rollindowntheroad Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) Well I finally pulled the trigger and bought my first RV - a travel trailer. After researching RV's for quite sometime I decided to go ahead and get one. Purchased a 2018 Prime Time Tracer 253AIR. Had the floor plan and storage that I really liked. I will be using it for weekends and longer vacations. Would like to full when I retire so this is a perfect one to start out with to see if I like it. It's 28' long with 1 slide, rear kitchen. After some serious negotiating they ended up taking off $2,500.00 off the total price. Also got a Weight Distribution/Anti-sway hitch. Got an Equalizer 4 Point, 10,000 lb, 1,000 lb hitch weight. Little nervous about towing it and backing it up but with practice I am sure I will get good at it. Of course now I have to turn around and get everything needed to use it. Ordered a lot of stuff yesterday so it will all be delivered right to me. I am sure there will be something I forgot the first time I take it out and get it set up. I am excited to start my camping adventures. Edited April 21, 2020 by rollindowntheroad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblr Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 Congrats and enjoy, also check out joining the Forest River Owners Group ( FROG ) it's free to join and they hold rallies all over the country. https://forestriverfrog.com/ Quote 2017 River Stone Legacy 38MB 2001 T2000 Kenworth 2009 Smart Passion ET Junior hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenS Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 That's great! I really hope you enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpsinc Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 You can practice backing into "spaces" by finding an empty parking lot and using the stalls or cones or both to assist with backing. If you have a partner, practice using signals either hand or voice. Practice will make it better, but it is good to start out with some common agreed upon signals. Quote Marcel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filthy-beast Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) Congrats, Camping in it for few nights in your driveway is the best way to figure out what you need. Edited April 20, 2020 by filthy-beast Quote 2020 Platinum F350 6.7L CC DRW, 2021 Riverstone Legacy 37mre 5th wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 Congratulations! Looks like a good rig. We started our camping adventure by camping about 10 miles from home. That let us figure out what we had with us and how we chose to use it while still being close enough to home to change what we brought. When we were part time, we soon decided that having duplicate items for the house and RV made it easier to get away--having the can opener be in the wrong place gets old really fast. Linda Sand Quote Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/ Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 Congratulations on your first RV! Since you have no previous RV experience, I suggest that your first trip be to a location that is close enough to home to enable you to run back and get whatever you may have forgotten that is vital to your experience. As a single traveling alone it would be a very good idea to take the trailer to an empty parking lot and practice backing and other maneuvers. If you will have a regular traveling companion, develop your own standard language for backing directions and use the same terms all of the time. Avoid right and left for driver's side and passenger side. Do not hesitate to stop and go look as often as needed. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 There are standard hand signals used in construction that are very intuitive and logical. Find them online and learn them. It can save you from embarrassment or getting a hole in your wallet. Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 1 hour ago, rickeieio said: There are standard hand signals used in construction that are very intuitive and logical. Find them online and learn them. It can save you from embarrassment or getting a hole in your wallet. These are used by the Monback... Quote "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat & Pete Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 10 minutes ago, noteven said: These are used by the Monback... Just one or all of them ? Quote Goes around , comes around . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 What's the sign for: "Oops, too far." Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 1 hour ago, rickeieio said: What's the sign for: "Oops, too far." Arms crossed tightly over your head as you duck. Quote Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/ Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollindowntheroad Posted April 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 I have a question for all you experts. Where and how do you store your sewer hoses? Do you get a plastic container and keep them in the storage area or do you have a tube attached to your rear bumper. I order a Camco RhinoExtreme sewer hose. One 20' and one 10' section. If I were to get something to attach to the rear bumper how long would it need to be? Thanks for all your advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 I used a couple lengths of plastic 8" pipe from the hardware store and fastened them under the frame just behind the axles. A simple pin through two holes keeps the hoses corralled. Mine are about 7' long. Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailertraveler Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 50 minutes ago, rollindowntheroad said: Where and how do you store your sewer hoses? The travel trailers that we have had all had a square hollow rear bumper designed to hold the sewer hoses. Three or four 10' sections would fit inside. The rubber ends do tend to fall out in transit which can result in dragging a hose down the highway or loosing it completely. Drilling a hole and a screw or through pin easily solves the problem and keeps the caps in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 55 minutes ago, rollindowntheroad said: Where and how do you store your sewer hoses? The answer depends on the configuration of the RV involved. I have used a plastic tub, but that isn't ideal. My preferred method is to mount an 8' length of PVC pipe that is about 1" larger diameter than your sewer hose to the rear of or the RV, or in some cases you can mount it under the RV. I secure the caps on either end of the pipe with a screw and I drill several holes in the bottom of the pipe to allow it to drain any moisture. Some travel trailers do have a square bumper that is designed for sewer hose storage but the one you have chosen may not fit inside of it, if your trailer has one. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 (edited) Use Utube to research backing techniques and standard hand signals. By far the most common mistake in backing is not pulling forward enough from the site to begin the backing process. As the man who taught me to drive a semi-tractor trailer said, anyone can drive forward, backing is where skill is most important. Edited April 21, 2020 by Ray,IN Quote 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whj469 Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 Please join the Forest River Owners Group, FROG, not just for the rallies but the online group will have a section on your trailer. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay3849 Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 On 4/20/2020 at 1:49 PM, rpsinc said: You can practice backing into "spaces" by finding an empty parking lot and using the stalls or cones or both to assist with backing. If you have a partner, practice using signals either hand or voice. Practice will make it better, but it is good to start out with some common agreed upon signals. Or, tie your kids up and use them as cones. Pressure will make you a pro at backing in no time😄 No don't do that😳 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 The storage tubes that came with my conversion van were not large enough diameter to hold a RhinoFlex hose with connectors. I wound up storing mine in a tub with a good sealing lid inside my van. That worked fine. Linda Sand Quote Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/ Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpsinc Posted April 21, 2020 Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 9 hours ago, Ray,IN said: anyone can drive forward I seriously doubt that in todays world. I see many that should not be driving backward or forward. Its sad. Quote Marcel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.