i am pretty sure i'm picking up tomorrow at 4 a 2005 24 tb coachman spirit of america. i hear it's not the best of qualilty, but the weight and price was right up my alley. everything's all set, stop at the RV store and sign, go through the walk through and drve away.
i hope i'm not making a mistake!haha not on getting an RV, but on getting a coachman, i've got alot of mixed reviews. but the GF liked it, it had bunk beds for the 2 kids, an awning, a bathroom(very important to the GF) and it is light. so i guess it should be intresting.
Do not worry too much about QC. A trailer is a simple rig: no engine, no tranny, no differential etc.. The fridge, microwave, water heater, furnace, and such come with their own manufacturer guarantees. The rest of the garbage a reasonably handy householder can fix himself.
i've read like a madd man on tips, tricks, what to stock it with, how to save money, where to camp... i think i'm 2% ready for my first trip.haha i have alot to learn!
OK, here are a few more handy hints:
1. Get a good weight distribution and sway control rig! This is both a safety and a driving comfort item. Do not skimp on this item.
2. The sewer hose setup the dealer gave you is a cheap one. Get a hose set up with two connectible 10 foot sections and a hose-to-sewer right angle connector that gives you a gas seal.
3. Get a drinking-water-approved water supply hose -- these are usually white. Use that only for drinking water, never for sewer cleanup, nor should it ever be stored in the same compartment with sewer supplies. Carry a cheap green hose for sewer cleaning purposes and store that with the sewerage stuff. A 45 psi pressure regulator for the water supply is very desirable, especially in the western US
4. When you set up in camp, you can open your gray water tank to the sewer but you should leave the blackwater tank closed. It should be dumped only when 2/3 full. That gives enough surge to clean the tank out. If you want to dump before that use your green hose to fill the blackwater tank to the 2/3 level. BTW use toilet tissue approved for septic tank use.
Scott's is the easiest to find in grocery stores and works fine in trailer tanks. The TP you find in RV stores is overpriced and not as good. The warning lights on tank fill are only approximate.
5. Get a little plug-in voltmeter at a RV supply store and plug it permanently into an outlet easily visible when you look into the trailer. RV park voltage is an iffy thing. Since low voltages can 86 an airconditioner's compressor, you want something to continuously monitor your AC voltage.
6. Since your trailer is a new and strange item, keep your initial trips close to home to simply the problems that will arise during your shakedown. That way you have the dealership close at hand to holler at.
Enjoy the new toy.
