Travel Trailer Question

[RussDaBuss]

Hello, I am fairly new to the whole Travel Trailer thing. I have a 2002 Ford F-150, 5.4L. I think it will tow up to 7200 lbs. I have some land about 50 miles from my house where I am going to be creating a little camping area. I am going to run electric but no water. My main question is if I keep this trailer up there for a few weeks in a row and want to keep filling the fresh water as I go up there. Is this possible with out a hose? If I bring like bigger water tanks how do you actually fill it in the camper that way? Also a neighbor said his hose is always available for water. I am not really planning on for a toilet (I am going to go with a chemical toilet). Just want the water for washing and showers. Is it best to trailer without the tanks filled? Obviously if you fill them the weight will be more. Not really looking for a big trailer. Just something comfortable and easy to tow. I see there are alot of LightWeights out there now.. Is the 7200 lbs realistic or do I want to stay well below that. Also, once or twice a year I might hit a state park with it as well. Are electric brakes needed I assume? Overall, I am fairly new to this and I realize I am asking a few various questions here. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!! Just getting ideas before next spring rolls around!!

Thanks

[Ryan_V]

A full water tank will hold about 40 gallons, or about 320 pounds. you should be able to get a trailer well under 7200 #'s. I have a 30 footer that is 5000 #'s dry. Make sure you take into consideration several factors. When looking at a trailer, look at the UVW, which is the unloaded vehicle weight, that is the weight of the unit as it sat in the factory. that doesn't take into account lp, all your clothes and gear, water, and anything else you add. I usually figure on another 750-900 lbs on top of the UVW to get the total weight.

the water holding tanks are graviy fed, so if you have a funnel, you will be able to haul water up and pour it in, or better yet, just fill from your neighbors hose. get a feel for how much you use in a weekend when you're there. on a typical weekend, I won't use 20 gallons, but I also don't shower in it. your toilet is a chemical toilet in a camper, the issue you will have is dumping. you can buy a holding tank to dump your "black" tank into and haul it to town. the other tank which is your shower water and sink water, I wouldn't hesitate dumping it on your grass. all towns have a municipal dump station that you can dump you wastwater into.

as far as towing goes, if you plan on using it as mostly seasonal, then you don't have to worry too much about the weight. if you will be hauling it alot, you definetly want to keep your tow vehicle in mind when buying, and yes, on a travel trailer, brakes are required. a brake controller for you truck will also be necessary, but can be purchased for under $100 and installed in minutes. I could go on for pages about travel trailors, I'm on my third year with mine, and we go out with it almost every weekend in the summer!! great fun for the family. if you have anyother questions, just let us know. if you have problems, don't hesitate to ask, because if we have an answer, chances are it has happened to us too!! good luck.

[RussDaBuss]

Well thanks Ryan for the ideas and Info. When you say I could use a funnel to fill the water tank, is there an opening to pour water in or just a hose connection or both? When I said my neighbors hose I was thinking of filling a portable tank there and then transferng it to the trailer. Not actually trailering it over there. But who knows.. Good idea. I like the idea of getting a holding tank for the black. I would like to use the toilet in the camper but was not sure of getting rid of the waste. Do they make portable holding tanks for this reason or would I rig something up to work? Also The grey and black tanks, have I heard correctly that you try to fill them as much as possible before draining? that way they drain better..?? Is it bad to leave the black tank partially full over a couple weekends and dump all at once? Or with hot weather in the summer that is not a good idea? I do not want any smell . I was thinking of draining the grey in the woods. The area I have is very secluded and in the STICKS!! .. So hopefully thats not a bad thing. As for traliering. Is the toungue weight an issue to look for? I am sure it is. I need to look at my truck some day and see what my limits are. Thanks again for the answers and Ideas.. No hurry just getting ideas and hoping to purchase next spring...

[New Yankee]

Russ, if this camp spot will be a fairly long term deal, you may want to consider a small septic tank. Alternatively, a used mobile home may be the best answer (you'd want to run the water to it though)when you really put a pencil to it. Cuts your mobility but gives you a lot more room, etc. Just a thought.

[Lynno62]

Russ, Check out rv.net. they have a lot of helpfull people on there site also.(not that the ones here are not).

Fun group of people just like FM minnesota, but more camping and travel trailers than fishing. Good luck

[RussDaBuss]

Thanks guys. I will check RV.net out.. I did ponder the mobile home idea but for now I want something that I could bring other areas but thanks for the idea... Overall I will keep it up there for a couple weeks in a row at most. Especially when the bite is on at Mille Lacs and then for hunting!!

[Ryan_V]

to fill your water tank, it is just a hole you pour water into. otherwise, you can hook a hose up to a city water connection or well, and have pressureized water.

they do make portable tanks for toting out your black water. as far as letting it go all the way through or letting it fill up for the weekend....depends on who you ask. if you let it go into the holding tank, I'd rinse it out good after each weekend you are there. but since you won't have water, I'd leave it in the tank and dump it out after you are done for the weekend...then I'd even pour a few gallons of fresh into the black tank, and dump that too!! you will have smell, but there are alot of good products out there to help with that!!

as far as tounge weight, when you are dealing with a travel trailer, you usually have to look at the overall weight and then look at your hitch limitations. the best to get is a weight distribution system which usually comes with any camper you buy. this is a must if you are going to be hauling it around at all.

lots to know, i just learned as I went, but if you have any other questions, let me know!! don't want it to be frustrating you first time out, because that would spoil it and it really is fun to own a travel trailer!!!

[RussDaBuss]

Thanks again for the info. When I say smell, I guess there will be smell when I dump it but when it is being held in the tank, does it smell thru the toilet? Also, 1 more question. Are these newer TravelTrailers pretty much sealed up from mice? Like I have said, it will kept out in the country/Woods. My buddy brought up an older Pop-Up a couple years ago and we left it for the week and when we came back and set it back up the canvas was not looking too good. Not sure how the little buggers got in but they did.. Just wondering if a newer Travel Trailer will keep them suckers out of it. When I do actually get one I will probably look for a good used one a couple years old.

Thanks all!!

[Ryan_V]

You will get some smell coming through the toilet, you can't avoid it. If you get some good chemicals, it will lessen it. Weather will also be a factor, the hotter it is, obviously the more it will smell and the more chemical you use. If you use it for mostly weekends, you will be fine. I've used mine for 5 days in a row in hot weather and there was only a small odor. The most important thing is to get the tank clean when you dump it. It is best to put a hose down it and rinse it good, or a tank rinser, which is a tube that you put down the tank that has holes on the sides of it that rinses your tank out excellent!! without water hookups, you will be limited, but even if you just dump 10-20 gallons of water in it after you dump and then let it run out, that will probably do very well.

as far as mice, I keep my camper in a pole barn on my property that isn't enclosed, and I've never had a mouse. if you are getting a camper that is only a couple years old, you should have no problem, they are sealed up very well. I always put dryer sheets in the camper to repel any that may think that they want in.

[Big Dave2]

My brother-in-law has a travel trailer that he keeps permanately on a lake lot that does not have electric or water. He simply has a 40 gallon plastic tank with a valve and hose on it. I am not sore where he got it or what it's intended use is but it works good for filling his water tank on the TT. He just puts it in the back of the truck and goes to town and fills it up. He puts the hose in the fill hole on TT and opens the valve. Works good with gravity because his truck box is higher than the fill hole on the TT. He also has another tank for the Black water tank which he uses to haul the black water to town also and dump into the public dump station.

How big of a TT are you looking to get? I used to haul a 28' Sportsmen with my 1/2 ton '04 dodge hemi without much trouble at all. Of course I had the weight distributing hitch that was mentioned above and a good brake controller is a must. Another thing you will want is sideview mirror extentions or you will not be able to see past the trailer in your mirrors.

Good luck and have fun camping.

Dave

[RussDaBuss]

Thanks for the info BigDave. Not sure what size I am going to get. went to RV.net alot and sounds like better to be on the light side then heavy side. I am kinda looking at the hybrid campers (the ones with fold out tent beds). Who knows. Will have to hit some RV shows and see whats out there. Thanks for the input all....

[1lkstage]

RussDaBuss, We have a 2001 Jayco 23B That has the tent ends and a slide. Love all its room, and great for the kids. 35 gal.holding tank,30 Grey,30 black. weight is 5200# empty. One of the big things to watch is the hitch weight. Alot of them push upwards to 500#. Ours is like 325#. The weight is equally balanced over the tires. Pulls great and easy with a 98 f150 with the 5.4.(hp is alot more in a newer truck). Might know where you can pick-up a used one in the spring, we may be stepping into a 5th wheel.

[RussDaBuss]

1lkstage, thanks. Shoot me an email some time if you like with the specs on your particular unit. Any extras? Awning, AC, condition it is in, any leaking, original owner, etc.... See what happens..

rengebretson @ strategicequipment . com

[1lkstage]

you have mail!!

[RussDaBuss]

1lkstage

Never got email!! No spaces in my above email.

Thanks