Finding a Perfect RV for Photography Checklist|Maria Struss Photography

Photographers, are you dreaming about traveling the country in an RV for photography? Perhaps you already own an RV but are struggling to make your photography travels work in it.

If you answer yes to any one of the above, my Perfect RV for Photography Checklist may be just what you need.

Begin with the end in mind

I strongly believe everyone should define their “end” reason for purchasing an RV which will be different than mine. However, to help you get started defining your own “end”, I am sharing my “end” with you today.

My End- I wanted to buy a RV/van/camper to travel the United States, moving easily from one great photo destination to another while camping in beautiful nature locations and not RV resorts.

When possible, I wanted to be able to camp for free or at low cost, have internet access, and be close to both good photo destinations and a town with basic amenities.

a photo of a Lance travel trailer camping in Moab by Arches National Park

What is your “End “?

What is the Perfect RV for Photography Checklist?

The Perfect RV for Photography Checklist is a guide to some important factors to consider prior to purchasing an RV.

Although the checklist is designed primarily for the traveling photographer, it is also helpful to any RVer who wished to travel frequently, minimize weather impacts on travel, camp in off the beaten path locations and not be bound to only highway and interstate travel.

Please note, this checklist was designed to address RV features and their impacts primarily on photographers. It does not attempt to cover everything one should consider when purchasing an RV.

Why was this checklist created?

Traveling in RVs since 2003, I discovered things about my RVs that did not work for photography travels along with things my RVs lacked. I combined all those items into this “Perfect RV for Photography Checklist” that I am now sharing with all of you. You can read about my main reasons to travel full time at: Why I Became a Nomadic Photographer.

Before going through this checklist, it may be beneficial if you take a minute to read: 9 Questions Photographers Should Ask Before Buying An RV.

For my fellow photographer’s who are in the process of buying an RV mainly for photography travel, these two posts together should help you avoid making some of the mistakes I made.

the perfect rv for photography checklist

Overall Goal

Be able to access as many roads as possible in a variety of weather conditions with minimal setup and take-down time.
Own an RV capable of handling temperatures at destinations one plans to photograph (within reason).
Have adequate space to work, cook, store gear, and accommodate daily living requirements.
Lastly, the RV should be able to be safely secured and easily maintained with the exception of occasional repairs.

Checklist Features

1. Maximum mobility on roads

The Perfect Photographers RV should be able to travel on high mountain passes, around tight curves, and on roads with limited ground clearance as well as interstates and highways.

RV Criteria for Roads:

Width– Be no wider than 8 feet although I prefer it to be 7 feet. (This can vary for you depending on what types of roads you plan to take your RV down.) For instance, there are roads in the U.S. that are so narrow that an 8 foot RV will be too wide
Be no taller than 12 feet (includes items on top). Shorter is better. Of course, this height depends on how you plan to travel. If you plan to travel on county and rural roads, I suggest 10 feet as a maximum which fits the height of trailers such as Airstreams.
If the RV/camper will be the primary driving vehicle, consider 4-wheel drive.
The RV must have good brakes able to handle long mountain descents.
The RV should have a powerful enough engine to climb mountain passes without easily overheating.

For your information here are a couple tables showing the approximate road and vehicle widths in the United States.

US Road Widths

Road Type	Average Width
US Interstate System	12 feet
Highways	11 feet a minimum but can be 12 feet
City Streets	10 feet is considered appropriate for urban areas but actual streets do vary from this standard
Rural Roads	Could not find a definitive answer but be aware these roads can be quite narrow with very limited shoulders and steep drop-offs

Vehicle Widths

Standard Car	5-7 feet
Buses Fire Trucks, etc.	8 1/2 feet
Motorhomes	8-8.5 feet
Travel Trailers	8 feet
5th Wheels	8-8.5 feet
Class C	7.5-8 feet
Vans	6-7 feet
Compact Trailers such as Casitas	6-7 feet
B+ Vans	From 7 to 8.3 feet

2. Safe to drive in moderate winds (30-49)

Wind delays have been a big factor as I moved from one photo destination to another, especially in the Western United States.

Tip: It is generally considered unsafe to travel in any RV when winds reach 50 mph and winds of 60 mph can cause all types of RVs to flip over. Additionally, high winds can also cause RVs to swerve into another lane suddenly.

However, winds in ranges of 30-50 MPH can also negatively impact travel. This can and will interrupt photography schedules if you are in the wrong RV or have the wrong RV setup.

The goal of this checklist, therefore, is to help you buy an RV that allows for safe travel, particularly in the lower range of the 30-50 MPH winds. Remember -It is not to travel in any RV when winds exceed 50 MPH.

Although I am about to highlight a few technical factors related to RVs and wind, detail discussions are beyond the scope of this post or my knowledge. For those who are interested, check out the following articles: weight specifications, weight distribution and sway bars, and wheelbase ratio.

RV Wind Factors:

All RVS must be properly loaded according to weight specifications or they will be more prone to movement from winds.
If the RV, tow or towed vehicle, or combination of a RV/trailer and tow vehicle weight is close to or at it’s maximum weight capacity, lower wind speeds are also more likely to negatively impact travel.
Travel Trailers– To safely travel in the wind, trailers should be towed with good weight distribution and sway bar hitches. Be sure to factor in the cost of this item in any budget as good ones are not cheap.
5th Wheels and Travel Trailers-Be sure the tongue or hitch weight are within the tow vehicles’ capabilities. If not, winds will be more of a factor when driving.
5th Wheels are better able to handle higher winds than travel trailers.
The tow vehicle length to trailer length-There is some debate on this, however, I noticed a big difference in how my trailer handled in winds of 35 mph when I switched to a 20+ foot van from a 17 foot SUV.
Wheelbase Ratio -This ratio is mostly important for motorhomes and Class Cs and Vans but can certainly impact all vehicles. When purchasing a Class A or C motorhome, be sure its wheel base ratio is at least 53, preferably higher. Anything lower is unsafe, especially in windy conditions.
Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW) for all RVs -Stay as far under the GCVW as possible. The closer an RV comes to the maximum GCVW regardless if it is a motorhome, trailer, or 5th Wheel, the less stable the vehicle will be in wind and all adverse road conditions.

As a general rule of thumb, paying attention to all the above factors when deciding on an RV for photography should enable you to minimize impacts on photography plans due to wind.

Note- I am not talking about cross winds as that is an entirely different issue.

3. Adequate ground clearance

Ground clearance is a factor that should be on everyone’s checklist. Even those of you who never plan to take an RV off-road need to be prepared for roads like this California Highway. .

Be aware that RVs with little road clearance or long overhands, can drag the ground on dips and rolling hills potentially damaging the RV’s rear end.
Travel Trailers– Check the ground clearance for where the ball of a trailer connects to the tow vehicle. Even though I had a high clearance van, I had places I could not travel when towing for this reason.
5th Wheels are a better choice for ground clearance.

Tip: Bring a measuring tape with you when RV shopping and write down the clearances of any RV’s you may wish to buy.

4. RV Length – Fit in most campsites

RV length as it relates to fitting in a campsite depends not just on the actual length of the RV but also the type of RV. As to what is the perfect size, there is no one right answer.

The perfect RV size depends on where you wish to camp and how far in advance you are willing to make reservations.

Regardless, the smaller your RV is, the greater your chances will be of finding campsites, especially in popular tourist destinations.

Crowded Oregon Campsite

Because my combined length was about 48 feet, I ended up camping in places like the one pictured above on the Oregon Coast for most of my summer stay.

All the first come first serve forest campsites that became available were too small. It was not fun!

Campsite Size Considerations

The combined length of an RV should ideally be no longer than 32 feet to fit in most national park campgrounds.
The following article by Camper Report provides a table of national park site access by RV size: National Park Site Sizes.
National Forest campground sizes vary substantially, however, as a general rule, they will usually only have a small number of larger sites, if any.
If the RV is also your main driving vehicle for photography, I strongly recommend the RV be no longer than 22 feet. If it is any longer, you will be limited on where you can park.

5. True 4-Season campers

Not all 4 season packages are equal. While many RVers chase 70-degree weather, photographers chase subjects and seasons and therefore find themselves in very cold and very hot climates to capture specific images.

Here are the top items every photographer should have on a True 4-Season RV.

Good Insulation-Please check the R ratings of every RV you consider since most RVs are very poorly insulated to conserve on weight.
Dual Pane Windows– Do not look at any RV without these windows.
Insulated and/or Heated Tanks- This is an absolute necessity for photographers unless you plan to spend all your time in Florida! Insulated and enclosed tanks are a must. Ducted underbellies are even better.
Powerful Air Conditioner- Do not scrimp here and be sure the air conditioner is powerful enough for the RV size. It is hot and getting hotter everywhere.
Powerful Furnace-Same as with the air conditioner, an underpowered furnace will not be able to keep the RV warm in very cold temperatures.
Insulated Pipes- When looking at RV’s be sure the pipes are also insulated or enclosed, not just the tanks.
No Slides- Oh, I hear the groans now. RV slides are not insulated as a rule and also have gaps that let a lot of hot and/or cold air in the RV. Trust me, you don’t want slides if you plan to camp in very cold and/or hot weather.

For additional information about 4-Season Campers, I suggest checking out this article by Morton’s on the Move: 4 Season Camper. ( It has some very good information but I do disagree with their recommendation pertaining to slides. Most slides are not insulated)

6. Minimum level of RV maintenance and repairs.

Maintenance -All RVs require regular maintenance in order for things to work properly. However, the height of the RV, the number of slides in the RV, and a complexity of it’s systems all impact how difficult and time consuming it will be to perform routine maintenance.

Repairs– I highly recommend against buying the newer RVs that have a centralized control panel/command center. If that panel fails for any reason, and they do quite often, you can’t access any of the RV functions.

Next, only buy an RV after carefully researching owner forums for problems with the particular model and/or manufacturer. Also pay to have a Pre Delivery Inspection (PDI) performed from a certified RV inspector.

The last thing you want to do is have your photography business travels be on hold for months while the RV is in the shop.

Other things to consider:

No Slides– Slides are very nice to have but require regular lubing and coating of the rubber sealers. Also, slides are prone to fail, and depending on the type of slide, it can be very difficult to manually override it if it fails.
Countertops should be made of solid surfaces and not pressed board materials. Remember you are buying an RV for full-time or extended trips and want materials that last. We are not using our RVs for a few weekends a year.
Fittings for Water Lines should be easily accessed for tightening. Loose fittings are the cause of many water leaks which can bring a photo trip to an end quickly if you can’t access them.
Axels should be adequate for the RV’s gross weight capacity. Don’t buy any RV whose axels are maxed out to the RV’s gross weight capacity. This is especially important if you plan to camp in places with dirt roads.
Electric Levelers, Tongues, and Jacks– Keep is simple and consider manual levelers over electric levels. Electronic ones are prone to failure. If you must have electric levelers/jacks, make sure to check for problems and recalls. Electric levelers that won’t come up in the middle of nowhere will leave you stranded.
Good Tires!– If your RV did not come with quality tires, replace them immediately.

7. RV should have off grid capabilities

The Perfect RV for Photography should possess enough power when off grid to run basic electronics, lights, and also a furnace. The furnace is especially important because once again, we are photographers chasing images, not 70 degree weather.

8. The RV should have space for a dedicated workspace

For any extended RV trips, photographers need a dedicated workspace from which to download cards, organize and process images, respond to clients and edit videos. This one may not seem so important, but when you are working on the road on a daily basis, a dedicated workspace becomes essential.

9. The RV should have adequate storage for cameras and related gear.

Ideally the Perfect Photographer’s RV will have at least one drawer where camera and computer equipment can be stored. Without a dedicated area, it becomes too easy to frequently misplace gear.

10. Safety and Security

When shopping for an RV, give thought to two different threats: weather and theft.

A. Weather

Fire- If you plan to spend any significant time in the western states during fire season, think about how fast you can get an RV ready for travel. I was once given10 minutes to leave a campground due to a widlfire at 1 A.M.
Floods: Same issue as wildfires. Again, I was camped in an area where I dam broke and we had to leave immediately.
Other Weather- Same issue, could your RV be ready to travel fast enough for you to get to safety.
All the above become increasingly important if you do not have to tow vehicle and must rely on your RV.

Tip: Overall, Class A and Class C RVs are easier to move quickly than towed RVs.

B. Theft

As photographers, we are not around our RV’s as much as other Rvers as a general rule. We, therefore, can become easier targets for break ins and/or theft of the RV. So when shopping for any RV, keep in mind the following things:

Break Ins- It is a good idea to rekey all manufacture installed locks and add a keypad on doors (if not provided). Even with these steps, the outside bins can still be easily pried open. It is, therefore, best to avoid purchasing a RV that has any bin that opens directly into the RV.
Theft of the RV: Give careful consideration to choices between travel trailers and 5th wheels since travel trailers are much easier to steal. By the way. Class C and Class A motorhomes are much harder to steal.

11. Bedding

The Perfect RV for Photography should have a bedroom area that affords a good night’s sleep. Our days in the field are long and who wants to be so tired that they can’t wake up in time to capture a beautiful sunrise the next day.

Mattresses can be changed but some things can’t be easily corrected such as the following:

My Bedroom had three large windows making it a difficult area to keep warm on cold nights.

Bed- The bed should be comfortable and of a size that works for your specific needs. In the picture above, you can see that I had a queen size bed because my cat has to always sleep with me.
Fan – Overhead fans in the bedroom such as a Maxair fan are highly desirable, especially in hot weather.
Windows and Drafts– Bedroom areas with too many windows or large windows by the head of the bed may be great for views but are not great on cold nights. If you do a lot of photography in cold climates, I highly encourage you to avoid RVs with windows at the head of the bed. Believe me, I know this from years of “frozen head.”

12. Kitchen

The Perfect RV for Photography should have facilities for cooking and food storage but they do not have to be nearly as spacious as the kitchen pictured below.

Kitchen considerations in an RV.

Refrigerator/Ice Chest- Is it big enough to store a week’s supply of food?
Oven and Microwave – Do you use an oven often? Are you better served having a microwave convection oven and using the oven space for storage? Maybe you do not need either a microwave or an oven and instead use the spaces for extra food storage.
Counter and Cabinet Space- Evaluate your particular cooking style and be sure the RV has adequate space to meet that style.

Picture of kitchen inside Phaeton Motorhome

The kitchen areas are particularly important since we are more likely to be in remote areas or tourist areas with limited access to stores such as Walmarts. Also, groceries are much more expensive in tourist areas and small towns so you want to stock up ahead of time.

Another reason to pay attention to the kitchen area when RV shopping is that you will likely be cooking more, even if you prefer to eat out.

In national parks and other great photo destinations, many restaurants do not open before 7 to 8 A.M. by which time you will probably be in the field photographing subjects.

13. Pet Travel

Traveling with pets poses significant challenges that should be considered when purchasing an RV for all RVers. This is especially true for photographers since we tend to be out in the field from early morning to late evening.

Evaluate a potential RV/camper for its ability to keep your pet comfortable and safe on days when temperatures are cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon and you are gone all day. Tip– this is where good insulation and ventilation fans come in handy.
Where can you place a pets bedding?
Does the RV have a place for food and water bowls? Also is the RV secure enough that can you safely leave them food when in bear country? (I doubt any RV it totally safe for a hungry grizzly bear but some as more secure than others)
If traveling with a cat, does the RV have a good place for the litter box?

Summary

I hope you have found the above “Perfect RV for Photography Checklist” beneficial as you begin to shop for an RV for photo travels. If so, please comment and share links to this post with your friends as it helps this site.

As previously mentioned, there are many other factors to consider in buying an RV that what I have mentioned above. Use this checklist as just the beginning point in your RV shopping.

By the way, I am in the process of deciding on my next RV/camper or some combination and will be soon sharing my options with you in an upcoming post.

Will I finally have the Perfect Photographers RV? Stay tuned to find out.

As always thanks for joining me.

6 Comments

Chip Harrington says:

at

Just saying hello!! Retired and full time in Santa Rosa Beach FL now.

678-525-1649

Chip

1. Maria Struss says:
  
  at
  
  I am back in Florida for a while and will drop you a note when in your area so we can catch up. Glad you said hello.
  
Dawn says:

at

Anyway to watch videos not via YouTube? Rumble maybe?

1. Maria Struss says:
  
  at
  
  ?? I don’t understand the comment.
  
john p says:

at

Greetings, Wanting to take my photographic workflow on the road w/ RV. Want to get your advice how to arrange monitors , computers, etc.
thanks

1. Maria Struss says:
  
  at
  
  So that I can provide you with the best answer, I need to know what type of RV you plan to travel in and if you have a dedicated work space. Also from your comment, it appears you will use computer as well as a laptop, correct. Give me a little more info and I will be happy to give you all the insight I can.

THE PERFECT RV FOR PHOTOGRAPHY CHECKLIST