First two RV camping weekends - impressions and questions

[norberts]

We had our first two weekends RV-ing. New Years and MLK weekends, one a KOA near Santa Cruz and the other a hidden gem in easy bast SF.

They were somewhat different but we had a blast with our two year old. Some things I learned:

- Ceramic Space heater was great. The furnace's noise was almost unbearable.
- When it's cold outside and you spend the evening inside, a slide-out is a must. Even though our Apex Nano is only 19' feet excluding the tongue, it has great inside space.
- Folding up in rain is not fun at all.
- The manual leveling jacks is the one feature I would like to change. They are very annoying to operate. I need more leveling blocks.
- I have not lit up a burner stove with a match in ages.
- Overall I'm very happy with the quality of this trailer. Tons of good usable space inside, comfy bed and dining area. I wish it had more counter space but you can't have it all.

Some questions:
- How do I change the blue LED outside lights to some other color? They are ... very blue.
- Is there a way to install softer LED lights inside? They are great but all of them too bright. Would love to install one of two softer.
- Is my water heater electric or propane? How can I figure out?
- How long should my water heater work to have enough hot water for a shower? I assumed one hour would be enough but I ran out of hot water in the middle.
- Any TV recommendations for the RV? I'm struggling to find well reviewed RV TVs online.

[bikendan]

it would help if you posted the model number, since it's not listed in your profile nor your sig line.

sounds like you may have a hybrid. do you?

you need to post the brand and model number of your water heater.

your water heater is probably only 6 gallons. it won't last an hour.
if you have propane and electric, you can use both at the same time for quicker recovery.

you don't need a special "RV" tv. most of us just get a regular tv. we have a Samsung in our hybrid. we use an inverter when we don't have electric hookups.

[norberts]

Sorry about that, i have the Apex Nano 193BHS

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[bikendan]

Originally Posted by norberts

Sorry about that, i have the Apex Nano 193BHS

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You stated "folding up in the rain", which usually means canvas tent ends involved.
But yours is a regular TT.

What did you have to "fold up"?

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[Oaklevel]

Great that you had a great time on your first camping outings. Lots to learn but still fun.

As far as showers you will need to take "Navy" showers. Turn the water off while soaping up do not leave the water running the entire time like you would at home and the hot water will last.

I assume you have stabilizers and not leveling jacks. The stabilizers are not for leveling the trailer. When parking pull the trailer onto blocks to level side to side and once level side to side unhitch the trailer and then level front to back with the tongue jack. After that is done put the corner stabilizers down they are to keep the trailer stable and not shake. The corner stabilizers will fail eventually if you level with them.

Most important......

[Oaklevel]

I realize this camper is not even close to yours but watch the video lots of good tips as many of the systems are the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnCEnQAIGzs

. There are many good videos on you tube.

Any TV will will work with your RV. There are no RV TVs that are made for RVs, the few that might be considered to be would work on 12V as well as 120V but I know of very few RVs that have them.

[buffalohunter]

Just thinking about distinguishing TV (tow vehicle) - tv (television).

Probably only relevant to old geesers like me.

[2Evil4U]

Originally Posted by buffalohunter

Just thinking about distinguishing TV (tow vehicle) - tv (television).

Probably only relevant to old geesers like me.

Nope. Everytime I see it I wonder why they need to operate their Tow Vehicle on 120V.

[TSman]

The televisions in my RV have a 12 volt power input that eliminates the need for an inverter. This is useful if you camp without hookups.

[Oaklevel]

To this old geezer TV = Television don't know these new fangled abreviations..... and a tow vehicle is a tow truck......... or is that a tt or TT

[Mrs.Kay]

LOL.... (Little Old Lady)

[Mrs.Kay]

and NO dear hubby........ DW is not Dish Washer

[KDHfan]

First... hopefully you didnt make a rookie mistake by thinking the stabilizers are leveling jacks? You'll twist your frame, causing all sorts of issues. As said previously, level side-to-side using lynx levelers/wood boards.
Also... your 6-gal hot water tank should have enough for two full showers, assuming you are efficient. An hour on propane should be enough. The inside water heater switch is for propane. Your switch to turn it to electric is probably outside where your tank is. Propane has a much faster recovery time, however. If you cant get through one shower, you might have an issue.

[CampingGator]

We use Anderson leveler, which make leveling a cinch. We don't use the blocks.

[Palms]

X2


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[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by 2Evil4U

Nope. Everytime I see it I wonder why they need to operate their Tow Vehicle on 120V.

becasue they have one of those Obama TVs, using a thousand mile extension cord and no gas or diesel engine.

[RSchleder]

Under no circumstances should you run your water heater on 120v ( or propane for that matter) WITHOUT water in it. You will quickly burnout the 120V heating element. Your 120v switch is a toggle switch on the actual water heater accessed from the outside heater compartment (kinda hard to see). This switch needs to be in the OFF position if 110V goes into the trailer with no water in the heater!

[kantonburg]

Originally Posted by norberts

Some questions:
- How do I change the blue LED outside lights to some other color? They are ... very blue.

I'd like to know this as well. I plan on installing a dimmer at some point, but I'd also like to get rid of the blue.

[sgtlm17]

For your TV I would only suggest looking for one that operates on 12v. Its nice having it always work regardless of shore power.

2016 Forester GTS 2801 QSF

[timfromma]

My camper has 12 more weeks of hibernation left.