Episode Details

Last week, we shared the first 13 tips in our two-part series for RV newbies—and the response was a great reminder that the learning curve is real, even when you’re having a blast. This week, we’re back with 15 more tips to help you reduce stress, avoid common mistakes, and keep your focus where it belongs: on time outside with the people you love.

We’re going to pick up right where we left off, and we’re going to stay true to the spirit of these episodes: no gatekeeping, no judgment, and no pretending that anyone is “born” knowing how to operate an RV.

Tip 14: Camp your way and ignore the noise

This is a cornerstone tip—and it applies to everything from meals to screen time to where you camp. Social media has created a very loud, very opinionated culture around what camping is “supposed” to look like. But the reality is that every family has different needs, comfort levels, budgets, and energy.

If ordering pizza to the campground on Friday night keeps everyone happy, do it. If you want to keep limited screen time as part of your routine—especially with young kids—do it. If you want to cook on a Blackstone instead of mastering campfire cooking right away, do it. If you can only camp 20 minutes from home, do it. You will build memories whether you’re at Yellowstone or a county park that’s practically in your backyard—and you don’t need anyone’s permission to enjoy camping in the way that works for your family.

Tip 15: Expect things to break, and don’t let repairs steal your weekend

This one is blunt: things will break. Sometimes it’s your fault. Sometimes it isn’t. But either way, you don’t want to spend your precious campground time spiraling over a broken stereo, a cabinet latch, or a loose piece of trim.

We’ve been there—especially early on, when buying an RV felt like this huge, exciting “we made it to middle class life” purchase and we wanted everything to be perfect. But the campground is the point. The RV is the delivery vessel. If something breaks and it doesn’t prevent you from safely camping, put it on a list, handle it later, and get back outside.

Tip 16: Batch your warranty items so you don’t lose camping time to the dealer

New RV owners often make the same mistake: they run back to the dealer for every little issue. The problem is that dealerships can keep your RV longer than expected—sometimes waiting weeks for parts—and you can lose a big chunk of your camping season.

Instead, keep a list on your phone and batch the items. Unless it’s a safety issue or prevents the RV from rolling, wait until you have a real punch list. If possible, limit dealer visits to once a year. Your camping time matters, and “prime season” is