I have been reading the forum as I prepared to buy my first camper ever. I did it and the former owners delivered it on Saturday. So excited! We got to work right away cleaning it up and going through it making a punch list of items that need repair, replacement or modification. I will surely have some super rookie questions, so feel free to school me. I have lots of questions for you veterens.
[ul type="disc"][li] Only one of the stabilizer jacks is in working order and it is terribly rusty. From where can I order replacements and is it something I can put on myself or is it best suited to my mechanic? It came with only two, should I get four? [/li][li]Do I need to get leveling blocks? [/li][li]The canvas reeks of woodsmoke, almost as if a campfire was inside the tent. I realize it is for outdoor use and it is bound to have some odor, but I am trying to figure out if there is anyway to minimize it. ( I have had it up and open in my driveway for the last two nights. ) [/li][li]What is the easiest way to clean the canvas; take it off or leave it on and up and use a tall ladder to get to the very top. There are a lot of stains from tree droppings and some mildew stains. I have ordered some Mold Armour as that seems to work the best according the info I have read on here. [/li][li]What is the easiest way to clean the canvas; take it off or leave it on and up and use a tall ladder to get to the very top. There are a lot of stains from tree droppings and some mildew stains. [/li][li]I scrubbed the floor and have cleaned everything inside, but wondering about using Aluminum Jelly Cleaner and Brigtener on the floor and on the oxidized trim pieces. Thoughts?
[/li][li]What is the best thing to use to clean the interior walls? [/li][/ul][div][span style="font-size:13.3333320617676px;"]
[/span][/div]
Thanks in advance for your wisdom.
Congratulations on your new trailer. I'll answer a couple questions for you.
The stabilizing jacks can be bought at the etrailer. Etrailer is a very good website. The prices are cheap and want your order comes very fast in the mail. Installation is not a problem anybody can do it. I would go ahead and put four on there. You can get away with using only two, but I think two more will be a lot better for you and possibly safer.
There are some places you could use some leveling blocks. I have camped out on some very hilly campsites. I don't use blocks, however I do use a leveling jack. I bought that at the trailer also.
I think you lose a little wood smoke smell when you leave it up and start cleaning on it. When I clean the inside of the camper I have it set up. When I clean the outside I take the canvas off.
As far as cleaning the aluminum I can use some advice myself. I would like to know what is a good aluminum cleaner. I was thinking of going to AutoZone and getting something that can clean aluminum wheels with but that could be totally wrong.
Have fun and congratulations again.
[quote timestamp="1434345367" source="/post/12320/thread" author="@nixter68"]I have been reading the forum as I prepared to buy my first camper ever. I did it and the former owners delivered it on Saturday. So excited! We got to work right away cleaning it up and going through it making a punch list of items that need repair, replacement or modification. I will surely have some super rookie questions, so feel free to school me. I have lots of questions for you veterens.
[ul type="disc"][li] Only one of the stabilizer jacks is in working order and it is terribly rusty. From where can I order replacements and is it something I can put on myself or is it best suited to my mechanic? It came with only two, should I get four? [/li][li]Do I need to get leveling blocks? [/li][li]The canvas reeks of woodsmoke, almost as if a campfire was inside the tent. I realize it is for outdoor use and it is bound to have some odor, but I am trying to figure out if there is anyway to minimize it. ( I have had it up and open in my driveway for the last two nights. ) [/li][li]What is the easiest way to clean the canvas; take it off or leave it on and up and use a tall ladder to get to the very top. There are a lot of stains from tree droppings and some mildew stains. I have ordered some Mold Armour as that seems to work the best according the info I have read on here. [/li][li]What is the easiest way to clean the canvas; take it off or leave it on and up and use a tall ladder to get to the very top. There are a lot of stains from tree droppings and some mildew stains. [/li][li]I scrubbed the floor and have cleaned everything inside, but wondering about using Aluminum Jelly Cleaner and Brigtener on the floor and on the oxidized trim pieces. Thoughts?
[/li][li]What is the best thing to use to clean the interior walls? [/li][/ul][div][span style="font-size:13.3333320617676px;"]
[/span][/div]
Thanks in advance for your wisdom.
[/quote]Wisdom??! :D (rofl) But seriously, I hope can offer a little help. :) For stabilizer jacks, take a look here http://tuff-tow.com/jacks_stabilizer.html --- and also here http://www.amazon.com/Atwood-82301-Stabilizer-Jack/dp/B000BGM51A/ref=pd_sim_263_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0BZ490V2QXZNYS09TZT6
You can install them yourself if you can lie on your back on the ground (I can't any more). There are four bolts on each leg. The rust you describe could be a problem with getting the old ones off. You might have to get new bolts. We have all four legs on our camper and I feel the thing is more solid with them. I think it puts less strain on the deck and less strain on the rear pair if they are the only ones doing the work.
I bought these leveling blocks http://www.amazon.com/LYNX-EZ-Levelers-10-Pack/dp/B004XRSTI6/ref=sr_1_13?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1434370132&sr=1-13 and love them. I think leveling is important for sleeping. We always like to sleep with our heads the same direction (easier for getting in and out) but if the trailer is "down" on that side we either have to switch (so our heads aren't down) or level. Lots of folks use the BAL Leveler, but they're pretty spendy for the number of times we've had to level. The blocks are also good as pads under the stabilizers so they don't sink in soft ground.
Here are the blocks used for leveling[a href="https://flic.kr/p/p7E3u5"]
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3921/15171527252_d8e577e74a_n.jpg)
[img style="max-width:100%;" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/391/18623531009_855874db35_n.jpg"][/a][a href="https://flic.kr/p/unGsWe"]Cottonwood Camp[/a] by [a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/43619751@N06/"]Chuck Haacker[/a], on Flickr
The blocks can be stacked for more height. You have to guesstimate how much you need. I usually place a line of 5 or 6 in front of the tire and gently tow the trailer up onto the blocks. I use an ordinary torpedo level sitting on the tongue to check level. For us it doesn't have to be perfect. If it's half-a-bubble high on the "head" side that's fine; we just don't want a headache from sleeping head down.
I suspect that getting rid of the smoky odor is a matter of keeping it open long enough. There might be a product for it... ?
Can't help on cleaning the canvas. We have the same problem. I've thought that the best way would be to get a good, SAFE coated canvas cleaner at a camping store, get a ladder, get a soft brush for the hose (or something) and do it with the tent on and open. Our 5-year-old rig is very heavily used so the tent is pretty abused, but it seems mostly cosmetic. Zero leaks (touch wood).
When we clean the interior we like a product called Krud Kutter. It's "green" but it really works, smells lovely (might cut the smoky odor), and can be used on anything (maybe even try it on the canvas).
[quote source="/post/12326/thread" timestamp="1434371585" author="@chuck893"][quote source="/post/12320/thread" timestamp="1434345367" author="@nixter68"]I have been reading the forum as I prepared to buy my first camper ever. I did it and the former owners delivered it on Saturday. So excited!
[ul type="disc"][li] Only one of the stabilizer jacks is in working order and it is terribly rusty. From where can I order replacements and is it something I can put on myself or is it best suited to my mechanic? It came with only two, should I get four? [/li][/ul]
[/quote]For stabilizer jacks, take a look here http://tuff-tow.com/jacks_stabilizer.html
[/quote]I did a short write-up on Tuff-Tow stabilizers here:
[a href="http://livinliteforum.com/index.php/topic=23.0.html"]http://livinliteforum.com/index.php/topic=23.0.html[/a]
I decided to do all four since they were only about $20 each.
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[/p][p][a href="http://livinliteforum.com/index.php/topic=23.0.html"]http://livinliteforum.com/index.php/topic=23.0.html[/a][/p][p]
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