Meet RV expert Mark Polk.
The first trip in your new RV can be one of your most important.
You just bought an RV, now what?
You researched it, found a dealer, ordered it, waited for it and the big day finally arrived; the day you get to bring your new RV home. The excitement and anticipation can be overwhelming, and then suddenly there it is sitting in the driveway. What do you do now?
Well before you jump in and head out on a cross-country RV trip, let’s think about this for a minute. The dealership you purchased the RV from is required to perform what is known as a Pre-Delivery Inspection, or PDI, on the RV prior to you taking delivery of the unit. A PDI is a safety/operational check to make sure all of the systems and appliances are operating properly and that your new RV is ready to go camping. These PDIs are quite thorough and for the most part technicians will catch and repair any deficiencies noted during the inspection.
With that said, RVs are very complex, with wiring and plumbing systems routed throughout the walls, roof and undercarriage of the RV. So it is possible for some potential problems to be missed during the PDI process.
This is why I always recommend taking a short, close to home shakedown trip, before venturing off on a longer RV trip. When I say close to home it could be in your backyard or at a KOA campground close to where you live. All you really need is access to water and electricity to give the new RV a good once-over. Some RV dealers offer to let you spend a night or two camping out at the dealership before taking the RV home. They hook you up to a water and electrical supply and you get to test the unit out, making sure everything operates properly.
Regardless of where this shakedown trip takes place it serves several purposes:
1) Taking a shakedown trip allows you to identify any problems and have repairs made while you are still close to home. It is much easier to have your dealership make repairs than it is to find a repair facility when you are traveling. During the shakedown trip keep an eye out for things like water leaks or other shortcomings and for simple things like a cabinet or drawer that needs to be adjusted. Keep a pen and paper close by so you can make notes about any repairs that need to be accomplished.
2) A shakedown cruise will let you know what you forgot to pack, so you don’t forget it when it’s time for that two-month long cross-country RV trip. Again, keep a pen and paper close at hand and write down whatever comes to mind in the way of personal belongings and supplies that you just can’t live without when you are camping.
3) A shakedown trip gives you an opportunity to try all of the onboard systems and familiarize yourself with how things work on the RV. I also recommend that you purchase an RV training DVD specific to the type you of RV you purchase to assist you in learning about your new RV. The more you know about your new RV the more enjoyable your RV experiences.
If you find any shortcomings during the shakedown trip, schedule an appointment with the dealership to have the required repairs made. When you take the RV in for repairs go over all of your concerns with the service writer. Point everything out on the RV so they understand exactly what you are talking about and they can expedite the repairs.
When you get the RV back the only thing left to do is plan your trip, load it up, hook it up, fuel it up and JUST RV IT!
Happy Camping,
Mark J. Polk
For more information on how to purchase, use and maintain your RV be sure and visit www.rveducation101.com.
Tags: KOA campground, KOA camping, KOA RV tips, Mark Polk, RV camping, RV maintenance tips
Thank you for letting me express my feelings.
After two painful years and over 1,000 miles back and forth to the dealer and recommended places to take our RV to be fixed, I would highly recommend that if an opporunity had been given us to stay at the dealer and try our new rig out it would have been invaluable. We would have had many problems ironed out and repaired before leaving dealership. Our troubles started on day two of our ownership. Not being able to get an appointment within a resonable time (one or two wks) and stowage 55 miles away (for 3 mos) then 15 miles away from our home and additional 35 miles to dealership. After all the kinks and repaires were done, I wouldn’t sell vehicle.
Thanks
H.T. Harris
I have a pedestal table (Winnebago Aspect 2008). Both the table top and the shaft wobble terribly. I heard something about using plastic tubing to solve the problem, (probably as shims?). Can you help? Thanks. Allan
I have products you dip post in.Rubberized.Stops squeaks .You coat until it is just the right fit. $ 53.00 a Gallon plus ship, but does a million different repairs from roof leaks to pipe leaks to coating anything and I mean anything.908-534-1005
kimconllc@gmail.com
I bought my last RV from a private party. When manufacturer’s rep came to my town, I had them look at it. I paid $5,000 less than they would have charged me if they had had it on their sales lot. Also, first major trip included a stop at the manufacturer for a check up. Only cost $415.00 to have front cone repaired before water could have gotten into motorhome. I definitely reccomend a shakedown cruise close to where you buy it. Wouldn’t trade mine for anything.
Carole
We would do a shakedown cruise each and every year. That way, we would know what didn’t work, or what we forgot to pack. We highly recommend it. Don’t just go for a weekend, make it longer so you can try out the air, heat, stove, refrigerator and any other systems that may need repair. Be sure to check for any septic or water leaks as well. Great idea. Thanks.
We have our second RV. Our first trip in our first RV was for 30 days. We had a few problems, but worked thru them all. Surviving that first trip gave us a lot of confidence that we can overcome most issues without going into panic mode ONE.
Friendly fellow RV’ers were great and offered good advice and assistance along the way.
First time visit to your web site. I simply love it. So much useful information; and the Grapefruit Marinated Chicken sounds delicious.
Happy RVing everyone!!!
We actually took two shakedown trips last year. The first was on the Free night KOA weekend. It poured rain, and we did discover a leak. We also learned all the systems and determined things we needed to purchase.
On the second shakedown we forgot the trailer keys! Luckily we were only about 40 km from home, not 1000.
We brought our new Thor ACE home last fall on a Thursday and went for a 2 day stay at a local area state park that same weekend. It really worked out great. We were less than 10 miles from home and drove our van there also to have a way to pick up supplies as needed – and we did. I highly recommend doing something like that – especially to someone new to RVing like we were (are). Later we took a little longer trip to Gatlinburg and our third and final trip of the year was to Disney World and their Wilderness Campground. We really like RVing, our ACE, and staying in campgrounds (or should I say Kampgrounds). It adds a whole new dimension to traveling.
We are on out 2nd NEW trailer, and yes, shakedown trips are a must! The real test was not the short weekend to get the feel of the new trailer, but the long haul to Yellowstone, where a toilet leak showed up when the tank got over 2/3 full. However, when all was fixed after we got home, we are happy with it and plan on many seasons of camping in our home away from home! Happy camping everyone, I wouldn’t change the lifestyle for anything else!
Purchased my second New RV, a 2011 Fleetwood Discovery in October 2011. We stayed on the dealers lot for two nights to check things out, before our four hundered mile journey back to Maryland. We noted a few problems that were addressed by the dealer. Specifically, my wife was preparing to cook dinner on the gas stove when suddenly a big blue flame gushed from the top of the stove. I contacted the dealer and they immediately took my RV in for service. They discovered the cause of the flame was caused by a Crack in one of the gas lines on the stove. This could have been a dissaster.
We went on a 4000 mile, week and a half trip to Glacier Mt. St. Mary KOA. It was a first for my wife and we decided due to a health condition of mine that this would probably be the best method. Our RV dealer happen to rent trailers and with this being the first trip for my wife, they were wonderful with providing a list to think about taking. With my dealer and friends that also deal with them, the shakedown was pretty much a no brainer. The trip included a side to Yellowstone for a day on the return. It really pays to have pickup that was designed for trailering, the 30 ft trailer rental was great and a wonderful dealer to work with. Enjoyed all the KOA’s we could find on the trip and will make them a priority on future travels. She is sold on RV’ing now.