You have heard me say 100 times that things can and will fail on an RV.  Just like things can fail on a stick and brick home.  However on an RV it’s going to happen more often because you are dealing with a moving vehicle. There will be a certain amount of jostling around as you move down the highways and byways of the country.

If you think buying a brand-new travel trailer will result in at least several years of trouble-free travel, well that’s not going to be the case at all.  In fact, during the first year you may see the most trouble.  This is why I always recommend getting an independent inspection.  That way you will limit the potential problems you will have.

I have certainly given my perspective on why these problems exist, and you just need to go through a number of my videos or blog posts to get my slant on things.

So, lets talk about managing your expectations if you are just thinking about buying a travel trailer.

  1. Know what your tow vehicle can haul before you even start shopping.  DO NOT rely on the RV dealership to tell you what you can tow – they have no idea, and it’s not their job.  Watch this video for more information.
  2. Get an independent inspection before you buy a new or used trailer.  Minimize your risk as much as possible.  Don’t be shy about walking away from a bad purchase.  Don’t be so enamored by the glitz of the trailer that you make a horrible decision.
  3. If there are a few minor things that need to be repaired, Do not sign any papers until all work is completed.  Signing first gives you no leverage on getting the repairs done in a timely fashion.
  4. Things are going to break, plain and simple.  If you are handy, even slightly handy, that’s a big advantage.  You won’t want to take you rig to sit on a dealer’s lot for a month for something simple like a loose P-Trap under the sink, a leaking sink connection, or a loose piece of trim.
  5. RVs need regular maintenance, even during the warranty period, so make sure you understand what is not covered.  An example would be the roof.  While the membrane has a long warranty, the inspection, and application of additional sealant is on you.  This will probably also apply to the silicone sealant on the exterior of the rig.
  6. Protecting your new RV is expensive.  You won’t leave the dealership with everything you need.  A surge protector, water pressure regulator, back up camera, all the water hoses, black tank hoses, connections, and supplies. All of this is expensive.  Add to all of that the insurance and storage costs.  It all adds up. Then there’s all the Amazon purchases you will probably make!
  7. You’re probably going to screw up.  Everybody makes mistakes, so your job is to try and limit the damage, and embarrassment.  Like having the sewer hose come off the rig when you are dumping your black tank at the campground.  Perhaps it wasn’t connected properly, or because you forgot to push the black dump handle back in after the last use.
  8. Once you start a procedure, like winterizing, dumping your tanks, or hooking up the trailer, you can’t get sidetracked.  Follow that process all the way through, so tune out anything that might distract you until you have completed your task.
  9. Campgrounds can be great, mediocre, or absolutely horrible.  Thinking that every campground is going to be great is going to lead to major disappointment.  Do research on campgrounds before you book a site.  A one nighter at a bad campground may be ok, but more than that and you’ll wish you never checked in.
  10. Campgrounds have rules – it’s not a free-for-all, although it may seem like that sometimes. You need to follow all their rules, or risk getting kicked out. It helps to know the rules BEFORE you check in. For instance, they may not allow your breed of dog. So, research all of this ahead of time.
  11. You are responsible for the safety of your rig at the campground.  It doesn’t matter if a camp host guides you to the site and states “You can make it”.  If you don’t think you can fit or turn into or back into a particular spot, then tell them no.  Request a new spot or start looking for another campground. Frankly, Tammy and I have done this quite a few times. When it comes to keeping my unit safe, I am not shy.
  12. Sometimes parking the rig with your partner can be stressful.  Try not to end up on the couch instead of the bed after a long day of travel. In Chapter 10 of our Book “A guide to enjoying your travel trailer” we talk specifically about this issue.
  13. You are responsible for the safety of others on the road.  I see this as a very neglected fact when people post crazy stuff on-line such as “I don’t need a weight distribution hitch” or “I drive in high winds all the time, never have a problem”.  This is a selfish view of traveling with a towable RV.  A trailer that goes out of control on the highway could kill innocent folks that are traveling around you.
  14. There’s no shame in asking your neighbors for help.  Most folks in RVs are more than happy to assist others at campgrounds.  I’ve helped people navigate out of spots, fixed their leaking water heaters, helped unhook the tow vehicle, and answered a multitude of questions.  I think most folks will do the same. This says something about the travel trailer community!

I hope this helps anyone thinking about purchasing a travel trailer.  Having a travel trailer can be a great adventure and build a lot of memoires.  However, it is not a lifestyle without any challenges.