Hello all-I have been camping/towing for several years....all towables (TT, 5er). Last trip in March was towing my 5er (350 miles one way). All went well. ALL of my trips have been 350 miles one way or less.In the last three months I sold my 5er and truck and purchased a 2005 Monaco Esquire 31 PBS Class C with 25K miles and have been preparing it for our first trip. I will be going with my wife and two kids (11yo son; 17 yo son. Will be towing my 2014 17' aluminum boat (2500# gross with trailer). Heading to Lake Oroville which is in Nor Cal about 550 miles one way from me (I'm in So Cal). It is supposed to be hot when we travel at the end of this month (100F plus).My Class C has new Michelin tires, I have a spare, my boat and trailer are 2014 but I am putting new tires on it as well.Things I have done to prepare for my first trip....1. 6 new tires on RV2. 2 New tires on boat trailer, bearings are oil filed and in great shape3. Sanitize fresh water system; installed new fresh water pump4. Change engine oil/filter in RV5. Change oil, air filter, and spark plug in generator6. Will carry spare tires for RV and boat trailer7. Engine coolant appears good, but may drain radiator and refill. Hoses and belt look goodNow, I am getting first use jitters! What am I nervous about?:1. My first time use of an RV I am not too familiar with 2. Not being able to see my boat when traveling (My friend who is also going on this trip towing his TT has agreed to follow behind me in the event there are any problems that I can't see).3. 600 miles one way will be my longest trip ever! What can I do to calm my nerves and be as prepared as possible? Almost feel like cancelling this trip and staying closer to home for our first trip. Boys will be sad as they are excited about doing some boating. Thanks

Sounds like you've done a great job so far!Run the generator and your house AC while driving to keep your coach cool.I'm assuming you do not have a backup camera - that is how I watch my Jeep. Stop fairly often (rest areas) to look things over and take a deep breath. Bring a set of those inexpensive walkie-talkie things so you can communicate with your friend. Sit back and enjoy the ride!! :-)

When I tow my Baja Bug (toad) all I can see is the roof top. To overcome that, and assist me when backing up, I installed a backup camera and wired it to my tail light circuit. Now when I want to take a look behind me I can turn on the parking lights and take a look. That way it works if you are in reverse or not.I suspect the generator is running well so changing out the fuel filter is probably not required at this time. Next year you might want to add it to your maintenance list.Check your battery fluid levels if you have not already done so.The only other thing I can offer is when I first started driving my Class C I felt like I was constantly making steering corrections to keep it centered in the lane. Once I learned to use a spot about 30 yards further down the road as a focal point it became a non-issue.

1. Definitely will be checking battery water levels and using distilled if needed.2. will be adding a back up camera when I return from this trip (if I don't chicken out!)....just not enough time to add it now3. Is it SAFE to run generator when traveling?4. Is it SAFE to run refer on propane while traveling? Would like to keep food at safe temps as it will be HOT! 5. Should I run with tow/haul mode ON?

You should be fine to run the generator and the Fridge on propane. as light at your boat sounds you most likely do not need to run in tow mode. If you feel sluggish then you can turn it on.

JFNM wrote:Sounds like you've done a great job so far!Run the generator and your house AC while driving to keep your coach cool.I'm assuming you do not have a backup camera - that is how I watch my Jeep. Stop fairly often (rest areas) to look things over and take a deep breath. Bring a set of those inexpensive walkie-talkie things so you can communicate with your friend. Sit back and enjoy the ride!! :-)X2 on the walkie talkies, but remember, they only work if you both have them turned on... Took a trip with a friend and gave her a walkie talkie so we could communicate - she set it down on her passenger seat and never turned it on. I'm in front shouting out the window at every stop "turn on the **** walkie talkie!!!"

First trip in my Class C.....first time jitters - HELP!

27 Replies

Baja_Man
Explorer
Jun 15, 2016
Good ideas and have been added to my checklist. On return from trip brakes will be checked and fluid changed or taken in for a flush. Drain and refill of coolant in next few days.
j-d
Explorer II
Jun 15, 2016
Bordercollie wrote:
If you haven't done so, have entire brake system checked and serviced as needed, including brake calipers for non-sticking, front flexible brake lines, and have brake fluid flushed and replaced. Also have engine cooling system checked including clutch fan all belts and hoses. Do you have a way to check tire pressures easily?

x2 on the Brake System! Not particularly before this trip but soon. If that fluid's 10-years-old, time to change! It "could" be done this way with about 90% effectiveness:

1. Use a Turkey Baster and suck nearly all the fluid out of the master cylinder.

2. Fill Master Cylinder and KEEP IT FULL through next step.

3. Bleed each Caliper till it runs clear. Remember item 2. above and KEEP Master Cylinder full.

5. If you're replacing components like Calipers/Flex Hoses, let the steel line drain a little then cap it. You can use a piece of small wiper hose with a golf tee in it to keep it from draining the Master Cylinder.

6. These chassis have ABS and it "can" get dicey to bleed the system if it gets air from Master into the ABS component.

I followed this procedure after replacing calipers and hoses. Front hoses are more critical than rear hoses since they steer and have spring travel.

BC, I think he's already installed a full set of Tire Man valves, so air checking's covered.

My plan, and others may have different ways, for coolant change is drain, catch, measure, replace same quantity with 50/50 gold antifreeze and distilled water.
Baja_Man
Explorer
Jun 15, 2016
j-d....so true on the Waddington Effect! I am guilty of unnecessary maintenance and need to reconsider my thought process on the subject. Just because it's due, doesn't mean it needs it!
Bordercollie
Explorer
Jun 15, 2016
If you haven't done so, have entire brake system checked and serviced as needed, including brake calipers for non-sticking, front flexible brake lines, and have brake fluid flushed and replaced. Also have engine cooling system checked including clutch fan all belts and hoses. Do you have a way to check tire pressures easily?
j-d
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2016
And you're going to LAKE OROVILLE!!! That beautiful place is worth it all! We were there last month and it was gorgeous! Water up where it should be. A couple years ago it was like 1/4 mile down the ramp to the water.

We follow the advice earlier in the thread: Pray Often and Carry a Credit Card. There is good in all the maintenance you've done. Just be aware of the Waddington Effect. Simply stated, You can go Too Far.

If you have the time, take the oil level plug out of the rear axle. Lube should be about 1/2" down. It's magnetic so wipe it off and look for metal. There may be a little metal "dust." When you can, change that oil to 75W-140 Full Synthetic. Got mine at Walmart, SuperTech brand. For this trip, just make sure it's full.
tenbear
Explorer
Jun 14, 2016
One of out first trips was from Vermont to the west coast, Alaska to be more exact. Three months long and everything went well. We have since had 2 more trips to the west coast. Again, all went well with the RV but DW and I both spent some time in hospitals.

Think of your 600 mile trip as several one day long trips. If you are tired, take a day off and enjoy the local sights.

Hope everything goes well.
pconroy328
Explorer
Jun 14, 2016
Go slow. Rest assured your confidence will grow. By the end of Summer, you'll be a pro.

I like the advice: pray and carry a credit card.
There's nothing that you can't get out of with both of those handy.

And - like the time you drive home a new car - that first dent/ding is out there. Waiting to be discovered. Big whoop, you know it'll happen. Just try to make it a small one. :)

I finally smacked our Class C a few months ago.
Backed up in the dark and hit a low branch hard enough to break the awning.

Ok, it was $25 for a replacement spring off eBay, $40 for an new angle grinder (don't ask) and then $100 to get an RV Tech to teach me how to tension the springs after trying five times and failing.

So I'm out $125 (I'm not counting the grinder) and now I know how to fix an awning. :)
Baja_Man
Explorer
Jun 14, 2016
My confidence is building after reading through these posts!

Funny....I've been up to 60 miles offshore in the Pacific (with some not so good weather) fishing for Bluefin in my own 22' boat and didn't feel as anxious as this first RV trip!!! That's with over 30 yrs sailing/boating on the ocean. Totally confident around boats.....need to to develop this same confidence with this motor home.
dave17352
Explorer
Jun 14, 2016
Shoot you are traveling with another rig. All the things you did to get ready sound great to me. I wouldn't give it a second thought. We take 5k trips and its just me and the wife. I always know that we could break down and did once! Bad wheel bearing. But that's what the credit card is for. I tow my boat and don't spend to much time checking on it. You can put a couple little pieces of pvc off each side of the rear so you can see it in your mirrors. Some people do that on a regular basis. Besides you don't want you 17 year old son to think your a P&*& :)
azdryheat
Explorer
Jun 14, 2016
I suggest you sell your RV and stay home if a 600 mile trip has you this worked up (this is my blunt side talking). Most likely you'll spend the entire trip worrying about non-events. Or you can suck it up, gain some confidence, and have a fun trip.

A successful RV'r checks things over but his thoughts are on having an exciting adventure without worrying about what might go wrong. We just covered 2000 miles in four days getting to Florida (wife doesn't like to dawdle, lol). Did I worry about things breaking? No. With our motorcycle we thought nothing of hooking up a tent trailer and doing a 6000 mile trip. Was I anxious? No. My sincere advice - Just do it.