must haves - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cowgirlde · RV-Dreams Community Member

must haves

Penny and Paul · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congratulations! We've owned our 37' 1999 Pace Arrow Vision for 4 years, and have been full timing for 5 months now. We call it our 'training wheels'. It's 30 amp, and we haven't found it to be much of a problem. There's just some things we can't run at the same time, like the microwave and the toaster. Pretty much, we don't run anything at all while the microwave is on.

Like Mike said, a portable electric heater is a must. We recently bought a second one because we got tired of moving it from the lounge to the bedroom every day. If you're staying in a campground where electric is included in the site rent, you'll want to use it as much as possible instead of your propane. Especially if you stay somewhere long term when t's cold. The fewer times you break camp for a propane run the better. We keep the bedroom door closed at night - no need to waste heat or AC in an area that's not being used.

The other must have for us is 2-way radios for parking the rig. We also use an agreed upon set of parking instructions and hand signals. Really cuts down on the frustration and makes for a happier marriage.

It's good to know what clearance you need for bridges and underpasses. Measure to the highest point on the roof (AC, vent covers, etc.). We have our height taped to the dashboard so it's right there when we need it. And know how to get out of your rig in case of fire. Know how your emergency exit windows open and have a plan in case it's ever needed.

With only 5 months full time we're still figuring it out too, so I'm anxious to read everyone else's replies to this post. Safe travels!

-- Edited by Penny and Paul on Friday 15th of November 2013 09:49:57 AM

-- Edited by Penny and Paul on Friday 15th of November 2013 09:51:57 AM

cowgirlde · RV-Dreams Community Member

House closed got our home on wheels. parked in drive, have till Monday to be out. Found out our first mistake was we should have gotten a 50amp instead of 30. This will be our learning unit. My question now what are some of the must have items that you all can suggest we make sure to have as we hit the road. we leave here on Nov 26 in cold Kentucky and hope to be in mesa az. on dec 7.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well Congrats!!!!!

First must have from looking at your post will be a portable electric heater......its gonna be cold!!! as far as 50 A over 30 A....the coach you bought is set up to fully operate at 30 and more often than not you will find 30 amp service that is a true 30......50 amps is only necessary if you have a fully electric coach or 2 A/C units....

Enjoy and glad you get to come out and play with us !!!!!!

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

You didn't mention what type of motorhome you have. Actually a 50 amp is necessary to run two air conditioners at the same time. If you have a 30 amp you should carry a 50 to 30 amp adapter. I doubt that you will need to run two air conditioners in Mesa in the winter. We have a 38' Class A and have been RVing for a year now and I would say that 80% of the time we just use 30 amps. I guess it all depends on what type of RV you have and how many appliances you want to run at the same time.

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

I forgot to say Congratulations on your new journey. We never regretted the decision that we made. Hope to meet up with you one day. We are in Benson AZ until April. If you get down this way please let us know. Safe and Happy travels.

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

I should get my thoughts together before I hit send.......you should have a regulator on your water line, a donut adapter for your sewer line and also a sewer line adapter to fit some systems that are different sizes. A good serge protector, a good working generator. Then again it all depends if you are always going to be connected to shore lines. Please check your tires and make sure they are inflated to the proper specifications for your unit. Proper distribution of weight is a must.

If you are going to wallydock on your way, you should have a small inverter to charge your laptop, phone etc. I am sure there are others that can add much more to this. After another cup or two of coffee I may think of a few more things that we found important for us.

CurveCarver · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congratulations!! Welcome to a lifestyle that allows you to choose where, when, and how you want to live.

Must haves, two good sized fire extinguishers. Also, Common sense and open minds go a long way in how we compensate for unforeseen situations and predicaments.

Enjoy and be safe in your travels.

Grams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats!!! Besides the "mechanical" items listed here, I have used LOTS of velcro (hanging paintings), 3M hooks for storage inside cabinet doors and suction cup type hooks for coats and my broom. I found I use lots more ziploc bags for leftovers - easier than cleaning the rubbermaid containers. I also found some totes from The Container Store for basement storage that I LOVE, they are water and pest proof only $17.99 each.

Mikeco · RV-Dreams Community Member

What about one of those vacuum sealers for storing the extra blankets and clothing?

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Loretta wrote:
You didn't mention what type of motorhome you have. Actually a 50 amp is necessary to run two air conditioners at the same time. If you have a 30 amp you should carry a 50 to 30 amp adapter. I doubt that you will need to run two air conditioners in Mesa in the winter. We have a 38' Class A and have been RVing for a year now and I would say that 80% of the time we just use 30 amps. I guess it all depends on what type of RV you have and how many appliances you want to run at the same time.

It got into the mid-90s a couple days last March in Mesa. We were there and glad to have 50 amp and 2 air conditioners.

S.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mikeco wrote:
What about one of those vacuum sealers for storing the extra blankets and clothing?

I wish they worked like the ads. Space bags do not work well for us. Maybe the altitude changes mess them up.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

I bought a mechanical can opener with a bottle opener after I brought home some RETRO STYLE bottles of the old timey soda pop! Can't believe they were so retro; they didn't twist off and I scraped myself! PIEERE

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Must Have - a good sense of humor and ability to be flexible!! We found the first 2 months to be the most frustrating, several small and a couple of big things that went wrong. Now, we're 4 months into this, knowing that anything we purged that we're now saying we shouldn't have done that, well, there are stores available.

Other must have items for us included a really good grill (80% of our dinners are grilled), our Kindles and figuring out the right interior configuration for both of us to continue to work which meant we got rid of almost all of the RV living room furniture to replace it with more functional interior workspaces.

For me personally, a small 2 step stool was needed so I could actually reach many of our interior cupboards that were beyond my ability to reach due to being vertically challenged cry

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Always found it handy to have an old fashioned hand operated can opener/bottle opener; there is nothing like trying to twist off the old style bottle caps from bottles bought at Cracker barrel. Scraped up my hand really well once!

LibertyLinda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Betty,

Congratulations on your 'first' full-timing rig. How exciting for you and you are leaving quick!

As far as "must haves", may I suggest that you keep in mind space and weight, then just go room to room and think about your lifestyle and preferences, then your "must haves" will come to mind.

For example, the kitchen. What everyone needs is utensils and plates (get light weight), but what are your plans about cooking? Get your basics for whatever cooking you like to do. Coffee drinker? The coffee maker options are endless. It all depends on what you want.

Hope this helps to start. As you travel and live with your new living space, this too will help you realize what your "must haves" will be.

Happy RV travels aww

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Depending on the RV you can run two ACs at the same time. Our 30 amp coach has an energy management system that delays the start of the rear AC a few seconds when both ACs try to start at the same time.

They can both run at the same time but the start up surge current is too much unless one is delayed. If we try to run another high current item with both ACs running the system will shed some load so it can run. The first thing shed is the rear AC compressor then the rear AC fan. After that it will shed the refrigerator.

There have been times when it would have been nice to have 50 amp service but we have got along fine with 30 amps for ten years.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Betty: Did you get the kind of answers you were looking for? I suspect not since many of us went off on tangents.

Must haves in my mind are those items you can't go get at 8PM when you find you need them in a campground. Adapters for your electricity to get you from 15, 30 and 50 amp service. At least one full powered extension cord, in your case at least a 25' 30 amp one if not a 50'. A surge suppressor/EMS is a good idea, not all campground power is good. Sewer adapters for 3", 4" holes including ones without threads. A pressure regulator for your water hose. Be prepared with blocks for un-level campsites. Have a knee pad with you, get them in the garden section of the store, your knees will thank you. We use exam gloves to dump the sewer, we get them at Costco but other places have them.

If driveway camping you might need even more extension cord and/or water hose. Sewer in those situations might require a macerator setup and a couple hundred feet of lawn watering hose. To successfully driveway camp you need to be able to conserve water and live on low electric power.

Something to clean the windshield if you hit a swarm of bugs.

The biggest must have is a good attitude. Things will go wrong. A good attitude will let you handle those bad situations.