RVing Tips for Newbies: Tips & Tricks for your First Trip

I still remember the first trip with our new-to-us RV. Excluding the trip home from General RV after we bought it, our first trip was to Maumee Bay State Park, a great campground on the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio.

On the way, just as we were approaching a bridge over the Maumee River in downtown Toledo, my uncle called. We were to meet him and his family at the campground and he was warning us of severe weather that had just passed his home west of our location and was headed in our direction.

The front hit us with tremendous winds. But we were kept relatively safe because we happened to be protected by two-story embankments on either side of the sunken highway. Later, that same weather system produced tornadoes in northeastern Ohio.

We dodged a bullet, and it served as our, and your, first lesson as RV newbies – always check the weather forecast.

The second tip for new RVers is to get your hands on a pre-trip checklist. There are many such checklists on the Internet, and when you do your search you’ll find several other RV checklists, including ones for Buying an RV. But what we want is one that is designed to make sure you pack everything and don’t leave anything at home.

The list below is basic. You’ll likely add and delete items on your list each time you go camping. From supplies to food to equipment, your list will be unique to you.

Kitchen	Miscellaneous	Linens	Tools
Aluminum Foil BBQ Grill & Accessories Dishwashing Detergent Broom & Dust Pan Can Opener Coffee Coffee Cups Coffee Pot Dish Drainer Dish Pan Kitchen Towels Knives Measuring Cups Mixing/Serving Bowls Napkins Non-Slip Cabinet Linings Paper Plates Paper Towels Plastic Wrap Plates Pot Holders Pots & Pans Spatula Salt & Pepper Silverware Sugar Toaster Cooking Oil Spices Ketchup/Mustard Corkstrew Cutting Board	Bar Soap Bug Spray Cleaning Supplies First Aid Kit Playing Cards Pens/Pencils RV Toilet Paper Radio Rubber Gloves Spounges Sunblock Travel Clock Trash Can Trash Bags Toiletry Kit Umbrella Vacuum Cleaner Ziplock Bags Water Glasses Disposable Cups Coolers Firestarters Thumbtacks/Clips Firewood Lantern Flashlight Chapstick Camera Rope Aspirine & Medications	Blankets Bed Spreads Jackets & Hats Bath Towels Wash Cloths Pillows Pillow Cases Sheets Rags Table Cloth Beach Towels Throw Rug	Black Water Chemicals Channel Locks Electrical Adapters Electrical Extension Cord Extra Fuses Fill Propane Bottles Fire Extinguisher Flash Light Batteries Fresh Water Hose Fuse Puller Hammer In-Line Water Filter Level Leveling Blocks Light Bulbs Matches/Lighter Needle Nose Pliers Pens/Pencils Pliers Sewer Hose(s) & Fittings Tire Guage Wrenches Wheel Chocks Water Pressure Regulator Axe

 

The third and final tip for your first RV trip is to go camping with someone you know who’s an experienced RVer. I mentioned earlier that we went to Maumee Bay State Park with my uncle. He is a longtime RVer, as are several other members of my extended family.  Having an old pro with you not only will set your mind at ease, but also it’s just simply more fun when you’re camping with others.

See you next week when we talk about How to Attach your Travel Trailer to your Tow Vehicle.

Rick Kessler
(Gr8LakesCamper)

Gr8LakesCamper celebrates the world of RV Camping in the Great Lakes region. Gather around the campfire and share tips, ideas and stories on RVing, camping and travel destinations. Follow Gr8LakesCamper on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and the Gr8LakesCamper blog.