We know from your phone calls and emails that many of the visitors to our website are either new to RVing or are looking to become RVers. Read on First-Time RVers because this is the MOST important tip you will ever receive and one that will keep you out of trouble.

If you’ve read through our Tips, you may have noticed that there is one cause of damage that we keep coming back to: #1 cause of RV damage is failure to do a Pre-trip inspection, which includes a Safety Check, before moving the unit. For anyone who might have forgotten or did not know, a safety check is a walk around the coach or trailer, in a counter-clockwise direction, so that you are always facing on-coming traffic. You are looking to make sure the steps are retracted, the storage doors are closed, the tires are inflated, all is clear around the vehicle and the departure path is clear.

I mention this only because we recently dropped in on my Cousin Jack and as we approached the gate to his property I noticed a strange gash in the gate. We visited for a while and when it was time to go I asked Jack about the damage on the gate? It appears his son-in-law forgot to do a Safety Check on his trailer before leaving and attempted to go through the gate with his trailer steps extended. This is what trailer steps look like after coming in contact with a gate. Amazingly, the steps still go up and down, it’s just that now they are at a slight angle. The steps are much stronger than I had ever imagined.

Of all the Tips we can give, doing a thorough Pre-trip is at the top of list because failure to do it is the reason for most RV damage.