10 Travel Tips for Newbie RV Owners

New RV owners often can’t wait to get behind the wheel and hit the road.  We understand that you’re excited, but there are a few things you must do before your trip.  These 10 travel tips are basic things that many experienced RV owners do before they leave home in their campers.  When you follow this advice, you’re more likely to have a safe and trouble-free trip.  The more you do them, the more these things will become second nature to you.  We encourage you to follow this advice to help keep yourself and other drivers safe when you’re in your RV.    

Before you take your next RV trip, be sure to follow these preparation tips:    

  1. Remember to keep your fuel tanks filled. You don’t want to get caught in rush hour traffic, or far from a gas station, on a quarter of a tank! Filling up your RV’s fuel tanks is easy to do, but it’s not uncommon for some drivers to forget to do this.  You sometimes see these folks and their RVs stranded by the side of the road.  Don’t be that guy or gal!
  2. Medications and driving don’t always mix! Some medicines, even over the counter drugs, can make you drowsy. Feeling sleepy is the last thing you want when you’re driving a vehicle the size and weight of a small house.  Make sure you read all labels and familiarize yourself with the side effects of anything you take before getting behind the wheel of your RV.
  3. While going to the gas station is a common occurrence, it can be hard to find a propane dealer in unfamiliar areas. Make it a priority to conserve this precious fuel while on vacation. One easy way to do this is to use a small space heater at night instead of the heater on your RV.  It’s enough to keep you warm, but uses less fuel to operate.
  4. Water leaks at the windows and doors is a common problem for many RVs. Worn rubber seals is the most common cause of this. Know how to fix water leaks on your RV before you head out on the road.  It’s not as difficult as you might think.
  5. Your RV’s air conditioner can cause roof leaks. This doesn’t mean that your AC unit isn’t broken, it’s probably just loose. Beneath your AC’s inside cover are four bolts that hold the unit tightly to the roof.  It’s common for these bolts to get shaken by the vibration of driving your RV.  This can lead to leaks or even cause the unit to fall the ceiling of your rig.  Fortunately, there’s an easy, four-step fix for this:
  • Remove the inside housing of your air conditioner
  • Carefully check the tension of the four bolts that hold the unit in place
  • Tighten each bolt down
  • Replace the inside housing
  1. If you’re planning on spending time in cold climates, put some weather-strips around your RV’s doors. You can also add rugs for to increase insulation. You might be surprised how this little bit of preparation keeps the interior of your rig nice and warm.
  2. You’re RV’s lights, signals, and tires are extremely important to safe driving. That’s why you need to check these things before you leave. It’s also a good idea to check the trailer hookups, dollies, and/or tow bars.
  3. Here’s a general safety tip you already know, but it bears repeating: At certain speeds, a motorhome or fifth wheel can need the length of a football field to fully stop. Please keep this in mind when you’re driving on crowded roads. Safety is your responsibility!
  4. Do you park your RV under a tree when it’s not in use? If so, there’s a good chance there’s debris on the roof. These branches and twigs can blow off and strike other peoples’ vehicles when you’re driving at normal speeds.  It’s best to clean your motorhome’s roof before your trips.  Spray it with a hose to remove the debris then clean it with a product designed for use with EPDM rubber.  If you encounter any rips or tears in your RV’s roof, a patch kit from your local RV dealer should be enough to fix the damage.
  5. If you’re going on a trip, you’re probably taking your cell phone. This is highly important for you to have when travelling far from home. It keeps you connected, and is an absolute necessity in case your RV breaks down or you have a similar emergency.  Make sure you bring a charge cord so that you’re cell phone always has power.  But what do you do if your RV breaks down and you no longer have a power source?  You can always take one of many on-the-go power banks with you on your trip.

Bonus Tip: Your cell phone bars aren’t always an accurate way to judge your phone’s connectivity.  These devices provide a reliable way to reduce dropped calls, missed texts, and slow or interrupted data.  If you like taking trips, we highly recommend having a cell phone signal booster in your RV, motorhome, or camper.  In the unfortunate event that your RV breaks down, you don’t want to hope you can make that call! 

Cell Phone Boosters for RVs from Signal Connect

When it comes to cell signal boosters for motorhomes, Signal Connect is your No. 1 source.  We work closely with Solid Signal, an online electronics retailer and division of Signal Connect.  Together, our companies provide the best cell phone booster solution for your camper.  If you have questions, or want a product recommendation, call us at 888-233-7563.  We’ll match you with a cell signal booster from SureCall, weBoost, Wilson Electronics, or another top-selling manufacturer.  This gives you peace of mind whenever you and your family hit the road in one of your many RV trips.

DIRECTV for Your RV from Signal Connect

Would you enjoy having DIRECTV programming on your road trips?  If so, Signal Connect can help.  We’re an AT&T Preferred Dealer that specializes in bringing DIRECTV to motorhome owners across the country.  When you work with us, our reps will match you with a viewing package, satellite equipment, and more. Our reps also provide free service for the life of your account.  If you have any questions about DIRECTV accounts for RVs, call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours.

About the Author

Jake Buckler
Jake Buckler is a cord-cutter, consumer electronics geek, and Celtic folk music fan. Those qualities, and his writing experience, helped him land a copywriting gig at Signal Group, LLC. He also contributes to The Solid Signal Blog.