RV never does."

For Livingston, RV travel is about exploration with all the creature comforts of home. "I'm always curious about what's around the next bend," he said. "That's the essence of travel. Besides, I hate packing and unpacking."

Livingston's twice-daily seminar focuses on the "inner workings" of RVs and the RV lifestyle. "Let's just say I've learned a great deal over the years and have a lot of what I believe is helpful information to impart," he said. "Some of my seminar will focus on practical advice on RV maintenance and upkeep, and some of it will focus on simple tips for making road life easier. And a lot in between, too."

Livingston's top three tips for RV travel:

Plan ahead. "When you're dealing with larger vehicles, there are a lot more challenges and considerations to make on certain roads, so planning ahead is very important," he said. "To the extent that you can, map out where you're going to get fuel, where you're going to rest or camp, where you're going to get supplies, etc." Livingston said he uses a "profile GPS" that helps with routing information. "You don't want to get into a situation where your RV can't fit under a tunnel, and then you have to backtrack for miles," he said.

Maintenance upkeep is mandatory. "An RV, whether you're driving it or pulling it, is a moving house with a number of complex systems that all work together, so upkeep is crucial," he said. "It helps if you're a tinkerer. I'm always cleaning or waxing or fixing something. I always test all my systems before I leave on a trip. You don't want to get on the road and find out something isn't working."

Don't be afraid to socialize. "RVers are friendly and extremely helpful, especially to novices, so get engaged," he said. "My wife and I have developed great lifelong friendships from the people we've met over the years at RV campgrounds or national parks. It's like having one gigantic extended family. We share a common lifestyle, so it's really easy to make friends."

Tori J. McCormick is a freelance writer who lives in Prior Lake. Contact him at torimccormick33@gmail.com