RE: tips for a greenhorn?

[rebyank]

 
My wife jsut purchased our Coleman Tocoma, we can t wait to take it out in a couple of weeks, as we get ready for our maiden trip I was wondering if there were any tips you experts would like to give a newbie?  Things to get, set up tips, gadgets, tricks, etc. anything. Thanks in advance!

[tlhdoc]

 rebyank
Congratulations on the new PU.
 
 Have fun camping.
 
 Crank up the top and then put down the stabilizer jacks when setting up.
 Put the jacks up and then crank the top down when closing the trailer.

[Cadeuses]

 rebyank
**reybyank**
 
 tlhdoc has given you good advice.  As a new Coleman PU owner it is important to follow the sequence to setting up and taking down, so as not to cause damage to the roof lift mechanism.  I have put this into a little jingle to help me remember how to do it right:
 
 " Whenever the roof goes up or down... The stabilizers are off the ground" [/i][/b]
 
 Another good tip is to make sure the tongue weight of your PU is 10 to 15% of the GVWR weight of your PU.  For your Tacoma at 3,070 lbs you should have a tongue weight of between 307 and 460.5 lbs!  It sounds like a lot, but keeping your tongue weight between these ranges will definetly help to eliminate sway.
 
 You didn t say what you are pulling your new PU with, so here is another good tip:  It might be a good idea to invest in a good WDH (weight distributing hitch + anti-sway) like the reese 350 mini, which will also help with sway and the tongue weight on the back of your TV (tow vehicle).  Others here will chime in too to offer you some good advice.
 
 Welcome to the boards.  We here know you are going to have a great time with your new home on wheels!  Before long you will be solidly hooked on these forums too!
 
 HTH and have a great day!

[Tim5055]

 rebyank
Congradulations, and I hope you have many happy days camping in the pop up.
 
 I have been collection tips/information here for a couple of years and have compiled a lot of it into my web site.
 
 I would suggest you check out my [link=http://www.title-3.com/FAQ.htm]Frequently Asked Questions [/link] and then work around the site.

[jpreiser]

 rebyank
chock your trailers wheels before unhooking it from you tow vehicle! I found out the hard way  by chasing it down a sloap!

[Jo Ann]

 rebyank
dont for get about braking either!!!  a good brake controller is the tekonsha prodigy...after towing without one, we are so glad to have one!!!!  and since you are a newbie (unless you are very handy) you may want to have it installed for you.....but its a real necessity if you go up and down alot of hills and mountains.
 
 two years ago we lost our back brakes on our other truck coming down a steep mountain...there was a 90 bend at the botton of the hill and i thought we where gonners...
 
 but with brakes on our new camper and a brake controller...its so much better

[Jo Ann]

 rebyank
i forgot these tips...
 
 buy a small jr 2 person dome tent to store extra shoes and other items that you may take that don t need to be kept in the camper...like rain gear, umbrellas, unpacked suitcases whatever....put it under one of your bunk ends...acts as your almost totally bug free storage shed.
 
 a coleman extreme cooler (which can also live in your storage shed)  even if you have a fridge, this item is indespensible...you have ice the whole trip and don t have to worry about it.  You can pak food and ice in it the night before you leave (i work the day before so that is a big help).
 
 instead of suitcases for clothes, each of us get a sterilite container for our clothes that are easily moved around if need be. color coded lids help if there are kids.

[brainpause]

 rebyank
Practice your setup at home a couple of times when you get it home. Just know your camper.
 
 Don t get frustrated if it takes you a couple of hours (or more) to set up the first time or two out camping. You and your DW will soon develop a routine, and it will fall into place. From what I ve read on here, it seems that hubby does outside stuff while wifey does inside stuff, when setting up and breaking camp. Works for us.
 
 Oh yeah...change your profile so that your locations shows, if you don t mind!
 
 HTH, and happy camping!
 
 Larry

[rebyank]

 Cadeuses
Thanks For the tips this is good stuff!!!!!!! Like the tent for storage[]!!! We pull with a  Ford F150 Supercrew, with a 5.4 engine.  We already have a brake control installed ( its the law here).  My dealer was talking about some get-up that goes between the hitch on the truck and the PU that is a bike carrier (the truck will be used for carrying stuff).  Do you know anything about these or is it better to put bikes on top of the PU with a Yakima system? Thanks again!

[forestwalker]

 rebyank
Welcome,and congrats.You may want to purchase a Bal Leveler (check the forums for more info on this).It makes leveling much easier.Dont forget to properly secure your awning poles-even a small wind can launch them,possibly causing damage to your pop up.Remember-the positive battery cable is fused! Dont forget spare fuses.Dont walk into the pop up without lowering the stabilizers.Make sure that your lug wrench fits the wheel nuts AND the nuts/bolts that secure the spare to the trailer.Many people carry a " star" (four ends) type of lug wrench to deal with this problem.Disconnect the battery when you get home.Remember,backing up gets easier with practice.  Have fun.

[4campinfoxes]

 rebyank
Welcome to the board & pop-up camping!!!  Hope you enjoy both.  Great things have been said & suggested already, definitely understand the system for popping up & taking down before leaving.  Plan your first trip somewhere with a WalMart or other store nearby for the things you forgot or didn t even think of!  Be sure you have a containment system for grey water.  Be sure you have a leveling system (BAL is supposed to be great, Lynx levelers are good too).  We use cloth laundry bags to transport our clean clothes to the camper & dirty ones home, during the trip the clothes go in rubbermaid containers (which held our sleeping bags when traveling) or the under seat drawer.  Another suggestion that we use is a shoe rack right near the door, the kind that hold about 9 pr of shoes .  We also have a folding laundry rack that usually conveniently fits just under the rear bunk.  Don t forget the basics: dish soap, silverware, plates, and all that jazz.
 
 
 Enjoy your first trip!
 
 Sharon

[slowpez]

 rebyank
Welcome fellow South Carolinian.  The shoe rack the 4campinfoxes suggested has really been the most helpful addition to our PU.  It stores everything we need to grab while sitting outdoors.  Saves loads of dirt being dragged into the PU.  We use a plastic sterlix container without the lid for our shoes.  It fits right under the stepper door and we haven t had any problems with them getting wet.  
 Also, a rubbermaid step stool has been another good addition.  We use it as a side table, as a stool to reach the roof, as a chair beside the door to sit on to take our shoes on and off.
 Wish I lived as close to Oconnee as you do.  Lucky guy! []

[Opie431]

 rebyank
Depending on the size of the lots you camp on, you may need an extra heavy duty extension cord  to add to the one that comes with the PU.  The same can be true with a hose if you are camping where there are hookups.
 If you are taking a microwave and a television take an extra extension cord to use for them if you also have the furnace and refrigerator on. Go under the tenting with the cord. I swore I would never sink low enough to have either one while I was camping but found that both are great  if you have several days in a row of rain.
 Decide ahead of time if you are going to cook inside or out.  I cook outside and spent too much time our first trip out running in and out to get things I had forgotten. Now my food and pans go in Rubbermaid boxes that stay in the AAR.
 If you use a lot of drinks that have to be refrigerated, take an ice chest for them.  Both Igloo and Coleman make ones that do not use as much ice as the older ones did.
 

[Ab Diver]

 rebyank
Welcome to PUT! In addition to what has been mentioned already, buy a cheap $25 torque wrench and keep it with the trailer. Check the lug nuts after the first 25, 50, and 100 miles, and every gas tank after that (make it part of your routine: while filling the TV with fuel, check trailer lug nuts, check the roof clamps, check trailer wiring connection, check trailer is still sitting properly on the ball, check safty chains... all this takes maybe 90 seconds, including checking each lug nut). Repeat the 25-50-100 thing every time a wheel is taken off the axle to fix a flat, service the bearings, etc.
 
 Check trailer tire air pressure BEFORE you leave the house. Low pressure causes tires to heat up and can cause premature tire failure, even a blowout. A tire can heat up just pulling the trailer a couple miles to the nearest air pump. A cheap 12V air compressor from Wall-Mart can be a great day-saver.
 
 And be sure to bring a healthy dose of patience and a sense of humor. Trust me, sooner or later you *will* make a SPUT (read: Stupid Pop-Up Trick, otherwise known to the rest of the world as a mistake). We all have, and anybody who says they haven t  missed their calling and should be selling swamp land somewhere.[] Learn from it, laugh at it, and get back to having fun camping.
 
 And above all else, think safety! Trying to get there 15 minutes faster can ruin you and your family s whole day.

[NCSunshine]

 rebyank
Using rugs at the door and entrances to the beds saves from getting dirt all in the beds and camper.  I like to use the bathroom rugs because they have the rubber type backing that keep them from slipping.  They come usually in three sizes small medium and large.  Cleaning them is as simple as throwing them in the washer/dryer.
 
 Of course, a small plastic tool box with screwdrivers, washers, pliers, plumbing tape, etc. comes in handy. (i like the plastic because the metal ones could cut the flooring or leave rust stains if it gets wet)  Also the " Command Performance"  hanger/hooks can be used at the top of your one piece door to hang keys, sunglasses, or whatever you have that fits there, and they do not have to be removed.
 
 Welcome Aboard, and enjoy the camping days ahead.[]