✨ 10 RV Tips & Tricks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner (Part 1)

RVing is full of freedom… and full of little surprises. Over the years, we’ve picked up some tricks that have saved us time, money, and headaches. Here are 10 of our favorites — simple gadgets and habits that can make life on the road much smoother.

1. The Slide-Out Shoulder Test

Wondering if you have enough clearance for your slide? Stand sideways between your RV and the obstacle. If your shoulders fit, your slide probably will too. (Cheap measuring tape: free.)

2. Always Test Your Power Post

Never plug in blind! Use a surge protector and check the post before hooking up. Several times, we have had to move due to the electrical post not operating properly after we already set up. We’ve personally found reversed polarity, a dead leg, and even had an inverter fried from bad wiring. Lesson learned — test first (before you set up and let the slides out).

3. Don’t Just Look Behind — Look Up

When backing into a site, it’s easy to forget about tree limbs. We’ve trimmed more than a few ourselves. Low branches can cause thousands in roof repairs or damage your paint job.

4. No Touchy, Tree Limbs

Even if they don’t scratch, limbs brushing your roof can be a highway for ants. We once had an ant invasion thanks to a branch touching the RV. They marched straight into our bathroom sink cabinet and created a huge nest.

🎥Video: When Ants Use Your RV Roof as I-95

5. Watch Your Caulk

Cracked caulking, especially under rear side windows, is a sneaky way for water to get in. Plan to re-caulk every 2–3 years (sooner if you see gaps). It’s cheaper than repairing water damage and we know all about that as we have had slide floors replaced before.

6. Keep Tanks Closed at Full Hookups

Don’t leave gray or black tanks open. Liquids drain out, solids stay behind… and turn into a cement sculpture. Instead, dump when tanks are ⅔ full and flush with a rotary tank rinser periodically if possible.

7. Tire Pressure Saves Trips

Check your tire pressure every travel day. Hot asphalt, altitude changes, and weight shifts all affect PSI. A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) can save you from blowouts and roadside “adventures.”

Although a blowout may occur with no notice, the TPMS will alert you if your tires are overheating — a major cause of blowouts. Ours even warned us once that we were losing air in a heavy-duty truck tire. We called Love’s, and they came out and replaced a bad valve on the spot. Whew! That could have been ugly (and expensive).

For extra peace of mind, we also use a tire infrared thermometer to manually spot-check the temperature of each tire during travel days. It’s quick, inexpensive, and gives you another layer of safety.

🎥Video: Flat Tire Drama -- What Now?

🎥 Video: I-10 traffic + RV blowout = NOT fun

🎥 Video: This one was a mystery

8. Secure the Fridge & Cabinets

Those magnetic latches or clips aren’t foolproof. Use child-proof locks or tension rods or non-slip rug pads in the fridge. Otherwise, you’ll open your RV door to find mustard decorating your floor.

I once walked in and saw a can of corn sitting on the floor — and the cabinet was still closed! After that, I started using bungee cords to secure the cabinets. For the fridge, I wedge a pool noodle between the door and the island, then add a bungee cord across the entire fridge for extra insurance. It’s not pretty, but it works.

9. Carry a Water Pressure Regulator

Campground water pressure can be all over the place. Without a water pressure regulator, you risk bursting a hose or flooding your rig. A simple gadget can save thousands. We also always shut the water off at the post when we leave. The last thing we want is a phone call that a waterfall is pouring out from underneath the entry door.

10. Do a Departure Walk-Around

Before leaving a site, walk completely around your RV: check steps, antenna, cords, hoses, and slides. And make sure everything is secure. One lap can save a lot of embarrassment (ask us about the time our door swong open).

👉 Which of these tips have you learned the hard way? Do you have some favorite tips you'd like to share? Hit comment and let us know — we’d love to feature your best tricks and tips in a future newsletter!

🛠️ Gear We Trust on the Road

Here are some of the tools and gadgets that make these 17 tips possible — and that we personally use and recommend:

• Surge Protector / Power Tester – For checking campground posts before plugging in (#2).

• TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) – Helps prevent blowouts and alerts you to leaks (#8).

• Tire Infrared Thermometer – Quick way to spot-check tire temps on travel days (#8).

• Bungee Cords & Child Locks – Keep cabinets and fridge doors secure (#9).

• Water Pressure Regulator – Protects your plumbing from campground surges (#10).

• Emergency Gear – Reflective triangles, LED road flares, and telescopic cones (#17).

• Basic Tree Trimming Tools – Extendable pole saw or trimmers for low-hanging branches (#3 & #4).

• Tripod Stabilizer – Cuts down on RV wiggle and sway in fifth wheels (#18).

👉 You can find all of these (and more) in our Amazon Storefront. These are the exact products we travel with and/or recommend. They’ve saved us money, headaches, and even a couple of near-disasters on the road. Hopefully, they’ll do the same for you. 🚐

WoW Amazon Store