Month: August 2022

The Ultimate RV Road Trip Packing List

Posted on August 12, 2022 by - ASI, Blog

Toy camper with packed bags on top: your ultimate rv road trip packing list

Taking a vacation in an RV can be stressful, but it doesn’t need to be. Wide open spaces and beautiful roads await. If you’re ready to pack your bags, read on to discover the ultimate RV road trip packing list! And, if you’re looking for a home base for your RV, remember to consider American Steel Carports. Start by exploring our free Build & Price tool to create a comfortable place for your RV to rest when you aren’t on the open road.

Your Complete RV Road Trip Packing List

Start with Clothes

This is the main category of items that you need to pack for every trip, so it’s the best place to start. Since the clothes you pack will vary depending on the weather and your planned activities, you’ll want to spend the most time on this task so you can enjoy your trip and be as comfortable as possible.

We can’t give you a specific list of what you should take because there are so many variables, but here’s a good starting point –

  • Clothes for relaxing outside and hanging around the campsite
  • Clothes for activities you are going to enjoy – such as swimsuits or hiking garments
  • Clothes for time spent in the RV, such as pajamas
  • Undergarments sufficient for two (or more) days than you plan to travel
  • Plenty of towels (especially if swimming is on the agenda)
  • Laundry bags to separate dirty clothes from clean clothes
  • And remember, packing extra clothes never hurts. After all, you don’t know when you may accidentally spill something on your outfit, and it’s good to have a few backup options at hand.

A Basic Set of Tools

You don’t need to pack enough tools to rebuild the entire RV, but to be safe, you want enough tools to perform basic maintenance while on the road. With the right set of tools for routine tasks, life on the road is a lot easier. Assemble a tool kit for your RV and leave it in a dedicated box. Here are some of the best items to include:

  • Set of screwdrivers
  • Wrenches, including an adjustable wrench and a socket set
  • Rope and duct tape
  • Utility knife with replacement blades
  • WD-40 or similar lubricant
  • Flashlights

Personal Items for Everyone

There are various things that you want to include when packing for personal hygiene and health. These items will vary some from person to person, of course, but some of the key elements to think about include:

  • Soap
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss
  • Medications, both over-the-counter and any prescriptions.
  • Your pet’s medication and bowls. If your dog is traveling with you, remember their medications, too! This is so easy to forget.
  • A bottle of lotion
  • Bug spray and sunscreen
  • A disposable camera. Just for fun!

Entertainment

The whole point of heading out on an RV trip is to have a great time, so your packing won’t be finished until you load up some entertainment options to include in the rig with you. This can include both things that you will use inside of the RV and any equipment and accessories you’ll need to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities. Of course, space is limited in an RV, so be strategic and make room for what you’re likely to use the most.

  • A pack of cards and some board games are great for rainy days or taking breaks from being out in the sun.
  • Kids (or adults) might want to bring art supplies like pens and pencils and some paper
  • Books or magazines to read during quiet time
  • Depending on space, you might bring bikes, scooters, inflatables for the water, fishing poles, etc.

Find Your Home Base with American Steel

We hope you found this RV road trip packing list helpful! With an organized packing plan in place, you’re already one step closer to your next exciting trip. And remember to always keep your RV protected when it isn’t on the open road. With a metal carport, you’ll know it will be kept safe from the elements between now and your next adventure. If you’re ready to start building, explore our free Build & Price tool today!

4 of the Best Car Theft Prevention Tools

Posted on August 11, 2022 by - ASI, Blog

Car keys sitting in a car seat: four of the best car theft prevention tools

When your vehicle is parked, taking steps to prevent theft is a wise move. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools available on the market today that will work toward keeping your vehicle safe. Read on to discover four car theft prevention tools to invest in.

Keeping with the theme of protecting your car or truck, adding a carport to your property is a great way to keep it out of the rain and sun while parked. Start designing your new carport today with our free Build & Price tool.

#1 – Your Car’s Locks

We had to start this list with a rather obvious, but important, point. Perhaps the single best thing you can do to prevent theft when parked under a carport is simply locking the doors every time you walk away. Even if you are only parking for a few minutes and you are coming right back, just hit the button and lock the doors. It’s easy and there is no reason not to do it.

When looking for a car to steal, thieves are typically looking for the path of least resistance. Every additional hurdle that they need to clear is another reason to keep looking for an easier target. So, by starting with your vehicle locked, you are in a good position to cause a potential thief to move on and look for another target. Is having your vehicle locked a guarantee that theft will not occur? Of course not, but it’s a big step in the right direction. This security equipment is already installed on the vehicle–so you might as well use it.

#2 – Proper Lighting

Another great way to protect your vehicle is to light up the area where the vehicle is typically parked. Along with looking for the path of least resistance, criminals are also looking for darkness in most cases. They don’t want to be seen committing crimes, whether that means being spotted by a bystander or being seen on camera. So, a brightly-lit space is going to cause some hesitation and it may be another way to get them to move on instead. Modern LED lighting is affordable and long-lasting, so this is an inexpensive way to add another layer of security to your carport.

#3 – Install a Camera

Speaking of being caught on camera, having video evidence of a crime is a worst-case scenario for the average thief. More and more people are adding cameras to their property as a result of the low cost of the camera and the ease of installation. You can even set up your camera system such that it will alert your smartphone if any activity is detected. Again, this is not a guaranteed method of prevention, but rather another layer to add to your setup. Even if you just followed these first three steps–locking your doors, lighting the space, and adding a camera–you will have an environment that will be uninviting to most criminals.

#4 – Additional Security Devices

There are plenty of other aftermarket security devices that you can add to your vehicle if you’d like to layer on even more security measures. For instance, an audible alarm that makes a loud noise if someone breaks in. This would work well if you live in a populated area as the alarm would be sure to grab plenty of attention. Or, a steering wheel lock device could be used to make the car impossible to drive if someone did try to take it.

Get Covered at American Steel

Given the simple and affordable nature of many of the car theft prevention tools we’ve listed above, you should at least consider employing one or more of these techniques to protect your vehicle. And, if you can add a carport to your property to create some covered parking, you’ll be in an even better position. If you’re ready to start building your custom carport, explore our free Build & Price tool today!

3 of the Best RV Routes in America

Posted on August 2, 2022 by - Blog

View of a road with colorful foliage: three of the best RV routes in America.

It would be easy to argue that the United States is the best country in the world for RV owners. The U.S. is a large country, meaning there is plenty of space to explore beyond city limits. Also, with abundant natural beauty in varying forms from coast to coast, you could travel for a lifetime in your RV and never run out of things to see. If you’re ready to hit the open road, read on to discover three of the best RV routes in America!

Also, if you need a protected place to store your RV while you aren’t on the road, consider an RV carport from American Steel Carports, Inc. Our durable metal buildings are affordable and easy to customize. Get started and explore our free Build & Price tool today!

A Mountain Tour

The western half of the United States has some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. It is the Rocky Mountains that are the dominant range, but there are others in the region worth exploring, as well. For a memorable RV route that may serve as one of the best trips of your life, plan a path through as many of these stunning mountainous areas as you can manage.

While this trip could be managed in many different ways, consider starting in the north at Glacier National Park in Montana. From there, you can head south to Yellowstone, down into the Grand Tetons, over into the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, and back east to Colorado into the Rockies. This trip, or some version of it, would be an epic adventure and would surely lead you to some of the best views in the entire country.

Of course, this is a seasonal trip, as exploring these regions in an RV during the winter months will not be a viable option. Also, you won’t be the only traveler interested in seeing these amazing places, so plan ahead and secure overnight spots for your RV in as many places as possible.

See the Desert

Despite not being particularly far away from the mountain tour we described above, this next idea will present you with a completely different experience. The American Southwest is largely a desert landscape, and while it’s extremely hot in the summer, this is a great place to escape for a winter vacation when the temperatures are far more comfortable.

You could work your way through the southwest by starting in California and heading east, or by starting in Texas or Oklahoma and pointing your RV to the west. Some of the many highlights you’ll want to put on your agenda include the Grand Canyon, the Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree National Park, and the massive Hoover Dam.

Interstate 10 and Interstate 40 are great options for racking up miles when you need to get from one place to the next but don’t limit yourself to the main freeways if you want to truly experience the landscape. Do some research to track down RV resorts and other places to stay that will bring you closer to the best of what this part of the country has to offer.

The Appalachians

While they don’t offer the scale and drama of the mountain ranges in the west, the Appalachians are still very much worth your time and attention. This rolling, green mountain range runs up and down most of the eastern side of the country, going from Canada in the north to Alabama.

There are a couple of reasons for RV owners to consider using the Appalachians as an attractive trip route. First, the rolling nature of these mountains makes them easier to travel in an RV than the big, jagged landscape of western mountain ranges. The highest point in the Appalachians is just over 6,600 feet, meaning you’ll have only modest climbing to do while piloting your RV. Also, if you are interested in incorporating stops in or near big cities into your itinerary, such destinations won’t be far away as you go north or south through these mountains.

Cover Your Home Base with American Steel

Now that you’ve discovered three of the best RV routes in America, it’s time to hit the open road! Which one will you choose first? Have fun out there and travel safe!

And of course, when you’re ready to find your home base, remember to keep your RV covered and protected with the help of American Steel. Explore our free Build and Price tool to get started!