top of page
The RV Beginners Guide
You've got the RV bug. Welcome to the club — no jackets, but plenty of opinions about sewer hoses.
I'm Squatch, and I've watched a lot of new RVers (me included, back in the day) learn things the hard way. You don't have to. This page is your one friendly starting point — every beginner guide I've written, in one spot, organized so you're not wading through a swamp of search results.
Still deciding between a travel trailer and a fifth wheel? Wondering why your RV has more batteries than your remote drawer? Trying to camp without hosting the local mice for dinner? Start here. No pressure, no pitch — just the stuff I wish somebody had handed me on day one.
Your First RV Trip: What to Actually Expect
Your first RV trip is equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking — and here's the secret: it won't be perfect, and that's the whole point. Squatch walks through what to actually expect (the setup dance, the strange first night, the inevitable fumble) so nothing catches you off guard. Printable first-trip game plan included.
How to Choose Your First Campground (A Beginner's Guide)
You've got the rig — now where do you go? Open a booking app and it's a wall of terms: full hookups, 30 amp, pull-through, FHU, primitive. Squatch translates the lingo so you can read a campground listing like a pro and book your first site with confidence. Printable checklist included.
The True Cost of RV Ownership: What Nobody Tells You Before You Buy
Let Squatch be the guy who tells you the truth, even though he sells these things: the sticker price is only half of what an RV really costs. This honest breakdown covers the ongoing and hidden costs — insurance, maintenance, storage, campgrounds, fuel, and depreciation — plus how to keep them all down. Printable budget worksheet included.
The RV Beginners Guide: Your Friendly Place to Start
Got the RV bug? Welcome to the club. Squatch's RV beginners guide is your one friendly place to start — the foundational guides on choosing a rig, towing, understanding your systems, and camping smart, organized so you're not wading through a swamp of search results. No pressure, no pitch — just day-one help.
RV Pre-Trip Checklist: What Every New Owner Should Check Before Hitting the Road
That "did I forget something?" feeling before you pull out? This is the cure. Squatch's pre-trip checklist for new RV owners walks you around the rig zone by zone — tires, hitch, lights, the all-important exterior walk-around, and more — with the why behind each. Includes a full printable checklist.
RV Weight Ratings Explained: GVWR, Payload & Towing Capacity in Plain English
GVWR, GCWR, payload, CCC — towing comes with a wall of acronyms that makes everyone's eyes cross. Squatch decodes RV weight ratings in plain English, shows you which numbers actually matter (hint: it's not the one you think), and how to make sure your truck and trailer are a safe match. Printable checklist included.
RV Air Conditioner Not Cooling? Here's Why (and How to Beat the Heat)
Camper feeling like a rolling oven? Before you panic, know this: an RV AC has real limits — and most "broken" units are just a dirty filter or maxed out by the heat. Squatch covers why your RV air conditioner isn't cooling, how to troubleshoot it, and the tricks to beat the heat. Printable checklist included.
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right RV Salesperson
Everyone obsesses over the rig — but who you buy it from matters just as much. Squatch shares the green flags and red flags of a great RV salesperson vs. one to avoid, so you can buy smart and stress-free. Helpful for any buyer, anywhere. Includes a printable green-flag/red-flag checklist.
So You've Decided to Live in Your RV Full Time: Here's What You Actually Need to Know
Caught the full-time bug? Before you sell the couch, read this. Squatch's honest guide to full-time RV living covers the decision, choosing a rig built for it, the real money picture, domicile and mail, downsizing, and the good AND the bad nobody's sunset photos show you. Big printable transition checklist included.
What Is an RV Inverter? (And Do You Actually Need One?)
Ever nod along when someone mentions an inverter while having no idea what it means? You're not alone. Squatch explains the RV inverter in plain English — what it does, how it's different from a converter, and the one simple question that tells you whether you actually need one. No jargon, promise.
How to Level an RV (and Stabilize It) at the Campsite — Without Making the Big Mistake
Think your stabilizer jacks also level your camper? They don't — and using them that way can bend your jacks and stress your frame. Squatch clears up the leveling-vs-stabilizing myth and walks new owners through doing both the right way at the campsite. Includes a printable setup checklist.
RV Slide Toppers: An Honest Take (Are They Worth the Upkeep?)
Slide toppers are great to have — and nobody mentions the upkeep at the sale. Squatch gives the honest take: what slide toppers actually do for you, the maintenance reality, how to care for them, and whether they're worth it for the way you camp. Straight talk, with a printable care checklist.
How to Winterize Your RV: A Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Your Camper
Skip winterizing and a hard freeze can crack your pipes, water heater, and pump — an expensive spring surprise. Squatch's step-by-step guide walks new owners through draining, bypassing the water heater, and running antifreeze through every fixture to protect your camper all winter. Printable checklist included.
13 Questions to Ask When Buying a Used RV (Before You Hand Over a Dime)
The first used camper I almost bought was hiding $4,000 of water damage under a throw rug. Here are the 13 questions that get the truth out of any seller — before you hand over a dime.
How to De-Winterize Your RV: A Step-by-Step Spring Checklist
Camping season's calling — but a rig that sat all winter needs to be woken up first. Squatch's step-by-step de-winterizing guide walks new owners through flushing the antifreeze, sanitizing the water system, checking for leaks and critters, and getting road-ready. Includes a full printable spring checklist.
How to Wash an RV: A Beginner's Guide to Keeping Your Camper Clean (the Right Way)
"Can I use a pressure washer? Is Dawn okay? What about these black streaks?" Squatch settles the great camper-washing debates with a beginner's guide to washing an RV the right way — the best methods, the specific cleaners to use and avoid, roof care, and the dos and don'ts. Printable wash checklist included.
RV Generators for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
Confused about RV generators? Squatch breaks it down for beginners: the types, how to size one (and whether it'll actually run your AC), fuel options, noise, and the carbon monoxide safety rules you absolutely cannot skip. Plus how a generator works alongside solar for off-grid power. Printable checklist included.
RV Hitches Explained: Bumper-Pull, 5th Wheel, Anti-Sway, and Everything In Between
The hitch is the most important connection in your whole towing setup — and one of the most misunderstood. Squatch explains RV hitches in plain English: bumper-pull, weight distribution, anti-sway, and 5th wheel setups, plus how to match the right one to your rig safely. Printable hitch-up checklist included.
Boondocking for Beginners: How to Start Off-Grid
Want to try boondocking but have no idea where to start? Squatch breaks down off-grid camping for total beginners: where to go (legally and free), how to manage your power, water, and waste, and how to stay safe and camp responsibly your first time out. Includes a printable checklist.
RV Tankless Water Heaters Explained: How They Work, Why They Go Cold, and Should You Upgrade
"Why won't my water get hot?!" Squatch does a deep dive on RV tankless water heaters: how they actually work, the quirks that make people think they're broken (hello, cold water sandwich), a step-by-step troubleshooting run-down, and an honest answer on whether upgrading is worth it for the way you camp.
bottom of page