In this article, we’re going to be talking about the most common RV mistakes RVers make.

And yes, we all make mistakes. I certainly have made my fair share. But there are certain RV mistakes that are more common. And they’re also ones that can cost a lot of money. So we’re going to talk about that today.

Let’s start off with three mistakes that people often make when they leave their RV.

Table of Contents

• RV Mistakes #1 – Your RV Awning
• Mistake #2 – Your RV Vent Lids
• Mistake #3 – Your RV Water Line
• RV Mistakes #4 – Too Much Trust In RV Salespersons
• RV Mistakes #5 – No RV Inspection
• Mistake #6 – Going Too Far, Too Fast
• RV Mistakes #7 – Not Using RV Friendly Directions
• RV Mistakes #8 – Campsite Hazards
• Mistake #9 – RV Safety Devices
• RV Mistakes #10 – RV Maintenance
• RV Mistakes #11 – RV Exterior Care
• Mistake #12 – RV Roof Inspections
• RV Mistakes – My Conclusion

RV Mistakes #1 – Your RV Awning

The number one mistake is very common. It is leaving an RV awning out while you are away from your RV.

That’s really not a good idea because we all know that weather can change quickly. And what was once a beautiful day can turn into a very stormy day quickly.

Then when the wind comes up, it catches your awning. The next thing you know, the hardware is being twisted and torn. And maybe the awning is even ripped off altogether.

We have all seen the results of that happening in our travels across the country. So always think about your RV awning in advance of bad weather. And put your awning in when you’re going to be away for any length of time.

Mistake #2 – Your RV Vent Lids

The second mistake people make is very similar to that. It has to do with RV ceiling vent lids. And keeping them open while you’re away.

Once again weather can change and a storm can come up fast. And the wind can easily grab those lids and just tear them off the roof.

But what happens more often is that a heavy rain may set in and pour into the top of that vent. All over your RV’s insides, and just drench your RV.

The problem is that nothing can be done about it until you come back. So here’s a better idea. Before you leave the RV, think about those vent lids. And make sure you close them before you leave.

Unless you have vent covers over your RV ceiling vents. We have those and we love them.

Because they allow us to keep the vents open and the fans going while we’re away. With the vent cover over the lid, then you don’t have to
worry about wind.

And you don’t have to worry about rain either. But if you don’t have vent covers, remember to close your vent lids before you go away.

Mistake #3 – Your RV Water Line

Now here’s the third mistake that’s very commonly made when people go away from their RV. And that is they leave the water on while they’re away. From several hours, to maybe overnight or even longer.

But if you think about it, it’s not a good idea. Because RV plumbing can break. And there can be issues with it at almost any time.

If you’re there, you can turn that water off real quick and easy. But if you’re not there, the pressure in the water hose will just keep forcing water through. Gallons and gallons of it.

And it can just keep flooding all over your RV. Once again, you can’t stop it till you get back.

So can you imagine how much water damage could be done by a broken pipe with you away? Then before you leave, just shut that faucet off!

The next mistake, in fact the next two, we’re going to talk about have to do with buying RVs.

RV Mistakes #4 – Too Much Trust In RV Salespersons

The first one is that people put way too much trust in what an RV salesperson is telling them about an RV. About what it can and cannot do.

Now sales people are there for one purpose in the RV industry. They just want to sell you an RV. That’s how they make their living.

Of course, not all sales people are willing to tell you anything to get a sale. But way too many of them are. They just want to sell an RV.

So maybe you buy the RV and then find out that a lot of the things they told you just weren’t true.

Well, then it’s too late. Because you have already purchased it at that point. But there is a better way to handle the buying process.

And that is, before you go buy an RV, make sure you learn enough about the RVs that you are interested in.

That way you know which one is going to fit your needs the best. And you already know what that RV can and can’t do. That way you won’t be misled by an over eager salesperson.

RV Mistakes #5 – No RV Inspection

The second mistake is that a lot of people buy an RV without getting it inspected. I firmly believe that RVs really should be inspected.

This is especially true if they are used. I would never buy a used RV without having it inspected.

Now I know you’re saying, “Well Duane, of course that’s what you think. But you’re a little biased on this because you’re an RV inspector”.

And yes, I agree that I am biased. But let me share something with you. Even before I became an RV inspector, I greatly believed in the idea of
inspecting used RVs.

In fact, I paid for an inspection on the coach that I bought before becoming an RV inspector. So I am a believer in RV inspections.

I’ve seen way too many cases where people have really benefited from having an RV inspection done. The inspection helped them be prepared by knowing exactly what they were buying. So it can be extremely beneficial.

Now lets move on to a few other mistakes that are often made when traveling in a RV.

Mistake #6 – Going Too Far, Too Fast

The first one is that many people try to go too far, too fast. You know when I’m driving down the road in our coach, I often see RVs going by me at 75 to 85 miles an hour or more.

Sometimes they pass us like we’re standing still. Now we usually travel between 60 and 65 miles an hour.

That’s the speed that I feel most comfortable with. It’s the speed where I feel that I can adjust to most things that could happen on the road.

So what happens if you’re going fast and something unexpectedly comes up on the road? A situation where you’ve got to make some quick maneuvers?

Well, when you have something that big, going that fast, it’s very hard to stop it quickly. So please be careful and don’t go too fast while traveling in your RV on the road.

The other part of that mistake is that some people try to go too far each day. And they are driving an RV rig while fatigued.

Now when we start out driving an RV each day, then we’re fresh. And our reaction times are pretty good. We have a lot of focus and a lot of mental
sharpness.

But when you do it hour after hour, that focus begins to wane a little bit. You may not think so, but it does.

And if you do a lot of traveling without stopping to refresh yourself, you could be putting yourself in trouble. So don’t travel too far too fast.

RV Mistakes #7 – Not Using RV Friendly Directions

Another mistake we’re going to talk about is not using RV friendly directions while we’re traveling on the road. A lot of RVers do this.

You know, we all like Google maps when we’re in our car and we kind of rely on it. But please understand that Google maps is not designed for RVs or for large vehicles.

So if you follow its directions, you may wind up on a road somewhere that you shouldn’t be on. Because of your RV size. Or it can also lead you into a hazard.

For instance, in the Northeast there’s a lot of railroad bridges that are too short for larger rigs. And Google Maps might lead you right down that road.

But if you have RV friendly directions, it’ll make sure that you avoid those hazards. So don’t make the mistake of not using RV friendly directions.

Instead, use an RV GPS unit or an app like RV Life that’s tied to RV Trip Wizard. Either one of those will work very well, and help keep you safe.

RV Mistakes #8 – Campsite Hazards

Now for the next mistake that I see people making when they travel. And that is that they pull up to the campsite and without even getting out of their vehicle, they generally look at it and start backing in.

This is not a good idea! There’s all kinds of things in campsites that could be a hazard. And I have had close calls on this myself.

I recall one occasion when I was in a hurry and decided I was just going to back right in. Well, as I was backing in, Cheri stopped me.

And thank goodness she did. Because I was about to back right into a serious hazard that would have harmed my RV.

But as a result of that, it kind of drove the point home to me that I need to look before I back into a campsite.

Now EVERYTIME when I approach a campsite, I practice G O A L! That means… “Get Out And Look”… and that’s exactly what I do.

And I constantly find things that I would never have seen if I had just stayed in the driver’s seat. So don’t make that mistake. Practice GOAL.

Now the next four mistakes we’re going to talk about are about RV maintenance.

Mistake #9 – RV Safety Devices

The first one is that so many people fail to check their safety devices regularly.

We’re talking about fire extinguishers and making sure they’re up to date. Also we are talking about smoke detectors, CO detectors, LP detectors etc.

You need to make sure they have batteries that work. And that they are actually detecting what they are supposed to detect.

Very often people just sort of put those items out of their mind. But those are safety items that could save your life. So don’t do that. Don’t make that mistake of ignoring them. Make sure you check them regularly.

RV Mistakes #10 – RV Maintenance

That now brings us to our second mistake. And that is that a lot of people don’t maintain the appliances or components in their RV like they should.

They just keep using them without maintaining them. But there are a lot of things that need some attention as you use them.

For instance, if you have lead acid batteries, they have water in them. So then, most likely you’ve got to water them regularly to keep them working right.

The RV water heater often needs an annual maintenance where you kind of clean it all out. You get the crud off the bottom.

And if it has an anode rod, there’s a good chance that you’re going to need to replace it after a year or so.

At any rate, you need to keep these items working right. And there’s several other RV components that are like that too.

So don’t make the mistake of ignoring regular maintenance on RV items and components. It’s going to cost you a lot more money if you do.

RV Mistakes #11 – RV Exterior Care

The third mistake a lot of people make is on the outside of the RV. And that is that they don’t take care of the RV’s exterior.

Boy, I see this a lot. And I do understand the thinking behind it. After all, RVs are huge. So you may think “Wow, this is going to be a big job to wash and wax this whole RV”.

You intend to do it. But you just keep putting it off. And before you know it a lot of time has gone by and you haven’t done it.

Well my friends, the exterior is taking the brunt of everything out there. The UV rays from the sun and all kinds of weather are beating on it constantly. So it needs to be washed and waxed regularly.

Now I’ve made some videos on this subject. And the videos explain a system of caring for your RV that almost anybody can do.

Video #1 – How I wash and wax my motorhome in an hour

Video #2 – Wash and wax your RV the rinseless way

It’s quick, it’s simple, it’s easy, and it won’t cost you much. In fact, I can do my entire 40-foot diesel pusher in about an hour.

And I do that about once every two months. As a result, my coach is constantly protected. It looks great, and the exterior is always in good shape. So don’t make the mistake of ignoring the exterior of your RV.

Now for the last point we’re going to make about mistakes that a lot of RVers make. And this is a big one!

Mistake #12 – RV Roof Inspections

That is that they don’t get on the RV roof and check it regularly. But my friends, the roof is one of the most important parts of the RV.

You’ve got to make sure you keep an eye on it. If your RV has a ladder to let you get up on the roof, then you need to be using it. Get up there regularly and check that roof out.

Check out all the components on the roof. And make sure that everything is sealed correctly. And that all the roof components are in good shape.

But most importantly, check the seals on the roof joints. That way you can make sure the roof sealant itself is in good working order.

You want to make sure that nothing, like tree limbs, has scraped it off or created a hole somehow. And you also want to check to see if it’s aged and begun to crack.

When sealant begins to crack, that’s a perfect opportunity for water to get in. And the next thing you know, your roof is leaking. And a leaking RV roof is your worst RVing nightmare.

It will cause more trouble than you can possibly imagine. So get up there and check that roof.

Or if you can’t personally conduct a roof inspection, get someone to do it for you. Just don’t ignore the condition of your RV roof!

RV Mistakes – My Conclusion

All right, well those are the RV mistakes I wanted to talk about in this article. Did I cover all of them???? Oh no, there’s plenty more!

And I’ll probably make more articles about RV mistakes too. But what we talked about in this article is sufficient for now. Because we all know we don’t do things perfectly. None of us do.

And all of us need to improve on something. So what I’ve shared with you here are some things that can jog your thinking. And maybe you’ll say, “Oh yeah, you know what, I need to do better about that”.

That way hopefully you’ll avoid making those mistakes again in the future.

The more that you avoid RV mistakes, the more you’re going to help your RV last longer. And not have nearly as many problems that need repair. It’s just going to serve you well as you go forward.

Also, the more that you take care of your RV, the more you will avoid all the anxiety and the stress that comes from mistakes that could have really been avoided.

Well, that’s it for now. Have safe and happy travels my friends. Until next time…

This article is about how you can protect yourself when buying from RV dealers.

This is an important subject in light of a disturbing trend that’s going on in the RV dealer industry. And we’ll talk about that a little bit later.

But first, I’ll say that RV dealers are a very essential part of the RV buying experience for many.

Because they make things so convenient and easy when buying an RV. You can go through several models quickly and choose the one that fits you best.

They may even be very helpful with your financing, your warranty, accessories, etc. So you can usually get it all done quickly and easily. And that’s a good thing.

Table of Contents

• Buying From RV Dealers – A Warning
• A Word About RV Manufacturers Too
• Buying From RV Dealers – What About A PDI?
• Buying From RV Dealers – Finding Problems
• RV Dealers Service Department Delays
• Getting Problems Fixed Under Warranty
• Buying From RV Dealers Can Be Frustrating
• How You Can Protect Yourself
• Getting An RV Inspection Is Important
• Getting RV Dealers To Provide Good Customer Service
• RV Inspectors VS RV Dealers
• RV Dealers – A Disturbing Trend
• What If The Dealer Denies An RV Inspection?
• How To Get RV Dealers To Change
• Conclusion

Buying From RV Dealers – A Warning

But RV dealers can also come with a bit of a warning too. So there’s some things you need to know about them and we’re going to talk about that in this article.

However, I don’t want to lump all RV dealers in under one big bad umbrella. Because that’s just not right.

There’s some very good RV dealers out there. Dealers that are very concerned about you as a customer. And they want to treat you right. They want you to have a good customer experience.

Unfortunately though, that’s not always the case. And there are quite a few RV dealers that are not customer oriented. And that’s a sad fact.

These dealers are more focused on their own bottom line than they are on
your customer experience.

A Word About RV Manufacturers Too

But if you’re buying a new RV, you’ve got to understand that if you have issues with it, it’s not always just the dealer’s fault.

The sad truth is that in this industry, there’s many manufacturers whose quality control is not what it should be.

And again, this is not all manufacturers. So I don’t want to lump all RV manufacturers in under one bad umbrella either.

There are some manufacturers that are really working hard to do the right thing. But there are not enough enough of those these days to assure that you will usually get a good new RV.

We keep hoping it’ll get better. But there’s just a disturbing downward trend out there. And it does not seem to be improving from year to year right now.

In fact, it appears that maybe some of these manufacturers have come to a decision. And that appears to be that it’s actually cheaper for them to just send RVs off of the assembly line with issues and then fix them later on.

Instead of imposing good quality control guidelines on the assembly lines before they go out the door. So what happens then?

Well that means we have a lot of RVs going out of the factory with sometimes serious issues. It’s just a well-known truth in the industry.

Buying From RV Dealers – What About A PDI?

So now the RV comes to the dealer. And what does the dealer do with these new RVs from the manufacturer? Well they’re going to tell you that they do a great pre-delivery inspection (PDI) on each RV.

They’re going to tell you that they perform a 400 (or more) point inspection before you get the RV. But the sad truth is that often this does not happen the way they proclaim.

So when you buy your RV from the dealer, it has left the factory with issues. And now the dealer hasn’t really imposed good PDI guidelines before it goes out the door to you.

So the result is that you have this new RV now that has issues. And you own it.

Buying From RV Dealers – Finding Problems

So eventually you’re going to take this RV out on your first camping trip. And no doubt, you are going to be very excited on your first trip in this new RV.

But suddenly you find out that it has all these issues and problems. Issues that you expected were going to be solved before you took delivery.

So you make your list of problems and you go back to the dealer. And you tell them about all the things that need to be fixed.

Now, to most dealers credit, they are going to fix those issues under warranty. I don’t hear a lot of people say that it doesn’t get fixed.

But unfortunately, you’re going to go through a very frustrating process before it does get fixed.

In fact, here’s what often will happen in many cases after you have taken delivery of that RV.

RV Dealers Service Department Delays

At this point, they have no real financial incentive to get you into the service department quickly.

So you go to the back of the line for their service department. Then what happens is it’s often weeks or months before your RV gets all those issues fixed.

Well, now you get it back and you’re excited again! You’re going to go back out camping again, because now you have got a good RV, right?

Unfortunately, many times that’s not the case. There are even more issues that become apparent now. And you’ve got another list to go back to the dealer with.

Why? Because they still haven’t done a really good overall pre-delivery inspection. Or even any kind of inspection at all to find and note all of the problems on the RV.

Instead, they just fix what you find each time you use the RV. So now you bring it back and you go through the same process again.

This means that you go back to the back of the end of the service department’s line again. And finally they work you through for service once more.

So you get it back again and you find even more problems you hadn’t seen before. And unfortunately, this can be repeated many times.

I’ve even heard of people buying new RVs that go through this process for a year or longer. And sure enough, eventually they get things fixed under warranty.

Getting Problems Fixed Under Warranty

So I’m not saying the manufacturers don’t fix these issues. Or that the dealers don’t take care of them.

Of course, some are better than others. But usually it does get taken care of.

However, think of all the frustration, time and energy being wasted. While you have to bring this RV back for service over and over again.

And not having the RV that you really paid for until maybe a year or more down the line.

Now all of this comes back to one simple thing. That a good inspection process is not being done by the RV dealers themselves. And of course, the original problem is the quality control issue at the manufacturer.

And apparently, dealers have caught on that their service department can become a real profit center in these situations.

Because the service department does all the work, they do it under warranty. And they’re getting paid for it.

If it’s a used RV that you bought instead, then they’re probably going to be repairing it. And then you are footing the bill for it.

So the service department becomes a very valuable profit center there in the dealership.

Buying From RV Dealers Can Be Frustrating

Now clearly who are the ones that are suffering in this scenario? Well it’s not the manufacturers. Because the manufacturers are selling RVs as fast as they can put them out there.

And it’s not really the dealers either. Because the dealers are selling them as quickly as they hit the lot.

No, it’s the consumer. It’s the RVer. It’s you that takes it on the
chin because of lack of customer service in this area.

You are the one being put out. You are the one who doesn’t get the product you pay for until months or even more down the line.

How You Can Protect Yourself

Now here’s an important question. How do you protect yourself from this kind of situation happening to you? From being a victim of this whole process? How do you stop that?

Well I feel strongly that nobody should have to buy an RV that has
hidden issues and problems. I just don’t believe it’s necessary.

Especially if the buying public is educated and knows what to do. Unfortunately though, many RV buyers really don’t know what they should do before buying an RV.

They’re just going through the process blindly in many cases. That’s why I wrote an ebook guide on this subject.

It’s called, “How to avoid buying an RV money pit“. And in the guide I explain how to find the right RV for you. And how to establish which RV is going to fit your camping style and your travel style best.

I also explain how a buyer is able to do a pre-inspection on each RV that they see. And this pre-inspection can be done by almost anybody.

You don’t have to be a previous RVer. And you don’t have to have any special tools or abilities.

Just follow the checklist and guidance that I provide in the ebook. And then you will know what RVs are worthy of your consideration, and which ones you can just weed out.

You don’t have to be wasting a lot of time with RV’s that you really shouldn’t be considering in the first place.

Getting An RV Inspection Is Important

Now the ebook guide is very helpful. And I do recommend it highly. But I do not believe that the guide should supplant an inspection by a certified RV inspector. I really believe that is still necessary.

You see, the guide helps you make sure you don’t call in an inspector until they are needed. Not until it’s an RV that’s really worthy of consideration.

So you don’t have to waste money by inspecting RVs that should never be considered in the first place. That’s the purpose of the ebook guide.

Alright, so now you call in the certified RV inspector. And that inspector goes through the RV you are considering for purchase.

Usually, he will come out with a list of issues that need attention. And the list will be sometimes quite extensive.

Then it will be very clear what needs to be given attention to on that RV. What preoblems it has that needs to be fixed.

So now you have a list you can go to the RV dealer with. And you can tell them you love this RV and you’d love to have it. But you won’t take delivery until all these items are covered and taken care of.

Getting RV Dealers To Provide Good Customer Service

Well do you know what happens then? Instead of going to the back of the line, you now suddenly go to the front of the line. Because the dealer
wants that RV sold.

So they’re going to put you in the front of the service department line. They’re going to get all those things fixed all at once before you take delivery.

And this is before you go on your first camping trip in the new RV. So now you get the RV that you deserve right off the bat.

You’re not waiting months or years down the line to get it. Instead, you get it right then.

So this is a way that you can put all the odds on your side. You are essentially weeding out the problem RVs first. And then focusing in on those that will be best for you.

RV Inspectors VS RV Dealers

Now remember too, that certified RV inspectors work for you. See, there’s a problem when the dealer tells you to just trust that they do a great RV PDI.

Well that’s kind of like the fox guarding the hen house. They have the incentive not to take the time to do such a great PDI beforehand.

But when you call in an RV inspector, they’re hired by you. So they’re
working for you.

They’re going to be looking for things to protect their customer. And that’s you. So it puts the odds of getting a usable RV on your side instead!

RV Dealers – A Disturbing Trend

Now let’s discuss another disturbing trend. That some RV dealers are trying to deny RV inspections on RVs that are on their lot.

Why would a dealer want to do that? How does that help the customer?

Everybody knows, especially with new RVs, that quality control is not what it should be. So wouldn’t they want their customers to get the very best product possible at the time of sale?

And if it calls for a certified RV inspector to verify that it’s in good shape. Or find the issues and have them fixed, wouldn’t that be the best for the customer?

What If The Dealer Denies An RV Inspection?

So what if a dealer is denying you the opportunity to have an RV inspection? Well, what kind of dealer is this? Is this really someone that you should be doing business with?

I can’t answer that question for you. Because everybody has to make their own decision in these matters.

But I can tell you what I would do. Suppose I was trying to do business with an RV dealer. And that dealer denied me the opportunity to thoroughly inspect an RV that I’m considering.

Well then, that RV dealer will see me going out the door. And I would not be back. That’s how I would handle that situation.

Now why is that a good thing to do? Well you see my friends, too many RVers have not done this.

They’ve given in to the dealer. They’ve let the dealer set the terms on all of the buying process. And as a result, the internet is filled with complaints from RV buyers.

Things that happened to them as a result of the buying process that they weren’t happy about. Obviously, you don’t want that to happen to you.

So I recommend that you consider seriously what I’m talking about in this article to protect yourself.

How To Get RV Dealers To Change

Also consider this. Dealers and manufacturers are never going to change until they have to. Not until the tide is so swiftly against them that it’s too hard to resist.

Suppose more and more people tell the dealer “I’m not buying from you if you don’t allow me to verify that this is a quality product.” Well, if enough people do that, then you’ll see some changes start to happen quickly.

There will definitely be some different processes that would go into effect in the RV industry at that point.

But the more that dealers are allowed to impose their own rules on customers. The more they can restrict the customer’s ability to get a quality RV. Well then, the more it hurts the consumer. You, the RV buyer.

Conclusion

And let me say this, buying an RV is a serious financial commitment. I mean they usually cost more than your car.

They’re probably the second biggest purchase that you’re going to make behind your house. Some of them are are very expensive too. Therefore we’re not talking about just a few dollars here.

So you need to protect yourself when going through the buying process at RV dealers.

And hopefully what I have covered in this article today will be helpful for you. And has given you some ideas on how you can better protect yourself when buying an RV from a dealer.

Well that’s it for now. Have safe and happy travels my friends. Until next time….