1st TT arriving tomm, what is your check list for setup?

[Danattherock]

I have a question that I'm almost embarrassed to put here. After years of looking we finally found the travel trailer we wanted and saved the money to buy it.

However it was a brand new model from no boundaries and we had to buy it out of state in Ohio, yet we live in North Carolina where it will be delivered to our home tomorrow. The salesman said a technician would deliver it who could show us how to use all the systems, as some of you might have guessed that did not turn out to be the case and it's being delivered tommorow and it sounds like we will have no information on how to use the camper upon delivery.

It's a 24-foot 4200 lb No Boundaries 19.3 with a solar array on the roof, inverter, two deep cycle interstate batteries, and two propane tanks up front with the auto regulator. Fridge runs on propane or electric, a Domestic. TV is 28" lcd 12 volt. No sure but furnace is propane and it's fan runs on battery or shore power as I recall.

I'm unsure what to do with this thing to be honest. I'm vaguely familiar with how systems work, mostly from online reading and watching a few YouTube videos. I have never been in a travel trailer nor do I know anybody that owns one. We have some confusion about the refrigerator running on propane vs. Electric and the water heater and if these things are automatically decided for us. For example do I have to fill the water tank, or water heater before plugging in the electric.

We're buying this in a weird circumstance and I don't want my ignorance to cause any safety issues or damage any of the systems before I learn how to use them. I appreciate any thoughts and your patience in advance.

I don't expect anyone to answer all of these questions but if you know of an online resource or a YouTube video worth checking out that would be very helpful. I got $700 worth of accessories at camping world and a 12 gauge 50 foot extension cord to plug the unit in by our garage and the 30 to 15 amp dogbone. Our plan would be to camp in the driveway a time or two before taking it on the road. But I'm not quite sure exactly how the systems work so hesitant to do anything. This is all pretty embarrassing but thanks for any thoughts you may have.


Dan
NC

[GrandpaKip]

Danattherock wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
Where in N.C. are you?

Rockingham.

Ah...not close to me.
As has been said, read the manuals, try everything.
Also, check every plumbing connection that is hand tightened, both water supply and drain.
Enjoy!

[Reader1]

Someone mentioned having an experienced RVer there and that is an excellent idea. When my daughter got her first, she videotaped the walk through so that if she had questions they could refer to it. Open every cupboard, awning, etc, close everything and make sure it works well. Try everything! We just purchased a new TT and DH will go under it to make sure that all is secure, I will check everything inside including opening windows. Welcome to camping or RVing whichever you prefer. You will never regret traveling all over this beautiful country. When you have questions, ask here, there are so many expert people here that have helped us a lot over the years.

[Danattherock]

opnspaces wrote:
Here's my take on it....

Thank you! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to share that. I will go through your steps tomorrow. we spent most of the day the sitting in the camper and the kids had a ball climbing up and down out of their bunk bed when I got home from school.

[Danattherock]

GrandpaKip wrote:
Where in N.C. are you?

Rockingham.

[Grit_dog]

Personally, I'd much rather carve out a couple days to go pick it up at the dealer and tow it home. Would alleviate some of the getting it dumped in your driveway with potential issues.

It's like what 5-600 miles one way?
Not a bad weekend trip IMO and you have a place to stay on the way home!

Most importantly, have fun with it this year!

[Grit_dog]

^ Basically exactly what he said!

Emphasis on don't turn on the water heater until it's full of water.
It will be switched, not auto on all the time just because it has gas or power. It's electric ignition, not a pilot light you have to light like a residential water heater.
Fridge is even simpler. Turn it on and go through the modes. It will prioritize in auto mode AC, LP, DC in that order if that source is available. Can't screw it up. Worst case you have no propane and no AC power plugged in and it runs on DC until the batteries die.


The one thing I would be cautious of, is that there are things that don't work or leak that are not discovered until after you take "delivery". As your knowledge is limited and warranty work will be difficult due to the long distance delivery, do what you can to have some ammunition for repairs (IE refuse delivery if everything doesn't work and have that in writing before joe schmoe drops it in your driveway and takes off.)

Can tell, you're apprehensive about your new toy and this should not be a stressful deal. It's fun, don't get too wound up about it. There's a great chance that everything works just fine. If not, there are many (not just us on this website) that can help or walk you through minor issues or fixes.

Can you be well read on the owners manual before receiving it? That way checking the simple operations of the mechanical stuff can be done efficiently? ( I picture making the delivery driver wait before you accept it, based on running the systems, which will be difficult unless you get it sorted before hand.)

[opnspaces]

Here's my take on it. Aside from the water heater or an off level refrigerator there is not much on a travel trailer that you're going to destroy by experimenting.

Use some blocks of 2x6 or 2x8 or some purchased plastic leveling blocks to level the trailer side to side. Then chock the tires front and back on both sides of the trailer (total of at least 4 blocks)

Now unhitch and level the trailer front to back.


If you have a water pressure regulator then put it on the hose bib of the house. Hook the fresh water hose to the pressure regulator. On the trailer here should be a labeled water inlet. Screw your garden hose to the this inlet and turn it on.

Now go find the outdoor shower and turn on the hot water knob. It should take about 3-5 minutes before water comes out of the shower as the heater tank needs to fill. If the water comes out of the shower fairly quickly then the water heater is bypassed and the tank is not filling. Turn off the hot water at the outside shower and turn on the cold to bleed air out of the cold piping. Turn off the cold knob.

Now go around the exterior of the trailer and find the door to the water heater. Open the door and find the lever for the relief valve (the same valve like on your water heater at home.) Lift the lever on the relief valve and make sure water comes out. If water comes pouring out the tank is full. If no water the tank is empty. Make sure the tank is full.

Now go turn on the propane tanks on the tongue. Go into the trailer and make sure all stove and oven knobs are turned off. Then turn on and light the stove burners to purge the air out of the propane system. You might have to spin a spark knob to actually light the burners. Once the burners are burning well you can turn the burners off.

Have someone stand outside the trailer by the refrigerator panel. Now have someone inside the trailer turn the refrigerator on to the gas setting. The person outside should hear the refrigerator click three times and then light with a quiet little roar. It will try three times and if no flame it will stop trying. If the happens there was probably still a bit of air in the propane lines. Have the person inside turn the refrigerator off, wait a second and then turn it back on. Once it lights it should work fine after that by shutting the flame off when the refrigerator is cold (hours on a warm refrigerator), and then relighting automatically as the refrigerator warms.

Turn the water heater on gas and go outside. You should hear the heater light and start burning. Unlike the refrigerator this is an obvious roar.

Now plug the trailer in to shore power, flip the refrigerator to Auto and the water heater to electric. Also turn off the gas switch for the water heater. It will take about 30 minutes for the electric to heat the water heater. The refrigerator you will have to wait a few hours to see if it gets cold.

Run all the water faucets in the trailer until they stop sputtering to purge the air out of the lines. Look for leaks under all the cabinets.

Be advised that the furnace will stink really badly when it is used for the first few times. Open all the windows for ventilation and turn the thermostat on kind of high. Let the furnace run for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will burn the manufacturing oils off the furnace.

Now play with everything you can find to see if it works.

Good luck and have fun with your new trailer.

[librty02]

Dave5143 wrote:
Sure would be nice if more RV dealers offered weekend RV-101 classes for new users. They could probably pick up a few sales on useful accessories doing so. Maybe there's a dealer near you with such a class.

This is becoming a big thing now I know one of my local dealers does this and nationally I know Lazy Days has done this for years now.

[GrandpaKip]

Where in N.C. are you?

[Dave5143]

Sure would be nice if more RV dealers offered weekend RV-101 classes for new users. They could probably pick up a few sales on useful accessories doing so. Maybe there's a dealer near you with such a class.

[Gator398]

You are very humble and considerate, I will probably be in your situation soon as the sales side of these RV's seem to only see $$ and I imagine they are hard to talk to after paying them. After months of researching this stuff, I agree that a friend with TT or folks in the RV park you meet are our best resource once you step into this new world known as RVing.

[2oldman]

Youtube is also a great visual resource for this sort of thing.

[Lwiddis]

If you have been reading posts here since 2013 and know about TPMS, you are underestimating your knowledge IMO.

[Guy_Roan]

First and foremost I hope all the manuals came with it. (they should have)
The overall manual will just give you a idea how everything works, but is only a generic one.
Each individual item, such as the refrigerator, water heater, furnace, stove, etc has its own manual which you should read before using them.
If they didn't send the manuals with each item, just get the make, model number or serial number and look it up on line. They are all on line.

The most important thing is don't turn the water heater on with out having water in it's tank. If it is on electric and you do, you'll burn out the element

As you come up with a problem or question; fire away here and you should get the answer(s)

Guy