RV Trip Checklist for First-Time Owners

Your new RV just arrived and you’re ready for your first adventure. That’s exciting! But, before you hit the road for the first time, there are some important checks you should perform to avoid surprises when you’re miles away from home (and, most likely, from your dealership as well).

This first-time RV trip checklist will help you make sure everything is functioning properly. Moreover, by simply powering up and testing these systems, you’ll get some basic knowledge about how they operate. It’s much less stressful to do that now, before leaving home, rather than when your entire family is watching and waiting.

Verify All RV Systems

Verify that all RV systems turn on and operate normally, including your electrical connections, inverter, battery levels, propane appliances, water pump, HVAC systems, and leveling gear. Turning everything on at home, where you have time, space, and resources, helps you catch odd noises, error codes, weak batteries, or non-responsive components long before you pull into your first campground.

Complete a Thorough Exterior Walkaround

Walk your exterior at least twice, looking closely at your doors, awnings, slides, jacks, tires, and hitch components. The first walkaround confirms that nothing is obviously damaged or misaligned. The second should be slower and more intentional, focused on seals, latches, hardware, and potential snag points that might shift during travel. Many first-time RVers catch minor issues like loose fasteners or sticking baggage doors during these early inspections.

Pack Essential Tools and Spare Parts

Load essential tools and spare parts so you can handle small fixes on your own. Even brand-new RVs settle, shift, and bounce during transit, which means fasteners loosen, fuses blow, and latches occasionally need adjustment. Stocking a basic toolkit, extra fuses, sealant, zip ties, and a tire pressure gauge ensures that small inconveniences do not escalate into trip-stopping problems that require roadside assistance or a last-minute dealer visit.

Take a Local Test Drive

Drive the RV locally for at least 20 to 30 minutes to get familiar with acceleration, stopping distances, mirror visibility, engine noise, and overall handling. Try a mix of neighborhood streets, stop-and-go traffic, and highway speeds. This short test drive helps you understand how the RV behaves under load and gives you a chance to spot rattles, alignment quirks, or anything that feels off while you are still close to home.

Build Confidence Before You Go

Completing these steps before leaving home dramatically reduces the chance of surprises on the road and gives you confidence in how your new rig operates. A little preparation now helps make your first RV adventure smooth, safe, and stress-free.

A first-time exterior RV inspection should confirm that all doors, slides, awnings, jacks, leveling gear, tires, and towing components operate smoothly and safely. This quick walkaround helps prevent breakdowns, water damage, or towing problems once you hit the road.

It seems like your doors should work, right? But, let’s not assume anything. Make sure all exterior access and baggage doors, along with interior cabinet and access doors, open, close, lock, and are aligned properly. Open and close all the doors multiple times throughout your first camping trip, especially after leveling your RV at a campsite. Some of your latches may eventually need replacement and/or adjustment to be sure doors open easily and stay closed during travel.

Throughout the day, push out and pull in the slide listening for squeaks, cracks, pops, and general odd sounds. Also, watch for alignment issues such as one side moving faster than the other. If you need some help, here is a great post on how to keep an RV slide-out in-sync and retime it if necessary.

Open and close your awnings several times including your patio awning, slide topper, and window awnings, depending on what your rig is equipped with. It’s a good idea to leave your awnings out during a light rain to confirm that water rolls off the fabric and is not intruding in unexpected and undesirable spots. If it’s windy and your awning is equipped with an auto-retract wind sensor, make sure that it works as advertised. However, please be sure to never leave the awning open unless you are there to keep an eye on it. Bad things can happen to unsupervised RV awnings.

If there are any issues with your RV awning, Solera Universal makes it easy to upgrade, fix, replace, or even add power to your RV awning.

One of the first things you’re going to need to do when you arrive at your camping destination is level your RV. Be sure you know the tips and tricks of how to level an RV as well as how your particular leveling system works. Whether it is manual, fully automatic, or a hybrid setup, test it out.

• Make sure all jacks are functioning including your tongue jack if you have one.
• If you have auto leveling with a control pad or app, be sure you test it out and understand how it works.
• Do you have the stabilizers you need to prevent your rig from rocking and rolling? Some rigs have them pre-installed, some don’t.
• Do you have wheel chocks, and are they stowed for easy access upon arrival?
• Do you plan on using leveling blocks, and are they stowed for easy access upon arrival?

If you have a motorhome and plan to tow or flat tow a vehicle, then you’ll want to do the same for that setup.

This seems like a given, but it is your first time, so let’s be sure to check it off the list. Make sure your tires are…

• Inflated to the proper pressure
• Free of cuts or other damage
• Good to go with their tread depth, especially if your “new RV” is a used one

Did you know you can add a Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System to your RV that functions very much like the TPMS that came with your car or tow vehicle?

If you have a travel trailer, pop-up, toy hauler, or fifth-wheel, make sure you inspect your tow setup and know how each part functions and operates. Depending on your tow vehicle and rig, you’ll want to look over your…

• Trailer hitch
• Ball mount
• Trailer coupler
• Hitch pin
• Sway bars and weight distribution, if you have them (if not, they are worth considering)
• Fifth-wheel hitch rails, base and head or gooseneck adapter and pin box
• Wiring harness and brake controllers
• Safety chains
• Any other part that connects your rig to your vehicle

If you have a motorhome and plan to tow or flat tow a vehicle, then you’ll want to do the same for that setup.

Inside your RV, test your power systems, electronics, propane appliances, plumbing, and driving performance so you can identify issues before your first trip and understand how each system behaves under real use.

Power your RV for several hours using the generator — and we mean really use it. Turn on the A/C, watch TV, confirm your appliances all work off this power source. Once you’ve checked out the generator, it’s time to test the inverter. Unplug the RV from all power sources, turn on the inverter, and determine which outlets and appliances run off it. Get to know the limits of your inverter’s power. For example, can you watch TV while charging your laptop?

While you’re running your generator, be truly mindful about how well all the electrical systems work. You’ll want to test everything again on shore power as well, but, with the generator running, test your electronics.

• Listen to music, watch TV, and charge your phones and laptops.
• Does your air conditioner sufficiently cool your RV?
• Does the heat pump and/or furnace (if you have one) work properly?
• Is your fresh water pump doing its job?
• At night, turn on all the lights inside your coach.
• Check your compartment lighting, headlights, running lights, taillights, etc.

If you notice any issues with any appliance or light, get them checked immediately to ensure there’s not a larger electric issue. And, while you’re checking the power, inspect all your RV gadgets for scratches and nicks as well.

Test all the devices that run on propane: furnace, water heater, fridge, stove, etc. Fill your water tanks (just don’t overfill them), and make sure the level displays work. Confirm that all the dump systems function properly and the readouts are accurate. Try out the toilet (need we say more?). Ensuring that these systems work well and that the readouts are accurate will help you in general, but it will be especially helpful when boondocking since you’ll really get a chance to see how many days you can go before needing to refuel or dump your tanks.

Try running the water heater on electric one day and then propane the next.

• Is the water hot enough?
• How long does the hot water last while taking a shower?
• Drain and refill the tank to see how long it takes to heat the water back up.

This is a great way to understand how long it takes the water to warm up after your spouse has taken a long hot shower!

Push your engine to understand how it performs under stress. Drive up hills. Drive down hills. Drive at 10 mph and at 60 mph. Listen to your engine for odd sounds. (Of course, safety always comes first, so don’t do anything against the law or drive at unsafe speeds or grades.)

You should check for leaks with a water hose before you head out, although nothing compares to a natural soaking from mother nature. So, if a good storm comes along, embrace it.

• Try out the windshield wipers.
• Check every corner of your RV for leaks.
• Pay special attention to: the roof, doors, vents, air conditioner and windows, as these are the largest culprits for leaks. Repair any leaks before departing!

Pack essential tools, spare parts, hoses, protective gear, and comfort items so you’re prepared for minor repairs, setup tasks, and unexpected conditions during your first RV outing.

We’re sure you’ve already considered food, drinks, kitchen supplies, toilet paper and other camping essentials, but here are a few things that might not have occurred to you as a newbie. These aren’t just a good idea, they are necessities for a relaxing and fun RV camping adventure…

• Hoses and cords including, but not limited to, your sewer hose, water hose, shore power cords, extension cords and surge protectors with multiple outlets.
• A basic RV tool kit including wrenches, screwdrivers and other common tools.
• A good, general RV lubricant. Even new parts can get stuck, especially after driving down dirty roads.
• Spare fuses, light bulbs, batteries, zip ties and duct tape will come in handy.
• A few good flashlights, lanterns, and anything else you might need if power supplies or your generator fail.
• Sunscreen, insect repellent, citronella candles and the like, along with some clothing that will keep insects at bay.
• And, it’s not necessarily glamping if you want to bring some nice camping accessories and fun toys along with you, especially if they entertain the kiddos.

We know it’s a new RV, but that doesn’t mean that all fluids are where they should be. Make sure everything is topped off including your oil and washer fluid. Check your propane tanks too – you’ll be glad you did.

Make sure you have AAA, Good Sam, Coachnet, or a similar hazard plan before you go on that first camping trip. Many new RVs come with towing-service coverage, though it’s your responsibility to understand the towing-mileage limits before heading out.

Speaking of future road trips, it’s not a bad idea to look into extended warranties when your original limited one runs out. Many RVers swear by their third-party extended warranties.

And, finally, the idea of “leaving no stone unturned” shouldn’t stop after your first RV trip. Be sure to perform maintenance tasks regularly to keep your vehicle operating smoothly and help you find and fix small problems before they become big ones.

Now that the physical work is done, are you looking for more tips on getting the most out of your RV experience? Check out this handy list of 100 Best RV Tips. And, here's some great advice on how to keep your new RV looking like new. Good luck and happy RVing! You're going to have a lot of fun!

1. What should I check first when using my new RV?

Start by testing all doors, slide-outs, and awnings to make sure they open, close, and seal properly. Then power up the RV to check electrical, propane, and water systems before loading any gear.

2. How do I test my RV slide-outs before my first trip?

Extend and retract each slide-out multiple times. Listen for grinding, popping, or uneven movement. Watch for one side moving faster than the other—an early sign your slide may need realignment.

3. How can I tell if my RV awning is working correctly?

Open and close the awning several times. Ensure the fabric rolls out smoothly, water runs off properly during light rain, and—if equipped—the wind sensor retracts automatically in gusty conditions.

4. Do I need to level my RV before using it for the first time?

Yes. Testing your jacks and leveling system ensures you're ready at your first campsite. Verify your jacks deploy correctly and confirm you have stabilizers, wheel chocks, and leveling blocks.

5. What towing components should first-time RV owners inspect?

Check your hitch, ball mount, coupler, safety chains, wiring harness, and brake controller. If you have sway bars or a weight-distribution system, confirm they’re installed and functioning properly.

6. How do I know if my RV tires are safe for travel?

Check for proper inflation, adequate tread depth, cracks, bulges, and dry rot. New RVs may still have older tires if the unit sat on a lot, so don’t skip this step.

7. Should I test my generator before going on my first RV trip?

Absolutely. Run your generator for several hours while using appliances, A/C, lights, and electronics. This helps you learn its limitations and ensures it performs reliably during travel.

8. What electrical systems should I test inside my new RV?

Test all lighting, outlets, the fresh-water pump, air conditioner, heat pump or furnace, refrigerator, and entertainment systems. Repeat these tests on both shore power and generator power.

9. How do I test my RV water heater before traveling?

Run it on both electric and propane. Make sure the water heats up properly, check how long a tank of hot water lasts, and measure how long it takes to recover after refilling.

10. What signs of leaks should new RV owners look for?

Check around windows, doors, vents, the A/C unit, and roof seams. Run a hose over the RV to simulate rain and inspect interior corners, cabinets, and slide rooms for moisture.