We all know that RVing is a great way to travel and there are endless benefits to having a home on wheels. From family bonding to enjoying the great outdoors – the RV lifestyle is one of adventure and fun. We also know that the unexpected can happen while out on the road, and it’s important to be prepared. Safety while RVing should be a top priority for every family, and if you keep these basic safety tools on hand, you should be ready if you’re ever caught in a sticky situation.
Fire Extinguisher
An RV is essentially a home you can take with you, which means they have more fire-related dangers than an average automobile. Having a fire extinguisher onboard is crucial and will be your first defense should a fire start. Make sure to keep your fire extinguisher in an easy to reach location, and inspect it regularly before traveling to ensure that it’s in good working condition.
First Aid Kit
This may seem like a no-brainer, but we couldn’t leave a basic first aid kit off of our list. You can either buy a prepackaged first-aid kit or you can customize your own. Every family is different so before you hit the road, determine what items should be included in your kit to fit your specific needs. Here are a few basic items you can include: BAND-AIDs® (all sizes), scissors, tweezers, latex gloves, thermometer, antibiotic ointment, gauze, cold pack, heat pack, adhesive tape, general medication (pain relief, allergy relief, etc.), antiseptic wipes, ace bandage, aloe vera, flashlight, sunscreen, bug repellent, and hand sanitizer.
Roadside Emergency Kit
Being out on the road is just one of the many benefits of RVing, but as any seasoned traveler knows, accidents unfortunately happen. From getting into a slight fender bender to having a flat tire – it’s important to always be ready. Having a roadside emergency kit in your RV can save you time and trouble when you need to pull over. There are tons of kits on the market that include items like flares, flashlights, batteries, jumper cables, and more.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Tires are the foundation of an RV, so it’s important to keep them in top condition. There are many tire pressure monitoring systems on the market, and these systems are crucial to make sure your RV tires are at their proper pressure. The last thing you want is a tire blowout to occur while driving. A blowout is dangerous and can not only damage your RV, but it has the potential to cause accidents with other vehicles. Avoid stress and gain peace of mind by getting a reliable tire pressure monitoring system.
Basic Tool Kit
When you are far from home and a minor mechanical issue happens, what do you do? If you have an RV tool kit onboard you might be able to avoid going to a mechanic or calling a roadside assistance service (though we do recommend being a member of one). We suggest keeping a basic tool kit in your RV including a few basic items such as: a drill, drill bit set, hammer, socket set, wrench set, screwdriver set, pliers, electrical tape, etc.
SPOT Tracking Device
As we mentioned earlier, RVing gives many families the opportunity to unplug and simply enjoy the great outdoors. If you are ever in an emergency situation where you do not have cell phone access/service you can use SPOT. This device uses satellite technology to provide location-based messaging and emergency notification technology so you can communicate from remote locations.
5 Responses
How do you obtain SPOT?
Look at an outdoor retailer such as REI
NON latex gloves in first aid kit!!
Please, if you’re going to buy handtools or flashlights to keep in your RV please do not buy the cheap dollar store crap that is only going to get in your knuckles break one round off at nut. You do not have to go out and buy the most expensive power tools or handtools on the market. You can get decent quality handtools and power tools at the big box stores without spending a ton and they will do the job. I have seen too many people getting hurt using cheap bargain basement tools one for another couple of dollars they would’ve had something that worked correctly. But you can go like to Harbor freight and buy the blue nitrile gloves they have they work good also good for when you’re dumping your waste tanks use of want to throw them away. A good quality drop light as well as a flashlight doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Just avoid the dollar store crap.
A dashcam (with a rear cam) may serve you well in case of an accident.
Many different brands shop smart.
We have one that when parked detects motion (even after dark) and resumes recording, be sure yours has a plug that is live when the ignition is turned off.