Ready for the Fort!

[jcs428]

Just purchased our first travel trailer this week and already planning a March 2015 trip to the Fort. Really excited after reading here for the last few months! We've made several Disney trips with our girls, 10 & 6, but always at the resorts. Looking forward to a longer and more relaxed visit this time.

I have a question for all of you more experienced campers. We have a family member who has generously offered to purchase something for the TT to make our adventures more comfortable and/or fun. The limit is $1000. We have been looking, but would love some suggestions of what to get & where to shop!

Thanks!

 

[CamperMomma]

Oh goodness! So much to get! A new sewer hose (the ones that come with are IMO junk), outdoor rug for under the awning, a table that folds down to put under the awning for various odds and ends, a nice screen tent for those times when you want to be outside - but the darn bugs or rain don't want to leave you alone, tire covers to protect when stored from brutal sun or cold, different bedding than the scratchy comforter that comes with (ha! That's the first thing we ditch), DVD player if it didn't come with one, ......

I could go on and on. None of which cost $1000, but all things we have found handy over the years.

 

[CamperMomma]

OH! And as a newbie, I highly suggest looking up RV Geeks on youtube. No affiliation with them, but he has some awesome "how to" videos for everything from dumping tanks, to hooking up at the site, winterizing, to protecting slides, etc etc. We watched many of them, and still go back for reference on some of the more confusing things from time to time! Welcome to the TT family!

 

[jcs428]

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I'm kind of thinking several smaller items like the bedding, tire covers, etc will be a good way to go. I'm sure they will all add up quickly.

We will check out the videos too, thanks! Snow day today, that will give us something fun to do!

 

[Mmketeer]

Welcome to the Fort and congrats on your new camper!

Might I suggest using some of those funds for a Good Sam Membership? It will save your some money on your RV/TT supplies at Camping World and I believe maybe on gas at the flying J? Not sure about that benefit as I don't venture more than 2 hours or so from home base so I'd never use it. But, it will also give you a 10% discount at some nice rv/camp grounds (just not Disney). I have been a long time member.

www.goodsamclub.com/‎
Join the Good Sam RV Club Today! Discounts, Tips, Tools & Much More

 

[Teamubr]

There are lots of little things that generally don't come with a new camper.

Wheel chocks
leveling blocks (or boards like most of us use)
Water hose(s)- more than 1
The outdoor carpet/grass is always nice
Nice camping chairs
Awning tie downs and anti-flappers

You didn't say how big the TT was or what you are towing with, but a nice weight distribution hitch and sway control are almost mandatory unless you have a big truck. Brake controller if you don't have one in the tow vehicle already.

j

 

[bama_ed]

Does everyone in the family have bicycles and do you have a way to take them camping at the Fort with you? (bike rack, etc?).

The Fort Trading Posts do sell a Musket Mickey spare tire cover in various sizes that you will want to get for your trailer too.

Congrats and I hope you enjoy many family trips in it!

Bama Ed

 

[sippican]

Congratulations on yoour new TT. You're gonna love camping at the Fort, but watch out, it's addictive!
Here's another vote for a Good Sam membership. We recently bought a bunch of accessories at Camping World for our new RV and the savings were wonderful (you can order from the Camping World catalog too). We are lifetime members and it has paid for itself tenfold.
As far as where to shop, along with the big camping specialty stores, you can find tons of thimgs (such as chairs, screen shelters, hoses, chemicals, extension cords, etc). at other places like Walmart. All of those little things like cookware, toaster, towels, paper goods and cleaning supplies sure do add up quickly. Be sure to pick up a string of fun outdoor lights to hang from your awning - the Disney Store has some Mickey ones.
What a great gift. Enjoy filling the trailer up (but do be mindful of the added weight).

 

[double r]

All good ideas but I would ask for a fuel card to help pay the gas bill to get there. You might want a good mattress topper as the mattress that usually comes with a camper is not the most comfortable.

 

[Jeepin Dad]

Congrats on the new camper! If it doesn't have it I'd get an electric tongue jack, especially if you are using a weight distributing hitch, so much easier when hitching up and disconnecting. If you plan plan on dry camping at all a generator, preferably a quiet inverter type, or a solar charging system are a must to keep the battery charged.

 

[Jeepin Dad]

The Fort Trading Posts do sell a Musket Mickey spare tire cover in various sizes that you will want to get for your trailer too.

I may have to get one of those, our camper still has the original cover and last year I noticed it was getting pretty brittle.

 

[North of Mouse]

Just purchased our first travel trailer this week and already planning a March 2015 trip to the Fort. Really excited after reading here for the last few months! We've made several Disney trips with our girls, 10 & 6, but always at the resorts. Looking forward to a longer and more relaxed visit this time.

I have a question for all of you more experienced campers. We have a family member who has generously offered to purchase something for the TT to make our adventures more comfortable and/or fun. The limit is $1000. We have been looking, but would love some suggestions of what to get & where to shop!

Thanks!

to the wonderful world of 'RVing'!!

My #1 suggestion is to immediately get a nice comfortable mattress. That's the first thing we do on any of our RVs. They seem to put the cheapest, most uncomfortable mattresses that they can find. We also put a memory foam topper on ours. Nothing beats a good night's rest while on vacation. It will serve you well.

We keep the original mattresses, then when we trade/sell for a new RV we put the original mattress back in, and keep 'our' bed for the new RV, so we don't lose our 'nice' bed!!

 

[jcs428]

Thanks everyone! I'm making a big list of things to check into from all of your replies. We are going on a close to home spring break trip in a few weeks, kind of a trial run at a local state park. We thought we might wait until after that trip to decide what to buy, see what we want most after testing it out.

Also, thank you for all the welcomes! If the Fort is half as friendly as this board I know we will be regular visitors! Mickey lights have been ordered for the awning, couldn't wait for that purchase! March 2015 can't get here soon enough!!!

 

[jbrostek]

It really depends on what you already have and do not have. It is also about what you prefer. I easilly spent 1k on the first trailer just building up a supply of stuff. I have learned that other then major expensive stuff, having 2 of everything for the kitchen is pretty much the norm. Trying to remember to bring certain things makes it impossible.

Items worth looking at depending on your needs/prefrences.

1. New mattress (many trailer jsut have junk mattresses.)
2. Kitchen items - electric skillet ( I have both the pan and flat style and they are great for cooking meals for a large group and stove space is limited), collapsable bowls/collinder, handheld blender, coffee pot, etc.
3. Patio stuff - a nice matt for areas that are not grassy enough to cut down on tracking stuff in, a collapsable trash can and a weight to keep it from blowing away, you alread found some awning lights, I would even recommend a secondary 10x10 EZ up. I have been to some campgrounds that just do not have enough shade and the awning is not enough.
4. Travel size propane grill (I love to grill so this was a must for me since charcoal grilling is not always the best option.)
5. Chocks, leveling blocks.

 

[wiigirl]

All good ideas but I would ask for a fuel card to help pay the gas bill to get there. You might want a good mattress topper as the mattress that usually comes with a camper is not the most comfortable.

 

[jbrostek]

I thought of one other item that I found a complete MUST have. I bought an alarm clock for the RV that uses the GPS network to set its time. No matter how long you are unplugged for, you at least know 1 clock will be right as soon as you plug in. The one I bought was under 20 bucks, and seems to even hold the alarm memory pretty well.