What you need to know before you go
If you’re considering renting or buying an RV, most likely you are imagining where you’ll want to
take it or how nice it will be to have a home on wheels. But it’s also important to think about
everything that goes into operating one. Mistakes are common with new RV owners, but even
people who’ve been driving them for years can run into self-imposed issues. These are the
common mistakes you’ll want to avoid:
Not knowing how to drive it
This one may seem kind of silly, but many people get so enamored with having an RV that they
neglect this essential component. Having experience driving a larger vehicle – like a pickup
truck, for example – will not prepare you.
If you do plan to own an RV, first renting one so you can get a lot of practice with it is a great
idea. You may also want to find an RV driving class in your area. You definitely don’t want to get
out on the road only to discover that you don’t know how to go in reverse or make turns.
Moving too fast
If you only have a short amount of time for a trip, you might be eager to get to your destination
as quickly as possible. And while speeding down the highway may not be terribly dangerous in a
car; an RV is another story entirely. These vehicles are not meant to go very fast, and if they do
get up to high speeds, they can become difficult to control, especially if you have to brake or
change lanes suddenly.
Not knowing your RV’s height
The internet is full of videos of large rigs scraping – or crashing into – underpasses due to drivers
not knowing how big they are or not paying attention to signs. To avoid this from happening to
you, you need to know your height, and this has to include the tallest hard clearance, such as
the air conditioner. It’s also a wise idea to use somebody as a spotter if there are some narrow
places to get into or under.
Being unprepared
Many RVers focus too much on the “home” part of their motorhome and not enough on the
“motor” component. This means that while they may have stocked up on food and toiletries and
card games, they might have forgotten essentials. An emergency roadside kit is vital, as is a jack
and spare tie, and perhaps an air compressor. If you have experience working on vehicles, a
toolkit could also be a good addition.
Not knowing how far a tank of gas will get you
Perhaps the worst thing that could happen to you while out on the road is running out of gas.
This is especially true if you’re in a remote area, miles from a gas station. While your owner’s
manual should be able to give you an idea of how many miles you can go before you need to fill
up, different factors – like how fast you travel and your tire pressure – can affect this. This is
why you should pay close attention to how far you can get on a tank. Plus, it’s also a good idea
to travel with a full gas can.
Not checking everything before leaving
Because there are so many parts of an RV – and they may all be doing something important at
the same time – everything needs to be checked before hitting the road. It can be very easy to
forget to unplug an electrical cord or put the stairs up. But being diligent is the best way to avoid
an embarrassing situation or, worse, an expensive fix.
If you’re ready to hit the road in your RV, become an RV Advisor member . As an RV Advisor
member, you gain access to exclusive offers, discounts, and access to forums. What better way
to prepare yourself for life on the road then reading about other people’s experiences and learning tips that will keep you moving. If you have any questions, contact us today . We’d love
to hear from you!
