I know this is a loaded question, what is important to me is not important to you so basically I am seeking advice and ideas.My wife and I will retire in Dec this year, we live in Ohio and I have a son in the military who is on his way to Tyndall AFB, in Panama City, FL (guess where Christmas 2015 is next year). Any way we have been planning a RV trip to Alaska for 6 years. So I am thinking Florida from Jan to mid March, west on a southern route (late March-mid April) and then north (mid-april-mid May) arriving at the Washington/Canada border about Memorial day. Travel to/from Alaska then arriving at Glacier NP around mid-September for the return trip south to Houston arriving mid November, where my other son will be living. Mid Nov-Mid Dec Houston then back to Florida for Christmas 2016 and then finally home after the spring thaw around April 2017.Now here is the advise I need, What is the important stuff regarding papers, that I should carry with me "just in case". The obvious is auto insurance cards, policies, info on warranties/owners manuals for the RV, but what else?Of course mail forwarding and banking on line will be established. We utilize a couple of banks, one being a national bank, and we have visa, discover, and AMEX credit cards. Any ideas?????Thanks for you help.G George

Passports , Smart phones, milepost book.

Got pets? You will need proof of rabies shots at a minimum. You may need a current (within 30 days) health certificate from a vet.

Power of attorney for health care decisions. Password from bank to allow a wire transfer(this cannot be done over the phone unless you have made prior arrangements with your bank and they have given you a password). Drug prescriptions and contact info for all of your doctors. Emergency ontact info for a relative or friend that can make decisions about any personal items that may come up where neither of you are able to make those decisions. These are just some of the things you should be prepared for and hopefully you will never need.

In case of illness or injury, carry a card with your health history and that of your spouse. A copy of your health ins policy might be helpful, too. We've needed an eye glasses prescription from our optometrist (sat on glasses first day of trip to Las Vegas). Also bring contact info for property ins., life/disability ins., bank, stock broker, accountant, lawyer, retirement plan. It's a good idea to let credit card companies know your travel plans and to update your will before you leave so you know everything is taken care of. If anything is maturing or coming due while you're gone, make sure it's on your calendar (financial instruments, memberships, driver's license, annual donations, etc.)

GGeorge wrote:I know this is a loaded question, what is important to me is not important to you so basically I am seeking advice and ideas.My wife and I will retire in Dec this year, we live in Ohio and I have a son in the military who is on his way to Tyndall AFB, in Panama City, FL (guess where Christmas 2015 is next year). Any way we have been planning a RV trip to Alaska for 6 years. So I am thinking Florida from Jan to mid March, west on a southern route (late March-mid April) and then north (mid-april-mid May) arriving at the Washington/Canada border about Memorial day. Travel to/from Alaska then arriving at Glacier NP around mid-September for the return trip south to Houston arriving mid November, where my other son will be living. Mid Nov-Mid Dec Houston then back to Florida for Christmas 2016 and then finally home after the spring thaw around April 2017.Now here is the advise I need, What is the important stuff regarding papers, that I should carry with me "just in case". The obvious is auto insurance cards, policies, info on warranties/owners manuals for the RV, but what else?Of course mail forwarding and banking on line will be established. We utilize a couple of banks, one being a national bank, and we have visa, discover, and AMEX credit cards. Any ideas?????Thanks for you help.G Georgepassports, rabies/vaccination papers for all pets. sounds like a great trip.

what is important???? | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

pkunk
Explorer
Apr 11, 2015
All your important papers, documents, CCs,bank info, etc can be scanned, encripted and loaded on several flash drives to be carried with you at all times. You do not need the paper.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Apr 11, 2015
Why not take a 3-month period now and keep track of papers you have needed? As full-timers, we carried everything with us. We never 'hid' a fire box. Have you every seen videos of RVs burning? They go up in a flash and you wouldn't have time to get to your fire box. All you should think of is getting out. Period. We, and a lot of our full-timing friends, kept a small 'get out' box near the front door to grab quickly. It contained our most important papers. We also had our computer backup disks in there. (Another set was always sent updated to our daughter.) I'd worry more about fire than theft. The box went with us when we were in the towed vehicle touring or if we had the motorhome in for servicing.

Be sure to ask any Alaska-related questions on this forum in the Alaska section. At the very top of the forum is a 'clicky' for tips on Alaska travels - very helpful information. Three things to purchase for the Alaskan trip: the Milepost, Mike and Terri Church's book 'Alaskan Camping' which included Canada and the Yukon, also, and the TourSaver 2/1 coupon book. One glacier cruise will pay for the book. You can get all three online.

It sounds like a wonderful year ahead of you!
Gjac
Explorer III
Apr 10, 2015
Don't forget your senior pass if you are over 62.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Mar 30, 2015
Communicate privately with the bank that issues your credit cards and let them know you will be traveling.

If you don't, purchases away from home may raise a security flag and lock down your card.

Don't ask my how I know. It was not fun.
MagillaGorilla
Explorer
Mar 30, 2015
Toilet paper for sure
rk911
Explorer
Mar 30, 2015
GGeorge wrote:
Looks like my list has grown by many items. No pets will be involved, passports have 4 more years before they expire, no guns involved, but I never remembered to put my meds on the list. Auto refill with VA hence, mail forwarding.

Thanks for the tips hope more come up. But now I have another question

Fireproof safe? Where would one put such an item, in a basement storage compartment, I do not have any closet floor space. I found a place for cash but no idea on a safe/box.

Thanks again

we're looking to add a small safe to our RV as well. one fellow had his installed under the bed.
John_Joey
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
Call your health care provider and see if you need to take any forms with you when you leave the country.

Passport, and the rest you got covered so have fun (no guns!!!)
Jagtech
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
Be mindful, the Going-To-The-Sun highway at Glacier Park has a 21' length limit. Really worth seeing if you can do it!
okgc
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
There is a great forum here on RV.net for "RVing in Canada and Alaska"

GREAT information including a suggestion to get a Canadian Insurance Certificate for your American insurance agent.

FWIW - forget about taking handguns to Canada. b
GGeorge
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
Looks like my list has grown by many items. No pets will be involved, passports have 4 more years before they expire, no guns involved, but I never remembered to put my meds on the list. Auto refill with VA hence, mail forwarding.

Thanks for the tips hope more come up. But now I have another question

Fireproof safe? Where would one put such an item, in a basement storage compartment, I do not have any closet floor space. I found a place for cash but no idea on a safe/box.

Thanks again