New 21BHS - Mods/purchases before our first trip?

[tbrady]

 Hi All, our new TT is off the line and is supposed to be at our dealer in a few days!!  It's first trip will be a 2k mile journey to southern Utah with me, my wife and 3 boys.

So...  to keep my OCD under control I've been trying to figure out what is most important to do before we take off on the big trip.

Here's the list I have so far of things I want to get before we take off.  Am I missing anything obvious or any other suggestions?

Thanks again for all the great info!!
tim

Level indicators
Arvika 4 Bike rack
Anderson Levelers
Wheel chocks
Renogy 100W Solar suitcase (we do a lot of dry camping)
Voyager Backup Camera
Shower soap dispenser that sticks to shower wall
Factory is supposed to take care of bumper mod, if so adding small cargo carrier (I don't plan on using hitch receiver, will post pics once I have it installed) I plan to basically u-bolt it on so it doesn't stick out
Westinghouse 2400 generator (supposed to be big enough to power 13.5k A/C)
Curtains?  I'd like to add some curtains so my boys don't see the thong I like to sleep in at night. Has anyone added any sort of privacy curtain to their's?

Anything else you guys recommend?

[mojospeople]

These aren't necessities but I liked them so much I either kept them when we sold the old camper or bought again:

Bumper mount clothesline/rack. No more looking for a spot to tie a rope! And it holds a lot too.:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B2AU7QE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Extra step for when the entry side of the camper has to be raised to level. I found this saves my knees over the course of a weekend and it's really sturdy and sound under foot. There are definitely much cheaper options but they don't inspire confidence that this step does:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G258I0G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We have a couple of these patio mats in different sizes and designs. The best size is at least the dimensions of your awning or slightly larger:
https://www.amazon.com/Blossom-Reversible-design-Awnings-Outdoor/dp/B00HQCQYHI/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1489550037&sr=1-6&keywords=patio+mats+9%27+x+12%27+reversible+patio+mat

This water tank nozzle might be the best, most useful <$5 purchase. Makes filling the tank easier.
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40003-Water-Filler-Shutoff/dp/B0006IX850/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1489550243&sr=1-1&keywords=camco+tank

And last but not least if you have a dog or two this tie out is amazing! I can hook both dogs to it and they won't get tangled. I was sure I was throwing my money away when I bought it last year but I couldn't have been more wrong. I love this item!:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A2BWYNI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Congrats on the new camper! Looking forward to pics and stories!

[Pinstriper]

My first recommendation is to ditch your original plan. The more you try to deal with on your first trip or several, the harder it will all be. So consider this an OCD intervention.

Your first trip should be a shakedown cruise within 20 miles of the dealer. Take an overnight or perhaps 2. Exercise all your systems, so dry camp one night, full hookup the other. Leave plenty of time to take back to the dealer for any warranty repairs before setting off on 2k miles. It is NOT possible to accomplish the same thing with a pre-delivery inspection, no matter how thorough.

Level indicator ? I still use the bubble level app on my iphone.

Do you need BOTH the generator and the solar suitcase ? On THIS trip ? Seems like if you have the genny, the solar is just wasted space/weight. But if you have that to spare, go ahead, as the solar can be your backup for running out of gas for the generator.

Andersen levelers ? I guess, but I just have a stack of leveling blocks. Works real well with dual axles. Dunno how the Andersen works with 2 - seems like there might not be enough room between the wheels to get under both. Maybe someone who has them with a 2 axle rig can comment.

I'm having trouble visualizing both a cargo rack and a bike rack on the rear bumper.

My shower soap dispenser is a bottle of camp suds, use as body wash and shampoo. Leave it in the hanging pocket, can take it with you if using the campground's showers.

I wouldn't worry about the thong. After seeing it just once, they'll have learned to avert their eyes whenever they hear your voice anyway. They may even insist on you getting them a tent.

I endorse MJ's step, nozzle, and mat. We hang laundry on a line strung under our popup shade, and use a movable pen for the dogs instead of a tie-out.

[Merlin]

WooHoo! New camper! What fun! Since you asked for what's missing or other suggestions...........

I heartily recommend a short trip for your first one, similar to what Pinstriper suggested. My angle on it is to make sure your towing setup is good before heading out on a 2K mile adventure. If you have problems with tongue weight, sway, sag, your Voyager camera, etc., it is so much better to learn about it and fix it before suffering through a long trip with something not right. Get out, fully loaded, on a mixed driving trip (backroads, 2-lane, Interstate) to a campground close by. You will learn SO MUCH about how everything is working, both with the camper and with the towing set up, that's it's worth it. I know there are some on here who have towed long distances for their first trip, but given how complex these things are, the number of things that can go wrong or be wrong, and your long-term happiness with camping, I can't recommend a short shake-down cruise enough.

[tbrady]

Thanks guys!  Definitely planning on a short trip before the big one...  I should have been more clear on a few items.  The bike rack is actually tongue mounted, not on the rear.  We plan on primarily using solar, the genny would actually be the backup.  The only time we would ever use the genny is if it's an absolute must (e.g. camping somewhere hot and need to cool down the trailer or overcast and not able to charge via solar).  For our first trip I most likely won't take a genny.

Thanks again for all the tips/suggestions... I'll check out those other links soon.

[DavidM]

Search the archives for the blooper thread before you go on your close by trip. Lots of good advice there. My favorite is to always chock your wheels before unhitching. Been there, done that.

David

[tbrady]

I read through the bloopers thread and WOW, I'm thankful that I never screw things up like that... not that I can recall anyway? 

But it um did get me thinking... does anyone happen to have a "take-off" or tear-down type checklist?  I'd just like to review it.

[djsamuel]

The Andersen levelers will work, but one needs to be trimmed.  I don't have them, but there are others with the dual axle Camplites that have reported they work very well after trimming.

Southern Utah is beautiful.  We've been to Moab to see Arches and Canyonlands, as well as Zion and Bryce.  Our last trip with the camper was from Florida to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon and then to Moab.  Outstanding.  We are planning a trip back to the Grand Canyon and then to Capitol Reef National Park.  We may delay that one a few years until I retire, but Capitol Reef is the only Utah National Park we haven't been to.

Enjoy.

Doug

[DavidM]

If you go to the Grand Canyon again, stay at the north rim campground. The north rim is an entirely different experience than the more popular south rim: higher, cooler, fir trees. The inn at Bright Angels Point is magnificent.

We arrived there one morning after tent camping at a NFS site north of the park where we got a dusting of snow on our tent in late May. We went into the restaurant and ordered breakfast, but couldn't see anything from our table which overlooked the canyon as there was a dense fog covering it up. But by the time our breakfast arrived the fog lifted revealing the canyon which was glorious.

It was an awe inpiring moment and one we will never forget

David

[tbrady]

We were hoping to camp at the North Rim but we are heading there in early April and nothing is open there until May or so...

[djsamuel]

If you go to the Grand Canyon again, stay at the north rim campground. The north rim is an entirely different experience than the more popular south rim: higher, cooler, fir trees. The inn at Bright Angels Point is magnificent.

We arrived there one morning after tent camping at a NFS site north of the park where we got a dusting of snow on our tent in late May. We went into the restaurant and ordered breakfast, but couldn't see anything from our table which overlooked the canyon as there was a dense fog covering it up. But by the time our breakfast arrived the fog lifted revealing the canyon which was glorious.

It was an awe inpiring moment and one we will never forget

David

We've been to the north rim as well, and really enjoyed it.  The view from the Lodge was amazing.  The aspen trees were a bright yellow as we were there in September.  We had to leave a day early as a wildfire was threatening the area.  We came to the north rim after visiting Zion and Bryce.  What an amazing area of the country.

[mojospeople]

We just got the Andersen leveler and I love it but we're a single axle so its super easy.

Glad to hear there's a shakedown trip or two planned. There's bound to be something needing attention or adjustment.

Second the wheel (un)chock before hitching blooper. Early on I found myself trying to keep our 13 RDB from rolling down the driveway as we prepped to hook up and take off. Pulled the chocks too soon. It's the first thing I double check now!

[gbpack]

tbrady - we have a dual axle trailer (21BHS) and we use the Andersen levelers....and they work great. But you do have to trim them down about 2 inches in order to get one of them in between the two tires. I would recommend trimming BOTH of them, so that one isn't longer than the other which will cause them to be at a different height than the other. This way, if both are trimmed, you can be assured that your wheels will travel up the levelers starting at the same point. I used a table saw to cut them off, but any kind of power saw would probably work (I just wanted to get a nice straight edge!). We love our Andersen levelers and use them all of the time. Very easy to use and they do a great job.

[Merlin]

You asked for a "checklist". Here is one we keep in the camper just to jog our older memories. Not necessarily in order; just a quick reference for the important stuff.


Before You Go/Leaving Check Off List

Inside:

Dog water bowl emptied
TV secured with pin
Weather station sensor collected
Loose bathroom supplies put into bucket
Empty toilet bowl of water
Flexible medicine cabinets set on floor
Loose kitchen/bedroom stuff stowed
Close/latch all windows
Clear items away from slide
Vents open
Fridge set for travel
Slide out back in (out)
Phone/iPad charging stations unplugged
Extra bottom step set inside door
Voyager camera turned on

Outside:

Freshwater full if needed during trip, otherwise empty
Water pump/water heater off
Waste holding tanks empty and flushed, enzyme and water added
All connections disconnected and stowed (water, waste, phone, etc)
Awning up, ground anchors removed and stowed, stow awning rod
Patty-O-Room disassembled and stowed
Ground matt folded up and stowed
Table and Chairs put into passthru
Picnic table tablecloth stowed
Batteries and LP tanks secured
LP on if refrigerator to be operated, otherwise off
Outside storage doors closed and locked
Fold up steps
Close and lock with deadbolt entrance doors
All tires/lug nuts checked
Hitch clear to connect, chains & breakaway wire free and ready
Hitch connected with pin, all chains connected, lights plugged in
Check trailer lights
Put on WDH and tighten to 6 threads
Remove chocks/levelers and stow
Raise (lower) stabilizing jacks

Arriving

Fill freshwater en route to campsite

Check campsite for trailer clearance and garbage (before letting dogs out)

Level from side to side using trailer axle
Chock axle wheels
Unhook tow vehicle
Level for back to front using tongue wheel
Chock tongue wheel
Deploy stabilizing jacks (support if need)
Pull out steps and put extra step at bottom.

Level and stabilize before any slide movement or hook ups.

Plug into shore power (water if available).
Check surge protector meter.

[tbrady]

Thanks for the advice on the levelers guys, will definitely trim them down once I have them and the trailer.  And thanks for the checklist Merlin, gonna print that out and hang on to it!

Question though, what do you open the vents for?