Good content from both parties. Especially the part about learning BEFORE buying. The wife and I signed up to RV forums, magazines, seminars, etc. two years before buying. That made our first trips so much easier.
We also rented a trailer similar to the one we were considering buying for a week. The main thing we learned was that we could spend a week in just 22 feet without killing each other. (Married 47 years at the time.)
re: packing
I always pack a few more tools, manuals, and first aid items than I'm capable of using. The premise being that I'm liable to meet someone with those skills who will jump in given some resources.
The tool part paid off several times while off-roading. Once in Death Valley, when a military trainer of helicopter mechanics helped me disable a car alarm that had failed preventing the engine from starting. Given his day job, he didn't fix it for me but led me step by step through the process.
About packing a lot of stuff, my experience was just the opposite. On the first three trips we took with our Class B MH, we sent boxes of stuff back home during the trip. My advice would be, simplify, simplify, simplify.
I’d add to your list to try to camp with (hopefully experienced) friends on your first camping trip.
Good content from both parties. Especially the part about learning BEFORE buying. The wife and I signed up to RV forums, magazines, seminars, etc. two years before buying. That made our first trips so much easier.
We also rented a trailer similar to the one we were considering buying for a week. The main thing we learned was that we could spend a week in just 22 feet without killing each other. (Married 47 years at the time.)
re: packing
I always pack a few more tools, manuals, and first aid items than I'm capable of using. The premise being that I'm liable to meet someone with those skills who will jump in given some resources.
The tool part paid off several times while off-roading. Once in Death Valley, when a military trainer of helicopter mechanics helped me disable a car alarm that had failed preventing the engine from starting. Given his day job, he didn't fix it for me but led me step by step through the process.
About packing a lot of stuff, my experience was just the opposite. On the first three trips we took with our Class B MH, we sent boxes of stuff back home during the trip. My advice would be, simplify, simplify, simplify.