First time trailer owner any tips

[RHIO]

Just picked up a 2020 156 bh baja. Pulled it from idaho to n ca any tips before we do our first dirt bike camp out.

[Midnightmoon]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new Jayco.

No specific tips other than to use this forum as your resource.

[Cannon]

Welcome from Georgia.

[GHen]

Congratulations on the new Jayco.

One tip if you won’t be hooked up to shore power, don’t leave the heat too high overnight, it will drain your batteries quickly. I set my thermostat to 54-58 and throw an extra blanket on the beds.

[LuckyDuck]

Congrats and welcome from just up the road from you.

[Lake Huron]

Congrats on the rig and welcome!

Tio; theres a lot of "stuff" out there that you dont need. You'll find your storage will fill up with a lot of "stuff". At the end, or beginning, of the season go through the things you have and if you only used it once or twice, get rid of it. Everything you put on adds weight and before you know it your trailer is maxed or overweight.

Example of "stuff": I have 5 tanks to empty via 2 separate outlets. A fellow camper gave me his Y adapter for the sewer line so I can connect both sewer lines when at a full hookup. He didnt need it anymore. I kept it for a year and never used it.
Gone.
I purchased one of those fold up sewer line supports so the line is supported from the dump valve to the sewer connection at the site and it gives it a downward fall. Used it a couple times, too much of a pain, haven't used it in years.
Gone.
Used to carry enough power cords and adapters to connect my trailer from 3 sites away and to any amperage plug. One main 50A power cord, one 50A extension cord and one 50A to 30A adapter. All the rest...
Gone.
Same goes for other things, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, etc....

Most importantly, Be safe, have fun and make a lot of good menories!!!

[JFlightRisk]

Welcome to the Forum from Western New York State!

If time allows, camp out in your driveway for a couple of days. That's like a shake down trip, being at home, too.

Take a pad and pencil with you, and jot down items that you forgot to bring, or questions that arise for us here.

[Colorado]

Originally Posted by RHIO

Just picked up a 2020 156 bh baja. Pulled it from idaho to n ca any tips before we do our first dirt bike camp out.

Towing a trailer is a learning experience, longer braking distances, larger turning radius’, constantly using your mirrors, paying more attention to EVERYTHING around you, anticipating your own vehicles behavior as well as everyone else’s before they do it. Driving slower until you gain experience then continuing to drive slower because of that experience!

Play with your brake controller to find the proper settings and be sure you understand how it works. There’s 2 modes auto and manual...

Make sure you have mirrors large enough to see down the sides of the camper and actually use them.

Research tongue weight and what causes trailer sway (tail wagging the dog) and understand how loading your trailer affects stability.

Buy a dash cam and use it when towing, if someone cuts you off effectively cutting your braking distance in half then slams on the brakes you’ll have proof you were driving responsibly.

Good luck and enjoy your new camper!

[robkelly]

Congratulations and welcome!

Agree with what the others have shared above. Best advise we got was to take everything slow and easy.

[RogerR]

You have got the towing part down over that distance. My only thoughts are take your time to as they say, stop and smell the roses. We always have a book and a couple of dvds to tide us over that rainy day that pops up. If kids are along, dominoes wrapped up most nights but we still enjoy a game ourselves as a way to unwind after a long day.