Just got a TT, overwhelmed by what I need to fill it :)

This year we switched from a TT to a MH. Prior to trading in the TT we had to unload everything and then keep out only the minimum basics for our first night in the new rig. We camped the night we bought it in a nearby campground. Wow, was that an eye-opening experience! We thought we were traveling light, and realized quickly how much stuff we had accumulated over the three years we had the TT. We pared down and don't miss the stuff we left in the shed.

We leave everything in the MH except for perishible food. At the end of each trip (which is nearly every weekend) we pile the dirty clothes and towels on the bed, gather up the sheets and head to the laundry room. The linens get washed first, and go right back into the MH. We make the bed, make sure the frig and freezer are propped open and everything is stowed and ready for the next trip.

Packing is just perishibles and clothes. During the summer, shorts, tshirts, socks, undies and such go back out to the MH with the linens. We also keep extra shoes, rain jackets and hoodies in the MH. Our packing time and unloading time are down to just a few minutes on either end.

OP, just have fun. Your new truck sounds like a winner and your kids will love camping. The best childhood memories I have are the adventures and fun we had camping.

I found this list on the internet. It might give you some suggestions.

http://www.rvchecklist.info/checklist-essentials2010.pdf

Plus here is another website for Arrival and Departure checklists.

http://changingears.com/rv-checklist-setup-trailer.shtml?sec-checklist

A couple of things i have learned...

Meal planning : I do it in advance, keep some staple dry goods in the trailer (spaghetti, sauce, mac/cheese, some cereal in containers... We are breakfast/dinner eaters... so we plan those meals and snack for lunch...

Kids and their SHTUFF: The only thing they bring is an iPad (ya ya ya, i know... wow an ipad. in our home i retire old KIT to the kids.... ( I have in the bunk ward (3bunk) a headlamp, a hipsack and bug net/grasshopper cage for each bunk... Let the kids explore. use the imagination... ipad is for quiet time and weather stuff... outside!!

Dad/ Hubby: beer..... lol

I walked around my rig and jotted down a quick list of little stuff. I bought a small tacklebox. small.... i put self tapping screws, wing nuts (the other ones.. not the DW and kids) a driver bit, and few other screws and stuff to have to keep things together. a tube of sealant, a pair of crescent wrenches and a 12v kit (multimeter, are, fuses, tape, wire nuts)

Mom/ raddest wife ever: i let her decide what stuff she needed. kitchen and bath wise. (VITAMIX) gotta have a 'rita

I keep the rig running and handle all the plumbing.elec. truck stuff.

It took a year of using it.... and now it is basically... meal plan. load the food/ a few clothes and go.

A blender and toilet paper! Oh and pop corn.
Have fun!

fla-gypsy wrote:

Orcusomega wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:
I concur with what the others are saying and I hate to be the one to do it but it needs to be said, That is a LOT of trailer for that truck. Being a person that believes you should always stay within the manufacturers established limits, that concerns me with the TT you have particulary the GVWR/payload issue. I would recommend you stay close to home until you have researched the trucks actual capacity a little better.

First off, THANKS for the heads up on weight - I've had people sheepishly make comments, it is definitely a huge factor!

I looked up the max towing capacity for my truck, a 2010 F150 5.4 SuperCrew 4x4, and based on my engine and axle ratio, it is saying 8100lbs as max weight (source: http://www.ford.com/assets/pdf/towing/10FLMrvF150sep09.pdf) - so I should be 1000lb safe before loading. Since I am not boondocking, I don't need to carry any clean water (I'll be at campgrounds with local water) and minimal in grey/black. Weight is definitely a concern, and based on these numbers the I think I am OK... That said, since this is our first, we will likely be upgrading the truck next year if we find using it more thank once a month or so...

Bob

Bob I guess what I wanted you to see is that the tow rating is only half of the equation and most people mistakenly assume if the tow rating is OK then everything else is too but not so. A 7k TT will have a tongue weight that could easily exceed 1000 lbs and if your truck only has 1400lbs (just an example, I have no idea what yours is) of payload you will exceed your GVWR/payload rating and still be well under the tow rating. I am a firm believer that the truck makers establish maximum ratings for good reasons. There is also the RAWR along with tire/wheel ratings to consider. Keep reading up on these things and you will work out the proper equation or get another truck, I prefer the latter (LOL).

I've done a ton of thinking on this, and have decided that the TV needs an upgrade... I have been looking around, and think I have settled on a 2011 F350 Super Duty King Ranch, diesel. There is one nearby that is reasonably priced, and if I really want the family to be safe and to enjoy the new lifestyle, we need to have a better platform to work off of. The good news is my payments will be about the same, tad higher but not enough to care, honestly, but with the towing package, mirrors, and most importantly 14,000 towing capacity, it should be a relative walk in the park...

I know, I could save some $$ with a lower trim package, but long hauls will call for comfy vehicles... This particular one already has rear air bags installed to help with leveling (not to replace load bars. Obviously) and a lot of really nice interior options...

That said, does anyone have any experiences with this model/trim?

Bob

Fly swatter..... my most used add-on!

Don't forget to take your tow rating. :)

We've camped in slide in camper no overhead, tents, pop up tent trailer, mattress in station wagon, 17ft TT, nice truck camper, nicer truck camper with a slide and trailer behind for bikes, and FW toy hauler. We chuckle about all the empty cupboards in the toy hauler.

Jettison the stuff that isn't used or needed.

Enjoy

bradnailer wrote:
Load it with the essentials, like hook up gear (hoses, electrical, leveling, chocking and such), dishes silverware and such. Then take your first trip within 10 miles of a Walmart or other camping store then camp for a few days.

We recently traded from a pop up to a travel trailer. I thought I had most everything I needed but we took our first trip near a town. I made five trips to Walmart to pick up little things I'd forgotten. Now, after a couple of more trips, we are pretty well rigged up.

This is great advice and just this week after close to 40 years of camping DW finally got a steamer basket and noodle fork for the trailer since we often forget to bring the ones from the house. It's a never ending process of add, subtract, add about 2X more then subtract a little then start over and continue till you die or sell the RV.

Larry

That is too much trailer for your truck. I have a 2012 f150 and my trailer is 27 feet and weighs 5600 lbs loaded and I would not want to tow more than that. Dealer should have told you that. Short trips might be ok. Going anywhere near your max tow is bad.

Orcusomega wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:
I concur with what the others are saying and I hate to be the one to do it but it needs to be said, That is a LOT of trailer for that truck. Being a person that believes you should always stay within the manufacturers established limits, that concerns me with the TT you have particulary the GVWR/payload issue. I would recommend you stay close to home until you have researched the trucks actual capacity a little better.

First off, THANKS for the heads up on weight - I've had people sheepishly make comments, it is definitely a huge factor!

I looked up the max towing capacity for my truck, a 2010 F150 5.4 SuperCrew 4x4, and based on my engine and axle ratio, it is saying 8100lbs as max weight (source: http://www.ford.com/assets/pdf/towing/10FLMrvF150sep09.pdf) - so I should be 1000lb safe before loading. Since I am not boondocking, I don't need to carry any clean water (I'll be at campgrounds with local water) and minimal in grey/black. Weight is definitely a concern, and based on these numbers the I think I am OK... That said, since this is our first, we will likely be upgrading the truck next year if we find using it more thank once a month or so...

Bob

Bob I guess what I wanted you to see is that the tow rating is only half of the equation and most people mistakenly assume if the tow rating is OK then everything else is too but not so. A 7k TT will have a tongue weight that could easily exceed 1000 lbs and if your truck only has 1400lbs (just an example, I have no idea what yours is) of payload you will exceed your GVWR/payload rating and still be well under the tow rating. I am a firm believer that the truck makers establish maximum ratings for good reasons. There is also the RAWR along with tire/wheel ratings to consider. Keep reading up on these things and you will work out the proper equation or get another truck, I prefer the latter (LOL).