This article was adapted with permission from the book Tube-Sock Tricks, and 101 Other Tips for RVing Success (The Armarium Press.). Illustrations copyright John Clarke. All rights reserved.

One of the great things about RVing is the sense of community--how the people you meet in campgrounds and RV resorts are (almost) always willing to lend a hand or a bit of advice. These essential RVing tips will have other newbies admiring you as a veteran on your first road-trip out.

Staying Organized in an RV

Use that cramped space called a shower to stack plastic storage totes. You'll be more comfortable bathing in all but the worst campground showers anyway.

Buy each person a zippered plastic book bag or carry-on tote for the campground showers. They're waterproof, easy to sanitize, and dry quickly. Keep stocked with shampoo and conditioner, liquid soap, et cetera.

Place narrow drawer dividers on each shelf in the medicine cabinet, and you won't get showered with pill bottles and cosmetic jars every time you open the door.

Unless you strap your possessions down with duct tape, the shallow-lipped shelves prove pretty useless when an RV is in motion. Install a spring-loaded extension rod between the walls and voilà... a shelf that actually holds your books in place no matter how bumpy the road.

An over-the-door shoe bag outside the bathroom door discretely holds everything from small flashlights and vitamin bottles to kitchen tools.

A stovetop cutting board doubles the counter space in a smaller RV--and makes any size kitchen look tidier.

Use square baskets and plastic totes for storing items in the overhead bins.

Keeping Things Clean

Feeling a little grimy? Watch for truck washes that welcome RVs.

Make a habit of icing your toilet. A little tip from a veteran RVer, this refers to nothing more than dumping a bowl of ice down the toilet every so often just to keep things flowing smoothly.

Place moisture absorbers around the bathroom and under the kitchen sink. Moisture and mildew are your enemies when you inhabit a house on wheels.

Dining Under the Stars

Forget about plastic picnic ware. Layer "real" dishes with precut foam sheets and eat in style.

Buy a cheap tabletop grill. Most campgrounds have grills, but some are in central locations often too far away to be convenient, while others take longer to clean than to cook an entire meal.

A single plant can brighten up the table in camp: A geranium or cactus likes heat and can travel in the sink when on the road.

Pick up frequent-shopper cards for regional supermarkets and store them in a spare wallet or business card holder in the glove compartment.

When making reservations or getting directions to the next night's camp,

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