Top Tips Before Embarking on Your First RV Trip

Are you inspired by the countless social media accounts sharing their fun-filled van life and RV experiences? You're not alone; there is a thriving community of millions of people across the country who are embracing life on the road, forging a new way of living and traveling. The transition from traditional housing to a home-on-wheels can be either a permanent or temporary choice, but it's always a journey shared with a like-minded community.

However, before you jump feet first and purchase an RV and hit the road, it's imperative that you take your time, understand exactly what this lifestyle is all about, and prepare yourself thoroughly. It's not all scenic views and a long drive through the countryside and national parks. It's a lot of driving, it's a lot of time to spend cooped up with another person or your family in a tiny space that you can't escape from because you're stuck in traffic on the freeway. So, before you start daydreaming and romanticizing, let's take a look at a few things you need to consider before you go out for your first RV experience.

Do you know your black water from your grey water? What about your A class from your C class? Do you know what a fifth wheel is or what the term hitch means? What about boom docking, dry camping, or maybe you have absolutely no idea what towable means.

While it might seem like you need to learn an entirely new language, if you're going to be living your life on the road, you need to know the difference between your gray and your black water tanks. You need to understand what shore power means, what a stabilizer jack is, and what nonpotable water means. At the very least, learning the lingo is a good start for creating a successful life on the roads and ensuring that you know what you're doing and can get the very best experience.

Can you complete any repairs yourself? What will you do if your side-view mirror becomes loose and is no longer usable? Can you tighten it or replace it with a new one yourself? How do we change lanes without that mirror? Are you handy with a toolkit? Do you know your wrenches from your screwdrivers, or do you know what's under the hood of your RV? 

Not everyone is an expert mechanic; however, it is a good idea to understand the types of repairs you may face, especially when you're on the road for long periods of time. The more you drive your RV, the more you use it, and the more at risk you become of breakdowns and encountering problems that need rectifying by you or by professionals.

Taking out an RV warranty can help you with repairs if you encounter problems that are covered under your policy. It can also be a great way to protect your finances should you run into any issues. However, it's a really good idea to understand the types of repairs that you might be facing for the vehicle you are driving.

If you've never driven a vehicle of this size before, hiring an RV before buying just one and, getting out on the roads and learning some basic driving and maneuvering skills is an excellent idea.

It's not the same as driving a large car or a truck, and you need to fully understand the space you need to make maneuvers, how to correctly maneuver the vehicle to where you need to go, and how it drives on different types of terrains.

For example, it might be amazing on freeways, but can it handle off-road experiences? Can you navigate dirt tracks that take you to campsites to park up overnight?  You can take RV driving courses, and you can hire RVs for a day or a weekend to get to grips with how they drive and boost your confidence for when you do get out on the road for your adventures. 

Before you go anywhere, either in a rented RV or one you've purchased, spend some time inside it and get used to how all the different aspects work. For example, understand how to change your toilet, how to use level blocks for when you want to level out at your parking spot, how the electrics and a generator work if you have one in your RV, and how to hook the RV up to utilities when you're at campgrounds.

You need to understand how different parts of the van work and how to secure them. You should also know what needs to be packed away, how to secure cupboard doors or belongings in the fan, etc.

The more you know about how the RV works and how each component interacts when you're living in it full time, the easier it will be to adjust to life in your RV.