Full Hookups Advice

[Colliemom]

Okay all you experts out there. Being a State Park camper here in Michigan, I haven't had any experience with full hookups cause our parks don't have them, just electric. My upcoming trip will be first time for me. So, any words to the wise. I know that hooking up to sewer, you leave black valve closed, but what about gray? I have a sewer hose support, should I use it or not necessary? What about water. Any do's or dont's?

[Acadianmom]

I wouldn't call myself an expert but I'll give you my 2 cents. lol Be sure and use a pressure regulator on your water hose. If you put it at the faucet it protects your hose too. I don't turn the water on all the way unless the pressure is too low inside. Since I have had the valve coming out of my hot water tank break twice I try to remember to turn the water off if I am leaving the campground for a while.

I don't hook up my sewer hose until I'm ready to dump. If I'm some where for a long time and I have to dump more than once I will leave it hooked up. You want to save your gray water to help rinse the hose after you dump the black tank. I bought a sewer support that was a piece of crap and more trouble than it was worth. Now I just pick the hose up to get it to drain. You will probably run into all kinds of hookups. Sometimes the dump will be uphill from the site. Sometimes the water will be at one end and the sewer at the other end of the campsite. I carry a 25' and 15' water hose. I have had to decide what I wanted more, electric, water or sewer. I carry a 30 amp extension cord and have had to use it a couple of times. A lot of the private campground now have cable TV so I carry a 25' cable for that. If you are going to buy one you might as well have one long enough.

Martha

[JudyJB]

I seldom have full hookups but when I do, I tend not to even hook up the sewer until I need to dump my grey water. Someone once scared me about sewer flies, but I really have no idea if they even exist. I have never seen one but someone said they could get into your grey tank, so I tend to leave it closed. However, you DO have to remember to open it, which I once forgot to do. My daughter-in-law was standing in two inches of water in the shower before I remembered, then I raced out and opened it. She said she wondered why it was not draining.

WHen I have my grandkids, I can assure you I leave it open! I try to have full hookups when I have them because they go through a lot of showers and hand washing.

So I guess, my answer is it really doesn't matter. Often when I arrive at a campsite I am tired from driving so I just hook up electric and water. Then at my leisure the next day I hook up sewer. I have a 35 gallon grey tank and with my new shower spray I can go 4-5 days without dumping so there is no hurry.

And the sewer hose support can come in handy for those times when the dump opening is above ground level. I don't us it unless I have to, however.

[Birdie]

If I am staying a week or less, I only plug in electric. I prefer to use my water from fresh water tank to keep my pump working more frequently. However when I stay for longer I will hook all up.

Judy I have seen the sewer flies at several parks. When there I make sure that if I hook up that I open, dump and then close the valves. I had them this winter at the park where I was for 3 months.

The water pressure regulator is a good thing. I carry three flat hoses, 2 are 10', 1 is 20', and I had to buy another 10' on the road, so it is not flat. Two flat hoses can fit in a plastic shoe box or 1 can fit in a quart plastic bag. I love them! I also use a blue water filter on my fresh water and a "Y" at the spigot. I use quick connects on all my water hoses. At the intake to the rig, I use a brass "L" with a quick connect.

I have 2 sewer hoses with a connector. I had to buy the second one to use at a park that the sewer line was just too far back to get to with 1 hose. I have a separate 20' rinse hose for the sewer hose if I need it. I have the spider support that I normally only use if it needed. I do the Martha trick otherwise. I did go to one park that the sewer was about 24" up off the ground. Now whose s##t runs up hill? I moved from that spot.

You will figure out what best works for you!

[gingerK]

Oy, you ladies are making my head spin with all this info! What have I gotten myself into buying this MH? LOL

[IrishIroamed]

Oy, you ladies are making my head spin with all this info! What have I gotten myself into buying this MH? LOL

And you thought I was being too anxious about the TT. Join the club - I've been watching You Tube videos & talking to a girl from work with a TT.

[Carolinagal]

Kathy, all you really need to start your camping is a hose that is for drinking water, a regulator to keep check on pressure as some CG's water comes out with lots of force. At least a 10 fto sewer hose for dumping holding tanks. electric is usually with the rig. a surge protector has made it to my list of must have's after all of these years too. Then you will need some form of levelers, you can buy at WM or CW or cut some wood pieces. That in my opinion is all you really need to start enjoying your camping times, and of course you probably know all of this and may have it.

Until this past year, when I was in a CG for months and months, did I feel full hooks up were necessary and only then did I think that a longer sewer hose was needed and also the rack to hold it up off the ground. I still do not have and have found no need for many items, others feel are necessary. But then your needs are in how you choose to travel and what you do while in your rig. Also how many people travel with you.

So whatever you do, don't get up tight over any item, there are always camping worlds and Wal marts everywhere to purchase something you might find you would like to have along the way.

All of this is only my opinion, but give yourself time to decide for yourself. Full hook ups have never been a priority with me, during the summer, I do enjoy elect when staying anywhere any length of time, but with the gen I can do without that too, for short spans of time. Wherever I stop and whatever hook ups are on my spot, I find I only hook the elect up, unless my water tank is getting low and then I fill it but do like to use my water pump too, to be sure it keeps working. How we all do things and what we need are all personal preferences, and you need time to find what yours are, so until then just start with the basics and enjoy.

Sue, I think you will find your way too this summer in what you do when parking or not do. I think you probably have all that you need to hook up however and whatever you want, so go with the flow and just enjoy your trip. Wow, setting here writing all of this, i'm ready to climb in mine and hit the road

Enjoy your travels everyone, however you choose to do it and with whatever rv you have, if a tent. Enjoy
Please stay safe,
CArol

[grammynmaggie]

I agree with CArol just the necessities and worry about the rest if and when you need them like she says you can always buy things along the way...just get in there and drive and have fun

[MelissaD]

Just like our RV's are unique to us, so is our style of using them. With 3 of us in the camper, if I'm stopped more than one night or need to dump, I hook everything up. I prefer to dump at my site so I am not rushed and can take my time. Plus I have front and rear connections so I'd have to move up. Since my sewer line normally runs under my main slide I find it easier to hook up the sewer before I open the slide.

Leave to black closet to prevent the dreaded poo pyramid.
I tend to leave the greys closed until the tank is 3/4 or fuller. But some leave them open and shut them a day or two ahead of dumping the black tank to have water to flush the sewer hose. Since my black tanks have built in flush valves, I have plenty of "flush water".

Sewer flies: you can leave your valves shut or to keep them out, you can put a little dip in the hose (make like a "p-trap" under your sink) to hold some water and make a seal to keep them out.

Hose support: Some places require you to keep the hose off the ground. It also helps drain the tank better if you can get a good flow rate out of the tank. I like this style as it is the most stable and easiest to work with in my book. http://www.walmart.com/ip/29764423?wmls ... 52&veh=sem

With water pressure regulators, there are many styles. You want to limit the pressure not the flow rate. Throttling the supply valve will limit flow but not pressure. I like the Valterra adjustable or others like it. I get a good flow rate for a good show and it's adjustable so I can get just the right pressure and still protect my camper.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... free/49511

Relax and enjoy your trip. Don't over think it You've camped enough to know what you are doing. FHU's are just a convenience. Use them as you see fit.

[JudyJB]

I agree with the others. I have extra hoses and electric cords and a rack for the sewer hose, but I only use each one of them maybe once or twice a month or even less. Just get the basics to start. If you run into a difficult sewer situation, like it is higher in the air or farther away, I just use the dump station at the campground. I have also seen people prop their hoses up on rocks or tie them to branches or whatever works.

You will both be experts after a couple of trips! And you can add those extra things over time.

[Bethers]

After 10 years full-time I just purchased a sewer hose support this winter. So yes to NOT running and buying everything! If I didn't workamp for months at a time, I'd only hook up electric most of the time when available. When in fun travel mode I use my water tank and hook up sewer when I need to dump. I usually leave my grey open when stationary for awhile and water is hooked up.

[BirdbyBird]

Like Beth, if I am traveling through and only stay one or a few days, electric may be all I hook up. I generally use water from my tank and then refill as needed. I have also been known to stay in a full hook up park only use the electric but drive through the dump station on the way out because it is more convienent to use my short dump hose than it is to get the longer heavier sewer hose out and hooked up. You will find what works for you. Some decisions may relate to how much water you use and how big your tanks are.....

[Azusateach]

Nobody's mentioned electrical hook-ups, and I think it's worth repeating about getting some sort of system to protect your rig.

Last weekend we were at a regional park with our brand new motorhome. We'd purchased a Progressive Industries hard-wired EMS system, after having a portable one for the trailer. In all the years of using the portable one, we'd never experienced anything that showed us that it was a necessary piece of equipment. However, this weekend was different.

It was warm -- probably low to mid-80s in the afternoons. We were running our AC, when our whole rig shut down. I quickly looked at the EMS readout and noticed that we had inadequate power coming into the rig. It happened several times, and we finally decided to unhook and let the fridge run on propane for a couple of hours until it cooled down. Once the sun went down a bit, we plugged back in and everything was fine -- even while running the AC. When I spoke with one of the park employees later he said that the draw was probably too great on the park's system, and so everyone was getting less than optimal power. But people don't know that unless they have some sort of protective system on their rigs to notify them.

Putting a low-power load can burn out your AC if done repeatedly over time. Having a system to detect low power AS WELL AS power surges could be a life-saver.

I know that we could have gone for many years without issue, but without having the EMS system we'd never know when we had low power. I'm glad we spent the money to have one installed.

Laura

[Acadianmom]

Since I seldom get out of the South I have been in a few campgrounds that have low power when the park is full and everyone is running the air conditioners. I keep the little electric monitor plugged in all the time that shows how much electric I am getting. Mitch reminded me that I was having a problem with my surge protector and I ordered a new one. Now to remember to use it.

Martha

[grammynmaggie]

Martha what kind of little Electric monitor do you have?