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DogMomDeb · 09-01-2022, 03:40 AM

2023 22’ Flying Cloud!

We did the walk through and signed the paperwork yesterday.
I’m excited and nervous. Ok I’m just a bit terrified.

This is our first ever RV. Ever!
We will pick it up on Saturday, drive about 15 minutes and then camp overnight.
But it’s of course Labor Day weekend. So the only camping site I could get is basically on a parking lot that houses the really big rigs.
AND WE HAVE TO BACK INTO THE SPACE!

Did I mention that we are newbies and that it will be Labor Day weekend?
The one thing we have going for us is a deserted mall that is close to the camping ground. We plan to pull in there and practice.

Oh and the walkthrough we pretty well. We were overly confident we could handle the awning. We were wrong. Came home and watched a You Tube video and feel better.
The only problem with the trailer was a leak from the area of the toilet to the outside. They started fixing it yesterday. We will test it on Saturday.
And of course we will hook up the trailer to the truck for the first time. We have already started re-watching You Tube videos on hooking up.

I’m going to need lots of reassurance and maybe someone who is travel trailer experienced to follow us around and make sure we don’t screw things up.

Saluda372 · 09-01-2022, 05:14 AM

Congrats and good luck. Be patient and do your learning in steps, it'll all come to you.

**GCinSC2** · 09-01-2022, 06:17 AM

Alumalina here you go!

Acheron2010 · 09-01-2022, 06:59 AM

PLace your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. If you push it left, the back of the trailer will go left. If you push it right, the back of the trailer will go right. Slow, check often. Practice, practice. Congrats.

Rich Jenkins · 09-01-2022, 06:59 AM

Congratulations and best wishes on the new trailer!!

Some free unsolicited backup tips that I have found useful for marital harmony:

- If possible, approach the spot in a double-S maneuver. You should aim to try and end up stopping with the trailer pointed more or less at a 45 degree angle into the spot, with the truck "bent" slightly more, to the drivers side, perhaps 60 degrees.

- Put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Move your hand in the direction you want the REAR of the trailer to go.

- Go slow. No, slower than that.

- Try and back in from the drivers side of the spot, looking over your left shoulder.

- GOAL: If necessary, stop the truck, and "Get out and look."

- Carry Walkie-Talkies, and use them. Press, pause, speak.

- Agree on "sides" when giving/receiving directions. Use "More to the driver side!" not "More to the left!"

- Carry four or five small orange soccer cones. Before you back in, place the cones in a line, maybe 10-15' apart, down the approach line where you want the trailer to end up. These turn out to be incredibly useful in an otherwise unmarked spot.

- Listen ONLY to one person backing up. Trust them. Don't listen to "that guy" next spot over. He isn't going to pay for your RV if you dent it.

Good luck!

Dennis C · 09-01-2022, 07:24 AM

Congrats and have fun!

John Ware · 09-01-2022, 07:31 AM

DMB, before long you'll be an Old Pro. Best of luck to you.

pjshier · 09-01-2022, 09:13 AM

well done taking the plunge. Easy does it and the experience will accumulate in time. Backing in can be helped if you both have a cell phone for communication between the driver and the "spotter" watching the rear. Wise choice to use the vacant mall for practice. Checklists help with camp-decamp. You'll get this!

SpikePoet · 09-01-2022, 11:06 AM

we've all been where you will soon be. all good advice in previous responses. checklists available from many sources - use them without exception. then do a second inspection before moving SLOWLY, forward or backward. Make it fun and low stress. if you don't know, ask another camper. most will be helpful. keep us posted.
Spike

jaslocke · 09-01-2022, 03:15 PM

Get this book. “Newbies guide to airstreaming”. Explains all the systems and lists.
Get this app. “Allstays”. Never stay in a parking lot again!
Good luck!

guskmg · 09-02-2022, 09:09 PM

Congratulations and welcome to Airstream RVing. All the above advise is good. To it I would suggest you get 4-6 small traffic cones to use as guides down the left side of you trailer. Place them where you want the left side of the trailer to go when backing. You will still need a rear spotter or get out and see how you are doing. Be sure the spotter looks up and around the area so you don't back into an unseen obstacle. Tree limbs will ruin your day. This is why a backup camera is so handy on the tow vehicle and the trailer. Good Luck!
guskmg

DogMomDeb · 09-03-2022, 09:47 AM

Thanks for the replies.
So this weekend pick up and camping experience is on hold.
The dealer is having to change out the black tank. It is leaking. Luckily found prior to us taking it and camping.
When they get the new black tank in and installed, we will try again. Maybe this time a pull through site.

Greenjeans · 09-03-2022, 01:27 PM

Congratulations!

Might want to start a checklist or 2. We use 3. 1)trailer list; (stored in trailer, used before each departure) Frig locked, toilet paper secure, fantastic fan closed, etc. 2)truck list; chairs, grill, chalks, levelers, etc. 3) groceries; I also include a house closing list; AC set, alarm set, garage locked, etc. on this list. I keep the list on my laptop & print them a few days before leaving.

Take deep breaths & enjoy your journey.

Atwebs · 09-03-2022, 04:27 PM

Our secret is to carry a nice bottle of wine and when the "old pro" comes over the help with your backing up...offer it to him! Some prefer Whiskey, some beer but we've never been left to struggle on our own. We've been trailering for 45 years, but apparently our somewhat loud disagreements about what a particular hand signal actually means are legendary. And, I must admit (being hand signal gal) sometimes the meaning is pretty clear!

DogMomDeb · 09-23-2022, 02:49 AM

Well I can’t change from the “currently looking” status until the mods add 2023 Flying Cloud 23’ to the options.
On Tuesday we picked her/him (still trying to come up with a name) and had our first towing/set up/camping/break down experience. After doing another brief walk thru and making sure there were 3 solar panels on the roof, they put on the blue ox hitch and we were off. With very little fanfare, except me insisting on the 750 bars and not the 550. And some grumbling from the equipment guy. I guess the dealership figured we were no longer that interesting since we had already paid for it.
We lucked into an abandoned shopping mall and practiced backing I up/in for about an hour and a half before heading to the campsite for our overnight. I had booked a site that the really big rigs parked figuring it should be easier to back into. There was no one there when we got there so very easy backing in. My husband had a list that we went religiously by to set up and we went to bed about 8:30.
The next morning we tried everything except the heat (furnace). And then we broke it all down, packed up and towed it to the storage place. It sounds really weird but I even got a slight thrill with the black tank emptying experience.
My husband did an excellent job driving even on the interstate. My truck towed like a champ. I am so glad that I researched that truck on this forum and other places and got one that could do the job.
Sorry about the length of this post.
We have another camping trip planned - two nights this time. In the meantime, we are planning to go practicing again.
I guess these old dogs did pretty good for being total newbies.
Thanks to everyone on here for all the advice so far.

**richard5933** · 09-23-2022, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogMomDeb

Well I can’t change from the “currently looking” status until the mods add 2023 Flying Cloud 23’ to the options....

Use the "Contact Us" link in the blue bar at the very bottom of the page and send a note about this. This link goes directly to the people that can help with this problem.

In the meantime, you can add your rig information to your signature and it will show under all your posts. Select "User CP" from the blue bar menu under the masthead, and then choose "Edit Signature" from left-hand column.

DCPAS · 09-23-2022, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogMomDeb

I guess these old dogs did pretty good for being total newbies.

Congrats! Sounds like you are doing it the right way.

Aironius · 09-23-2022, 07:28 AM

Backing gets easier after a few tries. The awning is easy when you do it right, and makes one look stupid when you don't. After several years with my AS, I still keep the awning video on my computer. It helps to watch it again...

Bobbo · 09-23-2022, 07:38 AM

Be sure you put the awning out properly. If not, you can bend the awning support arms and they have to be replaced before you can retract the awning. A friend told me.

DewTheDew · 09-23-2022, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Be sure you put the awning out properly. If not, you can bend the awning support arms and they have to be replaced before you can retract the awning. A friend told me.

We only ever pull the awning out partway. We do not extend the lower arms. It doesn't make the shaded area much different and seems more stable to me.