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06-11-2013, 01:02 PM
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#1
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Guest
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Lessons learned on our first time out
We camped for our first time out at Pueblo Reservoir in Pueblo Colorado with our TM3124KB. Actually, we wanted to take the camper out before the kids got back from their vacation with Grandma and Grandpa in Florida so we would know how everything worked...it's easier to do that with just the two of us. When we first got there, we looked around at everyone elses campers and realized that there were a lot of pop-ups, a few travel trailers and a HiLo but no other trailmanors that we could find. When setup time came, a few people came out to watch...I'm assuming...because they've never seen a trailmanor before and they've never ever seen a camper that size being pulled by a Honda Pilot. I think they were quite impressed too when our entire camper was up and running in less than 10 minutes...and they saw the before and after size so I had set it up in our driveway a time or two, but I was impressed that i could actually do it as easily at a campground. Now comes the fun part.
Leveling doesn't need to be that hard. Our Dewalt drill wasn't powerful enough to extend the jacks so there I was, trying to hand crank them down to level the camper...but wait!!! I have an electric tongue jack. Ah Ha...I used it to get the camper level front to back...then I extended the scissor jacks with the Dewalt drill so easily. No cranking required. It worked for side to side as well. Good Job!
Now, it had not had water put in it since I bought it until this trip, so I had a Campco filter that I bought at Walmart (something I had read on another post) that I installed between the water source and the hose. The water tasted great coming out of the hose so off I go to fill up the camper. I was so proud of myself that I did it all on my own (stay tuned at the end of the post to find out why )...so I went inside and turned on the pumps and WHALA I heard the water start filling the pipes...and filling the pipes....and filling the pipes...but the pump didn't turn off. Uh Oh. I checked the sinks, there wasn't any water coming out. Oh No, what is wrong. Well, after listening closely I heard water running outside. Oh No...I forgot to turn off the low point valves so all that water I'd just put in the tank ran right out. After turning off the valves, I filled up once again and this time everything worked...sinks and all. I filled up a 5 gallon bucket, heaved it inside the camper and poured it in the toilet...then I realized that I could have used the shower head just as easily. Another duh on my part. That sucker really does take a lot of water to fill it. So now, I have the water running, the toilet full and everything is as it should be. I must say I was quite impressed that I could actually cook, take a shower, hang out and watch a movie and sleep great (after buying a 3 inch memory foam) because until now, I've done nothing but camp in a tent. What an awesome experience. I definitely learned a lot about how the camper works and i wouldn't trade it for another one ever. Even dumping it was a breeze although I must say, they ought to make a spot for the sewer hose that is more easily accessible while the camper is closed. All in all though, it was a very successfull trip and I can't wait to take it out again.
(oh yea, for the part about setting it up by myself...my husband who was pulling the boat decided to keep driving even after the transom mount for the motor fell off. So needless to say, when we arrived at the campground, the 800lb motor was hanging half off the boat and the transom was ripped half off as well. He must have seen the look in my eyes because he went zooming out of there really fast to get stuff to hopefully fix the boat before something terrible happened to him...and there I was, left to set the camper up by myself which I didn't really mind. He did end up fixing the boat which I was quite impressed by, and we spent a great evening out on the lake which was like glass)
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06-11-2013, 02:46 PM
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#2
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Centennial, Colorado
Posts: 888
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The first time out is a great learning experience. Glad you discovered leveling with the tongue jack, and not the scissor jacks!
Did you find any trees at the reservoir? I haven't camped there, but don't recall any trees from my trips through the reservoir area.
I would imagine your 3124 dwarfs your Honda. I only have a 2417, so the disparity isn't quite as great. Love looking at the neighbors' faces when they watch the setup process.
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07-13-2013, 12:25 AM
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#3
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Guest
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We have our 3124 out on our first long trip. We have been up the entire coast of Oregon and have seen 1 TM on the road.
When all 7 of us pile, each of our 4 kids have specific jobs(mother in law just stays out of way), people all take notice.
They want to talk about easiness and do you have room for everyone. It's been fun trip minus stolen hitch pin.
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07-13-2013, 04:18 AM
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#4
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Guest
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Good trip report.
I am curious why you filled your water tank if you had water available at the campsite. The water hose can be screwed into the side of the trailer next to the tank fill port, and supplies water pressure to the trailer without the need for the pump to run.
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07-13-2013, 07:06 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilotmickey
... I filled up a 5 gallon bucket, heaved it inside the camper and poured it in the toilet... That sucker really does take a lot of water to fill it. So now, I have the water running, the toilet full and everything is as it should be...
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I imagine that "full" is a bit of poetic license. You don't need to add water to make the gauge read "full". The initial charge should be between 2 and 3 gallons, generally until the indicator reaches the "charged" mark. Many of us add just enough water to allow the pump to run, but no more. That conserves as much capacity as possible for actual use. And I'm sure you added a full 8-oz bottle of Campa-Chem liquid at the same time you added the charge water. Less is not a good thing.
Overall, it sounds like you had a more-than-successful first run. Congratulations - and welcome to the club!
Bill
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07-14-2013, 06:29 AM
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#6
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Guest
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First time out
Funny Story regarding first time out. On initial hook up I "Charge" the Thetford and hook up all the H2O, cable, sewer lines all went well. A couple of days later I see theat the gauge on the Thetford was close to the "Full" mark. I go to let the waste flow into the sewar line and nothing is coming out. Now Im blaming the previous owners of not keeping the black tank in good condition.
The park had a pump out service, and I thoughT maybe their equip could break the "Clog". They came over and assesed the situation and we all had a good laugh on us first timers. I did not realize that there was a valve at the base of the Thetford that allowed the waste to empty into the black tank.
Lesson learned,
Jim and Mary
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