A couple of ‘newbie’ questions

[rtbdc]

We just brought home our 1st travel trailer (a Mallard 24j) and joined your Forum and would sincerely appreciate some opinions from you well traveled ones on a couple of ‘newbie’ questions.
Although it’s a 2001, it’s immaculate inside and out as we purchased it from the original owner who took excellent care of it (waxing it annually for example).
Question 1: Here in Bend Oregon there are several dealers for service, however, we plan to leave it on our property for approx 2 years, outside of John Day in eastern Oregon (population 2,300) where there is limited service. We do not plan to move it, but just enjoy some weekend getaways. The question is, although everything works fine, would you have a professional inspect it here in Bend before relocating it, if you were us? (i.e. inspect hoses, connections, etc)?
Question 2: Have you had experience with a ‘Blue Boy’? We will be ‘dry-camping,’ no power or water, and it looks like our options for the black water are: rent a porta-potty / buy a ‘Blue Boy’/ or have someone service the tank on-site now and then. (We do not have a truck to tow it into town). What would you recommend?
Question 3: Of course we’ll need to purchase a generator (3000 watt to power the AC ?) and store it in the trailer (?) between visits. Haven’t started looking yet but any recommendations are appreciated…
Question 4: Seller said one of the batteries should be replaced hence any recommendations are also appreciated…
Thank You in advance for making time to share your opinion....
Richard and Debbie, Bend Oregon, 541-389-4523

[Gadget63]

Howdy from NYC and SC and welcome to the forums. I can't answer those questions but I can guarantee you someone will be along to guide you in the right direction. That's just one of the benefits of this forum! Enjoy your new rig!

[450Donn]

Originally Posted by rtbdc

We just brought home our 1st travel trailer (a Mallard 24j) and joined your Forum and would sincerely appreciate some opinions from you well traveled ones on a couple of ‘newbie’ questions.
Although it’s a 2001, it’s immaculate inside and out as we purchased it from the original owner who took excellent care of it (waxing it annually for example).
Question 1: Here in Bend Oregon there are several dealers for service, however, we plan to leave it on our property for approx 2 years, outside of John Day in eastern Oregon (population 2,300) where there is limited service. We do not plan to move it, but just enjoy some weekend getaways. The question is, although everything works fine, would you have a professional inspect it here in Bend before relocating it, if you were us? (i.e. inspect hoses, connections, etc)?Yes, have it looked at in Bend/Redmond area before you move it. especially the roof and have it resealed if you don't understand how to do it properly.
Question 2: Have you had experience with a ‘Blue Boy’? We will be ‘dry-camping,’ no power or water, and it looks like our options for the black water are: rent a porta-potty / buy a ‘Blue Boy’/ or have someone service the tank on-site now and then. (We do not have a truck to tow it into town). What would you recommend?How are you going to get drinking water to the trailer? remember you really need to figure out how to blow the lines out and/or winterize it in the early fall. If it is on your own property, you might consider a dry well or have a septic system installed on the land. A dry well would take care of gray water. sewage? Thats another big issue. How about an out house?
Question 3: Of course we’ll need to purchase a generator (3000 watt to power the AC ?) and store it in the trailer (?) between visits. Haven’t started looking yet but any recommendations are appreciated… Unless you want it to run the AC unit that is a big expensive piece of equipment to leave unattended for weeks at a time. No way I would do that. Trailers are too easy to break into. As for brand? honda or Yamaha are the two best, quietest brands. but also most expensive. Check Wise sales on line
Question 4: Seller said one of the batteries should be replaced hence any recommendations are also appreciated… If one battery is toast, then you need two DEEP CYCLE batteries. Not the cheap dual purpose ones either
Thank You in advance for making time to share your opinion....
Richard and Debbie, Bend Oregon, 541-389-4523

BTW, I would edit your original post to remove your phone number.

[Medico]

Welcome and glad to meet you!

[Jim_HiTek]

Call around the Bend area for mobile RV service. Saving yourself some money. Check them on RVServicereviews first. Using Google, I see several are there in Bend.

How far from town is your property? Are there other RV's, trailers, or manufactured homes on land in the area now? If so, talk to them, and/or the proprietors of local stores to find what kind of services are used by most people in your situation. People love to talk about how they've solved problems.

A small 3,000 watt genset, especially a new one, is a prime theft item. I'd just plan on carrying it home each visit.

Water in 2 of those 5 gallon jugs with plunger pumps works for weekend trips. You need around about 2 qts water per person per day for drinking. So a 5 gallon jug should last 10 days. Weekend trips only? Just cap the jug and leave it there. Add a cap of hydrogen peroxide (3%) to prevent slime and stuff.

Scientifically measured (not from ads by corporations) water usage by humans range: 1.4-8.1 qts/day for men and 1.3-4.9 qts/day for women. Hot weather and hard work increases usage from the minimums shown. Food is where you get much of your daily water intake, that is if you like vegis and fruits.

Since you are thinking of the blue cart, urine production averaged 2.3 qts/day in men and women.

As far as solid wastes go: On average, people produce 1 ounce of fecal matter for each 12 pounds of body weight per day, so it depends on your weight. A 180 lb man will produce 15oz. per day. Plus the water needed for cleanliness.

Hope that's not too much FYI detail.