New Campers, Unhitching and Setup of T@B 400

New Campers

I wrote this unhitching and setup post exclusively for new campers.  Experienced campers have already figured this stuff out and could possibly share better methods.   When we first began camping, we did not know anything at all about campers and how to use them.   I would have appreciated a post like this.  However, I could not find anything this basic and detailed.

We have now been camping for four years and this post reflects what we have learned and is how we setup our current camper, a nüCamp T@B 400.

Setup for New campers
New Camper Unhitching and Setup

The Order of Things

Some steps must be done in a specific order or must precede other steps.  Others can occur anywhere in the process.  In this post, I will always indicate when order is important and why.  Lastly, we have found that a standard practice makes our process more efficient and less prone to errors.  You develop a sort of muscle memory.

Level the Side-to-Side

This first step is essential if you have an unlevel site from side-to-side.  You should perform this check before other steps because the trailer must be hitched to raise one of  the wheels.  So, I use a small level that we keep in the camper to see if the the side to side is level.  If it is not level, we have two leveling pads that we drive the wheel over on the low side.  Often, we do not need these pads for leveling.  Sometimes, we need both pads and occasionally only one is needed.

New campers should check level status
Checking the side to side level status
Leveling pads
Leveling pads

It is important that the camper is level for the refrigerator and air conditioner to work properly and for accurate reading of tank levels.  Lastly, it is much more comfortable in a leveled camper.

Chock the Wheels

For safety, it is important to chock the wheels before any steps in the unhitching process begins.  An unchocked camper can roll and cause damages and possible injuries.  So, it is just a good practice to always do this before unhitching.

New campers must chock the wheels
Chocked wheel

Insert Wheel or Block

We currently use a block to unhitch and stabilize the front of our camper.  For maximum stability, we center it and lower the jack.  In our previous camper, we used a wheel.  However, we prefer the block.

Jack is supported by block
Remove 7-Pin Connector

You should remove the 7-pin connector before unhitching to prevent drain on the car battery and to get it out of the way of the hitch.

Remove the Chains and Breakaway Cable

You will want to get these out of the way before unhitching.  Regarding the chains, you should always cross them while towing.

Remove the Weight Distribution Bars

We have the Blue Ox Swaypro Weight Distribution Hitch and it requires the jack to lift the car to enable the bars to be removed.   Once the jack is raised, the bars can easily be removed.

Remove Hitch Lock

We always keep a lock attached to our trailer coupler.  It is vital while towing to ensure the trailer remains properly attached.   It is also beneficial as a  theft deterrent.  We previously used a long padlock, but wanted something that was easier to get off and on.  We settled on the Bulldog Adjustable Lock.

Lock recommendation for new campers
Bulldog Trailer Coupler Lock

So far, we really like the ease of putting it on and off.   It works much better than the padlock.   It fits snugly, which would make it difficult to cut off.

Bulldog Lock Installed on Coupler


Unhitching  From the Tow Vehicle

Next, lower the jack to release the strain off the ball.  Once lowered, pull up the lever on the tongue.  Now, lift it off the ball.  Ideally, the ball will drop from the jack.   Sometimes, it can be difficult to decouple.   In those circumstances, it may be necessary to pull forward or backward ever so slightly.  This is the most stressful step in the unhitching process for me.

Level Front to Back

Next, adjust the jack so that the camper is level from front to back.  I always set a level on the floor parallel to the door and it makes it easy to find that level sweet spot using the jack.

New campers should level front to back
Leveling from front to back
Lowering the Stabilizers

Lastly, lower the stabilizers.  This is the last step of unhitching and taking them up is the first step of hitching.  It is important because the stabilizers can be damaged if the camper is raised or lowered by the jack while they are down.

Camper stabilizers
Stabilizers are lowered

Setup

Now that the camper is unhitched, it is ready for setup.  Actually, you can attach the water and power before unhitching.  For example, if the weather is hot or cold, you might want to get the power on so the inside temperature can be impacted sooner.

Electrical Hookup

We recommend that you include a surge suppressor in your electrical hookup.  A suppressor can protect your camper’s electrical system if there is a problem with a campground’s power supply.  It can also identify electrical other issues.

Surge suppressor
Surge suppressor
 Connecting to City Water

We always attach a water pressure regulator  and a filter to our water connection.  The meter protects your water system if there is too much pressure in the campground.

I have a couple of tips regarding the water.  First, it is not necessarily to over tighten the connections.  Second, be sure the gasket is in the fitting of the hose.

Water pressure meter and filter
Connected to City water
Holding Tanks

We usually do not have sewer connections because most of our camping is in State Parks.  When we do have sewer at our site, we keep both the gray and black tanks closed until we are ready to empty.  I understand that it is critical to keep the black tank closed to prevent issues due to the lack of water.   Also, you wouldn’t want anything that might be in the sewer to have access to your camper.

Drain for Holding Tanks

New Campers, In Conclusion

It can be intimidating to set up a camper if you are inexperienced.  We learned how to do this over time, with some mistakes.  Now, we consistently strive follow the process above and have it down to a routine.  If this post is helpful to you,  check out our page,  Camping Resources for New Teardrop Campers.

Happy Camping!

Retired couple

Replacing Our Tiny Camper, A Big Step

Replacing our tiny camper was difficult for me.  I had bonded with it and it was my baby!  It was everything we expected it to be and served us well for two years and over 10,000 miles.  We bought it at a time when we did not know if we would even like camping and it enabled us to travel for very little money to exciting,  far away places.  Teardrop Camping, The Decision to Buy a Teardrop.

Why Make a Change

While there are so many reasons to love the nüCamp T@G, it does have some limitations.  I originally thought that the biggest challenges would be the lack of a bathroom and that it would be uncomfortable for my tall husband.  We adapted pretty well without the bathroom and my husband was good with the camper most of the time because the bed was easy to access and quite comfortable.  He was too tall to stand comfortably in the galley though.  It would be a bigger issue, but he doesn’t do a lot of cooking.

The major reason we opted for a larger camper was to have a place to be comfortable when the weather was not good for being outside.  We have camped in the rain and in extreme heat and cold.   Our solution to this has always been to leave and go do something where we can be inside. Camping and Execution of the Rainy Day Plan.  It beats staying in bed all day or freezing/roasting outside, but we were at a place where we would like to have more options.

Lastly, my husband has been considering replacing our tiny camper for awhile.  He has enjoyed our trips, but has been lobbying for something bigger for many months.

The Replacement Camper

We thoroughly researched similar campers that were approximately twenty feet long.   A quality camper with a place to be comfortable inside that also had a bathroom was the overall goal.  We required at least a queen-sized bed and a separate area to relax.  The brands we considered were:  nüCamp, Little Guy, Alto, Airstream, Oliver,  Lance, Forest River, Jayco, and Lil Snoozy.   Weight, space utilization, nearness of a service location, perceived value and quality, known quality issues, comfort, value, and eye appeal were all factors in our decision.

I have to admit we were biased in favor of nüCamp.  Our T@G was an incredible camper and nüCamp did a great job of customer service for us.  Replacing our tiny camper with another nüCamp product seemed a safer decision.  Also, we attended a rally at their Sugarcreek facility this year and were very impressed with the company and its operations.

However, if we had found another camper that met out criteria that was better suited our needs, we would have bought it instead.  Some of the camper brands we have seen in person and all were researched to some extent online.   My husband and I spent many hours considering specifications, options, and how we would expect to use this larger camper.  In the end, we came back to the nüCamp 400.

The Search for a 400

Our desire was to buy in our home state of Alabama if possible.  We were already aware of Bankston Motor Homes from its servicing of our T@G and were impressed by their performance.  Bankston has multiple nearby locations and we were happy to see they had several 400s, including one Boondock Lite (BL).  https://www.bankstonmotorhomes.com/

We also looked for 400s within a five hundred mile radius of our home because we had color and option preferences.   It was surprising to learn that of the more than ten dealers, only a few 400s were in stock and only one of the other dealers had a Boondock Lite.

The 400s come very well-equipped with only a few options and Bankston’s 400 BL colors and options were acceptable to us, so we began the purchase process right away.  David Tyler was our salesperson and we really liked working with him.  He transferred the unit to the Albertville location the next day and we went to check  it out.   It was lovely and we told him we would take it.

Replacing our tiny camper
nüCamp T@B 400

There were three superficial issues that we asked them to correct prior to purchase.  There was a tiny crack in the casing for the porch light, a small scratch on the lower molding of one side, and a small section of the Formica has become unglued.  David assured us they would correct those items.

Upgrade Considerations

We always stored our T@G in our garage and it weighs in at just over 1,000 pounds.  No electric brakes were needed and we had surplus towing capacity in our Acura MDX.   However, the much larger nüCamp 400 weighs 2,690 and its GVWR is 3,500 pounds.  Most noteworthy, it would not fit in our garage.  Replacing our tiny camper would not be easy and we would not be able to camp so inexpensively in the new one.

Towing Capacity

Our Acura’s towing capacity had  been increased to 5,000 pounds with the installation of a transmission cooling unit.  The Acura’s tongue weight capacity of 500 pounds is within the 400’s tongue weight of 460 pounds, but it did not leave much surplus.  We hoped it would be adequate for the new camper.

Storage Requirements

The requirement for storage was perhaps the main reason we have held back on replacing our tiny camper.  It was always in our basement with easy access and no extra cost.   We really hated to give up storing our camper on our property, but the 400 would not fit into our garage and we could not store it outside.

So, we began searching for storage options.  We were lucky to find an indoor storage unit near our home.  It is just under 20 feet deep and the door is just under 10 feet tall.  Our T@B 400 BL is 18 feet long and just under 9 feet tall, so it is a fit for the unit—but just barely.   It is very tricky backing it into the space, but my husband did a great job in our trial run.

Additionally, the space does not have climate control and we will have to winterize the camper.   Another thing we will have to learn how to do.

The space brings with it a monthly cost of $150 and an annual cost of $1,800.

T@B Storage Unit
Storage Unit
Electric Brakes

Unlike out T@G, the new 400 has electric brakes, which is a legal retirement for trailers of its weight.  This required us to get a brake controller for our car.  We did not want to have to modify our dash and impact the wiring on our vehicle, so we opted for the Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Controller.

Sway and Weight Distribution

Because we do not have a lot of surplus tow capacity in our tow vehicle, we wanted something to address sway and weight distribution.  We opted for the Blue Ox Sway Pro 750.  It is a weight distributing hitch that  provides sway control and one other nice feature.  It allows backing up without adjustment, which is not available with many other manufacturers.

Blue Ox Sway Pro 750
Blue Ox Sway Pro 750
Insurance

We were careful to add the 400 to our insurance before we took it on the road because it was a sizable purchase.   State Farm insures our camper and because of the higher cost of the camper, our camper insurance cost moved from $200 to $417 (with a $ 1,000 deductible).

Decreased Gas Mileage

We were able to tow our T@G and get an average of 18 miles per gallon.  There has not been a chance to check the gas mileage on the new unit, but we expect it to be around 12-13 miles per gallon.  If this is the case, we will have to spend approximately 50% more for gasoline.    This increase can be pretty significant on long trips.

Fixed Annual Cost Summary

Accountant that I am, it was necessary for me to consider all the financial ramifications of replacing our tiny camper.   Beyond the purchase, we will incur approximately $2,000 per year in storage and additional insurance, plus 50% higher gasoline costs.  Is it worth it?  At this point in our life, we think it is.

Replacing Our Tiny Camper

It all happened rather quickly and we were ready to pick up our new baby.  David Tyler and Bankston RV were amazing and we are very happy with our new camper.  Some of the service team even came in on a Saturday for us.  I can’t say enough nice things about them.

Camper at Bankston RV
Our New Camper at Bankston RV with David Tyler

With the T@B 400, we are gaining the sitting/eating/sleeping area below. This space, plus the indoor kitchen for when the weather is bad, was our main motivation for replacing our tiny camper.  The area has three setup options .  Below it is set as a seating area, but rearrangement of the pillows allows it be used as an extra bed.  Lastly, if the center cushion is removed, the table can be lifted to create a table with seating on two sides.

T@B 400 Seating and Eating Area
Seating and Eating Area

This lovely indoor kitchen is a definite perk.  It will be wonderful on those cold mornings.

T@B Kitchen
Indoor Kitchen

There is also the benefit of having this tiny bathroom.  No more middle of the night hikes to campground bathhouses.  We expect this to be a convenience we will really appreciate.

T@B Wet Bath
Wet Bath

However, the new bed is slightly smaller than a queen and only accessible from one side.  The T@G has a king-sized bed with a door on each side.   I am afraid we are going to sorely miss our old bed.  Also, for the record, the bed is a bear to make!

T@B Queen Bed
Queen Bed (almost)

We are happy overall with the T@B 400 amenities.  Replacing our tiny camper is completed and we are excited about taking this new teardrop to far away places!

A Final Change

On our ride home with the new camper, all went well, but my husband said that the front end of the car felt light to him and the steering wheel was too easy to turn.  This concerned us!  We should have been under the 500 lb tongue weight, but the new weight distribution sway bar hitch was quite heavy.  It turns out that it weighed 47 pounds, which was 7 lbs over our car’s tongue weight limit.  I worried that this would damage the car over time.

We were prepared to replace our tow vehicle if needed and that is what we did.  So, we now have a giant SUV that can pull 9,000 pounds with lots of tongue weight to spare.  It should be great for camping, but sure will be big for me to park.  Intimidating!

So, replacing our tiny camper led to replacing our tow vehicle as well and we have much to learn about both with a camping trip fast approaching.

Bigger SUV
Very much bigger
Let the New Camping Adventures Begin!

Retired couple