Boy are we ready to get the trailer and GO! We picked up our TT on July 27 and it's just been parked. We can't even park it by our house thanks to the tiny, steep lot we've got, so it's in a storage place nearby.

Today I reserved a spot in a campground about an hour and a half from home. It's got great reviews and our spot has a big "yard" area around it so we're not going to be stuck up against another RV. There's a little fishing (catch and release) lake and some trails and a pool etc., but mostly, this is just us learning what we can. The only downside is there is no dump at our site, water/electric only, but that's okay because the RV Storage lot has one and we can dump when we get back. It's just a weekend...won't be like we'll fill her up.

So...any pointers for us rank amateurs?   What do you consider "essential" for a little weekend jaunt?

Dumping at the storage when you get home is good if you can do it first thing.  Then all the 'stuff' is agitated while you drive and you'll get a better dump.

To avoid fillin up the black tank, use park's restrooms.  Use their showers to avoid going through all your water.  Take a hot dog stick for the cook-out, for the marshmallows, etc.  Sunscreen, whatever you are eating for breakfast/lunch/dinner x 2 days (depending on how long we plan on being gone), bottled drinking water, a deck of cards, some brewski/wine, some baggies/small shovel if taking a pet.  We always take 3 days clothes for one or 2 nights.  Depending on where and how far we are going, firewood for the nights campfire.  Some places won't let you bring your own, check first.  Couple folding chairs to sit in whilst fishing, don't forget the bait.

  On 8/9/2019 at 4:12 AM, 2gypsies said:

Dumping at the storage when you get home is good if you can do it first thing.  Then all the 'stuff' is agitated while you drive and you'll get a better dump.

Just don't empty the tank.  Or if you do, first thing afterwards is to dump 5 gallon bucket of water down toilet and leave it in (unless winterizing).  Come to think of it, dump 5 gallons in before using it the first time.  Always dump the black tank first, then the gray water.  Idea is too use the gray water to clean/flush out your stinky slinky before disconnecting for storage.  Otherwise, you might develop a raunchy smell in storage.

IMHO

Another thought.  When my wife does the dishes, she uses a pan about the same size of the kitchen sink.  We dump that in the toilet alot.  The soap helps keep the black tank cleaner, ie no build-ups.

Edited August 9 by NDBirdman

Thanks NDBirdman, I thought of those suggestions after I posted.  

OP:  Since you'll have water at the campsite, run the faucets and press the pedal on the toilet to fill the tanks before you make that drive home.  Then you can safely empty the black tank.  Don't try emptying it if you only have a little liquid in it.  That's how 'things' build up.

We also used the dishwater method.

My mother always told new campers in Colorado to bring a winter coat and a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. You'll want that coat in the Arizona desert, too; temps drop quickly once the sun goes down.

Linda

  On 8/9/2019 at 4:12 AM, NDBirdman said:

To avoid fillin up the black tank, use park's restrooms.  Use their showers to avoid going through all your water.  Take a hot dog stick for the cook-out, for the marshmallows, etc.  Sunscreen, whatever you are eating for breakfast/lunch/dinner x 2 days (depending on how long we plan on being gone), bottled drinking water, a deck of cards, some brewski/wine, some baggies/small shovel if taking a pet.  We always take 3 days clothes for one or 2 nights.  Depending on where and how far we are going, firewood for the nights campfire.  Some places won't let you bring your own, check first.  Couple folding chairs to sit in whilst fishing, don't forget the bait. 

We're quite a way from the park's restrooms, so at least part of the time we'll use ours.  That's the point of having one!  No firewood - BIG no-no in these parts - there's been some bad bugs.  Hubby with nix the hot dogs - I'm thinking steaks.   Our RV dealer gave us a bottle of wine, so we'll definitely be using that.  

  On 8/9/2019 at 4:43 AM, 2gypsies said:

Thanks NDBirdman, I thought of those suggestions after I posted.  

OP:  Since you'll have water at the campsite, run the faucets and press the pedal on the toilet to fill the tanks before you make that drive home.  Then you can safely empty the black tank.  Don't try emptying it if you only have a little liquid in it.  That's how 'things' build up.

We also used the dishwater method.

We best put quite a few bowls down it.  I'm sure it's bone dry at the moment.  Dishwater is a solid idea.  I'll have to remember a pan.

  On 8/9/2019 at 4:55 AM, sandsys said:

My mother always told new campers in Colorado to bring a winter coat and a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. You'll want that coat in the Arizona desert, too; temps drop quickly once the sun goes down.

Linda

We're in Missouri.  I guarantee, we don't need jackets.  I'm excited about the air conditioning! 

Whenever you have a site with a dump do not leave the dump valves open. Keep them closed until you need to dump. I put 1/2c Dawn Blue into each tank. I don't bother with the gray too much after that. You can buy giant Dawn Blue and Sams and Costco.

Each of you take a little notebook(and pen) to write down things you forgot. Start making checklists and hang them up, use them!!!!

  On 8/9/2019 at 9:54 AM, SWharton said:

Whenever you have a site with a dump do not leave the dump valves open. Keep them closed until you need to dump. I put 1/2c Dawn Blue into each tank. I don't bother with the gray too much after that. You can buy giant Dawn Blue and Sams and Costco.

Each of you take a little notebook(and pen) to write down things you forgot. Start making checklists and hang them up, use them!!!!

Good ideas!  I had forgot, I read somewhere, probably here, use the blue dawn.  We use it to wash our dishes then dump it down the toilet so the water/dawn does double duty.  Definitely do not leave the black tank valve open, you *want* the waste to build up some.  This is to prevent the solids from building up right under the porcelain bowl.  I've read that once it builds up and gets real hard, it's almost impossible to get out.  That comes from no water in there to float the solids.  Or so I've heard.  For a couple day outing, we also don't leave the gray water open either but keep it to flush out the hoses. After flushing the toilet each time, we put a couple cups or so of water in the bowl to keep the rubber seal wet. 

For your steaks, cooking inside or out?  We always carry an old coleman propane 2-burner for outside cookin.  We also carry a small bag of charcoal for the places that provide outside grills.  For those old/dirty grills, we picked up a couple grill mats.  They go right on top those grills, the meat cooks just like it's on the grill.  The mats clean right up after cooling them, right in the pan of dawn.  ?   Keep them clean and you can use them for years!  Or you can carry a small, portable charcoal grill.  We find this way, especially if the AC is running, keeps the temps down a little in the camper.  We rarely cook more than breakfast inside and sometimes, that is also outside on the grill.  We also have a 110 volt electric/magnetic heat plates (?) that we use outside.  IMHO, all food taste better if fixed/cooked outside.

A good outside/sportsman knife.  I also carry a hatchet, it has come in handy more times than I expected.  A hammer, electric drill and bit set, standard and Philips screwdrivers, adjustable pliers, adjustable wrench,  4-2x4s cut 12" long and 4-1X4X12s pieces of wood for leveling, 12" long 2X10 boards for under each jack (to prevent jacks sinking into the ground) (I would suggest treated wood, it will last longer).  If you don't have bubble levels already stuck to the outside of the RV for level, a 12" torpedo level to lay on the camper floor next to the entryway door to check level (you can get pretty close with a can of soda from the you-tube video I once saw).  A 4X6 outdoors carpet for in-front of the entryway (WallyWorld sells them inexpensively).  Several cans of deep-woods off (or your favorite brands).

Maybe not your first trip, but eventually you will want:

A circuit tester to check pole voltage (I really would suggest getting this before your first time connecting and using every time), an inline tester/surge protector, a multi-meter (if you know how to use one).  We picked up/carry a dog-bone to drop a 50 electric connection to 30 amp (our RV is older and 30 amp), a 15 amp plug adapter, an extra 25 foot 30 amp extension cable.  We have 2 10 foot slinkys, one as a spare, 2-25ft potable water hoses.  A cheap water hose pressure reducer (50psi) to protect your RV water lines, a camco blue water filter to filter all water before it enters your RV.  I also use an inline sediment filter.  A spray bottle of very light bleach water to spray the water faucet before connecting hose to it.

Oh, don't forget the pillows.. LOL, we did our maiden voyage.

  On 8/9/2019 at 10:28 AM, NDBirdman said:

This is to prevent the solids from building up right under the porcelain bowl.  I've read that once it builds up and gets real hard, it's almost impossible to get out. 

Based on a friend's experience it's actually easy to get the buildup out but it takes time. You fill the tank with water and let it set. The water level will go down as the mountain soaks it up. Keep adding water until the level stops going down then dump. You may have to repeat to get it all but there's no work involved other than adding water to the tank.

Linda

Carry a few Command hooks you might want to add one here and there as you figure out how you live in the space.

  On 8/9/2019 at 9:54 AM, SWharton said:

Each of you take a little notebook(and pen) to write down things you forgot. Start making checklists and hang them up, use them!!!!

This is a really good idea.  We usually keep notes on my phone.  Going to have to find a good "set-up/tear down" checklist.

  On 8/9/2019 at 11:12 AM, NDBirdman said:

For your steaks, cooking inside or out?  We always carry an old coleman propane 2-burner for outside cookin.  We also carry a small bag of charcoal for the places that provide outside grills

Our trailer came with an outside propane grill and table that hangs on the side.  Looks like the only piece of equipment the prior owner ever used besides the soap dish in the bathroom.  But it's been all cleaned up and tested...so I think we'll use that and not have to worry about the charcoal.  Our home grill is propane, so we're used to it.

  On 8/9/2019 at 11:12 AM, NDBirdman said:

A good outside/sportsman knife.  I also carry a hatchet, it has come in handy more times than I expected.  A hammer, electric drill and bit set, standard and Philips screwdrivers, adjustable pliers, adjustable wrench,  4-2x4s cut 12" long and 4-1X4X12s pieces of wood for leveling, 12" long 2X10 boards for under each jack (to prevent jacks sinking into the ground) (I would suggest treated wood, it will last longer).  If you don't have bubble levels already stuck to the outside of the RV for level, a 12" torpedo level to lay on the camper floor next to the entryway door to check level (you can get pretty close with a can of soda from the you-tube video I once saw).  A 4X6 outdoors carpet for in-front of the entryway (WallyWorld sells them inexpensively).  Several cans of deep-woods off (or your favorite brands).

We have most of that already, including a 9x12 rug we actually bought for the floor of our medieval wall tent.  Long story.  But now it can be used for it's intended purpose.   I have a small tool kit on the list already.  We have so many tools laying around, I'm sure we can find spares. LOL

  On 8/9/2019 at 11:12 AM, NDBirdman said:

A circuit tester to check pole voltage (I really would suggest getting this before your first time connecting and using every time), an inline tester/surge protector, a multi-meter (if you know how to use one).  We picked up/carry a dog-bone to drop a 50 electric connection to 30 amp (our RV is older and 30 amp), a 15 amp plug adapter, an extra 25 foot 30 amp extension cable.  We have 2 10 foot slinkys, one as a spare, 2-25ft potable water hoses.  A cheap water hose pressure reducer (50psi) to protect your RV water lines, a camco blue water filter to filter all water before it enters your RV.  I also use an inline sediment filter.  A spray bottle of very light bleach water to spray the water faucet before connecting hose to it

Nice List!  We have most of those, the dog-bone, 15 amp plug adapter, 25 foot extension, the slinky, the pressure reducer, water filter and there's also a filter in the RV.  I only have 1 water hose, but the camp host said that will be enough on this site.

We still need to get a regular hose for the black tank flush and I think we have a circuit tester, I'll have to ask the husband. 

With all the talk of blue dawn...is that in addition to the tank chemical for the black tank?  Or do you just do that instead?  I'm confused on that point.

Gosh you guys are handy!  I'm excited!  Time to shop!   

This trip, consider rain jackets or cheap ponchos if it stays rainy for a time.  A pop up awning is a nice to have, but the wind can come up when you aren't looking so never go away and leave it.  Same goes for the roll out type awning.

  On 8/9/2019 at 11:09 PM, Alice said:

With all the talk of blue dawn...is that in addition to the tank chemical for the black tank?  Or do you just do that instead?  I'm confused on that point.

We used the tank chems in the little pouches for a while but no longer use it.  There has been many a long discussion about using these and I think the consensus was, it's only good for the sellers pocket.  Natural bacteria in human feces will break down the solids I believe.