If you are thinking of Buying Your First RV? You need to ask these 12 Questions Before You pull the trigger. More details are available in our book:

thinking of buying your first RV?

Having a travel trailer can be an incredible way to explore the country and make lifelong memories. However, it also comes with costs, responsibilities, and challenges that many first-time buyers don’t consider. I’ll walk you through 12 key questions that will help you decide if RV ownership is the right move for you.

It should give you a realistic look at what this lifestyle really takes.

#1 How comfortable are you with the additional cost of RVing?

An in dependent inspection will cost at least $500.00. A WDH can be anywhere from a couple hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on what you choose. Then there are all the necessary things you will need to buy just to be able to use your travel trailer. You will need a sewer hose, freshwater hose, chemicals for your black tank, an EMS surge protector, water pressure regulator, leveling blocks, and on and on. Amazon prime will become your best friend.

Next, you will need to pay the following:

Your Loan Payment, Insurance, Storage Cost, Fuel to move your trailer across the roadways, Campground fees, and ongoing maintenance. If you are handy that will be a big positive.

#2 How comfortable are you with Towing?

BEFORE you purchase an RV, know what you can safely tow.  Don’t ever rely on an RV Dealership salesperson to tell you what you can tow. In fact, that’s not even their job and it requires a lot of information to make that determination.

Also, remember stopping a travel trailer is just as important as pulling one.

Towing is more that moving along a level plane, or having the ability to make wide turns, you might even get into a situation where you need to back up. Tail swing is an important consideration, in particular at gas stations. As you turn, the tail of your travel trailer moves one foot in the opposite direction for every three feet you drive forward.  Towing is not as easy as some make it look so get ready to practice.

#3 How comfortable are you Setting up a hitch?

A weight distribution hitch distributes the weight of the trailer across the vehicles. A properly adjusted WDH will prevent your trailer from swinging wildly while going down the highway.  It’s not a nice to have, it is a must have. You are responsible to make sure you don’t turn another motorist’s travels into a nightmare. I’ve never found a dealership yet, that sets them up to my satisfaction.   So, I always do my own.

#4 How comfortable are you Setting up a travel trailer?

      You will need to back it up into your campsite because not every site is a pull-through. In addition you will need to level it side to side and back to front. The leveling needs to be done before you put your slides out. You need to be able to safely chock your wheels and disconnect from the tow vehicle. Then you will need to hook up your power and water, etc. I recommend hooking up your power right after you level the trailer so you have enough power to move the slides. As you can see, setting up isn’t as simple as pulling into a site and climbing into the travel trailer. However, back in the 90’s when we had trailers without slides, it almost was that easy.

#5 How comfortable are you with General Maintenance?

Be prepared because things are going to break. It might be something easy to fix like wall trim, or something more complicated.

Roof and seals need to be inspected often and maintained.

Water lines and water heaters need to be drained after each trip

AC’s inspected, cleaned, and tightened

Wheel bearings need to be inspected and repacked yearly.

Plumbing needs to be checked regularly for leaks

Brakes need to be adjusted if you don’t have self adjusting brakes. All brakes should be inspected when you do your bearings.

#6 How comfortable are you Dealing with sewage and grey water?

If you’re not willing to deal with this, it’s not a lifestyle for you.  It’s not a pleasant chore. Youve heard the expression “S&*t happens!”, yeah it does. You will need to understand the correct process for dumping your black and grey tanks. Double check all your fittings before you pull the dump levers otherwise you will be the neighbors entertainment, and you might need to throw your shoes away.

#7 How comfortable are you Dealing with Propane systems?

Run out of propane once on a cold night, and you’ll quickly understand why staying on top of it matters. Beyond that, you need to know how the propane regulator works, how to disconnect and reconnect your tanks, and how to check for leaks. Leaks can also happen inside the trailer. If the propane alarm goes off, get out immediately and shut off the tanks. Then you—or a technician—must figure out what’s causing the problem.

#8 How comfortable are you Dealing with two different types of electricity.

A travel trailer uses both AC power (like your house) and DC power (like your car). Shore power supplies the AC electricity from a campground pedestal or a generator. Your RV battery supplies DC power, and the converter charges it—think of the converter as a large battery charger. Converters do fail; I’m on my third one in eight years, so it’s something to keep in mind.

Sometimes an appliance will use both types of electricity.

Without the AC, you’re not going to be running your AC, TV, Microwave, Fireplace, or residential fridge. Without DC, you’ll be without your lights, furnace, water pump, water heater, standard RV fridge.

#9 How comfortable are you Dealing with RV systems/appliances.

All of these systems need to be maintained – even more so than your home systems. Clean the AC filters about once a week while you’re using the trailer, and clean the AC coils annually.

There are no filters on the furnace, so you need to vacuum that area regularly. It won’t take much dog fur or dust bunnies to interfere with the sale switch, then your furnace wont run.

Drain your water heater and water lines after each trip, and flush out the water heater as well. If the water heater has an anode rod, you will need to inspect it regularly and replace it as needed.

#10 How comfortable are you Dealing with heights?

You need to clean and inspect the roof, window seals, cap seals, and sidewall seals. If you’re not comfortable working on the RV roof or climbing a ladder, pay someone to handle it. A fall will cost far more than hiring an RV technician to take care of these tasks.

#11 How comfortable are you Dealing with off season winterization

 One of the most critical parts of owning an RV is winterizing it. I won’t go into details here, but doing this incorrectly can cost you hundreds of dollars in spring repairs, including broken water lines, ruptured water heater tanks, and other damage. If you’re not comfortable doing the job yourself, have a dealership or a mobile RV technician handle it.

#12 How comfortable are you with campgrounds?

Here’s the deal breaker. Many times, you won’t know what kind of campground you are checking into.  Some are great and some are horrible.  All of them have rules – think of it as a Home Owners Association.

Never let a campground host direct you into a site you’re not comfortable with—the risk falls on you. If a campground looks bad when you pull in, leave and find another one. We’ve done exactly that.

If you can’t tolerate occasional sub-standard campgrounds, road noise, or close neighbors who ignore the rules or act rudely, this lifestyle isn’t for you. Those situations will happen. How you handle them will make or break your camping experience, which is why researching campgrounds ahead of time matters.

In conclusion: If the 12 points above feel like too much work, you’re not wrong. RVing can be demanding, frustrating, and sometimes expensive. If that reality turns you off, this probably isn’t a lifestyle you’ll enjoy.

So, if you’re Thinking of Buying Your First RV, I hope answering these 12 questions helped you get a clearer picture of what RV ownership is really like. If so, then you’re already ahead of the game.  RVing can be one of the most rewarding lifestyles out there, but only if you go into it prepared.