Our experts at Paradise RV in Charleston, South Carolina have compiled highly recommended items you’ll need to make RV travel with your fur babies safe and enjoyable.
Making memories with your family most likely includes your fur babies! In this article, we cover some absolute necessities for safety as well as a list of things that—in our experience—will make your life easier while you RV travel with your pets.
Priority Number One: Pet Safety
First, pets (or humans) cannot travel in a travel trailer, fifth-wheel, or towable.
- It’s not possible to maintain a constant and safe temperature.
- You won’t know if something has fallen on your pet.
- They are not safety-rated for passengers while on the road.
For safety, make sure your pets travel with your family. If you have space with your family, bring bedding, water, and litter box for the kitties. If you are unable to make room for these, make sure to stop often to give your pets a break.
If you travel in a motorhome, travel time will be more simple with pets. Your dog or cat will be able to roam around their home all day. However, if your motorhome has slides, make sure that your pet can’t get inside your slides and keep an eye on them while deploying the slides.
When you leave your pets in the motorhome for extended periods of time (work, hiking, etc.), you will likely need a pet camera and temperature/humidity monitor. This treat-dispensing camera is also a fun option.
For the inevitable escape artists, make sure your pets have collars, updated tags, and microchips. Many states will require updated vaccine papers for your pets, so make sure to travel with them. Lastly, to avoid long searches for pets in new surroundings, we recommend Apple Airtags and covers. You can also find water-proof ones if that’s a concern.
When booking a location, make sure to disclose your dog’s breed, even if they don’t ask. Some parks restrict certain breeks and can refuse your stay. So by asking, you’ll avoid any unpleasantness.
When booking a location, ask about amenities for your pets. The best places not only have a dog park/walk area, but also provide plenty of doggy bags and waste receptacles. If a location doesn’t have these things, you’ll need pet waste bags like these and a convenient dispenser. We highly recommend a diaper pail to keep odors to a minimum in the RV or a designated trashcan outside for longer stays.
When walking your pets, boon-docking, or hiking on trails, consider an LED-lighted vest (this is also great for escape artists).
Priority Number Two: All The Comforts
Second, living with pets in small quarters requires forethought. Be prepared to have them, their stuff, fur, litter, and water underfoot. (Did I mention the water?) Here are a few suggestions to help:
- Store food in the bottom of the pantry, if you have one.
- Get multiple pet water/food bowls that can be washed in the dishwasher and are portable for hikes.
- Forgo the indoor doggie bed (they’ll find another spot, such as under the dinette).
- Bring crates for traveling and to create a safe space for pets. A folding crate like this one might save on storage when not needed.
- Get a good air-purifier. We’ve had good luck using this one but you may want a couple of flat, desktop versions instead of a tall option. Consider a dehumidifier and air-purifier combo if traveling in the south.
- Buy lint rollers. In bulk. And a pet brush like this one to keep the floating fluff to a minimum.
- Create an outdoor area for pets. Options like this Kitty Walk are secure and give plenty of space to stretch out. Use dog runs or foldable pens to create a secure place for dogs and consider an elevated, mesh, outdoor dog bed.
- Figure out the kitty box and litter storage beforehand. This pine-scented litter comes highly recommended to us as a better-smelling option.
We hope these tips will help make life more rich and enjoyable as you RV travel with your pets!
