Guide to planning your first
RV trip with CanaDream

Consider the Size of RV that You Need

1. Choosing the right CanaDream RV depends on how many people are traveling. While two people can fit in the Maxi Travel Camper (TCA) or Deluxe Van Camper (DVC) models, the Super Van Camper (SVC) offers extra room for long trips. Families of four (2 adults, 2 children) are well-suited to the SVC, but for families with larger teens, the range of Class C models we offer (MHC, MHL, MHB, MHA, or MHX) are better options due to the sleeping arrangements. Thinking about who will sleep where will help you choose the ideal RV size. To explore all RV types and find the perfect fit for your adventure, check out our Navigating CanaDream RV Types blog.

2. We are Pet Friendly! You can bring a dog or a cat on your RV road trip for a fee of $350 (includes up to two pets). Please book this in advance of pick up day.

What to Know about Driving the RV

3. Is it hard to drive an RV? - We see thousands of Guests each year who are driving an RV for the first time and are often a little scared of handling the larger units, but they all return totally loving the experience. So, don’t be too worried. Of course, RVs are much larger than your normal car, but they are surprisingly easy to drive and easy to manoeuvre. If you select the size of RV to match your comfort level, that’s a good start. You do need some self-confidence and we always recommend you use a spotter (someone outside the RV) to help guide you when reversing and parking. Read our blog which answers the question "How easy is it to drive an RV" and view our useful safe driving video which also provides some helpful tips.

4. Who is going to drive the RV? You need a full driving license and must be 21 years of age or older. Included in the rental charge is one driver so if you want an additional driver, don’t forget to add this option in. Every driver must be individually insured and listed on the rental agreement or the insurance will be invalid.

Operating the Motorhome

If you are new to RVing and have concerns about understanding and managing the resources, please do not worry. We are experts in this. Our RVs are designed specifically with rental guests in mind and we have made them as simple and easy to use as possible. All the resources in the RV are controlled from a central panel and you’ll quickly learn how to read and manage the controls.

10. To make things very easy we have created “How to” videos on each RV so you can familiarise yourself with your RV before you travel. You'll watch this video, take a self-guided tour in the RV and have a chance to ask our experts for further help and guidance. We also provide detailed Guest Guides with every RV to help you trouble shot as you travel. We have 24/7 on-road support - our technicians are on hand to help and guide you through any technical queries you have while travelling. The key areas to watch are:

• Battery Power - Our RVs have substantial batteries but, if you are not plugged into power for more than a couple of days, you can drain the coach battery. Watch the monitor panel and you’ll be guided. To recharge the battery, either drive for a couple of hours or run the engine every few hours when parked to boost the battery power.
• Water - The monitor panel will tell you how much water you have in the tank, so you can fill this up as necessary. Many campsites have a city water connection – you can connect to this and avoid using the RV water tank when camped. The fresh water pump, which allows water to flow through the taps from the water tank, is powered by the coach battery. The water heater will heat water as you need it and will run on power when plugged in. You should turn off the water heater when not in use.
• Fridge/Freezer - You’ll want to ensure this stays cold - plugging into shore power will help operate the fridge at its best. 
• Air conditioning, Electric Sockets & Microwave - These will only work when plugged into shore power or when the generator is running.

All resources are all explained in the video and the Guest Guides.

11. Emptying the waste tanks – This is the delightful side of RVing which everyone loves! It’s not that bad and everyone gets used to it very quickly! There are two tanks - Grey (used water) and Black water (toilet waste). You will need to empty them both every couple of days, depending on how much you use them. There are gauges to help you monitor the levels. The process to empty is very simple and you’ll cover this in your pick up “how-to” video. Once you have done this, you’ll be an expert in no time. Most campsites have a sani-dump station and we recommend you pay attention to the locations for dumping as you travel. It’s important not to flush unsuitable things down the toilet – only use RV/Marine toilet paper and use a toilet chemical every time you empty the black tank. This helps to break down the waste material and to avoid blockages.

Leaving Your Car At Pick Up

17. Parking – If you are driving to our location, for an RV adventure, we do have some parking spaces at each station. These are available on a first-come first-served basis and we do not take reservations for these. Parking is free at most locations (there is a charge at a few stations) and Guests are required to sign a waiver. We cannot be responsible for any damage or theft to Guests' cars. Find more Parking Offers in our FAQs!

Insurance and Liability Reduction Options for RVers

18. Insurance - Our vehicles come with $5,000,000 public liability and property damage and Guests must pay a security deposit on the day of pick up. This is the deductible in the event of any incident. The security deposit amount may be reduced if Guests elect one of our Liability Reduction options. See full details of our insurance coverage here.

Check In Process

19. All Guests are required to complete our simple online check-in process, which opens 5 days before the day of pick up.

20. RV Delivery and Collection - CanaDream is happy to offer a delivery and collection service to or from your home address for a fee per pick up or drop off. The distance must be within 450kms of our pick-up/drop-off locations. So, it's a good idea to talk to our agents for details. This service is not available in Whitehorse.

21. Pick up & Drop off times - Guests will select their own pick up and drop off time as part of the online check-in process. See our Pick up and Drop off times FAQ for more details on standard and early/late timeslots and associated fees.  

What to Expect When Dropping Off

22. Cleaning the RV - You will pick up your RV cleaned to the highest standards and there is a small starter pack of cleaning materials. We ask that you return the RV in a clean condition at the end of your trip This is clearly explained to each Guest at pickup - view the Before you return information here. The cupboards should be wiped down and empty of any food that you brought, the fridge cleaned and emptied, the bathroom wiped down and the floors swept. Bedding and towels should be gathered and placed in the dinette area. The tanks must be empty. If you’d like CanaDream to take care of this for you, we offer the CanaDream Drop & Go Service. We'll be happy to take the hard work on the last day from you.

Additional First Time RVing Resources

23. CanaDream offers a wide range of extra products and services which you can add to your booking. View more information about these Travel Extras here.

24. FAQs - Please check out our FAQ section for answers to any questions you may have.

25. Need any more help? Contact our friendly agents at booking@canadream.com or call us on 1-800-347-7126.