Avoiding Disasters: 11 Crucial Travel Trailer Mistakes Learned Through Personal Experience

Embarking on the journey of travel trailer adventures is undeniably thrilling, but staying clear of potentially dangerous situations is critical. In this video blog article, I share my insights on travel trailer mistakes to help fellow travelers avoid common pitfalls that could lead to costly repairs and unpleasant situations.

These are the 11 travel trailer mistakes you need to avoid.

1. Drinking From the Fresh Water Tank When It Is Not Sanitized

Ensuring the safety and freshness of the water in your travel trailer is paramount for a healthy and odor-free environment. When it comes to the water in your freshwater tank, two critical considerations can make all the difference:

keep the fresh water tank sanitized
using potable water, other words water that is safe to drink.

After encountering unpleasant odors in my travel trailer, I delved into the importance of keeping the freshwater tank sanitized and this is what I learned. It’s safe to keep water in the tank for about two weeks, but beyond that, stagnant water can lead to bad tastes and odors. Contaminants like bacteria, mold, and mildew can also pose health risks.

By implementing these practices, you can safeguard your drinking water, ensuring a refreshing and worry-free experience on the road.

Pro Tip: Always use an RV freshwater hose instead of a regular hose to fill your tank. Regular hoses may contain traces of lead, making them unsafe for drinking water.

2. Running Your Refrigerator While Towing

When towing your travel trailer, keeping the refrigerator running on propane might seem like a convenient choice, but it comes with risks. The possibility of a propane fire caused by a break in the line isn’t worth the convenience.

Additionally, an RV refrigerator needs to be leveled to cool it and to function properly. Therefore, towing can make it challenging to keep the refrigerator level affecting its ability to keep your food cool and it could damage the refrigerator.

3. Not Verifying Dump Valves Are Closed When Opening the Sewer Cap

One of the least-discussed but crucial aspects of travel trailer ownership is managing the sewer system. Opening the sewer cap before verifying that the dump valves are closed can lead to an incredibly messy situation. Imagine all the contents from your black and gray tanks rushing out unexpectedly. It happened to both my husband and me, and it’s an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

4. Letting Your RV Battery Drain Below 50%

If your travel trailer’s battery is a lead acid battery and you let it drain below 50% this will damage the battery. I’ve learned this lesson firsthand after experiencing the consequences of neglecting our battery levels. We had to replace our RV battery three times in the past five years because we carelessly did not monitor our battery and several times it drained below 50%. Avoid the battery blues by understanding the importance of battery care in your travel trailer.

5. Not Using a Surge Protector

We love the convenience of plugging our travel trailer into electricity so we have electricity to use. But, a sudden power surge can happen during a storm or from the electric source itself. And when this happens the power surge can damage your travel trailer’s electrical system. This small, yet significant, device acts as a safeguard against power surge perils, ensuring the longevity and functionality of your travel trailer’s electrical components.

6. Closing Your Awning When It Is Wet

Your travel trailer’s awning provides outdoor comfort, but closing it when damp can lead to unsightly stains. I faced this issue personally, and despite my efforts to remove them using products specifically for this situation, I was unable to completely remove them. Always make sure your awning is completely dry before you close it to prevent mold and mildew stains on your awning and preserve both its appearance and functionality.

7. Using Regular Toilet Paper

Let’s talk about something we all use but rarely discuss – toilet paper in a travel trailer. Using regular toilet paper might seem harmless, but the toilet paper we use at home does not dissolve quickly and this can create clogs when we dump our black tanks. This is an unpleasant situation you want to avoid.

8. Not Doing A Final Walk-Around

We are always anxiously ready to hit the road, but safety should always be our number one priority. A final walk-around is a step many overlook, but it’s a chance to double-check you did not leave something behind and also look for things that could create damage or other preventable hazards when towing your travel trailer. From checking lights to tire pressure, incorporating this step into your routine ensures a safe and stress-free journey.

9. Exceeding Your Payload Capacity

The temptation to bring everything on your travel trailer journey is real, but overloading can lead to a host of issues. Every travel trailer has its payload capacity set by the manufacturer. This is the amount of weight you can safely add to the trailer including all the content inside and in outside storage areas. Potential issues that are caused by an overloaded travel trailer include tire blowouts and rollovers.

10. Driving Fast When Towing a Travel Trailer

When you are towing your travel trailer going too fast can cause problems. First, the faster you go, the more you will spend on fuel.

But, even more important is that our ability to react is slower when dealing with heavy tow vehicles pulling trailers. And it’s harder to stop or maneuver in emergencies at higher speeds. The good news is that unless you are traveling a long distance going 5-10 mph faster won’t save you much time.

11. Not Document Your Trips (and Memories)

Have you ever wished you could relive your favorite travel or camping moments? I certainly do, and that’s why documenting my adventures has been a game-changer. I’ve been using the RV diary app to my advantage. It allows me to document campground names and locations, add personal notes, and upload photos I have taken. I highly recommend you capture your adventures so you can reflect on past times and cherish those special memories.