Advice for Newbies

[LiveStreamn]

Hello All,

We (myself, wife and 7 year old) will be the proud new owners of a 2018 Sport 22FB in about two weeks.

I have been reading the threads for several months, but have not come across anything dedicated to advice for newbies, specifically for Sport owners.

The amount of knowledge here is amazing and we look forward to all of your tips.

[Rpatrick16]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new coach. I have the same model with the exception that mine is a 2016. What sort of advice are you looking for?
One thing that I would offer however is "don't be dismayed" if your new trailer doesn't quite meet expectations when it comes to "fit and trim". They are made by human hands after all and somedays those "hands" may not be in the best of shape.

Regardless, of the fact that you paid a bundle for the trailer there "will be" issues that popup and leave you wondering ..."why". Frankly speaking, I believe AS are "overpriced" yet, if you keep it for a long time you're gonna come out ok. With a seven year old you obviously having a growing family and sometime down the road you will want a bigger unit.

In the meantime enjoy the new trailer and "wear it out"!

[PKI]

Search on Newbee, orientation walk through, first trip, shakedown, help, and similar key words to find suggestions and knowledge sharing posts. In general, info is not as much model specific as RV specific. Visit the 22 Sport threads for the model specific stuff, but realize the older 22s are not quite the same coach.

Here is a random start in no particular order.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f368...gs-169906.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...es-170319.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f449...-148400-3.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...-170368-3.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...nd-168429.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...-143825-2.html

Good luck. Pat

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Welcome !!!

A couple basic things to look into:

1) How to use / connect the drain hose and water

2) How to couple up and uncouple your hitch (park and un-park the trailer)

3) How to back up the trailer

Beyond that, there's not a lot of stuff you really need to learn how to use / do before you head out. You *will* have questions (what's the fridge trying to tell us ...). Go someplace that you can connect to the internet. Most of what you bump into will be something Mr Google can answer quickly. It's summer time, get out and go camping !!!! Go slow and have fun. Don't set up any schedules that rush you. Give yourself lots of time to triple check things.

Bob

[Rivet Rocket]

We were new owners just this year also, same model, one year older than yours. Best advice I can give you is go to a close by full service RV park and play with your unit. Use every function, test every switch, close/open each drawer/cubby, program the TV, take a shower (make sure hot water heater is full and heater switch is turned on). Have fun.

You will be amazed at the help other campers will offer, AS and non-AS owners alike, when they see that you are puzzled, confused or having issues backing, unhooking, connecting hoses, cords and dumping.

For a point of reference on our first trip it took us 1 hour to get safely hooked up to drive to our first site. 1.5 hours to get parked and fully level, unhooked and everything connected. 55 minutes to stow and rehook to leave. Fast forward to our 4th trip and all the above times have been cut in half.

It is a learning process and must be learned hands on, the manuals/ videos are helpful, but you have to experience it to get it right.

Great success in your new adventure.

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by LiveStreamn

Hello All,

We (myself, wife and 7 year old) will be the proud new owners of a 2018 Sport 22FB in about two weeks.

I have been reading the threads for several months, but have not come across anything dedicated to advice for newbies, specifically for Sport owners.

The amount of knowledge here is amazing and we look forward to all of your tips.

Livestreamn... WELCOME!

There's so much.... where to begin...
ONE thing I'll mention is to consider your tow vehicle (TV) turning radius versus the A-frame clearance of the trailer.... it IS possible to jackknife the trailer (especially when backing up) such that the rear corner of your TV might contact the front corners of your trailer and leave a nice DENT in the trailer and perhaps damage the TV also.

2- NEVER pull away more than 20 feet after hitching up... without getting back out and walking around the entire rig to re-check things. You'll be amazed as you build a list of things you've overlooked. (A tailgate on a P/U will crush against LP bottles when you make a turn if you forgot to lock it UP.)

3- The tailgate (or rear hatch, etc.) might lower onto the jack or other object and damage your tailgate, etc. if you simply let "er fall. Check that out right away.

4- Never back up without someone at the rear to give you warning for the first few times you do this. And....TELL THEM TO LOOK UP! It's very easy to forget when backing that the upper-rear end-panels of your trailer will crush against house eaves, campsite-shelters, etc..

5- DON'T pull into refueling stations without realizing the overheads might hit the trailer. Your SPORT needs about 11-feet of clearance to be safe.

6- A rear view camera and a rear bumper are great add-ons to plan for.

Drive slow. Take your time. HAVE FUN.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Boxite

Livestreamn... WELCOME!

There's so much.... where to begin...
ONE thing I'll mention is to consider your tow vehicle (TV) turning radius versus the A-frame clearance of the trailer.... it IS possible to jackknife the trailer (especially when backing up) such that the rear corner of your TV might contact the front corners of your trailer and leave a nice DENT in the trailer and perhaps damage the TV also.

2- NEVER pull away more than 20 feet after hitching up... without getting back out and walking around the entire rig to re-check things. You'll be amazed as you build a list of things you've overlooked. (A tailgate on a P/U will crush against LP bottles when you make a turn if you forgot to lock it UP.)

3- The tailgate (or rear hatch, etc.) might lower onto the jack or other object and damage your tailgate, etc. if you simply let "er fall. Check that out right away.

4- Never back up without someone at the rear to give you warning for the first few times you do this. And....TELL THEM TO LOOK UP! It's very easy to forget when backing that the upper-rear end-panels of your trailer will crush against house eaves, campsite-shelters, etc..

5- DON'T pull into refueling stations without realizing the overheads might hit the trailer. Your SPORT needs about 11-feet of clearance to be safe.

6- A rear view camera and a rear bumper are great add-ons to plan for.

Drive slow. Take your time. HAVE FUN.

Hi

.... the backup camera on the pickup has a *really* weird view on it when the tailgate gets left down. I have empirical data on this

If you have a spotter, explain to them that yelling is ok. Trucks make noise and you need to hear them over the engine / exhaust. If that still doesn't work, get some cheap radios. Some backup cameras have mic's on them. They often are directional. Having the spotter standing right by the license plate is *not* a good idea.

Bob