Just spent two days going through all 142 pages!
My DH returns in one month from one year in Iraq. We took a big leap while he was home for R&R and purchased the 31bhpr; we have never owned a trailer before. It is still at the dealership until he returns. We will spend the month of August traveling from Virginia to Yellowstone and back with lots of fun places in between. We will be traveling with our seven kids ages 17 down to 2. We will have 10 days from taking possession of TT until our trip. We will be hauling with a Chevy Express 3500 (15 pass. van).
Lots of great info on this forum, I've bookmarked quite a few things. I'm wondering if anyone has a short list or advice on things we should be looking for on our mini trip before the big adventure. Also, any absolute necessities I can buy beforehand (i.e. stabilizers, blocks, etc.)? We are complete newbies, but my hubby is handy. Thanks so much for all of the information!
First big props and gratitude to your husband for his service. Big time appreciation for that. I would look at the blog that Virtual Garage has. He took me under his wing because like you, I had ZERO experience camping, towing, or anything. On his stargazer blog he has a ton of mods he did to his camper and is just a heck of a resource. As you know because you read all 142 pages there are a ton of other helpful people much smarter than me.
This is my second season with the Bullet and I just brought her home from storage yesterday. I haven't removed the smile from my face in having this beauty in my driveway.
Few random things.
Make sure the air mattress inflates. A few have mentioned it being faulty upon delivery.
Consider prying the wood off the back of the TV in the bunkhouse ( which I havent done yet) so you can hook up a DVD player and video games via HDMI to that TV- ( Rainy days )
Im being called away from the computer. I'm sure you will get flooded with a big welcome when everyone returns from their weekend camping trips. Welcome aboard, your going to love it.
Fenster.
2011 Bullet Premier 31BHPR with comfort package
Pro Pride Hitch w/ Prodigy P2.
Steadyfast Stabilizers
Pulled by "Big Daddy", aka 2000 Ford Excursion.
FensterRV wrote:
Well hello Family of Nine
Few random things.
Consider prying the wood off the back of the TV in the bunkhouse ( which I havent done yet) so you can hook up a DVD player and video games via HDMI to that TV- ( Rainy days )
Well hello Family of Nine
Few random things.
Consider prying the wood off the back of the TV in the bunkhouse ( which I havent done yet) so you can hook up a DVD player and video games via HDMI to that TV- ( Rainy days )
Don't pry the wood off. There are 4 set screws (one in each corner). Remove those screws and then remove the mount set screw. The TV will lift off the mount no problem.
I put a quick connect plug on the end of the cable to make it a bit easier and while traveling I use a tennis ball I cut to relieve the pressure jammed between the tv and the frame it sets in.
Bullet Premier 31BHPR
2011 Suburban w/ HD Tow Package
Equilizer Hitch
Prodigy brake controller
Can you elaborate on the mount set screw? I have 4 screws on the first larger panel but then I dont remember seeing this . Been a while though-
Thanks.
FensterRV wrote:
DRX
Can you elaborate on the mount set screw? I have 4 screws on the first larger panel but then I dont remember seeing this . Been a while though-
Thanks.
DRX
Can you elaborate on the mount set screw? I have 4 screws on the first larger panel but then I dont remember seeing this . Been a while though-
Thanks.
Fenster,
Once you get the wood panel off there should be another wood panel that the tv mount is mounted to. There is a square hole cut out of it. If you look through the cut out, which will show you the back side of the tv mount, you will see a set screw the holds the tv on the mount. Once you remove the tv mount set screw you can slide the tv off the mount and get to the back connections. I never put the set screw back in the mount. Once i slide the tv on the mount I take a tennis ball that I have cut a slit in and wedge it between the tv and the frame.
Hope that helps. Once you get that panel off it will make sense.
Familyofnine wrote:
We will be traveling with our seven kids ages 17 down to 2. We will have 10 days from taking possession of TT until our trip. We will be hauling with a Chevy Express 3500 (15 pass. van).
We will be traveling with our seven kids ages 17 down to 2. We will have 10 days from taking possession of TT until our trip. We will be hauling with a Chevy Express 3500 (15 pass. van).
It is awesome to see another large family camping in an RV. We only have 5 kids at this time, hoping to adopt again and make it 8!
I wanted to share a couple of easy meal ideas for a large family traveling. We do taco salad and personal pizzas a lot. All the ingredients for both can be chopped ahead and flattened into zip lock bags. We use tortillas for "pizza crust". If we are in a hurry we just microwave them with all the toppings. Can spaghetti sauce, ranch style beans, and olives help keep the frig empty until left over time. If your crowd is like mine leftovers don't happen a lot. We have 2 teen boys that can clean up most things.
Welcome! enjoy this amazing time of fellowship with your dh and your family as you reconnect! Thank both you and your dh for the sacrifice of serving. I have 2 friends that have also spent a year in the sand boxes of this world. It is a tough walk for the family at home also. So Thank all of you again!
Familyofnine wrote:
My DH returns in one month from one year in Iraq. We took a big leap while he was home for R&R and purchased the 31bhpr; we have never owned a trailer before. It is still at the dealership until he returns. We will spend the month of August traveling from Virginia to Yellowstone and back with lots of fun places in between. We will be traveling with our seven kids ages 17 down to 2. We will have 10 days from taking possession of TT until our trip. We will be hauling with a Chevy Express 3500 (15 pass. van).
My DH returns in one month from one year in Iraq. We took a big leap while he was home for R&R and purchased the 31bhpr; we have never owned a trailer before. It is still at the dealership until he returns. We will spend the month of August traveling from Virginia to Yellowstone and back with lots of fun places in between. We will be traveling with our seven kids ages 17 down to 2. We will have 10 days from taking possession of TT until our trip. We will be hauling with a Chevy Express 3500 (15 pass. van).
Congrats! We are a military family too and are waiting for our deployment card to come up again. It's been almost two years so we know it won't be much longer.
Where in VA are you? Eustis area? My hubby was there for 18 months during his first deployment. We consider VA home and are currently in NC so we can visit often.
Someone also mentioned adoption. We have one daughter who is adopted. Amazing experience!
We are excited and nervous about this cross country trip (I'm nervous, he's excited). Great info and tips, and he's also reading these posts from over there and taking notes.
A question - what do you do for drinking water? I've read on other forums that some people double filter (at the connection and on the faucet) and others use bottled water. My reoccurring nightmare is all of us sick to the stomach trying to use the one bathroom.
Thanks for the food recommendations - already trying to plan for that. The food issue is one of the many reasons we decided to get an RV. Eating out every meal is not appealing (three teenage boys, very expensive - a two year old in a restaurant three times a day, nightmare).
Thanks again!
We just had our second baby boy on the 12th so we haven't even been out in the TT yet this year. I'm ready to go, wife is hesitant with the baby....I don't see the problem!:-)
2009 Chevy Z71 CrewCab
2010 Bullet Premier 31BHPR
My little Chevy pick-up pulls it with no problems.
It's a gas engine, but it is an 8.1 litre.
Make sure your bolts are tight on the nose jack though, or it will quit on you at the most unopportune time.