We’ve owned our little camper for over a year now and have learned so much about to use it, drive it, and sharing in the RV lifestyle. Here are 30 of my best tips, tricks, and lessons learned:

1. An RV is so much better than a tent for camping in the rain. We’ve spent a few rainy days in our camper being very thankful to have a solid roof over our heads.
2. Towing our camper has been easier than expected.
3. But backing the camper is tricky. It’s taken a year to get more comfortable with backing in to our driveway.
4. You need a crap ton of accessories to camp for the first time. Hoses, power cord, chocks, levelers…so many accessories.
5. RV dealerships love giving out swag. We got free Yeti cups and mugs when we bought our camper.
6. RV shows are the best way to shop around with no pressure. We went to three RV shows before setting on the camper we wanted.
7. Some RVs are nicer than my house (and more expensive). You can check out these luxury RVs at the shows with no sales pressure.
8. So glad we splurged on a model with a slide out dining area.
9. Prepping/packing/unpacking/cleaning takes more time than the actual camping trip. But I enjoy the process.
10. We prefer state parks to RV resorts. I’ll take shade and space over amenities any day.
11. Emptying the tanks at the dump station isn’t as nasty as I expected.
12. Thank the heavens for AC in RVs, especially since we live in the south. We can camp comfortably all summer. 
13. Leveling the camper causes most of our fights now that I’ve gotten the hang of backing it in.
14. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the best camping beer.
15. RVers are an extremely friendly group.
16. Neighbors almost always offer to help if they see you struggling.
17. The RV manual that camp with our camper is severely lacking in technical details. Like explaining where to install a television mount.
18. Thankfully the internet and YouTube have been a lifesaver for answering questions.
19. Kerr Lake State Park is beautiful but the water spigots are more than 100 feet away from some sites. Not a fun lesson to learn at 5:00 with a hungry toddler.
20. Falls Lake State Park is our home park. Just far enough away to feel like a destination but we don’t have to spend hours on the road.
21. Rocks and a puddle can entertain a toddler better than any toy.
22. Taking walks to look at the other RVs is a favorite activity to kill time.
23. We haven’t used the outdoor shower on our camper as much as I expected.
24. It’s worth the money to buy name-brand Command Strips unless you want to rehang everything that falls when you travel.
25. Twizzlers are the best camping candy.
26. Camper mattresses are better than sleeping on the ground, but are definitely improved with a memory foam topper.
27. Dogs that bark all day at the campground are aggravating.
28. Putting a cover on the camping is a 2-man job that involved me on the roof.
29. Be careful when walking on the roof because the vents are very fragile and easy to step through.
30. RV rood vent lids are an easy thing to replace, if needed.
31. Teaching my kid how to hike, build campfires, and look for bugs is what motherhood is all about for me.