Top 7 Rookie RV Mistakes To Avoid

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Top 7 Rookie RV Mistakes to Avoid

We’ve all been there. You’re out on the road in your new recreational vehicle for the first time and you commit that huge mistake that announces to the world you’re an RV newbie. It’s embarrassing, and maybe there’s a mess to clean up, but it wouldn’t have been so bad if there weren’t witnesses to see your big fail.

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 mistakes new RVers make—and how to avoid them!

1) Drive-off Disasters

The most horrifying mistake a new RVer can make is driving off while you’re still connected to water, sewer, or power. The damage is expensive, and it’s extremely embarrassing.

Also make sure you take down the TV antenna and pick up the wheel chocks before you leave!

2) Using Your RV Before Learning How

It’s Sunday morning and you’ve had a terrific camp experience in your brand-new recreational vehicle. Before you leave the campground, you stop at the dumping station…only to realize you have no idea what the routine is. As you flip feverishly through the manual, you realize you’ve got a line of vehicles behind you waiting to dump.

There are a lot of new procedures you’ll need to learn—from simple things, like turning off the outdoor shower properly, to more complex items like using the correct power switches and operating controls you’re not familiar with.

Before you leave home, read through your operator’s manual and step through a practice run of the big procedures, like leveling, dumping, and extending slideouts.

3) Not Knowing How Big You Are

Rookie RVers can have a hard time learning how big their motorhome is. Usually, parking and cornering are the toughest tasks, but this happens too, sometimes.

Make sure you know how big you are, whether you’re driving or parking. We recommend using a spotter every time you park.

4) Fridge Failure

Your refrigerator is a big deal, and a nasty surprise in the fridge can ruin your trip. Here are a few things to remember:

  • Your refrigerator can get fried. Make sure you’re level or the chemical coolants in your fridge won’t circulate. Not only will your food spoil, your refrigerator could catch fire. Don’t let that happen.
  • Clean out your refrigerator between trips. This sounds obvious, but we’ve heard countless stories of campers who were positive they cleaned out their fridge, only to find out months later that there was a bag of spinach tucked in a pocket in the door. Pro tip: After cleaning it out, prop the fridge door open to prevent mold and mildew—just in case!
  • Pack enough food. It’s easy to underestimate how much food you’ll need for your trip. And once you’re settled in at camp, the last thing you want to do is disconnect, pull up the anchor, and drive into town for two days’ worth of food.

5) Pre-Trip Prep

Many new RVers make their first mistakes before they even hit the road. The key to success is in the planning. For a smooth, worry-free trip, make sure you consider all of these things:

  • Your budget. Set aside more money than you think you’ll need—especially for food and fuel. Also, be sure to set aside enough money specifically for an emergency.
  • Your route. Avoid narrow roads, roads with sharp turns, and highways with low bridges.
  • Your reservations. Many an RVer has been denied entrance to a campground because they didn’t have a reservation. Popular camps fill up quickly, and RV sites are limited.
  • Your necessities. RVs are tiny places, making it easy to overpack. Make sure you only bring what you need.

6) Not Doing a Walkaround

Here’s why.

Also, make sure you’ve cleared away any objects that could interfere with extending or retracting your slideouts.

7) Not Using a Checklist!

Every one of these newbie RV mistakes can be avoided by using a checklist before, during, and after your trip. Make sure you update it with every trip—you’re bound to learn a lesson or two over the years.

Want a great sample checklist? Here’s the ultimate collection of RV checklists!

Remember—everyone’s an RV rookie at some point, and we’ve all made some of these newbie mistakes. You’re in good company, so keep your sense of humor and consider yourself officially a veteran RVer.

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