What to buy before picking up new 5th wheel

Veebyes wrote:
Pad of paper & pencil to write down all the stuff you discover that you need.

Do they still make pencils?
I use the "Out Of Milk" app

Pad of paper & pencil to write down all the stuff you discover that you need.

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
I think I'd try to spend the first night near the dealer in case you found something in need of repair. Staying near a Walmart to buy supplies for unforeseen needs isn't the worst thing to do either.

VERY good advice. Take a long weekend. You will find out right quick what you need in your camper. As we learned on a 2 month cross-country trip, Walmart is everywhere and they have just about EVERYTHING.

Lube plate for your hitch and a lock or clip as a safety to make sure it stays latched. Good quality brake controller. If your truck is older I would make sure the terminals on your electrical connector are clean and working. #2 Robertson screwdriver. If you don't have tow mirrors consider a fix for that. Can't see the need for a big compressor, a small 12V emergency one could come in handy. I like the yellow Lego style blocks which I use for about everything.

Make sure when unhooking for the first time that the landing gear legs are semi high in the trailer and the lower adjustable portion are used for length. If not you may not have enough height adjustment to re-hook the trailer as the truck raised due to less weight. Been there, done that.

Enjoy that new trailer.

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
I think I'd try to spend the first night near the dealer in case you found something in need of repair. Staying near a Walmart to buy supplies for unforeseen needs isn't the worst thing to do either.

First few camping trips near a Walamrt is good advice.

I think I'd try to spend the first night near the dealer in case you found something in need of repair. Staying near a Walmart to buy supplies for unforeseen needs isn't the worst thing to do either.

Do you know if the 5er will clear the bed of the truck? You may find out you have to install a lift kit on the Trailer before it will clear the bed of the truck.

Dealer should include sewer hose, water hose, pressure regulator, electric shore line adapters if needed. Be sure your insurance company has you covered.Are the LP tanks full? Your truck is wired for seven pin? Hitch is set up? Do a walk through making sure you know how to use everything. I would personally have the unit pressure tested for leaks. Happy Trails

dump hose, clear elbow, bucket to go under it just in case
fresh water hose
water pressure regulator
if you have a black tank flush, I use a separate hose for that
If two hoses are used, then a y-splitter for the hose bib
Yellow stackable blocks, I also have the rubber Hosspad ones I put under those
Your 30amp/50amp power cord
If you are 50 amp trailer, you will want an adapter to hook to 30 amp pedestals (dog bones)
Adapter to hook to a 15amp outlet at the house (or to hook to generator)
I have a bin for culinary water hoses/items
I have a bin for black tank hoses/adapters/items

torque wrench
socket for trailer tires
your tool box with common things
a tire pump that can go to 100 psi (? not sure on the psi but some don't go very high and rvs run at higher psi often)
truck to be setup for 5th wheel hitch and light/brake cable

Bring a level until you get used to leveling your trailer or install the hopkins below
Ultimately I installed the Hopkins Graduated Levels even w/ my auto leveling system I use them
I like the andersen camper levelers (good if not level by > 1")


RV toilet paper (or a brand you've tested in the quart jar)
Propane
spray bottle of clorox for spraying the rv park hookups
box of disposable gloves
black tank digester
water filter for incoming fresh water hose (camco makes one that is cheap and decent)

broom/dust pan
i have a 90 degree adapter for my fresh water hose so it hangs down not out
a really good quality tire pressure gauge

Other items on this thread but not necessary for initial trip unless you think so. See my post at the end about a tool list I put together.

My very first time pulling our 5er out of the lot was stress-less for the first 1/4 mile. The brakeaway cable got hung up on the hitch, pulled away from it's slot and the rig hit the brakes during a right turn in the middle of a busy intersection. While in the intersection it took me awhile to figure what actually stopped me. I then noticed that the breakaway cable had come out of it's slot so I stood on top of my rear truck tire and reached over and plugged the cable back in. Well, as soon as I did that the 5er let off it's brakes and pulled on my truck and moved the tire that I was attempting to get off of - all while creating a traffic jam.

So, don't forget toilet paper.