Our start with RVing almost felt like we were seasoned pros but we quickly realized that wasn’t the case. Before we dive deep into something, we spend our time researching and understanding what it is we will be getting ourselves into. This approach has served us well over the years and something we highly recommend for everyone.
However, we know that some of us are more sure about our decisions and are not hesitant to go with our gut feeling. And that is fine. Whether or not you are a planner, someone who just makes a quick decision, or somewhere in between, you will certainly find out that when you begin your RV journey, there is so much to know and do. For us we were lucky to have family and friends who helped guide us when we got our first RV.
what are things we wish we had known or thought we knew?
For starters, this was our first trailer and really had no understanding about all those silly numbers you see about towing capacity, gross vehicle weight, tongue weight, cargo carrying capacity, etc. This blog is not being written to give you a run down of each of these as there are many great resources out there like Keep Your Daydream https://www.keepyourdaydream.com/payload/ . It is however important to know what your truck is able to pull and not push the limits of your truck’s capabilities. This is not only for the safety of you and your family, but also others on the road. It’s one thing to say I can get the RV rolling down the road, it’s another to be able to safely control the truck and RV in emergency situations.
So doing your research ahead of time is a must. You will find out as you shop for RVs, a lot of dealers will be eager to sell you something, letting you feel like what you have is more than capable. Only then to find out that your ½ ton pickup truck struggles when a semi passes you on the highway causing sway, or you have to make a sudden stop and your trailer pushes you a bit because it’s far too big for your setup. We went into this knowing that our 2003 F-150’s limits were not enough for our RV choice and had planned on upgrading it. We however just wanted to get started as safely as we could staying very local and limited highway roads.
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We ended up purchasing a 2021 F-250 which not only was newer, it was way more capable than what we really needed for our RV of choice. It was also much safer as our plans to travel meant we were going longer distances. Being safe is always the number one thing. Taking your time and arriving alive is really what it’s all about.
G.O.A.L
Speaking of safety, there’s a saying out there you will hear a lot of RVers say. And that is G.O.A.L. It stands for Get Out And Look. When you arrive anywhere you are going, you should always get familiar with your surroundings. Take your time and remember to get out and look will help save a life. You will find out when you get to a campground that there are many kids out enjoying the facilities. We installed a backup camera (Furrion Vision S) on the RV so we can keep a close eye on what is around us while we are maneuvering the camper into it’s spot. It helps us see the distance we have, if there’s any obstacles in the way, and keeps everyone safe around us. Something additional to consider is any low hanging branches, the distance for your slide, how far away are you to your hook ups, etc. All good things to consider before you officially park your RV.
We do also suggest making sure you have a spotter. We often call each other on the phone but have also used walkie-talkie radios like these Midland GXT1000VP4. Whatever brand you buy will be very helpful for the times you may not be able to use your cellphones. It’s always good to have someone guide you and make sure you don’t hit anything that you can’t see. Or see how close you may be to obstacles you should avoid, like the power pedestal.
Weight Distribution - What?
Another thing we did was research what was the best and most cost effective weight distribution hitch (WDH). What is sway control and how does it work? Did we need it? Short answer is yes. Without going into all the details about it, we did end up purchasing the Recurve R3 weight distribution hitch with built in sway control. And it has been exactly what we were looking for. Our truck has the built in sway control in the trailer braking system, we have found that if you have a WDH with built in sway, turning off the truck sway control makes a huge difference. It was as if the truck and WDH were fighting against each other. Only downside is anytime we stopped and turned the truck off we had to make sure to turn off the sway control again before we started.
Make sure when looking for a WDH, you understand your tongue weight of the trailer and the size of your trailer hitch receiver. Our 2003 F-150 had a 2” receiver but our 2021 F-250 has a 2.5” receiver.
Stay on Top of Maintenance
Oh boy, there’s a ton of things to consider that we weren’t really ready for. Seriously, at times it may seem overwhelming but in reality it’s all about just staying on top of things and taking care of them right away. Regular checks and maintenance will help prevent issues on the road. It certainly pays to be handy but even if you aren’t, some of these are really easy to do.
For example, checking your tire pressure to make sure your trip is safe is an easy check you can do before and during your trips. Make sure your first check is done when the tires are cold as the PSI you will fill them to is recommended for tires that are cold.
Another check that you can do is making sure a few times a year you check around your doors, windows, and any other trim pieces that could be where water may find its way into your RV. This includes the roof making sure there’s no cuts in the roofing liner, or cracks in the sealants.Take care of these with recommended sealer like dicor lap sealant for the roof, or silicone for around the windows, doors, etc. A good rule of thumb is to do this check twice a year.
Don’t be surprised if you find out that trim pieces have decided to work themselves loose. These RVs are rolling homes that are put through a good amount of stress. Fixing these things as they happen will make it easier to enjoy your camper so there’s not a big list of things to do before the next camping trip.
Learn Your RV’s Systems
Familiarize yourself with how everything in your RV works, from the water system to the electrical setup. This will make troubleshooting much easier. We always take our RV out for a shake down trip before we start our camping season. Find a full hookup location near you so you can test everything out. We like to run through all the systems inside the RV to make sure they are all functioning properly and fix any issues that may come up. Would not be a fun trip if you found out hundreds of miles away from your home that you have a leak. Now the hunt is on to find replacement parts at stores you may not be familiar with. While doing a shake down trip doesn’t’ guarantee you won’t have issues later on, its a good piece of mind to start your camping season.
Be Prepared for Issues
Sometimes things break or go wrong. Keep a set of tools and spare parts handy, and know how to contact roadside assistance if needed. We may go a bit overboard with this but that’s mainly because we aren’t sure what we will run into. As they say in scouts, always be prepared. Some of the items we suggest you bring with you for emergency repairs are
- A drill with drill bits including screwdriver bits. Most of the screws used are standard sizes but making sure you have options is recommended. Don’t forget spare screws, nuts, and bolts.
- Velcro strips to be able to mount things or bundle stuff together
- Screw driver and ratchet set. Many options like this Craftsman Kit.
- Hammer for many purposes
- Impact wrench if you can afford one to make tire changes easier
- Breaker bar and a tire iron for a bit of a cheaper option
- Bottle Jack – Good for when you need to change a tire on your RV. Just make sure to use something under it for stability like your leveling blocks.
- Zip ties
- Gloves
- Emergency flares and cones
- First aid kit because your husband will most certainly need it
Comment below on what items you feel are must haves when you travel.
Knowing your weight - No not yours but your rig and tow vehicle
We recommend you spend time knowing your weight when you are fully loaded with people, gear, and fluids. Also doing it when you don’t have all of that so you know your dry weight. Finding weigh stations near you is a google search away. If they are close enough to your home, it may make sense to go weigh your RV and tow vehicle before you start loading up your camper for the first time. Like on your way home from the dealer. Then on a trip, plan a stop to one so you know how much it weighs with everything you packed and brought with you.
Not only is this recommended, it’s a safety thing. Overloading your RV’s axles, or having too much weight on the truck can dramatically change your experience with RVing. You could break something on the RV, have steering issues with the truck, rough ride, or an accident which is avoidable. This is not to scare you but knowing this will make sure you are able to get to your destination safely to enjoy your time doing what we all love.
Make Reservations
Especially during peak travel times, it’s wise to book your campgrounds in advance to ensure you have a spot to stay. We are planners, remember? Sure you can find a spot at a campground at the last minute but it may not be at the Campground you want or the spot you want. You risk a trip being postponed or canceled. However, it sometimes works out for the best. We got a great spot at Anchor Down RV resort about a week prior to our planned trip. We were put on a waiting list and decided to book another resort just in case we weren’t able to get in there. It worked out well but we did have to pay a cancellation fee at the other RV resort.
There are many that book out years in advance but last minute cancellations can and do happen. We learned that at those destinations that are highly desirable, we needed to book at least 6 months in advance. Disney’s Fort Wilderness campground starts their reservations 499 days in advance and books up really fast. Advantage though here is there is a decent amount of cancellations last minute because they offer a full refund if it’s canceled before 5 days prior to arrival (on room only packages). But would you want to risk the chance of not having somewhere to stay if you are traveling hundreds of miles to get there?
Connect with Other RVers
Join RVing forums and social media groups. They can be invaluable resources for advice and support as you learn the ropes. Also YouTube is an amazing resource for how-to videos. Most likely you won’t be the first to have questions about something you are running into or need to know. Some of our favorites we follow on social media are
- To Infinity & Somewhere (yes we follow ourselves)
- Keep your Daydream – Marc & Tricia are an amazing couple with a wealth of knowledge. They have a lot of amazing resources out there and a huge community of followers.
- Less Junk < More Journey – What an amazing family to follow along with. Nate and Marissa, along with their two amazing kids, offer up some fun adventures and advice not only with RVing but life challenges. They are not shy about sharing their experiences and we have learned a lot from them.
- RV Miles – great blog, podcast, YouTube resource. A lot of great information from current and future news. Offering up many tips and ideas.
- Finding our Someday – Wholesome family who’s community is focused on giving back to charity. Let’s not forget how much of a boss Corey is at cooking. One day we would love to join them on their adventures or at a charity event.
- Facebook groups
- Find one specific to your RV or even RV manufacturer
- RV Tips, Ideas, Hacks, and Restoration ideas
- RVing Tips
- Lippert Scouts: The Community
Are you ever done?
Answer is easy, no. There’s so much we learn from everyone throughout our journey that we feel like new RVers every time we are out. The most valuable advice we had ever gotten was to enjoy the journey: Remember, RVing is about the freedom and joy of the open road. Take your time, explore, and enjoy the experience as you go To Infinity & Somewhere!!! 🚐✨