Just like you prep your RV for the winter, there are steps you should take every spring to get your RV ready for the camping season.

Here is a list of important items to test and inspect before using your RV.

1. Outside: one of the biggest problems we see with RV's is water leaks. Look at all caulking to be sure it is not cracked or missing. This includes caulking around windows, doors, all roof vents and seams. Even the smallest crack will allow water to intrude.

2. Tires: Visually inspect tires for sidewall cracks and cracks between treads. Any cracks should be considered a danger and tires should be replaced. Check tire pressure. Refer to the manufacturers recommended tire pressure. There should be a decal inside of a cabinet with recommended tire pressure.

3. Cleaning Appliances: Remove the outside access covers for the water heater and refrigerator. Inspect the burner assembly for any foreign debris such as spider webs and nests. Light air pressure from a compressor can be used to clean the burner area. Be sure not to blow high pressure up the refrigerator chimney. If in doubt, let a professional do it.

4.Batteries: (saftey glasses and latex gloves on. Shore power disconnected. All items in RV off or main cut off in the off position.) Check and clean corroded terminals, connections, and battery trays. Hot water and baking soda work well. Check battery fluid levels is possible. (Some batter caps are not removeable) In many cases, you will need to pull batteries out of even remove them to check the fluid level. Be careful with wiring if removing. Many times positive and negative wires are not marked or color coded. Take the time to mark each wire. I use masking tape and a sharpie. I also draw a picture of exactly how each battery is installed. It is important to check for battery fluid. Many times the RV has been connected to shore power for extended amounts of time. This can cuase the battery to overheat and boil the fluid out. Top fluid levels off with distilled water. Be carefull not to overfill. Keep the level below the upper case fill ring.

Thie is a good time to test the battery. You will need to have a professional perform a load test. Be sure the batteries are fully charged before the test. Low charge will cause a battery to fail the load test. Many time the person testing the battery does not check the state of charge. This is improper. If they don't check the state of charge, go elsewhere. They may just be trying to sell you a new battery.

When replacing a battery, always replace multiple battery banks together. Don't add an old battery to a new battery.

5 L.P. Gas Tanks: Be sure all L.P. gas items are turned off first. No smoking, flames or sparks. Turn the leak detector inside the RV on First. Open the valve on the tank all the way. Smell around the area for leaks. A soapy water solution can be used to check for leaks around the valve and regulator. I use a combination of electronic leak detector and soapy water in a spray bottle. If you suspect a leak, turn the L.P. valve off immediately. Have a professional inspect and repair the leak.

6. Water Lines: Before filling with water, check the hot water heater bypass valve. It needs to be in the "normal" position and all faucets need to be closed. It's best to do the initial season fill with city water connection. This will use the faucets water pressure to fill the empty lines and water heater. (It can also be done with the fresh water tank and pump) Open a hot and cold water faucet during filling to let the air escape until the water flows steady. Inspect faucets for leaks. Inspect the water heater over pressure safety valve for leaks. Inspect the water heater drain plug outside the RV for leaks. After the water runs steady, turn off the city water. Add fresh water to the onboard tank. Relieve the line pressure by opening a hot and cold faucet until water flow stops. Close the faucets. Switch the fresh water pump on. After the pump stops running, allow about 20 to 30 minutes to hear if the pump cycles on again. (The pump cycling on idicates a pressure drop or leak) If the pump does not cycle on, the system should be ready to use. Run enough water through each faucet to be sure all RV antifreeze is removed. If the unit was winterized properly, there shouldn't be much in it.

7: Test fire appliances: Once the L.P. and water systems are up and running, it is time to test fire appliances. For the first use of the season, start by lighting a stove top burner. Be certain the L.P. gas leak detector is on. Lighting a stove top burner will fill the L.P. lines. This is the easiest flame to see, so you will know when it ignites and the air in the lines is purged. Next you can light the other L.P. fired items. Be certain the water heater is full before igniting.

8 Dump Hoses: Inspect your sewage dump hose. Dump hoses have a limited lifespan. Be certain the hose is in good condition with no tears or holes prior to use.

9 Water tank valves: while connected to a dump station, carefully operate the waste tank valves the first time of the season. Valve seals can dry out causing them to stick and make the valves hard to operate. Carefully working the handle in and out in short increments may save replacing the valves. There are additives for vavle lubications that can be added to the tanks.

10 Lights: Be sure to check all lights to make sure no bulbs are burnt out. Especially check your break lights and make sure all your connectors are in good working condition.

Last, after you have checked all these items, pack up and head out on your vacation. Enjoy another year of camping knowing everything is checked and ready for the year.

For more RV Tips and RV Information check out RVing Planet

It's your first camping trip in your new RV, maybe it's your first camping trip ever, and you're really not sure what do to when you get to your campsite. There are a few things to remember when you first get to your camp site, making a list of everything you have to remember is a good thing to do for your first few trips. There are complete check lists to help you to setup your campsite, but this is just a general list of things to get your set in your first camp site.

When you get to your campsite, before you start pulling into your place spot, be sure to look around where you are backing into. Does the campsite have the water and electrical hooks ups your RV needs? How much hose and electrical cord do you have to reach the hooks ups? Is the ground level enough to park my RV safely? Do I need to back into my site, or am I able to pull through? 

Next look around the site to make sure it is clear of trees and any type of polls that are used by the camp ground. Not only do you have to be aware of trees so you don't back into them, but make sure you leave yourself enough room for your slide outs or your awning if you have one. Also be sure to look for any fire pits so you don't back into one or park your trailer to close where you could not use it. Have someone stand behind the trailer but in view of your vehicles side mirrors to help guide you into place; it would be a great idea to have walkie-talkies to make it easier to communicate with the driver.

Now that you have got your RV into place, do a quick check to make sure you can hook up your water and electrical cords securely. Once you have taken a walk around your RV to make sure you're in the spot you want to be and clear of any obstacles, put your wheel chocks on your RV to keep it from moving. If you are in a motor home be sure to set the parking brake. After you have disconnected from the tow vehicle if applicable you will need to place blocks down to put down your stabilizer jacks. Depending on where your levels are on your trailer you might need to have some watch the levels while you set the stabilizer jacks.

Once you have your RV level and secure, you can pull out your steps. Go in and make sure that you have power, switch off your battery power so you do not drain the battery, and turn your refrigerator on in the electric mode.  Make sure the power supply from the hook up at the camp ground is working properly and that you have running water.  Also once inside unlock your slide out, if you have one, push out the slide out, make sure that you are clear of anything on the outside before you put out the slide out.

When you have all the major tasks done getting your RV setup, then you can start unpacking your chairs, lay out your rug if you have one, pull out your awning, start enjoying your camping experience.  Be sure you unpack the things you need, and anything you are not using keep close to the door side of your trailer or locked away in a compartment to keep anyone from taking something.  It is always a great idea at night to make sure all your stuff is nearby your trailer, don't leave things scattered around.

Repacking, it does not sound as much fun as setting up the camp site, because setting up the camp site is more fun knowing you're on a mini vacation.  When you're packing up its then that reality hits you in the face and you have to go back from where you came, and back to your everyday life.  Really packing back up should not be as hard or take as long, just use the check list you used to setup but do it in reverse order.

A great hint to packing at the camp site is cleaning things off very well before packing them as neat as you can. This makes it easier for unpacking once you get home.  It is more frustrating when you get home and things are full of sand, tangled up, or not rolled properly. Do it right at the camp site so when you get home things can be put into their place properly.  Once you get home you will not feel like dealing with a big mess, more organized you are packing at the camp site the less frustrating it will be putting things away.

Make sure that you do unpack more if not all your RV once you get home. Food, things that can go to waste, things that are damp, anything that could cause your RV to stink or get ruined, because it might be a little while before you camp again. If you plan on camping every weekend, then you can leave many things in there that you will need for the next weekend, but still take out anything that does not need to be in there.

Once you have your trailer packed again, you will need to make sure you unhook from the hook ups at the campsite, pull in your slide outs, make sure your refrigerator is back on battery power, re-hitch your RV if applicable, and do everything you did when you setup at the site. It is a good idea to dump your waste at the waste station that the camp ground provides, sometimes there is a line to wait if there are a lot of people leaving the camp ground that day, but it is a good idea to dump it there.  Not only is it safer but it helps saves on gas. Usually when traveling you will only have your fresh water tank filled on your way to the camp site, after camping for a weekend you should have very little fresh water left, dump your waste (black) tank, and flush your sewage hose out with your gray water, that means you will have to haul less back which should help on the gas mileage.   

It's a lot of work to pack and unpack your RV but in the end the trip and camping with your family is well worth all the work. If you looking for some great ideas of where to go camping or visit on your trips, check out vacation guide.

So it's your first time buying an RV, but you like many folks out there are not sure how to choose the right RV for you and your family. Below we have gathered some information and tips that should help get your started thinking about what you will need. Listed below are all the factors you should consider before buying an RV. To read the full list of information and tips go to RVing 101 at RVingPlanet.com.

Type

There are multiple types available from either Towable or Motorized. If you are not sure if Towable or Motorized is for you read the Motorhomes vs Trailer article to give you a better idea about the difference for you and your family.  

Price

Making a budget and sticking to it will make it easier for you to narrow down your available options. 

Usability

How much or how often do you plan on using your RV?

New or Used?

That is the question, there are some good deals to be had out there with Used RVs, but sometimes you can find really great deal on New RVs from the previous year. If you know you want a Used RV, UsedRVForSale.com is a great website to start searching for a Used RV. If are interested in a New RV, RVingPlanet.com, can help fit you with the RV you're looking for.

Floor Plans

If you know what type of RV you are looking for but you're not sure which floor plan to choose, go to the RV Finder and you can search by the type of floor plan you are looking for.

Storage

Depending what type of RV you are looking for will depend on how much storage space you need, and how much storage space you will need, well that depends on how large of a family you have.

Go to RVing 101 at RVingPlanet.com to get a full list of information and tips for first time RV buyers

Your getting ready to buy an RV, maybe it's your first RV, maybe you family has grown and now you need a larger RV. Now is the time to choose an RV that's right for your family. But how do you what RV is perfect for your family's size and lifestyle. There are two categories of RVs, Towable and Motorized, you can read more about both in the Motorhome vs Trailer article to help you decide which would fit your family better.

The towable RVs that are available are: Travel Trailer, Fifth Wheel, Toy Hauler Travel Trailer, Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel, Pop-up Tent Camper, and Expandable. For Motorhomes there are: Class A, Class C, Class B, Diesel, and Toy Hauler. 

Type of RV can also be determined by how much you plan on using your RV, if you are only going around to nearby camp grounds on the weekend and you don't have a big family, you may only need a Pop-up Tent Camper ,Expandable, or a Class C Motorhome. I would recommend the Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Class A Motorhome more for longer camping trips and larger families, due to the fact that they can hold up better on those long trips, plus there is more room for everyone when you are gone for longer.

Besides the multiple types of RVs there are multiple floor plans available, some floor plans will only be found in certain types of RV.A floor plan is basically how the inside RV is laid out. Some RVs will have a front bedroom, a rear kitchen, or a rear living. There are multiple ways of having a layout. But understanding which floor plan will best suit your family is important. To see what floor plans are available for a Travel Trailer or Fifth Wheel, use the RV Finder at RVingPlanet.com; here you can search by the floor plan that would fit your family. If you are searching by floor plan, some floor plans will exclude certain types of RVs because they do not have that floor plan available, which will make it easier for you to choose. For example with Fifth Wheel RVs you will only find a front bedroom, so if you are looking for a front kitchen then you will only find it in a Travel Trailers.  

Once you figure out what type of RV you want, you then need to find out how much your tow vehicle can tow, to view a list of all the RVs your vehicle can tow, use the Tow Rating Search. After you find out how much your vehicle can tow you can decided on the size of RV you need. The size of the RV will help indicate how many people it can sleep, if you need to sleep many people you might want to look for a larger RV that has a floor plan that includes bunk beds or a whole room for the kids with a double bunk setup. 

If your family lifestyle is more active with toys such as ATVs, dirt bikes, and go carts, maybe a floor plan is not as important as fitting all your toys into your RV. Choosing a Toy Hauler with a large enough garage would be more of a benefit to you. Most Toy Haulers can sleep many people also because of the garage area converting into a sleeping area with fold down beds or queen beds that drop down from the ceiling.

There are many great sites out there to help you find the RV you want, but none better than RVingPlanet.com and RVBuyerGuide.com. At RVingPlanet.com you can use the Free RV Concierge, tell them what you are looking for and they will help you get in contact with the nearest dealer that sells the RV you are looking for.

Also check out the list of New RVs, find the one you like and get in contact with the nearest dealer that sells that RV. Maybe you just want to search for your nearest dealer; you can use the RV Dealer Finder search.

At RVBuyersGuide.com you can search all the RVs your vehicle can tow and then they put you in contact with the nearest dealer that has that RV in stock, or is authorized to sell that product by using the Tow Rating Search. If it's a Used RV you are interested in, you can find all the great deals on Used RVs at UsedRVsForSale.com. All these great sites will help make it easier for you to find and RV that fits your family best.

So you have finally taken delivery on your new RV, there is nothing more exciting than taking that new RV out on its first trip. Once you have packed up all the gear, packed up your family your ready to head out on your journey. Before you make your trip, make sure your trailer is safe and secure while towing. To keep your family safe while traveling here are some great tips about towing your RV safely. 

While these are only tips, please check with your local dealer before taking delivery to get a better understanding of what you need, and to make sure you are towing your RV safely.  Not sure if there is a RV dealer near you. Use the RV Dealer Finder at RVingPlanet.com to help find a dealer near you.  

• Hitching before taking delivery of your RV be sure that your vehicle is properly equipped with the hitch that you need to safely tow your RV, if you are unsure if your vehicle is setup properly for the hitch you need consult your dealer to make sure you have the right hitch installed.

• Sway control Be sure you understand how to install the sway control properly, and make sure it is compatible with both your hitch and tow vehicle.

• Tires & Suspension It is important to have the correct tires on your tow vehicle as it will help keep your vehicle stable. Tires that have too weak of side walls could be dangerous while hauling a loaded trailer. Same goes for suspension, make sure that your suspension system can safely take the load of the trailer you are hauling. Suspension that is too weak will make you vehicle less efficient but dangerous. Talk with you dealer to make sure your vehicle is equipped with the right Tires and Suspension to haul your trailer safely. 

• Breaking Check to make sure your vehicle is properly setup for wiring your braking system to the trailer. You want to make sure that your break lights on your trailer are working properly along with your turn signals.

• Towing Mirrors Although some states do not require you to use towing mirrors, some states do so check with you local laws to find how what your state requirements are. It is recommended by most dealers to have some type of towing mirror, there are many universal towing mirrors that connect to your vehicle mirrors or can be strapped to your fender. It is important to know what your trailer is doing while driving, or trying to back it into a space at the camp grounds. With normal mirrors you will only be able to see the front quarter to half of the trailer.

• Loading the Trailer While some people do not think about it, but how you pack your RV can also affect towing your RV safely. Be sure to balance the weight of the gear so your RVs weight is distributed evenly. If you have a trailer that is loaded heavy in the rear it can easily drag the tow vehicle from side to side.  Fifth Wheel Trailers are the best handling trailer because of the pivot point being directly over the rear axle. With either a Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer keep in mind how you are packing, so you can be sure to distribute the weight evenly.  

Make sure that you understand the proper equipment you need to tow your RV safely and do a walk through how to hook up your trailer with your dealer at time of delivery. Another great idea, is practice towing your RV in a large parking lot, or in a neighborhood without a lot of traffic, understanding how to vehicle feels while towing an RV will help you tow safely on your trip.  For more great tips check out First time towing an RV, and Matching your tow vehicle with an RV.

It's your first time towing an RV. Although it's not a difficult thing to master, it does require a change in your everyday driving habits.Meaning no quick moments, fast starts, last minute stops, weaving in and out of lanes on the highway, so on and so forth. When towing a trailer you must always remember you are towing a huge mass behind you. It is very easy for the trailer to push or pull you where it wants to go, by being smart and taking the proper precautions while driving, you will be in control the whole time. Here are some tips to help you become a safer driver while towing.

Make sure to have a tow vehicle that is capable of towing your RV safely. You don't want your tow vehicle underpower when towing. It would be unsafe to tow a RV that is heavier and larger than what your tow vehicle can tow. Not sure if your vehicle can tow the RV you are looking for, read Matching your tow vehicle with an RV, or use the Tow Rating Search to find all the RVs your vehicle can tow.

Starting and stopping may sound simple enough but taking your time while doing both will make you a safer driver. When starting, start going slow, be aware of the traffic ahead of you. Don't get in a rush to get all the weight moving as soon as the traffic moves, you never know if someone might slam on their breaks.

Leaving ample room between you and the vehicle ahead of you will make things easier when stopping. Stopping is not stepping on your brakes at the last moment; you have a lot more weight behind you that won't let you stop right away. So when it comes to stopping, leaving yourself enough room while driving will allow you to lightly break until you can slow your vehicle down adequately.

Towing an RV takes a bit more patients, taking your time and not getting in a hurry to get where you are going. So remember to leave early enough, if it is a holiday weekend, remember there are going to be a lot more people with the same idea as you. To keep yourself out of trouble, make a nice easy pace, don't try to keep up with traffic or beat others to your destination.  RVing is not only about your destination but it's also about what you see along the way. You will enjoy the trip a lot more if you enjoy the drive getting to your destination just as much as being at your destination.

Balancing the weight of your RV is an important thing to remember to towing. Make sure when packing, you don't just pack everything in the rear of your trailer. If the trailer is heavy in the rear it can pull you a lot easier across all lanes of the highway. By packing your RV correctly it will help while towing.

If you have never towed anything before, it's a great idea to start out in a large parking lot or some back roads. Learning how to make proper turns, backing into places, passing, and other maneuvers you made need to learn before heading into full traffic. Practicing before your first trip may give you more confidence when you get into a traffic packed highway or city.

Lastly, just stay calm, take your time, hold back from the crowd, plan your route, and leave early enough so you're not in a rush. Don't try and multitask, if you have someone else with you have them read the map and be your director. Do all these things will make your trip less stressful and more relaxing. RV Vacation Guide is a great vacation guide to help you find a place to take your family on their next camping trip.

Wouldn't it be nice if you had one place where you could go to find out how much your vehicle can tow, search all the RVs that your vehicle can tow safely, and get in contact with the nearest dealer that has that RV?At

RVBuyersGuide.com you can search just like that with the Tow Rating Search, 3 simple steps to finding and RV your vehicle can tow.

Choose which vehicle you own, choose your RV criteria, and see all the RVs you can tow. Now it is quick and easy to find and RV that your vehicle can tow, making it easier to narrow down to your perfect RV.

This is an important first step to take in finding an RV. Not only do you want to find the RV that fits your family's lifestyle and size, but you want an RV that fits your vehicle. You want to make sure you and your family is safe pulling the right RV.

Using this tow rating search will save you time and money from driving around to different RV dealers, you don't want to waste your vacation searching for your perfect RV, spend your vacation using your perfect RV.

It's definitely not an easy task searching for an RV, some say searching for an RV is twice as hard as finding a new car because there are double the RV manufacturers compare to the auto industry. But matching your tow vehicle with an RV shouldn't be a difficult task. There are many websites with plenty of information on finding out how much your vehicle can tow, but they still make you go out and search through all those RVs, and then make you search for a dealer that has that RV.

Whether you are a first time RV buyer or someone that is looking to upgrade to a newer RV, I am sure you have thought to yourself should I buy a Motorhome or a Trailer? There are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing a Motorhome or a Trailer.

You need to ask yourself how often will I be using my RV, and how many people will be using the RV.  On the Trailer side, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, and some Expandables will have plenty of storage, larger floorplans, and multiple slides out options which will be better suited for the more avid traveler and mid-to-large sized families. Pop-Up Tent Trailers can sleep many people but do not provide the room needed or storage for a large family, and are used more for weekend travelers 

On the Motorhome side, there is the Class A, Class C, and Class B Motorhomes.  The Class A will have plenty of storage, larger floorplan, and multiple slide outs. Class C will have a smaller floorplan and less storage than a Class A but both are suited for the avid traveler and a mid-to-large size family. The Class B is similar to a full size van but with a more amenities than a normal full size van. These are made more for great weekend getaways for couples.

Next thing to look at would be what vehicle you currently own that could tow an RV. Is your vehicle capable of towing the RV you are looking for, or would you have to look into buying a new vehicle to tow your RV. You would need a Truck or Large SUV to tow most Travel Trailers, and only a Truck can tow a Fifth Wheel.  If you are unsure what your vehicle can tow, use the Tow Rating Search at RVBuyersGuide.com  to help find the RVs your vehicle can tow safely.

Once you determine if the vehicle you own is capable of towing the RV you are looking for or not, this will help you with the next step to figure out which RV would be best suited for you.

The cost of Motorhomes vs Trailers, the "average" Motorhome is going to cost significantly more than a trailer. Say you find a Fifth Wheel that has everything in it you want for $60,000 to go find a Class A that has about the same features and living space the price will double it not more.  Maybe you don't have a vehicle that can tow a Fifth Wheel so you have to add the cost of a new truck into the price of buying a Fifth Wheel, which then the price of both a Motorhome and Trailer would then be closer to the same.

Maintenance will also add in to the cost of a Motorhome vs Trailer, the Trailer has fewer things to break down than the Motorhome.  The Motorhomes include things such as Engines, Transmissions, and other vehicle parts, your repairs might be more costly than a Trailer. Plus it's not only the cost of repairs to think about but the downtime for your "home" to be in the repair shop. With a Trailer you are still able to at least find another vehicle to tow the Trailer if your main tow vehicle has to go in for repairs.

Driving vs Towing, this is very much a personal opinion and how good of a driver you are. Driving a Class A RV would be more like driving a bus, although in many states you do not have a specific drivers license to drive an Class A Motorhome, some states do require one if the Motorhome is over certain length. Towing a RV is a little different than driving a bus, it does take time to learn how to maneuver an Trailer. Some dealers do offer driving lessons and test drives, if you are unsure which you would be better at, contact your nearest dealer to see if they can help. If you are unsure if you need a license for your RV please check with your local laws to find out.

Besides just Driving vs Towing you also have to consider the height factor of different units. With a Class A and a Fifth Wheel you will have be to more cautions of places you go and bridges you travel under, as both are taller than a most Travel Trailers, and other Motorhomes.  Check out the this video at CampingBloopers.com to see why it's important to know the height of your RV.

Once you get to your destination in your Motorhome or Trailer, you have to keep in mind if your family likes to do site seeing or day trips around the area you are camping. This might be another thing to keep in mind, when towing and RV you can unhook, leave your home at the camp site and go where you would like with your tow vehicle.  With a Motorhome it is easier to have a vehicle you can tow if you plan on taking trips away from the camp site. Sometimes it is difficult getting your Motorhome in and out of different places, so deciding how much you will be doing with your family outside of the camp site should be considered in your decision.

Even though there is a lot of things to think about when buying  a Motorhome vs Trailer, there are some great things about the Motorhome people might not think about. In Motorhomes you can get up and move around the Motorhome, go to the bathroom, make lunch, do many things without leaving the Motorhome.  They are setup so you can move around the RV without having to open the slide out. With the Trailers, many of them you have to open a slide out just to get into your kitchen or storage spaces. It also is not ready available for you to move about while on the road.

Also many of the holding tanks on a Motorhome can be larger than the ones on a Trailer. This is great if you are not at camp sites or places that have full hookups, but having larger tanks is a benefit if you're on the road many days before you get to your camp site.

After you have put some thought which one would suit you and your family better,  take a look at both in person. If you need help finding an RV check out the New RVs at RVingPlanet.com and Used RVs at UsedRVsforSale.com.  If you are unsure where to find your nearest dealer, use the RV Dealer Finder at RVingPlanet.com .