I Wish I'd Known on My First Trip

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by padlin00

Always do a walk around when you are ready to leave home or a camp site.

And be sure to peek underneath the trailer to find out what the kids left under there or what blew in with the wind. I leave the handle I use on the jacks UNDER the trailer when I arrive so I have to look under the trailer in order to leave.

Charlie Y

[Francesca Knowles]

Maiden voyage should be mostly devoted to learning to handle towing the trailer. Pay close attention to tongue weight proportions, get your hitch set up properly, read/understand all trailer brake instructions, and listen to the combination when you're going down the road. Don't attempt speeds higher than 50 until you're comfortable with reacting/responding to the cues the trailer gives you to varying circumstances on the road.

[Mike Magee]

I made a check list of things to do before breaking camp, and for the first year or two I made sure I checked everything on the list before pulling out. It takes a while to form correct habits. Example of things for your list:
Unhook water hose
Unhook power cord
Stow wheel chocks
Lower antenna
Raise stabilizer jacks
Make sure all windows are closed... etc.

You should buy 2 white fresh water hoses. 1 is occasionally not long enough. You need a water pressure regulator on the end of the hose before it goes into your trailer. If the power plug is a 30 amp, you need to buy a 30A to 20A adapter (not every place has a 30A receptacle). Carry 2 extension cords, just in case (same as water).

[Scouter Dave]

If you have to use your hand to check [almost any heat source] use the back of your fingers. This way if there is enough heat to cause a physical reaction your fingers will naturally curl inwards toward your palm and away from the heat source when you jerk your hand away. Think about it.
Scouter Dave

[Scouter Dave]

Make a pre-departure check list and use it until it becomes habit.
Lights [all functions] (I check mine at every stop too)
Ball and hitch
Locks and safety pins
Chains
Propane off
Hatches secured
Etc.
And, after you pull away, stop, get out and go back to the site and check the area where your rig was sitting.
Good luck with the new rig.... Scouter Dave

[AlanKilian]

I set the cruise control on 55, stayed in the slow lane and put 70's funk on Pandora and we had a great time.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[Paul O.]

Here is my checklist. Some of it will be simplified eventually, but when I was starting last year with *no* experience, I decided to be anal about it. Some of it was updated after driving on a few really rough roads - like the straps to keep the fridge and oven closed.

Scamp hitching checklist:
1. Raise rear stabilizer jacks.
2. Hitch - lower tailgate to intermediate angle using the special hook.
3. Align white line and back straight in, raise tailgate and check ball alignment.
4. Lower onto ball, secure latch with padlock.
5. Safety chains, crosswise.
6. Stash the crank.
7. Connect vehicle power (7-pin round).
8. Raise front jacks, pull pins, raise lower part, re-insert and secure pins.
9. Shut off gas on both cylinders.
10. Check all lights.
11. Check tire pressure and wear, spare pressure.
12. Disconnect all outside connections and secure.
13. Close and latch windows, vents, close bathroom door. Secure drawers.
14. Take down the table.
15. Put fridge in travel mode (turn OFF) and secure stuff inside. Secure fridge door with strap.
16. Secure oven door with strap, set range wire rack on floor.
17. Turn faucets and appliances off, including water pump.
18. Put stuff inside into crates on the floor. Do not cover power converter.
19. Secure screen door, lock the door, tie the string and retract the step.

[Kudzu Asheville]

These are great everyone! Thank you! My list of things to bring/remember is getting longer.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[Kelly H]

I know there are some hilarious stories (in hindsight) to many of these suggestions.

[Paul O.]

Yes, there are. Leaving Chaco Canyon, NM this March, after five miles of bedrock road (not even gravel), I stopped at the start of pavement to check the damage. The fridge stuff all over the floor, the oven door half off, hinges bent, the exhaust hood hanging by the wires (some broken) and a few other minor deviations from normal. I spent an hour fixing things, but I can laugh about it now! It was also supposed to be a "spring" trip, but it was much more "winter". Heck - it was a great trip overall.

[honda03842]

Paul O.

We love Chaco. Definitely one of the best places to camp.

[Paul O.]

This was the first time we camped there. Our two previous visits were one day affairs, with stays in Best Westerns and such. Both access roads (northeast and south) were always bad, but the northeast road was especially bad this year, we were told. And, we had to leave before the opening of their summer stargazing program...
It is an awesome place and we hope to make it back again.

[kingjac]

Dudley,
We have a 17ft Boler and will be going camping in it the first time. We learned the hard way, why you need a jack in the back. I've been trying to figure out how many jacks we need in total since we've never gone RVing. Why do you need some in the front-won't the tongue stabilize it? How many stabilizing jacks do you need-two or four?
Jackie

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by kingjac

How many stabilizing jacks do you need-two or four?

Depends on how frisky you get. Two in the back, and one on the tongue, is standard.

[Robin G]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

Depends on how frisky you get. .

Fiberglassrv.com needs a like button! Cause that is funny!


Seriously, I have rarely and I mean rarely used my jacks. Been in this site 3 nights and I haven't used them. I am headed to the beach thrusday and will be there 7 days so will use them, because more people will be in and out. But really I hate putting them down and up. Mine aren't easy to get up!

[Donna D.]

Alto? This is a brand of all molded towble I'm not familiar with.

[Kudzu Asheville]

No Donna. We began by looking for a fiberglass trailer, but in the end we went with another type of lightweight trailer. See Alto Travel trailers by Safari Condo . This group has been kind enough to let me continue as a participant, which I greatly appreciate. Apart from the fiberglass aspect, many of the small/lightweight trailer issues are similar.

[papa-t]

If your dry camping. Fill the water tank before you set up at your site. Or carry a water jug. Get a water thief
for filling up. Comes in handy. I never used one until I sold my big rig and downsized to the FG.