Fiesta
Sherman, TX
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Joined: 02/01/2010
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1. Trusting the GPS... "Make a U-turn on this one lane dirt road?"
2. Buying $200 useless roadside assistance. A waste when I can fix almost anything.
3. Damn this thing is wide and long!!
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JetAonly
Ohio
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Joined: 01/20/2008
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Always do a walk around before you move the MH
Remember to look up when you do your walk around
Driving while plugged into power not recommended, you must have a very long extension cord.
2000 Monaco Dynasty
ISC350
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sowego
northwestern corner of the Nebraska panhandle
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Joined: 03/14/2006
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I don't think the 1st 2 weeks are a good break-in period with a new coach...it takes several months.
1st thing to not do is take off fulltiming without really knowing your rig. Take a few short trips close by to check things out. Whether the coach is new or not...there will likely to be something that is out of whack.
2nd, as another poster suggested--live by the rule "less is more"--don't take everything you can, just what you need and don't think you need everything! It may be tempting to take all you can get onboard! The bad news is these coaches can hold a lot more than you will ever use and if loaded to tightly everything will be so difficult to get out and put back you'll be kicking your self coast to coast. Been there done that ourselves. That does not mean you have to dine off paper & plastic...just don't take a lot of small kitchen appliances, a huge amount of clothing, huge mountians of hobby supplies, etc. I have seen coaches filled with everything they had in a stick house!
3rd...we believe both occupants of the coach should know how to drive and drive often enough to keep in practice. It is especially important to understand and use your engine break. Also, learn you need to downshift going up steep grades. And, one step further--both need to have a good basic knowledge of all coach systems--how to dump and fill tanks, power hook-ups, basic chassis systems, all "house" systems, etc.
4th--fulltiming is great but...not everyone thinks that after 2 years or even less. Give it a try, store or give things to family you really want forever but have a back-up plan because...fulltiming will end someday either by choice or by a medical emergency so have a back-up plan.
5th--don't let any of the previous thoughts make you lose sleep. Just enjoy your life!
* This post was
edited 04/12/12 07:43am by sowego *
2002 Tiffin Phaeton
2005 Malibu Maxx toad
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Jake21
Santa Fe, NM
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Joined: 06/25/2007
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Great lists here. Thanks to all.
Jake
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cpd520
Arizona
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Joined: 06/21/2007
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PandK wrote:
Now - should I tell you about how to get a butter knife out of a full black tank that will not drain????
I am morbidly curious 
Jack and Nina
Launch date for our full-timing adventure - Was June 30, 2013 - Now hostage to the housing market
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.
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jimrose
Hoffman Estates, IL
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Joined: 01/09/2006
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I have a very strong magnet on a long piece of cord. This worked for us.
Jim 
01 38' Holiday Rambler Endeavor DP Cummins 330 HP ISC
04 Ford Explorer MG Brake System Wireless Lights
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harleyman1340
Marietta, Ga, US
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Joined: 03/31/2004
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I picked my first ever diesel pusher and heading home I finally set the cruise control, I needed to pull off at an exit and tapped the brakes like I do in my car to disengage the cruise control and nothing happened, started to panic and finally put enough pressure on the brake peddle to disengage the cruise. Bottom line get use to how the brake peddle works, mine is not nearly as sensitive as the one in my car.
Sonny, Anita and Phoebe
2005 Mountain Aire 4304
2005 F150 Crew Cab Toad
2009 Harley Ultra Classic
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Jim@HiTek
Gresham, OR, USA
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Joined: 07/17/2004
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1) Whipsawing when driving out of tight driveways; lost about 25 'unbreakable' table ware pieces by trying to get on the street to fast;
2) Trying to drive too long...arriving at a park in the dark is something I'll rarely do these days, to many branches, to many weirdly placed services; backing up in the dark is virtually impossible (mirrors don't help, camera doesn't help);
3) Forgetting to disconnect services...water, cable, electric.
One of the problems I face in tightly packed parks if I arrive late is that the office is sometimes closed, there's no one around and I have to back up without having a co-pilot. Sometimes I've just left and found a Walmart or Truck stop to spend the night at.
 Jim@HiTek
Have shop, will travel!
Visit my travel & RV repair blog site. Subscribe for emailed updates.
Fleetwood Bounder, '94
Cummins Diesel, 190HP, 36.5' with 50HP LP boost.
Black Rock Lava Park, Nevada
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RV-1/2n-FUN
FL.
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Joined: 03/30/2003
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Only made 1 mistake in the first 3 weeks, letting FIL take MH to mechanic for inspection and he put a nice 10" groove in left rear side.
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FormerBoater
South Florida
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Joined: 02/08/2009
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Congratulations on the Eagle!
Here is my newbie list:
-Backing into a tight storage space without a spotter(GET OUT and LOOK! is the lesson). Didn't damage the Eagle but the coach I "kissed" had about $3.5K in damage.
-Not adjusting the air pressure for the weight of the coach. Tires were inflated to the max and the rough ride was entirely un-necessary.
-Not calibrating the automatic slack adjusters. You can do a web search and watch a video on this.
-Over-driving the coach. If your alignment and air pressures are correct these Eagles pretty much drive themselves. Two hands on the wheel loosely works the best for me.
-Apprehension when being passed by semi's and OTR buses. With the Independent Front Suspension you will see that there is little to no effect on your coach.
If your Eagle is like mine, you will find that everything is designed for ease of operation and simplicity. It is really one big "Easy Button".
Enjoy!
Dave
1998 American Eagle 40EVS
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