What i need to have

[Joeymozzer]

Hello all, obviously a newbie here. I just purchased but waiting to have my Coachman Clipper 17BH trailer delivered. I have a few questions and hope I'm in the right thread group.

1. What should I buy? Porta pack tank deodorizer, leveling blocks, anything else? Generator?
2. My trailer has a connection for a solar panel, I don't know exactly what wattage I would need?
3. Any advice appreciated, hips to learn from y'all
4. Any specific brake controller? Saw the prodigy P2 for $125
5. Sway control hitch?

[topdownman]

Searching through the forum will get you a lot of answers, but I can maybe help a bit.

1. Deodorizer, sewer hose, sewer donut, extra extension cords, extra hoses, leveling blocks are good to have, credit card...
2. This is a hard question. It depends on what you're trying to power. I don't know a LOT about solar, but I do know you'll need a battery bank. Solar just charges the batteries for the most part. If you're planning on running a microwave off battery, you're going to need a lot of batteries. You can't run the AC off solar.
3. Read the forums, a TON of knowledge here.
4. It's been years since I towed a trailer, but the Prodigy (from what I've heard) is a good one.
5. DEFINITELY! The Reese Dual-Cam is one of the best for the money.

[chief02]

Camp in your driveway for a few days and make a list of things you run into the house for. Many trailers come with a starter kit sewer hose, water hose

[topdownman]

^^^X2. Also, first time out, camp close to a Walmart. You'll need it.

[Joeymozzer]

No driveway :( city streets lol but ill store it out in the desert.

[Joeymozzer]

Originally Posted by topdownman

Searching through the forum will get you a lot of answers, but I can maybe help a bit.

1. Deodorizer, sewer hose, sewer donut, extra extension cords, extra hoses, leveling blocks are good to have, credit card...
2. This is a hard question. It depends on what you're trying to power. I don't know a LOT about solar, but I do know you'll need a battery bank. Solar just charges the batteries for the most part. If you're planning on running a microwave off battery, you're going to need a lot of batteries. You can't run the AC off solar.
3. Read the forums, a TON of knowledge here.
4. It's been years since I towed a trailer, but the Prodigy (from what I've heard) is a good one.
5. DEFINITELY! The Reese Dual-Cam is one of the best for the money.

Thanks, the trailer comes with 1 battery hooked up, trailer has micro, stove, fridge, AC and other little options. I plan rarely to use the AC. Thanks ill look here for the answers. Your info helped

[bradnailer]

Unless you plan on dry camping (a place without electrical hookups), there is no need for solar battery chargers and / or a generator. I've been told that if you dry camp and want to use solar to charge batteries that are under load, you need at least between 100 and 150 watt panels with a good controller. That will not run microwaves and such but will keep your batteries charged if you are a frugal battery user.

As was mentioned, you need drain hose for your black and gray water tanks. You can get a good one at Walmart made by Rhino. You'll need water supply hose to hook up to a campsite water supply. I keep several 10' flexible hoses that are safe for drinking and only use what I need. For leveling, I keep a couple of 1/2" thick and 3/4" thick board to drive one side of the trailer on to level. If that isn't enough, I have three packages of Lynx levelers and I'll use though. I also use the Lynx Levelers under my hitch lift and stabilizer jacks.

For black tank treatment, I use the blue stuff from Walmart. Found it is a better odorizer than the orange stuff.

Depending on your tow vehicle, you may need a weight distributing hitch. If so, then get one that has sway control included. You'll be glad you did. The prodigy brake controller is a good one.

We've camped for years and had a good supply of stuff for our trailer. However, we purchased a new travel trailer in May. We picked it up at the dealer then drove to a campground we like and camped for four days. The campsite was on the edge of a town that had a nice Walmart. That was handy as we still found a few things we needed for the new trailer.

We dry camp for two weeks every summer and have been dry camping for almost 50 years. We've learned that a lot of the things that take 110 volt, we don't need, like the microwave. I do all the cooking and take a small two burner propane stove, a one burner white gas stove and a Weber Q grill.

When you get your trailer, read the owner's manual and all the appliance manuals so you are familiar with how they operate. Mostly, have fun and enjoy the new trailer.

[Joeymozzer]

Originally Posted by bradnailer

Unless you plan on dry camping (a place without electrical hookups), there is no need for solar battery chargers and / or a generator. I've been told that if you dry camp and want to use solar to charge batteries that are under load, you need at least between 100 and 150 watt panels with a good controller. That will not run microwaves and such but will keep your batteries charged if you are a frugal battery user.

As was mentioned, you need drain hose for your black and gray water tanks. You can get a good one at Walmart made by Rhino. You'll need water supply hose to hook up to a campsite water supply. I keep several 10' flexible hoses that are safe for drinking and only use what I need. For leveling, I keep a couple of 1/2" thick and 3/4" thick board to drive one side of the trailer on to level. If that isn't enough, I have three packages of Lynx levelers and I'll use though. I also use the Lynx Levelers under my hitch lift and stabilizer jacks.

For black tank treatment, I use the blue stuff from Walmart. Found it is a better odorizer than the orange stuff.

Depending on your tow vehicle, you may need a weight distributing hitch. If so, then get one that has sway control included. You'll be glad you did. The prodigy brake controller is a good one.

We've camped for years and had a good supply of stuff for our trailer. However, we purchased a new travel trailer in May. We picked it up at the dealer then drove to a campground we like and camped for four days. The campsite was on the edge of a town that had a nice Walmart. That was handy as we still found a few things we needed for the new trailer.

We dry camp for two weeks every summer and have been dry camping for almost 50 years. We've learned that a lot of the things that take 110 volt, we don't need, like the microwave. I do all the cooking and take a small two burner propane stove, a one burner white gas stove and a Weber Q grill.

When you get your trailer, read the owner's manual and all the appliance manuals so you are familiar with how they operate. Mostly, have fun and enjoy the new trailer.

That's a wealth of info, I really appreciate it. I just want to feel comfortable since this is my first trailer and I have always tent camped. So you rarely use the fridge? Good idea to still pack ice and a cooler I take it.

[sdennislee]

Bradnailer pretty much hit the nail on the head for you.

I've had my current rig a little over 2 years, transferred everything from the old rig to the new one and I still make lists of things I need. As an example, I need a trash can, had one but it died a horrible death when it jumped between a moving slide and the wall.

I reorganize a couple times a year and get rid of things I thought I needed but never used.

I would add to your list a couple must haves:
1) Cash and credit cards - will get you anything you need
2) Sense of humor - helps with the cost of everything you need

Spend the first weekend in your driveway, make note of everything you go back in the house for then go shopping for that list. No fun transferring all that stuff to and from the house with each trip. Remember to take the credit cards.

[dwmcg]

Refer will run off gas or electric.

[topdownman]

I might add, the fridge runs well (and a long time) on lp.

[Joeymozzer]

Originally Posted by topdownman

I might add, the fridge runs well (and a long time) on lp.

Ip?

[Joeymozzer]

Originally Posted by dwmcg

Refer will run off gas or electric.

Gas meaning the propane tank?

[dwmcg]

Yes