5 Mistakes RV Newbies Should Avoid

If you’ve just bought yourself your very first RV, you might be excited to hit the road. Before you do that, however, you should take the time to learn more about owning a camper. Since they are mobile homes, there are new things to consider and it’s rather easy for beginners to make some common but costly mistakes.

Airstream of Utah is the leading RV dealer in Salt Lake City and we’ve compiled some helpful information for first-time camper owners. Read on to learn more and if you’re still looking for that perfect Airstream® RV for sale near Park City or Provo, UT, get in touch with our sales team for further assistance!

1. No Walk-Around Before Driving

A lot of the time, campers are in a rush to get going after their camping trip. In their hurry, it becomes easy to forget to check if everything is all clear. This is an easy way to miss the fact that you’re still connected to hookups, or that you still have leveling blocks laid down, or that you forgot to pack up some of your stuff. When you’re ready to roll out, always do a complete walk-around of the camper to ensure everything is tucked in, put away, and cleaned up. 

2. Not Fully Understanding Your RV

As with most owners, the more time you spend in your camper, the more you’ll “get” it. There are, however, some things you should familiarize yourself with from the get-go. One important thing you need to know is how big your RV is. When you drive it, you’ll probably encounter areas with height and width limitations. Most of the time, you probably won’t have an issue, but just a quick internet search can show you the consequences of trying to squeeze into a space you can’t fit in. 

You should also familiarize yourself with your RV in other ways, like knowing when something sounds off or isn’t operating correctly and knowing exactly where everything is. Over time, you’ll probably discover new things about your RV, all of which will make it easier to operate.

3. Hitting Corners Too Fast

One of the biggest mistakes new RV owners make is not taking the time to put in enough practice driving before hitting the road. Driving or towing a camper is not remotely like driving your commuter vehicle. One serious consequence of not knowing how to handle your camper is taking corners too fast. 

You need to slow down a lot more before the turn with an RV than you would with a smaller vehicle. Recklessly throwing that kind of weight around can result in tipping over, sliding, and other unsafe situations that endanger both you and other drivers around you. Always spend time practicing the basics of driving an RV before hitting the road. 

4. Not Preparing

With enough experience under your belt, you will become the kind of RV driver who can take spontaneous trips. That’s not true for the newbies! When you’re first learning, preparing for your trip is essential. Spending time thinking about what you need can help you avoid finding out at the last minute that you don’t have everything you need. 

Some important trip prep steps should include making campground reservations, knowing where you’re going, and packing all the supplies you need. You can never be too prepared for the RV lifestyle, so ask your RVing communities for tips and tricks of the trade to make getting started a little easier.

5. Giving Up

This is the saddest outcome for any new RV owner and one that we hate to see happen! You have to be mentally prepared for the new challenges this lifestyle brings. A few bumps in the road shouldn’t put you off too much. Just learn from any mistakes you make and you’ll be a more confident RV owner for it. 

We hope this information helps you have safe and fun camping trips! For more information or if you’re looking for RVs for sale in Salt Lake City, contact us at Airstream of Utah and we’ll show you what we have in stock! We’re proud to be the leading Airstream dealer for Park City and Provo, UT!