Questions on equipment...

[Colliemom]

Beth, I uaed to keep my sewer hose in my bumper too, but with some of the newer ones that have the attached elbow for the campground sewer fitting, they won't fit the width if the bumper, plus it's a bit of a hassle getting the thing in and out. With the carrier I made, I can just take off the end cap,slide out the gutter and the hose is right there. I keep my regular and my extension hoses in there, no need to store any in my storage area. I sometimes wonder if sliding the hoses in and out of the bumper causes them to get holes or abrasion from them scraping along the metal.

[MelissaD]

Is this what I need to get?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Progressive- ... r/51053195

If you look at this chart https://www.rvupgradestore.com/rv-surge ... -a/279.htm

This unit does not turn off the power for a low or high voltage condition. The SSP version only tells you, you have a problem it does not take action to protect your camper.

The EMS-PT30X offers the protection. An RV store is a better option than Walmart for a choice like this.

[Redetotry]

I bought the one Melissa had the link to. It was $58.00 cheaper than at Progressives web site! https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Progress ... spt30x.htm
Now I need a new battery, I went out to check how much gas I had as I'm going on a day trip tomorrow and it went click click click....New battery coming in the morning from local garage! I was so glad she said they would come out and install!! Just relieved it happened in my driveway.

[Liz]

Barbie, I recommend that you keep it simple at first. Get the minimum you need to go camping. Wait and see how often you are using it to figure out what else you may need or should have. Don't waste a lot of money up front buying all that we full-timers deem necessary.

[Bethers]

Barbie, I recommend that you keep it simple at first. Get the minimum you need to go camping. Wait and see how often you are using it to figure out what else you may need or should have. Don't waste a lot of money up front buying all that we full-timers deem necessary.

Agree totally.

[JudyJB]

I confess that I have gone 5 years without a surge protector. I keep saying I want to buy that and a tire pressure monitor, but they are just so expensive I keep putting it off. So far, I have been lucky in that I have not fried anything but insects!

Some cheap things are a bucket and some rags. Camping World has a really neat folding bucket for about $12, but a regular plastic one is a good place to store cleaning stuff so they do not fall over and spill.

And I don't know what tools you have, but Sears has some cheap ($6) cloth tool bags. The reason for cloth is so the tools don't rattle. If you don't already own tools, Sears also has a really cute tool bag filled with basic tools for $25 -- http://www.sears.com/the-original-pink- ... ockType=G4

I have trouble tightening water hoses, so I added one of these: http://www.sears.com/channellock-9-1-2- ... ockType=G4. Get a cheap one of these because you will leave it on top of the electrical box at a campsite. I lost two that way, and found one that someone else lost at a different campground!

But all of these things, you can buy on the way, so I agree --- Keep it simple.

[Colliemom]

Also, when it comes to tools, you will notice that RV's have funny shaped screws that ordinary screwdrivers don't work on. So look at yours as you may need some screwdrivers with those star shaped points instead of phillips and regular slot ones, but keepmone of each of those two.

[Bethers]

I use and depend on Robo Grips for tightening those water hoses... Also at Sears.

I also went years without a surge protector at the pole. I saw a brown out in Pennsylvania...a planned brown out by the electric co because of the high temps. Th cg informed all 400 sites. Suggested we switch to propane for fridges during these days, etc. There were two fires at the electric connections... No other problems. Both were quickly contained... Both had surge protectors that burned. So I'm not always sure they give the protection many claim they do... People just think every time one cuts the electric off they have been saved. Yes, I succumbed and now have one... But will admit I have not used it. I do check the electric for polarity, etc.

[dpf]

Also, when it comes to tools, you will notice that RV's have funny shaped screws that ordinary screwdrivers don't work on. So look at yours as you may need some screwdrivers with those star shaped points instead of phillips and regular slot ones, but keepmone of each of those two.

I have one of those sets in a plastic carrying case that they sell at Menards and places like that. It has several different tips for the screwdriver and ratchets of all sizes, a hammer, tape measure, box cutter, side cutter and I can't remember what else. DH laughed at it at first but has been pretty impressed with it on several occasions.

[BarbaraRose]

When using the inside wand to flush the black tank can you hook the hose to the water from your kitchen sink or do you run it to the outside faucet?

I will repeat BJ's question here since no one has answered it yet and I also would like to know about this? How long of a water hose do I need for this? I am thinking about 25 ft? Do I need a shorter water hose to use at the dump station?

I have lots of tools already so don't need any of those.

Got my WD hitch, support jacks, electric brake controller, sewer hose kit and some other little stuff today.

I want to install a solar light by the door of my camper and am wondering if it is OK to drill a hole to use a screw?

I have two hoses coming out of the camper, one red, one white that the previous owners said are for winterizing. Not sure how I would use them tho. Any thoughts?

[Acadianmom]

In about 30 years of having motorhomes I have never used a wand to flush the black tank. Maybe I have been lucky but I have never had a problem. When I am dumping my tanks I dump the black tank first. While the valve is still open I go in and fill the toilet with water and flush the water 2 or 3 times. I then close the valve for the black tank and dump the gray water. I'm not one of the people that dump and flush and won't use the toilet again until the next trip. I bought my rig to use it. I always put some water back into the black tank so that it doesn't get dry and anything left will harden.

I think you would have to run a hose from the outside faucet to use the wand, either through the door or a window. I don't think you could attach a hose to the kitchen faucet. There are clear attachments that have a place to attach a hose. You put these where you attach the sewer hose and attach the sewer hose to this. You can run water back into the tank from the outside using this attachment. I have never used one of these either. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... gree/14496


Martha

[Bethers]

I bought one of those wands, used it once and threw it away.

[Colliemom]

I have one of those clear elbows with the hose attachmentblike Martha has. Use it all the time. I have been fortunate in that every campground I have stayed at, has had both non potable and potable water at their dump stations. It's the hose attached to the non potable water that is used to flush the black tank. The new trailer I have, has a black water flush connection built into the system.

[Azusateach]

I want to install a solar light by the door of my camper and am wondering if it is OK to drill a hole to use a screw?

No.

If you put holes in the outside of your camper, you're just asking for problems. No matter how small the hole, if it rains you're going to get moisture into that hole, which will get into the walls of your rig.

Don't you alredy have an outisde light? If you do, that's plenty.

[Liz]

Or buy a cheap solar light from Walmart that you can stick in the ground near your steps.