About the Blog: We started RVing in 2019, but did not decide to start blogging about our experiences until 2021. So, we have some catching up to do. We’ll sprinkle in some new present-day stories as they happen. But if you have time, start at the beginning. You’ll learn (and hopefully laugh) a lot.
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Travel Trailer Names and Accoutrement
Before we could start camping, had first had to name our travel trailer. Of course, the trailer was a “she.” Somehow, we ended up with “Sally.” Yep, Sally was our first RV.
We also had to buy a lot of stuff for Sally, including (1) the hitch system, (2) leveling equipment, (3) safety items, (4) internet devices, and (5) dog accoutrement.
WE HAD FINALLY PURCHASED OUR FIRST RV! Now what?
Before we could start camping, had first had to name our travel trailer. Of course, the trailer was a “she.” She had a big “S” as part of her logo. Somehow, we ended up with “Sally.”
We also had to tow Sally from the dealer near the Lake of the Ozarks to home in Columbia, Missouri. Our good friend Scott offered to make the drive with Kasie in his huge truck because we were (1) in the process of getting a huge truck ourselves and (2) waiting on some RV “accoutrement” before we could start actually start camping.
Even without the new truck, all of the stuff that Sally needed was not cheap. Sally was a well-kept lady, and we ended up spending around $2500 overall. I’ve tried to highlight some of the major items we purchased for the travel trailer in this blog. This included (1) the hitch system, (2) leveling equipment, (3) safety items, (4) internet devices, and (5) dog accoutrement.
Our First RV Hitch System
The biggest expense was the Andersen “no sway” weight distribution hitch system, which was around $500.
Spoiler alert: we didn’t like this hitch. We had a lot of trouble finding a hitch that worked for us. For more info on WHY on all of our hitching troubles, check out our blog:
Let's Get Hitched! (I Towed You It Wouldn't Last)
Leveling System in our First RV
Like most travel trailers, the Sally would need to be leveled wherever we went. Because were both novices at leveling, Kasie did a lot of research on line to try to find gadgets that might make the process easier. As a result, we opted for the following two products:
Levelmate System. The device works via blue tooth with an phone app, but the calibration was performed with a simple $6 bullseye level. This would take the guess work out of knowing when we were level and provide instant feedback.
Beech Lane Levelers. These curved polymer levelers function like a ramp for the tire. The levelers are placed on a rubber grip map that rests on the ground to provide more traction. Once the tire is driven onto the leveler to the desired height, then a chock is used to keep the leveler in place. This system is far superior to a block of wood or plastic. These are pricey, but in my view, worth it. Plus, they come with a lifetime warranty!
Saftey Items for Our First RV
We also invested in several safety items. Some items were necessary, and some were were just to put our minds at ease that were were doing everything we could to minimize things that might go wrong.
Surge Protector/EMS. This was a “must have.” This device constantly monitors current coming from the electrical pedestal and shuts down if there is an issue. We opted for a portable surge protector with a digital display that would provide error codes to help troubleshoot if something went wrong. The device also shows how much power the trailer is using, and we also thought that type of information would be useful for us to know so that Sally’s brain was less likely to get fried.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ("TPMS"). Every blog/vlog/friend said this was a trailer “must have.” Blow-outs are apparently a frequent issue withy many travel trailers.
Various Vent Screens. Apparently, mice, birds, insects, and other varmints like to crawl in any orifice or opening that is not screened on the RV. In my mind, that certainly meant hungry bears and perhaps even tiny alligators would utilize these openings too. What is baffling to me is that these vent screens don’t just don’t come standard in RVs.
Step Rugs. I had watched videos of folks slipping and falling on the stairs to their trailers. Thus, a rug to provide some friction seemed like a good idea. Plus, the rugs could also be used to wipe down our shoes before entering.
Weather Radio. I grew up in Kansas, and Kasie grew up in Oklahoma. The last thing I wanted was for us to not know if a tornado or other adverse weather event was on the horizon.
Wheel Chocks. We didn’t want Sally to fall off some hill or be kidnapped. Thus, some locking chocks seemed like a good idea.
Internet in Our First RV
Even though we planned to be “unconnected” from work when we traveled, we still wanted the convenience of watching Hulu and Netflix, and Fox Midwest (for Royals baseball). Thus, we needed a good internet system. We had read that while many campgrounds offer wi-fi, the signal is usually weak. After watching All About RVs: WiFi Booster Set Up and Review, we purchased the Ubiquity Wireless M2 booster, a TP-Link router, some ethernet cable, a few clamps, and some PVC pipe to help get us a better signal for round $125. (This did not work very well for us so I won’t post more on it.)
Camping with Dogs: Assessories for the Dogs in Our First RV
Our dog wrangling pen consisted of 16 metal panels and some plastic lattice. Classy.
Lastly, because being able to take our dogs with us when we traveled was the main reason for purchasing Sally, we had to get accessories for the dogs. These included:
Seat Belt Adaptors. The adapters plug right into the existing seat bells and connect to each dog’s harness. Safety first!
Fencing. We have at least one ornery “runner” in our pack so if we opened the trailer door and she slipped by, we would be chasing her for hours. Thus, we needed to dog-proof an area around Sally’s exterior. We opted to buy 16 connecting metal panels that would enclose the area next to the Sally’s door. We used carabiners to connect these panels to plastic bendable white lattice from Menards cut and sized to run along the bottom of the RV. The fencing wasn’t classy but it was functional.
***(Sept 2021 update) We’ve actually replaced the original fencing with some Lighter weight fencing.
Calming Treats . We thought treats would help the pups adjust to the drive. They are pretty much asleep after the first fifteen minutes of the drive nowadays.
Noise/Sound machine. If we were gone from the campsite, we did not want our dogs yapping at every car or person who ventured near the trailer. We were hoping that some “white noise” might help the dogs not hear their surroundings.
Extra diapers. Usually, our dogs are pretty well potty trained. However, camping and RV-ing was going to be new to them so we did not know how they might react. I must admit that a dog in a diaper is cuter than I expected!
Spoiler Alert: RVing with dogs takes a lot more stuff than this. In fact, we now have a whole website page filled with RV dog gear.
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Of course, there were other purchases we made as well -- like a small portable propane grill, coffee pot, and lots of foam noodles from the Dollar Tree. We were pretty sure we had most of the basic stuff covered. Now, we were ready to actually start camping with Sally!