Introduction:
So, you are travelling on your Palace on Wheels, Huh? Well, there is just one thing you should ask yourself.
Am I Prepared for this part of my life? Living in an RV is not without challenges, an amazing thing that I have learned from this experiment of mine. I tried to live in an RV for at least 6 months in one go. The experience of it all was just awesome, but to make it awesome I was fully prepared, mentally, physically, and digitally.
We are living in the 21st Century, right? So, being digitally prepared is an added requirement to everything you have to do, let alone living in an RV. Because on the road, it just like the Wild West and you have to navigate smoothly through everything that comes across. And if you have the right tools in hand, the journey will be convenient. The smartphone applications are one such tool that will help you all the way.
As per my experience, these applications have really helped me complete all the trips successfully and safely.
Table of Contents
Navigation
- Google Maps:
Isn’t it obvious? Google Maps is a must-have application for every smartphone. No matter where you are, it may be possible that these guys have mapped every place that you will go in your afterlife. I really hope so. Speaking technically, Google Maps will show you all the information that is needed on the journey. It will let you navigate through the safest and the quickest routes and will enlist all the important pit stops on the way. This includes where to eat, fill up the gas, where to buy stuff and all that. Its real-time traffic and weather updates features are something that I like the most.
Google Maps is available for free on both Android and iOS app stores.
- Copilot GPS (Paid on Android and iTunes):
Well if you are bored from Google Maps, then switch on to Copilot GPS. This application has an amazing database of maps. This includes both online and offline maps. I personally really like the offline maps feature that has allowed me to navigate through the areas where either the data does not work or it is difficult to locate the GPS. That’s where Copilot has allowed me to reach the destination accurately. As for the price is concerned, you can buy it from the Apple Store for $29.99 and for free on Play Store but there are in-app purchases.
Utilities and Trip Planning
- Roadtrippers:
Roadtrippers is just like your guide throughout the journey. It will show on your phone the available services and places that you can visit for a quick refreshment. You can find out about the hotels, various restaurants, shopping places, among other such destinations. Roadtrippers can be called as a smartphone-enabled travel blog that has information about the destinations and will also show their past history. You can also get all sorts of information about a place or service provider from this application.
Roadtrippers is free to download from Google Play and iOS.
- Gasbuddy:
One of the biggest expenses that you will incur on your RV living adventure is the money spent on gas. Rest all is available at discounted rates everywhere, but the avenues for cheap options for gas are very limited. Gasbuddy just taps these cheap gas stations and puts them in front of you so that you end up saving money on gas expenditure. I know that every bit of information that is provided on the app is authentic because it is updated by a user like you and me. This helps everyone obtain the right information and avoid any kind of distress. Yes, this application is also available to use without any cost from Google Play and Apple Store.
- Sanidumps:
It is both gross and unhygienic to travel around in your RV with the water tanks spilling out all the filth. That is why you need this application to find out where is the next waste dump station. This application will list you the dump station on the road you are travelling at that time. So, this application is the best avenue for you to practice healthy waste management. Sanidumps is available for free to down from both iOS and Android stores.
- Weatherbug:
Well, if not anything, you will have to account for the weather wherever it is that you are going on your RV. The road ahead will be free of obstacles only if you know beforehand about the climatic situation. And for that, WeatherBug is the best application. It has one of the largest networks of weather portals and then aggregates them before showing you the right information. I have changed my plans plenty of times because WeatherBug warned me about my next destination. Yes, it will send you alerts and that is what I like best about this app which is free to download from iOS and Android stores.
- Yelp:
Yes, yelp is there on the list too. Not because it is the most famous application in the country, but because it is a useful application for the people on the road. And moreover, whenever you are in a new city or place, it will be very hard to enjoy the best of that city including food and other things without knowing. Hence, yelp will let you find the best restaurants that have the highest ratings, good coffee shops. Not only food, but it has also enlisted every possible service on the application starting from a farmer’s market to the biggest companies and everything in between. And yes, it is free to use on both the operating systems iOS and Android.
- AccuWeather:
AccuWeather is one of the most precise weather applications that I have come across whenever I am on the road. This application is way smarter as it aggregates the weather information from various other similar applications. And then it decides which is the best weather forecast for your location before showing it to you. Isn’t it smart? The download is free on Apple Store and Play Store but you will have to buy the premium for some additional services and perks.
- Good Sam Camping (Paid on iTunes):
Good Sam has thousands of campgrounds spread throughout the country. And it was only evident that they will have an amazing application to help the users find these grounds. All the grounds in a given area are also ranked by the customers and the application will filter it for you according to the ratings and reviews. Even better, it has enlisted the necessary details about the camping locations. Want to download it? Well, it is there on the Play Store and App Store for free.
- Oh, Ranger Park Finder:
For when it is time to lay low for some time or enjoy camping, the oh ranger park finder should be your first choice. This mobile application will show all the national, state and RV parks that are located nearby. Not only this, but you can also look for the same at your desired destination before reaching there. It has an in-built map that will help you navigate to the right location. More than that, you can also find various spots and places for recreational activities on the way to your destination. The best thing about this app is that it has almost every single RV park enlisted in the country on its database. You can find this application on Android and iOS stores for free.
Parking Spots
- Allstays:
Truck stops and parking bays are your best friends when you are living in an RV. Don’t know what I mean? Well, you will once you have lived on the road for only a couple of months. This application will guide you to all the different truck stops and bays on the road. It will also tell which routes are safer for your RV with tips and information like road clearance, pull-outs, refuelling stations, and, nearby ATMs, parking bays, and much more. You download the application from Android and iOS stores for $9.99.
- Walmart Parking App (Paid on iTunes):
Source: Were the Russos
Did you know that you can park your RVs for the night at the Walmart stores? I have been to around 30 Walmart stores only with the help of this application. It will tell you about every Walmart store that allows the RV owners to park their vehicles during nighttime. But be cautious that not all of them have this facility, some stores do not have this kind of policy. Again, this wonderful smartphone application for RV living will tell you which are those stores and also provides the contact information of all the Walmart stores. So, before you get yourself embarrassed, it is better to call ahead and confirm before going there. Where Google Play provides this application without any cost, Apple Store charges $2.99 for it.
Just for Fun
- Spotify:
Well, what is life without the love of music? Having any kind of music application on your phone is a must. But I will always recommend Spotify. The huge database of songs on this application is just amazing. And to tell you the truth the RV life is boring without music. Spotify will add that X-factor to your journey and make it even more memorable and easier. Because sometimes, music can that no one else can accomplish and that is to give you company on the road. It is also free to download from iOS and Android stores, but you can also download the premium version for iOS devices at $12.99
- Star Chart:
Believe it or not, looking at the stars is one of the best experiences that I have had in the RV life. And it all becomes even more fun if you have at your disposal, an application that will let you map the sky on your palm. Star chart will let you identify the constellations and star patterns in real-time with the camera. Even better, you can observe the positions of the stars changing with its time travel feature and will let you observe the sky as it was 10000 years back. Believe me, it will be a lot of fun once you get to know the sky better. The application is free to download, but there are some additional services that you will need to buy within the app.
- Star Walk 2:
I came to know about this application after I downloaded a star chart. And I was awe-stricken the moment I used it for the first time. Star Walk 2 will give you a 3D representation of the sky and illuminate the sky right in front of your eyes. It uses your phone’s in-built features like the gyroscope and the GPS to let you gaze upon the sky in a new and amazing manner. In the end, this application is totally worth spending $2.99 from both the types of stores iOS and Android.
- iNaturalist:
I now know about 50 new species of birds and a whole of bugs that I have come across in my camping trips into the mountains. iNaturalist is an amazing application that will tell you about all kinds of creatures that you can find in such terrains. Just bring the camera closer to the animal or the bird and watch the application tell you everything about it. If there is no information available, then you have laid your eyes on a species which has not been recorded by a community of 40000 scientists associated with the app. This application is free to use and download from Apple and Play Store.
Safety First
- Anti Mosquito:
You cannot stop mosquitoes from penetrating inside the RV or if you have set up a camp. Plus, it is you who is trespassing into their home and not them disturbing you. But there is a solution to this. You can use the Anti-Mosquito repellent application that produces sounds to ward off the mosquitoes and saves you from these blood-sucking creatures. I wonder if they somehow relate to the vampires? It is available on iOS for free and the Android users have to wait because it is not available on Android.
- First Aid by American Red Cross:
You never know about the danger or an unfavorable situation shows itself when you are on a trip. That is why it is imperative that you know about how to enter the damage protection mode in an emergency. This application is developed by the American Red Cross Society and will instruct you on various topics and situations that will help avoid unwanted results. For some, this is a life-saving app and fortunately, I have never used in my journey and hope never to use it. And yes, it is free to download and use on both types of smartphone OS.
Conclusion:
This is it. Now you have access to half the applications that I have on my smartphone and I have had them since the last couple of years. There is not one instance when I had to face any kind of issue with the workings of these applications. They have helped me get out of tight cities, save money on gas, find overnight parking spots, talk to the skies, and understand the fauna of the country. What more could one ask for?
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