My husband and I did it! We bought a '16 Montana 3711 FL and pk it up next Weds. We are very green on this and will need to pk up some accessories, we were told, like tp and a sewer extension pipe and we're not sure what else. We heard there are check lists available online that we can print for all sorts of things like what you should have, what you should check, etc. Can anyone point me to these? Also, we need to join a club (Good SAMs??). Is this the best club to join? This community has been very helpful with our other requests and I thank you very much for that. Thanks for any insight you can provide a couple of old farts and their dogs starting a new life adventure!

If you get everything on every list you get here you'll spend more money then you did on you 5th wheel. You should get a sewer hose and a potable water hose with your camper and that's all you need. Go camping and find out what you want and make your own list.

Take somebody with you that knows RVs for your walk through before you sign the final papers. I was a total newbie and they did the walk through before they had even finished cleaning it from the factory. They then did as little as possible after that point. After taking delivery, we had to actually clean the unit as there was manufacturer debris everywhere. We also didn't know which questions to ask. I hear some people spend hours on their walk through. Mine was probably 45 minutes. I simply didn't know the right questions to ask or to actually know what I was looking at.

Take a look at these threads for beginning advice. You will need, at least, sewer hookups, potable water hose (white), pots and pans, plates and cups, silverware and then food stuffs. Other stuff can be purchased along the way at either a Walmart or thrift store such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.Beginning FAQs

Congrats on your new 5er!!!! Sounds like a really nice coach...you may need additional items for leveling can be 2X6 blocks or the kind you can purchase unless you have a leveling systedm then maybe just pads for the base of the leveler. Just think of basic items you use at home for starter...Remember extra items equates to extra weight that you may not nee to tug around the country side...Happy RVing....

Rv checklist is the app tour looking for. As for stuff you need? Paper and pencil are number one.Lawn chairs, BBQ, potable(whire)water hose,sewer hose, sewer hose connectors. Thats the basics. From there on it is up to you.As for toilet paper? We have been using Costcos Kirkland brand and pleased with it. Basically any brand that is septic approved is fine.Dishes? Lots of us use Corel. We bought a food set of pots and pans for the trailer. Others srock up from salvation army stores. Dont skimp on the kitchen. You will just have to buy it twice if you do.

Newbies to 5th wheeling &need some advice | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 30, 2015
Be sure it has GoodYear "G" rated tires on it. If not play let's make a deal with the Dealer.
magic43
Explorer
May 30, 2015
I agree with not stuffing yourself with stuff. Two small items that you need are a water pressure regulator and 90 degree ell for the (white) water hose and also a length of video cable to hook to a campground's TV/video feed.

Congrats and Happy camping !!!!
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
May 30, 2015
The dealer should be more than happy to sell you what you need (and some things you don't). Do a lot of reading on the forum and you will pick it up pretty quick.

The one check list you NEED - make a hook-up check list and use it faithfully. List every step of your hook-up process and review the list EVERY time and last thing before you put the tow vehicle in gear.

Our hook-up check list has 32 items. Things like hitch locked; jacks up; elec disconnected; water disconnected; TV antenna down; door locked; etc. It is the most obvious things that you tend to forget.
donn0128
Explorer II
May 30, 2015
Rv checklist is the app tour looking for.
As for stuff you need? Paper and pencil are number one.
Lawn chairs, BBQ, potable(whire)water hose,sewer hose, sewer hose connectors. Thats the basics. From there on it is up to you.
As for toilet paper? We have been using Costcos Kirkland brand and pleased with it. Basically any brand that is septic approved is fine.
Dishes? Lots of us use Corel. We bought a food set of pots and pans for the trailer. Others srock up from salvation army stores. Dont skimp on the kitchen. You will just have to buy it twice if you do.
Reng8d
Explorer
May 30, 2015
Congrats on your new 5er!!!! Sounds like a really nice coach...you may need additional items for leveling can be 2X6 blocks or the kind you can purchase unless you have a leveling systedm then maybe just pads for the base of the leveler. Just think of basic items you use at home for starter...Remember extra items equates to extra weight that you may not nee to tug around the country side...

Happy RVing....
Merrykalia
Explorer II
May 30, 2015
Take a look at these threads for beginning advice. You will need, at least, sewer hookups, potable water hose (white), pots and pans, plates and cups, silverware and then food stuffs. Other stuff can be purchased along the way at either a Walmart or thrift store such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.

Beginning FAQs
kohai
Explorer
May 30, 2015
Take somebody with you that knows RVs for your walk through before you sign the final papers. I was a total newbie and they did the walk through before they had even finished cleaning it from the factory. They then did as little as possible after that point. After taking delivery, we had to actually clean the unit as there was manufacturer debris everywhere.

We also didn't know which questions to ask. I hear some people spend hours on their walk through. Mine was probably 45 minutes. I simply didn't know the right questions to ask or to actually know what I was looking at.
K_Charles
Explorer
May 30, 2015
If you get everything on every list you get here you'll spend more money then you did on you 5th wheel. You should get a sewer hose and a potable water hose with your camper and that's all you need. Go camping and find out what you want and make your own list.

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Newbies to 5th wheeling &need some advice

18 Replies

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