Don't leave the RV Lot before knowing these things!

Everyday new RV owners leave the Dealership lots after a very limited orientation on how their RV operates. This is why you will see so many posts on-line that start with the words “Newbee here, wondering how...”. Dealerships for the most part don’t do a very good job on educating new owners on the operation of their travel trailers. In fact, it may surprise you but many Dealership Employees don’t even own an RV. Compounding these issues is the fact that new owners don’t know the questions to ask; so they leave the Dealership thinking everything has been covered.

We highly recommend that you get an independent Inspection of your Travel Trailer before you sign any paperwork. You can click here to read our blog post on RV inspections.

Once you have purchased your Travel Trailer, but before you ever leave the Dealerships lot, you need to know the basics. Not only do you need to “Know” the basics but you need to do hands-on learning. It is one thing to listen to an RV Tech say “The dump handles are located under the trailer on the passenger side“. It is another thing to physically run through the entire process of how they operate and in what order.

So let’s talk about the bare minimum things you should understand before you leave the RV lot.

The most important thing from a safety standpoint is knowing your tow vehicle. Never take anyone’s word (including the RV dealership), that you have a vehicle that can tow your new travel trailer. Most of the folks selling the RVs do not know how much your vehicle can tow. To be quite frank, this is not their job. This is something you need to know before buying an RV. On the Truck side of the equation you need to know your Trucks Curb Weight, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, Gross Weight Carrying Capacity, Towing Capacity, Passenger and Cargo Weight you plan to carry. On the Trailer Side of the equation you need to know, The Trailers Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, The Dry (empty) Weight, Cargo Weight, and Hitch weight. Once you have this information, you can use any of the online towing calculators (like TowCalculator.com) to make an informed decision. I highly recommend that you do not tow with an undersized or marginal vehicle.
What is not included in the purchase of the trailer. There are extra things you will need to buy before your first trip such as leveling blocks, wheel chocks, water hoses, sewer hoses, water pressure regulator, surge protector, black tank treatments, etc.
The maximum amount of weight you can add to your trailer. This is known as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Subtract your Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) from that number and you will know what available weight you have for supplies. Remember that every dish, pot and pan, water hose, etc. adds weight to the camper.
How to connect and disconnect your tow vehicle to the trailer. You need to do this at the Dealers lot so you understand how the locking latch operates, how the weight distribution hitch gets connected, and how to connect your safety chains and emergency brake cable. I once helped a couple disconnect their brand new travel trailer. They had no idea how to remove the trailer from the hitch and resorted to using a hammer – don’t be that couple!
How to exit your Travel Trailer in an emergency. There are emergency egress windows. Learn how to open and close these. Also know where the fire extinguisher is and how to use it.
Understand your emergency alert systems. This includes Smoke, Propane, and CO2 detectors. Understand how they operate and how to access the batteries if applicable.
How to run your appliances inside and outside of the RV. One common problem is that air in the propane line will prevent the RV fridge from starting until it is purged. Understand how all those systems operate, and what you need to do to get them started. This applies to all your systems; AC, Propane, Furnace, Oven, Microwave, Water Pump, Thermostat settings, and yes even your entertainment system.
Know the correct operating procedure for the slide rooms. Also understand any manual steps you need to take if they should fail (in order to move them in or out). This would include knowing where your controllers are located if you have a Schwintek slide system (They are typically hidden).
Understand the difference between the fresh water tank and city water supply. Understand how to use both systems and what different settings are required. Also, understand how all your water hoses get connected to the trailer.
How to drain your water lines, and bypass your water heater.
How to connect your sewer hose. Also, understand how to open and close your gray tank and black tank valves (and how many your have). You also need to know the appropriate procedure for dumping and cleaning. For example, Black tank first when at least 2/3 full, then close and dump the grey water tanks to rinse the black water out of the sewer hose. NEVER leave the Black tank valve open when camping.
How to remove your propane tanks so you can get them refilled. Also understand how the Propane regulator operates.
Understand how to clean and maintain your roof and seals. Since this will involve getting on the roof, you may wish to have an RV service facility do this for you.

Please remember to take however long you need to understand these things at the dealership. Don’t hold back on any questions your have, no matter how basic or silly they may seem to you. If you feel that the sales representative or technician can’t answer your questions then ask for someone who can. Once you leave the dealership, chances are, it will not be easy to get answers quickly if you have an issue.

Lastly, when you start camping, take your time and don’t worry about how long it takes to get set up. In time you will develop a routine that works for you. It is probably a great idea to use a check list for setting up and tearing down. If you have an issue, please don’t be afraid to ask a fellow camper for help, everyone was new to RVing at some point. It will be a lot less stressful to ask for help than to make a costly mistake. Your fellow campers will be some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Safe Travels!