My first trailer, a 23 foot Airstream, was my first experience towing, other than some UHaul trailers. Putting the tow vehicle's transmission into DRIVE, I departed the RV Dealer's lot... a hearty farewell.
A hearty farewell from the DEALER... for me it was an event to remember. Firsts in towing an actual trailer. After making a wrong turn from the RV Lot and ending up in an apartment complex parking lot, I learned to navigate some tight turns. Not by choice, but by accident. Mirrors were finally discovered as an important tool of towing. The passenger's mirror with the optics distorted was not much help, but I did navigate out of this mistake and off to the RV PARK where we had paid up for the rest of the year for storing the trailer when not using it.
(1) FIRST and actually the most important first. BACKING UP. You will discover that backing up requires some... practice and sweat equity. Lots of sweat. Little equity. Oh yeah. Those of you pulling a 34 foot Airstream can snicker a bit, but a longer trailer is tame compared to a 16 foot Bambi in reverse. But... in either case you will need someone to watch your "rear end".
(2) SECOND. After you have figured out the First Experience, you actually are ready for the THIRD first.
(3) THIRD. Loading your Trailer. The first trip will include many things that will not be used... ever. Eliminate those on the second trip. It seems everyone, including us, load up three weeks of food for a one week trip. I guarantee that you will stop at more than one restaurant while on this first trip. Weight is critical... so read up on the weight of water per gallon. Traveling dry, empty fresh water tank, can improve your gas mileage and you can pick up water pretty much anywhere. Carry a six gallon jug in your tow vehicle in the event you need water. It might be after the first year of FIRSTS, you will discover that some things are not necessary when you are going from A to B in eight hours. Yes... some of you want to tow all of the Bells and Whistles.... sure, go ahead. I don't. So I will skip Fourth through Sixth firsts...
(7) SEVENTH. Tools. Bring an electric screwdriver. A small socket set. A hammer. A phillips and straight edged screwdriver. As soon as the tires are rolling over the pavement... parts began to come loose and screws dropped during the building of your trailer appear from crevices and from under cabinets. Eventually you will settle into a smaller assortment, but be prepared.
(8) EIGHTH. When your gasoline gauge begins to drop below 50%, begin to think about topping the fuel tank. If the next town is 100 miles away... you do not want to be a hitch hiker, leaving your trailer. Or worse, dropping your trailer off on the side of the road to get to a gasoline station. Either way... there will a FIRST stupid thing, we all have done something we regret. Like... maybe not checking the AIR in your spare tire.
(9) NINTH. Take any advice with a "grain of salt". Whatever that means, just consider the What, IFs and Buts of being away from home and the tons of supplies and tools left in the garage.
The most important First is the FIRST. Backing up your trailer. Please, lets hear more Newbie Firsts. Newbies will not usually ASK, as they want everyone to think that they are proficient towing. Guys are the worst. Why entertain the experienced at an RV Park while you can practice an hour to back into a 35 foot concrete slab at the Trailer Storage lot? You can practice and be less visible to those of us that had been similar victims in the past. It is just a matter of .... FIRSTS.
We all have been a NEWBIE and experienced those FIRSTS. What was yours?
A hearty farewell from the DEALER... for me it was an event to remember. Firsts in towing an actual trailer. After making a wrong turn from the RV Lot and ending up in an apartment complex parking lot, I learned to navigate some tight turns. Not by choice, but by accident. Mirrors were finally discovered as an important tool of towing. The passenger's mirror with the optics distorted was not much help, but I did navigate out of this mistake and off to the RV PARK where we had paid up for the rest of the year for storing the trailer when not using it.
(1) FIRST and actually the most important first. BACKING UP. You will discover that backing up requires some... practice and sweat equity. Lots of sweat. Little equity. Oh yeah. Those of you pulling a 34 foot Airstream can snicker a bit, but a longer trailer is tame compared to a 16 foot Bambi in reverse. But... in either case you will need someone to watch your "rear end".
(2) SECOND. After you have figured out the First Experience, you actually are ready for the THIRD first.
(3) THIRD. Loading your Trailer. The first trip will include many things that will not be used... ever. Eliminate those on the second trip. It seems everyone, including us, load up three weeks of food for a one week trip. I guarantee that you will stop at more than one restaurant while on this first trip. Weight is critical... so read up on the weight of water per gallon. Traveling dry, empty fresh water tank, can improve your gas mileage and you can pick up water pretty much anywhere. Carry a six gallon jug in your tow vehicle in the event you need water. It might be after the first year of FIRSTS, you will discover that some things are not necessary when you are going from A to B in eight hours. Yes... some of you want to tow all of the Bells and Whistles.... sure, go ahead. I don't. So I will skip Fourth through Sixth firsts...
(7) SEVENTH. Tools. Bring an electric screwdriver. A small socket set. A hammer. A phillips and straight edged screwdriver. As soon as the tires are rolling over the pavement... parts began to come loose and screws dropped during the building of your trailer appear from crevices and from under cabinets. Eventually you will settle into a smaller assortment, but be prepared.
(8) EIGHTH. When your gasoline gauge begins to drop below 50%, begin to think about topping the fuel tank. If the next town is 100 miles away... you do not want to be a hitch hiker, leaving your trailer. Or worse, dropping your trailer off on the side of the road to get to a gasoline station. Either way... there will a FIRST stupid thing, we all have done something we regret. Like... maybe not checking the AIR in your spare tire.
(9) NINTH. Take any advice with a "grain of salt". Whatever that means, just consider the What, IFs and Buts of being away from home and the tons of supplies and tools left in the garage.
The most important First is the FIRST. Backing up your trailer. Please, lets hear more Newbie Firsts. Newbies will not usually ASK, as they want everyone to think that they are proficient towing. Guys are the worst. Why entertain the experienced at an RV Park while you can practice an hour to back into a 35 foot concrete slab at the Trailer Storage lot? You can practice and be less visible to those of us that had been similar victims in the past. It is just a matter of .... FIRSTS.
We all have been a NEWBIE and experienced those FIRSTS. What was yours?
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