About to actually become an RVer

[Tiercel]

For the last four months I have been an RV owner. I had no clue what was in store but we are finally going to take the step to RVers. We will take the MH and just go a couple hundred miles, spend a couple nights and circle back home. It is a freaking quest like Family Vacation.
After 4 months of repairs and renovations I am determined to squeeze in a practice trip before I winterize.

Along with my determination I am anxious because every moment will be a first from finding an RV park to emptying waste tanks. We will swing by and see some family and will park somewhere west of Rochester NY or a little east of there,

My anxiousness is increased because it is important this is as smooth of an introduction to my wife as possible. We probably should at least spend a night in the MH in the back yard before we head out on Wednesday.

Wish us luck.

 

[Rob&Deryl]

Yes, camp in the driveway. We did this year too.
It took us a while to stop worrying about waste tanks, just empty every so often, wear rubber gloves, rinse everything as you go (you likely have a place to hook up a hose with sprayer) and put away.

Ok, this sounds like a commercial….
I like the Rhino hoses. I like their sewer fittings. I especially like the silly wrench.
Dump Black, then Grey. Then disconnect from RV and wash down from that end . Lastly, disconnect from sewer, rinse everything. Put the cover on the campground sewer. Rinse everything, stow the slinky and fittings, rinse the gloves, and done.

 

[Laura & Charles]

Have enjoyed following along as you documented your process. Definitely think a night in the backyard a good idea! Definitely Good Luck!

 

[Tiercel]

Yes, camp in the driveway. We did this year too.
It took us a while to stop worrying about waste tanks, just empty every so often, wear rubber gloves, rinse everything as you go (you likely have a place to hook up a hose with sprayer) and put away.

I do NOT have a place to hook up a sprayer, just a standard waste hose and a clear coupling I added to get a sense of the shape of my tanks. I 1/3 filled the tanks with water, Borax, and Dawn 3 months ago to make sure I get them properly cleaned out. I will try to get them almost full before emptying. I will probably empty at whatever RV Park we find to stay at since I need to winterize when we get back home to PA..

 

[Rob&Deryl]

We have our fresh water hookup up as follows…
a Tee, then pressure regulator, then filter and on to trailer.
I have a hose (only used for non potable water) that I hook to the other spigot of the Tee. I use it to rinse stuff.
I also turn on the open tee to run water for a minute before open ending the water to the trailer.

 

[Tiercel]

I am assuming most parks have one dump for waste tanks and not one at each hookup site.

 

[Rob&Deryl]

Most state parks have a central dump site and not individual site hookup. Full hookup sites are common (but not universal) at commercial camp sites.

 

[jackiemac]

Keep an eye on the weather, I saw some snow forecasts for the East Coast I'm sure.

Congratulations on getting your rig ready to go. I'm sure you'll have a great time. Take some gorilla tape with you

Let us know how you get on.

 

[SeilerBird]

I am assuming most parks have one dump for waste tanks and not one at each hookup site.

I live at The Floridian and every site has a waste tank fitting. That is typical for most of the parks I have been to.

 

[Tiercel]

Jackiemac, I have Gorilla tape, Flexseal tape, JBWeld, Eterna bond, plastic sheeting, - a few wire nuts, assorted zip ties, you name it.

Somehow I am sure you will hear from me, probably with ten questions.

 

[Robert K]

Are you looking for a campground near Rochester. I don't know of any that will be open.
We are starting home from N Georgia Tue morning. Plan on being home Thursday afternoon. The weather doesn't look to bad except for 25-30 mph wind gusts
We are 50 miles due south of Rochester right on the S tip of Letchworth park. If you have any problems .

 

[Tiercel]

We are 50 miles due south of Rochester right on the S tip of Letchworth park. If you have any problems .

Thanks for the kind offer. Hopefully we will be trouble free.

I will be calling Parks today. Hopefully we find something. I don’t know that we are up to parking off grid at a Walmart etc on our first run,especially as cool as it is.

 

[Isaac-1]

Hopefully the weather holds out for you, but if not make sure you know how to emergency winterize if you have to. As to the rest, I would strongly advise you either driveway camp for a night or two, or stay somewhere in close proximity to a Wal-Mart of other store to buy essentials. There will be something that you find that you need, that you forgot about, maybe a can opener, ....

 

[Rene T]

Seeing you’re from PA, you better find a campground close to home that is still open so you can dump your tanks one last time before you winterize. There may not be many if any close to your home. Does your home have a sewage treatment plant? Some have a place where rver’s can dump their tanks for a small price as long as you live in that town. Check that out. Good luck and welcome to our world.

 

[Tiercel]

Rene, I previously checked the area and I have a tank dump within 20 miles for certain. I did not think of our sewage treatment plant. I will check that out.

My nephew works at a sewage treatment plant in a town 15 miles away. His dad was the original owner of this MH and I know he dumped it there when he would borrow it. I might ask him as well.

If I can’t find something local I will dump at our last park and dry travel home then winterize.

 

[strugglebus]

The Allentown turnpike stop has a dump station for $5-10. Maybe others do also. As far as campgrounds go in NY, good luck. We stayed in a county park near Rochester on Lake Ontario and I know the county parks closed long ago. I believe state parks closed early also. Check that church RV site, faithfulparking.com. I know there was a church in Rochester on there. Good luck with the weather also. I never want to drive the MH in bad weather, especially in Rochester type of weather.

 

[NY_Dutch]

We've checked many times for parks that are open this time of year in western NY and the Southern Tier area with no luck. We overnight at an officially closed private park off I-88 near Oneonta on our way south in early January. They keep a few sites open for regulars that stop in every year. No water, but electric and sewer hookups are working. We also overnight at a KOA off I-81 near Jonestown, PA that's open all year. Once we hit VA in January, it seems nearly everything is open.

 

[Robert K]

Winter Camping | Jam At The Ridge

www.jatrny.com

here you go in Leroy about 30 to 45 min to most of Rochester

 

[Tiercel]

Winter Camping | Jam At The Ridge

www.jatrny.com

here you go in Leroy about 30 to 45 min to most of Rochester

Robert you are man! I have been calling a lot of closed sites. It is a little pricy ($64). And it is on the wrong side of Rochester about a hour from where we would like to be but it looks like the choice is between them and parking somewhere without hook ups. Thanks for the link!!!

 

[Scottro]

What type of rig do you guys have? What kind of repairs etc. have you been working on?
Don’t forget after dumping the gray and black waters to close the valves on your motorhome. Just take your time when doing things… especially for your first time out. Double check the things you do and remember, slow is pro! Have fun and drive safe.