An RV Guide: Your Tips for Owning a Trailer for the First Time

An RV Guide: Your Tips for Owning a Trailer for the First Time 

Congratulations on purchasing your first RV! The excitement of planning your first trip can quickly become overwhelming. Googling every question that comes to mind can become stressful, and with the volume of information you need to research you might overlook some crucial details. That's why we've crafted the ultimate guide specifically for first-time RV owners and those coming back to owning a trailer once again. This all-encompassing resource is designed to provide you with everything you need to know, from pre-trip checklists to on-the-road tips and tricks, ensuring your first adventure is both enjoyable and smooth. Dive into our guide and hit the road with confidence! 

Choosing The Right Trailer Park / Campsite 

Before you go on your first trip with your new RV, you’ll have to decide where you’re going! This is a completely personal choice. Some questions you should ask yourself when deciding are:  

What activities do I want to do? What type of experience am I looking for? How far do I want to commute? What is my budget? and What who am I bringing? (kids, pets, etc. can be a factor in where you choose to camp!)

We recommend doing your own research, but below are some great Campsites and Trailer parks across Ontario that we recommend.  

Note that every destination on this list has “hookups” meaning available power, and water for you to connect to. As a first time RV owner, we don’t recommend “boondocking”- meaning to camp without any available water or power and having to bring your own water and power source. 

• Kakabeka Provincial Park –  near Thunder Bay  

• Lake Superior Provincial Park 

• Aguasabon Falls and Gorge – Terrace Bay 

• Scenic High Falls on the Magpie River – Wawa 

• Greig’s Caves – Wiarton 

• High Falls - Muskoka Lakes 

• Algonquin Provincial Park 

• Bruce Peninsula National Park - Tobermory 

Packing List 

Now that you’ve chosen where you’re going, you’ll have to pack. Although what you pack depends on many factors like the activities you plan to do, where you’re going to be setting up camp, the weather, and more, below you’ll find a good starting point on what to pack. Don’t be intimidated by how much is on this list! Luckily all CampMart trailers have great storage, so you’ll have more than enough room. And since you’re not travelling by air, you won’t be limited to a carry-on or liquids allowance!  

RV Specific Items: 

• - Electrical adapters 
• - Toilet chemicals 

• - Sewer kit 

• - RV-friendly toilet paper 

• - Water pressure regulator 

• - Drinking water hose 

• - Leveling blocks 

• - Tire pressure gauge 

• - Extension cords 

• - Wheel chocks 

• - Duct tape 

• - Flashlight 

• - Battery jumper cables 

• - Emergency road kit 

• - Fire extinguisher 

• - Large zip close bag for documents, including license, registration, reservations, etc. 

• - Surge protectors

General Camping Supplies: 

• - Maps, compass, GPS 

• - Weather radio 

• - Emergency whistle 

• - First Aid Kit and Prescription Medicine 

• - Sunscreen and Sunglasses 

• - Folding Knife 

• - Bug spray 

• - Bedding including pillow/blankets/sheets 

• - Firewood and firewood cutting tools 

Clothing: 

• - Warm and cold weather clothes 

• - Undergarments 

• - Sleepwear / slippers 

• - Caps / hats / gloves 

• - Rain gear 

• - Shoes / socks 

• - Hiking boots / thick socks 

Kitchen Checklist 

• - Groceries (per personal shopping list) 

• - Seasoning and spices (salt, pepper, steak sauce) 

• - Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise) 

• - Drinking water and containers 

• - Utensils, cups, dishes 

• - Can opener 

• - Pots, pans, skillets 

• - Oven mitts and hot pads 

• - Grill and fuel (propane, charcoal) 

• - Lighter fluid for charcoal 

• - Lighter and waterproof matches 

• - Ziploc bags 

• - Aluminum foil 

• - Dishwashing items (soap, sponge, drying rag) 

• - Trash bags 

Pet Checklist 

• - Pet food 

• - Treats 

• - Food and water bowl 

• - Water 

• - Pet toys 

• - Leash and harness 

• - Plastic bags to pick up after dogs 

• - Blanket and bed 

• - Coat and shoes for cold weather 

• - Towel 

Hitching And Towing 

You’ve chosen where to camp, you’ve packed, and now it’s time to go! Hitching up your trailer and towing it can seem intimidating at first, but with modern technology it’s easier than ever! We can hook up your hitch to your vehicle here at CampMart, and depending on what hitch you end up getting a trained technician here can teach you how do it for yourself. We always recommend using sway bars, especially if you’re new to RVing. With sway bars attached to your hitch, you’ll hardly notice you’re towing anything! 

Power, Water, And Disposal Of Waste 

Power 

CampMart can provide you with any adapters, surge protectors, and chords that     you might need. Consult a technician at CampMart to learn where the power     chord on your trailer is beforehand, and once you park at your campsite simply     just connect it to the shore power (the power source at your campsite). 

Water 

You’ll need a hose, a pressure regulator, and an inline filter to connect to the     water source at your campsite. CampMart can provide and install all of this for    you! You’ll also need a connector on your RV, we can install this as well. Once     your hose is connected to your RV and the water source all you have to do is     turn on the water! 

Disposal of Waste 

Maintenance and Regular Checks 

Every so often, you’ll want to perform some maintenance, and do some regular checks on your trailer to catch any easy to fix issues before they worsen. You’ll want to check: 

- Awnings 

- Vents 

- Appliances 

- Signs of wear and tear 

- Loose seals 

- Damaged Paint 

- Regularly lubricate hinges and slide outs