Forum Discussion

Lovethatcamping's avatar
Apr 02, 2014

Just bought our first RV

We just bought our first RV last-night! Can't wait to go camping with it! It's a 2014 Coachmen Clipper 108ST, now we have camped for many years in a tent so was just wondering if there's anything I might need to know that they won't tell me at the demo? Also do pop ups tow very easily? I'll be towing with a 2008 Dodge Ram. I've never towed anything at all and am a little nervous. Thanks for any responses!

16 Replies

  • For your first trip try to make it in your driveway or at least close to a walmart store. Tent trailers generally have pretty low caego carrying capacity, so pack carefully. Many people buy a bunch of medium size totes to pqck everything in. Makes for better organizing. You must learn to conserve battery power when not hooked up at a camp ground. Most of all, have fun! Thats what this time is all about.
  • Your truck will tow your new camper just fine. To help you get more familiar with towing, take your camper to an empty parking lot (like a school after school hours), and practice backing up and practice backing to park in one of the spaces (between the lines). You'll learn a lot and have a lot of fun and learn a lot this way without having "eyes" watching you and you feeling intimated.

    And remember this, if you put the wheel on your tongue jack, you can push by hand, your camper around and turn it different directions, that you cannot do with a hard sided trailer because they are just too heavy.

    When we had our pop-up, we often turned the trailer 90 degrees to the camp site pad and faced the camper to the back of campsite. It gave us more privacy, and it was just fun doing something unconventional.

    As stated above, stock your camper just like you would your home with personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, kitchen ware, and bedding.

    Another tip: Get electric blankets for your bed. Even if you're using sleeping bags, electric blankets are WONDERFUL in pop-up, especially on those chilly mornings in the early spring and late fall. Nothing says you have to "rough it" when your "roughing it!"

    Enjoy your new camper. These ARE the good days! These days are the events that will be the stories you'll be passing on to your great-grandchildren some day.

    And oh ... keep a journal of every event that happens with your camper. a few years from now, when you've navigated to a new camper, you'll fondly love re-reading all the events. There is just so much that gets forgotten over time.
  • Set up the inside like you would your house. Coffee pot, pots/pans, plates/silver ware, etc. At the end of the year (or earlier) remove what you don't want/need.
  • gbopp wrote:
    Welcome to the forum.
    I've never owned a pop up but, I have towed trailers. I don't think you will have any problem towing one.
    One option is to find a large empty parking lot and set up some cones or cardboard boxes and practice backing. That's usually the most difficult part of towing.
    After you tow it a few times you will get comfortable.
    Enjoy your travels.



    Great idea! Will do!
  • Welcome to the forum.
    I've never owned a pop up but, I have towed trailers. I don't think you will have any problem towing one.
    One option is to find a large empty parking lot and set up some cones or cardboard boxes and practice backing. That's usually the most difficult part of towing.
    After you tow it a few times you will get comfortable.
    Enjoy your travels.