One single best piece of advice for a new class A owner?

[wildmandmc]

My best advice for the first time RV'er. Learn first, and prior to looking at one bring someone who owns or has own one. Lot easier for them to point out potential problems, what could go wrong , what probably going to go
wrong. An last but not least, if u can't fix those, The Warranty. The Good, The Bad, and Always THE UGLY. ..

[Rob_M]

Get your significant other involved in every aspect of setting up taking down and maintenance, at least at first.

This serves multiple purposes.

1) They can do it in a pinch

2) They can check behind you to make sure you didn’t forget something

3) They know you’re not outside goofing off while they are doing the dishes.

If you have a strong woman like I do, you may have to Help do the dishes first then bring them outside to help. Ultimately they may decide they’d rather just do the inside stuff while you do what’s necessary outside, knock it out quick as possible and enjoy each other after chores are done.
Eventually you will work out a system that speeds things along.

[shootist]

From now on, it's all about the coach.

[Maller01]

Originally Posted by Ruediger

Get out of your vehicle and go around before starting the next trip. Never bad to have a brief check list. I e.g. forget often switching of the frigde before hitting the road. My checklist now updated.

Switching of the Fridge?

[Flyer15015]

For both the beginner and the pro, a preflight check list is a good idea.
And always remember to bring along your 3 plastic wrenches.
Mastercard, VISA, and Discover. They can fix anything.

Mike in Colorado

[Iceclimber]

Coach Net.

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by Ruediger

Get out of your vehicle and go around before starting the next trip. Never bad to have a brief check list. I e.g. forget often switching of the frigde before hitting the road. My checklist now updated.

Not to throw this thread off course but aren't you the gentleman who had an "Auto Park" problem a short while back? If so, how did you make out?

Back to the regular programming.

[NCC-1701A]

Originally Posted by swduns

My single best advice to him based on my experience was .... keep it simple

This is sage advice!

And I agree with DS Don's comment that making the experience too much work can dissuade one from getting the most out of their RV.

Of all the RVs we've owned in over 40 years of adult RVing, our simple 1998 29' Tioga saw the most use. Short enough to go anywhere and not much to break on it. We just used it and had fun.

In reference to always dreaming of bigger and more complex, the only thing I might add from personal experience is "Be careful what you wish for. You might get it."

[tmandoug1]

Dump gray before black....

[RH_RVer]

Lotsa insight in this thread. I’ll repeat the suggestions to know your rig: crawl all over and under it; read the manual; and join IRV2. In fact, when I got my current rig, I went to the Tiffin ITV2 forum, searched my model and read every thread that came up over the next several days. Not so much as to worry, but to know what to watch out for. Someone above spoke truth: problems don’t disappear, they get worse if not fixed.

Enjoy.

[gimblerotor]

Originally Posted by tmandoug1

Dump gray before black....

What???

[Col. Klink]

When on the road, if you drive just a little bit slower than everyone else, it will open a large gap between you and the vehicle in front of you. That's your safety zone that will come in handy some time.

[THenne1713]

I ADVISE: OFF THE BUMPERS, AND BETWEEN THE DITCHES... BEST= on THE ASPHALT

[WeeBeenew]

I bought a 3 year bumper to bumper warranty with mine. I'm pretty handy. But I wanted the insurance in case it takes me awhile to figure this new life out. That was a sticker shock. But felt it was worth it. And I am being told by many to keep it simple too. Picking mine up tomorrow. And going camping next weekend.