RV Basics: 7 Essential Videos Every New RV Owner Should Watch

Learning the RV basics is the fastest way to feel at home in your new camper. The first night in an RV comes with questions. Which switch runs the water pump? Why are the lights on but the microwave is dead? We filmed a short video series to answer exactly those questions, and this guide puts all seven lessons in one place with written steps you can come back to anytime.

Each video was filmed inside a fifth wheel here at RV Depot in Cleburne, Texas. Your camper may not match it button for button, but these RV basics apply to most modern RVs.

Why the RV Basics Matter for Every New Owner

An RV is a house with its own power system, water system, and moving walls. Most worries new owners have come down to a few simple things: a tripped breaker, a battery disconnect left off, a slide with something in its path, or a tank valve left open. Knowing the RV basics lets you check those yourself in minutes and protect your investment.

If you are still getting your site ready, our step by step RV site setup guide and our printable RV setup checklist pair well with the lessons below.

RV Basics Lesson 1: Introduction and Auto Level Control

Run time 2:19

Many of the campers we sell come with an automatic leveling system, and leveling is the first of the RV basics you will use once the camper is parked.

How to Use Auto Level

1. Press the power button once. The touchpad will show that the system is ready.
2. Press the Auto Level button once. The system takes over from there and moves the jacks on its own.
3. Watch the red lights. Flashing red lights show which part of the camper is out of level. The computer moves the jacks until those lights clear.
4. Be patient. Pauses are normal, and the touchpad may say please wait. The process takes 30 seconds to two minutes, and the touchpad flashes auto level success when it is done.

RV Basics Lesson 2: Powering Your RV

Run time 8:18

Your RV runs on two separate electrical systems: 120 volt power from the pedestal or generator, and 12 volt power from the battery. Understanding both is one of the most useful RV basics you can learn.

Connecting to Shore Power at the Pedestal

1. Find the power inlet on the side of the camper and open the cover.
2. Insert your power cord, twist it to lock it, then tighten the securing ring into the inlet.
3. At the pedestal, plug the other end into the matching outlet. A 50 amp cord only fits the 50 amp outlet. Pedestals also offer 30 amp and 20 amp connections for campers with different cords.
4. Flip the pedestal breaker from off to on.
5. Head inside and check the microwave. If the microwave light or display is on, you have 120 volt power.

Finding and Checking the 12 Volt Battery

On most travel trailers and bumper pulls, the battery sits near the propane tanks on the front of the trailer, or in a front or side compartment. On fifth wheels, it is usually under the pin box.

Make sure both cables are attached and the nuts are snug. Then find the battery disconnect switch, usually near the front, and keep it on anytime you use the RV. If the camper will sit unused for more than a week, turn it off and unplug from the pedestal so nothing drains.

Running the Generator

Some campers come with a built in generator for times when no pedestal is available. Every generator is a little different, but the steps are similar.

1. Check your fuel. A propane generator needs the propane turned on. A gas generator needs gasoline.
2. Prime it. Press and hold the Prime button until the switch lights up, then release.
3. Start it. Press and hold Start until the generator fires up.
4. Turn on the generator breakers and replace the service cover.
5. Wait about 60 seconds. Most generators have a short time delay before power reaches the camper. Then check the microwave just like you did with shore power.

Many RVs also have an inside start and stop switch, often in the bedroom, kitchen, or near the control panel. Only run the generator when your shore power cord is not connected.

RV Basics Lesson 3: Sewage Connection

Run time 3:02

Done right, this RV basics chore takes just a few minutes and stays clean.

Hooking Up the Sewer Hose

1. Find the sewer drain cap, then twist and pull to remove it.
2. Place the sewer hose over the tabs on the drain outlet and twist until it locks, just like the cap did.
3. Secure the other end of the hose into the sewer connection in the ground.

Understanding Your Black and Gray Tanks

With the hose connected at both ends, pull the valve handle outward. When waste stops flowing, push it back in, then repeat with the other valve. Many owners dump black first and gray second so the gray water rinses the hose.

Having trouble with slow draining? Read our guide on what to do when your RV gray tank is not draining, and see our tips on keeping your RV odor free.

RV Basics Lesson 4: Main Control Panel

Run time 6:09

Your main control panel is the command center of the camper. Yours may have more or fewer buttons, but the purpose of each is similar from brand to brand.

Tank and Battery Monitors

Press and hold a monitor button such as Fresh, Black, Gray, or Battery, and the indicator lights show the level: empty, one third, two thirds, or full. Some campers have a second bathroom with its own black and gray tanks, and those will have their own buttons on the panel.

Water Pump

The water pump pulls water from your fresh tank. Only turn it on when you are not connected to a city water faucet and you want to use the water stored on board. Never run the pump with an empty fresh tank.

Water Heater Switches

Many water heaters run on electric and gas, with a switch for each. Water takes about 30 to 45 minutes to heat. Leaving the switches on will not hurt anything, but turning them off when you do not need hot water saves propane and electricity. For a deeper look, see our RV water heater guide.

Lights and Slide Switches

The panel usually includes a ceiling light switch for the living area and a clearance light switch for the exterior lights. It may also hold your slide switches. A slide box can weigh 300 to 1,000 pounds, so if one side moves faster than the other or the slide looks crooked, stop and look for what it is catching on.

RV Basics Lesson 5: Slide Out Operation

Run time 5:46

Slide outs give you extra living space, and these RV basics habits keep them working smoothly.

Before Bringing a Slide In

• Clear the floor. Check for rugs, toys, utensils, or open cabinet doors that could get lodged under the slide.
• Clear the slide roof. Use a ladder, a long broom, and a squeegee to remove debris and standing water, without walking on the slide roof. Otherwise water can end up on your floor and debris can keep the slide from sealing.
• Press and hold the In button for the full movement. If you hear loud scratching or grinding, let go and check for an obstruction.
• Check from outside. The slide should sit evenly against the sidewall from top to bottom. A small gap is normal, because the rubber bulb seal, usually about an inch thick, compresses to keep the weather out.

Before Running a Slide Out

• Walk around the camper. Check every slide, not just one, for awnings, trees, or pedestals in the way.
• Measure or use a spotter. Measure the slide travel, or have someone outside knock on the sidewall if it gets close to something.
• Press and hold the Out button until the slide seats against the wall, then release. From inside, reach behind the end wall and make sure the seal is compressed.

If a slide is acting up, our article on common RV slide out problems walks through the usual causes.

RV Basics Lesson 6: Breaker and Fuse Panel

Run time 4:24

When something stops working, the breaker and fuse panel is the first place to look. It holds both your 120 volt breakers and 12 volt fuses, and on most models you push the top of the cover and pull the lid down to open it.

Resetting a Tripped Breaker

The 120 volt breakers run across the top, labeled with what each one powers. A tripped breaker usually sits about halfway. To reset it, push it all the way down first, then push it back up until you hear it click.

Replacing a Blown 12 Volt Fuse

The 12 volt fuses sit beside the breakers, labeled for circuits like lighting, furnace, awning, and water pump. The most common RV fuse is 15 amp. Many panels show a red light next to a blown fuse. Take the old fuse to an auto parts store to match it, push the new one into the same slot, and the red light goes off.

RV Basics Lesson 7: Heat and AC Controls

Run time 3:45

The last of the RV basics lessons keeps you comfortable through a Texas summer and a January cold snap.

Using the Wall Thermostat

Most wall thermostats work like the one in a house. The bottom button turns the touchpad on and shows the inside temperature. Tap Mode to cycle through fan, cool, and heat, then use the arrows to set your temperature. The system shuts off once it gets there and kicks back on when it drifts.

For cooling, we recommend setting the mode to cool with the fan on auto and high speed.

Using a Non Ducted Ceiling AC

Non ducted units blow cool air straight down into the room and often have controls on the unit itself. Turn the knob to fan, low cool, or high cool, then use the thermostat knob, blue for cooler and red for warmer. In the Texas heat, most of our customers set it as cold as it goes.

Seeing water drip from your AC? Read why your RV AC is leaking inside. Getting ready for cold weather? Our winter RV living tips will help.

RV Basics Quick Reference: What to Check First

Most problems trace back to these simple RV basics checks.

For more beginner help, see our confidence building tips for new RV owners and our RV maintenance checklist for beginners.

RV Basics FAQ

What are the RV basics every new owner should learn first?

Leveling, connecting power, hooking up the sewer, reading the control panel, running the slides, resetting breakers and fuses, and using the thermostat. Those seven RV basics cover most of your day to day needs.

Why do my lights work but my microwave does not?

Your lights likely run on the 12 volt battery, while the microwave needs 120 volt power. Check the cord, the pedestal breaker, and the breakers inside.

Should I leave my black and gray tank valves open when I am hooked up?

No. Keep them closed until the tanks are full. Leaving them open lets liquids drain while solids stay behind, which can clog the system.

How long does auto leveling take?

Usually 30 seconds to two minutes. Pauses are normal while the system finds level, so give it time and watch for the success message on the touchpad.

Does every RV have the same controls?

No. Panels, switch locations, and generators vary by manufacturer. These RV basics videos cover the features most modern RVs share, and your unit’s manual will fill in the details for your model.

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