Accidents sometimes happen no matter how much we prepare, but there are some very common RV mistakes that are completely avoidable. The following are some really embarrassing and possibly costly mistakes you want to avoid making each time you go camping. In case these and other mishaps still occur while you’re on vacation, make sure you have sufficient RV insurance well before you set up camp:
- Make Sure Your Outdoor Speakers Are Off. Many RVs come with great stereo systems. Some have a dual indoor/outdoor speaker system so that you can enjoy some music after setting up camp. However, if you’ve just bought your RV and are not very familiar with all the knobs, make sure to learn which buttons turn on the outside speakers before you embarrass yourselves and annoy your fellow campers who may not be in the mood to rock out.
- Leveling Blocks – Know Where & What They Are. Some experienced RVers come equipped with their own leveling blocks but most RV campsites are pre-leveled and ready for you to pull up. If you are visiting a national park or a state one, however, you’ll want to buy and bring your own. Spaces at these sites can be very uneven, and you’ll be completely tilted inside your RV without levelers. When leaving the campsite, you’ll want to spare yourself the humiliation of driving over the levelers. If you do, the noise is VERY loud and you will most likely be the laughing stock of the camp.
This is what RV levelers look like. - Smoke Detectors Really Do Work. Not only do they work, but they pick up on smoke very easily in a small space. If you plan to do your cooking in your RV kitchen, use the fans (that’s what they’re there for). Open the windows even before you begin cooking. Also, if you’re setting up a campfire outside your RV, make sure the downwind of smoke will not blow straight into your RV. If you forget to take these steps you will hear the alarm blaring and so will your neighbors.
- Did You Check the Master Power Switch? So, you disconnected the power at the campsite and spent the whole day fishing, hiking or taking amazing photographs of nature only to come back to the RV and find that nothing is working. You turn on the power, but the clocks are still off, the lights won’t turn on and you can’t make coffee – nothing! Before you start trying to change blown fuses or think that your vacation is ruined because your RV has died, you’ll want to check the master power switch. More often than not, you or even your dog turned it off without even noticing.
- Know What You’re Doing at the RV Dump. Campers are usually very friendly people but when there’s a line forming at the dump station, folks can get impatient. If you’re a newbie and have never emptied out your RV before, read the manual. In case you get lazy, just know that you need to press the gray water pump switch to open the valve that actually dumps out the gray water. If you don’t press this switch nothing will come out and you’ll not only look foolish but others will get annoyed waiting for you to figure it out. Hint: the switch is usually on the ball wall near the outdoor hose. If it’s not, check your manual for directions.
- Watch Your Steps! Many RVs come with electric stairs that you need to open and close before and after use. If you forget to close your stairs before driving off, your steps could get knocked off your RV without you even noticing – until you try to climb out. As you can imagine, losing these steps will not only cost you money to replace, but you may be stuck on vacation trying to find a ladder so you can at least get in and out of your vehicle!
- Close Roof Vents When You Leave the RV. As you can imagine, if you forget you left the vents open and there’s a downpour you’re in for a horrible awakening. You could develop permanent water damage in the RV, not to mention mold and mildew. And there are always the bugs, which will enter through open vents. Some RVs have protective covers over the roof vents but if you don’t, make sure to close these each time you leave your vehicle and go for a trek. If you plan to air out your RV often, or during winter for storage, make sure to buy those covers!
- Don’t Forget the TV Antenna! This mistake is not only embarrassing but it’s far too common. If you forget to crank it down, you will inevitably go through an overpass and your antenna will be smacked right off. No, this is not particularly expensive to replace but will you (or your kids) be able to deal with having no TV for the rest of the trip? Just do a walk-around of your RV each time you drive away and remember to check for the antenna while you’re at it.
- Disconnect from Campground Hookups Before Driving Away. This doesn’t happen but when it does, there is a huge price to pay in fixing the mess left behind. Also, not only will you damage your own RV but you’ll also damage the campground’s hookups! Better have some really good insurance if this happens to you!
- Fridge Fails. Refrigerators can catch fire if your RV is not level. This is because the coolant in the fridge won’t circulate properly. At first, your fridge will just go kaput and your food will spoil, but if you don’t correct the problem soon enough, you could have a bad fire. Don’t underestimate the importance of leveling a vehicle.
As you may have already guessed, simple mistakes in an RV are much more expensive to fix than in a passenger vehicle. It’s important to make sure you’re protected with good insurance. If you’re still shopping for a policy or are considering switching, call one of our knowledgeable specialists about buying RV insurance at (866) 501-7335.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms, and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.