Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
We’ve made a lot of RV mistakes over the years… but these eight? They cost us a jaw-dropping $26,000.
In this episode, we’re getting real and sharing the costly, embarrassing, and sometimes downright scary mistakes we’ve made on the road, from a $16,000 fuel disaster to a tailgate crunch, a campsite mishap, and one very icy near-disaster that could have ended much worse.
The truth is, none of these were bad luck. Every single one was preventable.
If you’re new to RVing, or even if you’ve been doing it for years, these lessons could save you thousands of dollars, a whole lot of stress, and maybe even your safety.
Here’s what we cover:
• The $16,000 fueling mistake that forced us to replace our truck
• A simple hookup error that cost $7,000 in seconds
• Why rushing into a campsite can cost you big
• The embarrassing backing mistake in front of a crowd
• How ignoring the weather almost tipped our fifth wheel
• Why driving too far leads to costly decisions
• The checklist mistake that shattered a window
• The fuel habit that nearly left us stranded
And the big takeaway? RVing isn’t hard… but it is unforgiving if you’re not paying attention.
Learn from our mistakes so you don’t have to pay for them.
Also in this episode:
Travel tips to make your next trip smoother
Our RV Question of the Week, with a practical answer you can use right away to save on fuel costs (especially diesel)
A featured RV destination to inspire your next adventure- The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
The RV Trip Dashboard app we made - rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard
Our May 14 workshop on Fixing Problems on the Road - rvlifestyle.com/workshop
Departure Day Checklist - rvlifestyle.com//DepartureApp
The Great Lakes Shoreline Travel Guide - rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard
gasguddy.com
gasguru.com
truckerpath.com
rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard
Get a free quote from Wholesale Warranties: wholesalewarranties.com/rvlifestyle
Find unique overnight spots at farms, ranches, wineries, and more - use code RVLDEAL for 40% off - RVLifestyle.com/rvovernights
00:00 – Intro: Sharing 15 years of embarrassing (and expensive) mistakes
01:21 – New Tool: The RV Lifestyle Trip Dashboard
03:25 – Life Update: Getting ready for Michigan spring camping
04:10 – RV Protection: Wholesale Warranties
05:23 – The 8 Most Expensive RV Mistakes
06:10 – #1: Putting DEF in the diesel tank ($16,000)
09:29 – #2: Forgetting to put the tailgate down while unhooking ($7,000)
12:00 – #3: Rushing and clipping a utility pole ($2,000)
13:36 – #4: Backing in without a spotter/improper hitch use ($1,500)
17:05 – #5: Ignoring the weather (The Tennessee ice incident)
19:42 – #6: Driving too far/too fast (The 3:30 Rule)
21:35 – #7: Not using a departure checklist (The open window incident)
23:15 – #8: Not watching the fuel tank in rural areas
25:56 – Travel Tip: Unique stays with RV Overnights
27:15 – Trip of the Week: The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour
31:02 – Question 1: How to find hair stylists on the road
33:01 – Question 2: How to find the cheapest diesel fuel (App recommendations)
► If you want help planning and organizing your own RV trips, we have put all our guides, tools, RV travel apps and checklists together in one place.
You will find it all rvlifestyle.com/plan
Join our community: rvcommunity.com
Free camping guide: rvlifestyle.com/freecampingguide
RV Podcast: rvpodcast.com
Plan an RV trip: rvlifestyle.com/start
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and click the bell icon to be notified of new videos and our YouTube Live special reports from the cool places we visit on our RV adventures.
Please note this channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not simply sharing our opinions and what seems to work for us. You should do your own research and make your own decisions.
We’ve made a lot of RV mistakes over the years… but these eight? They cost us a jaw-dropping $26,000.
In this episode, we’re getting real and sharing the costly, embarrassing, and sometimes downright scary mistakes we’ve made on the road, from a $16,000 fuel disaster to a tailgate crunch, a campsite mishap, and one very icy near-disaster that could have ended much worse.
The truth is, none of these were bad luck. Every single one was preventable.
If you’re new to RVing, or even if you’ve been doing it for years, these lessons could save you thousands of dollars, a whole lot of stress, and maybe even your safety.
Here’s what we cover:
• The $16,000 fueling mistake that forced us to replace our truck
• A simple hookup error that cost $7,000 in seconds
• Why rushing into a campsite can cost you big
• The embarrassing backing mistake in front of a crowd
• How ignoring the weather almost tipped our fifth wheel
• Why driving too far leads to costly decisions
• The checklist mistake that shattered a window
• The fuel habit that nearly left us stranded
And the big takeaway? RVing isn’t hard… but it is unforgiving if you’re not paying attention.
Learn from our mistakes so you don’t have to pay for them.
Also in this episode:
Travel tips to make your next trip smoother
Our RV Question of the Week, with a practical answer you can use right away to save on fuel costs (especially diesel)
A featured RV destination to inspire your next adventure- The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
The RV Trip Dashboard app we made - rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard
Our May 14 workshop on Fixing Problems on the Road - rvlifestyle.com/workshop
Departure Day Checklist - rvlifestyle.com//DepartureApp
The Great Lakes Shoreline Travel Guide - rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard
gasguddy.com
gasguru.com
truckerpath.com
rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard
Get a free quote from Wholesale Warranties: wholesalewarranties.com/rvlifestyle
Find unique overnight spots at farms, ranches, wineries, and more - use code RVLDEAL for 40% off - RVLifestyle.com/rvovernights
00:00 – Intro: Sharing 15 years of embarrassing (and expensive) mistakes
01:21 – New Tool: The RV Lifestyle Trip Dashboard
03:25 – Life Update: Getting ready for Michigan spring camping
04:10 – RV Protection: Wholesale Warranties
05:23 – The 8 Most Expensive RV Mistakes
06:10 – #1: Putting DEF in the diesel tank ($16,000)
09:29 – #2: Forgetting to put the tailgate down while unhooking ($7,000)
12:00 – #3: Rushing and clipping a utility pole ($2,000)
13:36 – #4: Backing in without a spotter/improper hitch use ($1,500)
17:05 – #5: Ignoring the weather (The Tennessee ice incident)
19:42 – #6: Driving too far/too fast (The 3:30 Rule)
21:35 – #7: Not using a departure checklist (The open window incident)
23:15 – #8: Not watching the fuel tank in rural areas
25:56 – Travel Tip: Unique stays with RV Overnights
27:15 – Trip of the Week: The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour
31:02 – Question 1: How to find hair stylists on the road
33:01 – Question 2: How to find the cheapest diesel fuel (App recommendations)
► If you want help planning and organizing your own RV trips, we have put all our guides, tools, RV travel apps and checklists together in one place.
You will find it all rvlifestyle.com/plan
Join our community: rvcommunity.com
Free camping guide: rvlifestyle.com/freecampingguide
RV Podcast: rvpodcast.com
Plan an RV trip: rvlifestyle.com/start
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and click the bell icon to be notified of new videos and our YouTube Live special reports from the cool places we visit on our RV adventures.
Please note this channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not simply sharing our opinions and what seems to work for us. You should do your own research and make your own decisions.
