Update since buying my first TT

[rollindownthero]

I had posted at the end of April that I finally purchased my first RV, a TT. Wanted to give an update on how it's going so far.

Have now used it 3 times. Towing it seems to be fine, have had no issues with getting it hooked up, towing or sway. One thing is that I seem to have a problem when unhooking it from the truck. The first time the hitch came off the ball fairly easy when raised with the electric jack. The second time I actually lifted the back wheels of the truck off the ground before it came off. The 3rd time I greased the ball and inside of the hitch. I still seemed to have difficulty getting unhitched. Am I doing something wrong?

The second time I used it was on my way home and a tire blew. I had thought I had purchased everything that I needed to for it, except for stuff to change a tire. Where I pulled over was in front of an RV Resort. A man came out and asked me what was wrong. I explained I had a flat tire. He asked me if I had stuff to change it with, I told him no. He went to his truck and came back with everything to put the spare on. So now, I have everything, a lug nut wrench, I bought a ramp, a bottle jack, an air compressor, etc. So now I have what is needed to change a flat. Oh yeah, and a new tire.

This last weekend, the 4th, I was talking with some neighbors at the camp ground, they too had just got their first TT. The guy was telling me that he got a trickle battery charger for his. Is this something that is necessary to have? I always disconnect the battery when not in use.

The other thing is that I bought a Camco drinking water hose, it's suppose to be no kink, but it does! Also have a hard time getting put back in the container I bought to store it. Can one of those flex hoses be used to connect the water?

Otherwise, I am thoroughly enjoying the TT!!!

[wvcampers]

Zero G water hose is drinking water approved and they hold up well. Much easier to deal with that the standard drinking water hose. I also use the quick disconnects on all water hoses. Easier and eliminates all leaks.

[BarabooBob]

If you have a WFCO converter, I would question its ability to work properly under any circumstances. When I bough my TT, the WFCO did not go into the high output mode to quickly charge a low battery and it never went into the float mode for a fully charged battery. I had heard about this problem about 10 years ago on another forum so I checked my new unit. Rather than get it exchanged with another WFCO under warranty, I installed a Progressive Dynamics converter. I also have a digital voltmeter plugged in all of the time right inside the entrance os that I can check my battery at a glance.
Some people have had great luck with WFCO converters for years without incident. The dealer that I bought my TT from agreed that putting in the PD converter was a good idea.

[hondapro]

I have the Flexzilla water hose it does not kink and also coils nice to put away,it also does not get stiff when cold

[mgirardo]

I would be concerned with using an expandable hose long term. We used one seasonally for occasional use and handled it with a lot of care. I don't think it would last long under constant use. They are not nearly as sturdy as a regular hose, very thin covering over a thin hose.

-Michael

[kellem]

Wife liked those expandable hoses for watering her plants but they simply didn't hold up well.

Look at the Zero-G hose, they fold up well for storage and proving to be very durable around the house.

Don't buy into cheap " safe drinking " hoses......been drinking out of garden hoses for almost 60 yrs and have no deformities.

[rollindownthero]

Thank you for all your ideas. Hopefully one of these will work to make it easier to get the TT unhooked from the truck.

On the drinking water hose I guess I was referring to one of those expandable hoses. Will one of those work instead of the Camco that I bought?

[Guy_Roan]

When I used to have a problem getting the coupling off the ball, I solved it by prior to doing it take the pin that secures the coupling to the receiver out. then raise the tongue jack. This relieves the pressure that is holding the two together.
Just make sure your trailer wheels are chocked or you still have your safety chains attached. especially if your trailer is on a grade

Guy

[kellem]

When hitching up or un hitching, always let your truck drift forward a hair while trailer jack is touching ground, issue solved.

Run St trailer tires to maximum psi cold.

I've always used the flexible hoses, Zero-G.

[jdc1]

Lynnmor wrote:
When you parked the trailer you probably had the trailer pushing towards the truck or holding the truck back. Chock the trailer wheels and then shift to neutral before applying the parking brake.

A trickle charger is good to have for long term storage. Rather than having the trailer plugged in all the time and exposing it to any power issues, I use a Battery Tender brand charger about three days per month. A battery will have its longest life when kept fully charged.

Ditto
+ Maybe add a solar panel.

[Lynnmor]

When you parked the trailer you probably had the trailer pushing towards the truck or holding the truck back. Chock the trailer wheels and then shift to neutral before applying the parking brake.

A trickle charger is good to have for long term storage. Rather than having the trailer plugged in all the time and exposing it to any power issues, I use a Battery Tender brand charger about three days per month. A battery will have its longest life when kept fully charged.

[Grit_dog]

wing_zealot wrote:
You don't need a trickle charger. I have never used one in over 20 years of camping. Either keep it plugged in when not in use or disconnect the battery when not in use. The battery will then stay charged. Instead of using a trickle charger, the guy can merely plug his camper in using a 30 amp/20 amp adapter.

Be wary of this statement^.
Unless your onboard charger/converter also has float/tender mode, you WILL overcharge your batteries just leaving them plugged in indefinitely when not in use.

Many do, many don’t. Which do you have?

[wing_zealot]

You don't need a trickle charger. I have never used one in over 20 years of camping. Either keep it plugged in when not in use or disconnect the battery when not in use. The battery will then stay charged. Instead of using a trickle charger, the guy can merely plug his camper in using a 30 amp/20 amp adapter.