20-footers

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by aero09053

Greetings. Just purchase my first ever Travel Trailer and picked the AS. Now I got to learn the ropes (Hardest is backing it into a lot) Very excited and this site is great for info. Any other tips would be much welcome. FC20

aero09053 Congratulations and welcome. It sounds like you got your terms. Welcome to the forum and thread. You'll love your new 20!

"Any other tips would be much welcome." ...ask away. I started on page 1 and read the whole thread. I found it very informative and appreciate all my new friends with their vast experience, advice and willingness to share.

Happy Trails.

Bob

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by aero09053

Greetings. Just purchase my first ever Travel Trailer and picked the AS. Now I got to learn the ropes (Hardest is backing it into a lot) Very excited and this site is great for info. Any other tips would be much welcome. FC20

Welcome and congratulations on the 20' purchase!

There are plenty of threads with tips on backing up. If you go up to Search at top right, and use the lower search box by Google, these are the results for backing up:

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=011403...0up&gsc.page=1

The easiest technique IMO is to use your tow vehicle's side mirrors (only), put your dominant hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, and back up moving your hand in the direction in which you want the back of the trailer to go. [Remember -- mirrors only -- no turning your head around to look backwards.]

Simple!

Like riding a bike once you get a direct link established between your eyes and the hand. Need to get the thinking part of the brain out of the loop. If you hear the voice in your head, the brain is still butting into the conversation!

Try this technique in a large empty parking lot. After about 30 minutes, you will wonder why it was once so difficult.

Picture . . . . . riding a bike . . . with no thinking about how to do it . . .



Happy New Year!




Peter

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by aero09053

Greetings. Just purchase my first ever Travel Trailer and picked the AS. Now I got to learn the ropes (Hardest is backing it into a lot) Very excited and this site is great for info. Any other tips would be much welcome. FC20

The only thing I would add to Peter's advice is to have a spotter on the back inside corner of your TT in your RV mirror at all times with pre-determined simple and visible hand signals.

Like Peter said, resist the urge to turn around...in that vein...resist the urge to get out and confirm what your spotter is saying...trust your spotter and follow their instructions. Don't be in a hurry. Sometimes it takes a few approaches

You'll find it is a piece of cake.

Good luck!

Bob

p.s. Ignore the audience that often assembles (think The Long, Long Trailer) .....especially at the cocktail hour. 1 driver...1 spotter.

[subfan1]

Agree with last two posts, I'll add we use walkie talkies of some sort.
Happy New Year!

[Camano20]

Happy New Year to All

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by Camano20

Happy New Year to All

The same to you all!

Bob

[Camano20]

Does anyone here have experience (good or bad) with these?

Anderson Levelers and Chock

They look like they may make set up a whole lot easier.

[CruizinDux]

The local dealer has one of these on their service counter, but since I had already bought the lego's, didn't pay much attention. I have to admit the video sure makes it look pretty easy. One comment on the lego's, I've started to bring a few short sections of ply as I had to pick our gravel stuck to the bottom to get them to stack/lock.

Bob

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by Camano20

Mine is now being stored in a friends covered storage area next to their horse barn. I too can hardly wait to get out again. May try to head south into California in mid January for 3 or 4 weeks. Really don't want to go too far south, but does anyone have any suggestions for a nice spot to spend a few weeks in Cal. prefer coast, not desert areas. Doesn't have to be hot ,but in the 60's and dry would nice.

Camano20 not sure if the central coast is in your plans but SLO has a great farmers market downtown on Thur's eve. ( http://slocountyfarmers.org/thursday/ ) . They close down Higuera St. (6-9 p.m.) and have great food (pleny of great BBQ, music and an excellent array of produce. We had a great time last year and hope make it again on our upcoming Pismo tour.

Bob

p.s. Our favorite BBQ s McClintocks The length of the line is the obvious queue.

[Camano20]

Thanks Bob
Wonderful suggestions for camping opportunities in California.
Wife is having second thoughts, but may still get away.

One more question has anyone tried one of these.

CIPA Wireless Trailer and RV Level w/ Hand-Held Device and LED Indicators

Looks like it should work well with the Andersen Levelers.

[OTRA15]

Welcome to the forum Camano20!

We take a "Keep It Simple, Stu" approach to leveling, given that the owner's manual says the trailer only needs to feel level as you walk in it. The modern fridges are not nearly as sensitive to being out-of-level as the old ones were.

Scraps of wood [5/4 x 8 etc.] about a foot long make fine leveling tools, and can be stacked or set up as cribbing for other uses like the tongue jack pad, or as a base for a real jack should a tire need to be changed. These wood blocks are easy to store, inexpensive, and easily replaceable without adding a lot of plastic "stuff" to carry around. A small construction level sitting on the floor just inside the main entry door confirms the set up.

On really sloped sites, wood blocks under the leveling jacks can also reduce the amount of cranking one has to do.

Less is more . . .

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

On really sloped sites, wood blocks under the leveling jacks can also reduce the amount of cranking one has to do

Peter - Assume you mean stabilizing jacks?

[CruizinDux]

I set the jack top bubble based on a small line level in a frying pan on the range. I figure the rest of the TT functions will survive that spec ; )

bob

[OTRA15]

Yup stabilizing jacks TC thanks.

[subfan1]

When we bought the Airstream, I leveled the refrigerator by placing a bubble in the ice box part of it then I stuck two bubble stick on levels on the frame by the battery box. One was placed side to side and the other under the lip on the battery box fore and aft. Now when we setup camp I know when the trailer is leveled without having to go inside.
I use plastic links instead of bringing wood due to weight considerations plus they clean right up.

[OTRA15]

Wondering if you had this mod of the rear window done?

Thanks,

Peter

Originally Posted by subfan1

Rear window modification.
Ok I finally made the time to meet with C&G Airstream in Bellflower Ca today and he is going to order the parts required to install the curb side arm on the rear window on our 2012 to prop it up so I won't have to use my bike handle foam pads. I'll report back when it is finished. He had given me an estimate of 125 to do the job, everything included. I'll also have the wheel bearings packed at the same time while there.

[WaLee]

Originally Posted by Camano20

Does anyone here have experience (good or bad) with these?

Anderson Levelers and Chock

They look like they may make set up a whole lot easier.

I love my Anderson levelers. So easy to use. I have one of those U shaped levels under the front window. I watch it as I back onto them once it says good I set the parking brake, chock it and proceed to unhitch. Takes moments to get level.

[CruizinDux]

Camano20 just noticed this thread in recent discussions.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1894593

Bob

[Camano20]

Thanks Bob. I may try them out. Right now I am using 2 X 6's left over from my tent trailer. Thought maybe these levelers would be a little easier.
Also thanks for the campground suggestions.

[OTRA15]

For your amusement, here is our FC20 after the recent snow. All plugged in and waiting for the van to get out of the shop with the rear-end damage repaired. At least the days are getting longer!

Cheers,

Peter