Common Mistakes by New RV Owners

Are you a new RV owner? There’s nothing like the thrill of getting out on the open road. The freedom you get with an RV is inspiring, and it’s what makes people buy one of these recreational vehicles in the first place. Learn all about the most common mistakes by new RV owners in this article. Read about the beginner RV mistake or mistakes. Knowing more about these RV newbie mistakes will help you to prevent situations that could happen to any new RV owner.

RV newbies to the RV lifestyle sometimes find themselves blindsided by their aspirations for a life out on the open road. Many don’t realize there are several common beginner RV mistakes new owners make with their vehicles.

Some new RV owners might even make these mistakes before they get their new RV out on the road! We decided to give you a heads-up about your new RV lifestyle. This post unpacks the most common mistakes by new RV owners.

I encourage you to read (and re-read if needed) this article about the Common Mistakes by New RV Owners.

Common Mistakes by New RV Owners – No Experience Purchasing RVs

Common Mistakes by New RV Owners – No Experience Purchasing RVs. If you did not purchase yet an RV, I strongly recommend reading our RV Inspection Checklist & RV Purchase Checklist.

Common Mistakes by New RV OwnersNo Experience or Practice Before Taking Delivery

No Experience or Practice Before Taking Delivery. There are several RV categories. They range from small weekend vehicles for couples to monster units that cater to up to ten people or more.

Each model handles differently, and drivers need to know what to expect before getting behind the wheel. Check if the dealer offers courses, especially if you’re purchasing a large Class-A RV.

Drivers need to consider the wider turning radiuses, higher center of gravity, and other design elements that create risk for RV drivers.

common mistakes by new RV owners guide Are you a new RV owner? Learn all about the most common mistakes by new RV owners in this article. Read about the beginner RV mistake or mistakes. Knowing more about these RV newbie mistakes will help you to prevent situations that could happen to any new RV owner.
Are you a new RV owner? Learn all about the most common mistakes by new RV owners in this article. Read about the beginner RV mistake or mistakes. Knowing more about these RV newbie mistakes will help you to prevent situations that could happen to any new RV owner.

Common Mistakes by New RV OwnersNo Spotter when Backing Up

Possibly the most common mistake made by new RV owners is their failure to use a spotter when backing up their vehicle. New owners, especially new owners of expensive models, may be overconfident in their ability to operate the vehicle correctly.

This overconfidence places them in bad positions when they are looking to back up their vehicle. A spotter is absolutely essential for use when backing up your RV, especially in tight spaces.

The spotter acts as a visual guide, ensuring you don’t hit a tree or parking pole, damaging your vehicle. They act as a lookout for anything in the way as you’re backing up, like an animal or burrow.

Let’s continue reviewing the beginner RV mistake or mistakes.

Common Mistakes by New RV OwnersFailing to Complete a Walk-Around Inspection

Even the most seasoned RV owners are guilty of failing this one from time to time. The RV is very different from a car or a pickup truck. If something goes wrong with your RV on the road, it’s way more serious than a car in most circumstances.

A tire blowing out at speed puts you in a much more scary experience than you would be dealing with in a car.

If you complete a walk-around of the vehicle before each trip, it ensures you don’t encounter any nasty surprises on the road.

Other Common Mistakes by New RV Owners

Here are some more common mistakes made by new RV owners.

Leverage Other People’s Experience

Before hitting the road with your new RV, take some time to read all the sections and articles we have to recommend on our site.

We have a lot of information on RV life, and you will learn a lot about your vehicle and your new lifestyle in just a few hours of reading. We recommend our article about the RV air conditioner repair guide.

rv camper experience
Are you a new RV owner? Learn all about the most common mistakes by new RV owners in this article. Read about the beginner RV mistake or mistakes.
About John Smith

For more than 30 years I worked in the exciting world of RV manufacturing. I liked knowing that I could improve the campers with customer feedback and see the improvements and upgrades on floor plans, delivering the best designs and the best quality RVs, year after year. After traveling with my family in RVs and small rented campers across the USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and even North Africa, I feel that I must share personal experiences, guidance, concerns, tips, and news. At Camper Outdoor, we share our biggest passion, weekend getaways in a camper, RV vacations, extended stays in RV parks, the quiet life of senior couples who choose to spend more time enjoying their RV, and boondocking experiences (which as in the beginning was unsuccessful, we have good tips to avoid the same thing happening to you!). Enjoy this website created just for you!