any tips for new family?

[viking camper]

We are buying a 1996 viking 1706 st from a friend
Our TV is a 2008 mercury mountaineer with a 4.6 v8 with tow pk
Going to pick up next weekend (if the snow stops)
What do i need to know to get started. We have tent camped and I grew up camping on vacations, Any advice would be helpful.

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new camper.  I hope you keep the snow out there.  We don't need any more in PA.

What you will need is a break controller, if you have electric brakes on the PU.  I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy.  You can get a Tekonsha/Ford wire harness.  It makes the instillation simple.  You will need wheel chocks, something to level the camper side to side (wood, plastic Lynx Levelers or a BAL single axel light weight leveler).  A container to drain you "grey" water into, a hose to connect the PU to the container (unless you will always camp with a sewer hook up), a fresh water hose to fill your fresh water holding tank, or to connect your PU to a water faucet.  A pen and paper to write down everything you wish you had brought along, a good sense of humor, lighter to light the stove, bedding, cookware, dishes and much more, but this is a start.  Good luck with the camper.

[viking camper]

Congratulations on the new camper.  I hope you keep the snow out there.  We don't need any more in PA.

What you will need is a break controller, if you have electric brakes on the PU.  I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy.  You can get a Tekonsha/Ford wire harness.  It makes the instillation simple.  You will need wheel chocks, something to level the camper side to side (wood, plastic Lynx Levelers or a BAL single axel light weight leveler).  A container to drain you "grey" water into, a hose to connect the PU to the container (unless you will always camp with a sewer hook up), a fresh water hose to fill your fresh water holding tank, or to connect your PU to a water faucet.  A pen and paper to write down everything you wish you had brought along, a good sense of humor, lighter to light the stove, bedding, cookware, dishes and much more, but this is a start.  Good luck with the camper.

Thanks for the info. Do not have the el brakes on camper. Previous owner advised we would be ok with out the brakes. Do you have el brakes? After reading some other posts should i be concerened about camper sway? Noticed you have a explorer. Do you have a issue with camper sway?

[mountainrev]

Thanks for the info. Do not have the el brakes on camper. Previous owner advised we would be ok with out the brakes. Do you have el brakes? After reading some other posts should i be concerened about camper sway? Noticed you have a explorer. Do you have a issue with camper sway?

I don't know what the weight of your Viking 1706 is, but the current Viking Epic 1706 has a dry weight of about 1,300 lbs., and a GVWR of about 2,000 lbs.  If that's close to the specs on your Viking, then no, you don't need brakes.  Yes, brakes are always a good thing.  But with a camper that light, and an adequate tow vehicle, such as yours, you do not need them.  My Viking, which has a dry weight of nearly 2,000 lbs., also doesn't have brakes.

As far as swaying issues, I can't address how your Mountaineer will perform, but with a camper that light, I doubt it will be much of an issue.  Be aware that if you are considering getting a weight-distributing hitch to minimize swaying, don't.  Vikings don't have a frame that will support that kind of hitch (at least the newer ones).  But I really don't think this will be a problem for you.  Just be sure to drive at a reasonable speed, and you'll be fine.

Enjoy the camper!

[viking camper]

I don't know what the weight of your Viking 1706 is, but the current Viking Epic 1706 has a dry weight of about 1,300 lbs., and a GVWR of about 2,000 lbs.  If that's close to the specs on your Viking, then no, you don't need brakes.  Yes, brakes are always a good thing.  But with a camper that light, and an adequate tow vehicle, such as yours, you do not need them.  My Viking, which has a dry weight of nearly 2,000 lbs., also doesn't have brakes.

As far as swaying issues, I can't address how your Mountaineer will perform, but with a camper that light, I doubt it will be much of an issue.  Be aware that if you are considering getting a weight-distributing hitch to minimize swaying, don't.  Vikings don't have a frame that will support that kind of hitch (at least the newer ones).  But I really don't think this will be a problem for you.  Just be sure to drive at a reasonable speed, and you'll be fine.

Enjoy the camper!

Thanks for the info on the hitch and brakes. I will pass on the hitch since it will not help. Guess we will just take it out on the highway to see how the camper does. One place we plan on going is the mountains and gatlinburg, have you ever towed in places like this? TV has tow package (class 3-4 hitch, trans and oil cooler and 6 speed auto). Didnt know if i would run into over heating issues. Any insight into this would be great!

[mountainrev]

Thanks for the info on the hitch and brakes. I will pass on the hitch since it will not help. Guess we will just take it out on the highway to see how the camper does. One place we plan on going is the mountains and gatlinburg, have you ever towed in places like this? TV has tow package (class 3-4 hitch, trans and oil cooler and 6 speed auto). Didnt know if i would run into over heating issues. Any insight into this would be great!

Check out my location to the left to see where I tow .  I literally can't go anywhere without going over passes way higher than what you'll encounter in the Smokies.  

Your tow vehicle is different than mine.  However, we both have similar-sized V-8's, and with your auxilliary coolers, I'm positive you will have no problems at all.  Read your owner's manual about towing with your particilar vehicle.  It will likely suggest locking it out of overdrive when in the mountains.  Make sure you do that, especially when descending grades.  Use your transmission to slow you down by gearing down to 5th or 4th or even 3rd, and save your brakes.

[viking camper]

Check out my location to the left to see where I tow .  I literally can't go anywhere without going over passes way higher than what you'll encounter in the Smokies.  

Your tow vehicle is different than mine.  However, we both have similar-sized V-8's, and with your auxilliary coolers, I'm positive you will have no problems at all.  Read your owner's manual about towing with your particilar vehicle.  It will likely suggest locking it out of overdrive when in the mountains.  Make sure you do that, especially when descending grades.  Use your transmission to slow you down by gearing down to 5th or 4th or even 3rd, and save your brakes.

Thanks, did not think to look over there. With where you live you would know about mountians. Will check mannual for turning off od.

How big of a hit do you get with gas mileage when you are towng.

[mountainrev]

Thanks, did not think to look over there. With where you live you would know about mountians. Will check mannual for turning off od.

How big of a hit do you get with gas mileage when you are towng.

Again, my TV (tow vehicle) is not the same as yours, nor is my camper.  But I generally expect to see 3 to 5 mpg less when towing, depending on conditions.  I can get as much as 20 mpg on the highway w/o the camper, and as little as 15 mpg w/camper.  But last year, when towing up to the Grand Tetons, I averaged 17 mpg w/camper, which I didn't think was too bad.  That was loaded down, with a canoe on top of the camper, two full propane tanks, battery, food, etc., and with my family of four.

[viking camper]

Again, my TV (tow vehicle) is not the same as yours, nor is my camper.  But I generally expect to see 3 to 5 mpg less when towing, depending on conditions.  I can get as much as 20 mpg on the highway w/o the camper, and as little as 15 mpg w/camper.  But last year, when towing up to the Grand Tetons, I averaged 17 mpg w/camper, which I didn't think was too bad.  That was loaded down, with a canoe on top of the camper, two full propane tanks, battery, food, etc., and with my family of four.

Thanks for all the info. We get about 17 mpg hwy without the camper so i guess we will plan on about 12 and hope for more(or i big drop in gas prices). I guess our first trip out we will stay close to home so we can keep going back to get all the suff we will forget. Thanks again for taking the time to answer.

[tlhdoc]

I get about 14 to 15 mpg towing with my Explorer.  I tow in OD, unless we are in hilly country where the tranny wants to drop out of OD going up the hills.  Then I lock the OD out.  This is my second Explorer that I have used as a TV.  I would recommend a friction sway bar for added safety.  Sway is caused by many things and can happen to any trailer.  You should not have to worry about over heating your TV in the mountains.

[viking camper]

I get about 14 to 15 mpg towing with my Explorer.  I tow in OD, unless we are in hilly country where the tranny wants to drop out of OD going up the hills.  Then I lock the OD out.  This is my second Explorer that I have used as a TV.  I would recommend a friction sway bar for added safety.  Sway is caused by many things and can happen to any trailer.  You should not have to worry about over heating your TV in the mountains.

Thanks, are ther different types or brands of friction sway bars? If so is there one that is better for a pu camper?

[austinado16]

Welcome and congrats on the nice camper!

I'd say, give it good test tow and decide if you really want/need to spend money on stabilizing it.  It may do just fine.  Keep some weight up in the front of the camper, rather than the rear and that will keep it from swaying......more tongue weight, equals less sway potential because it keeps the camper from getting tail happy.

Keep the camper's tires aired up to their max rating, which is stamped on the side.  Replace the tires if they look cracked.  Make sure they're fitted with metal valve stems and not standard automotive rubber ones.

Keep your Mountaineer's tires aired up too, so they are firm and that will keep them from mushing around (creating sway) as the trailer does it's thing.

Tow at slower speeds for a bit until you get comfortable with how the TV and camper get along, and then when you're comfortable, increase your speed if you want.

Camp driveway and camp backyard are nice testing grounds!

[viking camper]

Welcome and congrats on the nice camper!

I'd say, give it good test tow and decide if you really want/need to spend money on stabilizing it.  It may do just fine.  Keep some weight up in the front of the camper, rather than the rear and that will keep it from swaying......more tongue weight, equals less sway potential because it keeps the camper from getting tail happy.

Keep the camper's tires aired up to their max rating, which is stamped on the side.  Replace the tires if they look cracked.  Make sure they're fitted with metal valve stems and not standard automotive rubber ones.

Keep your Mountaineer's tires aired up too, so they are firm and that will keep them from mushing around (creating sway) as the trailer does it's thing.

Tow at slower speeds for a bit until you get comfortable with how the TV and camper get along, and then when you're comfortable, increase your speed if you want.

Camp driveway and camp backyard are nice testing grounds!

Thanks, with the the pu having a trunk upfront we will put alot of the weight up there. Sounds like this will help with sway. We have a state park 40 minutes up the road so when we are ready we will more than likely hit it the first few times. My wife and I have tent camped for years but after a few 7 day trips that it rained for 6 we wanted off the ground to keep our stuff drier. So a pu seems perfect. I think it will still feel like camping but we can stll have some nice comforts. A/c, heat, beds ect. If anyone thinks of anything else let me know. I'm sure between the water tank, furnace a/c ect i will need some help.

[austinado16]

I think you guys will be all smiles.  We tent camped too, but got sick of all the gear we were bringing to make it more comfortable.  We love the camper routine!

[campfireguy]

hello,
        i've been reading here and you have me thinking. my rockwood 1006 behind my 96 grand voyager didn't sway at all, partly because i have little wide tires on PU. stopping seemed ok. i haven't towed it with my 04 mountaineer yet. it has the 4.6 V8 and a class lll/lV tow package. i noticed the comments about OD, and shifting. and now sway that i didn't have. if these are issues i need to concider. i'm fairly sure the PU is 1350 dry, and ruffly 1550 gear added. how much difference can towing make with a change of TV. just wondering.