New Tent trailer owner:) just looking for advice and tips

Congratulations on your new home on wheels. That is the way to think of it, a second home, just on wheels. :)

Set this home up like you would a regular (stick and brick) home. You got a bedroom(s). I'm currently of the mind that sleeping bags are the way to go. Just toss them out and they're ready for sleeping. Kitchen, use the same style of pots and pans and coffee maker as at home. Also, the same food. After a while you'll want to start to experiment with different things. At first follow the KISS rule. Living room, you got the whole outdoors, enjoy it!

Make sure that when you do a dry run "campout" that you spend the night and some considerable time in the camper and outside of "LuLu" the next day. Even a 2 night "excursion" wouldn't be a bad idea.

WoodGlue

Lil_Hell_Kat wrote:
Thanks for the replies. We are doing a test run about a mile from home gonna try to see how well the dog does as well so we don't have to send her to doggie camp. Gary I'm from western NC( in Canada now) and the plan is to head back that way next year when were comfortable with The trailer. Around Asheville / Cherokee any reccomendations on places ?

Not Gary. But if your going to Cherokee. I suggest, Happy Holiday

Thanks for the replies. We are doing a test run about a mile from home gonna try to see how well the dog does as well so we don't have to send her to doggie camp. Gary I'm from western NC( in Canada now) and the plan is to head back that way next year when were comfortable with The trailer. Around Asheville / Cherokee any reccomendations on places ?

Our first camper was a Coleman tent trailer. We loved it. As for airing it out, we found that when we got home we wanted to pop it back up and unload, clean, etc. We generally left it up for a couple of days after a trip for airing. This is mandatory if you have to break camp in the rain or even if the fabric is wet when you fold up. Just leave it popped up and open for air flow for a day or so when the weather is dry. I totally agree with doing a couple of test runs first. Find a close-by KOA or something similar and stay for a couple of nights. Within 2 days, you'll know what you're missing. I think you'll be just fine, and I'll give you fair warning: This stuff is addictive.

Congrats on your new purchase and hope you have lots and lots of fun and good memories. You've asked a lot of questions, not sure I can answer all of them unless this post becomes 126 pages long! The big thing is, you WILL learn how it all works, and you will have a lot of fun doing it too.

Your walk through class will teach you the basics, how to set it up, take it down, put up the awning, propane tank, electrical, water, hitching, stuff like the ... the mechanics of it all. "Camping" is something you learn by experience, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Think of your camper as an extension of your own home. Dress it out with things that make you comfortable and things you like. There's no magic bullet or no one single place you have to go to for camping supplies or gear. Don't over complicate. Keep it simple and start with basic items.

Think of your pop-up as a tent on a trailer ... which is exactly what it is. As long as your "tent" is dry, there is no need to air anything out, apart from natural use. You can park them anywhere, but the advantage of parking on a hard surface instead of grass is because grass will die under the camper if it's parked for any long period of time. I think that's the only reason for not parking on grass.

One thing you REALLY REALLY need to do before you head out on your first camp-out away from home, is to do a "driveway camp." Spend a week end in your camper in the driveway, and try to live in it without any dependency upon your house (except for maybe bathroom and shower). Even in a campground, may people use bath houses for bathroom and shower and never use the facilities in their camper.

Just remember, don't over complicate it. BUT do have an immense amount of fun!

Congrats again!

Everyone's lifestyle is a bit different, so what I bring camping may not be what you bring/need. Try either "driveway" camping, where you set-up in your driveway, but "camp=out" to figure out what you need, or try a CG VERY close to home (or a WalMart) so that you can fetch anything that you've forgotten or really need.