Owning an RV is no small feat. Congratulations on fulfilling one major goal in your life. But entering a new lifestyle is overwhelming too. A great RV camping can create some lifetime cherishable memories, but a slight mistake can ruin the complete experience.
For those people who still cannot figure out how to take complete control of their RV lifestyle, these following RV tips for new owners will come handy.
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RV Tips for New Owners: Learn Effective RV–ing
These quick and easy tips will help new RV owners to gain confidence and veterans to brush up their basics.
Remember that these tips are about how you can get started with RV-ing, teaching you to make more effective camping decisions so that you can fully enjoy the RV ownership.
1. Pack the Essentials
To make a camping trip successful, you have to pack all the essentials. Make a list of all the necessary equipment that you need to operate and maintain the RV. Making a checklist will be helpful. The basic items could be:
- Hoses for freshwater and sewer system
- Water pressure regulator
- Wheel chocks and leveling blocks
- A 15M/30F amp power adapter
- Some cleaning items, including sponge, cleaning agents, RV wax, and more
You also need to pack foods, clothes, and other daily necessities. Consider the weather condition when packing clothes and food must be packed based on how many days you are going to be out there.
If the campsite has shops and groceries nearby, don’t cram the RV with unnecessary items.
2. Purchase Some Extra Accessories
An RV lifestyle means you are practically maintaining another home but on the road. So, there are plenty of accessories to be purchased other than the must-have items. Consider buying different types of tools, outdoor gear, various kitchen appliances, electronic devices, and more.
Some extra items like a satellite antenna, solar panel, and storage solutions will come handy too.
3. Invest in a GPS
This is one of the most important RV tips for new owners. Freedom is an essential part of an RV lifestyle. You have become an RVer to be able to go anywhere and take any route you want, right?
That’s right. You can take any road to go to your destination. But depending on the Google Maps in your smartphone may lead to in the middle of nowhere. The wise thing would be to spend on a GPS device compatible with your RV. Some campers come with a built-in GPS system.
An RV-specific GPS device shows you the road obstacles according to the height and weight of the vehicle. For example, there could be tunnels, narrow roads, or low clearance bridges where your camper won’t fit.
4. Don’t Go Far for the First Few Trips
Don’t think of drydocking or going to a remote place for your first trip. Leave those adventures for a later time when you become experienced with RV camping.
Stay close to home for the first few trips so you know where to get help if anything goes south. Take the first few camping adventures as lessons regarding how to tow and operate the new rig.
5. Examine the Camping Area
When drydocking, you should examine the spot before pulling in and setting up. The same thing should be done for a well-established campsite.
Uneven areas on the ground can make setting up the rig quite difficult. Also, the spot may not be suitable if you have a huge fifth-wheel or a motorhome. There could be low hanging tree branches that can damage the roof.
Talk to the campsite management if you think the designated spot is not suitable for your camper.
6. Check the RV before Pulling away
Just like setting up the camper, you should be careful when pulling away from the campsite. For a new RV owner, it’s always possible to forget a step when packing for an adventure or going home from a camping trip.
When you are ready to hit the road again, make sure that you have done everything in this following checklist:
- Pull in the steps and close the roof fans
- Turn off the water pump and heater
- Pull the slide-outs inside and retract jacks
- Lower the antenna
- Secure all loose items
Your RV may need some extra work done, so it’s practical to create a checklist specific to your camper.
7. Don’t Underpack or Overpack
These are two more important RV tips for new owners. Inexperienced RVers either underpack or overpack for a trip. Leaving the essentials behind will create many problems. Similarly, an RV that is cramped for space is also not suitable for living.
There is a legal limit to the weight capacity of your rig. Overloading is not only unsafe but may lead to big fines due to breaking laws regarding the weight limit of a camper. So, even if there is space inside the RV, don’t fill up every inch of it.
8. Buy a Small Repair Kit
You might have already included it in the list of essential items. If not, spend some money on a small repair kit, including nuts, bolts, connectors, a hammer, a lug wrench, extra tires, and more.
Since an RV is a vehicle, it is supposed to undergo mechanical issues. If you have a repair kit with some knowledge about fixing and repairing motor vehicles, you can save a lot of money and time when something in the RV breaks down.
You can call for roadside assistance, but professional service is expensive. Also, if you can do some minor fixes, it’ll help in case of emergencies.
The Final Words
These are just a few essential RV tips for new owners. Every RVer may have specific needs, depending on the number of travel companions, the size of the rig, and the condition of the campsite.
Also, it’s completely normal to make mistakes on your first few trips. The more you get yourself out there, the more you will learn and become experienced.