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.