After living full-time in our RV since 2022, we’ve learned a lot about what works – and more importantly, what doesn’t. Today, we’re sharing the 11 critical mistakes we see RVers making all the time (and yes, we’ve made most of them ourselves). These aren’t just minor inconveniences – they can lead to expensive repairs, void warranties, and even create dangerous situations for you and your family.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or full-timer like us, you might be making these mistakes without even realizing it. Let’s dive in!
1. Never Forget to Check BEFORE You Unhook
This seems simple, but it’s a mistake we see constantly. Before unhooking your RV, walk around and verify that:
- Your slides can fully extend without hitting trees or obstacles
- Awnings have proper clearance
- Your steps can fully deploy
- Any side or rear patios have adequate space
Once you unhook and realize something can’t open properly, you’ll have to reconnect and reposition – a frustrating waste of time that nobody wants to deal with.
Pro Tip: We keep a small tape measure marked with the required clearance distances for each slide and awning. This quick check before unhooking has saved us countless headaches.
2. Never Ignore Your Weight Ratings
Weight is one of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of RV safety. Many RVers don’t know their actual weights or understand their vehicle’s ratings. Exceeding these limits can:
- Make your RV unsafe to drive
- Create liability issues in case of an accident
- Potentially void your insurance coverage
- Cause excessive wear on components
We learned this the hard way with our initial setup. The washer/dryer and generator locations made our pin weight too heavy, affecting steering control. Redistributing weight (and ultimately removing some items) solved our problem.
Even weekend warriors need to be mindful of this. Those heavy toys, full water tanks, and packed storage compartments add up quickly!
3. Never Leave Awnings Out Unattended
This is advice you’ll hear from every experienced RVer, yet we still see it happening everywhere. We learned this lesson the expensive way when a single rogue wind gust caught under our awning (which was staked down with an extension shade) and snapped an arm.
The result? About $700 in repairs, the inconvenience of hauling a broken awning around in our toy hauler until parts arrived, and the complexity of a two-person repair job. Trust us on this one – if you’re leaving your RV or if the wind picks up at all, bring in those awnings!
Sleep Breakthrough: Say Goodbye to Bad RV Mattresses!
After months of struggling with our factory mattress (plus TWO foam toppers!), we finally found the perfect sleep solution for our RV lifestyle. We upgraded to the Aurora Cooling Queen mattress from RV Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding, and it’s been absolutely life-changing for our sleep quality on the road.
If you’ve watched our latest video, you saw the hilarious segment where we got…creative…with demonstrating our mattress upgrade. Let’s just say our loft bed situation, Barry’s legendary snoring, and middle-of-the-night frustrations made for some comedy gold. We laughed until we cried filming it!
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4. Never Skip Surge Protection
Plugging directly into a campground pedestal without proper surge protection is gambling with your RV’s electrical system. Power surges and brownouts can damage or destroy your:
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Television
- Converter/inverter
- Air conditioner
- And virtually any other electronic component
Yes, quality surge protectors are expensive, but they’re far cheaper than replacing multiple appliances or dealing with electrical damage. We check every pedestal before connecting by plugging our surge protector in first and verifying we get the “all clear” signal.
This has saved us more than once at campgrounds with wiring issues. Consider a surge protector an essential part of your electrical hookup system – not an optional accessory.
Our preferred Surge Protector
Our preferred Power Cord:
The Smart Plug Setup we use.
5. Never Drive with Propane ON
This is a serious safety issue that many RVers (especially those with propane refrigerators) get wrong. Traveling with propane tanks open creates multiple hazards:
- It’s illegal at gas stations and in tunnels in many states
- Creates liability issues in case of an accident
- Any flame source combined with propane in the lines is potentially dangerous
- Can cause appliance damage or combustion issues
The experts at NRVTA confirm this safety recommendation. While it’s a minor inconvenience to turn off propane before travel and remember to turn it back on at your destination, it’s a critical safety practice.
6. Never Leave Tanks Open
This one sparks surprising debate in the RV community, but the science is clear – keeping your black and gray tanks closed until you’re ready to dump them is the right approach.
For black tanks, leaving the valve open creates the infamous “poo pyramid” when solids deposit without enough liquid to flush them through. For gray tanks, leaving them open can lead to nasty odors as grease and organic material build up without adequate water to flush them away.
Remember: water is your friend! You want that pool of water in your tanks for waste to fall into. The only exception is when running a washer/dryer, which produces enough water volume to require an open gray tank.
7. Never Skip the Walk Around
A thorough walk around before departure has saved us countless headaches and hundreds of dollars. We’ve nearly left behind:
- Our entire power cable
- Tools left in the ground
- Various items placed outside
We’ve also had our toy hauler ramp door come down while driving because it wasn’t properly secured! A complete pre-departure inspection should include checking:
- All doors and compartments are closed and locked
- All slides are in and secured
- Awnings are retracted and locked
- Steps are up
- All external items are packed away
- Nothing remains on the ground around your site
- Tires look properly inflated
One person driving while another walks the entire site after pulling out is our foolproof system.
8. Never Ignore Weather on Travel Days
Driving an RV in poor conditions can be dangerous and stressful. We never leave without checking our route for:
- Rain forecasts
- Wind conditions (especially high winds)
- Temperature extremes
- Storm systems
The free Drive Weather app has been invaluable for us, allowing us to see exactly what conditions we’ll encounter and when. Knowing that high winds are predicted for the afternoon might mean an earlier departure or even postponing travel for a day.
9. Never Drive Drowsy or Plan Excessively Long Days
Fatigue is a major safety risk when towing or driving a large vehicle. We’ve learned to:
- Limit driving days to 4 hours when possible
- Pull over for power naps when needed
- Plan arrivals during daylight hours
- Schedule adequate rest between travel days
There’s nothing worse than attempting to set up a large rig at an unfamiliar campground in the dark while exhausted. Shorter travel days with proper rest make RV life much more enjoyable.
10. Never Trust Regular GPS Apps
Google Maps and standard navigation apps can lead RVs into dangerous situations because they don’t account for:
- Vehicle height
- Vehicle weight
- Length restrictions
- Low bridges
- Roads unsuitable for large vehicles
We trust our Garmin RV GPS that has our exact dimensions and weight programmed in, ensuring we’re only routed on appropriate roads. RV Life Trip Wizard and trucker GPS apps are also good alternatives, but whatever you choose, make sure it’s specifically designed for large vehicles.
11. Never Travel Without TPMS
A Tire Pressure Monitoring System is absolutely essential for safe RV travel. Our Halo View system alerts us immediately to any changes in tire pressure or temperature, potentially preventing dangerous blowouts or catching issues before they become serious.
This early warning system has given us peace of mind on countless travel days, knowing we’ll have time to safely pull over if any tire issues develop.
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Conclusion
These “never do” rules might seem basic to some and surprising to others, but they all come from real experience and lessons learned the hard way. We’ve made many of these mistakes ourselves, and we’ve seen countless other RVers make them too.
By avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll save money, prevent headaches, and most importantly, keep yourself and your family safer on the road. RV life is about adventure and freedom – not dealing with preventable problems!
What do you think? Are there other critical “never do” rules you’ve discovered in your RV travels? Let us know in the comments!
[Like There’s No Tomorrow is dedicated to helping others transition to the RV lifestyle with less stress and fewer costly errors. For more tips and adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on social media.]
