Heading out on the road for the first time in an RV is quite an experience. There’s a whole world to discover, learning how to relax and sleep in your rig, and understanding how you fit into the world when out and about. But the thing is, as a first-time RV user, many mistakes will be made both knowingly and unknowingly. And for the most part, it comes down to inexperience and to being aware of what you need to know or do. Sure you can research but until you’re on the road and into your trip thres no way of finding out everything you need to know or rather shouldn’t do until you experience it. Do yourself a favor and read our “Don’t Do What I Did” Guide to New RVers.
There is a moment early on for new RVers when the romantic dream of waking up to mountain sunrises clashes violently with reality. For me, that moment involved a tangled sewer hose, a rainstorm, and a sudden realization that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. We’ve all seen the picture-perfect social media feeds, but living in an RV rarely captures the steep learning curve of the first twelve months on the road. If you’re currently mapping out your own escape or have just handed over the keys to your first rig, take a deep breath.
What are the Biggest Mistakes New RVers Make?
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Classic RV rookie mistakes are practically a rite of passage. But while some blunders are inevitable, the costly, stressful, and downright embarrassing ones don’t have to be. Consider this your cheat sheet: the ultimate new RVers for beginners guide filled with everything what I wish I knew before buying an RV so you can learn from my epic facepalms instead of making them yourself.
Let’s take a look at a few common mistakes first-timers always make when it comes to RV living.
Overpacking
Every single RV will have a maximum weight limit. This is for safety, as too much weight impacts the safety and functionality of your RV.
The issue is that it can seem like it’s fully equipped with storage initially, meaning you can pack whatever you want, but you need to account for the weight of every single thing. From yourself, to the water you carry, the food you take, dishes, clothing, pets, etc. Even the lightest things contribute to the weight and accidentally going over your maximum weight limit is pretty easy to do.
The trick is to take the bare minimum with you. If you can buy it on the road then do so but essentials only can help control weight. Don’t forget to evenly distribute it so you’re not over before you even turn the engine on.
Choosing the Wrong Size Vehicle
Bigger isn’t always better, and chances are you won’t realise this until you need to manoeuvre down a winding, narrow road to park at a campsite. Or you need to try to reverse a 40-foot vehicle into a tight space.
For your first time, go small until you get used to driving vehicles of this size. If you can comfortably navigate roads and campsites, you’ll have more flexibility and options available than getting stuck in something too big to handle.
Neglecting the Water System
The fresh water, gray, and black water systems in an RV need more active management than you might imagine they do. And new RVers, especially, underestimate this.
The fresh water tank needs to be sanitized at the start of the season and periodically throughout. The gray and black tanks need monitoring and emptying in a realistic schedule. Don’t wait for the alarm to go off. Your pipes also need winterized before the first freeze or you’ll get a surprise repair bill come spring.
When planning your trip, look for campsites like Brushy Creek RV Park with full hook up amenities. THis allows you to change your water and check systems with ease instead of leaving things too long.
Underestimating Leveling
A poorly levelled RV is uncomfortable to sleepand also auses the refrigerator to work inefficiently or fail entirely. When vehicle out of level when extended, this puts stress on the slide-out mechanism.
New RVers tend to miss this or underestimate how much difference a degree or two of slope can make. Invest in a good set of levelling blocks, a reliable bubble level or a digital leveling app to help you ensure you are leveling properly.