Why a whole post on tips for new RV owners? Well, purchasing an RV is a big deal! Think about it – a vehicle and a home are two of the biggest purchases a person makes in life… and an RV is both, with double the learning curve to go along with it. This can be overwhelming at first. So, we’re offering these tips for new RV owners in an attempt to help readers avoid some big mistakes that many of us made as newbies.
We were on the road full-time for a couple of decades, so we’ve got some experience under our belts. But we also still remember what it’s like to buy an RV, hit the road, and transition into RV life, having never had to dump a black tank. So, RV newbies, we’ve got your backs!
Let’s jump into some tips for new RV owners.
What Do First-Time RV Owners Need to Know?
Several things are helpful for first-time RV owners to be aware of. These encompass everything from how to drive the rig to how to fill the RV fresh water tank to dumping the RV’s gray water tank, dumping and cleaning an RV black tank, and so much more. For example, when connected to a sewer connection at a campground, should you keep your RV gray tank valve open or closed? These are important things to know.
Should you keep your RV gray tank valve open or closed when your rig is connected to a sewer at a campground? Read our post for the details!
We can’t reasonably include everything you need to know in a single post without it becoming excessively lengthy. So, in this section, we’ll link to several specific posts on topics we’ve thoroughly addressed in previous articles, and then we’ll give you our top tips for new RV owners in the sections that follow.
NOTE: Some of these will apply to all RVs, while others may be specific to certain types of RVs. Remember that you can simply search our website for posts that might apply specifically to your rig. For example, if you own a Class A RV, simply head to The RVgeeks website and type “Class A” in the search bar (look for the magnifying glass icon up in the header, or the “Search” box in several places), and start with the articles that most interest you. Alternatively, you can look to the right of the search bar and click the drop-down menu under the term “Category”, and go from there.
So, to begin this post on tips for new RV owners, we suggest that all new RV owners read our posts on the following topics – just follow the links!
How to Adjust RV Mirrors & Lane Control
Our post on how to adjust RV mirrors provides clear, concise information laid out in text, photos, and video. Better yet, the instruction comes from the driver half of The RVgeeks: Peter. A former professional motorcoach operator and bus driving instructor with thousands of driving and teaching hours under his belt, Peter was also the Safety & Training Manager for one of the largest tour bus companies in North America, and he taught hundreds of people to drive big rigs in the heart of New York City. Trust us, he’s got you covered.
Peter Knize, one half of The RVgeeks, behind the wheel of his MCI back in the day.
How to Drive an RV in High Winds
Anyone who has ever driven an RV in windy conditions will tell you that it’s stressful and white-knuckle inducing at the very least. It can also be downright dangerous. For this reason, we suggest visiting our post on safely driving an RV in high winds. It’s wise to review this post before you find yourself struggling to keep your rig on the road in very windy conditions.
How to Avoid the Most Common RV Accidents
Here’s a post with information you don’t want to miss. The most common RV accidents are avoidable. Some of this is common sense, of course. But there’s also lots of important information here for new RV owners to consider.
Methods for Trailer Sway Control
Towing a travel trailer? Please don’t set out on your first camping trip without taking a look at our post on trailer sway control. It could be accident-preventing and even life-saving. An improperly-loaded travel trailer can set up a dangerous condition that could cause a serious accident!
21 Tips for How to Stay Safe and Calm on the Road
We’ve got a post with 21 specific pieces of advice from a couple of guys who’ve been driving an RV for 20 years. We laid them out in a post on RV driving to help you stay safe and calm on the road.
How to Back Up a Motorhome
Our post on how to back up a motorhome will come in handy sooner than you think. Read the post and then jump in your RV and head to an empty parking lot to practice.
Tips for New RV Owners
Now that we’ve pointed you to some reading you can do at your leisure, let’s jump into our top tips for new RV owners!
Start Slow
So, you’ve got a brand new or new-to-you RV and you’re eager for your first road trip. Awesome! But don’t be afraid to start slowly and stay close to home as you’re getting used to the rig. If there’s a private campground, state park, or RV park in your area, spending a night or two getting used to the RV without trying to drive for hours to get far away from home is a wise move. And trust us – you’ll have no less fun just because you’re close to home. Think of it like an RV staycation!
Before heading out on the long trip, try boondocking in a parking lot or even on your own property at home!
You’re bound to run into a few snags or questions, and it’ll also take some time to get used to driving the rig. So take it slow. Don’t go too far (or too fast) as you begin.
Test Every System on the RV
This is something best done when you’re in the shopping stage (new or used), so that you have a clear picture of the rig and its value. Test every system. This will help you identify any issues that aren’t working correctly, and it will also help you learn how to use all the systems on the RV before you’re away from home.
Test the plumbing, including all sinks, showers (indoor and outdoor), and toilets. Test the propane stove by lighting it and ensuring it’s working correctly. Test the air conditioner and the heater. Test each outlet to ensure they’re all functional. Have an inverter? Which outlets does it power? (on some RVs, it’s all of them… on others, just one!)
Test the rooftop vent fans by opening them all and running them. Open and close the gate valves if possible to make sure they’re operating smoothly. If you can connect to a city water connection while you’re testing everything, do so.
Be sure to test every system on the RV ahead of buying if possible, and then again before you head out on the road to use those systems.
Learning how to manage all the systems on your RV before your first trip is a great idea. If the private owner or dealership employee is showing you how to use everything on the RV, video all of that instruction so you have it to refer back to later.
If you buy an RV from a dealership, ask if you can stay on their lot (or somewhere nearby) overnight and into the next day, so you’ll have the opportunity to work out the kinks and ask questions.
Join Online Forums Specific to Your RV and to RVing in General
Facebook groups, iRV2.com, and other online groups that are specific to your brand/class of RV all provide extremely valuable information from fellow RV owners and travelers. Take advantage of groups like these. They may turn out to be your absolute best resource.
Don’t Overbuy “RV Stuff” Before You Travel
Before you head out on your first road trip, you’ll try to think of absolutely everything you’re going to need, and you’ll probably overshoot the idea. Take a trip not too far from home (or even camp overnight in a Walmart parking lot) and use the RV BEFORE you stock up on too many supplies. You’ll likely need far less than you think you need at first.
Don’t make the mistake of buying everything you THINK you’ll need in your RV… until you’ve actually spent some time in it!
Although many locations won’t do this, it’s worth asking a manager at a nearby Camping World if you can overnight in their parking lot with your new RV to see what you need. Knowing that you’ll likely head into the Camping World the next day to buy, they just might allow you to do this. Call ahead!
Use Checklists
There’s a lot to remember when you’re traveling in an RV. You’ve got a home-on-wheels there. There’s a lot to do before you drive that rig away, and there’s a lot to do when you arrive at your camping destination. You can make your own checklists or find some online.
PRO TIP: Our friends Rae & Jason of Getaway Couple have some really cool printable RV checklists in their shop that are very well thought out.
Split Up Chores and Double Check Important Tasks
If you’re traveling with a companion or several (children included), split up the chores that need attention before you hit the road and while you’re camping. It’s also incredibly important to check each other (or even to double-check yourself) on tasks that are particularly critical, such as hooking up the RV and connecting your towed vehicle if you have one.
Read Our 10 Pro Tips for RV Newbies!
This is how we get 10 additional tips into your hands without making this post too long! Your next assignment is to read our post on our top 10 pro tips for RV newbies… but don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz!
For Our Veteran RVers: Are There Additional Tips You Wish You’d Known as a Newbie?
Drop us a comment and add to the discussion! Any help we can offer to our RV newcomers is always a bonus!
UPDATE! NEW TRAILER TOWING & WEIGHT LIMIT POST, VIDEO & CALCULATOR!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve released a new video and blog post all about Trailer Towing & Weight Limits. We’ve included a FREE towing and weight calculator that we designed to do all the math for you, making sure your rig is properly balanced and within all weight limits. Don’t let a sagging trailer alert everyone in the campground that you’re overweight, and don’t let the dreaded trailer sway ruin your trip (or worse)!
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Jay
Tuesday 22nd of July 2025
The plethora of advice for RVers is a direct result of the owning and operating these complex modes of travel. There really is no comparison with any other mode of travel other than maybe, piloting an aircraft. Buying a house is simple in comparison. With a house, you know what you're getting into other than your new, actual property taxes. With a car, even EVs, the factory has made a million of them and the dealer knows how everything is supposed to work and their mechanics can usually repair them as needed.
Not so with RVs. The manufacturer might have made 100 of a particular model. We've been RVing for 39 years and we're on our 4th MH that we bought used last year. We are still learning about its complex systems. Although we only live a 3-hours drive from the factory, the people who service them there didn't build them and are no more competent than any other RV service establishment. It's not uncommon for the mechanic to fix one thing but screw up something else!
We were at a large RV rally recently where a number of coaches were being offered for sale. We walked through them although we weren't in the market for another one. We saw a lot of broken items that the salesman dismissed as "little stuff, easy to repair." The salesman didn't know the RV. He never drove it or used it. If the dealership didn't feel it was important to repair the small stuff, what else is wrong with that RV?
If you buy a newer RV than your current one, it will likely have newer technology that you will need to learn to live with. If you are a newbie, you are just ripe for being taken advantage of. But even someone as RV-experienced as us will have only a very limited idea of what we're getting into. The learning curve is steep and you should be prepared with deep pockets.
Buying from a reputable dealer and manufacturer certainly helps. Research everything that you can both before and also after the purchase (see the huge iRV2.com forums). Go to RV shows but never, never, never buy one at a show. You don't want to be a victim of RV fever. Expect to pay much more than the purchase price. Once you acquire an RV, you have to maintain it whether you use it or not. In fact, maintaining it is worse if you don't use it. The old joke is if you have to ask how many MPG it gets then you can't afford it! There's probably a lot of truth to that. If you aren't sure that you can afford an RV, trust me, you can't.
RVing will not save you on anything. RVs are not cost-effective - they're a luxury. They're certainly not an investment but a rapidly depreciating asset estimated at a 20% loss just the first year. Don't get too discouraged, but you have to be able to afford that and much more. It is a lifestyle and you're welcome to join it. Good luck - you're going to need it, all of us, ourselves included.
Stephen Walker
Tuesday 23rd of July 2024
We recently drove down the Oregon coast thinking wouldn’t it be great to have an RV. Then, we looked at rv parks. Packed in like sardines. Very little space. And some rvs looking like permanent residents. Frankly, not real encouraging. Maybe that’s what the reality of rv experience is. 🤷
Carl
Tuesday 25th of July 2023
Experienced RVer, RV walkaround. Don't trust your eyes. You will see what you expect to see. Before starting the engine, get out and walk around the RV with one hand on the side. If your hand hits something, is that OK? If you have to step over something, is that OK? When possible, use a spotter if you go in reverse.
Travels with George
Monday 24th of July 2023
New RVer here!
We just got back from our first RV camping trip in our “new” 2016 28’ class C. We had a site with “city water” and sewer. I think we did great with the black and gray tank emptying, and black tank clean out but I’m not 100% sure what we’re supposed to do after camping with the “clean” water.
The fresh water tank was registering about 2/3 full while we were camping. When we got home I opened the (4) low drain valves including the one on the outside and opened the faucets until no more water came out from the drains (then closed them) and added a small amount disinfectant down the sinks. I also followed the directions to put a black tank disinfectant in the toilet. Does that empty hot water tank? Did I miss anything?
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 25th of July 2023
Hi George. What you do with your RV's fresh water system mostly depends on how long (and in what weather) your RV is going to sit between trips. If you're coming back from one trip, staying for only a week or two, and then turning around and going right back out. AND there's no chance of freezing weather that could result in a burst pipe... we'd likely not do anything with the fresh system. Leave it as is when you get back so it's all set to go when you're ready to leave next time.
That determination would change (and we'd do what you've done with draining the fresh tank and lines) if the duration of storage time between trips was going to be longer... or if the ambient temperatures where the RV was being stored were going to drop below freezing.
Also from what you described doing, it doesn't sound like you drained the water heater. For that, you'd need to remove the plug/anode from the outside of the water heater to drain it.