Tips For New RV Owners

You’ve just bought your first RV and you’re so excited to get on the road towards new adventures. But you also might be curious about the ins and outs of RV ownership. There are maintenance considerations, safety rules, and practical concerns you need to think about. With that in mind, Golden Gait Trailers in Concord, North Carolina, has prepared this handy guide for new RV ownersto help you navigate the road ahead. Whether you’re in a traditional RV, a motorhome, or hitching up your first travel trailer or fifth wheel to your truck, you can benefit from these simple tips.

Planning Your Trip

A little planning now can potentially save you a ton of stress later on. RV trips are more complex than a road trip in your car, because you’re bringing your lodgings with you. This requires that you spend some time making sure they’re up to speed. You’ll want to do a walkthrough of your RV or trailer and see that everything is in good working order, from appliances to slide-outs to electrical fixtures. You’ll need to have a supply of propane for power, especially if you’re dry camping, but it can be helpful if you experience a blackout on a campsite, too. Make sure your tires are free of punctures and check the pressure with a tire pressure gauge. Check the seals on your tanks to ensure they’re free of leaks.

Planning your route is also important. Sure, you’ll want to leave room for spontaneity and adventure, but you should at least have a print-out or GPS directions saved that tells you the best routes to where you’re going, plus any stops you might want to make on the way. Look ahead at traffic and weather conditions before your trip to know what to expect -- you don’t want to end up driving through a snowstorm when you could have avoided it!

Packing Suggestions

While your RV or motorhome is likely spacious and filled with all kinds of storage options, you don’t want to overburden yourself by stuffing every nook and cranny with things you won’t use or don’t need. Overpacking your RV can put you over weight limits, which makes for dangerous driving conditions and opens you up to the possibility of incurring a fine if you’re caught by law enforcement. Also, carrying too much puts wear and tear on your tires and, if you’re towing, undue strain on your towing vehicle.

Make lists of the essentials -- food and water (remember that you can stock up on these things en route, though) for everyone, including pets, medications and first-aid supplies, safety tools like flashlights and a tool kit for repairs, and clothing. You should bring clothes you can layer for comfort, and if you have a washer and dryer in your vehicle, you won’t have to pack too many changes of clothing. Bring a waterproof layer and sturdy shoes for hiking.

Keeping Things Sorted

Making lists might sound tedious, but they’re essential to keep all the details in place so you don’t lose track of something important. You can use your phone, a planner, a notebook, or a spreadsheet -- just make sure you’re writing things down somewhere for everyone on the trip to see. You can even use it to add to your trip, like if someone finds a cool place they want to visit along the way to your campsite, or if you see something you can take a quick day trip to once you’re settled in. Another useful list might be one of all the maintenance you need to perform before your departure.

When you’re looking over your RV and find you need parts or services performed before you head into the great wide open, come see us at Golden Gait Trailers. Our showroom carries a variety of new and used travel trailers, RVs, toy haulers, and motorhomes, if you’re in the market to upgrade your current model. Golden Gait Trailers is located in Concord, North Carolina. We proudly serve customers in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area, as well as those in Columbia, Raleigh, Hickory, Asheville, Myrtle Beach, and Greensboro.