Welcome to the RVer family! It’s normal to have a mix of emotions when you start your RVing journey. You are excited at all the fun travel that is to come, but a little apprehensive wondering if you know everything you should before getting started. Have no fear! The RVing community is helpful and friendly so you can easily find support as you go. But to get you started, we’re sharing 10 RVing tips every newbie should know.
1. Learn the terminology
When trying to learn about your RV and what you should know when RVing, it might feel like a foreign language. Take your time to learn what the words mean or make sure you check a reference of terms and definitions. Understanding what the words and phrases mean will help you as you operate your RV and make it easier to ask questions when needed.
2. Start out close to home
If you’ve never been RVing before, plan your first trip close to home. This allows you to navigate roads and areas you are familiar with. You can preplan a route you know will be easiest for you and travel it at times you know won’t be too crowded. It also helps you find out what you need in the RV that you forgot. It’s a lot easier to realize you don’t have half of the kitchen essentials you need when you are 30 minutes from home instead of hours or days away.
Take notes during the trip of things you are learning, things you wished you had with you, or what you want to do differently before your next trip.
3. Practice driving
Remember when you were first learning to drive and you went to an empty parking lot to practice parking? It’s time to learn to drive all over again. Find an empty lot where you can practice turning, parking, and reversing in your RV. This can help you to build up a comfort level driving before trying to maneuver through a crowded RV resort or campground.
4. Download camping and RV apps
There are many apps to help newbie RVs (and experienced RVers) enjoy their RVing experience even more. Take time to explore what RV and travel apps would help you the most on your trip. A few we recommend checking out include:
- Waze
- AccuWeather
- Harvest Hosts
- Boondockers Welcome
- RV Parky
- RV Dump Stations
- Gas Buddy
5. Ask questions at the RV dealership
There is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to getting familiar with your RV and how everything works. Don’t let pride or fear stop you from asking all the questions you have before you leave the lot. If you think of questions once you get home, call us up and ask our knowledgeable team. Our goal is to help you have the best RVing experience so we are more than happy to answer your questions. If you don’t know what something means or how to work something, simply ask.
6. Join the RV community
As we mentioned, the community of RVers is friendly and helpful. When you go to an RV resort or campground, you’re likely to find other RVers that are happy to talk, swap stories, and recommend destinations or activities for you to try. However, make sure you find out what their comfort level is because there are some RVers who like to enjoy peace and privacy, so don’t intrude into their space unless you are invited.
In addition, if you need help with something when you’re on the road, other RVers are likely to give you a helping hand if you ask. Just remember if you want people to do this for you, it helps to extend the same to others.
7. Keep your budget in mind when traveling
Eliminating hotel accommodations and the need to eat out all the time on vacation is a nice benefit of RVing. However, don’t forget that there are still expenses to consider as you plan your trip. You will need to budget in for fuel, highway tolls, campground fees, insurance, and any costs that come with the amenities you want to enjoy while you travel such as wifi or cable.
8. Make sure you reserve the right type of campsites
If you’re going to stay at an RV resort or park, make sure you are reserving the type of site you need and that the park matches your needs and RV. Some campgrounds only allow certain types of RVs. Some lots might not have all the hookups you are looking for. And then there are some lots that allow you to pull through instead of needing to back into them. These are all things you want to pay attention to when choosing your sites. You don’t want any unexpected surprises when you pull into the campground.
9. Follow the rules
Make sure you pay attention to RVing etiquette as you travel. Here are some common rules that RVers abide by:
- Don’t walk through others campsites
- Follow the noise curfew if there is one at the resort or campground
- Turn off any bright lights when it gets dark
- Try to give your neighboring lot some space
- Follow rules about the number of guests you have and where they should park when visiting
- Spray the dump station when you finish using it
- Take all trash with you and leave the site like you found it or better
10. Learn about holding tanks and dumping
It’s nobody’s favorite topic to talk about, but if you have an RV with plumbing, you need to learn about your holding tanks and dumping. If you aren’t staying at a full hookup campsite, you will need to know how to empty your black water tank at a dumping station. There are plenty of YouTube videos and articles you find online that share what you need to know to make this experience smooth.
Bonus: 10 More Tips For RVers!
Still looking for an RV?
Are you excited to become a new RVer but haven’t found that perfect match yet? We have a wide selection of new and preowned RVs for you to choose from like the 2021 Dutchmen Astoria which is a fifth wheel that provides many of the comforts of home or the 2022 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf which is a travel trailer with a bunkhouse the whole family will enjoy. We’d love to help you get on the road and ready for your first RVing adventure!
