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somedude View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 May 2017
Location: az
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: New to all this, checklist
    Posted: 16 May 2017 at 12:46pm
Hi all.  Been lurking for a while and reading, reading, reading all the posts here.  (this forum has made me very unproductive at work.)  

Been a long time tent camper and an occasional pop up user.  Taking delivery at the end of the month of a 176T and am really excited about it.  Being that this is my first travel trailer I'm of course overthinking all of it and making lists.  Wondered if with all the very experienced folks on this forum I could get some advice on my list.  Here is the list I made of pre-launch, setup at the site and departure from the site.  Would you all take a look at it and let me know if I've left anything off or got something in the wrong order.  Would love any feedback you have for me.  

Before Trip
check tv fluids and tire pressure.  
Test the propane, carbon monoxide, and smoke detectors.
Check propane bottle is full
Check top vent is closed.
Disconnect solar battery chargers
Verify stabilizers are fully up.
Attach to tv. 
Attach trailer power cable.
Attach trailer chains.
Test trailer lights.
Test trailer brakes.
Check air pressure
Check lugs (100 FT/LB)
Turn refrigerator on (home ac)
Partially fill water tank
Load trailer
secure all items
latch fridge door
open propane valve
Change refrigerator to propane.


Arrival at site:
park and check that power, water will reach.
Check that slide will open and rdome will fit.
Side to side level. 
Chock wheels
Disconnect tow chains and electric connection
Release coupler/unhitch
Raise front of trailer with tongue jack
lower stabilizers and level front to rear
put steps down and open handrail
open slide
attach water pressure regulator to spigot, then hose then water filter
turn on water to flush filter
connect filter to rpod
Turn water on
connect power first to trailer then to shore
Turn inside breakers on
switch fridge to shore power
turn on hot water heater
Turn on water pump if needed
open bath vent and windows
open tent end
remove outside contents including R-dome
Install Rdome
Put deodorizer in black tank 


Departure from site
load kayaks, bikes
check all lights are off
Ac/heat and fan are off
close tent end
stow table
make sure everything inside is secured/latched
Empty black tank
Empty grey tank
lower fresh water tank level if needed
turn off water pump
disconnect shore power
disconnect water
turn off hot water heater
Put fridge on propane
close bath vent and windows
throw out all trash
clean top of slide 
make sure inside nothing is in way of slide closing
close slide
secure all items
latch fridge door
close handrail/stairs
Raise stabilizers
attach to tv
attach power cable
attach chains
confirm tongue jack is raised
Remove wheel chocks
lock door
Test trailer lights
test trailer brakes
Pull forward, collect levelers if used and do final walk around including stabilizers and tongue raised 
Recheck trailer connection to tv.  


For storage
Empty/flush tanks if needed
close valves
double check propane is off
Cover LP
hook up solar battery chargers
Make sure fridge, lights are off
make sure vent and windows are closed
open fridge door
cover rpod.  

Thanks and looking forward to seeing some of you out there.  
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Subzilla View Drop Down
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Posts: 302 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 9:14am
Don't forget to secure all inside items prior to departure from home (fridge items, pantry items, table...).  Latch fridge door.
Prior to leaving campsite:  disconnect tele cable if used.  If not on shore power, turn off water pump.  I also open the faucets for a second to relieve the built up water pressure
Mark
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Bama Pod View Drop Down
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Posts: 89 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 9:52am
Also on departure don't forget to power off the TV antenna (seems I ALWAYS miss this step).
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Richand Cindy View Drop Down
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Posts: 328 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 11:01am
By accident we turned on the water before connecting it to the POD and black water came out from the filter.  Same as with a refrigerator at home you need to flush out the filter before using it.  So now whenever we hook up we make all the water connections first except for attaching it to the POD and then run the water for a minute washing out the filter.  Then we turn off the water and hook up the filter to the POD and turn the water back on.  It seems whenever the filter dries out the first few seconds the water is black from the charcoal so we now rinse it out first.  Just another step.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2706 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 11:45am
Do you actually want the refrigerator running on propane while you're wheeling down the road? 

I would rather have it running on battery for traveling.
bp
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bigbearcraig View Drop Down
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Posts: 36 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 5:03pm
When I tow the propane is always off. The refrigerator is run on 12v.
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 5:31pm
Lot of discussion over this and conflicts. Really has to do with your TV alternator and wiring thru your 7 pin connector. You need, I think, a 10 gauge wire and ability to watch your TV charge circuitry. The propane option is easiest. If your TV can't supply the required voltage to keep fridge running, then you need to reevaluate your options. Make sense? You don't want to make a fuel stop and find your TV battery has been drained. It takes some watching. I prepare my fridge days before trip and load with freezable packets. I carry a cooler. A big one. The fridge is not going to support us for 3/4 days. Like all RV stuff, you need to be aware of what you're doing.
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 6:51pm
I think most people run their fridge on propane whenever not hooked up to shore power.  Unless you know your TV can provide enough amps to run the fridge (very iffy) there is really never a reason to run the fridge on 12v except when going through some tunnels on the east coast and on some ferries.

Many larger RVs have fridges that only work on propane or 120v.  Battery power is not an option.  In the opinion of many people, propane power is safe at gas stations when filling up.  Else you'd probably run across a lot of flaming filling stations or burnt out hulks. Not to mention a lot of signs saying "TURN OFF PROPANE APPLIANCES".

One of the major reasons for not running the fridge on 12v is that unless you are positive your TV provides the amps out the Bargman, you can quickly end up with a dead pod battery and/or even a dead TV battery, especially if you forget to switch to propane for a lunch or dinner stop of more than an hour or two.

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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2706 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 6:54pm
Originally posted by mcarter

Lot of discussion over this and conflicts. Really has to do with your TV alternator and wiring thru your 7 pin connector. You need, I think, a 10 gauge wire and ability to watch your TV charge circuitry. The propane option is easiest. If your TV can't supply the required voltage to keep fridge running, then you need to reevaluate your options. Make sense? You don't want to make a fuel stop and find your TV battery has been drained. It takes some watching. I prepare my fridge days before trip and load with freezable packets. I carry a cooler. A big one. The fridge is not going to support us for 3/4 days. Like all RV stuff, you need to be aware of what you're doing.
Sure. All true. However, I would be very uncomfortable about having an open propane tank valve, and pressurized propane in the system while traveling down the road. Just sayin'. I think that is a serious safety issue.

As for the TV. Our vehicle turns off power to the trailer when the engine is off. So I'm not worried about that causing a problem. For me, I prefer the 12V option. 
bp
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somedude View Drop Down
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2017 at 9:30am
Thanks for the suggestions, I've added them into my list.   I think the TV would be capable of running the fridge on 12v, if it weren't already running every other possible electronic device during travel.  Dvd, 2 Lcd screens, xbox, sat nav, multiple phone chargers etc...  The car has every possible electronic distraction in it, and the kids stock up on screen time since we have a no electronics policy once we reach camp.  
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