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MrUKToad · 11-12-2013, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

what was some things that you chucked?

Pots and pans, mostly. Plates, glasses, mugs and sundry other cooking items; all heavy stuff. We realised that we were set up to provide banquets for thousands when we were just four of us, sometimes two. We stopped taking the portable grill/barbecue thingy as well, because once used it was really stinky, no matter how we cleaned it, and that took up a lot of room. We used to take a very heavy fold up table and we ditched that in favour of one half the size and a quarter of the weight and we also used to take our fold up bug-proof (almost) gazebo, also a heavy item. There were times when we could have used that gazebo but overall we are happy that we no longer haul it around.

Our style of camping keeps us quite close to civilisation most of the time so if we really need something that we don't have with us, we can normally beg, steal, borrow or buy said item whilst on the road

MrUKToad · 11-12-2013, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

We chucked the 27' Airstream and got a 34'... ;0)

Ha ha!

ROBERTSUNRUS · 11-12-2013, 09:52 PM

Hi, even though all of these suggestions are pretty good, you don't need everything right now. [might over load your trailer] Buy some of it as you need it. Many of the things that you will need for your trailer will come from your house, mostly from your bathroom and kitchen. My trailer came with a real cheap and too short of a sewer hose, buy a good one. My sewer hose wouldn't work at my very first camp ground.

If you want a good crash course on RV camping, I suggest that you buy and watch only two movies, then you will learn real quick on what you need to do and know.

(1.) RV with Robin Williams.

(2.) The Long Long Trailer with Lucy and Desi.

PharmGeek · 11-12-2013, 10:30 PM

yeah, I have pretty much besides for all the crap I listed here kept dishes, pots, and pans and other stuff out till we really figure how we will cook and do on trips and adapt solely for how it all goes...will just do paper, a few plates, a pot a pan, a couple bowls, etc from kitchen till we figure out what we truly use....hopefully avoid unnecessary stuff that I will never use...

So far I am quite confident everything I have bought will be used.

Learnin from you good peoples' experiences

jasperkins · 11-12-2013, 10:54 PM

My top few items:
- Sewer Solution. Keep the Stinky Slinky as Backup
- Dyson Hot cold Fan - Its keeping out trailer toasty right now and its 31 degrees out!
- Dyson cordless vac. We use this daily
- a lot of 3M double sided tape to mount stuff
- Replaced shower head with that water ergo one (everyone uses)
- 30amp LCD powersurge protector. Love to see the amp draw.
- Sleep Number Air Mattress
- a good tool set / bag
- FlipJack and Equalizer or great load hitch
- Camco high end level for front
- 5' ladder that compacts to 4x4 in width and fits in bumper
- electric drill for stabilizers
- test of my 2 Honda 2000 gennies
- comfortable collapsible chairs

jpons · 11-13-2013, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

I opted to buy a "sewer solution"...to use - will plan on keeping the slinky as a backup or for very quick dump if needed....bought the extension for the sewer solution...bought on sale for like 100 bucks...I would consider this a non-essential if money is tight....

I have a sewer solution that I only use when needed, particularly when the dump is at a higher level than my dump valves. It seems that SOBs have their valves MUCH higher than ASs and a result I have a run into a few campgrounds that the Sewer Solution became indispensable. However most of the time I use the Rhino hose as it is quicker and easier to use than the Serwer Solution in conjunction with the internal black tank sprayer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

portable grill? I have not gone there yet to be honest...will cook in the AS for now

I have this unit and have been very very happy with it:
Cuisinart CCG-100 GrateLifter Portable Charcoal Grill

Quote:

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

I really want a good handheld vacuum for the trailer....my mother in law has an amazing little orec plug in unit - it hangs on a shoulder strap, really great...want something like that but not that much money - I think they are pricey....I will wait for later on this and use sweeper and perhaps buy a basic 2 gallon shop vac and leave in truck for now...

I have this B&D unit and have been very happy with it. Plugs into the 12v socket and has plenty of power. Pretty affordable also. A dyson rechargeable would be nice but way too pricey.

Black & Decker PAV1200W 12-Volt Cyclonic-Action Automotive Pivoting-Nose Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

kswelsh · 11-13-2013, 05:53 AM

Did someone mention a 50 amp converter to use on a 30 amp cable? Anyway, it is a good idea. Now for the girly stuff - I absolutely love my little induction burner! I have a Precision Induction burner that I got on Amazon for $80..00. I also have a nice extension cord. This burner works well with cast iron or induction cookware. I can use the extension cord and take the burner to the picnic table and cook breakfast right there without having to stink up my trailer. We've even made a shrimp boil on it - boils water fast. That is my favorite addition to my Airstream, along with soft, biodegradable toilet paper! Enjoy!

MrUKToad · 11-13-2013, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kswelsh

Did someone mention a 50 amp converter to use on a 30 amp cable? Anyway, it is a good idea. Now for the girly stuff - I absolutely love my little induction burner! I have a Precision Induction burner that I got on Amazon for $80..00. I also have a nice extension cord. This burner works well with cast iron or induction cookware. I can use the extension cord and take the burner to the picnic table and cook breakfast right there without having to stink up my trailer. We've even made a shrimp boil on it - boils water fast. That is my favorite addition to my Airstream, along with soft, biodegradable toilet paper! Enjoy!

An induction burner is our next buy. We have a full size induction stove top at home now and it's brilliant, so a baby one for the Airstream is a must.

txairdream · 11-13-2013, 07:47 AM

As a millenial, I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to click "Like" on these posts!

Why would I need a 50amp converter? I'm so new to all this I'm not even sure about all the electrical speak. I do know my AS is coming with an inverter, and am still not sure what that is.

On a slightly unrelated note, is it REALLY necessary to get out of the TV before pulling into a gas station and turn off the pilot? How easy is that?

**DKB_SATX** · 11-13-2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txairdream

As a millenial, I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to click "Like" on these posts!

Why would I need a 50amp converter? I'm so new to all this I'm not even sure about all the electrical speak. I do know my AS is coming with an inverter, and am still not sure what that is.

On a slightly unrelated note, is it REALLY necessary to get out of the TV before pulling into a gas station and turn off the pilot? How easy is that?

Not a 50A converter, but a 50A to 30A adapter (plug or pigtail) so that you can plug into a pedestal that only has a 50A socket. I've run into one place that only had 50A sockets, the RV sites at the Mineola Civic Center (Mineola, TX). Luckily I was camping with friends and someone had an extra, because I needed the AC!

Re: shutting off the fridge before gassing up: That is the safest procedure. I think most of the modern fridges will shut down for 15 minutes or so after you turn off the ignition *IF* they're wired to do so and *IF* your tow vehicle shuts off the 12v charge line to the trailer when you turn off the key. I confess that I skip this step when conditions allow. For example, if I'm pulling up to a single RV pump, my fridge is on the curbside and my fuel fill is on the street side of the truck, 15 feet or so forward from where the refrigerator is (again on the opposite side) I'll leave the refrigerator on. If I'm pulled into a row of pumps where it's more likely that someone spilled fuel closer to where the refrigerator's air intake is, I'll shut it off for a while. It's an extra hassle for me because it's a manual restart!

PharmGeek · 11-13-2013, 08:47 AM

"I do know my AS is coming with an inverter, and am still not sure what that is. "

I think the answer is:

There are two electrical systems within your AS...the "12 volt" DC (as opposed to AC) side and the 110 volt AC (as opposed to DC) side....

When you plug in a hairdryer or something like that into the wall at home you get AC....the batteries (I believe) deliver 12 volt DC...

When your trailer is HOOKED UP to a site that has electric hookups (that is 110 volt AC hookup) - once you plug in your trailer I believe the outlets inside will be able to run 110 AC stuff like say your coffee pot, or what have you...

If you are NOT hooked up to electric at a site and are "dry camping" or "boondocking" - then your only source of electricity is the batteries - which provide 12v only....you cannot plug in your coffee pot for example in the outlets this way...

The solution is (I believe) an "inverter" - it is a piece of hardware that takes the 12v from the battery and can make your outlets get 110 AC from your batteries...

So I think (and others can correct me because I have been learning) - that the inverter is something that you get as an option to achieve this....

Sites with "hook ups" will have one of three sized plugs for electricity...biggest one being the 4 prong 50 amp service, many have 3 prong 30 amp, and there is the one that is just like the household outlet that is 15 amp...if your trailer has a 30 amp outlet, but your electricity source is not 30 amp 3 prong thingie madgiggie - then you need some form of adapter to "convert" - I think besides "pig tail" they are also called "dog bone" cause they kinda look like a dog bone with one end for example being the 50 amp 4 prong, and the other end being say 30 amp...you plug the 50amp into the receptacle that is there, then the 30amp end you can plug into your trailer now....

I suggest a few youtube channels and watch ALL of their videos and this will be helpful...RV geeks, long long honeymoon, airstream official youtube channel, and some others worth checking out....

Also this was provided to me the other day...I had already seen most of these but most of the channels i mentioned are represented in the links:

NorCal Airstream Club » 30 tips for Airstream repairs, maintenance and operation

**DKB_SATX** · 11-13-2013, 08:56 AM

I missed the question about the inverter. New Airstreams often come with an inverter which will provide 120v power to a few outlets when you're running off the trailer's batteries. This will let you watch TV or charge a laptop on 120v for a while, but running any high-demand 120v item on the inverter will suck your standard batteries dry in short order. Some people opt for more/larger batteries to extend boondocking time, and these systems will let you do more with the inverter, but there's no free lunch. Running 120v items off the inverter for the long term is not very effective (no hairdryers or drip coffee makers, for example.)

Tomzstream · 11-13-2013, 09:08 AM

Two pocket knives. A genuine Swiss Army with scissors, awl, screwdriver and saw, and a nice personal pocket knife for playing mumblety peg. Someone may need to explain to our millennial friends about the latter.

PharmGeek · 11-13-2013, 09:21 AM

I opted for the inverter...mainly I figure nice for charging laptop, phones and such while dry camping...but the more I think about it and learn about dry camping in reading the forums and such, I kinda think I was dumb to pay for the 1000w inverter option..oh well...done deal now...

adonh · 11-13-2013, 09:48 AM

OK if you went and got everything that has been suggested, where are you going to store it?

Protagonist · 11-13-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adonh

OK if you went and got everything that has been suggested, where are you going to store it?

In all seriousness, my philosophy is, if you're going to use it outside, store it outside. For me, that's in my toad (if I bring it) or on a hitch-mounted cargo rack (if I don't bring the toad). For trailer owners, that's inside the tow vehicle.

The corollary is, if you're going to use it inside, store it inside.

Keeping that scheme in mind does help, at least for me.

weirdstuff · 11-13-2013, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kswelsh

I have a Precision Induction burner that I got on Amazon for $80..00. I also have a nice extension cord. This burner works well with cast iron or induction cookware. I can use the extension cord and take the burner to the picnic table and cook breakfast right there without having to stink up my trailer.

I love this idea! I can cook, but not have a stinky grill to carry inside my Interstate.

I assume I'd have to be plugged into shore power to run this?

PharmGeek · 11-13-2013, 10:34 AM

Honestly most of essentials mention here fit in a couple boxes as we speak in my back seat of TV -

Most of the bulk of it is hoses - chocks and such that most have to store -

Chairs - BBQ grills and other bulkier items I expect are a bit of a burden on storage

Cleaning supplies - anti corrosives and stuff stay in home garage

John&Vicki · 11-13-2013, 10:41 AM

This thread is very helpful for me as I set up Nellie for our 4-month trek around the SW. A few things have been recommended that I missed. I seem to be turning into some kind of anti-materialist and I dislike buying new stuff. But the Boy Scout in me needs to be prepared.

Poppy

acstokes · 11-13-2013, 05:48 PM

Quote:

For me, the one accessory that I'd buy again first, and give up last is Sewer Solution.

Clean, efficient, easy, black tank draining instead of a stinky slinky and always wondering if I've enough gray water to flush it out.

I've been reading great reviews on Sewer Solution and had been planning to buy one. Today I noticed Camping World has them on their Internet Sale site for $94.26....$55 off the retail price. I pulled the trigger and can't wait to get mine!

Fred