Because a trailer or RV is a lot like a moveable house, it’s easy to forget that you are not at home. However, once you’re outside the door, you are camping. Here are a few things to be aware of:
Load Shifts: Even with an anti-sway bar, the things in cabinets, drawers and refrigerators can move around. If you aren’t thinking about it when you open one up, you could find yourself with broken bottles or worse; a bad headache from a can falling on your head. It’s a good idea to open with caution until you’ve checked everything.
Bugs: Fleas, flies, gnats, mosquitoes and the rest of the hungry horde of these tiny nuisances can still bite you. They can even get into your trailer and dine. Off and other repellents can be useful in preventing bug bites. If you’d rather go a more natural route, eat foods with a lot of garlic, marjoram and cayenne. This makes your sweat spicy and not as appealing as a fine dining area for bugs.
Squirrels and other Wildlife: They’re fun to watch, but they can be harmful in several ways. Those who burrow into the ground leave holes that can trip the unwary. They also love to get into your trash. If they can find a way into your camper, they will do it. They know something yummy is likely to be inside.
In some areas, you’ll also need to be aware of deer, bears, coyotes, mountain lions and other creatures. All of them have the potential of causing serious bodily harm. Keep your eyes open and your food unavailable.
Sun: We spent the hottest part of the day either in the trailer or out visiting interesting sites in our air conditioned truck this last trip. The sun is great for a lot of things, but it can cause some serious problems. Sun burn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can turn a fun vacation into misery and even death.
Table Stealers: In a recreation area where each campsite has its own picnic table, thoughtless people can come along and purloin yours. Some campgrounds chain the tables to the ground to prevent this, but if yours doesn’t, you may want to do something that shows that the table is yours and you would object to its removal.
Placing a plastic tablecloth on it (appropriately attached with clips so it doesn’t fly off) is usually enough. I have seen people actually put a dining fly with zip up screens over it, too. Of course, weather permitting, you could also be sitting at it.
Watch your Step: Besides the animal holes mentioned above, there are other things to watch out for. Areas that can slide if you get too close, tree roots and other fall hazards should be watched out for. You should also watch out for snakes. Some will obligingly be visible, but others may be on the far side of that log you’re about to step across. This is the natural habitat of animals, not humans, and we humans have to be careful. This will protect both us and them.