rvfieldguide.com RV Field Guide

First 30 Days of Ownership

The most expensive mistakes in RV ownership happen in the first month. This checklist takes you from delivery day to knowing your trailer — before you're 200 miles from home.

⏱ Spread across 4 weeks

Want a printable version? Open in the RV Field Guide app — it includes a black & white print mode optimized for paper.

The dealer lot is not the place to learn your trailer. Dealership walkthroughs are 30 minutes on a good day. This checklist is the actual orientation — done at home, under control, before your first real trip.

Week 1 — Document Everything

Photograph the trailer door stickerGVWR, CCC, tire specs; save to cloud storage
Photograph the tow vehicle door stickerGVWR, payload; save with trailer info
Photograph and label the fuse box / breaker panelevery fuse position with its rating and what circuit it serves; tape a copy inside the panel
Photograph the tank monitor panel and locate every valve (black, gray, fresh water drain, low-point drains)
Locate and photograph the water heater type and brandis it Suburban (has anode rod) or Atwood/Dometic (no anode)? This changes your maintenance schedule.
Locate the water heater bypass valvesknow where they are before you need them in winter
Locate the battery cutoff switchknow where it is
Locate the water pumpknow where it is and how to turn it off if a line fails
Record model and serial numberstrailer, all major appliances (fridge, furnace, AC, water heater, brake controller); save with photos
Confirm tire DOT date code on every trailer tirelast 4 digits; if over 5 years old, budget for replacement before relying on them
Set up your roadside assistanceconfirm whether your plan covers the trailer separately from the tow vehicle; Coach-Net or Good Sam plan
Find your nearest mobile RV techniciansave the number before you need it; mobile techs can often come to you rather than requiring a tow to a service center

Week 2 — Test Every System at Home

Do this in your driveway with shore power and a water hookup. The goal is to fail here, at home, not at a campground 3 hours away.

Connect shore powerconfirm all outlets and lights work; EMS surge protector reads normal voltage; GEARGO EMS surge protectorBuy ↗
Test every 12V system on battery alone (shore power off)lights, fans, water pump, slide motors
Connect water supplyconfirm water pressure, check under every sink for drips while pressurized
Test every faucethot and cold; toilet; outdoor shower if equipped
Water heaterrun on electric and propane separately; confirm it heats in both modes; check the pressure relief valve area for any drips after running
Furnacerun for 5 minutes; confirm ignition, airflow from all vents, no fuel smell; first run produces burning-dust smell (normal); fuel smell = service call
Refrigeratorrun on shore power 24 hours; confirm below 40°F; switch to propane and run 6 hours; confirm still cooling
Stovelight each burner; clean blue flame; all burners light without excessive delay
Ovenlight and confirm it reaches temperature
ACrun on high cool 10 minutes; confirm cold output
Slide-outsextend and retract each one fully; watch from outside for seal seating and smooth operation; listen for binding or grinding
Awningextend and retract; check fabric, motor function, and tie-down points
CO + LP detectorpress test button; confirm audible alert
Smoke detectorpress test button; confirm audible alert
Breakaway switchpull the pin briefly while connected to a brake controller (on, gain set to mid); feel for brake resistance; reinsert pin immediately
All exterior lightsrunning lights, brake lights, both turn signals; photograph them working for documentation

Week 3 — First Overnight (In the Driveway)

Your first night in the trailer should be in your driveway. All utilities, full systems, full family. The things you'll discover: that the fridge doesn't cool in propane mode, that a drain line drips, that the awning motor makes a noise, that you don't know where the breaker is. Discover them here.

Set up exactly as you would at a campsiteshore power, water, everything
Sleep a full night in the trailer
Write down every question and problem in a listnot mental notes; a written list
Test the furnace at nightit will run; confirm it cycles correctly and that you can sleep through it
Test the refrigerator overnightis it actually holding temperature?
Run the water pump on tank only (no shore water)confirm it has prime and builds pressure
Address or schedule every item from your written list before the first real trip

Week 4 — First Short Trip (Under 30 Miles from Home)

Your first real trip should be close enough to drive home if something goes wrong. One night, full hookups, within 30 miles. The goal is to run everything at a real campsite under real conditions — not to have a great trip.

Run the full Hitch & Go Safety checklist before departureevery item, in order
Do the 1/4-mile stopwalk the rig completely; check hitch, chains, lug nuts
Complete a full site setup at the campgroundevery step of the Campsite Setup checklist
Write down anything that went wrong or that you didn't know how to do
Run the full Breaking Camp checklist on departure
When you get homeaddress every item from your list

The Gear You Need Now (Before Trip 1)

Most of these are already in the Permanent Packing List. If you're reading this as a new owner, here are the items you cannot make your first trip without:

EMS surge protector matched to your outletGEARGO 30A or GEARGO 50A — campground power is dangerous without thisBuy ↗
Water pressure regulator with gaugeCamco TastePURE — campground spigots can run 100+ PSIBuy ↗
Food-grade white water hoseCamco TastePURE 25ftBuy ↗
Wheel chocksCamco 44413 — do not unhitch without themBuy ↗
Leveling blocksTri-Lynx 10-packBuy ↗
Digital tire pressure gaugeJACO EliteProBuy ↗
Torque wrenchLEXIVON LX-183Buy ↗
Trailer lug wrench sized to your trailer lug nutsconfirm the size and buy this before trip 1; the tow vehicle wrench won't fit the trailer
TPMS for trailer tirestrailer TPMS sensor set — single most valuable highway safety upgrade for a single-axle trailer
Brake controllerif towing a trailer with electric brakes, this is federally required in most states; Tekonsha Prodigy P2 if not already installed
Roadside assistanceconfirm coverage includes the trailer before you leave the driveway

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