Lessons we've learned over the years
I would be curious to hear from all the veterans on this forum about the (sometimes painful) lessons you've learned over the years of owning a TT. I'll start: I rarely, if EVER, make U-turns w...
Forum Discussion
My lessons:
1: When everything is hooked up, give a trial using a small amount of grey water. If there is a leak, it will stink less versus black water.
2: Disconnect the battery before leaving the trailer if no shore power is available. Next week, you might come back to a depleted battery, week after that, a dead, unchargable battery. I like using two of the little bolts to ensure that the wire is not going anywhere.
3: Don't let people in even if they "need" to use the bathroom. Ever. Say that the plumbing is out (without mentioning that the water pump switch is off.)
At best, you will get a line out your door in short order, at worst, stuff will go missing.
4: Bring more LP gas than you think you might use. Few things suck worse than waking up at 2:00 in the morning in sub-freezing temperatures, with the fridge check light on.
5: Same with battery power. Even if someone doesn't boondock, it is wise to go with two 6VDC golf cart batteries to start off so one can last the night with a furnace without having to run the generator.
6: It can't hurt to double-chock when parked on any type of grade. The rubber wedge keeps the trailer from going downhill if the X-chocks loosen or fail for some reason.
7: The CH759 locks should be chucked. Even if it is for thumb-latches. Combi-Cams are good, but "automotive-grade" locks will allow locking/unlocking many times. At the extreme, one could get Medeco cylinders. Avoid the round key locks, as the bicycle forums have very detailed instructions on how to open those with a Bic pen. Of course, with most trailers, the long screwdriver functions well as a "master key".
8: Clean the anode rod yearly. Mine had so much lime/calcium on it from the local water that it nearly didn't fit through the hole. Ironically, a quick wipe, and the rod was 99.9% intact. Also, make sure to use Teflon tape on the threads when putting it back in.
9: Find a space to put spare keys, either on the tow vehicle or the rig.
10: Don't double-lock when inside -- just use the deadbolt. Otherwise you might go out and get something, and get locked out. This is why I'm glad I have rule #9.
1: When everything is hooked up, give a trial using a small amount of grey water. If there is a leak, it will stink less versus black water.
2: Disconnect the battery before leaving the trailer if no shore power is available. Next week, you might come back to a depleted battery, week after that, a dead, unchargable battery. I like using two of the little bolts to ensure that the wire is not going anywhere.
3: Don't let people in even if they "need" to use the bathroom. Ever. Say that the plumbing is out (without mentioning that the water pump switch is off.)
At best, you will get a line out your door in short order, at worst, stuff will go missing.
4: Bring more LP gas than you think you might use. Few things suck worse than waking up at 2:00 in the morning in sub-freezing temperatures, with the fridge check light on.
5: Same with battery power. Even if someone doesn't boondock, it is wise to go with two 6VDC golf cart batteries to start off so one can last the night with a furnace without having to run the generator.
6: It can't hurt to double-chock when parked on any type of grade. The rubber wedge keeps the trailer from going downhill if the X-chocks loosen or fail for some reason.
7: The CH759 locks should be chucked. Even if it is for thumb-latches. Combi-Cams are good, but "automotive-grade" locks will allow locking/unlocking many times. At the extreme, one could get Medeco cylinders. Avoid the round key locks, as the bicycle forums have very detailed instructions on how to open those with a Bic pen. Of course, with most trailers, the long screwdriver functions well as a "master key".
8: Clean the anode rod yearly. Mine had so much lime/calcium on it from the local water that it nearly didn't fit through the hole. Ironically, a quick wipe, and the rod was 99.9% intact. Also, make sure to use Teflon tape on the threads when putting it back in.
9: Find a space to put spare keys, either on the tow vehicle or the rig.
10: Don't double-lock when inside -- just use the deadbolt. Otherwise you might go out and get something, and get locked out. This is why I'm glad I have rule #9.
