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first time travel trailer owners
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larrygranny1
Turk2500
Frank P. Martin
Wiscampsin
winbadgers
Mike
ellen and shawn
11 posters
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first time travel trailer owners
We are waiting on our trailer to be built by Jayco and I have plenty of questions when it comes to being ready to go camping.
Do you typically keep all of your bedding, bathroom supplies, etc. in the trailer at all times? We always tent camped and I packed up household items to take with us.
Do you keep a set of dishes , pots and pans, etc. in there?
We saw toilet paper in an rv store. Do you have to use a certain kind or can you use store bought?
Tire chocks (don't know if the spelling is correct) Do they come with the trailer or do you buy them seperate somewhere?
When packing items such as dishes in the trailer how do you secure things so they don't move around as you are traveling?
I'm sure there will be more things I can think of later but I just want to start getting things I need so we are ready to go camping once our 32bhds is built.
We will not be keeping our trailer at our home due to our alley being to steep to pull it up and our drive out front and street is too narrow to back it in. A friend of ours is letting us use his place to keep the trailer at. I just want to spare myself as much time as necessary preparing for camping as possible.
Thanks for any input!
Do you typically keep all of your bedding, bathroom supplies, etc. in the trailer at all times? We always tent camped and I packed up household items to take with us.
Do you keep a set of dishes , pots and pans, etc. in there?
We saw toilet paper in an rv store. Do you have to use a certain kind or can you use store bought?
Tire chocks (don't know if the spelling is correct) Do they come with the trailer or do you buy them seperate somewhere?
When packing items such as dishes in the trailer how do you secure things so they don't move around as you are traveling?
I'm sure there will be more things I can think of later but I just want to start getting things I need so we are ready to go camping once our 32bhds is built.
We will not be keeping our trailer at our home due to our alley being to steep to pull it up and our drive out front and street is too narrow to back it in. A friend of ours is letting us use his place to keep the trailer at. I just want to spare myself as much time as necessary preparing for camping as possible.
Thanks for any input!
ellen and shawn- Number of posts : 14
Location : Northern Indiana
Current Rig : soon to have 09 32bhds
Registration date : 2009-03-25
Re: first time travel trailer owners
Welcome to the forum!
Do you typically keep all of your bedding, bathroom supplies, etc. in the trailer at all times? Yes it is much more convenient to have everything in there
We saw toilet paper in an rv store. Do you have to use a certain kind or can you use store bought? any "septic safe" paper should work but I do buy the RV specific. I have a 4 yr. old daughter who uses too much paper and with plain old "septic safe" paper the sensors were clogging so I just buy RV paper now and have had no issues
Tire chocks (don't know if the spelling is correct) Do they come with the trailer or do you buy them seperate somewhere? they do not come with I bought mine at Wal mart but the dealer will have them too
When packing items such as dishes in the trailer how do you secure things so they don't move around as you are traveling? you could, but I haven't had an issue using the cabinet over the sink. I only have a couple sets of plates, etc. we usually just use Dixie with a pop-a Plate holder.
seeing that you are new I'll cover a few other things too
you are going to want to use chemicals in both your "grey water" (sink and shower) and "Black water" (toilet) tanks. there are many options and they all are fine, just make sure you use enough otherwise dumping will not be a pleasant experience. one not one the black water chemical is to look for one that is not only a deodorant but breaks down the waste and paper as well. I use Aqua Kem powder personally but you can use whatever you would like. You may also want to use a gauge level cleaner periodically if you notice problems with the gauges reading off .
One item that can be overlooked for a newbie is an awning tie down kit. if you're camping and the wind picks up you can use this to secure your awning. it's nice to have in the TT if you ever need it
other items
awning mat
outside garbage container (they have pop up ones that store great and work awesome)
bring some boards along for leveling situations and some wood blocks for your crank down jacks
I'm sure more will come to me
Do you typically keep all of your bedding, bathroom supplies, etc. in the trailer at all times? Yes it is much more convenient to have everything in there
We saw toilet paper in an rv store. Do you have to use a certain kind or can you use store bought? any "septic safe" paper should work but I do buy the RV specific. I have a 4 yr. old daughter who uses too much paper and with plain old "septic safe" paper the sensors were clogging so I just buy RV paper now and have had no issues
Tire chocks (don't know if the spelling is correct) Do they come with the trailer or do you buy them seperate somewhere? they do not come with I bought mine at Wal mart but the dealer will have them too
When packing items such as dishes in the trailer how do you secure things so they don't move around as you are traveling? you could, but I haven't had an issue using the cabinet over the sink. I only have a couple sets of plates, etc. we usually just use Dixie with a pop-a Plate holder.
seeing that you are new I'll cover a few other things too
you are going to want to use chemicals in both your "grey water" (sink and shower) and "Black water" (toilet) tanks. there are many options and they all are fine, just make sure you use enough otherwise dumping will not be a pleasant experience. one not one the black water chemical is to look for one that is not only a deodorant but breaks down the waste and paper as well. I use Aqua Kem powder personally but you can use whatever you would like. You may also want to use a gauge level cleaner periodically if you notice problems with the gauges reading off .
One item that can be overlooked for a newbie is an awning tie down kit. if you're camping and the wind picks up you can use this to secure your awning. it's nice to have in the TT if you ever need it
other items
awning mat
outside garbage container (they have pop up ones that store great and work awesome)
bring some boards along for leveling situations and some wood blocks for your crank down jacks
I'm sure more will come to me
Re: first time travel trailer owners
All good comments Mike.
A few others I would like to add.
-First of all welcome!
-When dumping, always drain your black tank first and then your grey tank. The gray water will help rinse the sewer hose after the black tank has drained. Do it in the other order and it is rather unpleasant.
-Install level indicators on your new camper. Being able to quickly see if the camper is level and how much height you need to add to a certain side drastically reduces leveling time.
-Make sure you always do a walk around after you are hitched up and ready to roll. It is sooooooo easy to forget things as lowering your TV antenna, forgetting to connect safety chains or breakaway device or forgetting to fold up and raise your steps.
-Practice backing your RV at a quiet, empty, parking lot before your first trip. Set-up cones for something to back between. This also gives your signaler a chance to practice communicating with the driver. It is a lot easier to master without feeling like all the other campsites are "watching" you try and backup for the firsttime. Believe me, they will be able to tell it is your family's first time if you don't practice first.
A few others I would like to add.
-First of all welcome!
-When dumping, always drain your black tank first and then your grey tank. The gray water will help rinse the sewer hose after the black tank has drained. Do it in the other order and it is rather unpleasant.
-Install level indicators on your new camper. Being able to quickly see if the camper is level and how much height you need to add to a certain side drastically reduces leveling time.
-Make sure you always do a walk around after you are hitched up and ready to roll. It is sooooooo easy to forget things as lowering your TV antenna, forgetting to connect safety chains or breakaway device or forgetting to fold up and raise your steps.
-Practice backing your RV at a quiet, empty, parking lot before your first trip. Set-up cones for something to back between. This also gives your signaler a chance to practice communicating with the driver. It is a lot easier to master without feeling like all the other campsites are "watching" you try and backup for the firsttime. Believe me, they will be able to tell it is your family's first time if you don't practice first.
winbadgers- Number of posts : 60
Location : West Bend, Wisconsin
Current Rig : 2006 Jayco 27 BH
Registration date : 2009-03-11
Re: first time travel trailer owners
Besides what others have mentioned, pick up a water pressure regulator, white fresh water hose, and a 30 Amp extension cord. All available from Walmart. Get some step rugs for your steps too as those metal steps can get slippery when wet.
Wiscampsin- Number of posts : 42
Location : Wisconsin
Current Rig : 2008 Jayco Eagle 314 BHDS
Registration date : 2009-02-27
towing mirrors
Our Suburban has standard mirrors? Any thoughts on where we can get some extended mirrors for towing? I have went online and seen some you can slide over the ones you have but wasn't too sure they would work. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.
Thanks
Thanks
ellen and shawn- Number of posts : 14
Location : Northern Indiana
Current Rig : soon to have 09 32bhds
Registration date : 2009-03-25
Re: first time travel trailer owners
For towing Mirrors I use CIPA slip on mirrors. they rattle a bit but work well. I also second the step carpets.
Re: first time travel trailer owners
ellen and shawn wrote:Our Suburban has standard mirrors? Any thoughts on where we can get some extended mirrors for towing? I have went online and seen some you can slide over the ones you have but wasn't too sure they would work. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.
Thanks
Consider getting a pair of McKesh mirrors. They work great, easy on/easy off.
Here's a link:
http://www.hensleymfg.com/mckeshmirrors.html
Wiscampsin- Number of posts : 42
Location : Wisconsin
Current Rig : 2008 Jayco Eagle 314 BHDS
Registration date : 2009-02-27
Re: first time travel trailer owners
If you don't already have the large extendable truck mirrors, I vote for the McKesh mirrors. They extend further out and will make a whole world of difference in seeing what's behind you. I've had mine since I bought the TT. Another plus is that the passenger side mirror is a real mirror and not a convex mirror that distorts everything. Once you get mirrors setup, they can be put on or removed in seconds.
I strongly recommend buying roll(s) of that rubbery shelf liner (I'm not sure if there's an official name for it) and lining all your shelves with it to help keep things from sliding around. I also cut sheets and place them between nesting pots/pans/coffee cups, underneath the Television, DVD/VCR player and anything else that might slide around or rub.
Pieces of Velcro between the walls and whatever you hang on them help keep them straight and from falling off the wall when in transit.
Some spring-loaded refrigerator bars will corral those loose items in your refrigerator (we even use one keep our DVD/VCR player and remote controls from "jumping" out of the shelf under the television while we're traveling).
Buy a good book on survival/first aid and keep it in your camper ...just in case. I have one in mine but I can't remember the title/author. It even contains information like how to identify animals and their tracks, snakes, birds, insects, spiders, building fires and much, much more. It's well worth the investment. Most kids will love looking at all the pictures, drawings and such and will obtain a wealth of knowledge about the outdoors in general.
I strongly recommend buying roll(s) of that rubbery shelf liner (I'm not sure if there's an official name for it) and lining all your shelves with it to help keep things from sliding around. I also cut sheets and place them between nesting pots/pans/coffee cups, underneath the Television, DVD/VCR player and anything else that might slide around or rub.
Pieces of Velcro between the walls and whatever you hang on them help keep them straight and from falling off the wall when in transit.
Some spring-loaded refrigerator bars will corral those loose items in your refrigerator (we even use one keep our DVD/VCR player and remote controls from "jumping" out of the shelf under the television while we're traveling).
Buy a good book on survival/first aid and keep it in your camper ...just in case. I have one in mine but I can't remember the title/author. It even contains information like how to identify animals and their tracks, snakes, birds, insects, spiders, building fires and much, much more. It's well worth the investment. Most kids will love looking at all the pictures, drawings and such and will obtain a wealth of knowledge about the outdoors in general.
Frank P. Martin- Number of posts : 37
Location : Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Current Rig : 2000 Jayco Eagle 266 FBS
Registration date : 2009-02-26
Re: first time travel trailer owners
Add to the list a digital camera. Capture the camping adventures for future reference and albums. Also, post a photo of your first campsite experience.
Turk2500
Turk2500
Turk2500- Number of posts : 33
Location : S.E. Michigan
Current Rig : '05' Eagle 278 FBS
Registration date : 2009-02-27
Thanks to all
Thanks to everyone who has been giving me such great tips for a successful camping season. We found out today that we should be getting our TT 1st or 2nd week of May at the latest. Keep sending those helpful hints. I have a notebook I have been writing them in so I have them handy.
ellen and shawn- Number of posts : 14
Location : Northern Indiana
Current Rig : soon to have 09 32bhds
Registration date : 2009-03-25
new rig
My suggestion is to keep it loaded!!!!lol. We keep ours loaded, beds made etc. we also keep a basic issue of clothes in it also. when it is time to hit the raod it is a quick move to add food and go. I would also suggest that when using the commode, use plenty of water. Our routine is One bowl for #1 and two full bowls for #2's. we do not use chem 's of any type anymore. Lots of wayer and Dawn dishwashing soap. we don't get any oders anymore. Had a problem when we went down the road we always had sewer smell. We dump our taNKS , ADD HOT WATER (ABOUT 3 GALS) ADD A CUP OF DAWN AND GO DOWN THE ROAD. iT WASHES OUT THE BLACK AND GRAY TANKS AS WE MOVE. UPON ARRIVAL AT NEW LOCATION, HOOK UP THE SEWER LINES AND DUMP. OPPS sorry for the caps. hit the wrong button. After dumping we put in fresk clean hot water. Hot water is easy to get. our shower is next to the commode. Enjoy your jayco. we love ours and use it as much as possible.
larrygranny1- Number of posts : 12
Location : El Paso, Tx
Current Rig : 25'Jayco with Slideout
Registration date : 2009-02-26
Re: first time travel trailer owners
Keep a pen or pencil and a notebook handy to write down those "wouldn't it be cool" ideas for modifying the trailer and for writing down supplies that need to be replaced before the next trip.
tnscoutr- Number of posts : 11
Age : 61
Location : Memphis, TN
Current Rig : 2004 Jayflight 27BH
Registration date : 2009-02-27
Re: first time travel trailer owners
tnscoutr just stole my idea...lol
We keep a pad and paper to write down things we forgot. We bought a magnetic pad that we hang on our stove fan. One of our favorite sayings is 'put it on the list'...lol
We keep everything in our trailer, including food. As soon as we get home, we plug the trailer in so the fridge keeps everything cold. We also keep all the bedding, and pots and pans in the trailer. All we really bring is more food and clothes. We bought bins from the dollar store that fit in the clothing cabinets, and just load them in the house and drop them in the cabinets...
We keep a pad and paper to write down things we forgot. We bought a magnetic pad that we hang on our stove fan. One of our favorite sayings is 'put it on the list'...lol
We keep everything in our trailer, including food. As soon as we get home, we plug the trailer in so the fridge keeps everything cold. We also keep all the bedding, and pots and pans in the trailer. All we really bring is more food and clothes. We bought bins from the dollar store that fit in the clothing cabinets, and just load them in the house and drop them in the cabinets...
ralphthedog- Number of posts : 12
Current Rig : 2002 Ram 1500 Quad 4x4 2008 Jayflight 28BHS
Registration date : 2009-03-06
Re: first time travel trailer owners
Keep your trailer stocked like your house. My wife does. Just make sure you look at everything that pertains to the trailer and figure out how it works. Make sure your boiler has water in it before turning it on. Get advice about your battery and converter and figure out how it works. Always put safety first when towing. We use plastic glasses that look and feel like glass. Less weight. Put panty hose around your floor registers to stop things from getting in the ducts. Get a cap for the hitch ball or you will be sorry. Make sure your awing is secure before towing. And the most important thing is to visit this forum often. No question is too stupid!! I always visit an RV forum first before asking a dealer. Nothing beats experience!!! Have fun.
Jacobsboy- Number of posts : 4
Location : St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Current Rig : 2003 Jayco Qwest 294J
Registration date : 2009-04-23
Re: first time travel trailer owners
Try to make a complete list of the things you will be needing; try also to consider the number of days. For the meantime, you can just place all your plates, glasses and other kitchen utensils in a box (with papers), just arrange them when you reach your destination. Have a safe and happy camping!
cofon- Number of posts : 2
Current Rig : none
Registration date : 2010-11-09
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