Travel trailers are towable recreational vehicles, and they come in a wide range of sizes, floorplans, and prices. Depending on your budget, the size of your traveling party, and your preferences, you can choose a model ranging from the smallest teardrop trailers to the largest bunkhouses and toy haulers.
If you have recently purchased a travel trailer and are still learning how to use it, this guide is for you. Our experts have gathered a few tips to help you make the most of your travel trailer camping trip—so keep reading to learn more. Jim’s Trailer Sales is your local RV dealer in Grafton, OH, and we are happy to welcome our patrons from Cleveland.
Packing for Your Trip
When packing for your camping trip, draw up a checklist of things you want to bring along. This will help you pack everything you need to make your vacation comfortable and stress-free.
Some of the must-have items in your travel trailer are a first-aid kit, a tool kit, a spare tire, an air compressor, fire extinguishers, reusable dishes, silverware, cookware, towels, bed linens, and blankets.
Hauling Your Rig Safely
As stated earlier, travel trailers are towable RVs. They feature a bumper pull hitch that allows attaching your model to various passenger vehicles like SUVs, pickup trucks, and sedans. However, you will need to be cautious when securing your towing setup, as this can affect your safety on the road and your driving experience.
Next, you will want to securely hitch your travel trailer to your towing vehicle and anchor it further with towing chains crossed in an X shape under the tongue. Towing a large camper needs a lot of practice, so ensure you rehearse your maneuvers before departure. You will also want to avoid going faster than 55 mph, changing lanes too much, and making sudden maneuvers. More importantly, you will want to signal your maneuvers and maintain an appropriate distance between yourself and other vehicles.
Setting Up Your Camper
When you are at your destination, choose a flat and stable patch of ground to park your travel trailer. You will want to avoid a slope or rocky surface and use a concrete pad if it’s available at your campground.
Use your leveling device to level your travel trailer carefully and use chocks to prevent the tires from moving.
Using Your Water System
Travel trailers come equipped with a freshwater tank that holds several gallons of clean water. You will want to conserve this water as much as possible and connect your rig to the water hook-up at your campsite for freshwater for your daily chores.
Wastewater from your sink, shower, and dishwasher collects in a greywater holding tank, and wastewater from your toilet goes to a blackwater tank. You will need to empty both the tanks at dumping stations and clean them up after each trip.
Powering Your Travel Trailer
You can hook up your travel trailer to a power grid at your campground to keep your equipment and electronics running. However, depending on the number of users utilizing power from the grid, you might not always get sufficient power supply to operate your appliances. It’s good to install a surge protector to prevent your electronics from getting damaged due to power fluctuations.
If you are boondocking, make sure that you bring enough propane to fuel your rig and preserve energy by limiting your electronic use and using natural light.
We hope you find this guide helpful when camping with your RV. If you need more advice or are still in the market for a travel trailer, visit Jim’s Trailer Sales. We are in Grafton, OH, and proud to serve Cleveland, so reach out today.