Bought our first camper

[Scott_P]

We bought a 2005 Dutchmen Lite 18B from our neighbors who are moving out of the country for a few years. This is our first ever RV/Camper/travel trailer and we are looking forward to owning it. I've spent a few nights in it the past couple years as it was our lodging for a BBQ cook off I've competed in for the past few years.

They bought it from someone who used it as a mobile office. So, the front fold out sofa was removed for a couch. A futon now resides there. The bed was replaced by the people we bought it from. The camper is not perfect, but has no leaks and everything does work fine.

It is missing the RV batteries. They only took it to places with hook-ups, so he never replaced them. The stock fridge was replaced with a non-camper specific 120V unit.

It does come furnished with bedding, supplies (plates, silverware, etc) the sewer and water hookups, etc. It also came with a weight distribution hitch. I do have to raise it up a notch as the hitch on their Yukon was a bit higher than my Sierra.

This spring, I plan on getting it out of the storage unit and into our driveway so we can get it cleaned up, checked out and made our own.

I'm sure I'll haved a ton of questions regarding the batteries, general use, upgrades, etc in the coming months.

[Scott_P]

That is good to know about the batteries. I'll have to do some reading on what to get. Early skimming seems to lean towards 6V golf cart batteries in series. I know what my first purchase will be.

[lbrjet]

Be aware that it is illegal to pull your trailer without a functioning breakaway cable which needs a battery to operate. Best of luck with the new trailer.

[2112]

This Spring?
Dude, your in Houston. We camp in the winter and store ours in the hot summer 🙂

Enjoy your new toy.

[Speedogomer]

It's a pretty small RV, so you won't be spending much time inside at all, I'd just remove the futon, and then you have a perfect area for the twins.

If you do geta rainy day and need to be inside, fold up the pack and plays, and use a few nice folding camp chairs as seating. Gander mountain camp chairs are actually pretty nice.

When the kids get older, you can put the futon back in that they can sleep on.

Since you won't be spending as much time inside, get a nice easy up and a good patio map or 2. Great place for the kids to play.

I don't spend any time inside my camper either, and do all my cooking outside. Invest in a good set up for outdoor cooking. Like a folding kitchen from Cabellas, coleman stove and grill, and you've got an outside kitchen as nice as the built in ones on the larger RVs.

[opnspaces]

Don't know your floor plan, but on mine I would remove the dinette table and place the pack n play on the floor between the benches.

[SlowBro]

As for a generator, you might get away with connecting a 12V-120V inverter directly to your car battery and running that engine to charge the battery, then cut the engine off while running light appliances. You'd need an extension cord of sufficient capacity of course, and a voltmeter would be very much advised so you're not deep cycling your starter battery. (That kills it.) A $60 800W inverter can do a lot of good.

Heard about that on Solar1234.com, which (strangely) isn't about solar for the most part, but powering your house during an extended blackout. Some excellent ideas there.

As for how many batteries I'm not experienced enough to tell you for sure, but I do know you need at least one "house" battery that can hold a good charge. The brake system requires it; If it disconnects from your vehicle the battery applies the brakes. So it's a safety requirement. Also if you keep the propane fridge running while driving you need a tiny bit of 12V for the logic board and such. Beyond that, I think house batteries are really only for dry camping/boondocking? Look for true deep cycle batteries, not marine batteries. Again I am not a road warrior so double-check these things.

As for washing and waxing, yes for sure. For ongoing UV protection I was going to have it waxed regularly but I'm still tossing around the idea of having a canopy such as this.

That model isn't tall enough, so I'd securely bolt on fence pipes to make it taller. Then use some auger stakes to secure it, and a used billboard tarp for the sides and additional top protection.

As for the twins, have you considered simply fencing off a section of the RV, then bump-protecting all the sharp corners with pipe insulation? I don't know what your floorplan looks like, but ours has a front "room" I could easily fence off with one of those door gates.

[pitch]

You will need a battery for your brakes breakaway emergency switch.
If your state requires trailer inspections it probably won't pass with out.

[Scott_P]

I have read over some of the stickied threads and they actually helped with a few questions. A generator is in the future for sure. I've borrowed a friend's Honda 3000 Inverter fofr the cook off last year and used my 5,500 W Briggs and Stratton last year. The Honda was much better suited for the task and the noise level was so much better. I'll either find a 3,000i or two 2000i units this spring.

The 120V-12V inverter was replaced, but I don't think he used the OEM one. It works, but I don't know what e used. I do plan on checking that out for sure. As far as camper batteries go, should I get a set? I think we'll have hook ups for every place we plan to visit.

I also plan on washing and waxing the unit this spring too. That should be fun for sure.

We have 14 month old twins, so we'll have to find some place to have them sleep. There isn't a lot of room inside for a pack and play or two.

[SlowBro]

Congratz! I just bought one, too.
Took the plunge, got a good used hybrid

If you haven't seen it, there is an excellent thread that is stickied in this forum which answers "what do I need" very well. Have a look:
Frequently Asked Questions on the Open Roads Forum

[cyntdon2010]

looks good, HAVE FUN

[NMDriver]

A 120V fridge will work fine but it works best if you run down the road with a generator providing it power--especially in the summer time. BTW a new RV fridge will run from $1500-$2000, so I would stay with what you got.

It is your decision on what size generator to get ($1000+ of Honda or $100 at Harbor Freight), but I think, if the fridge is a fairly modern one, even a little $100 Harbor Freight genny will work for just the fridge. Noise is the other consideration in a generator. The Honda is quiet and you can get by running it without the neighbors complaining, but that is why it costs to much for so little wattage.

You will want to have batteries but make sure the converter (120V to 12V) is working and has not been stripped out of the unit.

I see the unit has an AC so you might want a generator big enough to run that and the Refrig as you go down the road--I would. That would make me lean to buying the big quiet Honda ($2000) instead of investing in a new refrig.

You should have some fun with the unit and hopefully you will get lots of good advice from this forum to make it into what you want and need in an RV.
Have fun

[kknowlton]

Congratulations! Welcome to the wonderful world of RVing!