Bad RV Advice: Tips and Tricks You Would Be Better Off Forgetting
Have you been given some conflicting advice? Let’s talk about which RV advice you should take and which you should completely avoid.
The RV community is friendly, encouraging, and supportive. But sometimes, the tips and tricks you may receive from others aren’t the most helpful. Today, we are setting out to list off some not-so-helpful tips and tricks that we believe you would be better off forgetting. And we’re hoping to set the record straight in the process. Let’s get started with the advice you might want to forget you ever heard!
“Buy New: It will prevent a lot of headaches.”
“Buying new means you won’t have any problems.”
OK—In the RV industry, this is simply not true. We can’t equate the RV industry to the car industry. The quality of what is currently being built isn’t the same. In this article by rvtravel.com, you can read all about the frustration customers experience from dealers.
According to camperguide.org, 30% of RVs are going to have a major issue within the first 2 years! Also, it is widely understood in the RV community there are "kinks" that need to be worked out in new RVs.
Also, while they might be covered under the manufacturer's warranty, this could mean a lot of trips to the dealer. You could be pulling into your first Harvest Hosts location. Instead, you are at a hotel waiting for your rig to be repaired.
In addition to still having issues with your brand-new RV, you will have to accept an immediate 20% drop in value. The moment you drive off the lot, you start losing money. And after three years, the total depreciation ranges from 30-35%. If I lost 20% immediately, that would give me a huge headache!
“You don’t want to buy someone else’s problems.”
Buying someone else’s problems are relative. I own an RV that is 20+ years old. Did I buy someone else’s problems?—yes and no. Yes, there were things wrong with the RV. There were a couple of things repaired that I would have done differently. It had gold light fixtures and cabinet hardware. There were a couple of unwanted customizations, but… the maintenance records were incredible!
The oil changes on my CAT diesel were done like clockwork. The HVAC systems were consistently serviced. The parts that broke were replaced immediately. And the upgrades that were needed to stay relevant in today’s camping culture were done.
Not only was it maintained well, but they had systems—oh, the systems! If you know, you know. Systems are everything when you show up at a campsite or Harvest Hosts. How good your systems are can quickly determine how good your night goes! They dictate how well you transition from driver and/or co-pilot to being relaxed at home. And the difficult thing is, each setup is unique and different.
When I got my RV, the couple I bought it from had it all figured out—and I kept 75% of their systems. They showed us everything. They had Velcro straps cut for the cabinets, storage containers, and tire covers. They even had extra electrical and plumbing components.
It is important to know not everyone is getting rid of their RV because of the problems. Like the housing market, people change because their needs and wants change. I bought mine because the couple wanted a bigger shower—even though the husband was a little salty about it.
One last bonus for us—we have the phone number of the couple who knows everything about this RV. And we have called them several times to ask detailed questions about our home.
Statistics show that 52% of new RVers will upgrade their unit after the first year. There will be those who bought an RV thinking this life is for them, but they quickly realize it isn’t. Some people stop because it is too scary to drive. Others will quit because they feel like they are aging out of the RV life. The reality is there will always be plenty of used RVs to consider.
You can help protect yourself from buying someone else’s problems by hiring an RV Inspector. An RV inspector is similar to a home inspector. They will look over your possible purchase and point out the pros and cons. This will help you evaluate and negotiate.
My big encouragement is not just to assume new is always better. New does have its pros, but used can be great too!
“Make sure you get a Manufacturer’s Warranty!”
I’ve known a lot of people who want to buy an RV. They go and check out campers or RVs for months. But then get intimidated about the upkeep or what could go wrong. The first thing they do is ask about the warranty! I get it. It is intimidating. And once you hear about all that can and probably will go wrong, you want some sort of comfort, or you walk away. I am here to say, “don’t walk away.” But don’t think the manufacturer’s warranty is your only option.
Extended Warranties can be purchased for your setup. There are limitations based on the year and/or mileage. And you will need to have it inspected before they will grant you a warranty.
Why might you need an extended warranty?
- RV repairs can be very expensive. A lot of systems need to be professionally repaired, and RV mechanics aren’t cheap. It is not uncommon to have a $2,000 bill, and I know a lot of RVers are on a fixed or limited income budget. By purchasing an extended warranty, you are protecting yourself from an unexpected $2,000 bill.
- When looking for a warranty, understand the difference between the types of warranties. There are two main types: exclusionary and inclusionary.
- An Inclusionary Warranty includes only the things listed in the agreement.
- An Exclusionary Warranty includes everything except the things listed in the agreement.
With the initial language, inclusionary seems like the one you might want, but don’t be fooled. You are looking for an exclusionary warranty. An exclusionary warranty may even cover things like carpet, paint, rust, etc.
If you are planning on buying new because you want the peace of mind that comes with a warranty, don’t think it has to be new. Extended Warranties are a legitimate option. But be sure to do some research and make sure your potential buy can be covered if you want a warranty.
Here’s a bit more about warranties to help guide you to your decision, including some possible companies.
Should I buy new or used?
The best advice I can give you is to be patient and buy used—preferably 3 to 5 years old.
Here’s why…
- You can save a lot of money. This makes the risk of getting into the RV life a little lower.
- Your purchase will be new enough to have all the safety and modern creature comforts that you might want.
- It should still qualify for a warranty—if that is something you want.
- The depreciation of your purchase has slowed down. And in the event that this life isn’t for you, you can resell it without losing too much.
After talking with and listening to experienced RVers, it seems like this is a common thought. After 3-5 years, the “kinks” have been worked out—meaning you don’t need to constantly make runs to your dealer. The bulk of the depreciation has been experienced. And they have even made some nice customizations that make the RV life enjoyable.
When you find an RV you want to seriously consider purchasing, get to know the RV.
Check every nook and cranny for leaks, mold, and unattended issues. Look for loose screws, taped repairs, and cover-ups. If you are buying directly from a person, ask to see the repair and maintenance records. Look how they take care of other things; ask where they’ve traveled with it. Don’t be afraid to move every curtain, rug, dish, or piece of clothing.
After you have done your due diligence, hire an RV inspector. If you are buying in that 3-5 year range, it will still be an expensive purchase, and an inspection could save you.
With all of that being said, I am currently touring the country in my 1996 Safari Serengeti and loving life. I've had some issues here and there. But nothing beats the ability to chase beautiful weather in my home on wheels! The extra bonus is I only paid $23,000 to find out I love this life.
“You don't really need ___.”
Full disclosure, every time someone tells me, “ you don’t really need ___,” I want to believe them. For some reason, it feels like I am beating the system. It feels like they are saying all those other people are fools, and here is a secret they don’t know.
Maybe I am cheap, or maybe I want to beat the system—either way, it has backfired over and over. So here are some stories about my own mistakes and the mistakes I’ve heard from others.
“You don’t really need a water pressure regulator.”
I was in Polson, MT, when I heard this. I actually owned a pressure regulator already. But the people in the campground told me that I didn’t need one because the grounds are designed with RVers in mind. So I parked my RV and didn’t put it on. And decided I was going to go for a drive all the way around Flathead Lake (27 miles long and 15 miles wide). I was on the far side of the lake when I got a call telling me there was water running out from under my RV. Our entire undercarriage was filled with water, and everything got soaked.
Needless to say, you need a water pressure regulator no matter what you are told. A water pressure regulator is a very affordable purchase, from $10-$40, depending on which you buy.
Why do you need a water pressure regulator?
Your RV plumbing system is most likely designed to handle no more than 60 PSI. Many of your hooks up could be much greater than that. I purchased a water pressure gauge and tested several of my hookups over the past year. I hit over 90 PSI on multiple occasions. With high PSI, you will likely pop a fitting or, at the very least, do damage to some of your fittings.
What kind should I buy?
You can simply get a water pressure regulator that keeps a constant range between 40-50 PSI. Or you can purchase an adjustable regulator. These are simple to adjust with a flathead screwdriver. Either way, you are spending a small amount of money to protect yourself from a major headache.
“You don’t really need a surge protector.”
I had a good ol’ boy tell me... "There is no reason for a surge protector. Unless you want to stay are sketchy campgrounds or plan on being struck by lightning, they are a waste of money. But I found out his advice wasn’t correct.
Why do you need a surge protector?
In reality, a surge protector protects you from more than rogue lightning bolts and “sketchy” campgrounds. They protect your entire home on wheels. One buy protects from power spikes, low voltage, storms and even human error. I've heard of damage from plugging into an old dryer outlet.
A surge protector can give you peace of mind. It protects your investment. And helps by speeding the transition from traveler to dweller. Just by plugging in your surge protector, you will know your power supply is in good standing for your rig.
What kind of surge protector should you buy?
There are a lot of surge protectors to choose from. There are traditional surge protectors, and then there are Electrical Management Systems (EMS). A surge protector is portable, and an EMS is built into your system. Personally, I like a surge protector because if it goes bad, I can easily replace it.
I purchased a Progressive Industries surge protector with a cover. I wanted to have something to protect me during the rain and remove one more worry. These can get really expensive, but they don’t have to be. Do a little research and pick one that helps relieve your stress.
“You don’t really need a dehumidifier. ”
I spent my first year of RVing in either Arizona or Montana. The idea of needing a dehumidifier was extreme overkill. The air is very dry there. The vast majority of the time, my windows were open, and moisture wasn’t something that I was thinking about. My second year was spent east of the Mississippi. For the majority of the year, I was in either Tennessee or Ohio. It was year two that I realized a dehumidifier was needed.
The beauty of the RV life is you can take your home anywhere! The negative is your RV needs different things in different environments and seasons.
Why do you need a dehumidifier in your RV?
It seems like a dehumidifier is for a damp basement—where moisture runs rampant. Stop for just a minute and think about all of the things that create moisture and humidity. Cooking, showering, washing dishes, boiling water, making coffee or tea. Even condensation and breathing contribute to moisture. On top of that, think about the humidity in the air.
Moisture leads to mold in your RV. With mold comes breathing problems and potential sickness. Not to mention ruining things inside of your rig.
A dehumidifier can prevent moisture build-up protect your RV, your health, and your comfort. Nothing is worse than sticking to your chair or needing to dance to get those jeans off—yuck!
What do I do about this?
When someone first told me to put a dehumidifier in my RV, I looked around and thought there was no way it was going to fit in there. The square footage is already tiny. But they told me there are several that hardly take up any space and are designed with RVs in mind.
In addition to a dehumidifier, there are things that help remove moisture from the air and do not require electricity. DampRid is a moisture absorber that a lot of people use, and it has excellent reviews.
Regardless of what you do, getting the humidity out of the air is a must. Not only does it protect your rig, but it also protects your health. If you aren’t healthy, you can’t enjoy life.
Be sure to check out Boondockers Welcome blog on preventing moisture build-up.
“The best part about RVing is the freedom of the open road.”
“Now that you have your RV, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want.” It was this statement that led me to getting my first RV. I love adventure and the idea of exploring. However, there are some limitations. And taking that advice to heart can lead you to some uncomfortable scenarios that you’d rather not experience.
In this section, we are going to take a look at some common misconceptions.
“Stick to the highways, and you’ll be fine.”
Not only was this a disappointment, but it was a lie! When I was planning my first long trip, I was given this advice. It didn’t take long until I ignored this advice. There were two reasons I ignored this advice. First, I wanted to go to places off the beaten path. Second, someone told me about the Northeast part of the United States.
You might think that all North American highway systems are designed with big rigs in mind. But this isn’t true. There could be height restrictions—especially in the Northeastern United States. Length restrictions—especially in mountainous terrain. Four-wheel drive restrictions, propane restrictions, and sometimes it isn’t advisable because of the heat!
A safe way to combat the unknown is to have a good plan and use a GPS designed for RVs.
There are a lot of RV GPS options out there, but some are better than others. My recommendation is the Garmin RV 785. At the time of this writing, it is about $500 and can save you a lot of headaches in route planning.
“Dolly towing is just as easy as flat-towing.”
Dolly Towing is attaching the towed car’s front two tires to a car dolly to pull behind a motorhome. Flat Towing is when all four tires are down on the pavement.
I started with a car dolly because I had a Toyota Prius that was able to be towed with two wheels off the ground. Within a week of using my car dolly, I started planning for a transition to a flat towable vehicle.
Technically, the statement that dolly towing is just as easy as flat-towing is correct. Once everything is hooked up, you are literally just pulling it down the road. But connecting and disconnecting your vehicle to a motorhome is not the same.
With a car dolly, there are straps. With a flat tow, there are pins. Straps tend to move and slide over time. Pins stay in place.
I was on my third day of traveling from Arizona to Ohio when I learned this the hard way. I checked my straps every time I got out of my RV. And somewhere between the gas station and my Harvest Hosts stay, the tire straps came undone. I got to my location. I went into the winery. And when I came back out, I saw my car's front tires were sitting on top of my straps. I went to the motorhome and thanked my wife for unhooking the tire straps—and she had no idea what I was talking about.
I am not saying this wasn’t my fault or that this would happen to everyone, but this did happen to me. I am convinced that I messed something up, but I was fine for the first two days. Needless to say, this scared me. I could have caused mass chaos on the highway.
I went out that night and got several more straps. When we left the next morning, I had four additional straps connected to my car. Even after traveling like this for the next six months, I couldn’t get my car connected or disconnected in under 15 minutes. This time-consuming process actually stopped me from exploring more on my trips across the country.
On my first trip with my flat tow set up, I was able to connect my Jeep in under 3 minutes by myself. I feel much more comfortable pulling my flat tow vehicle because it feels like there is less room for human error. I am more likely to disconnect and explore the area. And it seems to pull behind me a little easier.
I am not saying you can’t dolly tow, but I—and many others—find flat towing much, much easier.
“Just find a Walmart, and you’ll be fine.”
While staying overnight in a Walmart parking lot seems to be a right of passage for all RVers, not all Walmarts will let you stay in their parking lots. I found this out the hard way.
While planning a trip from Indiana to Montana, I decided to plan an overnight stay at a Walmart in Iowa. Anytime I stay at a Walmart or rest area, I make those my longer driving days. When I finally got to my destination, I saw the sign that no RVer wants to see: “No overnight parking.”
“Boondocking is difficult.”
Lies, lies, lies. While boondocking is different, it isn’t difficult. You might be thinking, “What is boondocking? How will I know what to do? Is my rig capable of boondocking?”
Boondocking is camping without electricity, water, or sewage—typically in undeveloped campgrounds. If you can camp, you can boondock.
Most RVs are prepared for boondocking. With that being stated, there are some setups that can stay out longer and venture further into the rough terrain.
Why I think you should be boondocking.
- It is (typically) FREE camping!
- Easier to get to where you are going
- Beautiful places!
- Closer to nature
- Gain respect for how much you consume
- Get to know what you and your camper are capable of doing.
Boondocking is truly the heart of camping. And here are some places to learn more.
“You can dump your gray tank anywhere.”
When I was talking about boondocking, I got this advice from a seasoned boondocker. It turns out most public lands will not allow you to dump gray water. I know many people still do it, but you really shouldn’t for multiple reasons.
Gray water stinks. It is filled with dirt and grime, grease from meats, chemicals from cleaning supplies, and soaps. All of these things are foreign to the natural environment they are being dumped onto. Sure, the ground will probably filter through all of these things, but it ruins what is natural.
“You won’t have to clean as much.”
It’s true that cleaning is reduced to a small space. However, you still produce the same amount of mess. While you can do a deep clean in a short amount of time, you will find yourself doing that deep clean more often.
In addition to cleaning more often, there will be things you want to give attention to when cleaning. Like wiping down window sills anytime, you see condensation to prevent mold.
Here is a guide to deep cleaning your RV that I found helpful.
“You’ll make tons of friends out there.”
This might not be true for everyone, but loneliness on the road is common enough that there is a legit debate. After being a full-timer for a while now, I can tell you there are seasons of loneliness.
I needed to learn a few things. My wife and I learned to stay connected through scheduled video calls and online games. We learned to change our expectations. We had to redefine what it means to be friends while on the road.
A lot of people won't have this issue. Just hanging out is enough for most people. But are going to need more to have their social needs met.
Some people are used to having a few friendships that are really close. I believe loneliness will be a bigger issue for these people. However, there are more and more traveling communities popping up. If you are one of these people, looking for a traveling community could be a good fit for you.
Another option is to spend the majority of the year in one location and then just travel for a few short months. This will allow you to develop friendships in one “home” location.
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Like I said at the beginning of this article, the RV community is friendly, encouraging, and supportive. But sometimes the tips and tricks aren’t the most helpful. Whether you get good advice or bad advice, don’t let it stop you from the journey ahead.
