“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien~
I've seen enough social media advice regarding RV's that it seems imperative to always include a small disclaimer. I am not an expert on RV repair, RV planning, or most anything else regarding RV life. What my wife and I both are, is a source for you to put in the mix as you make your own decisions about things.
If you're just getting started on RV life, or if you've been doing it for awhile with only weekend trips on Memorial Day, this list of broad-stroke items are some things you might consider before you ever get started. Questions you need to answer for yourself, if you will. My intention is to cover each of these and more in some detail in later videos. But for now, start doing your homework before you ever pull out of the driveway.
Let's talk about it.
As you may have gathered from a couple t-shirts, I'm a retired firefighter who worked nearly 24 years in a very large, very busy metropolitan area. We had a saying in the fire service. "If it weren't for stupid people, we'd be out of work." No truer words were every spoken. As it turns out, my later years were also spent staffing a rescue boat on a 17,000 acre recreational lake. Stupid people on boats put stupid people on the highways to shame. And then, then I retired and began to RV. Sweet Mary there are a lot of people pulling or driving RV's that fly by the seat of their pants. They shouldn't be. It's dangerous.
If you're not one of those people and have done your due diligence, I apologize. But you also realize that what I've said is true. We're not perfect, but we've done a lot of homework. You should too.
Step One: Whether you're buying a new 42' 5th Wheel or a used camper van, you simply MUST become familiar with your rig. In fact, you need to become an expert. If it's new, get a thorough familiarization tour before you ever leave the lot. If it's used, have the previous owner go over ALL of it with you. Make a list. Get it all covered. Here is just a small list of the things you should know. (Remember, we'll get to some of these in detail on future blogs and TikTok videos, so be sure to follow us on both to get the latest updates).
-How much does your rig weigh?
-What is the tongue weight, if applicable?
-What's the minimum/maximum capacity for the vehicle I'm towing it with? (If applicable. I'll have A LOT more to say on this later).
What kind of tires does it have? How old are they? If new, just how cheap a tire did the manufacture use?
How does the door lock? How does the awning operate? How do you level it? What is the fuel capacity (propane, diesel, gasoline, etc as applicable)? Holding tank limits (fresh water, gray water, black water)? How do you light the hot water heater and is it gas only or electric, also? How do you light the furnace? Do you know what every switch in the entire rig does? Where is the fuse panel? Where are the breakers? How do you set the "mode" on your refrigerator and is it adjusted correctly? How does the microwave work? If used, when were the wheel bearings last serviced? Brakes? Are the wipers in good shape? Can you operate the thermostat?
This list is in no way all-inclusive, but it's a good start. I would cautiously encourage you to consult social media and the caution applies, as well, to our content. I have had SOME success utilizing RV-specific Facebook pages (search for the groups that work for you), but I can assure you, those pages are wrought with ridiculous drama and answers will vary based on experience and smarts. Answers can be useful, but some of them are just plain scary and dangerous. Become informed!! YouTube can also be a great resource, and I have figured out more than one repair by watching videos related to my issue.
Once you have all your questions answered regarding your rig, I implore you; camp in it a couple times in your driveway. Feeling confident? Head to your local state park within 50 miles and do a couple weekends there. Take the risk out of forgetting things. Learn under the safety net of proximity things you still need to learn before you tackle a big trip. The road, RV parks, rustic campsites, etc are all full of people who aren't yet ready to be doing this. Don't be one of them. If it helps, I'd give the same advice to a person buying a motorcycle. Being informed may just save your life, or at a minimum, a major headache. Even more importantly, it may save the life of someone else.
Look, I fully realize this one is a bit preachy, but if you're new, it won't be long until you understand why. Like many things in life, if we all work together to be advocates for each other, we all get a more fulfilling and safe experience.
Be safe. Be smart. See ya on the road!
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