Is it time to bug out or what? If recent events has you in the mood to purchase an RV, travel trailer or fifth wheel to get away from it all, then you’re reading the right article. We’ve short listed purchase pointers that will certainly elevate your camping life to glamping life. Whether you are a weekender or full time RV’er these are our top 5 priorities when shopping for the perfect recreational vehicle.

1. Auto-Level – Get your time back at the campground! Don’t fuss around with leveling blocks when you arrive. With an auto-leveling system, it is as easy as parking your rig and hitting a few buttons. The Hitch Height option remembers where you left off allowing for easy hitch up when you’re ready to leave. Trust us. This will make your camping life easier. Get auto-leveling with your next RV purchase.

2. Full-size shower/bath (square not corner) – This is a big one for us. It might have saved our marriage when we transitioned to full time living in our fifth wheel. But seriously, we are so happy with our decision to purchase a rig with a larger bathroom setup. More specifically a square shower vs a corner shower.

Having enough maneuverability in the bathroom is one thing, having enough room to stand underneath the shower head for someone who is tall or being able to shave your legs for someone who is round is very crucial. The comfort you feel in your bathroom is weirdly important. Take some time to hang out in the bathroom when looking to buy. Some of the new rigs out there have double sinks… talk about luxury, darling.

3. All Seasons – Don’t limit where you want to go. Go to the beach in the summer. Go to the mountains in the winter. An all seasons or four seasons package is simply additional insulation of your rig. Get it! Think of it like a coolie for your beer. It really does help keep the tin can that is your RV cooler when it’s hot out and warmer when it’s cold out. It’s magic! In the words from my Uncle Brad, how do it know?!

4. Propane exchange – Ensure your propane tanks can be removed from the rig and either refilled or exchanged. People don’t think about this one but we’ve seen instances where the propane is built into the RV and the only way to refill the tank is to move the entire rig. No, thank you. You will use propane. Most of your kitchen appliances use propane. Understand what uses propane and ensure you have an easy way to refill in your future rig. You’ll thank yourself later that you paid attention during the buying process.

5. Storage – Keeping in mind your type of RV adventure, storage capacity needs to be considered. Where it matters will be underneath, in your kitchen, and in the bathroom. Think about your outside living and what it will take to stow things like chairs and gear you will need for your campfire stories. In the kitchen, pantry space and food storage is often lacking once you move all the pots and pans in. Same in the bathroom. Linens and towels and personal bath needs begin to take up more space than you think. Check for additional storage often found under beds, couches, and bench seats. Whether you RV on the weekends or full time, storage ends up being a big factor.

For The Win (FTW): You will want some redundancy in your communications while you camp. We are talking about your access to TV and the Internet. Most new rigs come equipped with a TV antenna and that’s awesome as you’ll be able to channel scan and, depending on where you are camping, pick up some local TV stations. You can ensure TV redundancy with the inclusion of a DVD player and some movies. Bring your own entertainment.

If you rely on Internet to stream entertainment or maybe you work from your campsite, we recommend adding some redundancy to your data needs. Ensure your new rig is equipped with some sort of WiFi antenna. Then purchase a booster for that antenna. You can purchase this with your rig or after market through Amazon and the like. You can also purchase your own data package through Verizon and carry your Internet with you.

We like the idea of starting with a WiFi booster. This is an add-on for a WiFi antenna. That way you can take public WiFi, often offered with your campground stay, and secure that data gateway at your rig. You can do this easily with a booster’s settings. Hacking is a real thing. And very easy to do with public WiFi, even in a campground. Data security should be taken seriously and this is an easy way to secure your devices while taking advantage of the free internet. Even if the campground has a password in place, you should still secure your incoming/outgoing data.

If you want to kick it up a notch, bring your own Internet! Do this by having your own mobile jetpack or by creating a hotspot on your phone. Of course these additional data redundancy options only work if you get the data/cell service signal where you are camping. You can double-down and increase your coverage chances by diversifying your service options from using multiple providers. (ie. Verizon, AT&T, T-mobile).

For The Bulldog (FTB): Be on the lookout for recliners with massage and seat heat options. These luxurious add-ons are bulldog approved.

And that’s it! Our top 5 recommendations for must haves with the purchase of a recreational vehicle, travel trailer, or fifth wheel.

Happy hunting!