New to trailer camping

[blevit]

Hello!
Longtime camper and new to trailer camping!
I have stuff to learn. I came here to talk about my new trailer, which I love, but which I’m also wondering if it has some issues.
I’ll go look for the best thread for this.

 

[Neal]

Welcome to RVF.

 

[Germanrazor]

Welcome aboard! I see it is a 2023 model….usually a new one has the new kinks I say to get straightened out. I know it doesn’t make sense but that is the reality of RV’s…..you get something new that no one has had and it smells nice but little things usually that dive a newbie insane. Used and gently used however usually has the kinks fixed. Not saying not to buy new because we did on our fifth wheel, just know half the fun is sometimes fixing and learning that aspect of RV’s.

 

[blevit]

Welcome aboard! I see it is a 2023 model….usually a new one has the new kinks I say to get straightened out. I know it doesn’t make sense but that is the reality of RV’s…..you get something new that no one has had and it smells nice but little things usually that dive a newbie insane. Used and gently used however usually has the kinks fixed. Not saying not to buy new because we did on our fifth wheel, just know half the fun is sometimes fixing and learning that aspect of RV’s.

That's a good theory, actually. I'm definitely learning there are lots of little things to fix and keep an eye on. I think it seems worth it. We are loving it!

 

[A-Texan]

I got a new one made by GulfStream and had to fix several issues within my first trip including:

1. Add a lot of caulking on the inside, for example where the shower walls meet the tub and many places on the cabinetry where you could see the ugly gaps in panels.

2. I also had to reseal the top of the roof on both sides in the front, after the first trip chunks of the sealant just broke and/or cracked leaving large openings at the seem where the roof meets the metal).

3. Tigthen the fridgerator and freezer doors on my dometic 12v compressor type fridge.

4. Add a dab of silicone to all exterior screws on the base of the sheet metal (they all started backing out after the first trip and screws actually fell out).

5. Tighten plumbing connections from sinks in bathroom and kitchen (very loose, but you could just tighten it with your hand).

6. Remove bathroom door trim and cut off 1/8 inch (it was too long and bowing out once the summer months came).

7. Remove door latch striker and grind a little off so door wouldn't stick after being in the sun for several hours (after the sun shined on the door for several hours while camping it literally would not open because it would hang up on the latch, but when cool it had no issues, I grinded it down a bit and now it opens and shuts perfect hot or cold, in the sun or the shade).

Quality control must of have been slacking on the day mine was built, the trailer I bought new before this one only needed the plumbing tightened a little (I am thinking this must be a common issue). I would check the roof and make sure no sealant was skipped and the lines underneath the sink to be sure all connections are tight.

 

[Germanrazor]

I got a new one made by GulfStream and had to fix several issues within my first trip including:

1. Add a lot of caulking on the inside, for example where the shower walls meet the tub and many places on the cabinetry where you could see the ugly gaps in panels.

2. I also had to reseal the top of the roof on both sides in the front, after the first trip chunks of the sealant just broke and/or cracked leaving large openings at the seem where the roof meets the metal).

3. Tigthen the fridgerator and freezer doors on my dometic 12v compressor type fridge.

4. Add a dab of silicone to all exterior screws on the base of the sheet metal (they all started backing out after the first trip and screws actually fell out).

5. Tighten plumbing connections from sinks in bathroom and kitchen (very loose, but you could just tighten it with your hand).

6. Remove bathroom door trim and cut off 1/8 inch (it was too long and bowing out once the summer months came).

7. Remove door latch striker and grind a little off so door wouldn't stick after being in the sun for several hours (after the sun shined on the door for several hours while camping it literally would not open because it would hang up on the latch, but when cool it had no issues, I grinded it down a bit and now it opens and shuts perfect hot or cold, in the sun or the shade).

Quality control must of have been slacking on the day mine was built, the trailer I bought new before this one only needed the plumbing tightened a little (I am thinking this must be a common issue). I would check the roof and make sure no sealant was skipped and the lines underneath the sink to be sure all connections are tight.

If #1 is what I am thinking that is intentionally done by all manufacturers to allow water from the top of any shower that enters to have an escape route back into the floor of the shower/tub so as to not create moisture retention in the wall and ultimately rot.

 

[blevit]

I got a new one made by GulfStream and had to fix several issues within my first trip including:

1. Add a lot of caulking on the inside, for example where the shower walls meet the tub and many places on the cabinetry where you could see the ugly gaps in panels.

2. I also had to reseal the top of the roof on both sides in the front, after the first trip chunks of the sealant just broke and/or cracked leaving large openings at the seem where the roof meets the metal).

3. Tigthen the fridgerator and freezer doors on my dometic 12v compressor type fridge.

4. Add a dab of silicone to all exterior screws on the base of the sheet metal (they all started backing out after the first trip and screws actually fell out).

5. Tighten plumbing connections from sinks in bathroom and kitchen (very loose, but you could just tighten it with your hand).

6. Remove bathroom door trim and cut off 1/8 inch (it was too long and bowing out once the summer months came).

7. Remove door latch striker and grind a little off so door wouldn't stick after being in the sun for several hours (after the sun shined on the door for several hours while camping it literally would not open because it would hang up on the latch, but when cool it had no issues, I grinded it down a bit and now it opens and shuts perfect hot or cold, in the sun or the shade).

Quality control must of have been slacking on the day mine was built, the trailer I bought new before this one only needed the plumbing tightened a little (I am thinking this must be a common issue). I would check the roof and make sure no sealant was skipped and the lines underneath the sink to be sure all connections are tight.

Thanks for these thoughts/ideas. It's wild to think these would happen on a first trip for a model that's not a new edition. I'll be curious to see how ours handles sun!!

 

[A-Texan]

If #1 is what I am thinking that is intentionally done by all manufacturers to allow water from the top of any shower that enters to have an escape route back into the floor of the shower/tub so as to not create moisture retention in the wall and ultimately rot.

I never considered it might be on purpose, I will definitely check into it with the dealer, but in my mind allowing water to run down passed the walls onto the floorboard of the trailer rather than just pour into the drain of the tub seems like a bad idea. The first travel trailer I had was a fixer upper and it was caulked all the way around the tub area when I purchased it and while I did replace all the laminate flooring in that travel trailer because it was heavily worn from foot traffic by the entry door, there was never any rotten wood on the floor or paneling I removed (it was an Aerolite, so maybe they just make those different, my new one is my first Gulfstream brand). Thanks for the insight, I'm definitely going to look into it.

 

[A-Texan]

Thanks for these thoughts/ideas. It's wild to think these would happen on a first trip for a model that's not a new edition. I'll be curious to see how ours handles sun!!

We laugh about the fridge door now, but when it came loose and fell off in my hands the whole family stood looking at me in shock. They told me "Dad! What did you do to the fridge!" At least it was easy to put back on and tighten properly. I wish I had a picture of my face when it happened though, ha.