How to Tailgate Like a Pro in Your RV: Power, Setup, and Game Day Gear
Football season and RV season go pretty well together. Whether you're setting up outside the stadium for one game or turning the weekend into a full-blown RV tailgate, having your camper with you gives you a kitchen, bathroom, refrigerator, comfortable place to relax, and maybe most importantly, air conditioning.
But a great RV tailgate takes a little more planning than pulling into a parking spot and putting out a few chairs. You need to think about power, water, waste tanks, internet or satellite service, generator safety, food, weather, and how you're actually going to watch the game.
Here's how to get your RV ready and build a game-day setup you'll actually enjoy.
Know the Tailgating Rules Before You Arrive
Before loading anything, check the rules for the stadium, university, campground, or RV tailgating area you're visiting.
Every location can be different. Some have designated RV spaces, specific arrival and departure times, generator hours, quiet hours, restrictions on grills or open flames, and rules for awnings and outdoor setups. Others may offer pump-out service or have requirements for generator exhaust.
Don't assume that because something was allowed at your last tailgate it'll be allowed at the next one.
It's also worth checking the dimensions of your assigned space. Your RV may fit, but what happens when you extend the slides and awning and start putting out chairs, tables, grills, and a projector screen?
A little research before leaving home can save you a lot of rearranging once you arrive.
Figure Out Your Game Day Power Before You Get There
Power is one of the biggest differences between tailgating with an RV and staying at a normal campground.
Some RV tailgating areas provide electrical hookups, but plenty don't. If you're dry camping, you'll need to know how you're going to power everything you plan to use.
A TV, projector, phone chargers, lights, refrigerator controls, water pump, and other smaller loads are one thing. Start adding air conditioners, microwaves, electric cooking appliances, and other high-draw equipment and your power needs change quickly.
Generator Power
A generator is one of the most useful pieces of equipment for a serious RV tailgate, especially when you're camping in the South during football season and want to run the air conditioner.
Before leaving home, service and test your generator, make sure you have enough fuel or propane, and verify that it can handle the loads you're planning to run.
If you don't currently have a generator, our Great American RV Camping Stores carry generator options, and our service departments can also perform gasoline and LP generator installations on applicable fifth wheels for owners looking for a more permanent solution.
Always follow the generator manufacturer's instructions and the rules of the tailgating area.
Inverter and Battery Power
Depending on how your RV is equipped, an inverter can give you 120-volt AC power from your battery bank without running a generator.
That's great for certain electronics and smaller loads, but an inverter isn't an unlimited power source. Everything ultimately comes back to battery capacity and how much power your equipment is drawing.
If you're planning to rely heavily on battery power, know what your battery bank and inverter can realistically handle before game day. We also carry inverters in our Camping Stores if you're looking to upgrade your setup.
Don't Forget About Generator Exhaust
This one deserves its own section.
Generators produce carbon monoxide, and when RVs are parked close together, exhaust can become a serious safety concern.
Some RV tailgating areas may require an exhaust extension system such as a Gen-Turi. These systems route generator exhaust above the RV roofline instead of allowing it to discharge around people at ground level.
Great American RV Camping Stores carry Gen-Turi generator exhaust systems as well.
A Gen-Turi doesn't eliminate the danger of carbon monoxide, so you still need to follow the generator manufacturer's instructions, venue requirements, and proper generator placement. Make sure your RV's carbon monoxide alarms are working before every trip and never ignore a CO alarm.
Turn Your RV Into the Game Day Theater
You don't have to crowd everybody around a small outdoor TV.
One of our favorite tailgating setups is a Lumi smart projector paired with a portable projector screen. Set up your chairs, roll out the awning mat, get the screen positioned, and you've basically created your own outdoor game-day theater.
The Lumi smart projector has streaming capabilities when connected to a suitable internet source, and both the Lumi projector and projector screens are available through our Great American RV Camping Stores.
Just remember that owning a streaming projector is only half of the equation.
You still need a way to get the game.
Make Sure You Can Actually Stream the Game
Thousands of people packed into the same area can put a lot of pressure on cellular networks, so don't wait until kickoff to figure out your internet connection.
A cellular hotspot may be the simplest option if you've got strong cellular service and an adequate data plan.
Many modern RVs are also equipped or prepped with Winegard connectivity equipment. Depending on your particular Winegard system, you may be able to connect through cellular data or available Wi-Fi networks. Cellular service requires a compatible data plan, so check your equipment and subscription before leaving home.
Starlink has also become a popular option for RV owners. Starlink Roam is designed for traveling and camping and can provide another way to get internet service when you're away from traditional connections.
Whatever option you use, test it before game day. Streaming video can use a significant amount of data, and network performance can change depending on location and how many people are trying to connect.
Satellite Is Still an Option
Streaming isn't your only choice.
Standalone portable satellite systems are still a good option for RV owners who prefer satellite television. We carry standalone satellite systems in our Camping Stores, and Great American RV can also install permanently mounted satellite equipment on compatible RVs.
Whether you choose satellite, Starlink, Winegard, or a traditional cellular hotspot, the important part is having your game plan figured out before you arrive.
Nobody wants to spend the first quarter troubleshooting the internet.
Bring the Right Amount of Fresh Water
Don't count on having a convenient potable water fill station at your tailgating location.
If you're going to be dry camping, consider filling your fresh water tank at home before leaving. That gives you water for the sinks, toilet, shower, and other plumbing fixtures without depending on services being available when you arrive.
There is an important weight consideration, though. Water weighs roughly 8.3 pounds per gallon, so a large fresh water tank can add several hundred pounds to your RV.
Know your RV's cargo carrying capacity and weight ratings, and plan accordingly. Depending on your RV, trip distance, and how much water you'll actually need, you may decide you don't need to travel with the fresh tank completely full.
Start With Empty Gray and Black Tanks
Ideally, you want to arrive at the tailgate with plenty of holding tank capacity available.
Dump your gray and black tanks before the trip whenever possible.
And before deciding to travel with full or nearly full waste tanks, check your RV owner's manual. Manufacturer guidance varies by RV, but manufacturers commonly warn against traveling with full black and gray holding tanks because of the added weight and its potential effect on cargo capacity and handling.
Think of it this way: arrive with the fresh water you need and as much empty waste-tank capacity as possible.
A Tote Tank Can Save the Weekend
Some RV tailgating areas offer sewer or pump-out services, which can make a long weekend much easier.
But don't automatically count on that service being available exactly when you need it.
A portable waste tote tank can provide some peace of mind. If your gray or black tank fills sooner than expected, service is delayed, or plans change, you've got another option.
We carry portable tote tanks in our Camping Stores, and they're one of those pieces of RV gear you may not think much about until the day you really need one.
Of course, a tote tank doesn't mean waste can be dumped anywhere. Always dispose of RV waste at an approved sewer connection or dump station and follow the rules of the tailgating location.
Build a Comfortable Outdoor Setup
Once the practical stuff is handled, this is where tailgating gets fun.
An awning mat helps define your campsite and gives everyone a cleaner place to hang out. Add some folding chairs, tables, outdoor lighting, coolers, games, and your projector setup and you've got a pretty nice home base.
Our Great American RV Camping Stores carry folding chairs and awning mats along with the other RV gear we've talked about.
If you're using your RV's awning, keep an eye on the weather. Wind can come up quickly, and an unattended awning can turn into an expensive repair.
If you're leaving the RV for the game and there's any question about the weather, bringing the awning in is usually the safer move.
Get the Kitchen Ready Before Game Day
One of the best parts about RV tailgating is having an actual kitchen available.
Get your refrigerator cold before leaving home rather than loading a warm refrigerator on game day and expecting it to cool everything immediately. Stock drinks and food ahead of time, even if it’s in your home fridge first to cool everything down before hand.
If you're bringing an outdoor grill or griddle, check the venue's rules on cooking equipment and open flames before you arrive.
And don't forget the little stuff: utensils, plates, paper towels, trash bags, seasonings, cooking tools, ice, and food-storage containers.
Those are usually the things somebody realizes are sitting on the kitchen counter at home about 20 minutes after setting up.
Your Night-Before Tailgating Checklist
A few minutes checking everything before you leave can prevent a lot of game-day headaches.
Before heading out:
Check the tailgating area's RV, generator, cooking, and exhaust rules.
Verify your reservation, parking location, and RV space dimensions.
Charge the RV batteries.
Test the generator and check fuel or propane.
Test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.
Cool the refrigerator and load food and drinks.
Fill the fresh water tank to the level appropriate for your trip and RV's weight limits.
Empty the gray and black holding tanks.
Check your internet, satellite, or streaming setup.
Test the projector or TV before packing it.
Pack chairs, awning mat, tables, games, lighting, and cooking gear.
Check the weather and plan for heat, rain, or wind.
Verify your slides, awning, antennas, satellite equipment, and outdoor gear are secured before traveling.
Game Day Starts Before Kickoff
The best RV tailgates aren't necessarily the ones with the most expensive setup. They're the ones where somebody thought through the details before pulling into the lot.
Have enough power. Know where your water is coming from. Start with empty waste tanks. Have a backup plan for internet or television. Keep generator exhaust and carbon monoxide safety in mind. And make sure the RV and all your equipment are ready before you leave home.
Get Your RV Ready for Tailgating at Great American RV
Whether you're putting together your first RV tailgate or upgrading a setup you've been using for years, our Great American RV Camping Stores can help you get game-day ready.
We carry Lumi smart projectors, projector screens, folding chairs, awning mats, generators, inverters, portable waste tote tanks, Gen-Turi exhaust systems, and standalone satellite equipment.
Stop by your local Great American RV SuperStore before the next big game and get your RV ready for football season.
Great American RV SuperStores, making memories one weekend at a time.
