Newbie to seasonal - have a couple questions

[markcherne]

We are going seasonal next summer after our first year in multiple parks with a small 17' Springdale Summerland Mini. A couple questions, and please forgive me if I didn't find that the answers have already been posted here!
- Besides putting the wheels on treated lumber and the stabilizers on blocks, is it a good idea to block the frame to minimize the camper wiggle-when-I-walk inside? If yes, where would you suggest?
- Hooking up to the sewer via 3" PVC. How the heck do you make the connection to the camper's sewer outlet?

- There are only two of us and our dog, so I'm thinking of removing one of the kitchen table benches and replacing it with a swivel/recliner. Anyone do that, and any suggestions? Can't remove the second bench, fresh water tank is beneath it.
- Also thinking of making the table smaller, perhaps make a drop-leaf attached to the wall and leave it down except when needed. Again, any suggestions?

Cheers!
Mark

 

[Lou Schneider]

Welcome to The RV Forum, Mark!

For the sewer, if you want to run the 3" PVC pipe all the way to the trailer, you can use a standard sewer hose bayonette coupling and attach it to the PVC pipe using one of these:

3" sewer flex coupling

You may have to support the end of the PVC pipe so it doesn't strain the rubber connection.  You also want the drain pipe to angle downward at least 1" per foot towards the sewer.

To minimize the wiggle, I'd build up blocking under each corner jack so they only extend a minimum amount.  You can either use wood or a concrete block with wood on each side if you want.

Be sure to leave the tongue jack extended - the idea isn't to take significant weight off of the wheels or the tongue jack, just lift enough on each corner to eliminate the suspension bounce as you walk around inside.

 

[grashley]

Welcome to the Forum!

Also, DO NOT leave the black tank valve open !!!!!  If you are not familiar with the reason, forming the dreaded poo pile, PLEASE ask!  We will explain!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

An alternative to clamping the PVC on is to use a short standard sewer hose at the coupling and just slip the end inside the PVC a foot or two.  It doesn't need to be sealed and there is no pressure other tan normal gravity flow. Yet another method is to run the sewer hose all the way through a larger PVC pipe (4" or 6"), or to slice the PVC in half and just use it as a trough to support the hose. A piece of roof gutter works for that as well.


I would buy some simple jack stands and put under the trailer frame near the axles. That will stop the jiggle if you have the tongue jack deployed and stabilizers at the rear.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Torin-Jack-Stands-Weight-capacity-2-Tons/48580163

An alternative is to use locking wheel chocks, e.g. this one:
https://www.campingworld.com/x-chock-tire-locking-chock
The x-type locking chock stops the suspension jiggle by locking the wheels in place. I know that doesn't seem bvious, but it works like a charm!