Who has a travel trailer?

15 years ago

We just bought our first on Friday and will be picking it up and heading out on Tuesday. I'm so excited!

The only problem is I don't know what size the beds are when they are made. You know when the table is turned into a bed. I know it says it will sleep two so I was thinking full size, but I'm not really sure. Guess I should have checked or measured on Friday. It's 25' with a bedroom and a couch and table that turn into beds. Our little home away from home, Yippy!!!!!

If anyone has any tips and/or advice I would LOVE to hear them. I am a complete rookie at this. I grew up back packing and tent camping with my dad. This is uncharted territory for me. Small space recipes would be fun too, if you have them. Oh my gosh I'm getting excited. Can you tell. Tee Hee

Comments (11)

grammahony
15 years ago
I do. Mine is 29'. It has a queen size bed in the bedroom. The table makes out into a double bed. It also has a couch that folds down into a double bed also. So it sleeps 6.
My advice, take short showers.
Leslie
workoutlady
15 years ago
We just bought our first travel trailer this in June, a 26 foot Dutchman 5th wheel. I can't tell you about the table bed as we have never actually made ours into a bed. I can tell you that our pull out is not quite a full but not quite a twin so we use full sheets.

My advice, don't let your sewer drain directly to the sewer drain. Instead, fill up the holding tank and then drain the tank. Otherwise, the solids will stick to the bottom and it will leave a big mess. Also, buy camper friendly toilet paper and remember to pick up some stuff to put in your tank to break up the stuff and not make it stink so bad.

Make an extra copy of your keys and put in a safe place - we had to change our locks when we lost our only set of keys.
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Jennymama, I just wanted to say congratulations on your new quarters! I came to this thread late so have just been reading through the posts...I kind of started chuckling about halfway through at the different "camps" we are all in (those who say "go for it" and those who shudder at the thought of living in a travel trailer for several months, LOL.) I wanted to do that when we were building on our land, and two years later I still think our lives would have been easier in many ways had we done so (we also thought about going ahead and building the shop and putting a small bathroom in it, to live in during the build.) I think you have three really big considerations that will make you very glad you did this. One is that the drive to your dd's school would take up so much of the time that you will need for dealing with things as the house is being built, not to mention time that could be better spent with your younger one. Two hours a day, five days is a week is a LOT of time that you just gave yourself! The two other things will be important to your sanity and comfort over the next few months, and they are the facts that you can put your travel trailer a bit away from construction site for privacy from the comings and goings of the workers (and safety for the kids re: construction materials) and also that you have that big finished shop. If you can keep that for your own stuff and not have it become a repository for storing construction stuff, it will be a real asset as far as storing kids' toys and household goods. You can both have things with you that might take up too much room in the camper, and start to move more of your stuff when it gets closer to time for the move. Good luck with the build and enjoy the outdoors.
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threejs
15 years ago
Be sure to watch the movie RV with Robin Williams before you go around the block!!! After that anything that you do will be something to look back and laugh at. We have a full queen in the bedroom, the table makes an almost double, and heaven help anyone, that is not a worn out child, that has to sleep on the couch that makes into the most uncomfortable double bed around. Pack light cause you will never use half of the stuff you will take with you but if possible equip the trailer with items that you do not have to drag back in your own house every time you come home. Kitchen stuffs come to mind, and a basket with bathroom stuff for everyone that you can toss in the empty tub when on the road. Have fun...counting the sleeps 'till I head out next week.
lindyluwho
15 years ago
We have a 27" Trail Bay TT by R-vision. We usually just use a flat sheet on the dinette and couch instead of a fitted sheet. Even a twin sheet will work for that. We have a queen in the bedroom.

We like the Oxy packets for the toilet. We get them in the rv section at Walmart. White can with an orange lid.

Get a check list to use before you leave either home or the campground. Use the list to be sure you have done everything. Here's a list you can use:

PRE-TRIP CHECK LIST

stow t.v.
medicine cabinet latched
stow and lock awning
close vents
lower roof antenna(s)
drain and stow water hose
retract stabilizer jacks
stow jack boards
stow electrical cords
shut off lp gas
shut off water heater
shut off furnace
stow microwave turntable
disconnect and stow electrical connection
lock refrigerator and freezer
dump holding tanks
secure all loose items
distribute weight evenly
close and secure all doors and windows
retract steps
clean up grounds
put out trash
check engine oil
secure hitch ball lock down
secure anti-sway bars
hook & check all lights
secure safety chains
hook break-away brakes cable
all hitch cotter pins secured
lock all outside compartment doors
FASTEN SEATBELTS AND HAVE A SAFE TRIP

Have fun.

Linda
patti43
15 years ago
Our first one was 25' and we we fine in that for about 4 years. We don't move ours. It stays at a campground in Hiawassee, GA. Now we have a 33' 5th wheel with 2 slides. The bed is queen (but barely) and the couch pulls out, but it's like torture to sleep on. Our first one had a table that made into a bed, but it would've only been good for children.

The shower and toilet advice were right on. Our water heater is 10 gallons. In the first camper it was 6 gallons. You learn not to mess around or you'll end up cold!!

Take a small hibachi or grill and keep meals simple at first. You might make things ahead of time or double up and freeze in advance and just heat.

Google RV forums--I learned lots from others' experiences.
danihoney
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh brother, so much to think of. Thank you for the advice. I'm worried about that couch now. DH said something today about it. He said he didn't think it looked very comfortable. We have two medium sized boys, so it will be one on each bed. We thought about getting the trailer with the bunks but decided this one was large enough. Actually I decided. DH wanted to go bigger. We sure saw some amazing trailers and 5th wheels. Ours is a Salem with one slide out. I half expect the boys to want to sleep outside when the weather is nice. We'll see.

We've seen the movie RV, it was so funny. I hope things are smoother for us. Boy will I have some stories to tell if it doesn't. This is our last free week of the summer so we wont be able to go very far this trip. I am hoping next summer we can actually get out of Dodge, so to speak.
Thanks again for the tips. Keep em coming!
threejs
15 years ago
One other lifesaver is the plastic baskets that you can pick up at the dollar store. If you get sizes that fit in the fridge to hold all the condiments and foods that are kept in the fridge you will get NO surprises when opening the fridge door the first time after stopping. It is great to pull out a basket to get what is in behind rather than pull everything out one at a time. I even use them in the overhead cupboards...so much easier than using a stool.
grammahony
15 years ago
I also bought 3 of those stackable drawers, and put them in one of the closets. My bathroom doesn't have cupboard room for extra towels/washclothes, so I put them in there, as it is right across from the bathroom door. I also hang my T-shirts in there, but the stackable drawers, come to just under them.
Leslie
whidbeykathy
15 years ago
We had "issues" with the table as a bed. (a single person can sleep on it.) Our problem was if you want to make a pot of coffee and sit down at the table, someone has to get up NOW so you can put the table together.
Too late now, but I would have said with kids to get the bunk model.
We just sold ours last year, we hadn't used it in five years! They beat a tent, but a pull behind didn't work for us at all.
Go to a discount store and buy all your pans,silverwate, appliances,dishes,towels etc. and leave them in the trailer.
Last hint to add..never ever use the toilet without first adding water and deodorizer. TMI but it can be ugly..Kathy
JoanMN
15 years ago
Be sure and drain the black tank first, then the much nicer water in the gray tank will flush the hose out. At least, that's the way ours works.
It all seems like a lot to remember at first, but pretty soon, it'll be second nature.
The hardest part for us to remember is to put the antenna down!
Enjoy your new home-away-from-home!
JoanMN
tami_ohio
15 years ago
I made a sign out of red fun foam for the tv antenna. When the atenna went up, so did the sign. It helped remind us to bring it down.

I would have said bunks also. Both of our trailers had them. The motor home does not, but the couch is a sleeper sofa. I am not expecting it to be used!

As much as possible, use the shower houses. If you use the in trailer shower, use the button on the shower head to shut the water off with out changing the temp. Only run the water when necessary. Put a little in the bowl to wash hands in, sparingly wash dishes, ect. Follow the list and suggestions above.

Have fun!

Tami

Who has a travel trailer?

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