Hey guys, I'm picking up a Lance 1575 on Saturday here in the Denver area. It is fully loaded except for a solar panel setup. I am very excited. I am quite uninformed about travel trailers and am trying to soak up as much information as I can. I'd like to travel a bit light and make sure I learn the tricks of camping. While most of this is gained through experience, I would like to learn as much as I can. I really don't know what I have not even thought about.Should I just keep going through hundreds of threads or is there a place where I can pick up essential information quickly? Right now, I am trying to find storage and trying to figure out how to travel light. At this point, my wife and I will be taking it on exploring trips and I will go on some mountain biking and road biking trips all over Colorado and Utah. When I pick it up this Saturday, the dealer will show me the ins and outs of operating the basics. While I have not found storage yet, I have left messages and hope to get at least a decent back-in spot by the middle of next week.Last but not the least, I hope to run into some of you at a campground somewhere!

Be sure to video your PDI walk through, because guaranteed unless you have a photographic memory you will forget 90% of what your told. Unless your comfortable towing and backing go to an empty parking lot and practice. Get a pair of walkie talkies and learn to communicate. Spend at least one night in your driveway and a couple more nights close to a Walmart. Pencil and paper are also invaluable. Make lists of forgotten or needed stuff. We keep everything we need in the trailer. That includes clothes, cooking stuff, everything. It is dedicated RV stuff, not stuff from home.

Congrats on your new T.T. and welcome to the forum. I am sure you will learn a lot from the folks here, I'm still learning every day. Read your manual and always keep it with you when traveling. Happy camping!!:)

Looks like the Lance 1575 has good storage. As far as personal belongings only you know what you need."Camping Gear" I bring a barbque, coleman latern, fold-up chairs, ax, hatchet, shovel, under the awning mat, door mat, rope, sewer hose & connections, dump tank if sewer hook-ups aren't availible, tent stakes.........Then there the "repair kit" screws, duct tape, epoxy, nuts & bolts ect. I carry a small tarp to cover fire wood, a table cloth for the picnic table, a poncho, first aid kit.Basically you gotta bring whats going to make life comfortable when your camping.

I agree with Don but would add a practice tire change. You are a little light on fresh water capacity but that can be overcome with planning.

Go to the Lance Owners of america (LOA) site.More information there than you will know what to do with on all models of lance.You will need to become a lifetime member..small cost... to access all the forums.

Getting a new Lance 1575. How to get started? | Good Sam Community

Chandne
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
Great- I'll check the FAQs. I have started collecting things for the RV- all somewhat minimalist and light. I'll get stuff as needed. Just need to get a nice awning mat though! Thanks for all this information.
old_guy
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
one thing not mentioned is toilet paper. don't waste money on rv toilet paper. get the same stuff you use at home. rv paper is spendy and you use twice as much to get the job done right. when buying a new rv and having never done any thing before, practice is the best medicine. slow and sure when backing up, walkie talkies are best over hand signals any day. stop means stop, a hand signal can mean anything or nothing at all. as mentioned before pen and paper for things you forgot or would like to have for next trip. kitchen things but in a smaller amount, bedding, towels, soap and tooth brush. you will need things just like in your house but in smaller amounts. enjoy your new TT, I remember my first one and the excitement of rving. one thing I forgot, on the top of this page is a section called rving FAQ's. click on that and there is a lot of info there for you to read and answer a lot of questions you might have. always come back to us if you still have any thing you need to know.
westend
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
Congrats on your new trailer! Lance makes them well.

I think there is a beginners stickified thread on this Forum but I don't know where.

One thing they may seem redundant since you have discussed with the dealer and probably addressed before purchase is weights and capabilities. Yes, the 1575 is small and you wish to travel light but you want to know what you have and the best setup intricacies for towing setup. This is started by weighing at a scale.
Here's a how to: How to weigh your trailer
Before you weigh, load everything in tow vehicle and trailer for camping, if possible.

If you're interested in solar charging, post in the tech issues section where the sun worshippers hang out, including me. Here is a compilation of member's solar installations: Member's solar installations

Hope you have the best of times with your new trailer!
bobndot
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2017
A few things i did to make life a little easier .

If you don't already have one, get yourself an "Absorber synthetic drying chamois" to dry your shower. One swipe, it's dry . Great for glass too.

Wheel chocks . Block your TT tires when you unhitch and at the same time, stabilize the TT front back to front movement when parked. Doing this in conjunction with using your TT stabilizer jacks, makes your rig more stable from rocking = a good nights sleep.
http://www.adventurerv.net/bal-standard-locking-chock-p-4287.html?gclid=CjwKEAiArIDFBRCe_9DJi6Or0UcSJAAK1nFv6HuyB-C4aNBiF4-WnwTKfz1ENKZfe-4wd_OCFqk4ExoC2TTw_wcB&utm_campaign=partsfeed_ppc&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=Froogle

I installed a Giant Level Master
on the drivers front corner of my TT. I can view it in my sideview mirror and im able to easily pick my level spot from right to left as i pull into a site.
Once i unhitch, my electric tongue jack brings it all level from front to rear so the fridge will operate basically level.
The Giant level does all 4 directions in one level and at that location, works well and is easy to view.
Chandne
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
I have some superlight warm sleeping bags so I'll keep those around if the heat goes out. I'll start minimalist and the camper has a cooktop and oven. I am already very focused on staying light. I also don't mind using the campground toilets and shower if they are decent. I am a bit used to that from my few tent-camping trips. I also have titanium (smaller) cooking pots and it should be easy to get propane in most areas anyway.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2017
Start minimalist and add only what you find you need as you go along. Some people are all about cooking outside and bring a lot of stuff to do that. Some of us think that's why we bought a camper with a cooktop. :D Each to his/her own.

If you will be camping in cooler weather, take 1 more layer of bedding than you think you might need, in case the heat goes out.

Most of what you will need can be found at Walmart, with a few exceptions.

Don't waste your money on RV toilet paper. Use what you use at home but use plenty of water when you flush.
Chandne
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
Thanks guys. I wanted to go to Camping World but they are closed today...darn! May hit REI just for fun. This dealer (Ketelsen) is pretty reputable and the service mgr who will help me (well, I will watch and he will teach) set up the Jeep and 4Runner has been there for 24 years. He sounds like he knows what he is doing, and is very safety conscious.
profdant139
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2017
Great choice! Lance builds them well.
Durb
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
My best way to learn is by experience. I would recommend that you personally guarantee that your hitch and anti-sway are installed properly. There are many posts here regarding dealers doing a poor job and your safety and comfort when towing is important. Set up conditions change when your tow vehicle and trailer are loaded and ready to go as opposed to empty during installation.

I like to make my first trip to a place close to Camping World or a good RV store. It hasn't happened yet that I didn't show up needing or wanting something. Congratulations and enjoy your new trailer.
MikeInOregon
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
Our first psychological barrier to overcome was to learn how to backup and park the beast. We went to an empty parking lot and practiced the basics of backing and parking. I laid cones in the parking lot and practiced driving and backing around them. To communicate with each other we use a wireless phone set just like you might use in your home. We have headsets that plug-in to the handsets which gives me hands-free communication with my wife as I maneuver the truck and trailer. The wireless phone allows both of us to talk without pushing a button as required on a walkie talkie. And no cell signal is required. The phone base is powered by the inverter in the truck, or could also be powered by an inverter in the trailer. We still use the phones each time we pull into a campsite.

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