10 ESSENTIAL TIPS For NEW RV Owners!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- Are you a new or prospective RV owner? Check out these 10 essential tips every RV newbie should know! Happy camping!
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As a new or prospective RV owner, it is important to soak up as much information as possible before hitting the road on your first big adventure! There are so many pitfalls to RVing that major issues can be avoided by learning from other RVers' mistakes.
That's why, in the video below, Jenni and I share 10 essential tips for RV newbies! We've been full time RVers for over 3 years now with over a hundred RV set ups and tear downs and tens of thousands of miles traveled. So, it's safe to say that we've learned a thing or two!
We share tips on buying your first RV, how to prepare for your first camping trip, and how to avoid the most common pitfalls in RVing. Check out the video below for all the details and happy camping!
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Again, CONGRATS on 100K
The only way that
That was a great tip about hand on the bottom of the steering wheel I’ve never heard that one
another tip when getting ready to buy your RV is KNOW YOUR SPECS! Understand the payload and towing capability of your vehicle, and shop within your specs. Be sure that a fully loaded RV (so the GVWR, not the empty weight) are within the tolerances of your tow vehicle. Sales folks, especially the pushy ones, will tell you not to worry about this. I had one tell me that our family's weight in the truck didn't count towards payload (they do!).
Totally agree with having a check lists. Chalks go down first once you're level from side to side, then unhook, move TV, and connect to power with a surge protector, then water. Wife goes inside and switches the fridge from battery to electricity, opens the roof vent and turns on the A/C. I think breaking camp is even more critical. Wife turns off all inside power, switches fridge to battery, closes roof vent and checks windows. I secure all the outside stuff (hoses, etc.), then we each walk around our TV and trailer in the opposite direction looking at tires, trailer connection, all compartments are shut and locked, stabilizers are up, and the door is shut and locked. We then do a brake and signal check with the lights. Afterwards, I pull forward about 10' and we both do a walk around to confirm we haven't left something. It's old habit now but I can say every time we've gone out, we've had to flag to a stop a departing RVer who either left a storage compartment open or their roof vent open.
I love that ecstatic look of love on your dog’s face. He/she obviously adores you! Thanks for these tips. I will be newbie-ing next September 2022.
Nice presentation and pretty helpful tips. Thanks guys.
Hey hey. We used your videos to help prepare us for the purchase, and now we're watching this one in our new (used) travel trailer! Thank you so much guys!
Hey guys, I'm in the research stage and I really appreciate your videos. Your style is close to what I'm aiming for, you don't have some annoying intro/background music, and you get straight to the point. Keep it up!
Find online or on Facebook if there’s an owners group for the rig you own. Often a ton of advice on dealing with certain problems or making great mods.
No kidding! 😄 We have approximately 20+ playlist saved on TH-cam, ranging from _"How To"_ videos, to simple advice (like this video). . . And because we're still shopping, lots of walk around/walkthroughs. Although, it's been nearly three years and now we're down to our final choices. So, we can probably purge a great many of the latter.
I personally love wireless rear view cam on back of rig
Good info & list for a "starter". I'd add a box of surgical gloves for when you dump.
I’m an RV virgin and super anxious. Your videos are great. I wish you were near by and we could be friends! Gotta find an RV community near me. Wish me luck
There's a lot to learn in the beginning but just watch and read as much as you can and you'll get it! An RV community is definitely a good idea so when problems pop up you'll have contacts to answer your questions. Good luck sister!
Thank youbfor the driving tip. I am picking up my new RV Friday❤
Just went on our first trip this week. Have been enjoying your channel, thanks!
That's so exciting! Congratulations!
Thanks for a very needed video on the starting RVing Adventure. One of the most important things that you have taught me with your so many informative videos is something you two Exemplify is " Camping With Grace ". You two are wonderful teachers on the RV lifestyle. bill in Florida
You guys are the best couple on youtube for RVing. I think part of it is you have very good videos... it's easy to see how comfortable you both are in front of the camera.
Thank u both for the information. Helped a lot. Enjoy every day of life.
Another great video David and Jenni - thank you!
i'm a new watcher of your channel. i love it...you kids get it...keep up the good work and videos.
ty for the infor. You are doing a good job at give us infor to all the new rvs out there.
Number 8 pretty much sums it all up. Well done!!
Seriously great video! On behalf of all us “Newbies”... Thank you!!!
New Owner Here
Renting before you buy is a good idea, however it's not the same. People just don't use a rental the way they'd use something they owned. Whenever we rented, we took long big trips and visited national parks and stayed at places that had full hookups. As soon as we bought, we started planning shorter trips closer to home so we could get more use out of our new toy to get maximum value. Those shorter trips are SO DIFFERENT. We aren't going to RV parks with hookups, we are doing more camping in places that have only electric or nothing in at all. Very quickly we realized water is an issue. We never would have even thought it would be an issue just from renting.
Thank you so much for the information, I’m doing my research now giving myself some time before my purchase.
Good to be reminded as a longer time traveler as well. Never take your Rig for granted, that's when something will come up and bite you.
Wonderful! Love what you do, thank you. Someone said grace and I agree. Grace and gratitude are good ways of getting it done. Wanted to mention our old refrain when familiarizing with a new vehicle: take 'em to church! Parking lot, mostly for doing your 8's on bikes, but a good tight spot to maneuver the TT and/or say your prayers!
CONGRATS!!!! On reaching over 100k subscribers!!!!! Your channel is very very good.
I just stumbled onto your chanel by chance while trying to find a "beginner's guide" to travel trailers. I'm thinking of giving up my permanent abode (just an apt) and getting a trailer to move closer to family. I'm currently 1700 miles away from the nearest relative, and was hospitalized for a month earlier this year. Many people came to visit, but no family members, of course. So I thought I ought to be closer to them.
Anyway, the travel trailer option as a temporary/semi-permanent abode might be the route to go. So I'll be watching your channel, and going out to rent a trailer for an introductory trip as soon as the TX heat goes down (over 100 again today, which must mean something like 40 days). I'll take notes and will owe the thanks to you. I'm sure that there are many good YT channels, but I'll watch your videos until I've seen them all.
Thank you for taking the trouble to post these videos.
I watch a lot of these, but, I look forward to yours.
Another great post!!! We continue the “search” for our TT, with plans to purchase Summer 2021, so no rush. We continue to build our TT List of considerations, different from the popup world. So thanks for the information!!!! HAPPY CAMPING!!!
Just great information, we have experienced a few of them ,
Great video David and Jenni. I really like the awesome tips. I love how both of you stay positive. I see sweetie got her camera time . She is amazing on camera. I hope the other fur babies care doing good . Take care and be safe out there . God Bless both of you in keeping safe and sound.
I love y'all's channel. I just started watching and subbed.
I just truly enjoy you guys. Don't have an rv yet, really want one. Look forward to meeting yall when I do!
Thanks for the tips.
Awesome video! We love our Andersen levelers as well
Congratulations on 100k!!!!
Robert here. Medically retired A.F. Enjoyed info. Need more! Enjoyed whatever info you say. Enjoyed!
Awesome information. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you.
Thanks so much for being ur normal selves!!! So many couples try to act too cute & it’s just corny! I can’t take it! I really think when ur urself, all info comes across more sincerely! Thanks for this great advice:)
I'm one of those "newbe's", and this was great information. I just set up and had no issues and am looking forward to my first trip. Thanks for this.
🐸 a lot of great reminders
Thanks
We are new to RVing and loved this video! We followed what you suggested and still by the end of our trip we learned that we had way too much stuff, LOL. We will be Following you guys and your adventures as we create and TH-cam our own adventures as well!
Here's a piece of advice. You're spot on when you mention the bare necessities of what you'll need. However, I highly recommend back ups, back ups, and back ups and don't wait until your first trip and here's why. We bought our RV in 2014 and on our first trip, the shakedown cruise you mentioned, we ended up at a campsite where the sewer and electric were where they're supposed to be but the fresh water hookup was up by the cab. Yes, our waterhose was too short. Thankfully we were close to home and we called my inlaws, who were also campers, and my father in law brought us his spare hose. After that I made sure I had extra water hose, sewer hose, and an electric service extension cord and yes, at different times we've needed all. For example, last year we were at a Yogi Bear in Pennsylvania and the spot we were given, the sewer hookup was where it belonged but the electric and water were up by the cab. Had I not had those extra items we would have been in deep doo doo. Also, for electric service, wouldn't hurt to have a "dog bone" extension(they're about a foot long) so you can either go from 30amp to 50amp or vice versa. There are some campgrounds that have sites that don't always offer both types of service. It's rare but they do exist.
Great advice!
All good info. Going along with the parking lot practice. Make sure you have a vehicle that is capable of SAFELY towing your RV. So many people out there hooking up without a clue. 🤪
Like some others, I just bought my first RV the day this video was released (Aug.6th)...Looking forward to seeing what happens..! I've watched all of your videos and have participated in your live chat a time or two....keep them coming and thanks.
Congratulations on the 100K.
100k congrats!
i highly recommend a mini arc-reactor it has helped me a lot with reducing the maintenance i need to do on my batteries
Very Well done!!
Thanks for another great video! One thing to note about the final walk-around before we pull out that my wife and I started doing is for each of us to do the walk-around. Two sets of eyes are better than one. It's easy to get complacent and there have been a few times where I've found something my wife missed or she found something I missed. This is especially important when it comes to towing safety items like your hitch, load levelers, pins, connections, etc. My request for a video is what apps do you use to help navigate, find sites, find overnight parking (like at Walmarts), etc. There are tons of them in the app store for RV'ing and I don't know which ones are good and which ones to avoid. Thanks!
Our first trailer was a Livin LIte 10 being pulled by a 2007 Toyota Matrix with 4 wheel ABS. First trip the Smokey Mountains, we live northwest of Chicago. Second rig is a 2003 Escalede ESV with a 24 foot Grey Wolf. This one we started with a close weekend gate away(45 miles) to a state park campground. We learned more about pulling as a couple with the Matrix. A fold up trailer is a lot of work, but it got us off the ground. Way happier with the Grey Wolf.
This one is for me! Ok.. and the rest of you ;) But newbies here, trying to make a fairly quick decision as to buy or build (using a cargo/car trailer). Thanks for sharing so much great stuff, Fate Unbound 💛
We aren't sure about the length we want. Our cargo trailer is 26ft and I am kind of worried about fitting into areas we already love to tent it... Definitely going to take all of this advice here, but I think doing a test tow will be the first.
Thanks for conveying your hard-earned "lessons learned". Your tips and self-revelations help a lot. Ahhhhhh, Sweetie!
cj&s
I love you guys!!!
Thank You, I just add your link to me Link Page that I use to keep track of all the websites I regularly use.
It like a menu page for myself. Every-time I go to Amazon, it will be through your link.
Keep up the Great Videos!!
Thanks! My house is delayed closing but I pick up my RV next Friday! About shopping: I knew I wanted a class C with a walk-around bed and a toilet/sink area separate from the shower. I looked at a lot of RV layouts online before buying. There are some really bad RV layouts! The worst was a wet bath with the stove right next to the bed. YIKES! Anything you cook is going to splash onto your bedding. Fine if you only boil water, not fine if you want to make bacon inside!
Thank you and god bless both of you! I am so excited I can't wait to hit the road!
Faith I have a Ninja Foodi, they are just incredible for air frying, it keeps that greasy smell from going into your soft textiles super easy to clean, great investment.
Im planning on being a full timer within two months. Im looking at the rockwood roo 21ss, or a model like yours that has the big rear windows. Watching your rv life helps and gives confidence.
It's critical to check your tires. Even on a new rig. Tire problems are the cause of 3 out of every 4 RV accidents.
I pulled FEMA trailers from Indiana factories and the wheels fell off so frequently that I had to always tighten them before I hit the road. A tire came off (another driver) and hit an expensive vehicle... in addition he was fined $125 and had court cost on top of that.
Get a 50ft zero-g drinking water hose...game changer when you have 50ft of hose but its so easy to manage and is high quality
I am a new subscriber and I am really enjoying your videos. I thought it would be nice if you wanted to show the maintenance that you two perform on your truck over time. For example, would it be a good idea to use tire covers for your truck like you have on the RV. Thank you so much for all you have taught me so far :-)
Congrats on 100k subs
Perfect timing! We just brought our new 5th wheel home an hour ago (Keystone 23 MLS). We love you two. Your videos have been a huge inspiration. We will be learning the systems in our driveway then camping close to home next week. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Super helpful tips for a potential newbie. Thank you . And thank you for your edit of your response to my previous comment concerning the usage of "you guys". I appreciate your editing out the hurtful comment. Safe travels you two!
Set up and tear down check list 👍
Good video
New RV are here :)
I've enjoyed your channel and all your tips... You both are a lot of fun, maybe some day when you are up in the Spokane area we will meet up with you...
One more thing I should probably say, we just bought our 1st 5th wheel 😲
Wheel chocks $60
BBQ cost $100
Flat tire repair $25
Backing up trick is priceless!
Truth!
Great info as always! I personally would never use a screw on water filter. We never, ever drink or brush our teeth from our trailer's water system. we would rather use bottled water or our Berkey. I've found it's not worth taking a chance and getting sick... :) BTW, I love your dog! We have a cheweeny that could fit in Sweety's mouth, with the exact same coloring!
Video isss cool. Keep up with good wooork xD !
Hey guys , my tip before you buy an RV is to go to large RV shows ... that way you can see many different types of RV's in one place .. Trailers, 5th wheels, Toy Haulers , Campers, as well as Motor Homes .. we went to 3 RV shows to walk through at least a hundred different types of RV's and different manufacturers and floor plans ... we spent about a year and a half looking before buying ... we brought home many brochures and took notes of what we really liked and which manufacturers we liked ... Secondly we bought our truck first , we did not know which RV we were going to buy except we knew it would be a towable , so I shopped for a full year to find the most powerful used truck that was in our budget ... we decided a 3/4 ton turbo diesel pickup was the best option that gave us the most power for towing ... I would rather have a larger truck than we needed than one that was wasn't up to the job ...
I didn't hear you mention to check lights when you hook up. We had problems with our plug in, and usually if your lights don't work neither do your brakes. We try to always check lights before getting on the road. Always enjoy your videos and especially sweety's good bye.💜
Love your Rottie!
Great advice perhaps you could share your checklist for leaving a site?
We just bought our 1st RV (it's a 5th wheel) yesterday! We are so excited to get out on the road but there's a few thing to do to the used rv before leaving. Where could we find the Route Maintenance information? Thanks for your great tips. We are just starting to learn about rv'ing.
TH-cam. Owners Manuel
Know your height.... many many Walmart stores have a height barrier. Even if you stop but just tap the barrier... your motorhome windshield costs $5,000 and takes at least a couple weeks to get replaced.
*4. Shop until you drop*
Tell us about it! 😆 My fiancé and I are entering our _third year_ of shopping. 🤪
Granted, some of that is just _life_ getting in the way. But some is also due to the changes we see in _each new model year._ As a few of the things we would want ( lithium ion batteries,¹ electric burners, etc.) we would have had to get as aftermarket add-ons one year, are slowly becoming the standard ─ or at least an option.
When we look back at the notes we had from when we _first_ started, I just have to laugh.😅 We were actually first looking at *Class A* RVs. I can't even imagine what we were thinking!²
Seriously, that's just _way too big._ And we want to go places. We don't want to be so limited by our size. We want to be able to go into cities, as much as the middle of nowhere. That's just too much!😱
Our bassline is, _the smaller the better,_ as long as it has a dry bath. And while we would prefer a separate bedroom with a walk around bed (Unity IB) we'll consider not having that if the RV meets most of our other needs (P-W XLMB).³
_Yikes!_ I tend to get terribly verbose when it comes to the comment section. Talk-to-text makes it far too easy. Sorry about that. 🤭
Anyway, thanks for this! We've got tons of playlist with videos just like this one. *They are so helpful! **_Thank you!_*
Stay safe! 😷
•••●●●•••
*¹* ─ My fiancé and her father were severely burned and he was nearly killed in a propane accident when she was a kid. And that is something we don't ever want to have to deal with if we can avoid it. Doesn't matter how safe it may be, I don't want her to _ever_ *feel* unsafe if there's something I can do about it.
*²* ─ Although if they sold those delightful *Class A's* from Europe that hold a smart car in the back *and still* has a bedroom, while only being about 30 feet long. . .well, I might just go back to that way of thinking. 😁
(I can say that because I'm confident it'll _never_ happen.)😏
*³* ─ We're really hoping a lithium ion battery is one such change to come in the *Leisure Travel Vans **_Unity IB._* If not, also at the top of our list is the the shorter *Pleasure-Way **_XLMB._*
35 years living in RVs I can tell you that you should pay attention to these guys. My wife and I affectionately call them the "Jack and Jill" of the RV world.
@@Ryan-we5df
Haven't you heard?
Common sense isn't so common.
There is a reason they have a couple hundred videos and 100,000 subscribers.
Let's take a peek at what you have contributed.
Oh no!
NO CONTENT.
You might want to beef up your resume.
Hi, I really enjoy your information. I would like to know if you’ve ever done a review on the WeBoost Cell amplifier and if so do you do a how to install video. Thank you.
I have one, works decent. main think keep the external antenna far enough away from the indoor amplifier, and put it where you use it most they only have about a 10 foot range
Hey RV friends. We are heading from Sacramento, California to Yellowstone the first week of September. Any thoughts or advice for that trip? This will be our first out of town adventure. We have down 2 shake down trips here at home. All went well in our 21 foot Coleman. I love love love your channel and both of you kids. Lol.
Just a couple of comments and a question. If you have a heavy RV you may want to get rubber wheel chocks instead of the plastic ones you show, they're much more substantial. but they are heavier. The other comment would be maybe a couple of more adapters so you can go from whatever your plug your rig uses to any other source, say from 30 amp to 50 amp and from 30 amp to 15 amp. Just make sure that if you go up in amperage that your rig has the correct breaker for your service, i.e. if you have a 30 amp rig your service inlet should have a 30 amp breaker so you can't overload your electric cord. And now for the question. If you use Anderson levelers do you need wheel chocks? It looks like the Anderson levelers act a chocks. Go video guys and congrats again on 100K subs! Keep the good stuff coming.
Show us your tips!!! jk.....Great video......I think that I may be making the TT plunge sort of soon-like. :D A bit nervous.
David looks like cold play.
I'll take that as a compliment 😁
I do a walk a round always, but still have missed things.... I have to do a checklist.
If it can go wrong it will sooner or later. Being handy with tools is a good thing. But mainly just enjoy.
Get a flyswatter. First night a huge mutant looking wasp got in. Finally got it with the roll of paper towels but not the best solution. And put a roll of paper towels in the tow vehicle or RV outside storage to wipe the grease off your fingers from handling the hitch.
Do you use any type of moisture barrier under your mattress to help with potential mold mildew buildup in your RV?
For the electrical adapter, wouldn’t we also need a 50->30 adapter for campgrounds that only have 50 amp hookups (my rig is 30a)?
I suggest a sewer hose kit as a required item. Not all dealers provide one. Also, take your time. Rushing causes problems.
I have 1/2 inch flexible plastic water lines. just used my last compression fitting to hook up a new replacement water faucet (hot water knob just fell off) at the bathroom sink. The connector was causing bad leak - cut off original 43 year old fitting and replaced. Been looking on ebay, googleing , haven't come across any. I always have extra on board for splicing ability / coupling . A moving house is friction prone to wear a hole in plastic tubing.any suggestions to find ? would be appreciated.
What about a weight distributor and a sway bar
I don't know of any site that gives as much help to newbies as this one. Thank you.
Just found you! Watching from beginning. Not sire of you've covered this, but how do you deal with cat and 2 bunnies in an RV? A real worry for me. I have 2 cats that stink up my apt. And have had bunny in past. Concerned with bringing my animals, plus my dogs dont get along well with my cats. But the smell.....
Just watched a 3 year old vid on Wonder Wash for laundry. Do you still use that?
Look at that beautiful 100k followers!! 😉
I wouldn't buy the water regulator style you show. Buy one that has a gauge and is adjustable. We were in a campground in wyoming that had high water pressure. We were told ahead of hooking up that the water pressure was high. So I put 2 of the style you show in series to be safe. Turned on the water and it blew out my brand new blue inline water filter. Split the whole side out.
so filled up the rv's water tank for that campground instead.
Excellent points all. Just a note that if you have a fifth wheel, those leveling devices you showed don’t work. I put them under my fifth wheel and crushed/broke/shattered them. Yeah it’s heavy, 16k.
Good point! I have a couple of treated 2x8s with the ends cut a 45. Also have the Anderson levers. Works Ok on my TT.
I just used them with my 36ft 5th wheel for 5 straight days and they worked as described and still in perfect condition.
Do not leave the lot with a trailer too big for your truck. Understand payload before you go