RVs are not cars or trucks, they are far more complicated systems, more like a small home on wheels
Do your research before buying one. They are far more complex than a car. And far more things can fail as you move down the road. Some say it makes sense to purchase a well-cared-for used RV than to pluck down the cash for a new one. If you know and trust the previous owner (or maybe even the dealership) that migght make sense. It would be safe to assume most of the initial issues have been resolved, but the wear items may be starting to appear. It's a trade-off like any other major purchase. New and shiny with early life and quality issues, versus mature and experienced with normal (and abnormal) wear as part of the equation If you go the new RV route, make sure you get a good walkthrough with the salesperson and technical expert, and maybe record a video so you know how things work once you leave the lot. There's a lot to remember, and amid the stress of piloting it off the lot you're bound to forget many details. As always, practice makes possible.

Thought: RVs are vacation homes on wheels
In the desire for a pleasant, comfortable vacation a lot of people probably end up getting a lot more RV than they really need or can even use.

RVs are not automobiles or trucks.
They offer a radically different diving experience, have greater operational impact than a normal motor vehicle or trailer. And the responsibility spectrum is off the auto/truuck chart! 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. Practice parking and maneuvering the RV in an empty lot before taking it on an adventure. 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, there's a lot of restrictions on roads, especially in the Northeast." In an RV, you need to check the tire pressure more frequently than in lighter vehicles. RV tires are put under heavier strain than regular cars, so check your tire pressure before every trip.

Take the time to get acquanited before the first trip
It's generally a mistake to drive your new RV off the lot to start a big trip because it's unlikely that the rig will be in perfect working condition. Instead, invest in a shakedown trip close to home or to the dealer to test everything out. Make a list of all its issues and get them repaired before hitting the road for real. This also applies to boondocking and off-grid adventures Don't go off grid before fully understanfing your RV's water tanks and battery life. Camping in remote areas is possible in an RV because of the water tanks and battery life, but it's not wise to go off the grid until you have familiarized yourself with the limitations of the systems. To do this spend a night in a campground with water and power but don't hook them up, pretend you're off the grid. Do so allows you to experiment with your water usage versus the tank size, and get a feel for how long the battery will last during hard use and overnight. If something goes wrong you can use the campground's water and power resources.

Keep your loadout simple. Numbers matter, some more than others

Putting too much weight inside an RV is really easy to do if you're not aware of the rated cargo carrying capacity and the safety implications. Where you place the weight is extremely important.

see YT video on loading and sway

Cargo rating is on a yellow sticker on the outside front left side on many, or on the back of an inside door.

Before you load it up with everything you expect to use on the trip, you should add up the people, toys, clothes and even food, and then fill up your propane tanks, your tow vehicle's fuel tank and take it to a scale. It's really easy to hit the max with little effort. Like we used to say in the '60s and '70s, the best way to make a race car lighter is one ounce at a time. Exceeding the safe limit can lead to a blown-out tire, she added. You probably don't need as much stuff as you think

Campgrounds and reservations
This has changed considerably in our 35 years of RV trailer. reservations used to be a no-go for many camprounds, now they're almost required. Ten years ago a a reservation could be canceled at the last minute, now many campground operators require several days notice and still charge a cancellation fee. Cancelling too late will probably cost you the entire fee. Either make reservations at the campgrounds or be very flexible in your travel planning. Last minute reservations are possible, but very unlikley in peak seasons or in popular destinations.

Set realistic distance expectations, and know your route
I normally add about an hour ef extra drive time for each 4 hours on the routing apps and maps. Fuel stops take longer, breaks should be more frequent for recharge, etc. Picnics at the dog's request.

Monitor the weather and road conditions
The couple said people generally check the weather at their starting point and destination but not everywhere in between. ©Michael Leggero/Getty Images 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." And if conditions change wile you're on the road, deviate around the issue or maybe just stop for a while to wait it out. After all, you are in your home on wheels.

Allow room and time for changing plans
Blowouts happen, roses are everywhere. Don't make the mistake of overplanning every minute of your trip. You might miss some of the roses along the way.

Make sure you have backup systems
You're goal is to get away, sometimes that means no cellular coverage, and therefore no real-time map updates. In addition to your phone and GPS, take a paper map (I recommend the trucker oriented atlas for the height and width routing.)

Waste tanks are your friend, usually.
If you misuse the waste tanks, you'll be dealing with a smelly mess,

RVs are not cars or trucks, they are systems on wheels

RVs are not cars or trucks, they are systems on wheels

RVs are not cars or trucks, they are systems on wheels