Our First Rig

[Grampa]

We picked up our 2014 SilverBack 33LR two weeks ago. After spending 2 plus hours with going over all the inns and outs another 4 hrs signing papers and shopping for what we were going to need to get started, our heads we're swimming and of course overloaded. Of course, after a few days or so we did and do have questions. Is it a good idea to fill all the tanks to check for leaks? When leaving for a weekend should I fill the fresh water tank or not? What is the best practice? Aside from sewage, fresh water hose, and electric cord, what else might anyone suggest I might think about taking?

A few pictures just after we picked it up.

[BiigDaddy]

Great looking rig! Welcome from Michigan!!

[ependydad]

Take a sense of humor.

Also take a notepad and pen to write down things that you feel like would be helpful.

[Witch Doctor]

I think you will make a list after your shake down camping trip. But I think these are must for the first one, then you could add as you see what you need.
1) surge protector or EMS system by TRC or Progressive
2) water pressure regulator 45 to 50lbs.PSI
3) Rhino sewer hose for full hook-up
4) some basic tools
5) lennox blocks or some 2x6 pressure treated for tires or leveling.
6) Socket for lug nuts and breaker bar
7) extra water hose
8) coax cable for TV
9) chemicals for head/ unless you are going the eco route.(I like Chemicals myself)
10) stay lose and have fun
11) Clear elbow for your black water drain line for flushing.
I'm sure you will find more things but that would be pretty basic stuff you will need anyway. I would only carry about 5 gals of fresh water for stops only it's only extra weight.

[Wiscampsin]

12. Wheel chocks
13. Extra fuses.

Great looking Silverback BTW!

[Grampa]

Thanks to all that responded and the list. Surge protector, extra water hose (have 25' now) and fuses should do it for the first time out. The other items I did get. Question though, on the rig we have there is a place to hook up a hose for flushing the black tank. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to have a seprate hose just for that. Or is that not necessary?

[gasman6674]

I carry an extra 25ft "house" hose for flushing. I dont want to hook my potable hose to it. One other thing I didnt see above, electrical adaptors (dogbones) 50 to 30 etc

And Welome From Greenwood In

[Todouble]

Originally Posted by Grampa

Thanks to all that responded and the list. Surge protector, extra water hose (have 25' now) and fuses should do it for the first time out. The other items I did get. Question though, on the rig we have there is a place to hook up a hose for flushing the black tank. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to have a seprate hose just for that. Or is that not necessary?

Definitely get a separate hose for blank tank flusher. You don't want to mix that with your white drinking water one. ( although I've witnessed it done a few times).

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by gasman6674

I carry an extra 25ft "house" hose for flushing. I dont want to hook my potable hose to it.

Agreed. Different hose, different color - never any confusion! My latest hose is yellow- I think of "pee" when I look at it.

[kerrlakelover]

What a nice rig to start out with for sure. Welcome to RVing, welcome to the forum and welcome to "60"! See gljurczyk's #11, clear elbow. Clear so you can see whats coming out of the sewer lines is one of the best accessories I ever bought. RV Hydro Flush 45 Degree - Valterra F02-4100 - Sewer Flushing - Camping World

[Grampa]

Like the idea of "Yellow"...one cannot forget what it's for...lol and ependydad...thanks for the blog. I did go and read it. A lot of good common sence ideas.
Kerrlakelover - Thank you...and we look forward to meeting a lot of nice folks along the way. Kathy (my wife of 40yrs) and I had to laugh the other day at ourselves the other day. Here we are at 60 and were "newbies" to the RV world and we're trying to figure all this out. We only wish we'd done this..say in our 40's....oh well...we're having a good time and making new adventures for ourselves...btw...did get a clear elbow.
gasman6674- that's one of the things we did pickup. So we can now go from 50 to 30 to 15 if need be.

[Witch Doctor]

Maybe someone can give me a logical answer to why if your trailer came with a black tank flush inlet, why would you need a second hose. I can see if you use a Camco jet flush system where the hose hooks to the drain adaptor, but not in a factory black tank flush system. It would be impossible for any waist to get into that hose under pressure with the drain open. If you are getting waist in that 5/8" line, you have a bigger problem then using a different hose. The inlet is 4' above the tank, and your valve is in the open position. How can you contaminate your hose?

[jgahlhoff]

Welcome Grampa from Florida. It's never to late!!

[Todouble]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

Maybe someone can give me a logical answer to why if your trailer came with a black tank flush inlet, why would you need a second hose. I can see if you use a Camco jet flush system where the hose hooks to the drain adaptor, but not in a factory black tank flush system. It would be impossible for any waist to get into that hose under pressure with the drain open. If you are getting waist in that 5/8" line, you have a bigger problem then using a different hose. The inlet is 4' above the tank, and your valve is in the open position. How can you contaminate your hose?

It's mainly a physiological thing. It just doesn't sound or look right using your fresh water hose to clean your poo tank. Aside from that there is some risk involved. I know a lot of guys run the tank flush and shut there valves to fill the tank up for 30-60 seconds then dump and repeat a few times. Mfg will tell you not to but I've been doing it for five years that way and no problems. I can see how someone would get distracted and leave it unattended and that's one reason for the risk involved.

[leland1950]

We couldn't see that it did much if you leave the valve open so DW watches the lights and when the Full light starts to blink, I pull the handle. You get a lot cleaner looking clear elbow by doing it that way. Not my idea, U-Tube instructional video.

[themounties]

Welcome and hi from Wv

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

Maybe someone can give me a logical answer to why if your trailer came with a black tank flush inlet, why would you need a second hose. I can see if you use a Camco jet flush system where the hose hooks to the drain adaptor, but not in a factory black tank flush system. It would be impossible for any waist to get into that hose under pressure with the drain open. If you are getting waist in that 5/8" line, you have a bigger problem then using a different hose. The inlet is 4' above the tank, and your valve is in the open position. How can you contaminate your hose?

There is also a backflow valve on the black tank flush. I also have a shutoff valve that screws into the side of the flush valve connection so I can shut the water off. I use a separate black expanding hose for the black tank, but would not hesitate to use the white hose with the valves.

[Bobb36]

extension cord with same amp rating as your rig, one night without A/C because your cord is not long enough to reach the outlet had me at the store the next day.

[Firefighter969]

Nice looking rig. I use a different hose for my flush inlet.

[mlangdn]

Great looking rig. I think my next buy will be the clear elbow for flushing.