I'm new to rving. Southeastern Michigan

[afveteran]

Just purchased a Trail Runner TT from Camping world 25 RLS. First trip Labor Day weekend to Holland Mi. Pulling it with a 2003 Dodge Ram 1/2 ton. Can't wait to get out and see the USA. I'm retired Air Force and my wife is retiring in one year. I almost think we could spend the first year in Michigan seeing all the sights. Looking forward to any advice from fellow RV'ers.

[chezmoose]

afveteran wrote:
Why do I need a water pressure reducer? I don't pick up the trailer till Monday and they said they would go over everything but I'm sure I will have tons of things I forget to ask. Here is a quick question. Do I need chalks for my tires or pieces of 2 x 12's for under the leveling jacks? Also, Do I need something to secure my awning in case of wind?

Yes, you absolutely need wheel chocks. There is only one leveling jack, that's on the tongue. You will probably want an few different size blocks to use under the jack, 6x6, 2x4 to accommodate for terrain. The stabilizer jacks are strictly for stabilizing, NOT for leveling. Depending on the size of the pads on your stabilizers you will probably need 2x4 or 2x6 pieces to put beneath them so they don't sink in soft ground.

For leveling side to side, we use Anderson levelers. Drive on, chock them, done.

You shouldn't need anything for the awning. If it's too windy (or you're going to be away from camp), retract the awning. Only takes a minute and better safe than sorry.

If you ever decide to head "Up North" I'm familiar with many of the state and state forest campgrounds up here...

Have fun!!

[wa8yxm]

afveteran wrote:
Why do I need a water pressure reducer? ?

One of the campgrouonds where I winter has a warning on the park map about the water pressure, I think it says 112 PSI measured within the park

Straights State Park I saw the gauge hit 120 one day.

Some of the valves used in motor homes start to blow seals around 60

Hoses are not designed for triple digits either

Pressure regulators come in a few different types.. Most common at least in the stores (Which is a good place to leave them) are either plastic or brass cylinders, may or may not be adjustable may or may not have a pressure gauge on them and may or may not have a brightly colored grip on the female end (or wings on the body) the last being a High Flow, or High Capacity... leave them in the store.

Sur-Flow makes one, with various mounts, this is often used as the city water INLET on high end rigs... It also comes in an "Inline" model.

Unit comes with about a hundred different mounting benzels (You pick the one you want before purchase) OR.. With a male hose adapter on the output tube

THIS one I give about a 8 or 9 on the old 10 scale.

Valterra makes one I have never actually tried, but it gets good reviews.. has a gauge and an adjustment knob.

Watts and Zurin both make very good regulators.. The Very smallest WATTS may be too small, I recommend at the minimum a half inch size, Mine is 3/4" Zurin set to 50 PSI. Add hose adapters and.

Well, when I turn on the shower.. The needle on the pressure gauge does not even waiver, stuck on 50, like it was welded there.

They do get old and need to be rebulit, I have a watts 3/4 inch awayting rebuilt as well.

Both of these have a bell shaped brass housing with a bolt that sticks out where the bell would normally bolt to it's carrier (if it were a musical bell) that bolt is the pressure adjustment.

[Opie431]

They they go over everything is great but they will not go over some of the unexpected things that happen.
You will get a booklet of information with your trailer. It will be almost useless. Great of you want to install a refrigerator but otherwise useless.
Go camping in your driveway for two days and do not go in the house to see if you have what you need.
September you may need cold weather clothes or hot weather clothes so you have to take both.
Keep a list of things you should have brought.

[ken56]

As retired air force you do know that they are chocks, not chalks right? I would say you need something under the stabilizers be it wood or the plastic ones to keep them from sinking into the ground with all the movement in the trailer when your in it and when it rains and the ground gets soft. Yes, use a pressure regulator on your water inlet, and when you leave your campsite to go site seeing shut off the water at the campground spigot, and get a surge protector for the electric hook up. Also have a potable water hose and use it only for your city water hook up and have a separate utility hose for all other uses. You will have a blast in the RV lifestyle. Have fun and be safe pulling your new "home".

[afveteran]

Why do I need a water pressure reducer? I don't pick up the trailer till Monday and they said they would go over everything but I'm sure I will have tons of things I forget to ask. Here is a quick question. Do I need chalks for my tires or pieces of 2 x 12's for under the leveling jacks? Also, Do I need something to secure my awning in case of wind?

[rexlion]

It is a good idea to take a short 'shakedown' trip close to home, to get the kinks out of everything, before heading across the state for a much-anticipated destination. Something within an hour of home would be great. You have most of August yet. Maybe go up to the rec area at Holly? A single night close by will let you find out what else you need to buy, what you forgot to pack, what you need to learn more about on the trailer, and that sort of thing. Then you don't have as much chance of screwing up a big Labor Day trip.

Besides, you don't really want to wait until Labor Day, now do you??? 😉

I pack 2 white water hoses, 2 extension cords (a 50' and a 25'), and a spare water pressure reducer (in case the one I leave on the hose quits working... which happened to me once).

[mpfireman]

Remember, people who live in Michigan, camp in Michigan. That said, camping spots can be hard to come by in certain regions, and at different times of the year. So always have a back up plan.
But Michigan is a great place to explore and camp. HAVE FUN.

[wa8yxm]

Man you are talking some of the loveliest spots in a very beautiful state.. I can tell you that..

Going a bit farther north: Big Lake State park is next door (Meaning they share a line fence) with Cross in the Woods, which is the shrine to the Catholic Churches Native American Saint from Michigan. Crossing the bridge look for a little town called Paradise (you will be glad you made it) and just to the left of that (on the map) is the #2 (in terms of Gallons per minute) Waterfall in the country.. No I won't try to spell it,, Hiawatha's "Swiftly Falling Stream" the lower falls has a campground. Bit of a hike to the falls themselves (from upper falls parking) but well worth it.

Farther north still is a small city park in Gran Maris. Only complaint is the nick-0-lock showers but from there you are a day trip to the OTHER END of the Pictured Rocks national lake shore,,, (you got to take a boat to see those)

[Matt_Colie]

You easily burn the first year and just stay south of the bridge.
Have you been collecting the "You Haven't Lived Here Until" in the Sunday Freep? That is just a good start, but it is largely about so many local events.

Holland alone is a trip, and when not tulip time, the crowds aren't bad. Windmill Park and Museum are good stops. While you are at Holland, look up the times for the musical fountain in Grand Haven.

Between history and scenery, you have make up your mind which you are doing when. There comes the problem, do you want history or scenic?

When you get back from this trip, come back and tell us and we can point you at all kinds of neat stuff. There are miles of lake to look out over, but the best scenery is the dunes. Two parks of dunes, but the great one (Sleeping Bear) is way north of your current plan. As for museums, logging, historical, iron, automotive or aircraft and that does not include arts.

We travel, but we do at least one long trip in Michigan every year.

Matt

[is_it_friday_ye]

I'm from the area also. What do you think about all the rain we got? Our van got flooded and now needs a new engine. Anyway, we only camp in state parks and you have so many good ones to choose from, some decent ones within a 3 hour drive. We like Van Buren, Yankee Springs, South Higgins, and recently started going to Algonac for Halloween.