For some of us, dogs or other pets are a major reason to why we choose RV travel as our getaway of choice. For some taking an overseas holiday and leaving the dogs at home is just not an option. RV travel is an easy way to travel with your canine companions, and many of them enjoy the getaway as much as we do!
There are many things to consider and remember when taking your furry friends with you. We have outlined these in as much detail below as possible.
 
The Essentials
When packing your motorhome for touring you’ll need to think about your dog’s needs as well as your own, but some of these essential items can be left permanently in the motorhome.

• Leads, Collars & Harnesses
• Hook or ground anchor to tie your dog to outside the RV
• Crate
• Bed
• Dog Bags
• Food & Treats
• Toys
  
• Insurance & Vet Records

​Planning Travel
It is important to pre-plan your travel when travelling with Pets. While many places are now dog friendly, not all are. It is important not to turn up expecting animals on any site or park over property are ok. We recommend checking the NZMCA app. The app outlines which places are pet friendly or not, and you can filter results so that only pet friendly places appear.
Your RV should also be a home away from home for your dog. They are routine based animals and like to maintain habits. Try and stick to the same eating and toileting routine that you would have at home. Ensure they have their blanket or bed to give them comfort while resting and some toys from home will also help. 
Plan stops suitable for your dog including suitable areas to run and explore and include a dog park or two if you can. 
It also pays to plan for the worst and ensure you are aware of local vet locations and ensure you have an action plan should an emergency happen or your dog falls ill. 
 
Securing During Travel
Much like we restrain ourselves with seatbelts, Dogs require securing to the vehicle also, we should give our beloved pets the same care and protection we give ourselves. Each RV situation is different and may require some thought for restraint options. In our Pilote we ensure our Dog is wearing his harness and then anchored to the seat using a shortened lead. Some RV's also have ISOFIX child seat restraints. These can be a great option for restraint connection. Dogs should not be left to freely roam the vehicle during travel. Unrestrained pets can be a distraction and in the case of even a small accident could give rise for a "dangerous driving" charge. 
 
Travelling With a Dog in an RV
Each dog is different, some are straight into travelling with absolutely no worries. Some may present with a bit of travel anxiety. If this is the case we recommend creating a plan that eases them into it. You need to start slowly and ensure you are creating positive association with the RV along the way for them. This may mean a few nights camping in the driveway before taking to the road. Getting them used to staying in the RV over a period of time without going anywhere helps reduce the larger change of driving days and being away from home. You may then step this up to a trip to the shops in the RV and leaving them for a short period. Extending these trips over time. Essentially the more time and work you put into coaching an anxious dog into RV travel, the more you will relax and enjoy your trips away yourself. 
Drive carefully and smoothly and keep calm. Dogs pick up on distress and can think something is wrong if you are heightened yourself. Ensure you have adequate ventilation while parked if you have to leave them in the RV. This can be as simple as cracking a roof vent while parked. Leave them a bowl of water out while parked. 
The familiarity of the environment and routine will help your dog settle and build confidence. For most dogs, over time they become seasoned travelers and the sight of the RV becomes a cue that they’re about to spend quality time with you and explore exciting new environments.

Something we come across quite regularly during trade in assessments, is a lack of understanding around the requirement by Fiat for the cambelt replacement intervals on the Ducato chassis.

This is something we have to factor into our trade in assessments and many are surprised by the requirement to change the belt so soon given the low kilometers most motorhomes have traveled. Many kiwis have in their mind 100,000 kilometers as replacement interval. This comes from many years of import Japanese cars having that as their average benchmark for replacement timing.

For the Ducato however Fiat advise the interval for a cambelt change as 5 years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Motorhomes in most cases won't travel over 100,000 kilometers in 5 years, so the 5 year interval is typically the requirement. It is important to have this preventative maintenance done on time, as even if the mileage is low the belt can oxidise and degrade over time. It is wise to replace the belt tensioner at the same time and at minimum check the water pump condition.
​
If you are looking to buy a used motorhome from a dealer or privately around that 5 year old mark, we recommend you obtain proof that this preventative maintenance has been completed. We regularly provide our prospective customers a copy of the service invoice to show that this work has been completed. It is also worth noting that most if not all Mechanical Breakdown Insurance policies will not cover any repair cost if the manufacturer required maintenance has not been completed on time.