Truck Camping, here we come!

[theclarkster]

Thank you all so much for your help so far. We've had numerous questions and you have all been very helpful. Our search for a TC + truck combo has finally come to an end. Our choice is:

2014 Wolf Creek 850 & 2011 Chev Silverado 3500 CC V8 6.0L

Picking up our truck this Friday and then we'll drive down to Washington State to pick up our camper sometime next week. Will definitely post a picture of our rig as soon as we have it all set up.

From what I learnt from other posts I read we are supposed to leave our tailgate at home before we go 'n pick up the camper. Well, that leaves us with not much space to pack for our Washington trip and we have a 2-year-old son with us. We plan to camp for a couple of days before we head back home.

What are some things we should bring/buy that we absolutely must have in order to pick up the camper and camp for a few days???

This is going to be the first RV we own and currently we haven't bought anything yet. Here are some things I thought we might need for the camper:

-Sewer hose
-black tank chemicals
-Toilet paper
-A small portable electric heater for our son(we'll have hook ups at the camp site)

Do you notice anything else important that I'm missing? I don't expect to have everything for our first trip. Just want to make sure we have all the essentials.

Thanks so much. We are very excited. Please come say 'Hi' if you see us camping!

[anutami]

theclarkster wrote:

wsdepa wrote:
Congrats on your new TC. You know you do not have to put the jacks down when you camp. The danger is if you forget and drive off, you can total your camper. I have sometimes seen people put their jacks down at camp and after over 500 nights camping in mine in all kinds of weather, I wonder why.

Our camp site wasn't perfectly leveled, which was why we put our jacks down.

Clarkster

Great first TC trip for you and your family. You have an amazing rig and camper. May your new WC bring you many great family memories. I always regret not putting our jacks down. Especially in the wind. Sometimes I am too lazy to stabilize the rig. If you don't put the jacks down you get a lot of rocking when moving around and it really feels like you are camping out of your truck bed rather than a stabilized camper.. Sometimes it is easier to remove the turnbuckles and level the camper as opposed to leveling the truck itself. Rather than raise the truck I always bring my shovel and dig down rather than raise the truck with blocks. Hang in there with your son. Sometimes it can feel like more work than it is worth, but it is ALWAYS worth it! Even if just for one night. Hope you decide to venture out in the colder winter months. The campgrounds are empty and there is something special about cold weather camping. Again, congrats and if you have any questions feel free to let me know.

Nolan

[K_Mac]

Congratulations on your TC. I put my remote for my jacks on the drivers seat any time I put them down so I don't forget. Always do a walk-around like Buzz suggested.

[Mello_Mike]

The camper looks great, clarkster. Looks like the family had a great time.

[MORSNOW]

theclarkster wrote:
Morsnow,
By the way, I noticed in your signature you have storm windows for your WC. How do they work for you? We want to order them also since we don't have dual pane and had some condensation issues on the windows.

What do they look like exactly? Any pics?

My camping has all been spring-fall and I haven't really needed them...yet. The storm windows came highly recommended by a friend with an Arctic Fox with thermopane windows. They are removable framed glass with a rubber gasket/seal on one side of the face to provide a nice tight fit and are held in place by clips that are attached on the permanent widow frames. Glass is heavy and having storm windows is a way to remove extra weight when not needed. I have them stored under a spare bed in the house for the winter, I'll take a few pictures for you and post.

Front view


Back view


End view

[theclarkster]

Morsnow,
By the way, I noticed in your signature you have storm windows for your WC. How do they work for you? We want to order them also since we don't have dual pane and had some condensation issues on the windows.

What do they look like exactly? Any pics?

[theclarkster]

MORSNOW wrote:
I don't see any tie downs in the pictures, did you take them off while parked?

I use my jacks to stabilize the camper while parked also.

Nice camper, enjoy!

Thanks.

We took down our Torklift fastguns before we lifted the jacks.

[theclarkster]

hedge wrote:
congrats on the new camper.

I've checked out those biolite stoves as well, I picked up a jetboil instead for backpacking but still may get a biolite as well, they're pretty cool. Is that the grill attachment for the steaks?

Yes, that is the grill attachment. It's light and small so it's really good for small picnics on the beach or on a hike. I wouldn't try to cook on it for a large group of people though. For backpacking it's perfect.

[MORSNOW]

I don't see any tie downs in the pictures, did you take them off while parked?

I use my jacks to stabilize the camper while parked also.

Nice camper, enjoy!

[hedge]

congrats on the new camper.

I've checked out those biolite stoves as well, I picked up a jetboil instead for backpacking but still may get a biolite as well, they're pretty cool. Is that the grill attachment for the steaks?

[theclarkster]

wsdepa wrote:
Congrats on your new TC. You know you do not have to put the jacks down when you camp. The danger is if you forget and drive off, you can total your camper. I have sometimes seen people put their jacks down at camp and after over 500 nights camping in mine in all kinds of weather, I wonder why.

Our camp site wasn't perfectly leveled, which was why we put our jacks down.

[noteven]

Buzzcut1 wrote:

DRW vs SRW singles tend to sway, jacks down eliminates that.

500 points for sneaking in a dually / more stability comment ... even when you are parked ... nicely done 🙂

[Buzzcut1]

Clarkster, nice camper

[Buzzcut1]

wsdepa wrote:
Congrats on your new TC. You know you do not have to put the jacks down when you camp. The danger is if you forget and drive off, you can total your camper. I have sometimes seen people put their jacks down at camp and after over 500 nights camping in mine in all kinds of weather, I wonder why.

DRW vs SRW singles tend to sway, jacks down eliminates that.

Anyhoo

you should always, and I do mean always do a 360 walk around before driving off.

Tie downs secure, all lights working, jacks up, awning secured, compartment doors secure, all windows and hatches closed, do all the tires look fully inflated, any branches, posts etc to watch for when pulling out, anything left in the campsite?

[wsdepa]

Congrats on your new TC. You know you do not have to put the jacks down when you camp. The danger is if you forget and drive off, you can total your camper. I have sometimes seen people put their jacks down at camp and after over 500 nights camping in mine in all kinds of weather, I wonder why.