YAY!!! We finally bought a TT!!

Sweet ! ! ! ! let the fun begin.

thanks everyone! excited for our first trip in it over Easter.

I have several items that "you just have to have" that I never used because of the type of camping we do.

A couple of trips to determine what you need will show you a lot.

Over time we discovered that all we need is electric. Out west we had a few overnights where it was not available so we just toughed it out on the battery.

Most important items are available at the camp store.

jukes wrote:
Finally after 10 years of wanting one we got a TT and one with bunks!!
A few questions:
Should I insure it against theft and damage?? Who with??

Yes, insure it with whomever you have your tow rig insured through.

Congratulations on your new trailer.

When you get your stabilizers replaced use them with blocks to keep the stabilizer extension as short as possible. This will extend the life of the stabilizers and help reduce wobbling. A good pair of between tire chocks will also help with rocking.

Make sure your door latch is good. Don't want that pig running off!

Good idea to do some trips close to home first. If possible camp in your driveway the first time.

Everything has a learning curve so don't become frustrated if things don't go perfect at first. Remember to have fun and don't let the little details get you down.


Congratulations on your new TT purchase.

thanks everyone. Thinking about it we may not need a generator for a while.
We are planning 2 short weekend trips near to Asheville, NC where we live and want to try out the hookups so will have electricity.
Then in July we are moving to California and will drive our family of 5 and pet pig over to CA.
Given the heat and the fact we will leave the pig in the TT for a few hours sometimes whilst we explore an area, we will need A/C for sure.
We plan at least 2 weeks to make that trip over, whilst our household belongings are being driven over by a removal company.......
Then once we are in CA we may eventually require a generator if visiting some state parks etc. Years ago we rented an RV and went to Yosemite, but I think we weren't allowed to use the generator after a certain time, we were so cold that night (it randomly snowed!)

I towed my 33 foot bunkhouse with my 7.3 Excursion for a few years with no problem. I had installed a brake controller and a WD hitch. I did just upgrade to a much newer F250, haven't towed yet with that though.

You should always carry insurance for anything capable of going down the road.
Stabilizers? Most any RV parts store sell stabilizers for between 75 and a hundred dollars a pair. If one is damaged, go buy a replacement pair and bolt them on.
Towing package? You must have a brake controller and working brakes on the trailer. On top of that a decent equalizer type hitch setup is what you need. After that and depending on setup you may want to add sway control. Friction types are around 75 dollars each. Dont skimp on hitch. It may pay for itself in saved lives.

Congrats on your new camper!Fun times are ahead of you!

Insurance: Whoever you insure your automobile with, use them. While attached to your tow vehicle, you are covered, same as your tow vehicle. You'll need a separate rider policy for the camper for when you are not hitched up, against fire, theft, hail, tornado, and high rising rivers! Your best rates will be with your current insurance carrier.

Jacks? That is the topic of the century! Lots of answers, everyone has their own preferance. Personally, we just use the stabelizer jacks that came with the camper and don't mind some trailer rocking. No biggie. If you were on a boat, you'd get a LOT more! But.... JT Strongarms are probably the best solution once they are installed on your camper.

Generator? I have a gasoline powered generator, that I've never used for camping since we only camp at campgrounds that have electricity. We don't boomdock. If you are camping in established campgrounds, you won't need a generator.

Get a weight distribution hitch for your new rig. There are many varieties and prices "out there". Get what makes the most sense to you. Personally, we had a normal Reese system with the bars that had chains on the end. Used it for 10 years on 3 trailers. Then the hitch head bent, and we got the 4 point Equal-i-zer. Blue Ox, Reese Dual Cam, Equal-i-zer all are good and perform about equal after reading thousands of reviews on RV.net about each one.

Good luck! Try some drive way camping. Hook up the electric and plug in the television right in your drive way. Throw some sheets on the bed, and sleep in it tonight!

Once again! Congrats!