RV Newbie: Essential Gear and Tips for RV Beginners
New to RVing?
If you’re new to RVing, you’re likely feeling excited with a bit of anxiety when towing for the first time or sitting behind a giant steering wheel. We wanted to have a blog to share some ideas to help you get started on the right foot.
Like everything, our thinking and state of mind has the biggest impact how “easy” or “fun” something is and this is especially true when RVing for the first time.
Take Your Time
Often when I’m running around the RV trying to get set up quickly or hooked-up, I’m not actually in a hurry. I only think I am.
In Destin, FL I was blocking the flow of traffic while hooking up. This added pressure and as I got out of the truck (quickly) and rolled my ankle. It hurt crazy bad and in that moment I realized that I wasn’t actually moving any faster being in a “hurry”. In fact, I was doing things slower! Hence the phrase… smooth is fast.
Are you really in a hurry, or do you just think you are?
When we were boaters, we would take friends out to the lake and often return back to our slip at 8 or 9 pm. Inevitably, someone would say, “Hey, if all do this together we can get everything cleaned up in 10 minutes!” It was well-intentioned, but often far more time-consuming.
I’ve since come up with the quote, “There’s nothing more time consuming than trying to save time”.
In all the hurry, someone would forget their wallet in the glove box and I would have to drive back to the boat the following day taking a couple of hours. In time, we learned to take two cars to the lake. I would say goodbye to everyone (after making sure they had everything) and stay behind to clean-up.
Here is what I learned. Cleaning the boat was actually fun. Kinda therapeutic and even relaxing. The only thing not fun about cleaning up, setting up, or tearing down is feeling like it’s a race. With a beer in hand and good music, it was just as fun as boating itself and the same is true for RVing.
“Getting there” doesn’t need to be a race. Setting up isn’t being timed and the faster you try to go, the less enjoyable it is, for everyone. Take your time and less stuff breaks 🙂
Know your numbers
If you’re just getting started, knowing the numbers is key. Here are some important numbers to start with:
- What percentage below MSRP can you buy your RV?
- How heave is the hitch weight compared to my payload or CCC Cargo Carrying Capacity
- How high and long is your RV?
Don’t Arrive at Night
If you’ve been watching KYD for any time at all, you’d know that we’ve done our fair share of night time driving. It’s a bad idea, especially when you’re new or you have a “new to you” RV.
If you’re still practicing your backing-up skills and don’t have your communication down pat, doing it at night can lead to divorce.
Yet, it’s unrealistic that it’s never going to happen. Life gets in the way and we all get lates starts or plans change. If you do arrive at night, be prepared with a headlamp, take extra time to walk the site and be sure to be on the same page with your travel partner on exactly where you want the eys and when they should communicate.
When your travel partner says, “Stop”… STOP! Talk it through and even get out of the vehicle to look yourself. Don’t take any chances.
Use Set-up & Teardown Checklist
In the video above someone said, “Thanks so much, I’m still a newb” and I replied, “So am I, the moment someone thinks they know everything about RVing, they’ll be stuck under a low clearance bridge”. The order of events is important when setting up or hooking up and often there are many distractions.
Using a checklist is not just for RV newbie’s. We did a setup check-list video here.
The list does not include checking your lights, so write that in!
We also did a teardown check-list video here.
Create a Common Language with your Spouse or Travel Partner
Backing-up the trailer:
“Sorry for all the things I said when backing the trailer”. It doesn’t have to be this way, as long as you have a common language and discuss in advance what to communicate.
When I was helping a new couple back a trailer into a site, it was obvious the spouse on foot didn’t know what to point out and the spouse driving didn’t know what to ask for. The combination was frustrating for both.
When you’re learning how to back a trailer into a site, it’s helpful to first walk the site together. The drive can explain how they plan to back into the site and what would be helpful to point out. Example: “I’d like my tires to be here before I start turning into the site, but I’m worried I might clip that tree over there. Can you tell me when I get to this point and if I get close to that tree, tell me to stop”.
But when your spouse or travel partner tells you stop, stop! As a recovering impatient driver, it’s easy to think, “I know why they’re telling me to stop, it’s no big deal”. Lol. Just stop, get out and look!
Establish terms that are helpful such as “passenger” or “driver” instead of right and left. As you come up with language that is helpful, remember it and use it again.
Navigation:
Once I had one of the boys help me navigate. Once. “Oh, that was your right turn!”
The truth is, learning to communicate directions takes practice, especially when you’re towing or driving an RV and in a new city. We’ve learned to tell the driver which lane they need to be in and state the next turn just after the last one. This way the driver knows if they will be on the road for 50 feet or 50 miles.
Know how to correct trailer sway before it happens
Do you have a brake controller in your tow vehicle? If not, get one installed. Trailer brakes are key and it when it comes to correcting trailer sway, it’s your go-to move.
Many new travel trailer owners write us about the sway when semi-trucks pass. That is not sway. That’s the force of wind pushing the trailer right and thus moving the bumper of your truck left. It’s a sensation that travel trailer owners get used to.
When real sway occurs, you’ll know because it’s scary as heck and if not corrected quickly can cause an accident.
Know that your first action should be applying the trailer brakes slowly and progressively until it stops. Often the first reaction is to use the break on the truck, this does not change the physics of sway and it will persist. If your trailer brakes are set high, applying the truck brakes will also apply brakes to the trailer, but there isn’t enough difference in force to correct. In many ways, accelerating would be better, but I’ll stick with applying the trailer brakes with the lever. In most cases, it straightens out the trailer immediately.
If sway is an on-going issue, you likely don’t have enough weight in the front or your trailer and tow vehicle is not properly matched. Weight and balance have the most significant impact on preventing sway and how your trailer is loaded and important.
If you feel that your travel trailer is properly loaded and you have the right tow vehicle and sway persists, you may look into a Hensley Hitch which using engineering to solve the sway issue. This will also remove the slight sway that occurs when semi-trucks pass as the hitch will correct the movement before it reaches the truck.
I’d like to write more about trailer sway. What other questions or suggestions do you have?
Do you have a link to buy RV toilet paper. Walmart does carry it but they’ve been out since the shelter in place order. And I am on a notification list when it’s available again. What are full-time Airstream Rudy doing regarding toilet paper. Hope they’re not using regular toilet paper.
Stay safe, shelter in place, enjoy a much slower pace. God bless America. God bless all our first responders. God bless our Airstream community .
No. We have only ever used septic safe TP and we’ve never had a problem. We also put a tank or 2 of water into the black tank after flushing. Water = good!
Try health food stores. The one we go to carries TP as well as organic soaps, shampoos etc.
Hmm regarding sway, Friend who drives semi’s warned me that the best way to correct sway is actually to speed up slightly until the trailer stops swaying and straightens out, then slowly apply the brakes. That has been my methodology even though it is counter-intuitive. Anyone else learn this?
I agree that the physics of that maneuver works and even mentioned that in the description, but I think it would difficult for a new RVer to do compared to apply trailer brakes. Both maneuvers separate the force from the truck and trailer.
Our Anderson weight distribution “no-sway” hitch was the perfect solution to stop the gust from passing trucks and the sway in general. A small investment for great peace of mind being newbie RVers.
We are putting the Equal-i-zer hitch on ours. Trailer is just over 27′ and weighs around 6600 lbs. Dealer advises this hitch is overkill with a heavier trailer and 3/4 ton tow vehicle, but I am all for better safe than sorry.
That’s funny. The Equal-i-zer hitch isn’t even that overkill. I’m guessing they didn’t offer it or somehow couldn’t upsell you something? That’s a good hitch for that setup and a good truck for those numbers. Towing with ease!
The FIRST recommendation I give to “newbies” and especially “Wanna be newbies” is to find and attend an RV Boot Camp. Over a weekend, ALL the systems found on a modern RV will be explained and demystified. Critical areas like “numbers” (GVWR, GCWR etc, etc, etc) will be covered. RVBC graduates are SMARTER RV buyers and, safer RVers. Mistakes made with RVs are often expensive and, sometimes dangerous. I believe that the Escapees originated the concept of RVBC but now, these important classes are available from several providers. Once folks have an RV and, get it “set up” they should get their rig “Smart Weighed” a one time event (unless MAJOR changes are made). Once your rig has been Smart Weighed, a trained technician will sit down with you and explain your actual numbers and, be able to advise what PSI settings are right for YOUR circumstances.
Can you tell me where some of these classes are held?
Interested also.
We are looking into buying a Casita and your videos, spreadsheets, and lists tied to Platinum Ginger have been so helpful. Thanks for being down to earth, helpful, and awesome advocates for exploration and family! We love KYD!
Marc,
is there a certain number of day of use per year that would justify the extra expense of the Clearsource system (we’re not full-timers), or is it worth to have from day 1?
Hope you and the family stay safe.
Thanks,
Sean.
We traveled most of the US for years with only a 100 micron filter. It took us time before we invested in a proper filter. For some people, a proper filter is first on their list to buy and they likely a nice system in their house. Others, don’t use anything at all. Afterall, most RV parks are on city water and *most* tap water is fine. Hope that helps!
Thanks, that really helps.
Sean.
We are looking to switch from a TT to a 5th wheel and I am lost trying to make sure we don’t get something too big for our truck. Any recommendations one how best to figure that out. I am Leary asking RV dealers. Thanks! I love your positive vibes and am learning so much!
Hi Marc
What do you and Trish use for drinking and cooking water? What do you use the water from your tanks for? I am worried that the water in our tank will not be potable even with a filter at the hookup. We are thinking of filling a Brita with water directly from the campground supply, to bypass our tank altogether (but using a Camco or equivalent filter for the supply to our tank for all other uses).
Thanks so much,
Jen
We use the ClearSource water filter when at RV parks. It’s filtered to .5 micron. When dry camping, we use bottled water and don’t necessarily trust our tanks.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that we didn’t realize the city hook up bypasses they tank. The filter makes much more sense now. Our first trailer arrives tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!
Love your channel. We are not new to RVing, but I am new to a hard side luxurious trailer with slides and blackwater tank. My question is what kind of soap do you shower with? I am thinking Ivory is ok, but there are a lot of bar bath soaps that leave residue and dont wash away clean. Since this soap will be washed into the grey tank and there is no grey tank flush, like black tank, I was wondering what body soap you recommend. I think Dawn is fine for dishes as that seems to break down reasonably well.
We pretty much use everything we use at home with no issues.
I’m looking for the PDFs to download the checklist an other great information you have here. Thank you. Allan
Just watched your Hensley video and curious with your Airstream, are you still using the Hensley, if not, what are you using? We have a Reese, which works fine with Sway control; however, we are really considering either Hensley or Pro-pride, primarily for the hooking and un-hooking and it appears to improve turning. Thank you. Melissa
Hi Marc:
With the air stream are you using the Hensley or have you switched.
I wanted to follow up on this questions as well as I noticed in the video you were no longe using the Hensley hitch for your air stream. What was the reason for the switch?
Trying to find checklist for hooking up and hitting the road with a travel trailer. Appears the link is not here. Thank you for the RV setup checklist!
Trying to find checklist for hooking up and hitting the road with a travel trailer. Appears the link is not here. Thank you for the RV setup checklist!
Dear Marc, Trish, and Family,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
After enjoying your videos for a few weeks, we decided to begin our ADVENTURE at ages 58 & 57.
We searched for the right rig and flew from Yuma to Hartford, CT to pick up our ’07 Forest River Georgetown with 47K miles and a beautifully redone interior. We drove across the country visiting our kids in KCMO and Bella Vista, AR. Brought our oldest son home with us, stopping at the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Sedona on the way home. We just returned from taking son #2 to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff (Ft. Tuthill County Campground), Sedona, Jerome, and Prescott on our way back to Yuma. We’ve seen more of this beautiful country in three weeks than we have in decades!
Thank you all for sharing your experiences, your tips, and the encouragement to get started!
All the best,
Bob & Nancy Walker
Hi Marc,
We have a Kodiak Cub that is 24′ and 4,000 lbs. When we purchased the RV in June, we drove a Silverado 1500, so we purchased the Husky Centerline TS weight dist hitch w/ built in sway control. We have just upgraded the truck to a 2500 HD Ram 4×4. I have been told that with the new truck, I no longer need to use the trunnion style spring bars; however, I would like your opinion on that. I am a newbie and deathly afraid of trailer sway. Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Wendy
Marc and Trish. You have been a God send! A month or so back we ran across a show on cable about RVing, of people looking at various types of RVs. After watching a number of episodes we got our interest peeked so we started looking around. While exploring various sites and videos on the Net, we stumbled on your site and what a great discovery it was.
We’ve watched hours of your videos, especially those with beginners info and appreciate not only the way to do things but also what not to do and the common mistakes. We appreciate the honesty about things breaking and what to expect.
So, after a lot of hands on shopping, we made the plunge last weekend and will pick up our new 2021 Flagstaff Ultra Lite this weekend. In the mean time my Amazon Prime credit card is taking a pretty good hit as I order the essentials I will need, thanks to your recommendations and experience. We’re in Texas so not as locked down as many but with both my wife and I being cancer survivors, we’re very reluctant to travel and stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, etc. The ability to get out and away and still keep our distance will be great.
So again, thanks so much for the great info and we appreciate the time I’m sure it takes to put all this together..
Jacko & Tezz
I may have missed it – but do you cover or talk about RV insurance anywhere? We’ve got a quote from the same people that do our Auto/Home/Life but we’re wondering if we’re missing out on something great with another better provider etc??
What navigation app do you recommend? We have a 42’ 5th wheel and have found google is no good for us.
We are newbies. We are purchasing a 16ft travel trailer. The dealership wants 1k for the sway bar and brake system. Our truck is already wired for it.
My husband thinks it’s a dealership upsell and wants to install them himself.
Thoughts?
I totally agree when you said that it can be relaxing and therapeutic to get everything cleaned. So I think that it is also great to have trailer cleaning equipment if we have an RV in the future, since we actually plan to have one next year. And it will be for our own convenience and peace of mind if the trailer will always be cleaned no matter where we go, especially if it can save us a lot of money over time while avoiding repairs or damage because of the debris and dirt buildup that can affect some parts.