The biggest mistakes beginners make when traveling in an RV, according to RV lifers who have traveled to all 50 states

“I think another mistake people make is that they feel like they need the biggest RV because they have a large home,” Marc said. “I think a better approach would be to choose the smallest RV that you feel you can be comfortable in.”

First off, it’s not going to drive like a car, they said. It’s bigger, so you have to do everything slower, including turning and breaking. 

The couple recommends practicing parking and maneuvering the RV in an empty lot before taking it on an adventure. 

Marc and Julie also said that when you’re driving an RV, you can’t rely on a navigation system meant for regular cars. 

“RVs are longer, taller, wider, and they carry propane, which isn’t allowed in a lot of tunnels,” Julie said. “So there’s a lot of restrictions on roads, especially in the Northeast.”

Julie said another common RV mistake is not being aware of the cargo-carrying capacity, which is on a yellow sticker on an inside door of the vehicle. 

“By the time you load people, pets, clothes, and food and then fill up your water tank and fuel tanks, it’s very easy to reach or exceed the safe cargo-carrying limit in an RV,” she said.

Exceeding the safe limit can lead to a blown-out tire, she added.

“You don’t need as much stuff as you think,” Julie said. “You’ll probably end up wearing the same shirt, shorts, and flip-flops or hiking shoes every day.” 

If your navigation says the trip will take four hours, plan for five, Julie said. 

“We always like to allow an extra 20% as a buffer,” she said. “You need to stop and have a break, use the restroom, have something to eat or drink. It’s a lot more physically tiring to drive an RV than a regular vehicle.”

Julie said to avoid relying solely on your phone to get you where you need to go. 

“You could be driving in an area where you don’t have cellular coverage, and therefore, your routing may not be working,” she said. “You can download your map or just carry a paper atlas.”

Keep an eye on the weather not only where you are and where you’re going, but also everywhere in between, the couple said.

If it’s windy, try stopping for a bit. You’re in a home on wheels, after all. 

“Try to avoid driving in winds,” Julie added. “It’s more dangerous, stressful, physically fatiguing to drive an RV in windy conditions.”