First Trip Tips

toedtoes wrote:
Breathe and relax before you do anything. If you're stressed/nervous/anxious, that is the most likely time that something will go wrong. Better to leave 20 minutes late than to forget to unplug the shore power cord...

For routines, when I had my TT, this was my routine:

Before leaving house and Before leaving campground:
1. Go inside trailer and ensure all cupboards are closed properly, all items are properly stowed away, fridge door is secured, and windows are closed (I had the louvre windows).
2. Go outside and lock the trailer door (this reminded me that the trailer interior had been checked and nothing else done).
3. Hitch trailer to tow vehicle.
4. Walk around trailer and verify: hitch is properly hooked up; propane tanks closed; windows closed; door locked; tires in good condition; outside storage compartments and appliance access doors properly closed and latched/locked; no loose parts; POWER CORD UNHOOKED FROM SHORE POWER and properly stowed away; hitch is properly hooked up (yep, I checked it twice).

Upon arriving at campground:

1. Level trailer and chock tires; unhitch trailer from tow vehicle
2. Unlock trailer door and check inside for any problems (cupboards opened, things fallen, etc.)
3. Set fridge to gas
4. Go outside and turn on propane
5. Light stove burner to get propane flowing; then light fridge, then light water heater
6. Unload camp chairs, etc. as needed, get drink out of fridge, and sit back and relax.

Upon return home:

1. Level trailer and chock tires
2. Unhitch trailer from tow vehicle
3. Unlock trailer door and check inside for any problems
4. Set fridge to electric
5. Connect power cord to shore power

Removing perishables from fridge, dirty clothes for washing, etc., could then wait until I took a nice hot shower and relaxed for a while.