RV Newbie Mistakes — The Costly Errors Every New RVer Makes (And How to Avoid Them)
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We have been full-time RVers since 2018, and we made every single one of these RV newbie mistakes ourselves. Every one. Some of them cost us money, some cost us time, and a few nearly cost us our sanity.
The good news? RV newbies are bound to make mistakes, and that is perfectly normal. The key is to keep going, learn from those mistakes, and gain valuable experience that will lead to improvement over time. Embrace the challenges and grow into a seasoned RVer.
We put this list together so you can skip the worst of the learning curve. These are the RV newbie mistakes we wish someone had warned us about before our first trip — practical, specific, and based on real experience.
RV Newbie Mistakes to Avoid
- Mindset Mistakes
- Driving and Travel — Common RV Newbie Mistakes
- Setup and Campsite Mistakes
- Water and Sewer Mistakes
- Electrical Mistakes
- Comfort and Bug Mistakes
- RV Newbie Mistakes with Checklists
- Keep Track of Everything
Mindset Mistakes
Treating RV Life Like a Permanent Vacation
RV living is a lot like living in a house — it is your home, it is on wheels. Many people live in their RV full time, which means there are chores, maintenance, and daily tasks that need to happen on a schedule. Keep things organized. Complete tasks like cleaning, removing waste, and filling up water on time. If you fall behind, things pile up fast in a small space.
Buying the Wrong RV
Selecting the ideal RV is of paramount importance. With an abundance of choices at your disposal — including new, used, and rental options — it is crucial to find an RV that perfectly aligns with your size and duration requirements. For beginners, opting for a used RV or renting one is the most practical approach. Renting allows you to test the waters of RV life before committing. By experiencing RVing firsthand through rentals, you can make an informed decision about whether this lifestyle suits you.
Not Having a Backup Plan
Always have a backup plan for everything in your RV life. Save money for emergencies. Keep extra supplies in case you are traveling through remote areas. Always check the map and mark where you can buy things and keep your stock up to date. It helps you keep things efficient and organized so that you do not end up stranded or scrambling.
Driving and Travel — Common RV Newbie Mistakes
Driving Too Fast
This is so dangerous. Take your time, go slow. Especially when you are new to driving an RV. Check the weather and wind before you travel.
Wind speeds and traffic going by can have huge effects that you do not feel in a regular vehicle. Stay safe and drive slow. We suggest staying under 60 mph if at all possible.
Also, when timing out your trip to your next destination — be sure to add extra time for going under the speed limit. Your GPS will tell you that you will arrive way sooner than you actually will when you are towing or driving an RV.
Not Knowing Your Clearance
This is a really important one — one that can save your life and your RV.
Be sure you know how tall and how long your camper is. Finding proper gas stations to pull into is a must. Be aware when stopping off in tiny old towns where the streets are narrow and the turns are tight. Write down your height and length and tape it to your dashboard if you need to. We have seen some ugly situations with RVs and low clearance bridges.
Waiting Too Long to Get Gas
When traveling, there are roads that go on and on before you see a gas station. Especially when you are traveling in rural and mountainous areas. Do not wait until the needle is in the red before looking for a gas station. Fill up when you are at half a tank — it saves you a lot of stress.
Setup and Campsite Mistakes
Not Investigating Your Space First
It is tempting to pull right into a campsite, but take the time to get out and LOOK around before pulling in. Check the ground for objects that might puncture tires, low spots, and holes. Look up — low tree limbs, dead trees, and utility poles can cause serious damage. Also, take a walk around your entire rig before you leave camp to make sure nothing is left behind or still connected.
Not Leveling Your RV
If you are not hooking up and are boondocking, you can get away with a slight tilt. But if you have an RV refrigerator, being off-level is dangerous. Your fridge will not work properly and could cause damage and even a fire. Use leveling blocks to adjust for differences in the ground. A bubble level makes this easy.
Forgetting Wheel Chocks
We cannot stress this enough. Get wheel chocks and use them. Use them as soon as you get to your campsite. Before you do anything else, as soon as you know where you want your RV to sit, put them in place.
Using Stabilizers as Jacks
RV stabilizers are not for jacking up your camper. They are only for keeping your camper from rocking and moving around too much. If you need to raise or support your rig, use proper jack stands in addition to the stabilizers to help with those shimmy shakes.
Also, placing something sturdy under your steps is extremely helpful in stabilizing your travel trailer or camper.
Leaving Awnings Out in the Wind
Windy days and awnings are not friends. Get into the habit of checking wind when checking the weather.
A rolled-out awning in high winds can tear and cause damage to your camper. We have found it best to always keep it rolled in unless we are actively using it. Some people like to use tie downs, but wind can still do a lot of damage to an extended awning.
Water and Sewer Mistakes
Using the Same Hose for Drinking Water and Backwashing
This may seem obvious, but it is one of the most common RV newbie mistakes we hear about. Do not use the same hose for your fresh water and your sewer flushing. And definitely do not store them together.
Be prepared with a drinking water hose made specifically for potable water. Use two separate hoses AND store them separately. We keep ours in completely different compartments.
And always run your drinking water through an inline water filter. We have been to many places where the water did not smell or look very clean. Even if you plan on drinking bottled water, your water system benefits from filtered water coming in.
Electrical Mistakes
Not Having a Surge Protector
If you are hooked up to electric at a campground or RV park, you need a surge protector. No exceptions. Skipping this is one of the most expensive RV newbie mistakes you can make.
Electricity at RV parks and campgrounds can be unreliable and do strange things. We have heard horror stories — and experienced a few close calls ourselves. A good 30-amp surge protector (or 50-amp if that is what your rig runs) is worth every penny. It is also a good idea to lock it up — surge protectors are expensive and unfortunately do get stolen.
Pro tip from one of our readers: Buy a 10-foot heavy-duty extension cord and leave your surge protector inside your locked power compartment door. That way thieves do not think you have one, and it is still protecting your system.
Comfort and Bug Mistakes
Not Dealing with Bugs
There is NOTHING that can ruin a camping experience faster than mosquitoes. Unfortunately, this is something that most people do not prepare for, and they end up being dinner for these unwanted pests.
You also do not want to use toxic sprays and chemicals on your skin to keep them at bay. So what is the solution? We use and love our Thermacell mosquito repeller.
These awesome, cost-effective devices give you up to a 15-foot zone of protection from mosquitoes. They are easy to use, and they WORK. We live in Florida where the bugs are awful, and our Thermacell keeps them away every single time. Read more about how we use it in our Thermacell review.
Not Replacing Your Mattress
Getting a good night’s rest is as important as all of the adventures you will take in your camper. The mattress that comes with your RV is usually hard as a rock.
Sometimes adding a gel memory foam mattress topper will do the trick. Be sure you know the measurements of your bed — you may have an “RV Queen” which is shorter than a standard queen mattress. Measure before you buy.
RV Newbie Mistakes with Checklists
Not having a checklist for arriving at camp and leaving camp is a huge RV newbie mistake. After you have done it a few times, you can keep a mental list. At first, it helps to have these things written down and check them off one by one.
This guarantees you do not miss anything and are doing things in the proper order. Make a checklist to double-check everything: RV doors closed and locked, steps put up, slide-outs retracted, tire pressure checked. Once you are hooked up to your tow vehicle, make sure your safety pins are in place so your unit does not pop off the hitch.
If you do not have a checklist yet, we have provided a free arrival checklist you can download and use right away:
Download Our Free RV Arrival Checklist (PDF)
For a more complete list of everything you need to have with you, check out our full RV Camping Checklist — the bare essentials that do not come with your RV.
Keep Track of Everything
Always be sure that you are keeping track of the maintenance and experiences of your RV life. Not tracking things is one of those RV newbie mistakes that catches up with you months later. A simple journal helps you remember which campgrounds were great, which ones to avoid, what maintenance is due, and all those details you swear you will remember but never do.
We created our own RV journals specifically for this purpose — because after years of scribbling notes on napkins, we needed something better. Here are a few of our favorites:
Routine maintenance checklist and repair record for your RV. Track oil changes, tire rotations, appliance servicing, and repairs so nothing falls through the cracks. Your RV is your home — treat it like one.
RV Notebook Journal — Important RV Shit I Can Never Remember
Our original and still our best seller. A no-nonsense journal for all the RV details that slip your mind — measurements, part numbers, maintenance schedules, campground notes, and everything else you swear you will remember but never do.
Adventure is Waiting — Get Outside — Camping Journal
An inspiring camping journal for anyone who believes the best stories start with “remember that time we…”
My travel trailer Maintenance Log
Maintenance tracking specifically for travel trailer owners.
RV Notebook Journal with Prompts for Writing
Guided prompts to help you capture your thoughts and memories on the road. Great if you want to journal but never know what to write about.
RV Notebook Journal — Open Journal Format
Same concept, open format. Blank and wide-ruled pages for people who prefer a less structured approach to journaling on the road.
See all of our journals and logbooks on our RV Books page.
More Resources for RV Newbies
- RV Camping Checklist — Everything You Need
- Boondocking — What Is It and How to Get Started
- Free Camping — Resources for Boondocking
- Best RV Surge Protectors Reviewed
- Halt Mosquito Biting Instantly
- Black Water Tank Emptying Guide
- RV Books — Guides, Journals, and Travel Books
We hope these tips help you avoid the most common RV newbie mistakes. Please follow, share, and subscribe to keep in touch.
— Tony & Gina
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. Links to our own journals and logbooks are direct product links, not affiliate links. Thank you for supporting RV Boondocker.
