1st Time Out

[tgianco]

We bought our 5th wheel about three weeks ago, and we're heading on our first trip (just a weekend outing) this weekend. While I feel we are pretty prepared/ ready, what are some things that are easily overlooked by first-timers?

We've got a 50amp surge protector, full propane tanks, hoses for fresh, grey & black water, trash cans (our BR and the bunk room), have a coffee maker, chairs for the camp site, corn-hole boards, bedding, water filter for the fresh water, gloves for black water... pretty much everything I've heard to bring. I guess I'm asking for the simple little "a-ha!" type thing that's easy to forget/ overlook. TIA.

 

[SeilerBird]

We always recommend the first outing to be close to a Walmart or in your driveway. That way you can easily obtain the things you will forget.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Will the campsite have 50A power outlet? If not sure, bring a 50A-->30A adapter and also a 30A-->15A adapter. You are going to want both of those eventually anyway, so may a well be prepared now.

 

[tgianco]

We have the 50>30, but this will be a 50amp site. I need to check to see if we have a 30>15 connector. Thank you.

 

[signcut]

Having recently done a first time ourselves, I would have said that watching the amount of mileage is a real key, but if it's just a weekend trip, then that probably won't become an issue. I've made a lot of long drives in cars/trucks, but never really one of any length pulling a fifth wheel, or even a bigger trailer; it's definitely not the same, because you spend so much more time (hopefully!) paying attention to what the trailer is doing, traffic patterns, watching your gauges, etc, that it takes more out of you, mentally and physically, than just cruising down the road.

Other than that, I'd say that it sounds like you've done plenty of research, and should be okay. Just don't forget the beer...   

 

[malexander]

Take clothes for ALL 4 seasons, and rain gear. Ya just never know.

 

[Joezeppy]

Tire chocks. Depending on the kind of rig you have, 2x8's or plastic blocks for leveling under the tires and pads for under the jacks/stabilizers. And a level so you know when you're, you know, level.  8)

 

[Patnsuzanne]

If you have a spare tire for the trailer, make sure you have a jack of a suitable size and configuration to change a flat. Also a lug wrench that fits.  Hopefully you won?t need them, but if you do, you?ll be glad you have them.

 

[kdbgoat]

And if the spare is mounted on a rack, make sure you have a socket that fits the nuts that holds the spare on. They may not be the same size as the lug nuts.

 

[Senator]

On my first trip, I needed the following items, and them some.  I went for a couple of months. 

Outlet multiplier and surge protector,
Sewer hose support bracket. 
Sewer hose donut,
acrylic glasses to drink out of,
refrigerator magnets,
volt meter,
a stand for the steps to make them more stable,
emergency road beacons
4-way lug wrench
Extra fuses

I bought a bunch more stuff since then too...

 

[Hanr3]

Bring a pen and paper to write down the stuff you forgot and the stuff you want to add.
Make notes of how your kitchen is organized now and what you need to organize it the way you want it. Do the same for the bedroom, the living room, bathroom, and outside porch areas.

What you think you need now, will change once you start to develop a pattern of use for each area. Bring a pen and a pad of paper to write down what changes you want to make.

Swing by Lowes/Walmart and buy a garbage can, dish drying rack, toothbrush holder, outdoor carpet for under the awning, 4 garden gnomes to hold the outdoor carpet down in teh wind and add a little character to the site. Tomorrow stop at Kroger and buy steaks and wine for your first meal in the new camper. Enjoy it, and set the tone for future outings. No need for hotdogs on a stick!

 

[john owens]

Roll of duct tape. And a tool kit of some kind. Always gotta tighten loose screws or nuts...flashlight too. Do you have rear stabilizers that crank down? Lots of guys use a cordless Dewalt drill to run them up/down. Have a blast!!

 

[Rene T]

Do not pack things in the rig which would be nice to have. It won't take long, you'll be overloaded. Just pack the things you really need. As previously said, there are Walmart's around if you need something.  Don't move things back and forth from your house unless you have 2 of the same item. Go buy one and leave it in the rig.

A adjustable water pressure regulator similar to this one. There are 2 or 3 different manufacturers. Shop around. Do not by the cheap cylindrical one's  like you'll find at Walmart. All they do is restrict the flow and the pressure will still be there when you shut off the RV faucet. Some campgrounds have very high water pressure,
https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Regulator-Adjustable-Screened-Filter/dp/B07FJLQZNZ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1535014462&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=rv+water+pressure+regulators&psc=1

These are junk:
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Pressure-Regulator-High-Pressure-40055/dp/B003BZD08U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535014937&sr=8-3&keywords=rv+water+pressure+regulators

 

[JoelP]

Do not pack things in the rig which would be nice to have. It won't take long, you'll be overloaded. Just pack the things you really need. As previously said, there are Walmart's around if you need something.  Don't move things back and forth from your house unless you have 2 of the same item. Go buy one and leave it in the rig.

A adjustable water pressure regulator similar to this one. There are 2 or 3 different manufacturers. Shop around. Do not by the cheap cylindrical one's  like you'll find at Walmart. All they do is restrict the flow and the pressure will still be there when you shut off the RV faucet. Some campgrounds have very high water pressure,
https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Regulator-Adjustable-Screened-Filter/dp/B07FJLQZNZ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1535014462&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=rv+water+pressure+regulators&psc=1

These are junk:
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Pressure-Regulator-High-Pressure-40055/dp/B003BZD08U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535014937&sr=8-3&keywords=rv+water+pressure+regulators

Thanks Rene, I wasn't aware of this kind of pressure regulator and have been using the junk pressure reducer.  The problem is that water pressure is all over the map in campgrounds.

 

[lynnmor]

A adjustable water pressure regulator similar to this one. There are 2 or 3 different manufacturers. Shop around. Do not by the cheap cylindrical one's  like you'll find at Walmart. All they do is restrict the flow and the pressure will still be there when you shut off the RV faucet. Some campgrounds have very high water pressure,
https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Regulator-Adjustable-Screened-Filter/dp/B07FJLQZNZ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1535014462&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=rv+water+pressure+regulators&psc=1

These are junk:
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Pressure-Regulator-High-Pressure-40055/dp/B003BZD08U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535014937&sr=8-3&keywords=rv+water+pressure+regulators

I agree that the cylindrical ones are junk, but it is incorrect that they just restrict.  They are a pressure regulator.

 

[SarniaTricia]

And if the spare is mounted on a rack, make sure you have a socket that fits the nuts that holds the spare on. They may not be the same size as the lug nuts.

THIS!!
Found out my common sense assumption that the nut for the spare would be the same size... not so common sense... Thank god I had a few tools packed and one wrench was the right size!!

To add to this, Give removing the spare a try in the driveway.... trust me when I say doing on the side of the highway is not a fun thing and having no idea how the damn thing works doesn't help the learning curve....

 

[kportra]

If you're going to have a campfire:  bucket and shovel
Extra towels always come in handy
If you'll have cell service:  cell phone chargers or battery packs
Flashlight

 

[JoelP]

THIS!!
Found out my common sense assumption that the nut for the spare would be the same size... not so common sense... Thank god I had a few tools packed and one wrench was the right size!!

To add to this, Give removing the spare a try in the driveway.... trust me when I say doing on the side of the highway is not a fun thing and having no idea how the damn thing works doesn't help the learning curve....

You might want to have a socket to fit the size of the manual slideout bolt, typically 3/4", just in case your slides won't go in any other way.