Hi all - well we did it! We went to Panther Creek State park (in TN) and survived for 3 days in our TM - it all ended way too soon and we can't wait to go again.
As first time campers, everything didn't go perfectly - we made quite a few mistakes - but nothing devastating and had a wonderful time.
Mistake one: When we arrived and started to set up, we realized that we hadn't brought a single one of our 6 keys to the trailer with us :-/ Fortunately, all that meant was that we couldn't lock up the trailer when we walked away from our site and we couldn't open up the outside shower door. Luckily we hadn't locked the end exterior 'closet' when packing up so we could still get at our lawn chairs, etc.
Mistake two: We hooked up the electric and water and then went inside to check and make sure eveyrthing worked - thought our ceiling/roof vent fan was broken because it just wouldn't start up. (Didn't realize you needed to open the actual 'vent' lid above it first.) Discovered that in mistake four :P
Mistake three: Thought the lights under the end cabinet at front end must have burned out bulbs. Checked the bulbs in another ceiling light and they worked just fine. Hmmm, . . . opened manual and discovered little button in ceiling by skylight/vent that controls forward interior lighting.
Mistake four: Cooked our first evening's meal on stove (fryed up some chicken fajitas) and discovered that our smoke alarm works great!! P.S. Open vent above fan and turn on fan (it works great when the vent is actually open - duh!!)
Mistake five: My husband assured us (wife & son) that he'd read the manual and knew how to charge up our toilet. We checked it out and 'yes' it was working great! Three or four flushes later - it stopped working. Poor Daddy had filled the tank (and added chemicals) to the 'red area' on gauge (thinking that was the charge line) - toilet was full and inoperable!! :'( We had to use the bath house (just below us fortunately) for the next two days!! Made a note to purchase one of those handy 'blue boy' tanks on wheels for campsites without sewer connection.
Mistake six: Cooked up wonderful garlic pasta meal on second day and stored left overs in fridge. Quickly made a note in my book regarding 'overwhelming' odors in small confined spaces - each time fridge door was opened, the entire trailer smelled like an italian eatery!! ;D
That's it, everything else went like clock work and the whole trip ended way too soon. Not too bad for first timers, was it ??? Just know this . . . we're already planning our next trip! 8)
Thank you to everyone for all of your help getting us ready!!
Mark, Lesleyanne and Jared - hoping to meet you out there!!