Essential Tips for First-Time RV Owners
If you're new to the RV lifestyle, you might be feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelm. It's thrilling to explore this type of travel. But there is also so much to learn! That's why we gathered up the following essential tips for first-time camper owners. By following the below advice, you can set yourself up for stress-free RV trips.
Get to Know Your RV
It's important to familiarize yourself with your given camper.
Learn the RV's Measurements
Use this information to determine whether you will fit into certain spots at a campground, fit under a bridge, and even legally drive on certain roads.
Learn how the Systems Work
The owner's manual should give information about how to work the appliance systems, electrical system, and sewage system. These systems may be different than the ones in your residential home, so it's important to look over the details before using them.
Practice Before the First RV Trip
As much as possible, avoid doing anything for the first time during your first RV trip. This can lead to a lot of stress and headaches! With a little advance planning and practice, you can ensure the camping trip goes much more smoothly.
Practice Leaving the Driveway
If you own a towable RV, go through the process of connecting the camper to the tow vehicle. The more you practice, the easier the steps will be when your travel day arrives. If you own a motorhome, get into the driver's seat and familiarize yourself with the controls.
Practice Transporting the RV
Find a low-traffic neighborhood or empty parking lot. Spend some time driving and make sure that you are confident in being able to turn, go up and down slopes, speed up, slow down, stop, and park.
After you have practiced the basics, spend some time driving for longer periods of time and at higher speeds. For your first road trip, pick somewhere closer to home. You can go on those cross-country road trips once you've built up more experience transporting the RV.
Research the RV Campground
Your camper may not be a good match for a given campground. Especially large RVs, for example, may not be able to fit into the parking spots.
The RV campground may also not be a good fit for your travel style. If there are amenities you want, such as Wi-Fi or bathrooms, always check that these are available. Some campgrounds offer limited features or may have certain features unavailable for a given time. You don't want any surprises, so do your research before booking the stay.
We hope you found these first-time RV owner tips helpful. If you have any questions, want more tips, or want to shop RVs for sale, the friendly staff at 1st Choice Trailers are here for you. Our experts are happy to help support your RV lifestyle! Reach out or stop by our dealership. We are located in Goddard, Kansas, and also serve those in Wichita.