1st time camping in new rv

[Arkguy29]

Nitro 305 vl5 is the camper. I have to say we have a long list to buy. Here is what I ran into. 1st New campsite and only 1 25 ft of hose didn't wrk. 2nd, I can't get my awning to slant so rain will roll off better, I have a power awning and it automatically dump if rain sets on it. I like it but I adjusted the awning and righting the set screws and then it slides out when a mall breeze comes. 3rd we need strong arms if they wrk. Man U can feel this big camper move. There are me, the wife, 3 kids, and 2 dogs. Do they wrk??????? 4th, we have a list of little thing to buy! But we really love the camper!

[arpipeliner]

Pm Old Coot and awning will be ok.

I have got 200' of heavy duty water hose with me. One 50' for water to the camper and a spare of the heated hoses. The rest for black tank and washing off stuff.

I need support arms to slow the shaking down too.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[ColoradoRick]

Congrats on the new hobby!

Yes, there's a pretty big learning curve for people who've never RV'd. And you'll see many different variations on campsites so it's good to always have extra sewers hoses and extra fresh water hoses to compensate. (I've even seen camp sites with all the hook-ups on the RIGHT side!!)

Most of us spend our long and lonely winter months buying stuff for our campers...it helps minimize the cabin fever a bit!

Concerning your awning, you really don't want to put it out when it's raining hard or it's windy...you're just asking for trouble, IMHO. (I only put mine out in the rain when I want to BBQ underneath it...but it goes back up when I'm done.)

[Arkguy29]

Camped last year with a differerent trailer but didn't need any longer hoses or never used awning

[ColoradoRick]

Originally Posted by Arkguy29

Camped last year with a differerent trailer but didn't need any longer hoses or never used awning

I suspect the reason many of us have extra is because our current stuff didn't reach so we had to drive somewhere to buy extra!!

[locogk]

We have extra water hoses extra sewer hoses and power cord extension and of course a surge protector we have had this camper for about two years and we still add stuff after rash trip

[ChipBruce]

We always take way more than we could ever use. Maybe someday we will learn. But if we are going to go, we have to go glamping. Otherwise I will be on my own! Enjoy. This is the most fun that my wife and I have had together in a long time. Why we waited so long, I will never know! Here is where we got to spend this weekend.

[donanddona]

The JB Strong-arms on mine really really help. I put bottle jacks near the front tire at the frame to eliminate a lot of bounce also. My awning is hard to hold for the angle setting so I also use tie-downs to keep it set. To bad not all RV-parks are set the same so yes we carry an 30amp extension and a box for dumping connections/hoses. The Army Core of Engineers have a long list of parks along the Mississippi river that have scattered water connections so you'll also need a 100ft extension hose. Belleview Iowa has a park along the MissRvr, their elect conx are 5ft in the air 25ft away, so yea you got to have extras sometimes.

[oakprk]

Where is that beautiful place?

[Twinkie]

Congratulations to your wife for her retirement! Good for her!

I'm also a newbie, and I'm so glad to hear you had such a beautiful place to camp. I think you're doing it right!!

[ChipBruce]

Smithville Lake, outside of Kansas City, MO. We love it here and only 13 miles from our front door. https://www.claycountymo.gov/Parks/S...e_Lake/Camping

[JoLee]

Donanddona... what are bottle jacks? You put them by the front tires to reduce the bounce? Do you have a 5th wheel? Does it help by putting the jacks there?

[Retire09]

Happy for you on your Retirement ! ENJOY ENJOY !

[donanddona]

Small hydraulic jacks (10-ton). I put them where you would feel comfortable at jacking the trailer up at (on the frame). I wood blocks to get them close and then lift the rear stabilizers about an inch and a half. Screw the bottle jack to meet the framing. Then lower the rear stabilizers an inch. Then tighten the JB-Strong arms. It does help. Others have their own way to reduce the bounce (Oldcoot) and I do re-level every week if at an extended stay. I have a Flagstaff 8528 BHSS and learning things always. Did you know you should lube your front landing gear? Most will have a grease zerk for the screw staff but on the bevel gears you'll need to remove the top cap and shove some red grease in there.

[cbaermantx]

Originally Posted by Arkguy29

Camped last year with a differerent trailer but didn't need any longer hoses or never used awning

We have been newbies since 1964! We have gone from tents through motorhomes back to a 20' trailer with all the amenities. We ALWAYS and still do carry way too much stuff. At one point working in the state parks, we decided if we needed so much and a huge coach, then we might as well stay home!