luanne8437
Tennessee
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Joined: 05/01/2012
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I just bought my first RV today...a 1998 Fleetwood Flair 30ft. I will be a full-timer, traveling end of this month to Wyoming (from Tennessee)for work in a Lodge outside Yellowstone. RV parking is provided for employees. So, now the question....how dumb is it to ask how to set everything up right the first time? Any tips? I bought this from a young couple that only owned it a year...I think they just used it for an extra bedroom when the in-laws visited! They did say they took one trip to Pennsylvania, and took it out of storage to drive it around about once a month. They were not very helpful. I have had it thoroughly checked out by a mechanic and will have it taken into the shop for maintenance before my trip...but I am not sure the mechanic will take the time with me to show me how to use everything! Help....any good online how-to guides you would recommend? Websites? Any help would be appreciated!
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Jackha1949
Any Where USA
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Joined: 07/16/2008
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Congrats on the new to you MH! The best advise is to get hold of the owners manuals for your MH and read it several times and keep it handy. I'm sure if you Google you make and model for a owners manual you will be able to track one down. Also you should be able to get owners manuals for all your appliances online as well. Asking specific questions on your appliances, etc on this forum is another great way to get information on your MH. DW and I have been full-timing for two years now and do volunteer/workcamping around the country, it is a great life style! Awesome on getting a workcamping just outside of Yellowstone I have never been there but it is high on my bucket list! Welcome to the forum, and Good Luck and Happy Full-timing!
Jack & Peg
USN Ret AGC
K1ZMB
Sioux Falls, SD
06 Itasca Horizon 40KD
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SDcampowneroperator
South Dakota
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Joined: 01/25/2011
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An Rv is everything a S&B house is and much more in a compact package. As such you cannot take little things such as unlimited power, hot water, fast refridgeration, extreme weather capabilities for granted.
It is also a vehicle with all those complications .
You will be a happy RVer and full timer if you are handy, proactive, concientious of limits inherent.
Good Luck !
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Alpenliter
Fulltimer: Wherever we are!
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Joined: 04/10/2005
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Congratulations LuAnne and welcome to the Forum! The first thing I would recommend for a new RV'er is Trailer Life's Maintenance and Repair Manual. It not only will tell you how to fix anything that may go wrong, but will tell you how most everything in your RV works. It is money well spent. Enjoy your new motorhome and please don't hesitate to ask questions of the Forum members, There is a wealth of information here and we welcome your questions.
My first Wife Linda, 45+years
2004 F-450 CC, DRW 6.0 Classy Chassis Upgrade
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1997 33' Alpenlite
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emzee
california
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new to you motorhome!! Maybe you should do a trial run and pretend you are setting up, take a notepad and write down everything you don't understand. Plugging her in, hoses etc. turning on the heat or the air, the hot water, propane, all as you would do on a real set up. Then you can ask us the questions and hopefully you get answers.
Also make sure you get all the belts and hoses checked out, batteries and most important the tires. Remember motorhome tires will look good because of little wear but they are not as good as the look, there is a 5-7 year rule on these tires for safety reasons. Best of luck!!
One more thing I forgot, there is a search box up to the left and if you need some answers quick you can put a word in there and it will take you to some older posts with your query.
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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a few shake down cruises are in order. walk around talk to the other Rv'ers and read this forum every day. you will learn a lot reading these pages. up at the top of this page, is a section called FAQ's start at the top and read it. a ton of info here, utilize it.
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bsinmich
Holland, MI
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Joined: 11/18/2000
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Tw things I would check before taking off on along trip is the age of the tires first. RV tires look good but lack of use makes them very susceptible to blowouts from age. One side of the tire has DOT numbers and letters. At the end of the numbers should be 3 or 4 numbers. If there are only 3 the tires are already junk. 4 numbers in a row would give you the date the tires were made by listing the week in the first 2 and the year in the last 2. 1112 would indicate the 11th week of 2012. If a tire is over 5 years old I would suggest taking it to the local tire dealer for that brand tire for inspection. The second item is to flush the brake fluid before a trip. Brake fluid accumulates moisture while sitting and that will cause your brakes to go out on a downhill run when you use the brakes. I would definitely also buy an electric heater for some help on the cold times out there. We were in Yellowstone on Father's Day 2003 and saw Old Faithful in a blizzard. A Flair is not the best insulated MH. Don't get a large heater because you will only have 30 amps total. Smaller is better and make sure it can be run on a lower setting than high only. Good Luck and enjoy your summer there.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, 2008 Saturn Vue, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
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gbopp
The Keystone State
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Joined: 08/03/2008
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Welcome to the forum and congrats on your RV.
If possible, camp a few nights in your yard, driveway or somewhere close to home. Learn to work all the systems before you it the road.
And, ask questions. There is a lot of information available on the forum.
Enjoy your travels.
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WyoTraveler
Northwest, Wyoming
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Joined: 11/22/2011
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The weather seems to be warming up pretty well this spring. Our alfalfa is very green and growing already and we haven't started irrigating yet. We can get snow storms up into June but that weather usually passes on through and only lasts a few days. You will have a great time during the summer near Yellowstone. They have a pretty reliable RV dealer in Powell that does honest repairs if you need them.
Have a great summer and enjoy Wyoming.
2013 Monaco Monarch motorhome
2012 Jeep Wrangler toad
AC6CV/7 ex-W8RUR since 1954
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supermod38
Central NY
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Joined: 12/30/2009
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I would set up in my yard and live in it and check everything out there. better to be close to home if you find a problem. it will not take you very long to get used to the set-up procedure once you do it a few times.
95 Southwind
My best buddy resting
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