RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Top three mistakes you made in the first two weeks?

RV Blog

  |  

RV Sales

  |  

Campgrounds

  |  

RV Parks

  |  

RV Club

  |  

RV Buyers Guide

  |  

Roadside Assistance

  |  

Extended Service Plan

  |  

RV Travel Assistance

  |  

RV Credit Card

  |  

RV Loans

Open Roads Forum Already a member? Login here.   If not, Register Today!  |  Help

Newest  |  Active  |  Popular  |  RVing FAQ Forum Rules  |  Forum Help and Support  |  Contact

Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Class A Motorhomes

Open Roads Forum  >  Class A Motorhomes

 > Top three mistakes you made in the first two weeks?

This Topic Is Closed  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 4  
Prev
Sponsored By:
adrianl

Sammamish, WA

New Member

Joined: 03/26/2006

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 04/12/12 04:49pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

1. Make sure your door is completely closed and locked. Took out my steps and damaged the side fiberglass cargo door behind steps when the door unexpectedly opened going over a speed bump. Scared the heck out of the kids who were sitting in the couch as the door flung open. They still remind of this story...more than I would like to hear.

2. You can't corner in parking lots like you can in the car. Watch your rear end swing...steer clear of tight parking lots. In a tight, full parking lot, there are lot of things that cost a lot of money that can get "clipped" with your rear end. Skip and move on to the next location if the parking lot isn't RV friendly.

3. These suckers are wide. Narrow Bridge road signs should be heeded with caution. If you have to stop and hold up traffic to let an oncoming TT or RV go, do it. Honks from held up cars behind you are a lot cheaper than mirrors and side RV damage.

Now...not all happened to me within the first 2 weeks, but definitely during the first year.

Good Luck and safe travels.


2005 32' Dolphin GM 8100 Allison 1000
Wife, 2 girls
Go Huskies!
KF7NDY - Yaesu FT-7900 Monitoring 146.52 while on the road.


deandec

Northern CA

Senior Member

Joined: 09/26/2001

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member


Posted: 04/13/12 11:47am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Hitting the median when making a left turn. That breaks our glassware.

Hitting a tree branch with the TV antenna. That breaks the antenna.

Setting the burglar alarm in storage. Only works with batteries powered up. Down they went.


Dean
95 CC Magna, Jeep GC


Gappy

NE Indiana

Full Member

Joined: 11/14/2010

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 04/13/12 12:01pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Putting up the hyd levelers when breaking camp and turning the ignition back to "off" before the back 2 levelers were up all the way and me thinking that they were broke. Realizing they weren't broke when using a bottle jack to "help" them up did nothing but lift the coach.


Tom

2013 Silverado 2500 Duramax Crew LTZ Z71 4x4
2013 Winnebago ONE 32BH

stinksweet

Tennessee

New Member

Joined: 11/25/2008

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 04/13/12 05:26pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Left the motor on the tote running for 4 hours until we reached our first destination. Fortunately, it was in neutral and no harm done. Just a little lower on gas.


40' 2006 Monaco Diplomat PRQ

jvander

Indianapolis

Full Member

Joined: 06/26/2009

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 04/13/12 04:22pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

It wasn't all in the first three weeks, but if you're going from zero to full timer it is about the same learning curve that you will have:
1) Drove off while still connected to shore power. Had to replace the outlet we were hooked up to. But on the positive side we saved fuel by not having to run the genny for as long as it took to run out of extension cord!
2) Put antifreeze in the hot water heater the first winter. Flushed the water heater about 10 times, and still it took half the season before the hot water no longer smelled like antifreeze.


1993 Coachmen Catalina 31'
Chevy P30, 454 TBI, Hedman Hedders w/ x-pipe and Jones Full Boar mufflers. Same mileage as stock exhaust, but we get there faster!
Looking for a better rig...


Jackha1949

Any Where USA

Senior Member

Joined: 07/16/2008

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 04/13/12 06:24pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Watch out for low tree limbs you can't see from the driver's seat! Crunch roof! Make a check-off sheet for departure and arrival so you will not forget anything, too easy to get distracted and forget something without one. Read all your manuals and if you can download a copy of the operators manual off the internet if possible and read in before picking up your coach. Go to www.betterrving.com/barney which is the lazy days better driving course online and watch all 7 videos! Priceless! If you can take their course in person it is free if you stay at they campground in the Tucson one night. Good Luck and welcome to the forum!


Jack & Peg
USN Ret AGC
K1ZMB
Sioux Falls, SD
06 Itasca Horizon 40KD

rolling_rhoda

South Dakota

Senior Member

Joined: 12/20/2009

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 04/16/12 06:29pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Trying to park before we agreed on hand signals. Entertainment for the neighbors.

Practice driving, and know well the location of switches for headlights, wipers and emergency flashers. Realized I had neglected that during a downpour.

Setting down jacks without looking underneath the rig. (Why in the heck won't the water run? It's hooked up and the spigot is on. Hmmm.)





doc brown

Redondo Beach, CA,

Senior Member

Joined: 02/14/2004

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 04/16/12 07:31pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Going from no RV to a 40' diesel pusher within the first week I hit a tree, scraped the lower right side along a big boulder, backed into a fence. Eight years later I still enjoy telling those stories.


Steve,Kathy,Josh & Morpheus the Basenji
2004 40' TSDP Country Coach Inspire DaVinci
350 Cummins, 3000 Allison
2008 Wrangler X Rubicon/Blue OX Tow Bar/Ready Brake

This Topic Is Closed  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 4  
Prev

Open Roads Forum  >  Class A Motorhomes

 > Top three mistakes you made in the first two weeks?
Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Class A Motorhomes


New posts No new posts
Closed, new posts Closed, no new posts
Moved, new posts Moved, no new posts

Adjust text size:

© 2013 RV.Net | Terms & Conditions | PRIVACY POLICY | YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS