Avoid headaches and heartaches, avoid these RV Newbie Mistakes.
Getting out on the road as an RV Newbie, mistakes can happen. It can be intimidating. There are so many things to focus on and remember. It takes some time before you are comfortable and confident.
Mistakes made with your RV can be annoying, costly, or even deadly. Learning RV Basics can help you avoid a lot of hassle and keep you and those around you safe.
Top MISTAKES
1)Driving too fast! This is so dangerous. Take your time, go slow. Especially when you are new to driving an RV. Wind speeds and traffic going by can have huge effects that you don’t feel in a regular vehicle. Stay safe and drive slow. Also, something to be aware of 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 be there way sooner than you expect.
2)Leaving Awnings Out and Vent Covers Open when it is windy. 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. Some like to use tie downs, but we have found it best to always keep it rolled in unless we are using it.
3) Using the Same Hose for back-washing and fresh water. Additionally, Storing them together. Nooooo! This may seem obvious. Apparently it is a common occurrence. Use your water hose for water only. Use two separate hoses and store them separately.
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4) Using your stabilizers as jacks. RV stabilizers are not for jacking up your camper. They are only for keeping your camper from moving around too much. Some use jack stands in addition to the stabilizers to help with those shimmy shakes. Also, placing something under the stairs is extremely helpful.
More RV Blunders to Avoid
5) Pulling into a Space without Investigating it. Not only do you want to check your mirrors. It is best to actually Get Out and LOOK around before pulling in. Look at the ground for objects that might puncture tires, low spots, holes, … Look up! Low tree limbs, dead trees, and utility poles. also, taking a walk around before you leave camp.
6) Not having a SET up / CLOSE down list. Not having a list of tasks for steps to take when getting to camp and leaving camp is a huge mistake. After you’ve 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 don’t miss anything and additionally, are doing them in the proper order. This is so important.
Avoid these Rookie Camping Mistakes
7) Not Being Aware of 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.
8) Not filling up your gas early enough. 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. Be sure you don’t wait until the needle is in the red before looking for a gas station.
Related Article: Wifi Solutions for RV Camping.
9) Not being level. If you aren’t hooking up and are boondocking you can do this and it’s not that big of a deal. If you have an RV refrigerator, it is can be dangerous. Your fridge will not work properly and could cause damage and even a fire. Using level blocks to adjust for differences of the ground.
RV NEWBIE MISTAKES
Last Newbies No Nos
10) Not having a Surge Protector. As a boondocker, this doesn’t matter if you’re not hooking up to electric. If you are hooked up to electric, you will want to keep your appliances and wiring safe during surges. Electricity at RV parks and camps can be unreliable and do strange things. There are many horror stories to people tell about electrical issues. It is best to always use a surge protector. It is also a good idea to lock it up.
11) Not using all of the Amazing information out there. There are tons of books, articles, and social media groups. Join the thousands of people enjoying RV Life or just RV vacations. National Park Guides are helpful and useful tools to plan your next adventures.
12) Not Using Discounts
There are many ways to save money when on the road. Camping memberships, rebates, point systems, and all different types of money saving ways. Good Sam has been around for a long time, this is their latest series guide.
13) Not immediately replacing or upgrading your mattress.
Getting a good nights rest is just as important as all of the adventures you will take. Keep your back rested and ready to go by replacing your mattress or adding a comfortable mattress topper. People seem to really love these new Lucid mattress toppers.
14) Forgetting you will need to wash your clothes.
One way crafty folks are solving the problem of having to stop at the laundry mat once a week is to have this crafty invention. It is a portable washer and dryer spinner. They are small but powerful and allow you to have clean clothes without having to leave. A nifty invention also, is a drying rack, you can attach it to the back of your RV.
Thanks for reading RV Newbie Mistakes. Take these precautions to BE SAFE and you will have much more fun in your RV.
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You seem to no a lot about using an rv , hopefully you can tell me why my carbon monoxide alarm goes off even when there isn’t no gas turned on hooked up or even in the bottles…. the rv is only used on .& off every few weeks so it’s not plugged in to an electric box all the time.after reading some of your stuff about must knows about rv’s maybe you have some knowledge on it I’m totally confused & this isn’t something to take lightly….thanks so much…
It probably needs replacing. Our old one like to go off in the wee hours of the morning, causing panic every time. Got a new one (easy to install) and no more problems.
When your battery dies, the alarm automatically starts going off to warn you. When you park, disconnect the battery cables. Saves on the battery also.
Yup, that’s what it is.
Mine goes off if I spray Lysol in the area of the alarm.
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Make a check list to double everything around your RV doors closed and locked, steps are put up in place, your slid outs are in. Check your tire pressure. Once your hooked make sure your safety pins are in place so your unit will not pop off the hitch.
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Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a
similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments?
If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can suggest?
I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any help is very much appreciated.
Hi, thanks for reading! We have something in place it only deflects some, we are still bombarded every day with spam. Let us know if you come across something that works better for you.
Newbie mistakes.. 2 things i strongly agree with. getting a surge protector. I thought really, all campgrounds shouldbe the same, wrong, mine has worked during a storm and also in hi heat when everyone was running ac units and causing low voltage to camper. It immediately disconnected and saved our devices and appliances. Second, backing, get outseveral times and look around, more accidents are caused by backing and assuming that you are clear.
Surge protectors are expensive AND worth it….BUT they get stolen. Buy a 10 foot good extension cord and leave your surge protector inside your locked power door. That way the thieves don’t think you have one.
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Hi, after reading this awesome post i am as well cheerful to share my knowledge here with friends.|
My husband and I are newbies to RV’ing. I am so glad I read this article. I will now make a list of before and after checklists for camping. I would appreciate any tips Incase I forgot something. Thanks !!!
Mine goes off with fly spray….or human gas …i kid you not..