FOR BEGINNERS: 5 "Newbie" RV Mistakes!

[@dian3145]

Great list! 7 years in and we still pack like we will cook every type of home meal and will be gone for 3 months instead of 5 days 🤣

[@j.patrickmoore9137]

One of our more memorable camping trips... rather than the wife planning it, we hitched up and let the truck decide which way to turn as we pulled out of the driveway. Our first night we stayed at one particular RV park and confirmed that we will never stay there again. Pulled out of there and found a real gem, in the woods and our spot was about 50 feet from the river. It became our base camp for exploration of the area. Sometimes a bit of serendipity is really good.

[@triplejadventures6733]

One mistake that we make to often is not leveling our rv trailer from side to side. We always level from front to back but will forget side to side until we’ve already unhooked. Annoys me to no end. Great video guys!

[@jamielynch4618]

Been there, many a time,,, sometimes my wife and will laugh, guess what forgot lololo

[@mandm132003]

Our scariest moment was when we had a wheel bearing go out and caught the axle on fire while driving down the interstate!! Luckily, we were ok and didn’t lose our whole rig but we had to replace the axle. Also, had to drop our camper in GA and drive back to Indiana. When it was fixed, we had to drive down to get it. 😅

[@carlsanders4680]

What you just said, DO NOT GET IN A HURRY !!!!!!!! I was a union ironworker for 35 yrs. When you get in a hurry is when mistakes happen. The old term comes to mind. SLOW IS STEADY, STEADY IS FAST !!!!!!! Could not be more true, I know. Ran jobs as supt. to crews for 31 of my 35 yrs. Get in a hurry, things can go sideways. Odd think is, one mans hurry is another man taking his time. Have to know what is you.

[@jhm68]

We had a saying in the printing industry. Slow and go, fast and crash.

[@swayme67]

Here is an honorable and respectful comment: Great Job, Great Video, please do 17 more years of content!

[@LongLongHoneymoon]

Thanks so much! Check back with me in 2041. It will be interesting to see what happened. 😂

[@dennisgardiner43]

On our very first trip with our vintage class-a, we had our generator fail. It was not for a lack of planning, inspections, or missed maintenance. The ignition module flat failed in 105° heat. It happened on day one, about 4 hours from home. We soldiered on using the dash A/C through 5 states, Zion and Grand Canyon. Things just happen occasionally. You have to roll with the punches.

[@akgobears]

Boy did i learn the #2 mistake in a large way ....And 5 minutes into our very first trip in the RV and about a mile from home...I had filled the drawer under the oven with cast iron stuff...Went around a corner heard this big crash, looked back and my drawer was on the ground with broken rails...Cant get much more rookie than that ...Needless to say , lessoned learned the hard way....Luckily all the stuff only fell about 6 inches onto the ground but it was repair time right off the bat....How many of you needed to have your RV repaired 5 min. into your very first trip....Hope i take the rookie of the yr award LMAO !!! I think i earned it !!!!

[@dawnlemieux3877]

Minimalist packing is my most important tip for enjoying the adventure. My goal is to not have to move anything when we travel and I’m getting close.

[@David-jo4gt]

Alternator caught fire, spent the night in a circle K gas station, got it fixed drove 200 miles then our new alternator was defective got it replaced and drove home. Yes it was quite an adventure.

[@waynehamilton2350]

We’re currently on a 90+ day trip and our TV blew a head gasket in the first month. We were able to reschedule a bunch of stops and it took two weeks out of trip. Pays to have rental car apps on your phone.

[@sonofabutcher7003]

Good point on ‘know your route’! We rolled into Dickinson ND one time on gas fumes because Google maps took us down all these back roads, no towns, no services. Luckily we made it though. To maybe expand on that tip, I will look for gas stations in advance now (more so on 2-lane roads) in satellite/street view to check the orientation of the gas pumps. So many gas stations have the pumps oriented 90* to the building which can make things interesting when trying to safely navigate into and out of the facility. Stations with pumps that are parallel to the building are much easier to navigate through.

[@hgoff5617]

Always chock your wheels. We had an "adventure" after we got home. Our driveway slopes. After unhitching and moving our truck, the camper decided to roll forward - collapsing our tongue jack in the process. Luckily that was the extent of damages.

[@carlsanders4680]

One thing you just said, do not let it rune your relationship. That is the one thing that I enjoy so much with my BRIDE. We love being with each other. We enjoy reading all the plaques at the historical sites. History is so much fun to enjoy.

[@JannaMontanna]

We had a first on our most recent trip: my husband, who does all the sewer connections and tank flushes to the trailer, went to attach the sewer hose to the drain pipe on the camper. When he took the drain cap off, he got a lap full of a couple gallons of black tank water! Yikes!! The black tank gate valve was not closed! Either the gate valve had worked its way open during travel, or he forgot to close it after flushing the tank at the last campground. Either way, I’m sure he’s gonna make sure that all the gate valves are tightly closed before removing the cap to the drain pipe next time! Thanks for all your good advice over the years, guys. We enjoy you so much! And it was sweet to see the clip of Baby Girl. I know you still miss her! 😢❤

[@kristymichael]

Black tank mistakes are the worst, lol! It happens to everyone eventually. And yes, we still miss our sweet Baby Girl so much! I’m so glad we have so many pictures and videos of her. 🥰

[@JannaMontanna]

❤❤❤ I know you still miss her. I still miss all the dogs I’ve owned over the years that have passed on. They never leave our hearts no matter how long it’s been. You may remember I told you a while back that we named our current dog Baby Girl after your sweet Baby Girl. ❤❤❤ 🐾🐾

[@russellriggan2088]

Poopsies! I had it happen at a nice RV park outside of Mesa Verde. I owned up to it, & let the park manager know. As soon as I got home I ordered a Valterra twist on waste valve as an extra measure of security.

[@badcompany3057]

Something like WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner Spray might come in handy with your electrical hook ups. Good vid.

[@We_R_Hitched]

Old school Valentine radar detector! Haven't seen one in forever!

[@LongLongHoneymoon]

Haha yep! 😂

[@cessnadriver7580]

Very good advice. I've been RVing for 46 years. During that time I've learned that what can go wrong will go wrong. Anticipate and prepare for the obvious... flat tire, water leaks, electrical problems, etc. Many times help will not be available or close by. You'll be on your own to repair your RV. Preparation is the key. Educate yourself about your RV. This means understanding the basic AC/DC electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling, and braking systems. Learn how to use a multimeter. It'll be your friend many times over. Prepare an RV specific tool kit. Carry spare repair parts (electrical wire and terminals, contact cleaner, crimping tool, fuses, thread sealant, silicone sealant, extra propane regulator, super glue, tire plug kit, etc.). Understand the importance of winterizing and de-winterizing. Develop checklists and follow them. Again... There is no substitute for proper preparation. All that being said, if you RV for a long time you'll become an accomplished electrician, plumber, carpenter, and HVAC specialist.🥲

[@airstreamer]

Planning your route is so important. We try to look ahead when we stop to get gas to make sure we can fit. We are not overpacked. "Your nose is growing"..... LOL. 🤣Great beginner tips you guys! -Michelle

[@TheOldSailorGMC]

Kristy and Sean another great video , you guys are our inspiration. We just returned from Alaska with our Airstream and watching your videos over the years gave us the confidence to go. And it was the trip of a lift time. Thank you both and please keepup the great work.

[@carlsanders4680]

Your first comment, towing. I was 17 and we had a boat. Thought I was a good driver. I started learning how to drive cars on my fathers farm and country roads when I was 14 sitting on my fathers lap. Just steering the car. At 15, drivers seat. Started driving our tractor at 12. All on county roads ( dirt ) or the farm. When I got my driver license at 16, thought I knew it all. Dad said , you can take the boat out with your friends if you prove you can handle it, Took me to a lot, said make a 180 turn around that light pole. Almost took it out 2 times and learned. I have a lot to learn. He thought me, and I was ok. Backing up with a trailer, you need to master also before hand. Also got taught. Point being, you thing you are good at driving. You do not know squat about hauling or backing. LEARN BEFORE !!!!! could save you thousands in $ I got lucky having a farm to learn how to drive on. Took my daughter there to practice a few times, but most she learned at home 1 hour north of atl. ga. 1 year of her getting her license, she was driving us thru Atlanta. Start teaching your kids early how to drive, they will be scared. They will thank you later. You might get a few early gray hairs, worth it.

[@carlsanders4680]

Just to what you are talking about connections for the RV hook up plugs. Do not have a boat any more, but when I did. Would have to wiggle the plug to make contact. Or in a garage remote, spin the battery to get contact again. Corrosion would get on the tips, spin the battery and contact would be made. If not replace the battery. Same with the pin connections. Wiggle, pull in and out. Might have to sand a touch.

[@angelaklinger2951]

I always love your videos. thank you for all your hard work and everything you do for the RV community. Hugs to you both.

[@kristymichael]

Thank you, Angela! We appreciate you! 💗🤙🏼

[@carlsanders4680]

Saw your hat couple yrs ago, bought one 1 yr ago. Love the hat. Need I say more !!!!!

[@carlsanders4680]

For every one that thinks RV life cost to much. Me and the love of my life I call my BRIDE. We have lived in our house for 35 yrs. Every one thinks , why should I live in an RV when it costs so much. Well, after living in our sticks and bricks for 35 yrs. Just in the last 10. We replaced 1 outside AC unite for about 5 K. 1 Upstairs condenser for about 4 K. 1 Complete deck overhaul for 11K. Re- paint the house for 4K 3 yrs ago ( 2nd time ) . New gutters 1 k. Replace exterior cedar siding 5K, ( 3 yrs ago ) . 1 downstairs condenser ( 8 yrs ago ) . List goes on . Point being, on the road or at home. Repair is going to happen, at home or on the road.

[@RV_with_Noni_and_Beard]

"Don't get in a hurry." - Yes, but even more important is "If you get interrupted (even a small interruption), STOP AND THINK before you resume."

[@lindabarkume2434]

I still don’t understand electricity but I do know I can’t run the electric heater and the coffee pot at the same time. 😁

[@hgoff5617]

Great video. My tip is don't get complacent - always check your rig!

[@bubsmp]

Some RV parks have the same name. I use RV trip wizard and found a park with their map but didn’t reserve it through their link that day. The next day I went to google and typed in the name of the park not realizing it was the same name park but in a different state. Went to check in (Texas) and no reservation found, pulled up the confirmation email (Mississippi) and realized my mistake. Luckily they (Texas) had one spot available, not for the length we planned on but got us through the next two days until we were able to figure out our next stop.

[@sandrab.5065]

That would be fun to share ALL the things that went wrong before, during, and after your RV trips-regarding your rig. 👍

[@DaveK84]

I think good rving comes with experience, you "will" make some mistakes and you "should" learn from them. We recently lost a sewer hose somewhere in Yellowstone, we now clip a carabiner to the sewer hose storage cover. The adventure really does begin once things go wrong and you will learn to adapt on the fly to save your trips. Inspired by Loloho we have been going on 2 week, 3 week, and recently a 4 week trip. Each time its more memorable and with its own logistical challenges!

[@PapawB]

ALWAYS Love & appreciate your hard-earned wisdom ! Patience is a valuable virtue when traveling RV style . . . “slow is smooth, and smooth is more enjoyable” . . . plan some “cushion” into travel days . . . Papaw “B”

[@duanelundgren7985]

Watching many of your videos was very helpful for me as my 1st (and only, so far) RV, a 5th wheel. Educational and Entertaining!! Thank You!!

[@edrodrigues3333]

You’re right, unexpected challenges are part of the adventure. Keeping the right frame of mind to overcome is crucial.

[@markwitkop7022]

Keep a portable air pump with you. Harbor freight has a good one, battery operated, power drill style. Keep your pressure where it belongs.

[@wolfhawg]

Capt. Ron " If it's going to happen it will happen out there"

[@kevinmcbride1866]

Wow, we just got back from Columbus but those pictures of the Tetons make me want to head back up there.

[@GuyCalypsoManOfLeisure]

Miss seeing you guys. Always love the videos from the road. It’s great to see you both

[@MO-vx3br]

Nice refresher to revisit all these topics.👍🏽Thank you.

[@randymartin5521]

I think a Murphy's Law video would be great. I've seen a few of your videos where things went awry and at least on camera, you handled them gracefully. I think it would be informative, cautionary, entertaining and probably a little humorous as well.

[@mrtowed]

Thank you, Continued blessings.

[@kristymichael]

Thank you, Mr. Towed! BTW, great name! 😄🤙🏼

[@mrtowed]

@@kristymichael 🤠🤙

[@tizmehere492]

At our first stop on our first long trip we connected to our water source and it was FULL of mud. If we had not had a water filter our entire water system would have been destroyed! Fortunately, we knew there was a Camping World about an hour away. We even talked about just turning around and going home BUT we didn’t. We got the new filter after a waterless evening and had a great month of Floridaians camping throughout the state of New Mexico. Every trip we learn something and move on! Oh, I bet we could challenge you as tire trouble experts. 😅

[@AcmeRacing]

The KOA in Dayton OH had brown water, which surprised us. City water at campgrounds varies widely.

[@tizmehere492]

@@AcmeRacing what we unfortunately encountered was literally slushy clay colored muddy water in northern Florida. We learned that before you hook your camper up to any water source, you run the water first so you can determine if you want/should use it. We always travel prepared with freshwater in our tank, and are capable of dry camping for 3 to 4 days.

[@stevenshircliff393]

Outstanding video! Learned quite a bit. Love the CDs in your visor from the early clip.

[@raymondschneider5217]

So many great reminders, Shawn and Kristy. Some repeaters, but, good reminders; sometimes our common sense is on vacation in the other way. Thanks for sharing and updating. Y'all Be Safe!

[@maryhamilton2053]

Just packing up now, needed to hear these words once again! I will be removing some canned foods immediately! See ya in JH!!💕🥂

[@rickrichardson5329]

Thats for another informative video. I appreciate the fact thst yall bring out the simple common sense things folks forget the most. Stay safe

[@tm8747]

i found out something to clean the female side of the trailer 7 way connection, its a tobacco pipe cleaner but online or any piper shop the flexable pipe cleaner , stick in the female end and clean away, male side i use a electric terminal cleaner , spray into the male side connection and cleanaway the debris . also i installed a flashing( metal or plastic of chose around the outside of the male base to help with rain, sleet, snow, or muddy, condition to continue to clean the 7 way plugs connection, i have also seen yours wrap the 2 connection together with a water proof wrap to seal the connections

[@allanwarmflash4440]

all this info is good for us full timers as well

[@ejs6010]

Having a check list for travel is a must. Hubby does the outside and rig preparation, wifey does the inside; (or vice versa). But let the division of tasks happen at the pace of each person - don't rush. Then enjoy!

[@ricklarson114]

Want to give you a positive comment - I always enjoy your show!

[@kristymichael]

Thank you, Rick! 💗🤙🏼

[@travelingfool9096]

just came back from a coast to coast cross country trip, overpacking, oh yea, the herd will be thinned. just my truck this year, but that bed on wheels is planned for next year.

[@johnkarlson8692]

Once again u guys show why ur the “best” givers of (real/true) info in regards to RV living and travel. Thank you; stay safe, stay healthy.

[@janicevoss864]

Always nice to have a refresher course. It never hurts. We always enjoy your videos. Safe travels this summer!!😊💕

[@newenglandrider3189]

Went on a trip in May (I live in the northeast). Our destination was Tennessee, our first overnight was in Pennsylvania. It dropped down into the 50s that night and the pilot light went out on our heating system. And we had no cold weather gear. Spent a cold night and on the road the next day stopped and bought a ceramic heater.

[@davidoverholt251]

I am so happy you are sharing the whole life of Seymore on the Road!

[@Todd_S]

We just went on two short trips in Utah. Bear Lake State Park and Rockport State Park. Thanks for the reminders! Great video.

[@kcdaniels58]

on our 7th year rving..last year on our trip from Florida to Maine in Virginia we lost #5 injector on our Bullet proofed and rebuilt 2004 f250 6.0 well turned out had to replace both heads (cracks in the ports) and all 8 injectors 😢 16 days in the same camp that was scheduled for two days...$9800 later we were on the road again😮.. made some new friends and so glad we found honest and knowledgeable mechanics!

[@jamielynch4618]

I think everybody that new to RVing should have to watch your video. You all put things in away, that new people said to themselves, We can do this. We been rving a while and you all bring a smile to our face's.

[@ShawnPatterson402]

always enjoy your content. Looking forward to seeing and hearing about your adventures once you get back on the road again. Continued safe travels....

[@kimplumer2122]

I've been watching you for a long time and still wear my LoLoHo shirts and hoodie. I no longer RV camp but I'm impressed that your routine maintenance on your beautiful Airstream has kept her rolling these almost 2 decades. That would be a good video. Also add a First Aid Kit in your RV.

[@gulfcoastbeemer]

When the unexpected happens the adventure begins. So true. We had to have one of our truck tires emergency repaired in an unfamiliar town when it was impaled by a screw. All ended well, we made new friends and found a terrific market that had a 12-pack of my wife’s favorite Maine Brew. Allagash White.

[@janicecrockett1400]

I am one of probably a few people that absolutely dislikes rv trip wizard. They lean to mobile, which I dislike, and do not play nice with google telling me I needed to download another browser which is a big no for me. As a senior I prefer to use the laptop for trip planning making things much easier for older eyes.

[@janewardguaraldi7975]

Your sharing of your rolling with the punches over the years has taught us so much as we prepared for Airstreaming. We are now over 7 years Airstreaming. Spare parts (latches, etc.). Is a must.

[@dawnlemieux3877]

We use “Find My” and “Life 360” with our kids so they can keep track of us. We try to warn them when we are going into an area with poor or no cell service, like many National Parks.

[@kristymichael]

Great idea!

[@r8edrv4fun65]

17 years 😮 I bet you have some great stories ❤

[@justinleib4986]

Thanks for all the tips over the years. I loved the same team tip. I have never commented before. But your comments of being nice made me want to be sure you got more thanks that you deserve for all your advice. You have made my RV'ing the last 6 years fun and easier.

[@kristymichael]

Thank you, Justin! We appreciate your support and kindness! 💗🤙🏼

[@michaelcain1870]

I hope you plan to keep going for another 20 years!

[@kristymichael]

Me too! 😁

[@williamfriddell4933]

We have a 40 ft tiffin Phaeton DP and have broke down twice in Kentucky and had to be towed in to freightliner. We now try not to go through Kentucky. First was a cracked fuel filter and second was rear brakes locked up at. 60 mph. We are still traveling at the age of 78 and don’t plan to quite anytime soon.

[@c8funjames245]

We’re heading to Canada from Florida…great tips!!!

[@DrMott]

Fantastic especially for veteran rv'ers like us!! Thank you!

[@edwardzvonik7157]

Thank you for what you do, always look forward to the next video. We been on the road for the past month in Spokane how.

[@allanwarmflash4440]

greetings from N D and from Roosavelt National park great info safe travels

[@lauramouser]

Maybe we will see you up north. Headed to Glacier then Yellowstone and Tetons on Monday.

[@fishaddict2]

We use RV Life Trip Wizard for route planning and locating camp sites along our route. But for navigating we prefer a dedicated GPS and use the Garmin RV890 since I don't like navigating off of a phone. Btw, all of this advice is spot on! We used to load the whole house in our 5th wheel, we've found we can do just fine with much less.

[@DonRobertson-ub4fu]

Great video! One of your best comments was concerning traveling with someone else. Remember, you're in this together. 🙂

[@clydesanders2520]

We have found RV ing is solving each issue one at a time. We recently finished a 3 week west road trip. It went great and I just realized we actually had a lot of small issues but we took care of them one at a time and enjoyed our trip so much we want a longer one.

[@waynehogue2499]

Great recap for all of us. Add to checklist about bikes. Are the bikes secured? Didn’t happen to us but did see bikes bounce out of the rack behind the trailer on the road. Scary!

[@deebutler4217]

Great video! Hope to meet you both on the road someday!

[@ericnunn8856]

Best advice I’ve heard/ you’re on the same team Thanks for sharing your travels 🤙

[@michaelmumford8676]

We really enjoyed this video. We've been RVing since 2002 and still learned a lot from this video. Good job, keep up the good work. Always enjoy your adventures.

[@adventureswithgnomie6553]

Safe travels during your adventures!

[@EvenaGirlCanDoIt]

Love the AUSTIN, TEXAS BATS shirt! Did y’all have time to go see them fly from the Congress bridge on y’all’s visit to Austin?

[@dougcooper4917]

Excellent Advice! Well Done! Thank you.

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

Great video as always, you guys are the best for RVing ideas, and practical knowledge regarding RV life. Here's a quick tip regarding electrical plug care and assuring a good connection always. It appears you use die-electric grease to protect the contacts from corrosion. This is absolutely a requirement and best practice. But because the grease attracts dirt and debris, it's also imperative to clean these connections and reapply the grease as often as needed. The quickest and most effective way is to buy a can of spray "electrical contact cleaner". This is a non-flamable spray that will completely wash away all grease and the dirt that sticks to it. The spray dries almost immediately. Compressed air can also assure all the dirt is removed. At this point the connections on both the cable and the truck plug can be re-coated with die-electric grease.

[@burtbennett]

#6 ---- ALWAYS get fuel well before you need it !!!

[@kristymichael]

lol, yes!!!

[@AcmeRacing]

I was going to suggest that too. Not all gas stations are laid out well for a full-sized truck towing a trailer. It's not just that you need fuel, you want to get it from a station _with maneuvering room._ I'd like to have a conversation with whoever put the pump islands 90 degrees to the roadway at service plazas on I-90 in MA. They're horrible when you're towing. They're uniquely cramped and usually busy.

[@marknorwood107]

A lesson learned,, the toe vehicle fuel is a major determination. Gas versus Diesel fuel stops is a huge disqualifying factor. I’ve found diesel is more 5th wheel friendly versus Gas fuel pumps in the mid west region

[@thewanderingpinto5979]

Carry a good basic tool kit. You may not be able to repair your transmission on the side of the road, but you can do some minor repairs when needed.

[@deepsea631]

You guys' advice was great when we started RV'ing many years ago. Giveing another 'newbie' refresher is a great idea. Thanks! Can you do a video on tires? I know that the Chinese may-pop RV tires may not be the best, but how have the LT tires performed for all the miles you've put on your RV? Thanks a second time!

[@scottcarpenter2317]

Thank you for your list and everyone that has committed, real useful

[@bradkarengeauxc7750]

Thanks for the advice.

[@cathyhennessey9018]

I really enjoy your show. Real honesty. I have not gone across the country yet, but I'm taking notes.👍

[@garyhueske9682]

I see you were in Lexington Nebraska going to the Walmart!!

[@LongLongHoneymoon]

Wow, good eyes!!! 👀

[@davidst.pierre2876]

You guys are great. take care

[@patriotone755]

Great refresher, thank you!

[@troyclawson5677]

great advice have a blessed week!

[@TheDaubSquad]

Great tips. Love the CD case on the visor. Mrs. DaubSquad had a mishap this summer on our second Big Trip Out West. She fell in the Grand Canyon. Well, we were at the Grand Canyon and she fell. Bad sprain. We had to come home. No Utah, Zion, Bryce, etc. We’re pretty sure we were divinely being saved from something.

[@lawrencefiebig2033]

Please make sure your dump hose is securely attached to its fitting. Had one come off while dumping black tank was not pretty. Lol

[@robertdunlop1186]

Out here in Australia we travel often on unsealed, corrugated roads. Thus managing tyre pressures is always an issue. On a trip in 2022 managing tyre pressures for one member of the group took on an interesting turn. The pressure guage that was being used could measure in PSI and kPa. The conversion is as follows 40psi is equal to 275kPa. Unfortunately the guage was set to kPa thus putting what was thought to be 25 psi turned out to be more in the order of 36psi which was far too high for the road we were travelling. This of course meant that quite a bit of damage occurred inside the caravan before the error was recognised. Such an easy mistake to make with quite serious consequences.

[@ericktucker3921]

Spare tires. Make sure both the truck and trailer have one and are up to proper air pressure

[@jamesburnside3023]

And rated for what they are to do no car tires on a trailer

[@PatIreland-k5i]

Not planning your Route in DETAIL. If you have turns identified by mile marker, you will make those turns without confusion. Schedules can be the worst hazard in RVing. If you are pressed for time, you can make mistakes, like traveling in bad weather. Best rule - if you feel unsafe, slow down, stop, or leave as required to resolve your unsafe feeling.