Top RV Rookie Mistakes
So you just bought your first RV, and now what? Whether you are out on the road or packing up at camp, at some point in time you’re guaranteed to make a mistake. No matter how many years RVers have been on the road, most have probably endured at least one embarrassing mistake. Everyone makes rookie RV mistakes, but you can avoid the worst ones if you do your homework ahead of time. Here are the most common newbie RVer mistakes and how to avoid them!
1. Don’t Skip The Departure Check-List!
When camping, your RV is always hooked up to a number of different sources. You’ll want to make sure you have a good routine down each time you leave a campground. Many newbies will drive off forgetting your RV is connected to water, sewer, and power. Be sure to go over your departure check-list each time you pack up camp because the damaged is expensive and no one wants to end their vacation on a bad note.
2. Make Sure You Know Your RV
You’ve just bought your new RV and you’re chomping at the bit to get going on your first camping trip. You pull into a campsite and realize you have no idea what to do next! What do I hook up first? How to I level the jacks? The truth is, there are a number of new procedures you will have to learn when getting into RVing. When your picking up your camper from the dealership, a service tech should walk you through all the ins and outs of properly handling your camper. This is the prime time to pay attention and ask questions. Do your homework and become familiar with your RV, because no one wants to be that clueless RVer at the campground!
3. Close Your Vents
When in a hurry to leave, many folks forget to close the vents and windows in their RV. Seems like a silly mistake, but the end result could cause water damage or worse and that can be extremely costly! Also, be sure to put your antennas and satellite dishes down. It is another task easily forgotten, but they can be ripped off your RVs roof when headed down the road. That can cause serious roof damage that can lead to even more water damage.
4. Be Aware Of The Size Of Your Rig
If you’re a newbie, it takes some time to get used to handling an RV especially if you have a large motorhome or trailer. If you’re a rookie, parking and reversing are some of the most challenging tasks of RVing. We recommend you practice and always have a spotter to help you navigate.
5. Leveling Jacks, Leveling Jack, Leveling Jacks!
Manual scissor jacks are sneaky and it’s likely that every RVer will forget to retract them at some point. However, the damage can be sever and can even ruin your jacks and warp your frame. So make sure you add retracting your leveling jacks to your RV checklist, or you’ll be one unhappy camper.
6. Don’t Forget The Fridge
Make sure you are always properly servicing your refrigerator or else it will not properly circulate and do its job correctly.
The most common issues folks forget is to clean out the fridge! As a dealer we’ve seen it happen quite often. A camper comes in for service and the owners forget to clean out the fridge, then the camper sits on the lot baking in the heat and well it is not very pleasant! Or even worse, you come home from a trip shut the power off and don’t enter the camper again until your next trip, only to find food has been rotting for months. It can cause all kinds of problems. This seems silly, but you will be surprised how often it happens.
7. Scope Out Your Campsite
Before pulling your rig into the perfect site, make sure there are no foreign objects, branches, holes, soft spots or whatever else could cause damage to your rig. Also, look up and check for low hanging branches that would scratch up your camper.
8. Flip The Steps Up
It is easy to forget to fold up your RVs steps before departure, especially when your constantly going in and out packing everything up. Make sure to add this to your checklist, because this simple can prevent some embarrassing stair damage when you pull up curbside.
Being an RV Rookie is nothing to be ashamed of. However, you can avoid some costly repairs and embarrassment if you do your homework and make a check-list. Before you know it you’ll be an expert lending a hand while chuckling at the other rookies at the campground.
