Picking up your very first RV? Walking through the Parts Store can be fun and confusing. What do you really need to start camping? Many seasoned campers will agree the following is a good list for first time RV owners.
Make sure your tow vehicle is rated to pull the RV you are buying! Is your hitch receiver the correct size? Do you have the right Hitch Ball? Is your tow vehicle equipped with a brake control? These are questions that need to be answered before you leave with your new camper.
The first thing you need to consider is setting up your camper at the campground. You will need chocks to keep your camper from rolling when it is unhitched from the tow vehicle. Many people use wood blocks for this, However, tire chocks are easier to use and can protect your tires. The dents caused by wood blocks can lessen the life of your tires. For campsites that are not completely level, check into levelers. Levelers are available in several styles, including handy building block style, or drive on type.
Most campgrounds offer 30 and 50 amp service on site. Some older campgrounds only have 20 amp, and you will need an adapter to plug in. A 30 to 20 amp adapter will also allow you to plug in your camper at home for cleaning, packing and unpacking. Be aware that running your camper on 20 amp is hard on your air conditioner, so do not use air conditioners unless plugged into 30 amp service. Most campers have a electric cord that is 25ft. long. This is sufficient for most campgrounds. If an extension cord is required, it must be a heavy duty, 30 amp cord.
Your camper probably has two ways to use your plumbing. City water is the fresh water hook-up. To use this you need a water hose. Ordinary garden hoses will work, but they tend to give a rubbery taste to the water. RV water hoses are reinforced to lessen swelling, and lined to keep the fresh taste. It is always smart to use a water pressure regulator. This keeps the pressure going into your camper at a safe level for your plumbing. Country or on board water is carried in your water tank for campgrounds that do not have on site water. Your water pump will activate when you turn on the faucets. You can pick up a water tank filler that connects to your water hose to help fill your on board tank. Water filters are available to use at campsites that have questionable water sources.
The last thing to discuss is the sanitation system. You want to have toilet paper and holding chemicals on hand at all times. You may hear that you can use household tissue in your RV. Not so. Household tissue is made to be extra absorbent, and will swell up in your tank, and could cause clog problems. There are some very good RV tissue brands available that are hard to distinguish from home use tissue. RV tissue is manufactured to dissolve quickly. Holding tank chemicals help to dissolve tissue, as well as eliminate odor.
The above contains what you will need to use your new RV. As time goes on, you will find other products that you can use. Talking to other campers and looking at catalogues will give you lots of ideas for other RV accessories that you can use to make your camping trip more fun and less work.
