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Hilde (81) and Jay (76) Meyer started camping in a tent 50 years ago but quickly migrated to an RV. Though they didn’t maintain a rig for all those years, last year, they acquired a new Sunseeker Class C motorhome by Forest River.
Their first trips allowed them to visit many of the lower 48 states, traveling from Florida through Texas to visit Utah’s five National Parks. Upon returning from that trip, they quickly tackled a trip to New England.
Since completing those incredible journies, they’ve stayed closer to home, but continue camping regularly.
Today, we’re excited to share their 16 RV pro tips for seniors:
Tips:
Recognize your limitations. As we age, we need to acknowledge the limitations we face. For most seniors, this won’t prevent camping; it will require greater planning and preparation to enjoy the experience.
Avoid dirt. By parking on cement pads in nicer RV parks or by placing a big mat outside your RV parked on a dirt or gravel surface, you can keep dirt out of the RV, reducing the time spent cleaning.
Remember, camping is safe. Generally, people are on their best behavior in campgrounds. In well-chosen campgrounds, it is often safe to leave your gear outside unsupervised.
Check out Recreation Plantation. Hilde and Jay have a favorite campground, Recreation Plantation, in Lady Lake, Florida. It is a 55+ RV resort offering day, week, month, and 6&6 contracts. The 6&6 contracts are for snowbirds who want to spend half the year in Florida and the other half somewhere else, presumably up north.
Camp with people your age. In general, Hilde and Jay recommend finding 55+ campgrounds where all the guests are similarly situated. Many offer programming tuned to the interests of the silver-haired crowd.
Use the towed car for storage. For those driving motor homes, you can use your towed car for storing gear, including outdoor gear that may never need to go inside the RV.
Stay longer in each place and drive less. As we age, we need to adjust the balance between travel and rest, meaning we need to stay longer in each place we go. Unpack when you arrive, stay, and pack up. Jay jokes this is possible only after visiting Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah Attach a screen to your RV canopy: Jay and Hilde found someone to make a custom screen for their RV to get protection from the sun. Other vendors sell wrap-around screens that create outdoor living spaces protected from bugs, like the one below.
Get a griddle for outdoor cooking. A griddle can be a simpler way to cook outside than toting a large barbecue grill. They come in both gas and electric versions.
Limit travel range. As we age, it is important to manage your travel in accordance with your health needs and related factors. Hilde and Jay now keep their travel within about 150 miles of home.
Take your car with a tow dolly. If you tow a car, Jay and Hilde recommend using a tow dolly like the one displayed here. Most cars aren’t designed to be towed without one. It also has all the required lights, potentially simplifying the task of towing.
Have someone guide you as you drive the car onto the tow dolly. To avoid a disaster, have a spouse or friend guide you as you drive the car onto the tow dolly.
Get a trailer dolly for the tow dolly. Moving a 600-pound tow dolly around the garage or campsite can be tough the older we get. A trailer dolly like the one displayed below can help you move a trailer. We use one like this to easily move our 1,500-pound Aliner Scout around the garage.
Develop a new sense of defensive driving. Driving an RV is different from driving a car. The weight, stopping distance, height, and turning radius are all different. Add to that, our slowing reflexes and the need to be extra cautious is clear. This highly-rated book offers a guide.
Check your ability to do RV stairs. Motor home and travel trailer steps are often larger than the stairs in your home. Before you buy a rig, be sure you are comfortable with the steps. You may want to get a handrail or add a step on the ground for your rig to make access easier.
Split duties in and out of the RV while cooking outdoors. To avoid repeated trips up and down the RV steps while grilling outside, one of you should stay inside the rig while the other cooks outside. This allows you to pass items up and down the stairs to one another without traipsing up and down every time.
Certainly, there is more to RV camping as seniors than this list, but if you’re human, you’ll find more of these ideas feel relevant the older you get. We’re grateful to Hilde and Jay for sharing their insights with us.
If you have additional tips for seniors, please be sure to add them in the comments!
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