Maiden voyage

[gbpack]

Hi all!
I have hijacked the hubby's account.   

We are both very excited that we have finally ordered a 21BHS and we are hoping that you can help us identify the must have equipment needed for the initial camp out  (i.e. Wheel chucks, hydraulic jacks.) What are your suggestions?

Thanks! Joan

[david2015]

Nice! I wish I could help, I don't have my rig yet.

Best of luck to you both!


David

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Well, here are some things to think about:

Two, maybe four wheel chocks
Two sets of ten "yellow lego" leveling blocks
Two 25 foot 1/2" white drinking water hoses
One 25 foot green or black hose for tank flushing
High flow water pressure regulator
Inline water filter
Additional 25-40 foot 30 Amp RV extension cord depending on where you'll camp
15 foot Rhinoflex sewer hose kit
SaniTube holder for above, installed under trailer
Electric brake controller
Eventually you'll want a surge protector
Extra 15A fuses
Shouldn't need the hydraulic jacks

Consider a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) for your TV. Eventually you'll want one. The rest is up to you like bedding, dishes, utensils, towels. Just grab Hubby's credit card and log on to Amazon.


[/font]

[gbpack]

Thanks Charliem! That looks good. this is Gregg now, not Joan. Yes, we are planning on having a WDH installed by the dealer when we pick up the camper. One question: if you don't need hydraulic jacks, then how do you level the camper on a sloped site? I seem to have read that we shouldn't use the 4 screw jacks on the corners of the camper for jacking up (leveling) the trailer. Aren't those just supposed to be used for firming (holding up) those corners once we've got them where we want them?
Also, would we need adapters for the electricity to take 50 amp service down to 30, and a different one to take 30amp service down to 110V when at home for shore power?
Lastly, does the sewer hose kit include the various connectors that we might need at different campgrounds?
Thanks,
Gregg

This Is Joan. Smiling on the credit card comment.

[craigd]

You are correct the 4 stabilizer jacks installed are for stabilizing only, the leveling blocks listed above should be used for leveling or wood you drive up on them. I have a 3 foot level I carry with me and check level as soon as I arrive after situating the trailer on the site. I look around at all my connection and my slide out to make sure everything will work. Then check level front to back which is easy to correct for and left to right, which is where you would use the blocks for. 8 times out of 10 the site is pretty level with no need for leveling just put stabilizer's down and put slide out then hookup Utilities. If you need to level left to right use blocks and either put in front of or in back of tire depending on which gives you more lift. I only did the axle that was closest to the center. So I also only bought one of the 10 packs of blocks.

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/15852/thread" timestamp="1444219569" author="@gbpack"]One question: if you don't need hydraulic jacks, then how do you level the camper on a sloped site? I seem to have read that we shouldn't use the 4 screw jacks on the corners of the camper for jacking up (leveling) the trailer. Aren't those just supposed to be used for firming (holding up) those corners once we've got them where we want them?
Also, would we need adapters for the electricity to take 50 amp service down to 30, and a different one to take 30amp service down to 110V when at home for shore power?
Lastly, does the sewer hose kit include the various connectors that we might need at different campgrounds?
[/quote]Here's some discussion of the leveling:

http://livinlite.proboards.com/thread/1325/use-leveling-blocks

Basically level side to side using blocks then front to back using the tongue jack (after chocking and disconnecting).

Most parks will have a 30 amp socket, but it's a good idea to get a 50 amp adapter so you can use that one if the 30 was damaged or malfunctioning. You'll also want a 15A to 30A adapter so you can plug in at home. The trailer uses 110V service, so it's just changing the shape of the plug. In the case of the 50A service (which is 220V) it's only using one circuit (there are two 110V circuits in the same plug). Here are the two I have:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BUTDCA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BUU5YA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

It depends on which kit you get. The Rhinoflex kit is pretty popular (that's what I have) and it came with just about everything to get you started.


 

[gbpack]

Thanks guys! Very helpful. Would we need a hydraulic jack for changing a tire or for anything else?

[craigd]

Yes on the tire jack, LivinLite does not supply a jack.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/15855/thread" timestamp="1444226473" author="@gbpack"]Thanks guys! Very helpful. Would we need a hydraulic jack for changing a tire or for anything else? [/quote][font size="3"]Well, it seems my early bird friends craigd and Tinkeringtechie have adequately covered the subject. Techie's power adapters are good. Avoid the cheap plastic "hockey puck" 15A adapters sold at RV shops. They melt.

As for hydraulic jacks and tire changing, it's hard to find a bottle jack that will shrink small enough to deal with a completely flat tire and still extend high enough to change and replace the wheel. There is a technique where you pull the good wheel up onto your leveling blocks (Yellow Legos) high enough such that the flat tire can be changed. Never had to do that, but it sounds good. [/font][font size="3"]That's the advantage of two axles. I carry a scissor jack, but it's a real PITA  
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[whoofit]

[quote source="/post/15839/thread" timestamp="1444173823" author="@gbpack"]Hi all!
I have hijacked the hubby's account.   

We are both very excited that we have finally ordered a 21BHS and we are hoping that you can help us identify the must have equipment needed for the initial camp out  (i.e. Wheel chucks, hydraulic jacks.) What are your suggestions?

Thanks! Joan[/quote][p]I would like to add something here. Wheel chocks can work very well but you will run into situations where they are less than useful. The more you need to level the trailer side to side the more you should consider these. They clamp the wheels together so they cannot spin. I much prefer using these over wheel chocks especially when blocking high up on one side which is often enough for premium placement on many sites we have been to.[/p][p]
[/p][p]

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/15860/thread" timestamp="1444232179" author="@whoofit"][quote timestamp="1444173823" author="@gbpack" source="/post/15839/thread"]Hi all!
I have hijacked the hubby's account.   

We are both very excited that we have finally ordered a 21BHS and we are hoping that you can help us identify the must have equipment needed for the initial camp out  (i.e. Wheel chucks, hydraulic jacks.) What are your suggestions?

Thanks! Joan[/quote][p]I would like to add something here. Wheel chocks can work very well but you will run into situations where they are less than useful. The more you need to level the trailer side to side the more you should consider these. They clamp the wheels together so they cannot spin. I much prefer using these over wheel chocks especially when blocking high up on one side which is often enough for premium placement on many sites we have been to.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
[img style="max-width:100%;" style="" src="http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t521/minuteman1965/92-8990W-3T_zpsbmgf4enu.jpg"][/p][p]
[/p][p]These are cheapies made by Camco. There are more beefy versions made of steel.
[/p][p]
[/p][/quote]I use these most of the time and they not only work well for chocking, but also for stabilizing since they don't allow the tires to rock as much as the chocks.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]I find the yellow leveling blocks extremely handy. I put at least one, usually more, under each stabilizer to prevent sinking into mud or hot asphalt and to accommodate uneven ground. I also use them to level a small step stool for entry and to elevate the sewer hose [/font][font size="3"]accordion [/font][font size="3"]support  thingy sometimes. I actually have three sets of 10. 
[/font]

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote timestamp="1444233810" source="/post/15863/thread" author="@charliem"][font size="3"]I actually have three sets of 10. 
[/font][/quote]You could always build a leveling block fort in an emergency

[whoofit]

[quote source="/post/15863/thread" timestamp="1444233810" author="@charliem"][font size="3"]I find the yellow leveling blocks extremely handy. I put at least one, usually more, under each stabilizer to prevent sinking into mud or hot asphalt and to accommodate uneven ground. I also use them to level a small step stool for entry and to elevate the sewer hose [/font][font size="3"]accordion [/font][font size="3"]support  thingy sometimes. I actually have three sets of 10. 
[/font][/quote]We haven't advanced into the leveling blocks yet. Simply use 2x4's. We will soon now that we have a more capable TV. Those block sets are heavy compared to wood but the advantages outweigh the weight penalty if you can afford it.

[whoofit]

[quote source="/post/15864/thread" timestamp="1444234116" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote timestamp="1444233810" author="@charliem" source="/post/15863/thread"][font size="3"]I actually have three sets of 10. 
[/font][/quote]You could always build a leveling block fort in an emergency [/quote]First great laugh of the day right here!..