10 Best RV Tips for Beginners

There's nothing more satisfying than enjoying life out on the open road. Just you, your loved ones, and your beloved RV.

The idea alone is enough motivation for most people to save up and get the recreational vehicle of their dreams. Who said you have to wait until you retire to travel across the country?

With the right tips, you can easily find the best RV within your budget. If you're new to the world of RVs and need a helping hand, then this guide is for you.

Let's review some of the top tips for newbie RVers.

1. Don't Go Overboard with RV Price

As you begin shopping around for an RV, it's easy to get swept up by all the luxurious features they have to offer. Sure, having more beds, a nice bathroom and large bedroom are great to have.

However, it's not worth overspending if it's going to take away from other important purchases. After all, it's not just the RV you need to buy.

There's a host of accessories you need just in case you run into RV troubles. For instance, you'll need a freshwater hose, sewer hose, levelers, heated hose, wheel chocks and so on.

Then, you have to pay rent to park your RV at a campsite while on the road. This can run you between $20 to $50 per night. And if you have to store it somewhere, this can cost around $100/mo.

2. Consider Paying Cash

Financing is a very attractive option for folks who want to go all out with their RV purchase. But do keep in mind that financing hikes up the sale price substantially. In the end, you may pay nearly double than what you would've if you paid cash.

Another option is to go for a "90 days same as cash" deal. This way, you have time to save up to pay off the balance on your RV minus the finance charges.

3. Beware the Google Maps Twilight Zone

You punch in a destination on Google maps and it renders you the quickest route and an ETA. Unfortunately, a lot of RVers forget they're driving slower than normal. And this means your real ETA is one or two hours longer.

If you're trying to reach a campground by a specific time, then factor this into the equation. Also, note that more campgrounds are charging a kid tax.

The rate you see online is typically for two adults and the charge for children is around $5/night per kid.

4. Don't Over Pack Your Vessel

Again, it's easy to get carried away when making plans for a long road trip. All you need to bring along with you are essentials.

For example, you should bring enough clothes for the trip and extra outfits just in case, personal hygiene products and accessories.

Packing light will reduce your stress and allow you to enjoy your road trip versus playing inventory keeper.

5. Check All the Appliances

You finally found the best RV for you and your family. Yet, you forgot to check all of the appliances and now you're left with a faulty fridge and stove.

This can negatively impact the entire RVing experience, especially if you planned to cook during your road trip. Before you purchase an RV, make sure to check this. Then after you buy, always check on your appliances to determine whether maintenance work is needed.

6. Slowly But Surely Wins the Race

At the end of the day, RVing isn't about speeding across freeways to reach your destination. It's about enjoying the scenic route and arriving in one piece.

Plus, driving fast will ruin the experience, since you're worried about maintaining a certain pace without crashing. The long drive alone is stressful enough.

To help reduce stress, you should focus on fewer destinations at a time. As a general rule of thumb, you should stick to one location for at least a week before moving on.

7. Keep an Eye On the Loading Weight Travel Lights

The last thing you need is to run into RV problems while you're out on the road. And this is another reason why you shouldn't over pack your vessel.

The loading weight travel light on your RV will come in handy in times where you go overboard with your packing and storage.

8. Tools Even the Best RV Needs

The aforementioned products are great to have, but the list goes on. The top tools you should always have on hand include:

• Heavy gauge jumper cables
• Digital tire gauges
• T-handle style lug wrenches

Also, don't forget to keep your eye on the gas gauge. This tends to run out quickly when you're traveling through rough terrains and hills and when you're toting around too much weight.

9. Test Drive to See if it's the Best RV

Another mistake RV buyers make is not testing driving the vessel before they buy. What you're looking for is a smooth switch in gears, properly functioning lights and an overall good ride.

Then you can keep your RV in good shape with regular maintenance. That's where the following tools come in handy:

• Leveling blocks: Used to level the ground when it is uneven, so the RV can park securely.
• T levels: Check the RV level from side to side and front to back before setting up shower drainage.
• Wheel chocks: Prevent your RV from rolling away while in park.

10. Consider Going Waterless

Now, you purchased your RV because it has a fully functional bathroom and kitchen. This means the toilet, shower, and sinks operate fluidly. However, toting around all that water will only weigh down your RV.

And all this will do is burn out your gas quicker. Instead, you can connect to water lines when you reach your campground.

Also, make sure to empty out your gray and black water tanks to keep your RV as light as possible.

Buy the Tools Needed to Maintain Your RV

After finding the best RV for your road trips, you have to shop for accessories. Being able to maintain and repair your vehicle on the whim is essential.

The internet is a great place to shop around for certain tools. One place you can visit is No Freeze Water Hose. Here, we offer a special heated water hose that works optimally in freezing cold weather.

If you're planning a winter road trip, then this is important to have. Give us a call today if you have additional questions.