My family has been part of the RVing world for over 30 years and we have seen many "first-timers".

To begin, if you have never driven a large vehicle, find someone who has an RV and ask them to teach you how to make turns. We have seen so many people who don't know how to drive a long vehicle and they are constantly jumping the curbs or hitting objects during turns. As the primary driver during the summer months, I actually hold a CDL license as does my father because we do the driving while mom navigates.

Secondly, bring disposable latex gloves and get a lesson in how to empty the holding tanks. We forgot one time to add chemicals to the black water tank after emptying it - the smell was terrible and we quickly learned our lesson.

Third, bring business cards because you never know who you will meet and we keep in touch with many of the people we've met on our travels/

RVing can be a fantastic experience! I hope you enjoy your trip :)

Posted By Laurie on February 23, 2011, 10:43 PM

Thanks so much, Laurie! This is great information—really helpful.

Posted By Valerie on February 24, 2011, 10:26 AM

When we began RV'ing 5 years ago, we learned by trail and error; sometimes humorous and sometimes not so much. One of the best things we did was design a set up list and have it laminated. This helped us to not miss some very important steps on setting up our RV and breaking down when leaving. We also included important information such as our RV serial, model, RV dealer information, parts information etc.

We also keep a RV journal which details the campgrounds we've stayed, site locations, what we liked/disliked about the campground and also include a picture of our site. It's important to also take that drive around the park to see and jot down other sites you're interested in for your next visit.

And never ever leave your awning down if there's a storm or if you are away from your unit - we learned the hard way.

Happy RV'ing !

Posted By Melissa on February 24, 2011, 2:45 PM

We've been RVing for 25 years, since our daughter was one! The best thing you can do to keep your RV in good shape is to use it! If you have to let it sit for a few months or a season, turn everything on in it and let it run often. Lack of use is the fastest way to destroy your appliances, motors, etc. We run our generator, frig, ac and heat for at least 24 hrs. once a month.

Posted By cindy on February 24, 2011, 3:37 PM

For a beginner, a smaller self-powered and self-contained motor home is easier to handle than a trailer you tow behind you. Look at the "Class B" coaches which are nicely finished vans. "Class C" coaches are wider, longer, and higher, and are better for extended living, but still easy to drive. Visualize how you will use each area: driving, relaxing, cooking and eating, sleeping--what is available to use each and how comfortable or how well each fits all your traveling folks.
Consumables and capacities are another consideration: how much water, fuel, battery power, storage do you need? And you have to face the yuk factor of emptying the "holding tanks" eventually. Find a seasoned RVer to help you the first couple of times.
Go with confidence and enjoy. You will be hooked.

Posted By Bob on February 24, 2011, 3:38 PM

My husband and I are fulltime RVers since retiring in 2001. Before that, we camped and RVed "forever." Planning our trips has taken on a bigger scope since we can now go/stay/leave as we want. When we decide to go to a certain state, for example, I gather all the information I can find - go to the state's tourism website, get maps & tour books from AAA, etc. I take a state map and mark on it everything that we would find interesting to do/see. That gives us the beginning of a route through the state and an idea about how long we might want to stay in a particular area.

Posted By Carroll on February 24, 2011, 7:14 PM

Mine is a more convienience type tip... if you plan to use campground or RV park showers... get yourself a little bucket that you cam put all of your shower products in, and drill drain holes in the bottom. It is so easy to carry back and forth to the shower that way and you can carry it right in the shower and the excess water goes right through. Grab and go! The showers are always wet also, so I like to wear shorts or capri type pants to and from the shower so that I don't have my pant legs drag in the wet floor puddles as I change. And if you are not going to be able to wash your hair everyday and have oily hair - a dry spray shampoo can make your hair feel clean in a pinch!

Posted By Dawn on February 24, 2011, 8:41 PM

My husband & I have been taking RV trips for 20+ yrs. with a smaller "C" class RV. Since we live in California, we visit Yosemite each summer & have done extended trips to Yellowstone WY, Moab UT,Glacier MT,& most of the western national parks. The National Parks sell a yearly pass for one price that allows for admission to any Natl. park within 1 year from the date of purchase. Many of the Southwestern Natl. parks are within easy driving distance of each other (Zion, Bryce, Grand Cyn., to name a few). If you pull in & the campsites where you want to stay are "a sellout" (none available), we have had luck with approaching fellow campers and asking if they want to share their site for at least 1/2 the cost of the site fee. 2 vehicles are allowed per site. This works well if someone has only 1 vehicle on a large site. We have even made some good friends with Germans & Austrians traveling to the US natl. parks by doing this. We bring popcorn & wine/beer to the campfire to share & give them tips on hikes, swimming holes,nearby sites to see, etc.
If we are in a new area, we have received GREAT suggestions for day-trips & hikes from the camp host. Most campsites have them, & they are a wealth of knowledge. Some of our best day trips were at the suggestion of the camp host. I agree with Carroll that the Auto Club Tour book has some good suggestions for things to do/see in the area at many of the campsites. I think you can purchase these tour books even if you are not a member.
Lastly, we try to bring or rent bicycles to visit nearby areas while camping. Sometimes there is a shuttle bus available. It beats packing up the RV to move it to a trail head for hiking, only to find out there is no room to park a larger vehicle! Many times you can access a "bikes only" trail, or (at Grand Cyn) only shuttle bus + bikes. Happy camping!

Posted By Debby on February 27, 2011, 7:44 PM

I knew you guys would come through! Thanks so much for all the wonderful advice. I'm more excited than ever—except about changing the holding tanks! (Yikes! I suspect I'm going to come away with a newfound appreciation for modern plumbing.)

Any more tips? Keep 'em coming!

Posted By Valerie on February 28, 2011, 10:39 AM

We have had an RV since 1976 and have the funny, wild, embarrassing and sadly true stories to prove it! In many ways it is like raising a child. First, read as much as you can about the type of RV that you will be using. There are numerous website and monthly magazines devoted to this lifestyle. We also belong to an international organization (www.fmca.com) to get information about places to visit, updates on repairs, etc. Then, find someone with a motorhome who can teach you how to drive. Just this summer, we saw a family with a brand new 40 foot coach that had significant damage to both rear panels of the coach and tow vehicle because they didn’t know how to maneuver through a construction zone.

Secondly, what goes in must come out. Yes, that means emptying the holding tanks. We will never forget the poor guy on the motorcycle who followed us for miles trying to get a breath of fresh air because we had not deodorized the tank. He finally passed us and held his nose to let us know how bad the stink was!

Third, we now only take about half of what we started with over 35 years ago (and take items that serve multiple purposes). Take the basics and think layers for clothing. Most campgrounds have laundry services on site. You can also get by with basic utensils for cooking and eating. Aluminum foil and ziplock bags are a must.

Finally, we learned the hard way to put up the awning up at night or you may find yourself standing outside in your PJ’s in the middle of a storm trying to put the awning up before it rips off the side of the coach. Having an emergency weather alert radio is also beneficial to let you know of impending severe weather so you can take appropriate steps to secure your items.

Other tips:
Create a checklist of what you packed
Keep a first aid kit handy
Purchase a campground directory and call ahead to check availability (also ask about pet policies if you are traveling with an animal)
Make sure you have a cell phone with coverage in the areas that you will be visiting
Keep a basic tool kit for repairs
Learn how to change the tire

Posted By Gene & Rose on March 14, 2011, 10:06 PM