first trip this weekend

[niget2002]

Finally taking the travel trailer out for the inaugural run this weekend. Only going about 15 miles down the road to a small park on a lake. I spent Monday evening going back over all the appliances and stuff on it making sure I understood how to use it all (and verifying everything worked).

Last night, we went out and started making beds and moving all our camping gear from tent-camping into the trailer. Also made a small Amazon list of stuff missing (tp holder, towel holder, etc).

With the exception of food, I think we're good to go. I'm sure once we get settled, we'll find other things we missed or need. Part of the reason I picked this spot is there's a Walmart close by we can run to if needed. I also picked it because we've done day trips to this park, so I know the roads in/out.

Only downside is it looks like the weatherman is predicting triple digits each day. I think that guy needs to be fired. The AC was blowing cold last night while we were setting up the trailer, so we should survive. I need to go grab our oscillating fan so we can have a breeze outside, even if it will feel like a blow dryer.

Assuming all goes well, I'll start planning the rest of our trips for this year when we get back.

 

[JayArr]

Have fun! It's exciting the first trip out, you get to play with all the new accessories and figure out systems and ways of doing things. I had a pad with a pen attached with a rubber band on the table the first few trips and as we found stuff we needed either Michelle or I would just jot them down so we didn't forget.

 

[jackiemac]

Have a great time!

 

[Laura & Charles]

Enjoy it! You only have one ‘first time’! Please report back afterwards.

 

[niget2002]

So far, so good... Son dropped his hamburger on the ground and wife filled up the galley grey water tank first use from using it the way she washes dishes at home

 

[SeilerBird]

Paper plates and plastic glasses are what I use to reduce waste water use.

 

[Oldgator73]

So far, so good... Son dropped his hamburger on the ground and wife filled up the galley grey water tank first use from using it the way she washes dishes at home

It’s always good to take this maiden voyages. Gives you chance to eliminate who gets to go on future trips; dropped burger, grey tank kerfufal.

 

[Larry N.]

and wife filled up the galley grey water tank first use from using it the way she washes dishes at home

This certainly points up the fact that part of RV living is learning to conserve supplies, especially when not using full hookups. So use just barely enough water to get dishes clean (paper is wasteful and convenient but not necessary) and rinse, take "navy" type showers (get wet, shut off water, soap up, rinse, get out), and similar when washing hands, etc. And careful what electric you use when not hooked up.

Time, experience and questions (if needed) will soon have you doing fine.

 

[niget2002]

This certainly points up the fact that part of RV living is learning to conserve supplies, especially when not using full hookups. So use just barely enough water to get dishes clean (paper is wasteful and convenient but not necessary) and rinse, take "navy" type showers (get wet, shut off water, soap up, rinse, get out), and similar when washing hands, etc. And careful what electric you use when not hooked up.

Time, experience and questions (if needed) will soon have you doing fine.

Just had the navy shower discussion. The plan is for everyone tonight to take one. We're only here until tomorrow, so shouldn't fill both tanks.

Also discovered the hot and cold water on the kitchen sink is backwards.

 

[Kirk]

Also discovered the hot and cold water on the kitchen sink is backwards.

That should be easy to correct yourself unless there is a problem with the lengths of the water supplies to the faucets. You should be able to see it and in most RVs the hot line is red and the cold blue.

 

[niget2002]

That should be easy to correct yourself unless there is a problem with the lengths of the water supplies to the faucets. You should be able to see it and in most RVs the hot line is red and the cold blue.

Yeah. I'll look at it when we get back home. I'm more than a little handy.

 

[Oldgator73]

Also discovered the hot and cold water on the kitchen sink is backwards.

Just switch the handles.

 

[niget2002]

Just switch the handles.

I wish. It's one of those goofy faucets with the single handle.

 

[Oldgator73]

I wish. It's one of those goofy faucets with the single handle.

I wouldn’t even fix it. Just train everyone that it’s backwards.

 

[niget2002]

And now we've learned that our 30a trailer can pull more than 30 amps.

Granted, I think every appliance was running... AC, outdoor fridge, tower fan, and water heater.

The EPO kicked in and shut off the power to the trailer. I turned off the big appliances and reset the EPO. Then turned things on one by one until it shut off again. I finally ended up with everything but the outside fridge and tower fan on.

We had all taken a quick shower and I think the water heater was recovering.

It is also a 100f day in N. Texas, which means nothing can stay cool. It'll be better in an hour when the AC unit is in the shade from the big tree near our spot. We do have the AC set around 85f, so it's at least shutting off every so often.

 

[Kirk]

We had all taken a quick shower and I think the water heater was recovering.

I suggest that you change the water heater to propane and that should save you enough to keep the circuit breaker from tripping.

 

[niget2002]

I suggest that you change the water heater to propane and that should save you enough to keep the circuit breaker from tripping.

It's dual powered. I'll look at using propane when it's really hot outside. That's a good idea.

 

[viceprice]

I do not have much experience with Moen faucets (ybecause they are so good they never need attention), but I recall that it is possible to install the cartridge in two different ways, one would reverse the hot/cold. It might be as easy as reversing the cartridge- taking it out and re-installing 180 degrees if switching the feed lines is not an easy fix.

 

[uchu]

Paper plates and plastic glasses are what I use to reduce waste water use.

But then you create another type of waste... The landfill type.

 

[niget2002]

The kitchen faucet was a false alarm. It's working fine.