Towing TT - Nebie widsom needed

We will make it fun and take our time learning and enjoying the new camper. We are planning the next few months and plan to get out more often than not.

 

No Generator at this time. I'm curious to see if the solar and dual battery setup with the 1000w inverter will be enough. I doubt it would be enough if we want to run the AC etc most of the day. Figured we would try it out and buy a generator when or if needed. I have not heard about Purging the heater. Just looking it up now.

 

Do you think a surge protector and water pressure regulator are good ideas or not necessary?

I keep think about the WDH. My TT is 3,513 lbs and payload is 942. Total - 4,455. Hitch weight is 455. Manual says a WDH is not needed until over 5,000 lbs. Do you think it's a good idea? Opinions on reversing with a WDH? Thanks

 

Why would the heater fail? I’ve owned several TT’s and MH’s and never had the heater fail as long as I had propane.

 

Make sure the other person on the other end knows their job. You both need to agree on a language.
Your spotter needs to focus on the trailer, you need to look out for your truck. Get out and look around before backing up.
If you're not aware of your surroundings when cutting a sharp turn you can easily clip a post, tree or rock with your truck because you were hyper-focused on the trailer. Trust them to do their job.

For my and my wife, we agreed on left or right as looking from the back of the trailer forward. She would tell me "left", which meant the ass end of the trailer needed to go left. If you keep your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, the direction the trailer needs to move translates to the same direction you need to turn the steering wheel.

As for tow mirrors, check your laws. My state requires them.

Other advice:
Know where your jack points are. Pack appropriate jacks, lug wrenches, etc..... your stabilizer jacks aren't meant to lift the trailer.

Bring along a drill or impact for your stabilizer jacks.

If you're at a park with full hookups, don't hook your sewer line up with your dump valve open or you'll learn about something called "pyramiding", where your poop stacks and dries on itself.

Also check to make sure your dump valve is closed before opening the drain. Always assume there's a little sewage between the valve and cap.

Drain your black water first, then gray. The gray water will kind of clean the hose out.

 

Thanks for your advice and time! These are all great tips.

 

JC, I would use a WDH with sway control on travel trailers over 15 ft. I lost control of my 16 ft Nomad trailer 25 yrs ago going down some steep mountain turns. I wasn't using a WDH with sway control.

Also if your planning to dry camp in the spring or fall, you can kill your two trailer batteries in two cold nights even with 100w solar panels. I found having a honda 2200eu generator is good insurance.

 

If you go to a park with full hookups, then a water pressure regulator is cheap insurance and a filter is worth it since you don’t know the quality of the water. I don’t use a surge protector, never had. I’m sure it will catch up to me someday.

I have no issues backing up with a WDH. I would recommend using one because I don’t like the sag in the rear or the feeling of loose steering in the front when loaded up.

I don’t have a generator, but it’s because I usually camp at a place with electric hookups.

Get some Andersen levelers or the equivalent camco ones. They make leveling side to side so much easier.

 

Mostly remote camping. We like getting away and not having many neighbors. Planning a trip once a year with the in laws and they go to parks with hook ups. Also will take a few road trips and may stop somewhere with hook ups once in a while. Might as well get one to avoid the potential headache.

 

Thanks for the advice. Water regulators are cheaper than having a bigger problem. The wife likes the filter idea. I have added it to the cart.

 

Apparently, you should carry a spare socket/bit with your impact drill (for your support jacks), as I found out today. Basically, if you're anything like me, if it's inexpensive buy two of all things. Because even if you don't break "it", you'll spend half your damn trip looking for "it".

Also don't put your camper keys in the outside shower lock, while washing off your waiters, and forget the keys are still in there. Your wife won't let you forget that you "lost" your keys (even if she forgot her set at the house 8 hours away).

Lots of good info on here already from what I've read. Before you set out, always make a list of items that need packed a day or two before then add to it.

Lastly, remember when camping to stay in the mindset of: (if something goes wrong) it could be worse...you could be in a tent.

@ColoradoTJ agree, especially with the crapper info on post 29.
@19TurdPro very good info, except I don't trust anyone to back me up. Mostly because I'd rather blame myself for the damage than harbor a grudge, but I guarantee with my method I get in and out of my truck more while backing than you do!

 

Thanks again for everyone's input. We have spent 3 nights in the camper so far with many trips planned. Drove over 550 miles to pick it up. Sunday night on Lake McConaughy we survived winds over 50 mph. Friends had their tents destroyed and we took 4 kids in the camper. Already have fun stories to tell and I feel more comfortable and confident with the info I have read and videos I have watched.