Taking ownership of an RV is a lot like getting married. During the courtship stage you are bombarded with the personal opinions and experiences of others. Nights find you lying awake planning the big event. Finally, the big day arrives, the air is filled with congratulations and a crowd stands on the sales lot happily waving goodbye. Full of fear and excitement, you nervously swallow all hesitation and pull out into the traffic. The two of you are finally alone.

Now enters the honeymoon phase – weeks filled with awe and wonder, and okay, maybe an occasional temper tantrum. Learning to live with your new towable takes some patience and perseverance. Hang in there. If you’re not a reader, become one. Study every available operator’s manual that came with the RV. Naturally, unless you have an extraordinary memory, most of that information will fade away with the next morning’s dew, but the important stuff will stick and it’s the important stuff you need right off the bat. Give yourself a head start on learning the ropes by reading as much information as you can get your hands on before taking delivery.

I have a friend who recently took possession of a new towable. Nervous as a cat while backing into the driveway, he stepped out to check the surrounding area for the tenth time and suffered a deep gash on his forehead when he turned and collided with an open door. The subsequent concussion was certainly uncomfortable, but actually scratching the RV would undoubtedly have done him in. And while body damage to his brand new investment would be a terrible thing, sometimes that first nick is the pinnacle that finally allows a new owner to relax.

So they haven’t come up with any accessories that actually improve on your spouse once you say “I do,” but this is not so for your new towable. There are a few items that will make life with your new towable more enjoyable. Equip the RV with adapters that allow you to plug the 50-amp service into a 30-amp receptacle. Instead of assuming that what the campground advertises is true, use a circuit analyzer, available at most hardware stores, and discover for yourself what voltage is wired into that campground pedestal. Consider a surge protector to safeguard appliances in the event of power disruption. Maybe you are going to travel only as far as the nearest friend or family member, eager to show off your new RV. Leave the household extension cord in the house. That cord is not capable of transferring adequate amperage from the house to your RV and the resulting low volts may damage components.

Water pressures vary from place to place. Ditto on the water quality. To be on the safe side, use a water pressure regulator on the towable and install proper filters. For extra security, always turn off the water source when you plan on being away from the RV. Only a potable hose should be utilized for transferring water. A typical garden hose is ripe with bacteria. If storage space is tight, consider a marine style potable hose that folds up flat for storage. Quick disconnects can be recruited to screw onto the hose ends for easier removal. When the hose is not in use, always store it with both ends screwed tightly together to keep the inner lining free from germs.

A complete set of keys should be made available for you and anyone with whom you travel. Additionally, have a spare set made to keep in the glove compartment of your tow vehicle. Acquaint everyone with the location of shut off valves, battery disconnect and basic operating procedures. Locate the egress window and ensure that anyone staying within the RV is familiar with this “back door” escape hatch. Carry spare fuses, light bulbs, and screws.

Towable RVs should have leveling blocks sized at 2 x 6 or 2 x 8. A block cut to 2 x 4 size is generally insufficient for proper leveling. If your towable has dual tires, level both tires on the dual to avoid putting the bulk weight on only one tire. This may require a hard reach, but in the long run your tire maintenance will pay off.

Many campers avoid using any type of hookups to save money and reduce work. This method works well as long as the batteries and holding tanks are kept in prime condition. If you arrive at a campsite late in the day, and find that you are tired, don’t mess with hooking up until the following day. Stay calm. Relax.

Paying Attention To Your Towable

One of the most important areas of attention should be paid to the towable’s Cargo Carrying Capacity, or CCC. This number gives you a total weight limit for all the items you plan to include in your camping outfit. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly high figure – the average weekend camper stores up to 2,000 pounds of weight in cargo. Men tend to stock tools, women load up on clothing, readers stockpile books and collectors fill up the RV with everything in sight. Cargo weight quickly adds up. Use a bathroom scale to tally the weight of items being placed in the RV. (Husbands, this is not a recommended spousal procedure.) Avoid maximizing the total CCC allowance, and save room for items you may wish to purchase along the way. Evenly distribute the load.

Once the towable is loaded, it’s time for another round of driving practice as you take the RV to a certified weighing station and determine the weight of the fully loaded vehicle. Truck scales are a good place to test your driving skills since they are designed for use by large vehicles. Weigh the towable in a variety of positions, separate axles, truck and trailer, and just the trailer, to determine your Combined Gross Vehicle Weight. Using this figure compared to the tire manufacturer’s rated air pressure in each tire based on the weight of the vehicle, confirm that each tire has the appropriate air pressure. Equip yourself with a quality tire gauge to frequently monitor air pressures.

Stick close to home during the maiden voyage. Keep a small notebook and pencil handy to jot down questions and notes for the dealer. Check the RV carefully for problem areas. Draft up separate checklists for set up and tear down, and get in the habit of using the lists each and every time you travel with the RV. Become familiar with your towable and discover all it has to offer.

Once you’re ready to take on the world, if you still hesitate to push off alone, consider joining a caravan tour that will not only handle all your accommodation needs, but will also introduce you to a group of fellow RVers with a wealth of information.

The Old Ball And Chain

Ironically, many towable owners fear that use of the safety chain will turn the towable into a colliding force if the vehicles should disconnect. In reality, a disconnected towable hitch will collide with the ground and make a loud noise. Use the safety chain, fastened to a solid portion of the tow vehicle. Secure your hitch with a locking mechanism to prevent the vehicle from being stolen.

Prior to pulling into a parking lot, scan the layout to confirm you can easily exit. Be wary of hanging limbs, sharp curves or excessive curbing. If you find the towable stuck at a sharp curve, try placing leveling boards on each side of the curve to create a ramp for driving over. Avoid risking the RV becoming blocked in a parking lot by positioning the vehicle away from crowds. However, for security sake, make sure the entry door to the towable is facing a business entrance. Don’t assume because the lot is empty in the morning, it won’t be packed full when you return later in the afternoon. When leaving the area, verify that the entry steps are in, avoid passing too closely to road signs and study all exits for the easiest way out. To prevent having to make a left hand turn into heavy traffic, determine if one of the parking lot exits will take you and the vehicles to a traffic light.

When traveling through large cities, avoid rush hour traffic. If confusion arises as to the proper route of passage, scout ahead using the tow vehicle. Keep a lookout for merge signs to avoid forced lane changes at the last moment. If you miss the exit, calmly drive on to the next exit and switch direction. If you have a planned destination, give yourself adequate time. You may not feel weary after hours of driving, but odds are that the tires are exhausted, so leave plenty of time to occasionally stop and allow the tires to cool down. Take your time and enjoy the journey.

Reservations at a campsite work best, but if the campground doesn’t take reservations, or if you are not planning a specific destination, stop early for the best chance of finding a vacant space. If you have a favorite spot that doesn’t take reservations, arrive earlier in the week when you know the campground will less likely be full.

Everyone with an RV was once a first-timer. Don’t let circumstances make you overwrought and prone to mistakes. Double-check everything you do and have fun. Before you know it, boundaries will be washed away and you’ll find yourself setting up and tearing down camp with the skill of an Eagle Scout.

Even better, you can begin imparting your own wisdom upon new owners. Like the old married man who espoused his golden rule of marriage, “I always remember that what’s hers is hers and what’s mine is hers,” you too can learn the golden rule of RVing. And when the time arrives, you can tell the towable newlyweds this rule of RV handling – stay calm and take your time.