I Wish I'd Known on My First Trip

[Kudzu Asheville]

Hi All,

We are traveling to get our new Alto in less than a month and are just a wee bit excited.

I'm wondering if any of you have advice to share about things you wish you had known before you took your first trip.

Thanks!
leslie

Sent from my SM-G900V using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[David Tilston]

Watch your bearing temperatures. Especially at first. I bring an infrared laser thermometer, but if you are brave, your fingers work. Check at 15 minuets, one hour, and at every gas stop after. Warm is OK, HOT, not so much.

[Night Sailor]

Smoke followed by a wheel passing you on the highway is a good indicator also. That happened to me once.

[Flharleycop]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

Watch your bearing temperatures. Especially at first. I bring an infrared laser thermometer, but if you are brave, your fingers work. Check at 15 minuets, one hour, and at every gas stop after. Warm is OK, HOT, not so much.

What temps are considered warm and hot?

[Timber Wolf]

Originally Posted by Night Sailor

Smoke followed by a wheel passing you on the highway is a good indicator also. That happened to me once.

Couldn't have been going too fast if the wheel passed you. If the smoke caught up you were real slow!

[Steve L.]

Chock the trailer wheels BEFORE you unhitch.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Flharleycop

What temps are considered warm and hot?

Hot hurts. If smoking, no need to feel. It's hot.

If you are using a laser thermometer, about 100°C (212°F) or higher.

[padlin00]

Pre think getting in and out of the gas stations, look it over before it's too late.

[stevebaz]

torque the lugnuts before you leave then 10 miles down the road then again in about 50 miles. do this until you dont have to retorque them the second time. Sometimes new lug nuts and wheels take a little bit before they properly seat together. I recheck my lugnut torque just before every trip.

[Carol H]

Have a few:
1) Always put a pressure regulator on the water hose before connecting to the trailer.
2) Have enough levelling blocks
3) Chock the wheels of the trailer before disconnecting.
4) Have a 12V plug in battery monitor
5) Put a levelling block under the tongue wheel when parked on gravel or soft ground before dropping it down to stop it from sinking into the ground.

[accrete]

A second on torquing the lug nuts. We do our TV & TT before each road trip and also after arriving in camp.
& on chocking the rig before unhitching.


Remember to pack your favorite soul food I left my dark chocolate covered almonds at home last trip...the views weren't quite as serene.

[Dudley]

And yes you do need the stabilized jacks front and back before 2 of you hop in bed!

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Flharleycop

What temps are considered warm and hot?

If its to warm to comfortable put your hand over it, its hot!

[Robin G]

Hmmmmm, since I've been rv-ing in some form of "rv" since I was four the one thing I learned early on! Chill, sh!t happens! It's an rv.

No seriously . First and for most, take it slow! Excitement, schedules, traffic, etc can over take anyone. So until you get your bearing, take it slow.

Don't fall into the trap that you have to do every mod known to rv'ers! I say wait till you have rv'ed for a while, to make your rv......... YOURS!

Personally this is a biggie for me, It's camping! You don't have to shove every appliance, gadget, tools, etc etc etc into your rv. Having owned a rv park, That is one thing I saw, thousands of OVER STUFFED RV's! Really? If you have to have 40 bins/organizers in your rv, than your carrying way too much stuff!

Last but not least, it's suppose to be fun! Enjoy it..............

[David Tilston]

Third on checking the torque on the lug nuts:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...eel-53227.html

[Robin G]

As many have said, check your bearing/hubs for heat factor. As they also mentioned they can be hot, real hot if there is an issue. One thing I learned after I was in charge of checking my own, was to carry a canvas (sorry don't know what other to call it, other than canvas) Gloves. You can check your temps without grabbing a hot one! Let's just say, I learned the hard way......

The canvas glove protects your hand but allows you to know if it's hot or not. I just carry mine in the door compartment of my truck, grab them slip them on, feel the hubs!


Grabbing an overheated hub is like smacking your head getting out of the Casita. You only do it once to learn a valuable lesson!

[Bob Miller]

Every time you stop for gas and anytime you leave your rig unattended, check the hitch and the drawbar pin & lock.

Always carry a small set of tools and a voltmeter. You may not be able to fix things, but the person that stops to help may be able to with the right tools. I know about a $500+ towing bill that could have been avoided with a 10mm wrench.

[Kudzu Asheville]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I look forward to reading any more that you'd like to share.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[padlin00]

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

[Night Sailor]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

torque the lugnuts before you leave then 10 miles down the road then again in about 50 miles. do this until you dont have to retorque them the second time. Sometimes new lug nuts and wheels take a little bit before they properly seat together. I recheck my lugnut torque just before every trip.

I used to over tighten my lug nuts. Now I put them on snug and grease the threads for easier removal like the racers do. Never had one loosen up yet.