You have dreamed of going on the road in style. You have driven three days in the car with the kids to Grandma’s. You have pitched tents in the rain. You have watched the travel trailers pass you by - or have gone to an RV show or showroom and seen what is available, and now you have the want to, the time and the money to try it out!
But where do you start? What do you really need to know about before you buy a rig. Before start out on your first trip? This article with give you some basic ideas and answers (I hope) to some of the many questions.
Of course the first thing you need to do is decide how much you want to spend on an RV and what type of RV is best for you. Do you want to buy an new one, or a used one? A motorhome or a fifth wheel? A pop-up camper or a travel trailer? How big? There are so many choices and decisions!
How do you do this? A good way to start is by asking questions of people who travel in RV’s. Most RV’ers are eager to discuss the lifestyle with anyone! They will discuss their setup, problems, etc., at the drop of a hat! Things like what type of vehicle is best to pull a trailer/fifth wheel. What is a good tow vehicle to pull behind a motorhome. What length is best - short trips in a small trailer or a larger fifth wheel for full time living? These are just a few of the answers you can find just by going by a park and asking someone.
Another way is to RENT one. There are many places now open to try out a rig. Even U-Haul has small travel trailers to rent. A trip this way will give you some ideas as to what you might look for in a rig before you travel. It may also show you if the lifestyle suits you. Full Timing is not everyone's cup of tea!
Of course the dealers have answers, too. However, remember that they also want to SELL you something. Sometimes this interferes with getting proper answers, and if they don’t travel in their product, they may not be able to answer correctly! In our over 12 years of travel, I saw people pull into a park, and not be able to connect their trailer to the facilities, or even unhook their vehicle from the trailer. In one park, a trailer pulled into a spot that was just over the crest of a hill, left the tow vehicle, still connected, standing in the middle of the road, and to warn people, put lawn chairs just above the hill. This was in the middle of the night. When I awoke the following morning, I went and knocked on their door. No one at the dealers had shown them how to release the connection to the truck by jacking up the trailer, and the fact that they weren’t quite level didn’t help. If someone had come down that road, they would not have been able to stop before impacting the truck. It was frightening. Of course, not all dealers are this lax. But some are. And if you buy a used rig, it may be the same, unless the seller is willing to take you out and show you the ropes.
If you buy a used rig, be aware of the fact that there is no warranty (unless you have purchased from a dealer who will sometimes give a shot term - maybe 3 month - warranty). That means that any equipment that breaks will have to be repaired/replace by you. Unfortunately, RV equipment is not cheap to repair/replace. So be prepared. Our first rig needed a new furnace within one year, an awning the next year, and an AC unit the following year. Maintaining your equipment in A 1 condition should be your first priority! Even then, older rigs mean replacement sooner than later.
Make sure that you know the following information before you take your first trip.
Where are the fuses and are they marked legibly? How do you light the #1furnace, #2 hot water heater, #3 refrigerator, #4 stove/oven. Where are the controls for these items (on/off valves, etc.)? Is the TV antenna “boosted”? Where are the controls to raise/lower the antenna? Where is the booster switch located? Which lights are battery driven only? Where is the battery (or batteries)? How do I maintain it? Where is the water pump and switch? Where is the converter/inverter? Is there a generator? How does it work? Where are the switches? Where are the connections for Electric; Water; Sewer; Cable; Telephone (if used)? What chemicals do I need to carry with me for the tanks? What volume of water can I carry safely? What is the capacity of the Gray Water/Black Water tanks? How do I dump the tanks? How do I keep them clean? Where are the controls to dump? Are there slideouts on the rig? Where are the controls? What maintenance will keep the slides working best? Is there a satellite dish? Where are it’s controls? How do I position it?
Try to make sure you have ALL the books on All of the equipment in the rig, even the microwave and television. If there is a radio or clocks, try to get the books for them, too. If you purchase a motorhome (either Class C or Class A) try to obtain the books on the engine and chassis. They will come in handy!
Of course you also need to know how to pull/park the RV. The best way to do this is to take it to a large parking lot and practice, practice, practice! Backing up practice is especially necessary! Imperative if you have a large trailer or fifth wheel! You never know when you will need to back up. Maybe on a road that turns out to be a dead end? Or into a spot in a park without any pull through lots left open?
Know how tall you are!! Make sure your TV antenna is down before you move! I have seen lots of antennas torn off roofs! And now with the new small satellite dishes, I expect to see them fly off, too. Same with roof vents.....I've had to replace a couple of those over the years (red faced, LOL) Watch out for overhead power cables, tree branches, and don’t forget bridges! If truckers can get stuck under bridges, so can RV’s! Stop at an area truck stop and ask for a Truckers Bible, especially if you’re planning a long trip and Double if you plan on heading East! It lists low bridges all along the MOST of the highways and byways of the US. A LIFESAVER to RV roofs! Seen that YouTube video of the bridge in Massachusetts that opens trailers like a can-opener??? https://youtu.be/FTclRCQrrKE Check it out!
Hooking up your rig to tow - whatever type of rig you have - is also very important. Make sure you know how to hook up and unhook before you pull the rig further than your front yard! Practice backing under your hitch, and locking it. Practice on level ground and unlevel ground - not all campsites are level. Make sure you hitch is locked before pulling out. And if you have any slideouts, NEVER back under the hitch with the slide OUT. This can cause the slide to come off its tracks and the cost to have it put back can be in the thousands of dollars! My dad learned this the hard way.
I realize that this is a lot of information in a short space, but it covers lots of the questions/problems we have encountered in parks around the country. If it saves one RV’er from having a problem, I will be Thrilled!!!! Have fun on the road!
