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Old 08-31-2015, 01:04 PM   #1
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Never owned a trailer what does it take to get up to speed??

Looking at buying a Sport 22 FB in the next 3 years pending my retirement. This will be a first for me and I know that I have a lot to learn about tow vehicles, hookups, tire pressure, steering, backing up, sway and everything else. Is there anyone on this forum who originally jumped into this lifestyle knowing nothing about trailers (i.e. never owned one before, didn't grow up in a household that owned one, never owned a tow-class vehicle, never worked on cars or got grease under their fingernails, etc etc)? And if so, how long did it take to come up to speed and then how long after purchase did it take to learn to safely drive, steer, backup, maintain the vehicle? I am certainly able to read about, study etc everything I can, but I know that reading manuals etc. just won't translate when rubber finally meets the road. Thanks!!
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Old 08-31-2015, 01:22 PM   #2
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So, i can check every box on your naiveté list except grease under the fingernails. I bought a 23 safari about a year ago. Fortunately it was well maintained and in nearly nee condition.
Getting up to speed happens fairly quickly. My recommendation since you are talking 3 years out is to rent a trailer or two. Take them out for a long weekend and get a feel for towing and how RV systems work.
Match your tow vehicle to the trailer and stay within specs on everything as a newby.
Read everything here. You can spend hours getting the benefit of all the experience here. ( all the free advice can get expensive if you do every suggested "upgrade")
Mist important is getting a solid trailer, hitch and TV setup. Then take it out on the road. Go to a big empty parking lot and practice backing and tight maneuvering. Once you have the basics it all falls in line.

Go camping ASAP once you get your trailer. Get right into the water.


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Old 08-31-2015, 01:34 PM   #3
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I had a micro motorhome back in the 80s but got out of RVs in early 90s and didn't buy my first trailer, a 2009 Casita 17' Sprit Deluxe until 2010. Towing seemed to be a scary to me so we went small to learn the ropes. I lived in DFW and bought it in Kansas so I had to tow it home having never towed anything. It was scary mostly because of my mindset. On the small tow lane highway I encountered my first semi approaching the opposite direction coming at me at 60 mph. I clenched the steering wheel and waited for the inevitable. The truck went by me but nothing happened. I was still driving in my direction at 60mph and hadn't been pushed off the road. After about a 100 miles I became less nervous and more confident. Got home safe. For the next few weeks I practiced backing in an empty school parking lot. I got better at it but still looked like a beginner. You live in a pretty populated area. I wouldn't want to tow something for the first time on a busy freeway.

A trailer is a house on wheels so you have to understand the basics of each system; electrical, plumbing, gas, the refrigerator, hot water heater, furnace, AC. Most of this can be learned from reading the manuals, not they are much good, looking at youTube videos and reading these forums and asking questions.

Hitching and unhitching. My Casita didn't have a weight distribution hitch but my Airstream requires one. I had to learn how to hitch and unhitch. Hitching and unhitching if done incorrectly can result in damage to your vehicle, trailer or you.
I done some stupid things in this arena which I never did with the Casita, like leaving the hitch pin out once and when I pulled away the Airstream pulled out from my truck. The result was a broken electric jack, some dents in my propane cover and my truck bumper. I won't do that again.

Like anything else you have to perform maintenance. Some members do it all, others so some and let a shop do the rest and the rest have a shop do it all.

So if I can get through all this anyone can and probably do a better job.

There have got to be some members that live near you that can help you.

Kelvin
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Old 08-31-2015, 01:39 PM   #4
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Just read everything here for a month or two, and you'll be able to argue about hitches, 3 or 4 stage converters, Payload, solar, generators, and GCVWR with impunity.
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Old 08-31-2015, 01:51 PM   #5
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Hi there - welcome and congrats on your impending retirement!

My background sounds very much like what you describe.

I devoured these forums for a year before driving my trailer and as I've said in many other threads, my wife and I spent our first weekend in an RV safe driving class - including getting set up at a local campground the Saturday night of the weekend and breaking camp that Sunday morning.

That didn't make us pros but it sped up the learning curve tremendously.

During that first season of camping I probably got 80% of what I needed to feel confident through trial and (lots of) error, reading and talking with more experienced campers (we joined our local unit of the WBCCI and folks there have been great about sharing their knowledge with us).

I highly recommend the professional driving training and then getting out there and camping. In a matter of a few weeks, you'll likely have the concepts "click" for you and then it's continued practice and improvement on all the nuances (I'm still learning 3 years later).

If I can do this - I'm confident anyone can! Good luck!
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Old 08-31-2015, 01:57 PM   #6
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Very basic tips for a comfortable and safe start to your towing life might be:
  • Recognize that hauling a trailer is a different experience than hauling a boat, pop-up or utility trailer.
  • A rule-of-thumb is to not exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle by more than 80%.
  • A good hitch (weight distribution and anti-sway), good brake controller and appropriate tires are all vital parts of your towing comfort and safety.
  • The more you push or ignore the 80% rule of thumb the more important the quality of the hitch, brake controller and tires become.
  • Don't compromise on mirrors - if you are thinking about the strap on extensions to your current mirrors then you are compromising.
  • Find or make your own towing check-list to keep you on track when getting ready and hooking up - after a while you won't need it but it will help you through your learning curve.
There are lots of other tips you are going to get - but I do believe that if you have the basics down for a comfortable and safe start the rest will sort themselves out as you go along - right down to the best coffee maker ...... and how to mix the perfect martini when on the road .....


Jay
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Old 08-31-2015, 02:16 PM   #7
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I hope you have that countdown calendar checked off every day, don't get behind. I kept a calendar for 7 years and down to the last 6 months they still didn't believe I was leaving.... but I did. OK, so 14 months later I went back, part-time, from home (or wherever I happen to be), but I'm still mostly retired.

I pulled boats, flat beds and box trailers for 50+ years and when I got the AS I thought I could pull or back a trailer pretty good. But like Kelvin, pulling an AS is a different animal. I had to bring ours back about 180 miles, white knuckles all the way. I came down I-40 towards Knoxville at rush hour, snow was still on the ground back here in Kentucky. With boats I never had to worry about clearance. When we pulled up out front, there was a 2' long branch in the claw of the awning. Not sure where that came from .

The previous owner (PO) had done the hitch for me and I watched, but when I got home it was OJT for me. I think I made several camping trips before we went to Florida for a month. I got to tinker with it there for a couple days and finally figured it all out.

So even if you have some experience, a house on wheels is very different. Hang around here, read up, sign up for an RV class somewhere, expect to have some grease under the fingernails and keep that retirement calendar checked off. [One other thing, buy used, not new. In 2-3 years you'll want to get a bigger one or get out of that lifestyle. No sense in taking the big hit on depreciation.]
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Old 08-31-2015, 02:42 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RangerJay View Post
...... and how to mix the perfect martini when on the road .....
Jay
Now you're talkin'

Quote:
Originally Posted by RangerJay View Post

Jay
The trailer is nose down, does that mean there won't be any chance of sway?
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Old 08-31-2015, 04:26 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by richw46 View Post

The trailer is nose down, does that mean there won't be any chance of sway?
No sway - but actual steering is a tad iffy .....


Jay
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Old 08-31-2015, 05:06 PM   #10
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Good suggestions here (well except towing an AS with a Beetle ). Our first trailer was a 30' SOB and found I picked up the basics pretty quickly. But we made a few mistakes which became "teachable moments." Fortunately, the only thing injured was my pride (well except for a tree I backed into -- that one was expensive). Just read and practice. Also make sure you have a spotter when backing up and remember to make wide swings when making turns. Everything else will come naturally.
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Old 08-31-2015, 05:30 PM   #11
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I really admire your humility and willingness to learn. Towing a large and heavy vehicle is a lot more complicated than hoping in the car and running to the store for a loaf of bread. Unfortunately, in this turnkey world of ours, a lot of folks just hook 'er up and roar down the highway. Towing is not difficult but there are many procedures to follow and details to learn. Towing is a lot like flying - 99.9% of the time it's routine and boring, but you need to have your ducks in a row when that .1% pops up. Proper equipment, proper setup, proper procedures help to keep the odds in your favor as much as possible. And that's just the towing part.

Camping savvy appears to me, after only two years with my Airstream, to be infinite - which is fun. There are endless tips and tidbits that help you to get the most out of your experience, in addition to your own Aha! moments. It seems I learn something every time we go out.

You can pick up all of the book learning you need here. Then translating it to the real world just takes a little hands on experience. The way you're going about getting into this wonderful activity in itself guarantees that you will have a great time.

Cheers,
John
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Old 08-31-2015, 06:12 PM   #12
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Hello Newlyretire:

Lots of good advice on here! -- You sound like you're interested but need a nudge in one direction or another.

My suggestion would be to follow the advice of those who have recommended renting a travel trailer for a few days first. I checked the internet and discovered several companies in your county that will rent an 18' travel trailer to you for around $75.00 per day.

Along with that I looked at San Diego County Campgrounds and suggest you look at Sweetwater Summit campground $30 or $35 a night depending on whether you want partial or full hookups. You will only need to drive two to three hours to get from your city to this park.This campground is about 15 minutes away from the San Diego Zoo, Balboa park and it's many museums, Midway Aircraft carrier tour, Old Town, etc.

The company your renting from will make certain your vehicle and towing equipment is up to towing their trailer. They will make sure you are able to tow their trailer. They don't want you to wreck their trailer.

This may seem expensive, but you will have a good idea if you wish to continue following your dream.
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Old 08-31-2015, 06:18 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RangerJay View Post
Very basic tips for a comfortable and safe start to your towing life might be:
  • Recognize that hauling a trailer is a different experience than hauling a boat, pop-up or utility trailer.
  • A rule-of-thumb is to not exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle by more than 80%....


Jay
I think (hope) RangerJay meant to say not to exceed 80% of your rated towing capacity.

Al
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Old 08-31-2015, 06:36 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy View Post
I think (hope) RangerJay meant to say not to exceed 80% of your rated towing capacity.

Al
You're right - maybe that explains the VW Beetle challenges .....

Thanks,


Jay
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Old 08-31-2015, 08:49 PM   #15
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Get thee to a rally or two and talk to the folks.
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Old 08-31-2015, 09:23 PM   #16
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We were a lot like you (except we are not even close to retirement. Congratulations in advance on that.)

Here are some things I found helpful.

Go to the RV show in your area and look at all the RVs there. Try to go the Friday night instead of the crowded Saturday daytime. There will be lots of things to look at and helpful sales people. Look at all brands with smaller and mid sized units there and ask them to show you the features. You will learn a lot. There will also probably be folks there from your local state conservation campgrounds/RV parks with maps and brochures that are informative.

Start a few boards on Pinterest looking at camping, RVs, airstreams. This is visual web surfing and a great way to collect ideas and save information. You also get some good ideas and see the interiors of lots of ways people organize things for camping.

Go to all of the airstream dealers within a 4 hour drive at your house and compare them. We had no dealer in our city. We visited 3 within a 4 hour drive, and another further away last summer when visiting friends on vacation. We went on Saturdays, and always called ahead to make an appointment with a sales person. A good salesperson with some available time can show you a lot of features and information. And it helps you evaluate the overall knowledge base of the dealership, and judge how it might be to do business with them. You also can find out if driving to/from them requires an easy or difficult drive as to roads, routes, traffic, etc.

Watch youtube videos on airstreams, especially the model you are most interested in.

Read the forums, and ask questions if there is something that interests you that you don't quite understand. Read all of the categories, especially all on the bambis, and interstates. These are all smaller units and share common problems and solutions.

If you have any friends or co workers who camp, ask if you can see their set up sometime. Most people will be happy to have you drop by their storage place next time they are heading out to do something or check on the unit. (As many components of airstreams are common to a lot of RV brands there is a lot of cross-over)

Ask people who own a trailer why they chose the one they have. And also what they would change on it if they could. And ask them about their tow vehicles too.

Have Fun and best of luck.
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Old 08-31-2015, 10:03 PM   #17
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Hi from the East Coast

I did what you are contemplating, it's now been almost 9 years. I'm sitting watching "Tiny House Hunting" and wondering why these fools don't just buy a trailer.

So, stuff I'd do better the second time around. Go to Forum or WBCCI rallies and meet other Airstream owners. Some WBCCI rallies are "closed" (no Airstream, no welcome) but many will welcome prospective members/buyers. Forum rallies are almost all "open" to anyone even SOB (square old box / some other brand) owners and lookers.

Take a towing course - I had friends supporting me, but formal instruction makes a lot of sense. And having a truck driver as a teacher, very good.

Buying the "right" trailer on the first attempt - hem - read here and you'll find a lot of people who have had 2, 3, 4 or more and are probably still not done. If you're planning on fulltiming, a 25 is about as small as you'll really want to go. So, truth? Consider something other than an Airstream as your starter trailer. The Casita (a fiberglass egg trailer manufactured in Texas) can be a great starter, mainly because it loses so little value and after a year or two you can sell it for almost as much as you paid... and you'll have a much more practical "boots on the ground" basis for blowing the big bucks on an Airstream.

New vs. Gently Used - Lots of people jump in with both feet, and two years later realize they've camped 3 times. Then you swoop in and help them cut their losses. You'll have to fix something, but it'll save you $15K. Your choice, just saying.

Happy Trails, Paula
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Old 09-01-2015, 11:08 AM   #18
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Me TOO!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by nearlyretire View Post
Looking at buying a Sport 22 FB in the next 3 years pending my retirement. This will be a first for me and I know that I have a lot to learn about tow vehicles, hookups, tire pressure, steering, backing up, sway and everything else. Is there anyone on this forum who originally jumped into this lifestyle knowing nothing about trailers (i.e. never owned one before, didn't grow up in a household that owned one, never owned a tow-class vehicle, never worked on cars or got grease under their fingernails, etc etc)? And if so, how long did it take to come up to speed and then how long after purchase did it take to learn to safely drive, steer, backup, maintain the vehicle? I am certainly able to read about, study etc everything I can, but I know that reading manuals etc. just won't translate when rubber finally meets the road. Thanks!!
Dear Nearlyretired, I will be following your post closely as I am also close to retirement. I will be purchasing my AS next summer. I already have subscribed to AS Life, have bought AS Living and Newbies Guide to AS. I hope you don't mind if I follow your post. I also need all the education I can accumulate!! It's just so exciting to think about owning an AS!! Good luck to you and yours!! G
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Old 09-01-2015, 11:58 AM   #19
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Old 09-01-2015, 12:01 PM   #20
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Thanks for Asking!

What a great comment stream! And how appropriate for my husband and me.

Today is actually our first official day of retirement! Like you, my husband had a serious countdown to Airstream going for nearly two years.

Some thoughts:
  • Try to attend Alumapalooza or any other rally to meet other Airstream owners. They'll invite you into your homes so you can get a better sense of options, etc.
  • Carefully consider your tow vehicle. In our case, we bought the Airstream first (FC30) and then purchased our rig (F150 Eco Boost). If you have your tow vehicle and cannot consider another one, make sure that the Airstream you purchase will actually tow the recommended weight.
  • Live in this website. My husband has learned tons here. He also has enjoyed many videos from Long Long Honeymoon. They've got all sorts of great instructional videos that can help inspire you until you have yours!
We've just purchased our Airstream and since we don't have our tow vehicle yet (it's backordered!) we must make a 90 minute trip to visit it. For now, that's been fun. We intend to take many of the recommendations here. We've also reached out to other Airstream owners in our Michigan 52 Unit and hope to go on some short trips with them so we have some experts in our midst. And we're already signed up for some longer caravans in 2016 and 2017, again so we have community and support!


Again, congratulations on the move to the Airstream life (EVENTUALLY)!!!


Melinda and Duncan
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