Your First Camping Trip in Your Travel Trailer

So you've bought a new or new-to-you travel trailer. The friendly seller gave you a quick rundown of all the systems, but now you're ready for your first shake-down trip. Here are some tips to help make it go more smoothly.

NOTE: I am not an expert on this subject, these are simply my personal observations based on my experience with our own travel trailer. Yours will be different. For the complete story, consult the owner's manual, dealer, manufacturer or a qualified technician.

PACKING AND LOADING
There are many items you will want to leave in the camper permanently, like dishes, pots, pans, tools, bath towels, perhaps some clothing, etc. These will be stored in cabinets and drawers and you want to be sure they are secure while moving down the road. Place pillows or towels on top of items in drawers and cabinets, and secure cabinet doors and drawers with bungee cords, paracord, etc.

Ramblings on a Mediocre Photo

One time, after posting a photo on Facebook, a friend asked me what kind of camera I have. "It takes great photos!" he said. It was an innocent comment, but it's actually the photographer who takes the photos, is it not? And in fact, a couple of my favorite all time shots were taken with cameras that are not even one-tenth as good as the one on your fancy smartphone.