Picking up a travel trailer is exciting — but now what? Driving off the lot with your new home-on-wheels is just the beginning. Before you hit the road for your first adventure, there are a few crucial steps to take to ensure you’re fully prepared. Here’s what we did after picking up our travel trailer, and what we recommend for new owners!
1. Check Everything Before You Leave the Lot Before you tow your trailer home, do a thorough walkthrough and inspection at the dealership. Make sure to:
- Check all exterior compartments, windows, and seals for any issues.
- Test the power, water, propane, and appliances.
- Confirm that all keys work for storage compartments and doors.
- Ensure you have all necessary paperwork, including the title, registration, and warranty information.
- We brought this paperwork organizer because we were handed so many pages and manuals that we will need! It locks, is water resistant, fireproof and impact tested.
- Ask any last-minute questions while you still have the dealership staff available!
- Rocket Book is our go to brand when it comes to notebooks and note pads. They are reusable, they make keeping digital copies of your notes simple, and you only have to buy one notebook to be able to keep notes about everything!
2. Practice Towing & Backing Up If you’re new to towing, don’t rush into a long road trip just yet! Take time to:
- Get comfortable towing in a large, empty parking lot.
- Practice turns, braking, and reversing.
- Learn how to hitch and unhitch safely.
- Use a spotter (or backup camera) to help with parking.
Our Wandering Pack Purchase Recommendation: A good backup camera makes parking and maneuvering easier. This one has 4 cameras- two rear views and two side views. This is our home- we need to know if there is danger we could hit when backing in – we are new to this!
3. Stock Your Trailer with Essentials Before you head to a campground, make sure you have the necessary gear. Some must-haves include:
- Electrical: Surge protector, extension cords, and adapters.
- Water: Drinking-safe hose, water pressure regulator, and filters.
- Sewer: RV sewer hose, gloves, and toilet chemicals.
- Leveling & Stabilizing: Leveling blocks, wheel chocks, wheel chock stabilizer, and a bubble level.
- Basic Tools & Safety Gear: Flashlights, tool kit, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit.
Our Wandering Pack has an Amazon List with EVERYTHING you need!: Here’s a starter kit with all the essentials you need!
4. Test All Systems at Home Before your first big trip, park your trailer in your driveway or a nearby campsite and run through all your systems:
- Water: Connect to a water source and check for leaks.
- Electricity: Plug in and test outlets, lights, and appliances.
- Propane: Light the stove, test the fridge, and ensure your furnace works.
- Slides & Awnings: Open and close them to check for smooth operation.
- Tanks: Learn how to fill and empty your fresh, gray, and black water tanks.
Our Wandering Pack Tip: At our RV Dealer we were told about the importance of keeping your RV lubricated. The slide outs, the windows, the rubber seals and the trailer hitch- we recommend getting this BEFORE you start doing anything with your trailer!
5. Plan Your First Trip Close to Home For your first outing, choose a location that is:
- Close to home in case of issues.
- Equipped with full hookups (electric, water, sewer) for easy testing.
- Spacious, with pull-through sites for easier parking.
6. Keep a Checklist & Take Notes Your first few trips will be a learning experience! Keep track of:
- Things you forgot to pack.
- Adjustments needed for storage or organization.
- Any maintenance issues to address.
Our Wandering Pack Tip: Keep an RV travel journal to track lessons learned and campsite reviews.
Buying a travel trailer is just the beginning of an exciting journey! Taking the time to inspect, practice, and test your setup will ensure smooth travels ahead.
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What are your biggest questions as a new RV owner? Let us know in the comments!
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