|
|
Post by drocknut on Apr 21, 2014 9:40:24 GMT -5
I took a leap of faith so to speak and am now living in a travel trailer full time. This is going to be a big adventure for sure. I've never had a trailer before much less towed one so I'm a bit nervous but I am not going to let fear stop me. Hang on and stay off the sidewalk... ;)I'll probably be hanging around the NW for the immediate future so you Easterners are safe for now.  Here's my home  It's a 19 foot Jayco Jay Flight. Gypsy isn't too sure about it yet but I'm hoping she'll adapt soon. She doesn't like the floor, no carpet. I'm still in Missoula but once I get back to my storage unit I have throw rugs to put down. Until then she'll have to tough it out. I'll be trying to sell my jewelry and rock along with probably picking up temp jobs to support my new lifestyle. Tree work is not going anywhere for me right now but who knows where I'll land. Here's to finding adventure and living by the seat of my pants. I figure there's no time like the present, right. Plus I've been blessed with a mom who wants me to be happy and was willing to get me started. She's not on here but...Thanks Mom! Before I get to sappy better go try to figure out how to make coffee with the french press I just got from Deb, Montanamuskrat's better half. I'll be trying to blog about the adventure along with rockhounding along the way so if you wanna hear more of my adventure feel free to check out my blog rockhound ramblings on blogspot. |
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Apr 21, 2014 10:00:46 GMT -5
That is a nice rig Diane
and quite an undertaking !
In some ways I'm envious
Do you have relative's in Montana?
Are you originally from there?
Ed
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
|
Post by Fossilman on Apr 21, 2014 10:16:45 GMT -5
Diane,that's a nice rig!!!!! What kind of trk do you have pulling this? After a few years pulling this through Montana,you will be a pro...
Good luck on your adventures and keep us posted....Thumbs up
|
|
|
|
Post by sheltie on Apr 21, 2014 11:14:48 GMT -5
Attagirl! Congrats on your decision with the TT. Once you get used to it, and that won't take all that long, you will see all the many advantages of taking your house on the road. I don't know if you are mechanically inclined (I'm not) but if you aren't just remember to keep up the routine maintenance on the trailer and that will greatly decrease any potential problems in the future. Get familiar with terms like GVWR and GCVR and CCR (all weights). Also, and VERY importantly, be sure your tow vehicle is enough to tow your trailer. Safety is very important and there are too many people who don't understand what they can and can't do. There are a number of good RV forums I encourage you to join as well. I'm so happy for you.
Denny
|
|
|
|
Post by phil on Apr 21, 2014 11:27:44 GMT -5
Brakes! Make sure you have good brakes on your vehicle, and if you're doing any mountain driving, you may want brakes added to the trailer if you don't already have them.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 21, 2014 16:44:19 GMT -5
I'd be willing to bet the trailer already has brakes installed (most do these days), you just need to get the trailer brake unit installed in the truck (if you don't already have one). I am so jealous, Diane, I'd love to live on the road, go where ever I please. That's the life!
You'll get used to towing in a snap, it's easy. Your new truck should have no problems pulling it (but my Ford has a V-10 - extra power so I can load the trailer up with rocks, lol).
I am so happy for you, I'm sure you won't regret it!
Edit to add - I know this is something down the road, but be sure to get the wheel bearings changed once a year. Much better to pay $300 to get them done (or about $100 for the parts and do them yourself) than to have one go out on you while on the road. That can be a pricey proposition. (Do as I say, not as I do, lol!)
And thanks for sharing the pic. Looks like a nice rig!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 19:01:10 GMT -5
Very nice but we need to see the inside so we can figure out how to set up your rock shop. You might need a generator if it does not have one so you can run your machines. If you use an inverter it takes a pretty big one (2000 +) and it probably won't run your slab saw that you will carry in your pickup.
Since you are single you need to be a bit of a loaner from time to time but it has a lot of advantages. Since you have traveled around with your work you are probably a bit of a minimalist already which helps a lot. I have discarded quite a few things that I figured out I did not need.
Whenever you are hooked up and have nothing to do, find a large parking lot with few cars and try to back into some slots. Get used to using your mirrors for that because looking through the back window doesn't work. With a little practice it will come natural.
Good luck
Jim
|
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 21, 2014 19:23:56 GMT -5
Diane, my Ford has mirrors that will extend out about 6 inches each. That really helps improve the visibility when pulling a trailer. If you don't know if yours will do it, pull on them. Be a bummer to have them and not know about it, lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by orrum on Apr 21, 2014 21:08:16 GMT -5
Hey Diane congratulations!!!! You can do workamping at campgrounds. They pay you money and you get free camping with hookups. Check out cheaprvliving.com for all abour it plus everything else you need to know. Shoot me a email with your location and maybe we can go hounding again.
|
|
|
|
Post by sheltie on Apr 22, 2014 8:08:21 GMT -5
Hey Diane congratulations!!!! You can do workamping at campgrounds. They pay you money and you get free camping with hookups. Check out cheaprvliving.com for all abour it plus everything else you need to know. Shoot me a email with your location and maybe we can go hounding again. I did this for several years as a volunteer camp ground host, primarily in the NW. You can also get paying sobs but with this comes obligations that you may not like. Just Google OR parks and wildlife and check out volunteer opportunities just for an example. All the states have them. Be very careful with weights. That can make or break you - literally! |
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 22, 2014 12:24:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Apr 22, 2014 15:43:39 GMT -5
Get a load equalizing hitch and sway bar (if hitch does not include it). Dealer probably fixed you up with everything you needed. Just remember it is back there and go slow and steady. I'm looking for the Gear Box type trailer myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 22, 2014 15:52:41 GMT -5
The day we went looking they had just got this one in  we got to see it right from the people who were selling it. Its a 2006 with the separate garage area. All the new ones had slide outs which we did not want. Just a plain jane toy hauler with the separate garage and shower is also separate from the toilet area. It was perfect and the graphics match our truck |
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 22, 2014 16:09:37 GMT -5
I took a leap of faith so to speak and am now living in a travel trailer full time. This is going to be a big adventure for sure. I've never had a trailer before much less towed one so I'm a bit nervous but I am not going to let fear stop me. Hang on and stay off the sidewalk... ;)I'll probably be hanging around the NW for the immediate future so you Easterners are safe for now. Here's my home It's a 19 foot Jayco Jay Flight. Gypsy isn't too sure about it yet but I'm hoping she'll adapt soon. She doesn't like the floor, no carpet. I'm still in Missoula but once I get back to my storage unit I have throw rugs to put down. Until then she'll have to tough it out. I'll be trying to sell my jewelry and rock along with probably picking up temp jobs to support my new lifestyle. Tree work is not going anywhere for me right now but who knows where I'll land. Here's to finding adventure and living by the seat of my pants. I figure there's no time like the present, right. Plus I've been blessed with a mom who wants me to be happy and was willing to get me started. She's not on here but...Thanks Mom! Before I get to sappy better go try to figure out how to make coffee with the french press I just got from Deb, Montanamuskrat's better half. I'll be trying to blog about the adventure along with rockhounding along the way so if you wanna hear more of my adventure feel free to check out my blog rockhound ramblings on blogspot. We will probably be going to live in ours after hubby retires and we make the move to a new area. It will be our home while we build the new one |
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Apr 23, 2014 10:41:01 GMT -5
That is a nice rig Diane and quite an undertaking ! In some ways I'm envious Do you have relative's in Montana? Are you originally from there? Ed Yes, it is quite an undertaking, I'm a bit nervous but can't let fear stop me if I want to make this work. No, I don't have relatives in Montana, mine are in Wisconsin and Arizona but I have lived here for about 10 years and love it. Not originally from here but got here as soon as I could |
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 23, 2014 10:57:23 GMT -5
Hey, Diane! I gather your new trailer does not have a built in generator? Do you at least have a water heater and wall heater? Probably. Large fresh water, and holding tanks?
Since we've been doing the camping/trailer thing for a while, I can make you up a wish list. It will all take a little money, but you don't have to do everything right away.
First thing I'd do is get rid of the single 12V battery, and get two deep cycle 6 volt batteries. Then replace all the light bulbs inside the trailer with the new LED ones. They make them now that just plug into the light fixtures, no muss, no fuss. These will make a world of difference on your battery life, when you are untethered. And if you are going to be spending more than a day or two away from electric, get yourself a solar panel mounted on the roof. We can go weeks at a time without running the generator. I only have to fire it up run the microwave, or to watch the TV (if able to pick up signal).
Yeah, you will need a genny to run your rock saw and rock modifying machinery. A necessary evil.
Remember that you are fearless (nice new truck pinstriped on field trip, lol)! You will be loving the lifestyle!!! Oh, did you find out if the mirrors on your truck pull out?
|
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Apr 23, 2014 11:04:29 GMT -5
That is quite the rig, FrogAndBear. Great birthday present. John, I got them to include a weight distribution hitch, and two batteries in the deal. I would have preferred an Equilizer hitch with sway control but that would have cost a lot more. I may add sway bars to it later but for now I'm not really pulling it a lot so I'm hoping the weight distributing hitch will do for now. I didn't need the toy hauler area since I don't have any big toys plus they don't look as "homey" to me as regular travel trailers. The truck is a 2011 F150 4x4 with V8 engine and yes it has an electronic brake controller plus towing assist. It was set up to tow trailers so the bells and whistles were on it when I got it. It now has some desert pinstripes to go along with the color scheme  . Here's the truck and trailer:  Only have one of the inside from when I first introduced Gypsy to our new home. She is not at all happy but she'll just have to get used to it.  Denny, I am slightly mechanically inclined so will do some of the maintenance myself but leave the big stuff to the pros. I've been on several of the rv forums already, especially during my hunt for the trailer. They are definitely good sources of information. Jean, my trailer came with EZ Lube wheel bearings so I'll be doing periodic maintenance on them as well as having them checked yearly (thanks for the heads up). No, don't have extended mirrors but I do have a spot mirror and am looking at buying one of those mirrors that attaches to the power mirror on the truck to extend it out about 6 inches. Jim, don't know that I'll be putting in a rock shop just yet but maybe setting up a jewelry area soon. For now I'll just be happy to be able to get some things organized in the kitchen and bathroom. You are right, looking through the back window of the truck doesn't help at all, kinda like looking at a wall and trying to see what's on the other side...lol. Thanks Bill. Look forward to it. Now I just have to get into my storage unit, if the weather would cooperate. It's a cold wind and off and on rain today so will have to dress warm. |
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Apr 23, 2014 11:12:42 GMT -5
Hey, Diane! I gather your new trailer does not have a built in generator? Do you at least have a water heater and wall heater? Probably. Large fresh water, and holding tanks? Since we've been doing the camping/trailer thing for a while, I can make you up a wish list. It will all take a little money, but you don't have to do everything right away. First thing I'd do is get rid of the single 12V battery, and get two deep cycle 6 volt batteries. Then replace all the light bulbs inside the trailer with the new LED ones. They make them now that just plug into the light fixtures, no muss, no fuss. These will make a world of difference on your battery life, when you are untethered. And if you are going to be spending more than a day or two away from electric, get yourself a solar panel mounted on the roof. We can go weeks at a time without running the generator. I only have to fire it up run the microwave, or to watch the TV (if able to pick up signal). Yeah, you will need a genny to run your rock saw and rock modifying machinery. A necessary evil. Remember that you are fearless (nice new truck pinstriped on field trip, lol)! You will be loving the lifestyle!!! Oh, did you find out if the mirrors on your truck pull out? I've got a generator on order from Home Depot that should be here next week. 2000 watt so will be good to at least charge up the batteries and maybe run a few things (just not all at once). I got two batteries but they guy at the dealership told me all they sold was 12V deep cycle so that's what I got. I'll probably upgrade to two 6V later and maybe add solar down the road. It all takes money so I'll be adding as I go. I'll be selling jewelry and working so it may take a while to get everything set up just right. Send me that wish list and when you think of tips just let me know. Rock equipment is low on the list right now unfortunately but hopefully I'll be able to include it eventually. Yeah, fearless Tell that to Gypsy and my knuckles as they turn white while towing into the wind.  |
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Apr 23, 2014 11:15:44 GMT -5
Nice digs, drocknut! If you ever head to Georgia, please let me know. There's a place where you can set up not far from our home. We have the Hogg Mine here, and there's other places nearby, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 23, 2014 11:26:30 GMT -5
Diane, we got the solar panel from Solar Bill in Quartzsite some years ago. I've never regretted getting it. We actually had installed it on our old trailer, but removed it and put it on our current trailer before selling the old one. We've now gone through two sets of 6 volt deep cycle batteries. I believe they are intended for electric golf carts. Got them from the Gambler RV also in Quartzsite. Diane, you need to sell a bunch of jewelry, and next year in Quartzsite you can get hooked up!
Since your generator is not built into the trailer, get yourself a cable so you can lock it to your trailer when you are away. It won't totally protect it, but it'll keep the honest people honest.
I'll put a list together for you as I think of things. |
|
your going to have tons of fun!
.
