Before we jumped into full time RV living, we did a lot of homework. A LOT. Endless hours poured into YouTube videos, online articles, dealerships, and brochures. We calculated costs, set aside a firm RV budget, downsized our belongings, mentally prepared to deal with waste management (honestly, this stressed my husband out the most!), and made sure our property was outfitted for day-to-day RV life. Despite checking the boxes on our to-do list, there are still some things we wish someone had told us ahead of time.

Bring a tool kit for the unexpected.

Apparently I can’t contain my Hulk-like strength because I ripped the kitchen cabinet door off the hinges on the very first night we spent in the RV. A week later, I did it again on another cabinet! A standard tool kit stored within reach is a life saver. While new and used RV’s usually come with some sort of maintenance package, you don’t want to wait a few days or weeks to schedule a repair that you can easily do yourself. Also, when moving your RV, things are going to move and shift around a bit. You’ll need to tighten the occasional screw or for example, open the floor heat vent to retrieve a Barbie accessory, courtesy of your toddler. A little elbow grease will be needed from time to time. Speaking of grease, don’t forget WD-40 for squeaky doors too!

You don’t have to move it yourself.

Did you know you can usually negotiate for the dealership to deliver your RV? We did! This is especially helpful if you’re not quite ready for your first haul. We bought our fifth wheel out of state and we were not ready to tow a long distance ourselves for the first time. Shop around for third party transportation services as a back up just in case local or interstate transport is not offered by the dealership. Communication and planning will be key here when scheduling your RV delivery. First, our in-person inspection was paused for several weeks due to an outbreak of coronavirus among the mechanics at the dealership. Then, on the day our RV was scheduled to be delivered, the transport ran several hours late due to a tornado watch. It is really unsafe to take an RV out on the road when wind conditions are severe because the whole operation can get blown off the road, so the driver waited the storm out until it was safe to hit the road.

When it comes to waste management, invest in the best.

I’ll be frank here, you’re gonna have to deal with the waste stored inside the RV tanks, and the sooner the better. Fresh water is stored in a separate tank while waste is stored in grey water tanks and black water tanks. Grey water is made up of used shower and sink water. Black water is connected to the toilet waste. Make sure you get a water filter for incoming freshwater (especially if your water source is questionable). You should also know the distance of your tank openings to your openings of the septic tank system. Knowing this will help you get the right size hose. Too long and the sewage wont flow out properly; too short and well, you’ll be shit out of luck. False readings on the tank level indicator happen too, which sometimes indicate your tank is full when its not. We check the tanks every other day using a built in indicator so we never have to encounter a cabin overflow. Yes, I said overflow. Lastly, invest in quality hoses. You really really do not want weak or cheap hoses here. Look for crush resistant hoses with superior locking mechanisms to ensure you never have a mess at home or at the campsite.

This is your home. Treat yourself…Wisely.

It’s very tempting to get all the new gadgets after you get your new RV. Don’t forget you now have limited space. Be mindful on what extras you purchase and how often you’ll actually use them. Get yourself a light, compact vacuum. Cleaning your RV interior is so easy and quick but, if you have kids running in and out of the RV, dirt is going to be and issue. And if your kid is like ours, snack crumbs will run rampant in and under your furniture. Pests will take over quickly so its important to keep a clean RV. A humidifier is also a must in the winter months. We all caught colds early December because we were unprepared for how quickly the RV cabin dries out. However, don’t keep it too moist in there all year long. Mold can be an issue since the surfaces in the RV are different from the ones in your regular home. Your A/C unit will act as a dehumidifier but you might need an actual dehumidifier if you live in anywhere in the south. Not a total necessity but we find an air purifier helps up breath a little better on high pollen days. Ideally you’ll be closer to nature which means closer to pollen and pollutants. In the kitchen, forget heavy pots and pans, and just get an Instant Pot instead. It’s an all-in-one cooker and you’ll save precious drawer and cabinet space.

Don’t forget to add sales and use tax into your RV purchase.

Some dealerships will include sales and use tax in your total sales price and some will not. If the dealership does not include these things, your RV price will look temptingly low. You’ll owe these taxes to your county comptroller and is required as part of your RV registration. Your RV can be registered as stationary which does not require an state inspection. If you plan on taking trips in it, plan on paying for and installing the license plate, as well as scheduling regular inspections before you hit the road.

I hope you enjoyed our informative list of 5 things nobody tells you about your first RV. I have many more topics planned but let me know in the comments if there something I can help answer. Happy New Year, and Stay Wild!