Tips for Newbies.

[Roger C H]

My tip would be to be sure to buy and use a water pressure regulator. We were eating lunch outside our rig one day when we suddenly heard the sound of water running. The high pressure from the campsite had caused a hose to pop off. Luckily we were right there and there was no damage beyond sopping up some water. I shudder to think what would have happened had we been out for a walk.

Anyone else have a cautionary tale for the newest members of our club?

[james kent]

After damaging some electrical equipment, I also carry a small, simple, voltage tester with three lights on it that tells me that the campground has the polarity and ground correct.

[Vickie B.]

Great thread---keep the tips coming--I'll be putting them in a notebook!

James--I had read about that tester in an RV book. I wondered how necessary it was---now I know!!!!!

[Donna D.]

My tip for brand spanking molded fiberglass trailer owners, is to camp the first (and maybe second) night either in your driveway or someplace really close to home. You'll learn alot about your "needs" and what you forgot (your toothbrush) and it helps you to build your personal checklist. Nothing like being 2 hours away from home in the forest and find out your forgot to pack... socks or matches to light the stove.

[Roger C H]

After damaging some electrical equipment, I also carry a small, simple, voltage tester with three lights on it that tells me that the campground has the polarity and ground correct.

James
That is an excellent idea. Do they come for 30 Amp connectors?
Another electrical tip: turn off the power at the utility bush before plugging in.

[james kent]

[Dave Bese]

Safety chains!! If you buy used; replace the chains. When stored, do not let the hook and chain lie on the ground. When connected; the chains have to cross under the hitch. Do not twist the chains to take up slack; shorten them.

[Brian Van Snell]

I suggest reading Frederick's checklist:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/files/checklist8.pdf

In leaving a campsite I recently hitched up and forgot to check that the coupler had fully dropped onto the ball and was locked. Several miles along something didn't feel right, so I stopped and corrected this error. This could have been serious!

There are a lot of little things that need to be done right!

Brian

[Jane P.]

I recently learned this the hard way. If you have installed and engaged your stabilizer jacks, be sure to fully loosen them before you try to hitch up your trailer to your TV.

[Jane P.]

Safety chains!! If you buy used; replace the chains. When stored, do not let the hook and chain lie on the ground. When connected; the chains have to cross under the hitch. Do not twist the chains to take up slack; shorten them.

Dave, my trailer service shop taught me to twist the chains to take up slack. What is the problem with that approach?

[Roger C H]

Here is how to shorten your chain

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh8...catalogId=10053

[Frederick L. Simson]

I suggest reading [b]Frederick's checklist:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/files/checklist8.pdf

There are a lot of little things that need to be done right!

I will be teaching a class at The Oregon Gathering:
<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">"How to Write Your Trailer's Operating Instructions: Deciding What Comes Next?" by Frederick S.
Create (or update) your own personalized checklist for setting up and breaking camp. </span>

I update mine after every modification I make to the trailer, and am now on version 9.0!

[Terry G]

My tip would be to always shut off your water pump and flush your toilet a couple times before heading down the rough dirt road.

[Greg A]

Camp
Camp
and then camp some more.

You don't learn what you need in storage.

[Keith Williams]

Here is how to shorten your chain

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh8...catalogId=10053

Good one, Roger, why didn't I think of that? I've a couple of those in my "stuff". I still don't see what's wrong with twisting the chains, except it could put undoe stress on a link if there was a problem. The main advantage to your link, is that you could customize the chain liength without having to twist them every time. I like it.

Keith

[Jane P.]

Good one, Roger, why didn't I think of that? I've a couple of those in my "stuff". I still don't see what's wrong with twisting the chains, except it could put undoe stress on a link if there was a problem. The main advantage to your link, is that you could customize the chain liength without having to twist them every time. I like it.

Keith

Roger & Keith:
I still don't understand why twisting the chains is problematic.

Very curious to learn more.

JMP

[Chester Taje]

From my experiance in coal mining, when a chain is being used to pull and its twisted you develope a weak link or links and it losses its strength real fast. It can break when you need it the most.

[Roger C H]

At our last campout at a RV park which will remain nameless, I drew some water into a 1/2 gal juice bottle and observed what I initially thought were several pieces of bark in the water. Upon closer inspection, I discovered they were bugs!!!

They were springtails or some such apparently in the spigot for the water. How many times did I just hook up to shore water without checking? I shudder to think.

In the future, I will ALWAYS run the water and sanitize the spigot.

[melissab]

I'm wondering if this is ok for shortening chains in a pinch. We used those large plastic zip ties through the links on our popup camper. That way if we did accidentally turned a little short (especially when learning to back) the zip ties would pop and I'd have the extra chain length needed to complete the manuver. Having only used the popup 3 times before selling we were not exactly sure how much chain we really needed so didnt want to permanently shorten them till we knew. I'm just wondering if this was an ok thing to do and if we could do it on our Egg until we figure out how long we need the chains then get the quick link from Home Depot Roger linked to. Zip ties area dime a dozen and you know if you pop them your chain needs to be let out more.

[Chester Taje]

Originally Posted by Roger C H

At our last campout at a RV park which will remain nameless, I drew some water into a 1/2 gal juice bottle and observed what I initially thought were several pieces of bark in the water. Upon closer inspection, I discovered they were bugs!!!

They were springtails or some such apparently in the spigot for the water. How many times did I just hook up to shore water without checking? I shudder to think.

In the future, I will ALWAYS run the water and sanitize the spigot.

I allways run water for a few seconds before attaching the hose.