On 8/9/2019 at 11:39 PM, Sculptor said:

 Same goes for the roll out type awning.

We found this out the hard way.  Left the awning out for the night.  Late night, a wind storm came out of no-where.  It whipped it around hard, made enough noise to bring everyone in camp out of bed.  We got lucky, ran outside and already had help at hand to get that thing rolled up.  We learned that night, DO NOT leave awnings out!  We got very lucky it did no damage but another minute or so..... it was wicked!!

If there's one thing my husband is adamant about it's that the awning comes in at night or if we're not there using it.  After all, what purpose is there to leaving it out when it takes minutes to run in?  That's one I'm not worried about.  He won't let that happen.

That and locks.  We're ordering combination locks for the storage doors.  Working for Dept. of Corrections for 27 years has made him super security minded.  He's been known to lock the car and take the keys with me sitting in it! 

  On 8/10/2019 at 1:25 AM, Alice said:

 He's been known to lock the car and take the keys with me sitting in it! 

That's funny.  I do the same.... hehehehe

With the weekend get away an often forgotten item is bed pillows. Buy what you like and keep them & some pillow cases in the RV.

     Spot

Very happy for you! I hope you have only good impressions. What I would advise to take is definitely some kind of games: twister, checkers, cards. If only it were not boring

Don't over think the whole thing.  Just hook up and enjoy the trip!

We are also in Missouri! Enjoy your first time out...it will only make you want to go more. Definitely wont need a coat.

Let everyone know how it goes!

  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.

There are a lot of theories about what is best used in the waste tanks and most of them have at least a little bit of truth to them. With the black tank you should always start by adding enough water to cover the bottome of the tank before you start using it and you should always use toilet paper that is labeled as "septic safe." That paper will break down more easily than the fancy, perfumed stuff that also costs more. As to what should be added to the tank by way of chemicals, I have used many different brands and home brews but experience has taught me that the most important thing is to be benerous with the use of water in flushing as water is the universal solvent and the promoter of the natrual breakdown of human waste. The process is the same as happens in a septic system if there is time enough. Most modern chemicals today are also septic friendly and I don't recommend the use of any that isn't so labeled. Those additives speed up the early part of the septic process and help to liquify the solids you flush. When we were fulltime we eventually stopped adding anything to the black tank but water because we only dumpped 1 time per week with only the two of us and that does allow time of the nartural process to take place. If you use your black tank flush well each time that you dump that should be plenty, but if it makes you feel better to add something, that won't harm anything as long as you are generous with flush water each time you flush paper or solids.

  On 8/10/2019 at 1:25 AM, Alice said:

If there's one thing my husband is adamant about it's that the awning comes in at night or if we're not there using it.  After all, what purpose is there to leaving it out when it takes minutes to run in?  That's one I'm not worried about.  He won't let that happen.

He is a very wise man, and especially so if do not have a power awning with a wind sensor & auto retract. Also if you have the awning out when it is raining, lower one end a foot or so below the other to cause it to drain off that end. If you do not do that the fabric will sag in the center and slowly collect water and if bad enough damage the rolltube. Even if it doesn't do that and have a manual awning, when you lower one end to put it up the 50 gallons or so of water that has collected will rush off of the now lower end soak the person lowering it. (Guess how I know that? ?)

You never know when a win gust will come up. We were in a campground and several people had awnings out. No storm, no winds. A gust came up and 3 people lost their awnings. All you can do is never leave the awning out if you are not home but even when you are home things happen.

  On 9/9/2019 at 2:39 AM, Kirk W said:

There are a lot of theories about what is best used in the waste tanks and most of them have at least a little bit of truth to them. With the black tank you should always start by adding enough water to cover the bottome of the tank before you start using it and you should always use toilet paper that is labeled as "septic safe." That paper will break down more easily than the …..

 

Many of things you will learn the good old fashion way, experience.  I have never used regular "septic safe" toilet paper.  Heck, about 80% of toilet paper sold now claims to be septic tank safe.  Keep in mind that your RV does not have a residential septic tank, it has a simple black holding tank.  

We have always used Scott's RV paper.  It is reasonably priced at Walmart and works very well.