Our first RV - now what?!
Hello all! My wife and I decided to start our camping/RV life and purchased our first RV. We decided to buy used and found a very well taken care of class C from an older couple who just recently ch...
Forum Discussion
Camping World and other RV stores sell generic RV operation and maintenance manuals that are helpful. Getting a Chilton's or other manual for your brand and model of van is good. Get those tires examined and replaced if they are over 4 years old. Tires develop sidewall cracks and become failure-prone just sitting parked. Have solid metal valve stems installed ( Tire Man or Borg, etc) in wheels to make checking tire pressure easy, do not buy cheap screw-on valve stem extensions, they can leak and loose air causing tire damage.
Get very familiar with the house battery charging system and how to maintain the batteries and connections. Most of the appliances and devices in your rig depend on a combination of 12 volt DC and 110volt ac power. The house battery/charging system consists of a converter/charger that keeps the house batteries charged when your rig is connected to 110volt "shore" power. Your engine's alternator charges the house batteries and engine starting battery while you are driving. You must check electrolyte levels in batteries periodically and add distilled water to keep the plates covered. You must also keep the connections to batteries clean of corrosion and tight.
Get a cheap digital volt/ohmeter to check on whether batteries are being charged ( should read 13.6 volts fully charged, they are "dead" at 12 volts.) When engine is running, battery voltage may read around 14 volts. The furnace, fridge water heater and cooktop/oven run
on propane. Find a local propane source to fill your propane tank and know how to shut off and turn on valve. Learn how to start and shut down the RV generator and how to get it's 110volt AC power into the rig ( automatic or manual switch or manually plug shore cable into a special receptacle.) Re-starting the roof AC unit too quickly after shut-down won't work. You have to let it "rest" for 10 minutes to re-start it. Practice setting up and taking down the awning properly, it's not rocket science but it must be done in proper sequence.Learn how to operate the TV antenna and have a method to assure that you retract it before driving off. Learn to use your mirrors to change lanes safely on freeways. Usa a GPS to anticipate off ramps and merges and find your way.
There are many helpful You Tube videos for most of the above and some more serious RV repairs and maintenance. Fellow campers are only to glad to help in RV parks.
Get very familiar with the house battery charging system and how to maintain the batteries and connections. Most of the appliances and devices in your rig depend on a combination of 12 volt DC and 110volt ac power. The house battery/charging system consists of a converter/charger that keeps the house batteries charged when your rig is connected to 110volt "shore" power. Your engine's alternator charges the house batteries and engine starting battery while you are driving. You must check electrolyte levels in batteries periodically and add distilled water to keep the plates covered. You must also keep the connections to batteries clean of corrosion and tight.
Get a cheap digital volt/ohmeter to check on whether batteries are being charged ( should read 13.6 volts fully charged, they are "dead" at 12 volts.) When engine is running, battery voltage may read around 14 volts. The furnace, fridge water heater and cooktop/oven run
on propane. Find a local propane source to fill your propane tank and know how to shut off and turn on valve. Learn how to start and shut down the RV generator and how to get it's 110volt AC power into the rig ( automatic or manual switch or manually plug shore cable into a special receptacle.) Re-starting the roof AC unit too quickly after shut-down won't work. You have to let it "rest" for 10 minutes to re-start it. Practice setting up and taking down the awning properly, it's not rocket science but it must be done in proper sequence.Learn how to operate the TV antenna and have a method to assure that you retract it before driving off. Learn to use your mirrors to change lanes safely on freeways. Usa a GPS to anticipate off ramps and merges and find your way.
There are many helpful You Tube videos for most of the above and some more serious RV repairs and maintenance. Fellow campers are only to glad to help in RV parks.
