Really dumb newbie questions

[IrishIroamed]

I was going to resurrect my original dumb newbie questions, since others at new at this too (thank you I'm not alone ) but couldn't find it. I have really stupid questions, yes really stupid questions, so here goes...Please don't laugh

If you have access to electric, you need to turn on propane to cook? (I'm thinking yes, but since I rarely cook, it might be a mute point). Also, if no electric, what do you turn on first? propane outside obviously (?), and then on the control panel the propane, or water pump, or water heater, or what??? Do things have to be turned in in a specific order?

OK , you can laugh, I know they are stupid. Just think of me as a deer in the headlights

[sharon]

I was going to resurrect my original dumb newbie questions, since others at new at this too (thank you I'm not alone ) but couldn't find it. I have really stupid questions, yes really stupid questions, so here goes...Please don't laugh

If you have access to electric, you need to turn on propane to cook? (I'm thinking yes, but since I rarely cook, it might be a mute point). Also, if no electric, what do you turn on first? propane outside obviously (?), and then on the control panel the propane, or water pump, or water heater, or what??? Do things have to be turned in in a specific order?

OK , you can laugh, I know they are stupid. Just think of me as a deer in the headlights

There are no stupid questions...just a learning curve.

Yes, turn on the propane when you land, whether you have electric or not...you need it for your fridge. Fridge can be used in electric mode if you have HU's, but turn on the propane any way.
Turn on propane first, then fridge. Turn on hot water heater as needed. No specific order.

[dayspring39]

I do not think the order makes any difference... (I leave my propane on for the frig when I travel)
Remember to put Bounce dryer sheets around to keep insects out like ants that live in most camp grounds... real Bounce not a knockoff...
If you feel uncomfortable make a list and put it on the wall next to the door... things to do when you are getting ready to leave... or are setting up!
Most if not all of us have had goofs...

[Bethers]

Your stove top is propane only - so yes, you need the propane for that. If you have a convection/microwave, that's electric only. If you have an oven under the stove top, that's gas only. I, also, travel with my propane on. That will be a choice you'll have to make. Some adamantly believe you shouldn't, others the opposite. If you are filling the fridge before you leave home, you should have the fridge on for 24 hours before filling it - and it's best to put already cold items in. If you don't have electric where you go, do NOT forget to turn the propane on or everything in the fridge will quickly spoil.

No dump/stupid questions. Not asking and having things go wrong (like I did when I started out) could be considered dumb, though!

[brendac]

Dry camping without hookups:
1Turn propane on at the tank
2 Turn stove top on to purge air out of lines (it may take a minute to get the propane flowing and stove lit)
3 Set fridge to gas
4 Turn hot water heater on. You will hear a click and wooosh when hot water heater ignites. When noise stops then you can turn off the water heater.
I have found the water stays hot to very warm for several hours (depending on outside temp). Turning off the water heater conserves battery use.

Camping with hookups:
1 Test power at the pedestal
2 Plug in electric cord
3 Set fridge to electric
3 Set water heater to electric
No need for propane unless you want to use the stove inside ( follow steps 1 and 2 above).
Hope this helps.
Brenda

[gingerK]

The only thing stupid is not asking questions. There are no stupid questions. How ya gonna learn if ya don't ask questions?

[JudyJB]

I leave propane on so I skip steps 1-3. Refrig stays on while I drive and it automatically switches to electric if I plug in.

Don't need to purge gas if you leave it on. Mine has not been off except for when it is being refilled for three years.

If you have a question in a campground one of your neighbors will be glad to help. I got help when I was new and now help other new people.

[judi]

My refrigerator runs on electricity or battery, and it works really well. Even keeps ice-cream frozen on battery power. I never leave propane on when I travel because a fireman told me not to. I don't have a reason to, anyway. Here are my steps when I plug in:

1. when parking make sure sewer outlet is lined up with sewer
2. make sure the switches on the electric pole are in the off position, then hook up electric. I always always use a surge protecter. Do the electric before the water to avoid dragging/dropping your electric cord ends through any water that may have collected on the ground when you ran it through the water hose.
3. hook water hose (drinking) to water spigot and run water through hose to clear air, then hook water hose to your RV. Turn on water at spigot.
4. turn propane on
5. hook up cable if using.
6. hook up sewer hose. I do the sewer last because even though I wear gloves I want to wash my hands before touching anything else.

When I leave, I use the same sequence. electric first blah blah blah sewer last.

[Wanderer2]

Please keep asking questions, because I am learning and I don't even have an RV yet. I will have a lot of questions when I do, but the more I know now, all the better. Pre-education--like RV kindergarten for me!

[IrishIroamed]

Love you ladies!! Thanks for the info. I knew you ladies would be helpful to this, only ever camped in a tent, person.

Can you stand another dumb one? If you are alone, and filling up you fresh water tank, how do you know when it's full? Watch the monitor and then run like heck to pull the hose? Wait until it overflows?

I guess a better question would be who with a MH or TT wants to live in IL for the summer to help me?

[Pooker]

Cheryl - Short answer: When water starts pouring out the fill spout the tank is full! Long answer: You may not always need a full tank, especially if you will have hookups where you are heading. So there's no sense lugging around all that weight. Check your monitor before adding water. Run water into the fill spout for a few minutes (or count to 100 or whatever works for you); shut off water and go check your monitor. The level may be enough for your needs, but if not, at least it has given you an idea of how much water has gone into the tank and you can judge another few minutes' worth. I don't like to drive with a full fresh water tank unless I know I won't have access to water at my destination. I assume you know you should be using a potable water hose? They are usually white, but should say "safe for drinking" or "potable" on the package.

Happy travels.

Pooker

[Redetotry]

A good tip an angel who helped me my first night on the road taught me was to be sure and screw the ends of the water hose together before I stored it.Be sure and get all the water out of it before you screw it together. I'll never forget this woman, I was driving around looking for my space and I asked her if she knew where it was, I guess I looked like a newbie and she said come park next to me, the guy next left a day early. She was a treasure of information and I met her for dinner on my way back.

[Colliemom]

Like I said too, no dumb questions here. Maybe a dumb answer I'd don't drive with propane on either. I've been on the road for 6-8 hours and my fridge has been fine. Like Beth said, plug in and cool down the day before you leave and put cold stuff in. I do that and transfer food from home fridge to trailer in the a.m. Before I leave. Now, on this upcoming trip, if my trailer is going to be parked for awhile, say out enjoying the sights, I wil turn on gas and turn on fridge till I'm ready to leave. It is illegal to gas your vehicle at a gas station with propane turned on, so be sure to turn it off.

At campsite, I back in or pull through,make sure I'm level, unhitching uf not just overnighting, then plug in to electric so fridge can run while I put down stabilizers, set up camp etc.I don't use my stove either, or haven't yet, so don't turn on propane till I need to use HW tank and when done, turn HW back off. Pump I sometimes leave on, sometimes not. I definitely turn it off when I leave the trailer, just in case something springs a leak or something. I carry about three empty gallon milk jugs and sometimes if I'm close to bath house, will go over and get hot water from there to do dishes, wash up, wash hair or whatever, rather than use my water and propane. I think it's because our state parks don't have full hookups, saves my on board water when I am in one spot for a few days.

When leaving, electric is last thing I unplug so keeps fridge cold while breaking camp.

[monik7]

I couldn't figure out why my back storage was getting wet. Leak?? I finally realized my water gauge inside wasn't very accurate. It wouldn't show full when it was and then it would overflow. That overflow was what was making the storage wet. Luckily, I can see the fresh water tank when that storage is open and I now watch the level of the water as it fills. When it gets to the amount I feel is right for my current circumstances (I also don't like to drive with a full tank if not needed), I turn off the water. Storage hasn't gotten wet since I stopped letting it overflow.
Sandi

[Bethers]

A word of caution about screwing the hose together. Yes, mine is right now, but doing that locks the moisture inside. Inside a cool, dark place. That promotes mold. So please, it should only be done for short times. If you have the time to unhook and lay the hose out temporarily to dry out, so do.

Whenever connecting your water hose, first run the water for a minute. Connect the hose to the spigot and run the water again. Then connect to the RV.