(Learn from the road-tested mistakes of those who’ve lived it—so you don’t repeat them.)

After 100,000 miles, a few cracked windshields, four sets of tires, and more dump station stops than I care to admit—I’ve got some thoughts. Regrets, actually.

Not the “RV life isn’t for me” kind of regrets. No, I’m talking about the small choices that made big differences—bad buys, poor setups, or rookie decisions that still haunt me in oddly specific ways.

Here’s what I’d never do again, now that I know better.

❌ 1. Buying the Fancy Grill That Doesn’t Fit Anywhere

I thought I needed the Cadillac of portable grills. It turns out I needed something that didn’t take up half the pass-through storage and required its own hitch mount.

Regret: Oversized gear that’s rarely used.
Lesson: Buy for use, not looks.

⚡ 2. Skipping the Lithium Battery Upgrade

I told myself, “Lead-acid is fine. It works.” Sure—until we started boondocking, and I had to babysit voltage levels like a toddler with a sugar high.

Regret: Not upgrading sooner.
Lesson: Lithium pays for itself in sanity.

💩 3. Putting Off Tank Maintenance

“Flush the tanks every now and then. It’ll be fine.” Spoiler: It was not fine. That sensor hasn’t read accurately since 2019.

Regret: Neglecting the black tank.
Lesson: Just treat your tanks like royalty.

🚿 4. Buying a Water Softener… Then Never Using It

It sounded smart in theory. In practice? It sat in the storage bay like a very awkward bowling ball I never wanted to hook up.

Regret: Buying too many “just in case” accessories.
Lesson: If it’s not easy to use, it won’t be used.

🧰 5. Not Checking Roof Seals Often Enough

One day, it rained. The next day, it dripped. The day after that? I found the source—a tiny crack that had probably been there for months.

Regret: Assuming no news = good news.
Lesson: Inspect it all, often.

Final Thoughts

After 100,000 miles, I can tell you this: RVing is awesome—but the mistakes are real. And if you’re smart? You’ll learn them before they’re yours.

🐟 Want to avoid your own regrets? Use Campground Views to preview parks, fit your rig, and find sites that don’t create new “learning experiences.”

🔗 Follow us for more real-world RV tips, gear insights, and brutally honest lessons from the road.