Avoiding Common Mistakes Made At RV Parks & Campgrounds
Everyone has to start somewhere, and while hooking up your RV for the first time at an RV park or campground might seem intimidating, remember, we’ve all been there before.
Making mistakes is just a part of camping, and you might have to learn a few things by trial and error.
Related Product: See how level your RV is using an App on your phone with the LevelMatePro Wireless RV Leveling System (click to view on Amazon)
There’s some stuff we wish we knew before we went to our first RV park, and that’s what this article is about.
These are just a few things I’ve noticed from other RVers and done myself in my years of full-time RVing.
Hopefully, having these tips in mind while you set up will help save you some time and frustration.
For a more detailed guide on how to set up your RV at a campground or RV park, check out this article.
7 Ways To Set Up Your RV Like A Pro
1. Make Sure There’s Room for Your Slide Outs
Today’s RVs spread out to a much wider size than the narrow trailers most RV parks were built for. Some campers have mega slide outs on both sides, making them almost double the starting width, but not all parks have adjusted.
Always measure the slide out distance when you first pull into your campsite. Check for trees that might be in the way from the side or above. We’ve opened our travel trailer’s slide out into several branches at smaller RV parks.
See Also: Are RV Slide Out Supports Necessary?
Keep an eye on neighboring RVs too. Some parks pack in campers like sardines and there have been times when our slide out was just inches from our neighbors.
The easiest way to quickly measure is to use your arm. Stand with your back against the slide out and put out your arm to get a general idea of where it’s going to end.
It’s a lot easier to move before you’ve got wheel chocks in place and stabilizer jacks down.
2. See if All of The Hookups Will Reach
Before you put down the wheel chocks, check the location of all the hookups. The usual culprit is electrical. Pull out the RV electric cord and make sure it can make it to the power pedestal.
Water and sewer hookups are usually more forgiving since most RVers have longer hoses, but the connections might be further than you think.
We’ve spent many stressful moments trying to figure out where the sewer hookup was after we had already set up our entire travel trailer.
See Also: Best RV Water Hose For Drinking Water & Best RV Sewer Hose Kits Reviewed & Rated
Sometimes the sewer cap is covered by dirt or a rock and you should find it before you get everything else ready. It’s especially important if your RV has the holding tank hookup in the middle instead of the back.
Many RV parks have the sewer as far away as possible and you may need to back up more to reach.
3. Get the Wheel Chocks Out Fast
Once you’ve figured out where your RV needs to be and you’re level from side to side, put down the wheel chocks right away. They’re especially important before unhitching a travel trailer or 5th-wheel.
The front leveler jacks should not be the only thing keeping your camper from rolling. They’re not meant to take sideways pressure and can break if they’re being pushed or pulled by the RV.
See Also: Best RV Wheel Chocks (Plastic, Rubber, Metal, X-Chock)
I’ve seen a tongue jack break off from the frame and fold forward because the trailer was pushing it.
They weren’t using wheel chocks and if they had been, the jack wouldn’t have broken. You’ve maybe also seen tongue jacks that look slightly bent from the same thing.
Wheel chocks are an absolute must have for travel trailers and 5th-wheels.
4. Use A Surge Guard (Surge Protector)
Power surges can happen at any time, and circuit breakers can’t stop them. If your RV is plugged in when one happens, the wiring inside could get completely fried. The fix could end up costing a lot and, in some cases, you might even need to get a new camper.
Experienced campers use RV surge guards and I strongly recommend getting one. Some protect from higher surges and have built in electrical monitoring systems (EMS) that will test the power source to make sure it’s safe before you plug in.
Related: Best RV Surge Protector & EMS For 30 Amp & 50 Amp
I recommend using a surge protector to test the power pedestal before setting everything up.
We’ve had issues with unsafe RV park power before. I plugged in our Southwire 30A Surge Guard that runs a 10 second diagnostic test before allowing power through. The caution light started flashing with an error code for unsafe power.
We told management, and they directed us to another site that was deemed safe by our surge guard. Who knows what could’ve happened if we had drawn power from the faulty power pedestal.
5. Use a Water Pressure Regulator & Water Filter
If you’ve ever looked at the water pipes in an RV you’ve probably noticed that they’re pretty flimsy looking. Most campers have PEX tubing for the freshwater lines because it’s inexpensive and fast to install.
It’s normally the connections or the faucets that leak and eventually break when water pressure is too high. You don’t want any kind of water leaks anywhere in your camper, so keeping the plumbing in good condition should be a priority.
Most RV water pumps output 40 to 60 psi of pressure. Since RV water hookups are normally just water spigots with twist valves, there’s really no way to adjust the water pressure properly.
Inline water pressure regulators like this one by Camco (click to view on Amazon) are super simple to use and very effective.
With a water pressure regulator, you’ll know that your RV plumbing is safe and all the faucets will work normally. Water filters are also a good idea, but they aren’t as important as the regulator.
You can read more about them in this article here.
6. Get a Sewer Hose Stand
Don’t be like us. It took visiting at least 4 RV parks before we realized that a sewer hose stand wasn’t as optional as we thought.
Many RV parks have a rule that the sewer hose must be off the ground, and they can be sticklers about it too.
We only stayed a few days, but the RV park manager was strict about the rules. It was our fault for not having an RV sewer hose stand.
We went and got the Camco Sidewinder Stand (click to see review) as soon as we left that campground.
I actually use the stand for more than just RV parks. Many dump stations have a curb or something that the sewer hose needs to go up and over. I use the stand to keep the hose level, which makes dumping the camper much faster.
7. Don’t Overload The Stabilizer Jacks & Use Blocks
The stabilizer jacks are something that is often misused by even experienced RVers.
There are two kinds of jacks on campers: leveler and stabilizer.
Leveler jacks take the weight, like the tongue jack on a travel trailer, the two front jacks on a 5th-wheel, and what’s often found on motorhomes.
Stabilizer jacks are the other jacks that extend from the sides of campers. They are not meant to lift an RV. They’re there to help stop side-to-side motion.
Related: Best RV Stabilizers For RV, 5th-Wheel & Travel Trailer
A good way to make sure you don’t put them down too far is to extend them until they are on the RV blocks and then add one more crank. The camper shouldn’t lift at all and the blocks should be firmly in place.
I recommend using RV blocks (click to view on Amazon) because they help protect the ground underneath so you don’t leave any marks.
Many campers use at least 4 blocks to help bring the ground to the stabilizer jack. It makes the stabilizers more effective and saves time since you don’t have to put them down as far.
Conclusion
While it’s not easy to predict every scenario you might face at an RV park, these tips can help make setting up easier.
If you’re just starting out, making a list you can follow every time is a great way to establish a routine. The more you camp, the faster you’ll get at setting up your RV.
See Also: What Do I Need To Use Hookups At An RV Park Or Campground?
I hope these tips have helped you feel more confident. If you get lost, there are usually a few kind campers around who can answer questions. Enjoy your travels.
I’m glad you elaborated on RV campgrounds and how to prepare for a long road trip. My wife and I decided to buy an RV last week, and since we’re beginners in the RV world, I believe we’d use your camping trips. Thank you for the information on how to be ready to face different RV campground issues.
My friends and I are planning to go on camping next weekend, but since it’s our first time, we haven’t decided on the site for our trip yet. Thank you for informing us that while most RV parks are built for narrow motorhomes, there are still some that have adjusted to accommodate wider vehicles. I’ll have to check what size of RVs they allow first before we decide on the RV resort we’ll be going to for our trip.
When you go to a campsite is there an office or something where you check in? I am renting a drivable 25 ft. motorhome and have never been RVing before. Pretty nervous and excited at the same time. I have been online reading many tips for beginner RVers. So far nothing about getting to a site and what to do. Thanks for the help.
Hi Gary,
Places like RV parks usually have a front office you check in at to get the site number and info. There’s normally a reserved check-in parking area you can park your RV in so you can walk into the office.
Campgrounds will normally have an info sign near the entrance with a form you fill out and a place to pay the fee. In campgrounds like that, you find the site you want first, then fill out the form and pay.
If you’ve reserved a site and prepaid you can usually go directly to it. You normally don’t need to check-in because your name and stay dates should already be posted at the campsite.
Next weekend, my friends and I want to go camping, but because it will be our first time, we haven’t chosen a location yet. We appreciate you notifying us that while most RV parks are designed to handle small motorhomes, some have made modifications to allow broader cars. Before choosing the RV resort where we’ll stay on our trip, I’ll have to find out what size RVs are permitted there first.
I like your detailed insights into RV campgrounds and tips for preparing for a long road trip. My wife and I just purchased an RV last week, and being newcomers to the RV scene, I think we could benefit from your camping advice. Thanks for sharing valuable information on how to be prepared for potential challenges at RV campgrounds.