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Things every travel trailer should have. You’ve just purchased a travel trailer. You now own one of the most convenient and comfortable vacation-accessible units available in the RV industry today. When purchasing a travel trailer, there are several factors you’ll want to consider.
Things such as gas mileage, towing capacity, and overall size are all important during your decision process. But there is another element you should consider that is often overlooked by owners items that will enhance the durability and longevity of your travel trailer for years to come.
What should you be looking for in a travel trailer, and how does having these things affect your trip? There are some necessities that should never be skimped on. Everyone wants to save money, but there are some essentials (especially if you’re traveling with kids) that can’t be compromised.
Taking off in a travel trailer is really exciting! These tiny houses on wheels are incredibly popular among young adventurers who want to get out there, travel, and see the world.
However, it’s important for first-time travelers to be aware of the things you can (and should) pack to ensure your trip goes smoothly. That’s why we put together a list of the things every travel trailer should have.
When shopping for a travel trailer it’s important you understand its purpose. This guide offers advice to help you decide which type of travel trailer is best for you and your family as well as what are the things every travel trailer should have.
When you’re ready to add a travel trailer to the family, you’ll need to consider what brand is best, plus all the amenities it should have. No matter if your trailer will transport a family of four or it’s simply a bachelor that needs some storage – these things apply to everyone.
Points to keep in mind
- Things every travel trailer should have
- What new trailer owners should know?
- Is it good to cover your camper?
- How often should you charge RV batteries?
- Are travel trailers hard to maintain?
- Is it worth owning a travel trailer?
Things every travel trailer should have
When buying a travel trailer, it’s important to remember that you’re buying a home away from home. You want it to be comfortable and safe. Here are some things every travel trailer should have:
Power hookups – Power hookups are essential for any camping trip or vacation. But not all camping trailers have them. If you buy a trailer without power hookups, you’ll need to bring along an external generator or solar panel system to provide power for your appliances and electronics.
Awning – An awning provides shade and shelter from rain or sun when you’re outside your RV. It also provides extra storage for outdoor equipment like lawn chairs and coolers.
Zone heating and cooling – Most RVs have zone heating and cooling systems, which allow the driver and passengers to control their own temperature inside the vehicle based on where they sit or stand.
This is incredibly helpful because different people prefer different temperatures while traveling in an RV, so having this feature allows everyone in the vehicle to find their comfort zone quickly and easily without affecting anyone else’s enjoyment of the trip!
Toilet
If your home is the outdoors, it’s important to have a toilet that can handle all the elements. Most toilets come with wastewater tanks that can be emptied on site or pumped out at a dump station.
If you’re going to be boondocking in remote areas, look for an RV toilet that has a smaller tank so you don’t have to carry as much water around with you.
Bathroom sink
A small bathroom sink is great for rinsing off after bathing or washing dishes in the sink instead of using paper towels or wipes. It’s also handy if you want to shave or brush your teeth outside but don’t want to go inside every time nature calls.
A bathroom sink also cuts down on how much storage space is needed for toiletries and towels because it reduces how often they need cleaned.
Bathroom and kitchen sink
You should look for a bathroom sink with a built-in garbage disposal, and the kitchen sink should have two faucets. A lot of travel trailers just have one faucet in the kitchen, but having two makes it easier to wash dishes and cook at the same time.
Stove top burner grates
The stovetop burner grates should be made from cast iron or stainless steel, not aluminum or plastic. Cast iron is heavy and durable; it’s also easy to clean. Stainless steel is lighter than cast iron, but it’s still very durable and easy to clean as well.
Aluminum is lightweight and inexpensive, but it can’t handle high temperatures without warping or cracking over time. Plastic is cheap, but it’s also flimsy and prone to breaking over time if dropped on the ground or accidentally stepped on by your pet dog or cat!
Dishwasher
A dishwasher isn’t a necessity in a travel trailer (or any RV), but it sure makes washing dishes easier! The downside is that many dishwashers are an added expense and require hook-ups.
Some people prefer to bring their own portable dishwasher, however. In this case, you’ll need to make sure there’s room for a dedicated power outlet most portables require 20 amps of power. If you have a generator, then this isn’t an issue at all.
If you’re lucky enough to find a model with one of these features, then you can skip the next one on our list…
A microwave is another convenience that some people simply won’t go without while traveling in their RV. They’re not as common as they once were most models don’t include one anymore but if you find one without one, it’s worth noting before you buy.
For those who want to bring their own microwave or run an extension cord from another outlet, make sure you know where the outlets are located in your trailer beforehand!
Most campgrounds provide electricity at every campsite so this shouldn’t be an issue; however, if your site doesn’t have power or if there’s only one outlet per camper site which is common it’s important to know where to find it before you arrive.
If you’re planning on cooking while camping, then a small fridge is a must-have feature. Most campers have an electric or propane-powered refrigerator that works great for cooling down drinks and foods.
If you don’t want to spend extra money on a mini-fridge, then consider bringing a cooler instead! You can buy a large one at most grocery stores and pack it full of ice and food before heading out on your trip.
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What new trailer owners should know?
New trailer owners are often surprised at how much they don’t know about their new trailers. From maintenance to use, there’s a lot of information that’s necessary to keep your trailer functioning properly.
When you purchase a new trailer, it will come with a detailed owner’s manual and installation guide. These guides will give you all the information you need about maintaining and operating your vehicle. Some of the most important things to know include:
The way in which your trailer is designed means that it must be towed by a motor vehicle; therefore, you should always check with your local DMV before heading off on an adventure.
It is not recommended that you tow more than one trailer at once unless both axles are equal and rated for heavy loads (meaning they have been designed for this type of use).
This doesn’t mean that you can’t tow multiple trailers; it just means that each axle should be able to safely handle its own weight.
Be aware of any specific laws in your area regarding where you can park while camping or overnight parking in general especially if there are no designated parking areas nearby.
Some areas prohibit overnight parking altogether, while others only allow it under certain conditions (such as having a permit).
If you plan on staying at an RV campground, ask about power hookups before booking your site. You’ll want to know whether there will be enough electrical outlets for all of the appliances in your rig and how far apart they’ll be located from one another.
Make sure that the length of your tow vehicle matches the size of your trailer (both in width and height). This will ensure that both vehicles fit safely through doors and under bridges without scraping against anything.
Also make sure that you have enough clearance between your tow vehicle’s tires and the ground when driving over bumps or dips in a road surface.
If not, then consider adjusting your suspension or lowering your vehicle by installing leveling kits or air bags on each side of the frame but don’t forget to check local laws first!
Is it good to cover your camper?
Yes, it is good to cover your camper. There are many reasons to cover your camper, but the main one is to protect it from the elements of nature. Although most campers are built for off-road travel, they are not built for long-term exposure to the elements.
If you are going camping for a week or two, you can leave your camper exposed without much damage taking place.
However, if you will be leaving your camper in an unprotected area for weeks or months at a time, it is best to cover it with a canvas or tarp cover. This will prevent water from getting into areas that would otherwise cause damage over time.
Another reason why it is good to cover your camper is if you plan on using it year round as a home away from home. If you live far away from where you park your RV and there is snowfall during winter months.
Covering the RV will help protect it from snow accumulation and ice dams which could cause water leakage into the electrical system and plumbing lines which could result in expensive repairs costs if left untreated.
If you are storing your RV for long periods of time, it’s always better to put it in storage than to leave it out in the elements. A garage is ideal, but if that is not an option, then at least cover your trailer with a tarp or clear plastic sheeting so that you can keep moisture out and prevent rusting of metal parts like axles and brake drums.
Another benefit of covering an RV with a tarp or clear plastic sheeting is that it gives you more flexibility when moving around because you can easily uncover your camper when needed without having to take apart all the stuff inside first (thereby exposing everything inside).
Finally, covering your RV will not only protect its exterior from dust but also keeps its interior clean longer since dust accumulation on the windows will be prevented with a cover over them (not to mention insects). If you have any further questions about how to cover your camper, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.
How often should you charge RV batteries?
The answer is simple: as often as you can. However, it’s not that simple because there are other factors that come into play. Battery capacity and usage will determine how often you need to charge your batteries.
The more capacity the battery has and the more you use it, the more often you’ll need to recharge it.
For example, if your RV uses a lot of power when you’re driving and you have a large battery bank with a lot of capacity, then you’ll need to recharge those batteries more often than someone who uses less power when driving and has smaller batteries with less capacity.
Battery maintenance also plays a role in how frequently you should recharge your RV batteries. The more time passes between charges, the less efficient they become especially if they’re being undercharged or overcharged by using poor charging practices.
Charging your RV batteries is an important part of maintenance. It’s also a good idea to check the water level in your batteries and make sure they are secure in their compartment.
There are some things you can do to make sure your batteries stay healthy, but there are also some things you need to avoid doing.
Every time you run your generator, you are using up energy from your batteries. Over time, this will make it harder for them to hold a full charge.
To keep your batteries healthy, it’s important to recharge them as often as possible. If you’re not plugged into shore power while camping, then it’s best to use solar panels or another generator to recharge the batteries after each use.
If not, they will slowly lose their ability to hold a charge over time and eventually become unusable altogether.
If you don’t plan on staying connected to shore power while camping, then it’s best to use solar panels or another generator (like those found in marine applications).
That can recharge the batteries after each use rather than letting them sit discharged for long periods of time between uses. This is especially true if you plan on storing your RV for extended periods away from home.
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Are travel trailers hard to maintain?
Travel trailers are much easier than motorhomes to maintain. They have less space and fewer parts. The main thing is that you need to keep the tires properly inflated, as they’re a major source of wear and tear on the trailer.
If you’re going to be living in your trailer full time, then you need to keep it clean regularly, as any dirt left in the corners can cause problems with water damage over time.
Most travel trailers come with furnaces and wood stoves for heat. If yours doesn’t have one of these, then you will need to buy propane tanks for heating during winter months.
Travel trailers typically have a small engine of around 3.2L or 3.7L that uses regular unleaded gasoline. You can fill up at any gas station anywhere in the country, no matter where you are traveling to.
The engine is usually carbureted and won’t need anything more than an oil change every few months (most modern engines will tell you when they need an oil change).
The tires on travel trailers are often large enough that they don’t need to be rotated or replaced very often (sometimes as little as once per year). Even if you do have to replace them every year or so, it’s still cheaper than replacing them every year on an RV with smaller tires.
The suspension does not require much maintenance because it does not flex much under load (like on a pickup truck) and doesn’t go through many bumps in the road like on a car or SUV does (which causes wear on suspension components).
If your travel trailer is new, it won’t need much maintenance at all. The first thing you should do when you get your new travel trailer home is check all fluids levels (including the brake fluid) and tire pressure. You should also check all lights and hoses for leaks.
After that initial inspection, check tire pressure every time you use your trailer. You can use an air compressor at home to fill tires that aren’t holding air or use a portable tire inflator if you’re on the road.
You should also monitor battery life closely; batteries tend to die sooner in travel trailers than in RVs because they’re often stored outside while they’re not in use (this isn’t recommended). If your battery dies while camping then we suggest having one or two extra batteries on hand just in case!
Is it worth owning a travel trailer?
There are many advantages to owning a travel trailer. They’re easy to tow, they can be parked almost anywhere, and they’re more affordable than a motor home.
The downside is that most models are much smaller than traditional RVs, so you’ll need to sacrifice some of the creature comforts and amenities you’d find in something like a motor home.
But if you’re looking for something that’s easy to tow and park, but still roomy enough to use as your primary home while on the road, then a travel trailer might be just what you’re looking for!
Travel trailers are not for everyone. They are very popular with RVers, but they can be expensive to buy and maintain. If you are considering buying one, here are some things to think about:
Cost
The cost of buying a travel trailer depends on the size and features you want. New models start at $10,000 or more and used ones may cost less than half that amount. This does not include taxes and other fees that may apply in your area.
Maintenance costs
Travel trailers need regular maintenance like any other vehicle. You will have to pay for parts and labor when servicing your rig. The costs can add up over time, especially if you don’t do anything yourself.
Some people choose to go with a motorhome instead because motorhomes generally require less maintenance than travel trailers do.
The advantages is:
You’ll have a home away from home when you go on vacations. A travel trailer can be parked in your driveway or on a rented lot. You won’t have to deal with hotel rooms, which can be more expensive than renting a trailer.
Travel trailers are designed to be easy to tow behind your car. Just put the tow bar on your vehicle and hit the road!
Some people prefer using an RV instead of driving their own cars because of the freedom it offers. You can stop anywhere you want and not worry about getting stuck in traffic or having to wait for the next available spot in a parking lot.
Keep in mind
Hopefully, the information provided above has been helpful for you. There are a lot of good travel trailers on the market, but it can be hard to tell which features are necessary and which are nice to have.
Ultimately, the only thing that matters is your opinion and what you plan on using your trailer for.
To save you some time, we’ve provided a quick list of 16 things every travel trailer should have. So spend a little time getting acquainted with the market, shop around, and find yourself the best deal possible.
Hopefully, this list will prove to be helpful for anyone who is in the market for a travel trailer. These are just the basics, so you may need to do some research and discover what other amenities you would like your trailer to have.
The great thing about trailers is that all of them can be customized. A good rule of thumb is to take inventory of what you will need up front, and then figure out which standard features are available.
Our first tip for anyone looking for a travel trailer is to remember that you’re buying an RV and not just one room with a bunch of amenities plopped inside.
You want to be able to enjoy your leisure time as much as possible when you’re on the road, so it’s vital to invest in the best travel trailer you can afford.
You’ll also want to check user reviews before buying and beware of any red flags that indicate problems on other models of the type you’re considering.
When you ask around, look into the brand, take your time to test the trailer out at different dealer locations, and if you’re still uncertain then wait until you have more information before making a purchase.
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Joseph Benson
Hi, my name is Joseph Benson, and I am a traveler who is always on the go. I love to try new things and see different places. Never miss an adventure follow me.
