How to Prepare for an RV Breakdown in the Middle of Nowhere

When it comes to spending time on the road, safety should be your first priority. Depending on where you are driving, there are many times when you do not see civilization for hours. When you’re driving in the middle of nowhere like this, it’s important to plan your trip properly in order to keep everyone in the RV safe. Something to prepare for is the possibility of breaking down on the road. Here are our tips on how to keep everyone safe if this happens.

1. Tell Someone You Trust of Your Travel Plans

Before going anywhere in your RV, you should always tell someone where you are leaving from and heading. Let this person know when you arrive at your destination and to have them call for help if they do not hear from you by a certain day and time. By communicating to someone you trust of your travel plans you’re more likely to receive help. Try and provide them with as much information as possible, such as the gas stations or restaurants you intend to stop at and what time you think you’ll be passing through certain areas.

2. Bring Gear to Keep You Comfortable 

If you break down in the middle of nowhere, it may be hours until someone can come help you. To ensure that you and others on the trip stay safe and comfortable, you should pack some emergency essentials. This could mean having emergency blankets and a portable space heater in the winter or a portable fan in the summer. In addition, it’s good to stock up on some extra snacks, water, and anything else that will keep you comfortable, such as warm layers.

3. Ensure You'll Always Have Fuel

If you find yourself low on fuel and hours away from another gas station, then you risk running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. Avoid running out of fuel by researching how many miles are in between each town, where there are gas stations in the area, and also by knowing how long your RV can run before running out of fuel. We have a full guide on how to save money on fuel while RVing that is really helpful as well. Although this sounds like more work, being prepared to keep you and others safe is always worth the extra effort.

4. Carry a Satellite Messenger Device

One of the scariest parts about breaking down in the middle of nowhere is possibly not having service. To give you some peace of mind, you can carry something such as a Garmin, which allows you to communicate without service, or you can utilize the Emergency SOS feature on iPhone or Android. You should also pack portable battery packs to ensure your devices can be charged in an emergency situation. With these devices, you can easily get in touch with officials or a friend to come help.

5. Keep an Emergency Kit Handy

RVers should always have an emergency kit in their car that includes everything from flashlights and jumper cables to bandages and medical tape. This way, you’ll have some first aid items handy, as well as everything you need to work on your vehicle during the day and night. Emergency kits should also have tire repair kits, tire pressure readers, warning triangles, and more vehicle specific emergency items.

6. Perform a Basic Maintenance Check

One of the simplest ways to avoid breaking down is by performing a maintenance check on your RV before your departure. A simple check will involve checking your roof, installing a reliable set of tires, checking fluid levels, maintaining slides, and checking the awning.

From doing your research prior to the trip to staying comfortable while waiting for help, there are multiple steps to getting through a breakdown safely and comfortably. If you do break down, do your best to stay calm and call for help as soon as possible. In addition to this RV breakdown guide, here are some other tips for safe traveling in your RV.

See you on the road!