Top 5 Things for First-Time RV Oweners

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 Here are the Top 5 things I feel that prospective or new RV owners should know:

· Take an RV Inspector or RV Technician with you if at all possible before purchasing any RV (new or used).  Even a basic RV has numerous systems and fail points that a first-time buyer likely wouldn’t have a clue about. I don’t regret purchasing the used Class C that I purchased a few years ago.  However, an RV inspector would have pointed out numerous things that would have given me negotiating power and made my first few weeks of owning the RV a lot more enjoyable. It would have been money well spent. If you think there is no need for an inspection on a new RV, please read posts from almost any RV forum about all the people who have bought new RV's and had them stay at the dealer for months before they were able to use them. 

· Wood and caulk.  These are 2 things that most RV's have that cars don't.  That's why you need to think like you are buying a house and not like you are buying a car when you buy an RV.  Leaks can cause some of the most difficult and expensive problems for RV owners.  A typical RV can have as many as 40 places (vents, lights, doors, windows, roof seams, etc.) where water can penetrate.  Know that most RV's will leak somewhere at some time if not meticulously maintained. I strongly recommend buying a moisture meter and checking over the RV monthly. If you don’t hire a certified inspector, you should buy a moisture meter and thoroughly check the roof, walls, and floor of any RV before you purchase it.   Also, learn the different types of sealants to use for different situations and keep some roof repair tape on hand in case you get a puncture in your rubber roof. 

· Make learning how to inspect and maintain your tires a top priority before buying any RV. I bought my Class C and drove it 2 hours home. Later, I realized it only had around 45 pounds of air in a couple of the tires. Had it been a warmer day, I would have probably had a blowout on a narrow road with embankments on either side. There are numerous YouTube videos that will explain how to determine the age of the tires and how to maintain them. I also strongly recommend a tire pressure monitoring system. I have Tire Minder i10 and I’m very happy with it. You can buy cheaper or more expensive TPMS systems. I don’t know enough about all of them to know which is best but knowing my tire pressure and temperature gives me a lot of peace as I’m driving down the highway. 

· Learn some basic troubleshooting skills for all the basic systems in your RV or find a reliable RV technician.  I have found one of the best ways is to watch YouTube videos done by RV technicians. There are several who have YouTube channels and they are often very good at explaining things to beginners.   Don't rely on advice from Facebook RV forums.  I've seen some really bad advice by well meaning people that could cause a lot of damage or compromise the safety of anyone using the RV.

· Finally, don’t spend your last dollar on the RV.  Because there are numerous other things you will likely realize you need. Since buying my used Class C, I have probably spent $4-5K on various gadgets and upgrades already. In addition to pots, pans, towels, bed linens, etc., some things I have bought include:  New Tires ·  RV Cover · Air Compressor · TPMS · Large mat · Upgraded shocks · Upgraded steering stabilizer · Leveling blocks · Water filter · 30AMP extension cord · Sewer Hose · Extra water hose · Surge protector

This isn't meant to scare anyone.  Owning an RV can be a great experience.  However, it can become a nightmare without the proper knowledge to use and maintain it appropriately.