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The first RV trip is memorable for a reason — usually not the one you planned. Something gets forgotten, something does not work the way the demo suggested, and there is a moment of panic in a campground parking lot while three sites of families watch you try to back in. This guide will not eliminate all of that, but it will eliminate most of it.
Before You Leave Home
Check tire pressure — cold, before moving
RV tires typically require 80-110 PSI depending on load rating, far above the 32-35 PSI you are used to on a car. Low tire pressure on a heavy rig is a blowout waiting to happen. Check pressure when the tires are cold (before you have driven more than a mile). Use a quality gauge rated for the correct pressure range. One essential safety item many new RVers overlook is a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) — a Guta TPMS tire pressure monitor alerts you to pressure drops in real time while driving, before a slow leak becomes a blowout.
Test all exterior lights
Walk around the rig with a second person (or a mirror) while you cycle through headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and running lights. For tow vehicles, test trailer lights with the trailer connected. Burned-out brake or turn signal lights are a ticketing offense and a safety issue at highway speed.
Retract all slide-outs and check storage bays
Slide-outs must be fully retracted before driving. Check each one to confirm it is all the way in and latched. Walk around the exterior and open every storage bay to confirm it is latched — unlatched bays will pop open at highway speed. Check the roof if accessible for any unsecured items.
Disconnect shore power and water; stow the cords
In the adrenaline of departure it is easy to drive away with your electrical cord dragging. Disconnect shore power first — unplug your cord from the pedestal, then stow it in the bay. Disconnect and drain your water hose, then close the city water inlet. Pull your sewer hose, rinse it out, and stow it in its designated tube.
Check propane and fresh water levels
Propane powers your refrigerator (if it is a 3-way fridge), stove, water heater, and furnace. Check tank levels before departure. Many rigs have a gauge on the exterior panel; older rigs require lifting the tank slightly to gauge the weight. Fill your fresh water tank if you will be stopping at a dry camping site or arriving at camp after the office closes.
A Winegard cellular booster keeps your connection strong at campgrounds with spotty coverage — useful for navigation, remote work, or staying reachable in an emergency.
Arriving at the Campsite
Scout before you commit
Before pulling your rig into a site, stop and walk the site on foot. Look for overhead branches at your rig height, rocks or roots that will be under your leveling pads, how much clearance you have to the neighboring rig on the hookup side, and the slope that determines how much leveling you will need. Two minutes of walking saves a multi-point turning attempt in a tight space.
Level first, then hook up
Once parked in position, level the rig before doing anything else. Side-to-side level is more important than front-to-back — most RV refrigerators require reasonably close to level operation to function correctly. Use a bubble level or the built-in display on rigs with automatic leveling, and adjust with leveling blocks or the automatic system. Then deploy stabilizer jacks — these prevent the rig from rocking when people move around inside, but they are not for leveling.
Connect electric, then water, then sewer
Connect shore power first so you have lights and can see what you are doing. Then connect your water hose with the pressure regulator between the spigot and your hose. Sewer last — run the hose from your dump outlet to the sewer inlet, secure the elbow fitting, then open your gray tank valve. Leave the black tank valve closed.
Deploy slides and run your walkthrough
With the rig level and power connected, deploy slides. Walk through the interior and confirm everything is working: refrigerator is cold or cooling, water runs at the sink, hot water heater is on (switch to electric mode if you have shore power rather than burning propane), AC is functional, and toilet flushes.
Departure: Leaving the Site
Reverse the setup process. Open the black tank valve to dump, flush with the tank rinser if your rig has one, then close it. Dump the gray tank last — the soapy water rinses your sewer hose as it drains. Disconnect and stow the sewer hose, disconnect water, retract slides, disconnect shore power, and do your exterior walkaround before pulling out. Check the site for anything left behind — chairs, mats, water regulators, wheel chocks.
Campground Etiquette
Campground culture has unwritten rules that are not posted anywhere. Violating them earns hostile looks from neighbors who have been doing this for decades. The main ones:
- Respect quiet hours — typically 10pm to 8am. Generator use is usually prohibited during quiet hours. Check the campground posted rules at check-in.
- Do not walk through others' sites — even as a shortcut. Walk around. Every campsite is effectively someone's temporary home.
- Leash and clean up after dogs — this one is enforced at most campgrounds and generates the most complaints when ignored.
- Be aware of your slide-out clearance — deploying a slide into a neighbor's space or near their vehicle is a conversation you do not want to have.
- Keep campfire smoke in mind — if the smoke is blowing directly into your neighbor's open windows, adjust the fire or let it die down.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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