2020 GeoPro 19QB

[btdz888]

Good evening Forest River Forums!

Found you guys looking for some info on our new Geo Pro we just signed paperwork on and I have a few questions if anybody would be so kind!

The dealer has ours on the lot but due to some people quitting recently in addition to the increased business due to COVID they're running about three weeks out for an actual formal delivery where a specialist walks us through all the features in full.

I've done a ton of research; however, this is our first camper and I have some reservations about the overall plumbing and setting up city water in conjunction with the water heater the first time.

My question is: Should I postpone our first trip three weeks so I can get a formal delivery with walk-through or should I keep our 4th of July spot at an awesome local state park with full hookup and hook-and-go from the dealer and just figure it out along the way?

Is there anything that usually happens at the dealer (Like when you get a new tv and the remote has the little plastic thing you have to pull out for the batteries to work lol) that I wouldn't know to do? Or do they come pretty much ready to plug in to power and water and just get going? When we saw it last week everything appeared to be working electrically - slide, lights, fans worked but has never been hooked up to water to my knowledge.

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Welcome from New Jersey, You pose a very good question, Some would say just go get it and start camping, But if there are any issues that are not addressed during your PDI ,(pre delivery inspection) then now your stuck in the woods with issues,You can try to push them ? Don't really know why you have to wait if the unit is on site,? JMO I would wait and make sure your unit is right!

[flyflotrtim]

The answer to your question might be based on two things. 1) how close to you is the dealership. There are often things noticed at the PDI that require attention and forgoing the PDI will likely require a return trip to the dealership unless your are very experienced 2) How experienced are you with trailers and their electrical and plumbing features. Do you know where the battery cut off switch is located, familiar with converters, etc. Are you comfortable setting up the WDI hitch yourself?

Our new Minilite was pretty great but on the PDI we found the awning lights didn't work. Took the dealer fifteen minutes to find the problem. I doubt I could have found it. Little things like this are common but can represent a lot of stress.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by Chris Pastuzyn

Welcome from New Jersey, You pose a very good question, Some would say just go get it and start camping, But if there are any issues that are not addressed during your PDI ,(pre delivery inspection) then now your stuck in the woods with issues,You can try to push them ? Don't really know why you have to wait if the unit is on site,? JMO I would wait and make sure your unit is right!

The thing is, though - the walkthrough at the dealership is usually just pointing features out - not doing operational checks. Granted, doing operational checks is something the dealer is supposed to do BEFORE they do the buyer walkthrough, but I doubt many of them actually do it. For example, during the customer walkthrough they are not going to connect the trailer to a water source. They are not going to have water in the freshwater tank and operate the water pump nor have the water heater on. More than likely they are not even going to connect to shore power. They probably won't even turn the TV on. They won't light off all the propane burners, furnace, fridge.

So, if I were btdz888, I would pick the trailer up at the dealer tomorrow. Get it home, and once at home, connect it to a power outlet (using the appropriate adapter - 50 or 30 amp RV to 15 AMP), fill up the fresh water tank and then the city water connection. Then figure out how everything works and if there are any question come back here tomorrow evening and ask them. The only thing you might not be able to test in your home driveway is the A/C if you have a limited AC shore power connection. My A/C works just fine plugged into an outlet in my garage, though.

[darb]

I’m in the same camp as NavyLCDR

If you’ve never owned or used a camper before, there are quite a few things going on in campers these days.
PDI, I will bet any money you’ll leave not knowing half of what’s actually going on in that unit.

Personally I wouldn’t drive off the lot to the campground unless you have a friend well versed to help you out getting set up.
I’d highly recommend a day or 2 driveway camping and getting familiar and things primed.
Tho if your going to learn on the spot, a full service campground would be the place to do it.
You came to a great place for info and don’t underestimate how much power your unit uses on that skimpy battery you get from the dealer if you’re not plugged in. Tho I’m going to assume you have 100w solar on the roof already which keeps us going indefinitely while off grid in our geo pro.

[NavyLCDR]

Also - for the first trip you are going to need for the trailer itself:

Freshwater hose. I suggest 2x 25'. In addition you might want to consider the inline hose water filter and pressure regulator.
Sewer hose. I suggest the Rhino combo pack which includes 2 hoses and the elbow/sewer connection adapter.
Leveling blocks. I've got the plastic "lego" type.
Wheel chocks. Cheap plastic will do.
The trailer should come with an electric cord.
All the above can be purchased at WalMart.

Do you have your hitch set up on the tow vehicle? 7-pin connector, weight distribution (likely needed)? Can you adjust the hitch height (drop) and the weight distribution yourself (ball tilt) on a level surface yourself? Also, dealers are notorious for not having tires inflated to the proper pressure nor lug nuts torqued properly-do you have the means to check those items?

Then you'll need to outfit the trailer with cookware, eating utensils, camp chairs, food, etc.

All of that is a pretty tall order to get done in 1 day after you get the trailer home, unless maybe you have the full day off and you can handle the hitch stuff yourself. You might want to cancel the actual campground trip and spend the weekend driveway camping.

[Flybob]

If you already signed the paper work it is yours and anything you find during the walk through with the dealer will likely take a while to get it fixed. First thing I would do is make sure you have a manual for every OEM item in the TT ( fridge, WH, A/C etc)You should have received a build sheet with the paperwork that lists the make model and serial # of all these items. If you don't have a manual, go on line to manufacturer and get one. Pick it up and bring it home and pretend you are camping in the driveway. There is a 99.9% chance you are going to find items you need that you do not have. Go over your meal list for the planned trip and insure you have what you need to prepare, cook and clean up after each meal. Do a realistic mock make and break camp to identify what you are missing. Finally go online and locate the closest Wal-Mart to the campground as you will most likely be spending some time there. Then go and have fun.

[btdz888]

Thanks for all the replies! Although it is our first TT we (I, lol) actually did a ton of research beforehand and are all stocked up with everything for towing, braking leveling, power, water, sewer, bedding, cooking, cleaning, etc. and I've become pretty familiar with the systems overall including setting up and breaking down the site.

I think we'll skip the delivery and just figure it out

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by btdz888

Thanks for all the replies! Although it is our first TT we (I, lol) actually did a ton of research beforehand and are all stocked up with everything for towing, braking leveling, power, water, sewer, bedding, cooking, cleaning, etc. and I've become pretty familiar with the systems overall including setting up and breaking down the site.

I think we'll skip the delivery and just figure it out

And the great thing about camping - 90% of us are more than pleased to help a fellow camper out with anything you might need. If you do find yourself in a situation that you have a problem with, don't hesitate to ask your neighbor's for help. For example, you forgot the bottle opener and need your bottle of beer opened. I can show you how to do that using your trailer steps

[hobienick]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

And the great thing about camping - 90% of us are more than pleased to help a fellow camper out with anything you might need. If you do find yourself in a situation that you have a problem with, don't hesitate to ask your neighbor's for help. For example, you forgot the bottle opener and need your bottle of beer opened. I can show you how to do that using your trailer steps

You don't even need trailer steps for that. Just another beer bottle. Preferably an unopened one, but an open one will do in a pinch.

Verify essentials like LPG appliances working, shore power working, and water working before you leave. My WDH took me about 2 hours to fully install and adjust. YMMV depending on WDH brand. If you are even slightly handy 90% of RV repairs can by DIY. Especially if you read about whatever you are repairing first.

Congrats and have fun this weekend.

[rbhill]

Sounds like you did a lot of research I say get it and go camping have a great 4th

[rbhill]

I have a geo pro 19fbs it a great little trailer

[Jfkmk]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

Also - for the first trip you are going to need for the trailer itself:

Freshwater hose. I suggest 2x 25'. In addition you might want to consider the inline hose water filter and pressure regulator.
Sewer hose. I suggest the Rhino combo pack which includes 2 hoses and the elbow/sewer connection adapter.
Leveling blocks. I've got the plastic "lego" type.
Wheel chocks. Cheap plastic will do.
The trailer should come with an electric cord.
All the above can be purchased at WalMart.

Do you have your hitch set up on the tow vehicle? 7-pin connector, weight distribution (likely needed)? Can you adjust the hitch height (drop) and the weight distribution yourself (ball tilt) on a level surface yourself? Also, dealers are notorious for not having tires inflated to the proper pressure nor lug nuts torqued properly-do you have the means to check those items?

Then you'll need to outfit the trailer with cookware, eating utensils, camp chairs, food, etc.

All of that is a pretty tall order to get done in 1 day after you get the trailer home, unless maybe you have the full day off and you can handle the hitch stuff yourself. You might want to cancel the actual campground trip and spend the weekend driveway camping.

Very good point, there are an awful lot of things you need to do before your first trip! With this in mind, and Chris’ point about the PDI, I would hold off and wait until the dealer can appropriately go over the camper with you.

The only thing I would change on the list of things to buy are the chocks. I’ve had the cheap plastic ones before and they were worthless. The heavy duty (and equally inexpensive) rubber chocks at Horrible Freight are much better. Just keep them outside for a while, as they stink when you first get them!

[Captain Ron]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

And the great thing about camping - 90% of us are more than pleased to help a fellow camper out with anything you might need. If you do find yourself in a situation that you have a problem with, don't hesitate to ask your neighbor's for help. For example, you forgot the bottle opener and need your bottle of beer opened. I can show you how to do that using your trailer steps

We need a trailer-step-beer-opening demo video

[ItsThe2ofUs]

"Freshwater hose. I suggest 2x 25'. In addition you might want to consider the inline hose water filter and pressure regulator." NavyLCDR

ABSOLUTLY, on the pressure regulator; We were just at a place for a week that was pushing 125 pounds of water pressure in their system. They mentioned it in their paperwork but if you missed it . . .

R