Tips for a Newbie?

PNWtabber

Just bought a 2018 T@B 320S Boondock.  Feeling a bit intimidated by all of the modification threads I've been reading through.  Wondering if people could share their top tips for a newbie.  Things to remember to pack.  Things that make T@B life easier.  Must have items.  What did you wish someone had told you before your first outing?  Thanks so much.  I feel like I've done nothing for the past two days but read discussions on this forum.   Fantastic wealth of knowledge. 

Sharon_is_SAM

Often a dealer will give you a bag of cheap items (sewer hose, plastic water regulator, etc).  Not to be ungrateful, but, these items are just to get you started and you will want to replace them with quality items.  Here is what you will need:

Sewer:

15 feet of sewer hose with connections (I suggest the Rhinoflex). Plus a cheap extra 5 feet just in case.
Happy camper to add to gray and black tanks to reduce odor
Nitrile gloves, Hand sanitizer.
Decide where you will store your hose, etc.

Water:
A water filter:




A water pressure regulator:  

A hose adapter to fill your fresh water tank:  

A short section of water hose to hook up to a park spigot when you won’t have water at your site:

Minimum of 25 feet of potable water hose.  And, I would get either a non-kink adapter or this:  
If you plan to use your fresh water tank and pump - a siphon hose will easily refill your fresh water tank.

Water jugs.  I would limit to two 2.5 gallons.  Each gallon of water is 8# - you do the math.  They work nicely to refill your fresh tank.

Electric:

A good surge protector and lock/cable - search on the forum.
Consider a 10 foot 10 gauge extension cord depending on where you camp.

Miscellaneous:
Clothesline for drying towels
Camp chairs
Vinyl tablecloths for the grubby picnic tables

Flashlights
Bug repellent
Fly swatter
Some kind of awning/tent

Plastic rug for outside your door

PNWtabber

Thanks, Sharon_is_SAM.  I will compare this list with the load of items the seller included with the trailer.  Water filters are a great idea!

DougH

Congratulations. The top tip commonly provided is to camp in your driveway a couple nights, before taking off to Patagonia. Gets you accustomed to the basics of how much you can bring, how to cook, cooling off the fridge, getting a hot shower with the Alde, whether the cushions are good enough for you (or if you need a camping pad or mattress topper).  You might try shore power and city water one night, then battery power and water pump with the freshwater tank the second night.

There's quite a few carry lists on the forum, and you might want to start one of your own, but it's usually some combination of wheel chocks, trailer side-to-side leveler, the stabilizer crank, the wheel or footpad for the jack, a freshwater hose, a water pressure regulator, a sewer hose, a phone app to check level, half tank of fresh water for the road, an extra 2.5g or 5g jug of pure water (or two) for safe drinking, tire pressure gauge, and a spirit of adventure.

I wish someone had told me to chock one of the trailer wheels front and back with good heavy rubber chocks, then ease the car or truck forward a half inch or two before trying to hitch and unhitch... especially on a hill.  The locking mechanism works a lot easier if the tow vehicle hitch ball is on the forward / front side of the coupler.  My first couple times I struggled.

pthomas745

Keep it simple.  Not everyone mods their trailer to the hilt.  Just a little at a time will be worth it.

Haven't had a thread of "things that I bought that I don't know why or what for" in a while!

VictoriaP

What pthomas745 said. Don’t get caught up in mods before you even take the trailer out. Likewise, don’t buy up a bunch of stuff. Both of these things are a surefire way to waste money. Camp a bit first and figure out what YOU need and how YOU prefer to camp, and then go seek out reviews of the items you think are necessary.

Take the absolute barest minimum on your first few trips, and bring a notebook. Every time you think of something you “need” while you’re camping, write it down. Come home and research. Lather, rinse, repeat. 😊

Michigan_Mike

One thing I’d recommend taking along is a Camco scissor jack socket adapter for your stabilizers if you also have a decent battery operated drill.  You can order these on Amazon and IMHO they are worth every penny.  It eliminates the need to haul out the stabilizer crank handle and makes deploying and stowing the stabilizers a quick and easy endeavor.   I would also carry a small level or buy the stick on levels at Walmart, etc.  A pair of wheel chocks should be a part of your gear too, along with a nice LED flashlight, butane grill starter, etc.  

As noted, it all takes time to figure out everything but a few shakedown trips and you will feel more comfortable and know what you need as opposed to taking gear out for a ride to and from a campsite.  You will find out that a lot if the cool, flashy camping items you see in ads will easily end up in your next garage sale.  😀

webers3

Also with @pthomas745 and @VictoriaP on this one,  keep it simple and don't get cought up in mods and buy only essential accessories, half of the stuff i bought i don't use. Just get out there and enjoy!!!

Samrollseyes

Welcome to trailering! I always have sunscreen, a basic first aid kit, and my homemade checklist of steps I do when setting up camp and steps I do when packing it up. You only have to forget putting up the step or or forget to remove the front wheel once to make your trip not as fun. Also, I have a selection of Command hangers scattered about the trailer. I think placing a basket or hook in a spot is a good idea until I get in and hit my head. I can then easily remove the hanger to another spot🤣.
The plastic rug in the ground in front of your door is FABULOUS; I have one that has an aggressive tread so I'm not tracking a bunch of stuff in. Always fill up your tow gas tank before you leave-added peace of mind.
Most important of all, BREATHE! YOU GOT THIS!
Have fun!!!

ScottG

It's your money, but I'm in the keep it simple camp. The only items I purchased for my first season were a potable water hose (needed if you have a water hook-up) and a plastic water jug (needed if you will be refilling your water tank). My T@B came with a cheap water pressure adapter and sewer hose which served me fine to get started. I tossed in a few pieces of lumber for chocking and leveling and headed for the woods!

I've upgraded and added a few more items since then, but they have all been acquired after I figured out exactly what I wanted.

ChanW

No one has mentioned....
Wine!

Denny16

Wine was/is on the top of my list when outfitting thenTaB. 
cheers

ScottG

ChanW said:

No one has mentioned....
Wine!

Oh, I thought that was just generally understood.  :-)

In fact, one of my more recent improvements was a hanging rack for my plastic wine glasses!

Rodent77

Hi, if you have Facebook, join this group as well,,,they have a file section with all kinds of info including, what to do before leaving for camping what to do when arriving and all sorts of goodies...https://www.facebook.com/groups/24931511064/

ChanW

@Rodent77!
Love the HST quote!

Rodent77

@ChanW thanks..can't take the credit for it, I got the idea from my brothers friend but loved it as well

Bayliss

@PNWtabber. although this may not be directly responsive to your specific request, I have attached some "towing tips" that me be helpful.  I have put these tips together over time and they incorporate ideas provided by other T@B owners on this forum.

PNWtabber

For those that mentioned wine (I'm looking at you @ChanW, @Denny16, and @ScottG), any recommendations for safely carrying wine glasses that are not plastic?  I guess stemless is a good start.  Or is plastic the only way to go and, if so, are there really good options out there?  Thanks, and cheers! 🍷 

Verna

I use aluminum insulated wine cups, with plastic lids. I call them my sippy cups😂

You can purchase plain ones, or those that have sayings printed on them. They are shaped like stemless wine glasses and range in sizes from 6 oz (hard to find) to 16+ oz. Easy to take care of and no broken glasses. 

I’ve tried stemless glass wine glasses rolled in towels and the last pair was still broken. I gave up as I prefer my sippy cups anyway😉

PNWtabber

@Verna -- do the aluminum cups impart any metallic taste? 

ScottG

@PNWtabber, we use collapsible plastic wine glasses made of thin Lexan (or something similar) that are quite clear and shapely. In transit they just bounce happily around in the upper cabinets. I've also seen some nice stainless models, if you can get around not be able to see through them. Personally, I like a handle on my wine glass, so stemless has even less appeal to me than good plastic.

I do hold out for the real thing (ceramic and glass) for my coffee and my whiskey, Those cups are smaller and more rugged. They get wrapped in towels and transported in a drawer unit inside the kitchen cabinets.

You'll figure out something that works for you. Good drinkware (however you define it) is a camping essential!  :-)

Verna

PNWtabber said:

@Verna -- do the aluminum cups impart any metallic taste? 

No. The ones I use have the plastic lids and I think that helps, although I have drank juice straight out of the 6 oz cup and there was no aluminum taste to me. I have 3 larger ones, with two from a different manufacturer than the third and no metallic taste from either of the three. 

And the lids come in handy for the fall when those pesky yellow jackets try to get into your drinks. The three larger cups’s lids have closing parts on the lid to foil any pesky insect. 

PNWtabber

@Verna, thanks (again)!

PNWtabber

Oops, just saw your comment, @ScottG.  Thanks.  I've seen those collapsible glasses at REI.

Horigan

We use stemless wine glasses from Crate and Barrel.  Much cheaper (and tougher) than the Riedel equivalent.

https://www.crateandbarrel.com/search?query=stemless%20wine%20glass&isLanded=true

https://www.amazon.com/Riedel-Wine-Tumbler-Cabernet-Merlot/dp/B0009I6KRK/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3N5OAKAZUOYRH&dchild=1&keywords=riedel+wine+glasses&qid=1603585738&sprefix=riedel+%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-9

PNWtabber

@Horigan -- thanks.  I haven't embraced "stemless" at home, but I can see the advantages for camping!

ChanW

"Jelly jars"... tough, attractive, and surprisingly, they hold 4oz.!

Denny16

I embraced stemless wine glasses yeas ago, after spilling several stem glasses full of expensive wine.
cheers

Horigan

Definitely thick stemless for "camping".  For home we're still using stemware since my wife was in the wine industry we would never use anything else.