Top 10 Beginner RV Mistakes (And How To AVOID Them!) || RV Living

[@miconn69]

As a trucker, I thank for remembering and reminding others that we are on the clock. The biggest pet peeve is parking on the fuel island. If you are going to be in there longer than the time it takes to get your fuel receipt, please pull off the island and park in the lot. Thanks!

[@GetawayCouple]

Of course! We try to get in and out of there as fast as possible and other RVers should too 👍

[@jefferyschic]

Dont be accused of pump and leave!

[@Sir_Austin_T_Gee]

@@jefferyschicif you’re in the truckers’ fuel island, the staff at the truck stops EXPECT you to pull out of the fuel island before you come into the store. But at most truck stops I’ve ever been to, you’re either paying at the pump or going inside (pay at the pump is so much easier btw) so doing a “pump and leave” isn’t even possible. Most stations for regular cars won’t even allow a “pump and leave” to happen anymore.

[@oxenforde]

Before you drive off, walk completely around the rig. Doors/windows closed. Hoses/cables disconnected and stowed. Nothing loose. Look in the campsite for things left behind. Look under the rig for anything hanging down. Obstacles blocking the rig. Trees. Obstructions on the ground.

[@lauracourtharmon9328]

All blocks or chocks removed from tires lol

[@rtchocolate]

Don’t get distracted by talking to someone, even a family member or cg friend, while you are getting ready to break camp. That’s when you will forget to do something you normally don’t even have to think about bc it is part of your routine. If you’re going to talk, just stop and talk; don’t try to task at the same time.

[@warrenkawamoto8660]

Don't forget the dog leashed to the bumper.

[@duanewilson3941]

You should never ever leash a dog to any vehicle. God I hope you were joking.@@warrenkawamoto8660

[@warrenkawamoto8660]

@@duanewilson3941 That came from National Lampoon's "Vacation" kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpy3Zppno52HrJo

[@steve_put_this_here]

The bad 1st time Newbie mistakes: 1) Not checking wheels/lug torques leaving, and at least once on the road. 2) Thinking that its a great idea to leave the grey/black water valves open when hooked up, and letting sewer gases into your rig. 3) Not learning the fast shower techniques while boondocking and burning through 3 days of water in 1 day. 4) Going RV'ing anywhere in the winter without a generator. 5) Having no tools to fix common RV repair issues 6) Thinking your (enter any small SUV make here) will effectively tow close to your vehicle's tow rating effectively on inclines at highway speeds, in 98 degree weather. 7) Thinking "potable" means you can hook your supply lines up directly to that gnarly faucet and expect pure alpine spring water. 8) Expecting the 'amazing' wifi coverage at the campground will satisfy your family's need for phone/video/social media because it's advertised on their website. 9) Not turning on the vent hood over your stove, and thinking the RV's air conditioning will keep up with yoru stove's BTU output. 10) Expecting the guy you're parked next to will, a) not be slightly detached from reality, b) not be noisy, c) clean up after his dog, d) keep his dog quiet at 3am, e) clean up his trash.

[@stevematthews6891]

You should make a webpage, that's exactly what I'm gonna go look for right now -

[@nomad4k]

You should make a video please if you could. They make some good points but you have some too. We learn as we go and habits we form after making mistakes are what make living in an RV easier and surprise free, and stress free.

[@willthetrucker7613]

I'd recommend a Garmin or Rand McNally GPS in lieu of Co-Pilot. As a trucker, I can tell you that Co-Pilot is notoriously bad. I'd also recommend getting a full updated trucker atlas too. It will show you truck routes, low clearance and restricted roads. All National Forests have an Motor Vehicle Usage Map (MVUM) available to the public. That will show you where you can and can't go, as well as what type of camping is allowed for all areas inside the NF. Lastly, tires. Get the 2lb sledge as a tire thumper and you'll know by the sound of the thump if there's a problem. A high pressure tire gauge is a good idea too. We check our tires at the beginning and end of every leg of every journey. Kinda like I do when I'm trucking. 10 minutes a day checking your truck and camper goes a long way.

[@susans7091]

Thank you for the tip on getting a trucker atlas to show low clearance. And the tip to subtract a few inshes for road resurfacing! I just bought a high top van with fans and solar on the top. I most definitely do not want them getting damaged. Where do I get a trucker atlas and what specific one?

[@tomh9807]

@@susans7091 GET the glossy Rand McNally TRUCKER Atlas. Every Flying J , Pilot, TA, PETRO sells it. Can between one from last year. Those usually sell for $20 to 25 instead of $45 for the newest.

[@BobWright42]

Turn off your outdoor speakers, before watching a "Non Family Friendly" movie!!

[@GetawayCouple]

Good one!😉

[@Ottertailllll]

It wasn’t a movie

[@eanschlotzhauer8059]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@benpender4395]

OMG

[@mrs19jr]

🤣😂🤣 Thank you in advance. This would've been me!!!!

[@vegas9440]

As a truck driver, I approve this message and have 1000% respect for these guys..

[@johngoodell115]

When packing up we always complete the task we are working on before starting anything else. Examples: when disconnecting the water hose, always disconnect everything, including the pressure reducer and filter, and put everything away before starting the next task. Same idea with the electrical cord. When stowing the camp chairs, make sure the storage door is shut and locked when you are done. When closing the door to the trailer, make sure the welcome mat is stowed, the steps are up, hand rail folded, and door is locked. In other words, don't do any of these tasks halfway. My wife does the inside tasks, and I do the outside. She has her own system for making sure everything is done inside before bringing in the slides. I think shared responsibilities are a formula for disaster. We both do a walk-around inspection looking high and low, including windows and antennas. Finally, and do a tail-light check.

[@iammrfancypants]

Are these robots? Is this a Walmart corporation based mk ultra experiment?

[@sportscardsdistributions3148]

Just an FYI on the electrical extension cord for outside hookup. I have a 50 amp 25ft extension. It is quite heavy and bulky. Most people just put it in a bulky box for storage. I bought a $5 5 gallon sturdy plastic with handle paint bucket and dual wrap spiral the extension inside it. It is easy to carry and when parked I leave it in the bucket and unwrap only the amount I need. keeping the bucket under my slideout and out of rain.

[@hoopscorner6458]

Do not keep your extension coiled up when using as causes induction and will reduce current and create heat.

[@misschristine4268]

KNOW THE HEIGHT OF YOUR RIG!! Yes, The first time we rented an RV in Las Vegas, we drove through a covered patio area as we were leaving our car behind in the parking lot. I'll mention, it was a a little over 100 degrees.....with 2 dogs and a cat. We ripped the air conditioner right off the top of the rig... had to spend the night in a hotel and buy the rental company a new air conditioner before we could leave on our trip. Great video!! You two are so cute.

[@naknaksdadn572]

Excellent tips guys! Write the height plus 6 inches onto your mirrors because the DOT might have added pavement and did not change the height signs. This could be costly! For travel trailers, lock the tongue hitch with a pad lock and the hitch on the truck with a locking pin. Do not assume there aren't pranksters out there that will unhitch your trailer while you are stopped for a rest somewhere. Also, always do a walk around each time you stop, check the hatches, doors and windows as well as your tires. We carry 25 extra gallons of fuel. Got caught in an area that just got hit by a storm and only one gas station was open. i pulled out the tanks, used a pump and filled up. Also extra propane tanks and always have them full. Pack up the day before the travel day so you aren't stressed out/worn out. Landing gear is it up, is it up, is it up? Stabilizers, are they up? Don't assume hubby or wife did it. My wife actually lowered the landing gear when i assumed it was up and i dug a ditch in the dirt road for a few feet. i got out and pretended to be planting seeds into it. Had the grounds keepers falling out of their mowers. We actually shower up and hook up and stow the stinky slinky just before bed so we are ready to pull in the slides and get going rested early in the morning. Food shopping is also done the day before. With families traveling with kids (like ourselves) Plan frequent rest stops. We are in no hurry to move along (full time) so we do not travel more than 250 miles/ 5 hours/ day. Just our 2 cents, hope we helped.

[@GetawayCouple]

These are all fantastic tips!! Awesome advice for all RVers out there 😊We totally agree with all of them especially the 250 miles/5 hour travel days. Thanks for adding all of this information for our fellow RVers!

[@susans7091]

Pranksters unhitching - yikes!

[@WanderinPat]

carry at least ONE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.... and make sure it's operational.

[@jerrydiver1]

And you WILL need one if you RV long enough. And there are states where you fail safety inspection for not having one. Tickets ruin vacations.

[@Millennialmonitor]

And actually know how to use it.

[@zinnataylor4348]

😂y’all saving life’s

[@oxenforde]

Hoses still connected when you drive off. Not that I did that once. Which was extremely embarrassing. Not me. Never happened. EVER. Didn't.

[@GetawayCouple]

Hahaha oh no! And we’ve never made any of the mistakes in this video either 😉

[@reeblesnarfle5443]

Well said!

[@kevinsigler6747]

#2, after you measure your height I recommend writing it down in front of your face in the cab. (was it 14'-13" or 13'-14"?)

[@GetawayCouple]

Great tip!

[@dalejacaway4881]

Why wouldn't you be 14 foot 2 or 15 ft1

[@heritagecarving]

@Joe Casson @dale jacaway was just making a joke.

[@TouringAV]

good point! You wouldn't want to go e. g. here kzbin.info/www/bejne/anrXfKZug5yCd7s, without that note... Rental vans, light trucks etc have that on a neat-looking sticker -- for a reason, I guess :) -- you could take some sort of transparent self-adhesive film or similar and make an equally neat-looking one for your rig, too. Most printers these days can do so much more than just 'write' on paper...

[@RoadTripEddie]

@kevin Sigler Where did you learn to measure ? There is no such thing as 13'-14" or 14'-13" There is 12" to every foot. Once you exceed 12", then the number changes by adding another foot.

[@ericvisser113]

The issue with 30amp vs 50amp is if you use too much power (watts not volts), then you will trip the breaker on the post outside because too much current (>30 amps was demanded). The issue is not voltage. RVs can have both fuses (12 volt DC side) and circuit breakers (120 volt AC side). GFCI means Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. These are outlets which can send excess electricity to the ground wire in the event of a short and offer additional protection on top of circuit breakers. GFCIs are located near sinks. People commonly trip GFCIs by plugging in items that pull too much power from a single plug (toaster and electric frying pan will sometimes cause it to trip)

[@stargazer7644]

GFCIs don't send "excess electricity to the ground wire in the event of a short". They make sure the current that flows out of the outlet on the hot wire returns on the neutral. If it doesn't, then it is flowing to ground through something else that it shouldn't - possibly through you. When this is detected, it interrupts the power within a few tens of milliseconds.

[@frankgioia]

Use a dry marker and write the height by the driver side windshield so you can easily compare it to signs. Actually add 2 or 3 inches to it. A little wiggle room in the event that there was an error made, especially when repaving is done under the bridge.

[@GetawayCouple]

Great tip! Thank you for adding this 👍

[@karenyork5578]

This is a great idea Frank!

[@mikebarnea4789]

I used to do that with directions, much easier to keep track of what exits to look for.

[@MirandasAngel]

Don't to forget to add the roof top A/C unit if it has one.

[@gregsmith7391]

My Uncle took off two AC units on his 5th wheel because he went under a bridge that he thought he had clearance for but the road he was on had snow pack.

[@openskies4245]

Fairly new to RVing ourselves but I have three memories from doing it with my parents and we managed to repeat the same mistakes in slightly alter forms that made us refer to them as "The Three Curses." I'll share my post but you've given me inspiration for a video. Completed the #4 Elliott RV Curse: mosquitoes. History lesson: somewhere in Nebraska, the RV's air conditioner wouldn't work, so we had to open windows only to find there were no screens and the rig quickly filled with mosquitoes. So, last night, we forgot to close the passenger window after using it to help D positon the RV in its spot. All night, we were killing oversized - but not Daddy mosquitoes. We were calling then Covid mosquitoes and wondering which sign of the apocalypse they were. About 6AM, the boys woke to hear a kitten mewing outside and found Popeaux (an inside only cat) had escaped through said window and wanted back INSIDE! #openskies

[@dr.larrybenyacob8475]

lol lol i needed this laugh. We are first timers so I am nervous.

[@duanewilson3941]

Thump all your tires before you leave as part of your pre trip. Best to know if you have a low or flat tire before your out on the interstate. 35 yrs retired driver. Have a check list and follow it.

[@GetawayCouple]

These are great tips to add, thank you!

[@stargazer7644]

That's covered by the TPMS tip.

[@jamesharoldsmith9908]

Hey guys! As a life long RV’r ... and a professional RV Sales and Service provider who worked at one of the Southeast’s most reputable RV dealerships... I say “Hats off to you both!” Great job on the video. Your oh so correct in that most everything you mentioned is going to happen to you at some point. No doubt there will be the lucky ones that haven’t encountered any of these issues yet. ( they’ll have their day, lol) The key to understanding your RV and some of the issues that you WILL encounter will make the difference between a GREAT TRIP ... and a MISERABLE TRIP! Great job! Thanks for the posting!

[@GetawayCouple]

Hey, James! Thanks so much for the compliment. You're definitely right about understanding that everyone makes mistakes! Just have to learn to roll with it so you don't ruin the trip 👍

[@robertd9850]

I went out to check on my new camper a few days after I put it in storage. I opened the vent in the living room and . . . left it that way. To my incredible good fortune, the neighbor of a friend who helped me learn about RV's also had an RV in storage there, texted a pic to my friend, who then told me so I could go close it. The second I got back, I began 3 checklists - one for leaving it in storage, one for setting up camp, and one for breaking camp. I dutifully use those lists like I'm about to pilot a full 747.

[@markflowers5189]

In addition to checking tire pressures often during travel, I also check hub temperatures for bearing failures. Get a laser temperature gauge ($20-30) and hit each hub as soon as you stop. If one hub is way higher than the others you need to check your bearings.

[@jonathonmerritt6451]

I keep a space heater in my rig. Why use propane when I can use a campgrounds power to heat my rig.

[@naknaksdadn572]

We use a dehumidifier all the time. It keeps the moisture out as well as the smells of 4 people living in a rig fill time.

[@timothyblazer1749]

Propane is for boondocking. I think a small fan based space heater is a great addition for when you are actually hooked up to shore power, considering most RV sites don't meter electricity.

[@adamessayli8671]

Sometimes you have to pay for power 😭

[@Badgeman99]

great idea...until the coffee maker kicks on - then one of life's choices is made - let the coffee finish and freeze or skp the coffee and be warm. To me the choice is obvious.

[@missingremote4388]

@@Badgeman99 cook coffee on the gas range. I use a espresso 2 cup , italian coffee percilator. But I abandoned my RV , 10 years ago.

[@northerniggy8261]

A few extra you might want to add to the list: Pack extra electrical fuses... particularly if you run a generator. The 40 amp fuses can be tricky to get, so hit-up an RV dealer before you leave (if your box uses them). Wood blocks... for leveling. 2x6 wide works great for most. 30 to 15 or 50 to 15 adapters, leave them in your trailer, you might not make it to your intended destination, and not all parks have the full range of power outlets. Duct tape, electrical tape. Roof Vent Covers... they should be standard on all RV's, but they are not. When it rains, you'll understand! Fold-away dirty laundry bags. Garbage cans... two.. one for garbage, one for pop/water bottles. They add up quick. Screws, various lengths, and a screwdriver or drill/bits to use them. Things get loose (valances, etc). Sewer line extensions. Sewer line supports (sloped is best). Nothing like having hookups and not being able to reach them either!

[@Badgeman99]

great advice. My wife thought i was crazy for having so many extra fuses, even fuses that we don't need for our camper. But, I've been the hero on several occasions when "new friends" stopped by to ask if I had an extra 40A fuse. AND ALWAYS carry extra first aid gear.

[@jerrydiver1]

If you like supporting a dealer with their markup, fine. But don't forget your alternate sources, like big-box stores and online.

[@111nantucket]

We made a huge mistake on our first trip in our 31' trailer. We filled the 100 gallon fresh water tank before leaving even though we were headed to a site with full hook-ups. One hundred gallons equates to 800 lbs. Needless to say, we had to have the tank supports replaced (thankfully under warranty) when we got back.

[@LifeOnTheSkids]

Jaxon's Room the tank supports should handle traveling with a full tank as that’s required when you dry camp. I’m glad they covered your trouble under warranty. 👍. Was there another issue why they failed? Again supposed to handle traveling with a full tank if there is no hookups at your destination.

[@swilliams1759]

What brand of camper did you have?

[@shawzall404]

Always carry a surge protector to meter shore power. I have seen several occasions where one wasn't used and entire electrical systems were lost. I'd go further to say, always carry a generator with you, even on a short weekend excursion. That way, if the park does lose power, you are covered. (this has happened to us 3x this year)

[@lindavoll9555]

Not trying to be stupid here, just not experienced… is that like a regular household surge protector ?

[@drsweet420]

if you look for propane fill stations instead of swapping them for tanks in a gate they will fill the whole tank for you, giving 5lbs more, usually tanks prefilled are sold at 15lbs of gas not 20 like the tank will hold

[@GetawayCouple]

Thanks!

[@geod3589]

Great tip! I learned this years ago but I wonder how many people are aware they are only getting 15lbs instead of 20 for the same price? I also recommend 2 30lb'ers instead of 20's if they fit your RV.

[@stargazer7644]

They only put 15 pounds of propane in a 20 pound tank because it is extremely dangerous to fill a propane tank above 80%. That's 16 pounds. You MUST leave room for the liquid to expand in the tank when it gets hot, or you'll rupture the tank.

[@allanchow8528]

My 90 years old grandpa laughing along while ur show is on, it is very difficult to see him smiles, u both make a special and lovely day for him, thank you very much

[@richardweitzel7044]

Great video and love your sense of humor! I would add three additional mistakes. (1) Not knowing how to properly hook up the trailer to the tow vehicle; (2) Not practicing backing up techniques with your partner. I have found from personal experience that some folks are better than others with hand signals. Now my 10 year old grand-daughter helps me flawlessly! ; (3) start the fridge up several days ahead of time to get it precooled and make sure that it is working!

[@GetawayCouple]

Those are great tips to add, thank you!! We definitely agree with all of them 😊

[@jaydeeguti3341]

You forgot having a surge protector on your electrical and also a water pressure regulator on your water hose inlet

[@mayasdaddy1]

For things like lowering your antenna or putting in your steps, write a note and put it on the steering wheel. If you normally drive the towing vehicle, tape a conspicuous piece of paper on the front of your 5th wheel so you will see it in the mirror when you hook up.

[@GetawayCouple]

Great tips to add!

[@Southerngirl7305]

Here are a few more for your list make sure are vents and antenna are down and if you have to push up the stairs that you do it. Also I purchased a vac and seal machine prepared alot of meals like beef stew, omelets and etc. You can just zap them in the microwave and you have a delicious meal in minutes and no big clean up. Love your video never thought of the on board air tank and we are guiltily of a few like the extension cord.

[@GetawayCouple]

Thanks for the tips!

[@williamwhittom2973]

with your slides out measure them so they wont knock over the electric box of hit the water. then when you back in, lay something out that size so you know how far away you need to be.

[@TheTimmieboy]

I’m a full timer in a class A fleetwood for 3 years now, great tips on the video .....wish I seen this when I first started off. I think the biggest for me starting off was to know where the power outlet is , where and how to hook up the sewer hoses properly. Nothing beats a leaking sewer hose heading towards the neighbors.

[@GetawayCouple]

lol oh no!! I can imagine the fear on their faces watching leaky sewage head towards them. So glad you liked the video. Maybe we'll make an RV 101 for setting up and taking down the rig on moving days to help future newbies 😊

[@belindaharmon8514]

TheTimmieboy z@

[@mindylinsdau6072]

Putting our awning out when no one else in the park had theirs out. Reason why? Rogue gail force winds that come out of nowhere. It did not end well for us😕

[@GetawayCouple]

Oh no! That's not good. Jason is super paranoid about using the awning and sudden winds so we rarely use it 😂

[@kennyhughes5476]

Just dealt with the same issue in Destin, FL. Fortunately, we got it in without any damage!

[@naknaksdadn572]

Ahhhh, when not at home pull that thing in, always.

[@timothymitchell6415]

Useless comment: While in Cody, WY I checked the weather for expected winds before putting out the awning. Page one for Cody said 19 mph. But there was a weather alert. The alert read, "sustained winds of 40 - 45 mph with gusts of 65 mph". What happened to 19? LOL

[@tycross6456]

Mindy Linsdau 7

[@hastabyebye]

#11 Always make and use a pre departure checklist. (Like pilots use a preflight checklist)

[@shiftfocus1]

I’ve made a checklist too, but I’ve developed it into a walk around where I touch everything that needs to be checked. I do it the same way every time. For critical things like the hitch, I have a count of the connections to confirm - 7 things must be checked.

[@rxonmymind8362]

No different than camping. Make sure every single gear that you bought works in the driveway of your home first before you hit the road. That includes the outdoor BBQ gas grill it's still in the box in your storage or any other thing of magic you bought for the RV. Test it out at home!

[@mindya1799]

Any chance of getting a copy of your "preflight list"?

[@kathleensassie9988]

@@mindya1799 is there any way you could send me a copy of the **check list** you have so that we can adapt it to our needs. Please Send it to: [e-mail] Thank you!

[@powerline101]

Jo M. Am I the only aircraft mechanic here?

[@DucatiQueen]

Always remember that you are TOWING something HUGE . You will look at trees, power lines, overhangs and under paths in a whole new way 👍🏼

[@kittygonzalez2827]

Never in my life have I thought about towing a trailer...and gassing up! I live in a toy hauler, and don’t have a pick up or anything to tow it with...so, your FIRST TIP IS EXCELLENT!

[@mrozborn100]

You can buy a regulator that automatically switches from the empty tank to the full. That way the "empty" tank is actually empty when you go to fill it. And it still sucks getting up at 3 am to switch over. Plus if you're off the grid you don't want your propane fridge getting warm.

[@dominicoconner1973]

One thing a lot of people don't think about is if you have your fridge running on propane make sure to turn it off when you stop to re fuel as there is an open flame.

[@edd6917]

Awesome video! Not sure if someone commented on this already, but on your height measurement... don't forget to add those extra inches for anything mounted to the roof! Would hate to trade those AC units for an open hole on the roof.

[@heresjohnny4836]

or lose solar panels or satelite dishes etc...

[@jacobsouthward947]

We took our class c to the nearest camp ground in Altoona Iowa at Adventureland which us 12 miles from home. This gave us a chance to familiarize ourselves to our class C. Had a great time. Only thing we have forgotten on our travels was the TV antenna. Drove 200 miles and parked at our next campsite. Oops. Usually we hook up satellite but some days we can't get signal. Great videos folks. Love the chickens.

[@danmurphy5623]

Great video, guys! We started RVing in '16 with a 6-month trip. We still have our 34' TT and are still married. ;-) Before you leave, take your time and walk around the trailer very patiently and check everything out - windows, doors, vents, antenna, etc. Do it slowly, take your time. Check the hitch, too. Have your partner do the same. Sometimes,my wife is in a rush to get going and gets mad when I do the walkaround. Can't tell you how many times I found something amiss.

[@GetawayCouple]

That's such a great tip! That's fantastic to hear you're still married after years of RVing 😉

[@Alamaric]

Make sure your windows and shower fan vents are closed before you drive away. Windows can open and get ripped right off. Also, invest in a hard start capacitor for your AC unit. Easy to install and will save the on the huge pull or surge the AC does when it turns on. This helps A LOT if you are using a generator for power.

[@matthewmoreno8305]

Yea like you said about the filling up! not my first time pulling a trailer but first time pulling a camper and pulling into the gas station was hell on top of that i almost took out the post that keeps from hitting the pump so i reposition myself and got the clear and have an older camper so the front end is squared out and my i had a regular bed as soon as i cleared and was watching to make sure i didnt hit the post i forgot about my turn radius and shattered my back windshield!! not a good day that was!

[@DavidGriffis]

Make sure your stabilizer bars are up before moving. Connect your 7 pin to your vehicle. Things like that are easy to forget.

[@MichaelPetersenprideboy]

you missed two use a water pressure regulator at the water spout. you dont want to blow out the pipes. also use a RV surge protector it will cut power to the rig in case the city power is not as good and it will prevent an electrical surge

[@timothyblazer1749]

100%. Both have saved me grief.

[@philipethier9136]

I don't use the water hookup. When the one-way valve failed when I dewinterized, I redid the water system and amputated it. Water tank is good enough for me, and the system has a leak-detector by default.

[@freewill1114]

Surge Guard: don't leave home without it. Ditto for the pressure regulator.

[@robhoffman2070]

Also use proper punctuation and capitalization.

[@susans7091]

Oh dear, I don't understand these about the surge protector.

[@chutton54]

I made the door mistake, left a parking lot, turning across 2 lanes. Came to a stop on a overpass. The door flew open. I didn't see my cat, I put it in park jumped out of the drivers seat got the door shut and locked. Wesley my cat, didn't get out. My most recent mistake was in my new, to me class A. I took off may 17 last month, have put a little over 2000 miles. Leaving death valley going into Nevada I hear a banging , I pulled over got out walked around,I didn't see any problems. Start down the road again, and the banging starts again. In my driver mirror I see my bedroom window flopping open and Slamming close. Got pulled off the road again. My emergency exit locks were unlocked. I never thought to check them. Thank you for getting people, to think about, what can go wrong, probably will. Enjoy your travels.

[@GetawayCouple]

Oh no! So glad you were able to get through both of those mistakes without any long term damage. That's awesome your window didn't break! And even more awesome your cat was ok! Glad you liked the video! Happy travels!

[@stephencobb5483]

Getaway Couples

[@feliperodriguez6885]

Regardless of what type of rv you have always have a spare, proper jack and tools to change the tire, was on a trip with my sister and her family when the right side outside rear tire blew on their class c rv, my brother-in-laws logic was we have triple A we don't need a spare or tools to change the tire. Triple a was no help and we had to limp back to the nearest town to buy a new tire but since it was on a Sunday the tire place was closed and had to wait till the next day. MORAL OF THE STORY CARRY A SPARE AND THE TOOLS NEEDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE OF YOUR RV YOURSELF, ALSO IF YOUR TRAVELING AN HOUR OR MORE TO A CAMPSITE OR WHERE EVER YOUR GOING CARRY 2 SPARES FOR YOUR TRUCK AND OR RV.

[@robertterrill165]

Check with your local state DMV for differant Driver License requirements when getting your RV. Here in Nevada, if you pull a trailer over 10,000 lbs, you need an endorsement on your license. If your combined weight is over 26,000 lbs, you need a class "A' and if you drive a motorhome with a total gross weight of 26,000 lbs, you need a class "B" license. If your truck or motor home has air brakes, it requires a seperate air brake endorsement. If you take your Class 'A" non CDL drive test with a vehicle that has an automatic transmission, you will have a restriction on your DL that you can "only drive an automatic"

[@Brutsie]

Never empty a black or grey tank without previously having memorzed the procedure. (#1 & MOST IMPORTANT) On a macerator pumped black tank is to unscrew the cap and store it in a memorable place BEFORE placing the hose tip into the sewer and covering it with a rock,

[@shawnthompson5718]

The other fuel tip should include the fact that gas mileage is WAY worse! And, when you need a gas station there isn’t one. My last trip I put 15.3 gallons in a 15 gallon tank. Thankful for a little tiny rural station Siri didn’t know about. Also, I didn’t need longer electric last trip....I needed longer water supply. Still learning. Great video.

[@GetawayCouple]

Thank you! We all learn as we go, and every rig is different too!

[@ronaldsanchez1341]

#1 SHOULD BE; NEVER PUBLICIZE THAT YOU'RE LEAVING ON A LONG TRIP!

[@dayanadayana38]

Why

[@crystalchili3823]

They are full time

[@JohnDoe-fr1id]

Yall stupid.

[@crystalchili3823]

@@JohnDoe-fr1id it’s y’all

[@JohnDoe-fr1id]

@@crystalchili3823 I wasn't talking about you. And, it doesn't matter. You understood me.

[@ottoteck]

Not a newbie persay but new to BIG TRAILERS. Been doing the 17 and 13 footers for years. Just got our first 31 footer. Its used and the previous owners stripped it of everything but the awning handle and the slideout emergency crank. So we are starting from scratch. Doing a overnight dry run tomorrow. Appreciate your video. Good to pick up a few pointers and that app. Thanks kids.

[@putting4bird]

Driving our 5er home from warranty work I hit a low hanging branch. Broke a plastic piece inside the batwing antenna, easy 5 dollar fix. But more important I learned our unit just under 13’. Were looking at GD Solitudes and was worried about there height, thanks for app tip.

[@kentfischer9429]

Great video, well done and entertaining. Chickens and all. The 10 points were all good and I've done them all. I read more good ones in the comment responses but did not see "carry a black hose extension" Also, I keep a large pump bottle of hand sanitizer in the black tank hose department and use it when done even after removing latex gloves. Tip 3: that lunch you pack for the drive should be high protein and some natural sugars such with fruit and avoid the heavy carbs. These may make you sleepy. I also rarely drive after 2 p.m. to avoid fatigue. When pulling away from the campsite to travel fill the black tank 20% with water to avoid the "pyramid." Thanks again, great job.

[@GetawayCouple]

Thank you and great comments! 😊

[@pitchforkranch]

Before you unhitch - Make sure your shortest attachment (i.e. sewer, electrical, water, etc.) can reach its connection. In most cases, the sewer hose is the shortest culprit. Nothing worse than leveling, unhitching, and having too short of a connection.

[@GetawayCouple]

Very true! Or in our case, that's where the extension cord for electrical came in handy. We pulled the rig as far back as it could go and STILL didn't reach. It was the weirdest electrical post we've ever seen!

[@MsdemonMac]

One thing we found out to do is to not only check the site before you leave, but also when you arrive. In the past we have found some serious pot holes that could have been avoided had we looked first before unhooking.

[@naknaksdadn572]

Amen, been there and did that.

[@nicetry836]

Make sure you have enough room for your slides, leveled and unhitched and need 2 more inches of clearance for slide to fully extend. I had to hitch back up and move over 6 inches and reset up!!!

[@cliffordallan1393]

What would be an ideal length for the power cord?

[@derekbernal8963]

For numbers 1,5 and 7. There’s two locations to remember Pilot and Travel America. Pilot has RV fuel lanes, fresh food, tools and accessories TA doesn’t have RV lanes at all locations but they have fresh food and repair centers on site. All truck stops have laundry and showers

[@GetawayCouple]

Love it! Thanks for sharing!

[@russelloriely6343]

we always packed an extra propane tank or two. some good advice we got was a surge protector for plugging into the different RV sites and pressure regulator for the water supply. depending on the site they might get surges causing electrical or water damage. unless you have lithium batteries don't let them go below 50% it pretty much destroys them if you do. so a 100 amp hour battery is only really good for 50 amp hours. All great advice we got from watching the different RV channels.

[@GetawayCouple]

All great comments! Thanks for sharing and watching!

[@Templemain]

I'm a traveler have been most of my adult life, much of it work related and unlike RV travel 80% of it required very long distances so only flying was practical & most international. But I've always liked the idea of doing what you are doing. My life passed doing a high travel job, with lots of stress til I had to retire at 70yrs because of work related injuries. Before I really knew it my dream of traveling in an RV motor home was beyond my reach. I do envy your choice, enjoy and take care of your selves.

[@ricktimmons458]

lets talk dodo don'ts: have clean water flush out between trips. extra hoses. grey water hoses stored clean each trip separately from clean water items. locate septic dump upon entering campgrounds. check seals and vents! LYSOL bath area and fixtures. check stock of TP. Have a happy trip.

[@susans7091]

Yes to flush out water between trips - don't want water getting stale and yucky, or even worse moldy!

[@rockd8946]

Great vid.... we do a check list prior to departing on any trip. Supplies, food tools , gas, cords, etc etc. takes 5 min. And... it keeps you ahead of anything you may have forgotten since your last trip. Also... check on top of your RV every now and then for loose air conditioning covers, vents etc. never hurts. Thx

[@TheAdventureBuddies]

This video is absolutely amazing! The content is both informative and engaging. Keep up the great work, and I'm looking forward to seeing more from you in the future!

[@richmarriott7468]

Great tips. Never in a million years though of an extension cord. But was short on sewer hose one trip. Now we carry plenty of extensions for every hookup

[@BevDessert]

Write your rig height on your, visor, windshield or rearview mirror so it's readily available when you're driving down unknown road.

[@darrellcaulder8739]

Getting ready to purchase my first RV trying to do all the research I can to help

[@tommycattap]

Go small.

[@ryanintegra3165]

Don’t buy one. Bought a coachmen 27qb on a Chevy last spring... nothing but problems. Awesome service rep there. But the camper has a lot of quality issues. They’ve already had to replace a exterior wall. And yesterday we just found that the floor is separating from the wall with the entry door. I’d take a 5k loss on it right now to be done with it.

[@emeliagomez9959]

Same here!! Total newbie.

[@jackiekrueger9814]

Us too!! This is the first video I'm watching. Glad I found you guys

[@phillipmoise7978]

My inlaws called me at work, they were camping about an hour from me, they turned the gas furnace on and the cabin filled with smoke. I drove out there after dark and found a wasp nest clogging the exhaust. I had to brake it up with a steel rod and a hammer. It was like concrete. They have since retired from camping being in their 80s and we now own their 30 ft rv. I have done just about everything you can imagine to it lol

[@megblackwolf5470]

Shhhewwwyyyy geezz

[@UberManTampa]

With the propane tank issue, you can get a gauge, when the one tank is empty, the other one will start the flow as long as both lines are open

[@rolloverriderpgr]

When measuring the height of your rig take a carpenters level and STRAIGHT piece of 2x4 with you so you get an accurate measurement! Put the 2x4 on then the level on the highest point on the rig then measure from the end to the ground. CYA and add 1 inch for safety! This is a 2 person job but a 3rd would not hurt as one of you will be holding the 2x4 and level, the second will hold the tip of the tape to the BOTTOM of the 2x4 and the third on the ground to read the tape! You forgot #11! WEIGH YOUR RIG! Knowing your FULL UP or completely loaded rig both motorized or a trailer weigh it! That way you are legal for the road and not over on your total weigh or your tire max load limit! I am a trucker and RVer. I KNOW and have seen rvs on the DOT scales or with a DOT cop behind them because they rolled over the weigh in motion scales in the interstate and either got pulled in or the officer ran them down. KNOW your weight when completely full of everything you need even water. AND do it twice and here's how. Both black and grey tanks should be full, water full, food and propane full and in powered units a full gas tank as that is a must have item! EVERYTHING you can pack in that you know you'll use. Get on the scale. NOW if in a new RV powered unit is the time to mount your leveling gauges as this is the most level surface you'll ever be on then push the button on the scale, weigh go get the ticket and then go empty your waste tanks and water. Go back and scale for that weight and it only costs $1.50 more for the second ticket over the $11.50 for the first. That cost will save you a ticket OR a blown tire that will NOT meet the warranty because they KNOW if the tire was run heavy! Money most of us are NOT made out of so spend a little to know your unit! Trailers should be weighed with the truck as their weights added is what the DOT looks at but the tire dealer just the tires! Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys!

[@seamansj]

Great video. I have always went and fueled up before hooking up, until this last camping trip. Was already hooked up and ready to come home and my wife asked me if I needed to get fuel. All I could do was roll me eyes. Luckily there was a Wal-Mart with a service station a few miles away. Was a little tight for the 5th wheel but managed to get around. Thanks for all the tips.

[@GetawayCouple]

Yeah, we are guilty of forgetting to fuel up before hooking up a lot. We are so thankful for truck stops! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for the positive feedback!

[@phodetheus]

Great vid thanks. We've been full time for 4 years now and never thought to dead bolt the door. We do lock it but your tip to dead bolt it is a much better idea.

[@ermill39]

As a regular guy who is deciding to do some rving, I can say with out a doubt that ... hands down, your TOP TEN TIPS are the best!! And i mean it. Thank you all.

[@Butchthebugman]

Here's a mistake I made one my first trip... I put a splitter on the campground faucet, so when dumping the tanks, I wouldn't have to hook my white water supply hose to the black tank flush hookup. Smart, right? BUT, I put the pressure regulator on the side going to the white hose only. When I hooked the second hose to the other side of the splitter and to the black tank flush, I blew out the black tank system! ALWAYS, connect the pressure regulator directly to the campground faucet, so no matter what you hook up after that, you won't damage your plumbing...

[@eanschlotzhauer8059]

I'm sorry to here that happened to you. Thank you for passing that on great idea

[@JeffrikOG9]

You shouldnt have your black tank closed while flushing anyways?

[@Johnnyledwards]

Thank You! I made #10 on day 1 driving our RV home. Now before I get in the drivers seat I make sure I deadbolt the door lock myself and not leave it up to my passengers.

[@GetawayCouple]

Excellent! You always figure out what works for your situation!

[@Chickmamapalletfarm]

Oh my gosh! We are moving and considering using an RV as a transitional housing solution... possibly for a long while depending on down payment options... but losing my chickens is the the thing I am lamenting the most. At the end of your video, when the chickens came into your camp, it filled me with hope and joy that maybe I will meet some beautiful feathers friends along the way on our adventures. 👏👏👏

[@heresjohnny4836]

my family is doing this same thing this next summer moving from my wifes home of indiana to mine of western washington.

[@Chickmamapalletfarm]

@@heresjohnny4836 oh wow! That is awesome! Best of luck on your journey and adventure. We didn’t wind up doing this plan, but we have gotten a small travel trailer since we moved. We now live in a hurricane 🌀 prone area and having a home on wheels gives me a good deal of peace of mind. All the best to you friend.

[@heresjohnny4836]

@@Chickmamapalletfarm and to you as well

[@MrTomengle]

A very soon to retire trucker here....have used Co Pilot on my Ipad for years! Well worth the cost and on a much bigger screen!!

[@paulbaker3144]

number 1: Don’t be in a hurry. That’s when the other mistakes or accidents happen. Gassing up a class A Motorhome is scary. I think I bent my perfect bumper the first day when going into the gas station.

[@jimroorda6488]

How 'bout making up a check list and USE IT. Use it when coming into the camp site; use it when your'e leaving. And when leaving, do a slow walk-about to make sure your not still hooked up to something, or forgot to pack something away

[@jimbuckley4986]

Great video and timely as season has started. For us make sure the fridge is locked shut, not just closed. Freshly purchased jar of marinated garlic cloves all across the floor did wonders

[@GetawayCouple]

oh nooo 😂I'm sure that smelled fantastic too lol. Thanks for sharing your tip, that's definitely a good one!

[@kablah777]

We left our entry steps out in a class C about 25 years ago. Never made that mistake again. Good thing a good Samaritan flagged us down and told us before we hit something.

[@susans7091]

Yup, bent outs on a curb!

[@aniblair9650]

My rookie mistake- I pulled my new Little Guy teardrop to the house from the dealer, where they had showed me how to operate stuff. Only I did not turn that "stuff" back off of battery when I got home. Nor did I disconnect my Little Guy from the car. Long story short: my car battery was WAY drained the next day! Good thing I have AAA....

[@GetawayCouple]

Oh no! At least it was at your house and not in the middle of nowhere. AAA has definitely saved our butts too, even before RVing.

[@4wdhome106]

The car battery and batteries to the living compartment should not be permanently connected! Still, they usually are.

[@jhm68]

Awesome video. Ours 1st mistake was not locking the deadbolt. Now we both do a couple interior and exterior walk-around so it can be double checked.

[@CookingwithCatLover0330]

Good to know stuff! We just bought our first camper. Boy, the Newby mistakes! Like not really having a place to park it before we bought it, or trusting that the battery it came with was well charged. It's a year old and the battery died on us within a day and a half of going off grid. Thanks for this video and I'm on to check out others!

[@coolsnake1134]

Piece of advice from my friend who is also an electrician and owns a fifth wheel, if the campground has 30 amp 120 V RV plug and then a 20a GFCI outlet and you’re using a splitter to get 240 V and trying to run the AC and the GFCI keeps tripping on the campground power pedestal. Replace the GFCI with a regular outlet. however do not attempt if you are not comfortable working with electrical or you are a stickler for camp around rules as most campgrounds do not approve of that work around. however it has save my friends hide in the summer

[@GetawayCouple]

Good to know - thanks for the input

[@JustAnotherDayToday]

The biggest beginner and full time RVer mistake is thinking an RV is an appreciating asset-it is ALL expenses, every bit of it. In the end you’re left with that’s lost most its value-but you’ll have some great memories.

[@biojere1]

Can you give me more info about the heater and why was smoking? Is that just on brand new trailers or are you also talking about dust that builds up when the rig sits for a long time? I have a used trailer and I don't think I've run the fernus once. What should I do?

[@GetawayCouple]

It seems to be on new trailers only. There is a lot of dust, wood particles, and oil from building it left so when you turn the heater on for the first time, it has to burn all of that out. You should be okay with a used trailer, but I would still recommend turning it on when you can open all of the windows and door to let it burn off for a little.

[@jonathankubler6053]

I'm guilty of filling the whole camper with smoke on our first adventure. We were on our first night in the camper and spending the night at the dealer lot (Lazy Days) and had a cold front come through. My 6 year old comes into our bedroom complaining about being too cold. So being the good papa bear, I lumber into the hall to kick on the heater and head back to bed. Of course as soon as I fall asleep the smoke alarm is blaring and there is smoke everywhere. (Did I mention it was at 3 in the morning?) So here I am still dazed and trying to figure it all out. I turn on the Maxxfan full throttle and open the doors and windows. Being a native Floridian, we don't see the temps dip that low all too often, but now if it wasn't cold before, everyone was freezing now. Thankfully the fireplace saved our bacon and warmed us up after we go most of the smoke out.

[@GetawayCouple]

Lol, oh we feel your pain! The day that we "settled in to watch a movie" was on our shakedown trip and it was 50 degrees (that's cold for us Californians too). We did the same thing and had to open all the windows and turn on the fan... not the best memory of our shakedown trip lol. Fireplace totally saved us too (saved us a few times when we've ran out of propane too lol).

[@formeraide529]

Mine was the opposite. Got. Y camper and my 6 yr old grandson wanted to camp in the driveway first night. I said ok and we did. About 2:30 he woke me saying he was cold. I got up, turned on the furnace and it ran all of 3 minutes till the blower locked up. Needless to say by 3:30 we were nice and warm in my house.

[@garygoudreault1481]

You need to learn about automatic changeover l.p. regulators. The worse thing is to run out of gas in the middle of the night. If you knew about the color change indicator on the regulator you'll know when the supply tank is empty

[@jcorbett4217]

You guys are cute and never too cheesy. You're making me want to RV but not possible right now so I'll just live vicariously through you guys.

[@freewill1114]

You can't be too careful around the slides when they are out! They will knock you flat and spit your head open if you forget about them. Impossible you say; I would never do that? Let me tell you- it IS possible, maybe even likely. The best way to go is to do all your hookups and breakdowns with the slides retracted. BTW, the best first aid is a wet towel pressed against the spot.

[@GetawayCouple]

Ouch, sorry to had to learn this one the hard way but thank you so much for sharing so others can avoid this mistake!

[@lauraweiss7875]

Just bought my first trailer (Lance 1475). I’m a well seasoned tent camper, but this is a whole new world for me.

[@calgal7828]

Laura Weiss Enjoy your travels and stay safe out there. If I can do it so can you 😎

[@karldolphin7547]

Funny I just read this. My wife n I just bought a Lance 1475. How do you like it? Any suggestions?

[@thefreezer4787]

Regarding mistake #9... You cannot use too much voltage. Voltage remains constant. You can use too many Amps. Amps is what causes breakers tripping, usually from overloading the circuit which overheats the circuit breaker. This situation is only when plugged into shore power. You should correct Tip #9. Electrical systems are nothing to take for granted.

[@GetawayCouple]

We were "newbies" back then! Thanks for the input!

[@susans7091]

Thanks - that got me confused once again!

[@chickenheavenonearth9430]

Great tips, love the chickens. I have 3 bantam chickens who travel with me in my RV but I have coop cage I put mine in outdoors during the day..fresh eggs for breakfast everyday lol

[@susans7091]

Way cool - traveling with chickens!

[@gailalice2000]

So glad to see this since we are renting an RV for the very first time....all your info was very helpful. Thank you.

[@GetawayCouple]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy your RV trip!

[@tracyk.8306]

Great video and tips - well done! We appreciate this information as we plan to get an RV in couple years and you have mentioned things I never would have thought of, like packing lunch, extended hookups, and burning off the heater fumes before you launch. We have heard mixed reviews with TPMS. Some have had the monitors fail...while it’s a good idea, I think one must be vigilant on checking tire pressure periodically the old-fashioned way. Thank you and we look forward to more videos!

[@GetawayCouple]

So glad you enjoyed the video! You're totally correct on checking the tire pressure the old fashioned way too. It's best to rely on the TPMS on travel days to warn you of a leak before it turns into a blowout but it's good to check your tire pressure manually before heading out too. Good luck and happy travels!

[@karrylenon9258]

I just started RVing full-time with my two dogs and I’ve never seen this question addressed. What do you do if your dog passes while you are miles away from home? I haven’t had it happen, but I also have a dog that’s 13 and crosses my mind all the time.

[@rstmadmike]

always check to see if you have power at site. carry an ohm meter cat II and do yourself a favor and check it before you set up LOL

[@AthenaKline]

Love this great info … please post more trouble shooting. We are NEWBIES for sure LOL subscribed !!!

[@AthenaKline]

What’s the best tool kit ?

[@218Mike]

Nicely done! I learned a lot. If there was such a thing as RV Owner Academy Awards you two would win!

[@masoccer137]

I'm not sure we understand the part about the propane tanks. Did you say you should NOT have both tanks open?. We were told that the propane regulator will automatically switch over to the new tank when one is empty if they are both open... Why would you want to have to go out in the middle of the night to switch the tank on when one runs out, if it would do that automatically if you have both tanks open?

[@GetawayCouple]

Hi there! So our regulator will do the same thing if both tanks are open BUT when we do that we never find out we are out of propane until they are both empty. If you keep one closed and run out of propane you can now open the other one and make a mental note it's time to get more propane soon. If you're good at checking your propane levels this this wouldn't apply to you but most people aren't and it's always miserable to find out you're out of propane and now it's a rush to find a place to fill them. Hope that makes sense now 😄

[@chevyn76]

Good list! I would add that when measuring your height, remember you're not measuring from ground to roof. You have to remember the A/C unit(s) and other things sitting on top of the roof. lol.

[@GetawayCouple]

You're right! I should have mentioned that. Good catch, thanks!

[@chevyn76]

Getaway Couple lol. No problem. You can't remember everything!