The RV 2/2/2 is a rule one often hears about in the RV community. If you have yet to buy or only recently purchased a new RV, you may be curious to know what this rule is all about.
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The RV 2/2/2 Rule
The 2/2/2 is a rule many RV enthusiasts abide by when traveling. Using this rule, you reduce the chances of encountering typical RV challenges on the road, which could allow for a more fulfilling trip.
However, if you’re a new inductee into the RV community, you may not know enough about this rule to utilize it fully. Well, here’s what it’s all about:
Positive Traveling
While no one ever sets out to do “negative” traveling, that sort of comes with the territory when you’re new to the RV. Reduce your chances of falling into the usual beginner traps by using the RV 2/2/2 rule. Not only will it keep you from arriving grumpy at your destination, but it’ll also help you become keener to your surroundings, and therefore, safer.
Breaking Down the Twos
What’s the lowdown on the three twos?
● First Two: 200-Mile per Day Limit
To some RVers, 200 miles may not seem that far to cover in a day, but driving farther than that may not be ideal. Whether or not you’re used to it, driving too-long distances for consecutive days can take a toll on you. It could push you not only into stressful circumstances but unsafe situations, as well.
The 200-mile per day limit helps keep things more manageable. Shorter distances mean you and your passengers have more time to relax and explore each stop. This is an especially important part of the rule to consider for full-time traveling families.
RVers tend to break this tenet more than any other. Consider your passenger’s limitations and your level of tiredness if you’re thinking about bending this section of the 2/2/2. As always, it’s better to stop and recuperate than drive on and risk getting into an accident.
● Second Two: Take a Break Every Two Hours
The second tenet dictates that drivers pull over every two hours. Whether it’s to stretch the muscles for a few minutes, gas up, or go to the bathroom, these frequent stops can make the trip smoother and less stressful.
Take the opportunity to get snacks for the road, eat meals, or do an engine check. Managing your time wisely during these breaks should prevent unnecessary stops later.
Also considered as a second two is to arrive at your campsite before dark or, more specifically, by two in the afternoon. Campgrounds tend to become full later in the day, so arriving and setting up earlier for less stress is recommended. This also gives you more time to look around and explore the best spots.
Arriving earlier means you have more time to settle down after traveling and enjoy the rest of the day. It also allows for a good night’s rest to prepare for the following day in case you’d be heading out then. Of course, that would go against the third principle.
● Third Two: Stay Two Nights in Each Destination
Hitching and unhitching can be draining, so give yourself more time between these activities for a more fulfilling trip. You’re already weary from travel, to begin with, and the lack of a breather in between setting up and packing up can be a recipe for exhaustion. You may avoid this by camping out for at least two nights at every stop.
Understandably, this is another tenet RV enthusiasts are prone to breaking. Sometimes, staying two nights at a destination isn’t possible, and experienced travelers may only need one night of rest to be fit to hit the road again. Though, in cases like this, you’d do well to limit your activities and focus on preserving your energy for the next day.
The RV 3/3/3 Alternative
The confidence gained from years of RV traveling should make the 3/3/3 set of principles a viable option for you. If you haven’t figured it out yet, the difference between this and it’s more beginner-friendly counterpart is that it operates based on threes. So, that’s 300 miles instead of 200; breaks every three hours instead of two; a three pm arrival instead of a two pm one; staying three nights at a campsite instead of two.
Communication Is Key!
The rule is not only for you to decide; it’s for the entire family to decide together. Granted, the driver or drivers should have the most say on the matter. After all, the physical challenges of being on the road tend to affect them more than anyone else. That said, when everybody knows what to expect, traveling becomes a lot smoother and more enjoyable.
