MISTAKES EVERY RV OWNER SHOULD AVOID | RV Setup For Newbies

After 4 years of full-time RV living, we show you the worst mistakes every RV owner should avoid during setup. We bring to light the relatable stress of the RV life that many can understand while providing our detailed RV setup.
This RV setup for newbies will bring tips and tricks for the upcoming camping season!
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Items In This Episode
‣Beech Lane Levelers
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‣Wheel Chocks
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‣Surge Protector
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‣Water Pressure Regulator
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‣90 Degree Electric Dogbone
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The upcoming camping season quickly approaching! We want to bring a detailed RV setup for newbies and show you the mistakes that every RV owner should avoid. As an RV newbie, there are many stressors that can build up quickly. We want to emphasize that you "control the controllables."
We can appreciate there are many ways to successfully set up an RV campsite. Today we want to show you what has worked for us over 4 years of full-time RV living! The RV life is costly enough already. Slow down, take your time and enjoy the process!
A large influence on this series has come from content creators like Keep Your Daydream and Changing Lanes. The style of this video is also similar to You, Me & the RV or Less Junk, More Journey in parts.
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_DISCLAIMER: HappilyEverHanks is a KZbin channel intended for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and these opinions are only intended to show what methods we use when it comes to RV Living. Do not use this information as professional advice.
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[@PCBakerII]

Great video, I would have added a couple sanitary and safety precautions with the water hookup. 1: It’s always a good idea to presume the last person in your campsite was a novice. They do nasty things like placing their sewer hose over the water bib to rinse it out. Carrying some Clorox wipes to wipe down the exterior of the water hookup only takes a few moments. Then on to step 2. 2: some campsite water supplies can have sand or debris buildup that can clog a pressure sensor or filter. Always run the water briefly after wiping down and before hooking up your hose.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

These are some fantastic insights Pete!! Thank you so much for sharing these with everyone 🙂Tell us about yourself, are you currently living the RV lifestyle?

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow that is fantastic!! You have so much experience in the RV realm. We hope that one day our paths can cross out on the road, it would be great to meet you Pete We hope that we can talk again soon! Best to you, be safe 🙂

[@collinsfriend1]

I actually saw a woman rinsing out their portapotty at a community faucet at a campground. GROSS. What is WRONG with people??? Would she rinse her toilet brush in the sink? NO!.

[@petebaker8182]

@@collinsfriend1 Sanitary standards differ from person to person. You can't imagine the gross things I've seen being done on the supplied picnic table. Always cover the table with a non-porous cover before using.

[@John_Ridley]

Can't hurt to run 30 seconds water through your filter and hose too - maybe bugs got into there while you were stored or on the road.

[@AmericaBound]

You two are a riot!! You missed one major step that I do right when I get to the campground - open a beer.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much 🙂I tell you..You just made my day reading this comment!! Love your set up checklist #CrackaColdOne 😎 What's your name by the way? What kind of RV are ya rocking?

[@AmericaBound]

@@HappilyEverHanks LOL I was formerly zx24me but, trying to build my RV travels and adventures channel.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

What! No way!! That's awesome, we can't wait to see your RV travels and adventures channel come to fruition. Good for you Patrick 🙂

[@vincentgonzales8917]

No no beer till all chock blocks, legs are down and truck is umhitched. I had couple of beers got busy jabbering and didn't place the chocks and timber down came my 5th on the rails when I pulled the latch. Ouch

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Oh no Vincent! So sorry that this happened to you 😕 that is definitely a great rule of thumb that you mentioned Vincent Glad you are ok, thank you for sharing. We hope that we can hear from you again soon 🙂 - Kyle and Renee

[@egillis214]

As a private pilot we use WRITTEN CHECKLIST for each phase of travel. With any crew communications is paramount, if needed the handheld radios work great if necessary. One crew reads checklist, the other executes and repeats. Both have checklist and all items are confirmed...

[@blokey5160]

Quick tip, purge the air outta that water hose before hooking to RV and open one of the taps inside RV to purge the air from system before turning on water supply instead of having all that sputtering when you first open a tap. Great video by the way! Also remember not to close breaker at power pole until power cable is secured to RV (you do not want that power cable to be live when you plug it in) and have all RV off breakers off before power is applied. RV breakers can then be closed in turn to prevent any big current surge if the whole RV is powered at once.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey there! Thank you SO much for these great tips 😃 We will definitely be sure to start implementing these into our routine! It's nice to hear your experience and learn from it. It seems like you have a lot of experience in the RV world! What kind of RV do you own? What's your name by the way? 🙂

[@lucabrasi8702]

Or just use a surge protector

[@SharonRepici]

@@lucabrasi8702 they have a Progressive Industries hard wired into the system.

[@herb7877]

40+ years RV-n (not full timers) and I'd say you nailed it all with your Number 1 rule; " Park it all where your wife wants it ! " ... the other stuff is easy... Slow & steady wins the race. You are both are spot on the process of setting up.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Love this!! 40 years is a HUGE amount of time 😃 Ya'll are rocking it! Thank you for your wonderful support and feedback Herb, your comments mean so much

[@andytn6507]

@@HappilyEverHanks I am fixin to start my travel trailer adventures now that I am retired from the military and really enjoy your videos. Yall are fun to watch. Keep it up

[@hgaubaul]

Not sure if show and steady will win the race, but it will definitely complete it. Especially dealing with this type of headache and stress. Patience is definitely a virtue!

[@timdolan4840]

For auto-leveling we use Anderson trailer jack blocks. They are about 8” high and have magnets on the top to secure them to the jack pads so you don’t have to worry about location. It also minimizes how much you have to extend your jacks and makes your rig much more stable.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is great! Thanks for sharing Tim!! :)

[@bomabompakarasch4230]

I think they mighta mentioned those as well

[@brucedeleskey8540]

I like wheel blocks I'm going to get two sets its easier saves time thanks

[@flyawaydutchie]

I just found your channel yesterday . I love your videos. You two are helping me recover from my knee surgery. I’m 72 years old and I do all the driving. My husband is legally blind but we still love to travel and explore the great outdoors. We have a 35ft Toy hauler (that’s up for sale) and we used to have a F350 Super Duty crew cab. (A big truck). We traded our truck for a car and then also bought a smaller truck, F150 crew cab four wheel drive. We also bought a smaller travel trailer and will be back on the road again this summer. I’m recovering from knee surgery and looking forward to loading up our new to us trailer and get back on the road. In the mean time I’m enjoying your videos. THANK YOU FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT

[@rickvillelli4652]

You guys are the perfect combination of entertaining, informative and downright fun. Excellent channel. Best I've found on RVing. My girlfriend and I just bought our first travel trailer. Soaking up all the info we can prior to that first back up and hookup! It's happening next week. Anyone watching that, should crack a beer, pull up a chair, sit back and enjoy the show. Mistakes will be made!! :-(

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Rick!! Thank you so much for your AWESOME support! That is so great to hear that you guys got a travel trailer!! How awesome 😃🙌🏼We are so happy for you!! What model of travel trailer did you guys buy? Definitely keep us updated on how next week goes, we want to hear all about it!! You will absolutely rock it, just take your time and do you 😎

[@rickvillelli4652]

@@HappilyEverHanks We bought a 28 foot Open Range Travel trailer. It's a 2013 in very good shape. We know the owners. Paid about 1/2 of what it would be new. Love the opposing slides, 50 amp, dual AC, Captain's chairs directly opposite the TV, and fireplace. Not perfect by any means, but I think good for our first swing at this. :-)

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Oh my goodness! Sounds like an absolutely beautiful rig!! 😀🙌🏼 Nicely done Rick!! You both sound like wonderful people and we wish nothing but the best for you guys in your new adventures of RVing!! Hopefully one day we can meet up on the road, it would be great to meet y’all in person. Keep these amazing comments coming, we really enjoy hearing from you! Best to you both 😀👋🏼

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Rick! Carl and Ney Ney here 🙂👋🏼 How have you guys been? We wanted to see if you guys got your Open Range travel trailer out recently for some trips? We are "chilling like villains" for a few days and catching up on some R&R! Anyways, we just wanted to reach out and see how things are going for you guys. Hope you are doing well and staying safe!

[@franknaiman5219]

88888899888899⁹⁹

[@waynegleason5792]

Great video! Couple things I would add is we always have someone inside the trailer when turning on the water to make sure there are no leaks inside. This saved us from completely flooding out our trailer. There was a crack in the freshwater pump housing and in the hot water tank, (another lesson learned). When we started sending water in the camper, we noticed water coming out onto the floor and shut the valve immediately outside. Small mess vs flooding out in this case. The other thing is we crack open the faucets throughout to expel the air in the system as it pressurizes. Our travel trailer has 2 bathrooms, 2 gray and black tanks and outside shower and kitchen. Like you guys said, really important to line up services in the site before disconnecting! Have fun and happy campin!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Wayne!! These are some really fantastic tips that you have shared with us, thank you so much for this! Holy moly! You guys have two bathrooms?! 😀👍🏼 that is so sweet!!! We would love to have a tour of your rig one day! Hopefully our paths cross so that we can make this happen Any upcoming vacations are big trips planned for you guys? 🙂

[@waynegleason5792]

That would be cool. Nothing really soon. School starting and I am a teacher.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Wayne! Renee and Kyle here 😊👋🏼How have you been? Are you staying busy with teaching? We read your comment again and it go us thinking about you, hope you are doing well and staying safe! Reach out to us anytime, would be great to get to know you more

[@raymondroot6598]

Personally I like to let the water run for a few moments before I put my regulator or hose on. Just makes sure there is not a lot of crud coming out from the faucet

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Raymond! This is a great idea 😃👍🏼 thank you so much for sharing!! What kind of RV do you own?

[@PrchrsWife1]

Me too! Always run the water through the hose and filter a little, prior to hooking up.

[@valc8758]

I always run the water from the spigot first to get fresh water in the line and after hooking up the hose run water through the hose before attaching to the trailer.

[@lonnymossey525]

Hey HANKS, Little tip for you, when you hook water to camper, you should fill hose with water First, so you have less air pushed through your system. Less bleeding required...great video👍

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Lonny!! Thank you so much for this tip, we appreciate your insight and all the support we can get! Any upcoming trips or vacations for you Lonny? 😃

[@Itsa_Mea]

To add for the reason to do this, is to flush sediment from the campground's line. At the start of a season after sitting all winter we have had everything from sand to bugs come out of the hose.

[@valc8758]

@@Itsa_Mea Never had sand or bugs in the water but it sure can be nasty tasting without flushing first.

[@rickharris4397]

One piece of advice for you, is to run the water prior to hooking to your camper. You would be surprised at the color of some of the water that first comes out of the hydrant.Run it for 5-10 seconds till it runs clear.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much for this Rick 😀👍🏼 We really appreciate your insight!! Keep these great tips coming!

[@koalabear342]

One helpful thing we do, we have multiple hoses, like three different length that can be used, and we use water quick disconnects, simple and fast. just a quick tip.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That’s actually something we have been wanting to do ourselves, nicely done 😃🙌🏼 Thank you for sharing this, it helps a lot. Keep these great tips coming

[@paulmeier5689]

This is really well done. It should be at every dealers location as a mandatory watch before they buy and first outing!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

WOW, thank you so much Paul 😃 You just made our day!! It's great to meet you, do you currently own an RV?

[@thomasmarchione1943]

My wife and I are just starting our journey, we sold our home and most of our possessions and bought a Minnie Winnie 31k class c rv . Anyway the reason I’m writing you guys is to say thank you for being so inspirational to us , because of you both just be so real you have almost become KZbin mentors . We are excited to meet you guys on the road sometime. Thank you again Love The Marchione’s

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Thomas!! Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out to us! We are really happy for you guys and your upcoming adventures in your class C RV 😊🙌🏼 YES!!! We look forward to meeting you guys one day soon as well! Keep these wonderful comments and feedback coming on other videos as well, you mean so much!! 🙂👋🏼

[@MotoBeemer]

Amazing vid, first time campers here. We bought a 24 ft Jayco TT and are heading out for our first adventure in a week. We bought items based on tips or lists from other sources, we have practiced backing up in open parking lots. Our campsite is reserved and 4 hours away, I even took the motorcycle up there to recon the actual site (no hookups, no water). Hence I sourced a water place about 20 miles from the site to fill up at, called them and it's $10. Let's see what else, I bought a 4k inverter generator, have all the tools to change a tire and an air compressor... I'm sure there will be quite a few learning experiences but your video has been gold. Thank you.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Just know it's the lifestyle of never-ending upgrades! Just when you think you're good, you're RV friend or neighbor will show you something to buy!

[@carleequigg2610]

Quick disconnects are a must for use for the hoses. Makes things so much easier!

[@brianvandy4002]

My favorite find for setting up is the X-Chocks. My wife complained a lot when we first started RVing with the 5th wheel that it shook a lot when walking around inside. The X-Chocks got rid of about 75% of the shakiness. She was much happier after those were added to our gear.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Brian!! We totally agree with you on the X chocks, they have been an absolutely amazing purchase to have on the road! Have you ever heard of the JT Strong Arms before? They are like a cross stabilization bar between the landing jacks. They help to take out that shake from side to side. We hope to get some one day soon 😃

[@brianvandy4002]

@@HappilyEverHanks We didn't try those. My wife complained for the first few months that she'd get sea-sick walking through the RV. This might be a good video topic. "Here are some of the ways to better stabilize the 5th wheel to reduce this." Of course at the time we were in an older 5th wheel (2005) with two levelling jacks in the front and just stabilizers jacks in the rear. I haven't had an opportunity to compare the 6-point auto-levelling jacks to the old way they did something so I don't know how much of an issue it still is today.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Yes that’s a great point! I will be an awesome video topic! So glad you guys have a beautiful rig with more stabilization 😃 that makes a world of difference! Talk to you again soon Brian, always a great time catching up 😀👍🏼

[@GiftHorse123]

I just bought a new KZ small toy hauler and I had trouble removing the 30 amp cord (female end) from the Furrion port (male end). Well, it was recommended to me by fellow owners to use something called "dielectric grease" available at automotive stores to lubricate the connection. I recently bought a 3 in 1 lubricant product that was rated #1 for RV Locks. Got it on Amazon and I applied to these troublesome locks that the manufacturers keep installing. Did a great job and used the lubricant to free up my 30 amp connection. Next time I'll be applying the Dielectric grease.

[@joefrazier445]

Great video. Very informative and entertaining. My wife also uses that snaking hand gesture when helping me back up, fortunately for me she has usually positioned herself outside of my field of vision in the mirrors. One thought on the water filter placement. I always hooked mine up the same as you did until my wife corrected me. She said you might want to filter some of that funk from the hose before it comes into the camper. As usual she is correct, we now hook the filter up at the camper after the hose. We both have our strengths and weaknesses, focusing on the strengths and letting the weaknesses slide seems to work. We’ve been married for 37 years and camping in one form or another since day one, haven’t had the police called on us yet for fighting while setting up our site so I guess we’re doing ok. Keep up the good work on the videos, you got my follow.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Joe, this is an absolutely incredible comment 😊 Congratulations to you both on 37 years, that is really amazing. You guys are an inspiration! That’s a great point from your wife as well. We will start implementing this into our practices, because that makes total sense! 😃🙌🏼 Thank you so much for taking the time to write meaningful feedback, we look forward to hearing from you again soon Joe! Best to you both - Kyle and Renee

[@johnmclean7852]

We don’t have auto level, and trailer frames are made to flex, so our bubble level was put on the stove grate. This was so the pancakes would not slide on the pan. The other concern was that the foot of the bed was not higher than the head. Don’t forget to date the water filter, and flush the water line especially early in the season.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey John! Can't go wrong with that 😃Very good tips, thank you so much for taking the time to share these! What kind of RV are you guys traveling in?? What inspired ya'll to join the RV life?

[@davidfrenchman3022]

I recommend that you run the water before you hook up the water to make sure there's no bugs inside the faucet because any bug would immediately clog up your water filtering system

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much for your insight David! We appreciate your support and hope to hear from you again 😃👍🏼

[@nsbderm]

As a fellow nurse, I am proud you guys are representing us. Keep up good work. God bless

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow Jason, thank you so much!! This means everything to us 😃 We are really happy to meet you What specialty of nursing do you work in? Are you currently living the RV life?

[@nsbderm]

@@HappilyEverHanks I spent 5 years in ICU, then became a dermatology nurse practitioner. My wife and I are both NPs. We have devoted the last 10 years fighting for autonomy in private practice for nurse practitioners in Florida. In 2013 We became the first 100% APRN owned Dermatology medical clinic. We spent years fighting the laws and hurdles for NPs. We are so happy for or practice and our profession. In 8 short years we became one of the biggest dermatology practices in florida. However, it has been exhausting. We recently bought an RV and will be traveling soon. I look forward to watching and laughing with you guys.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow that is absolutely incredible Jason! You guys are goals! Congrats to both of you on your success 😊 I couldn't imagine the amount of dedication and perseverance you guys had to endure to get where you are with your practices. Thank you both so much for the kind words and support. We are so happy we can bring some entertainment 🙂 What kind of RV did you recently purchase?

[@nsbderm]

@@HappilyEverHankswe bought a 2021 class A. 38ft Holiday rambler. I had absolutely no clue on driving that big bad girl. We purchased in January of this year and have had her out 5 times for weekends . We are in our mid 40s and the business is on cruise control which will allows us the financial freedom to roam for a month every two months or so . Dude your videos are fire! You guys are hilarious enjoy every minute! Keep em coming

[@HappilyEverHanks]

​@@nsbderm That is so awesome!! Our friend has a Holiday Rambler, they are great :) Wow, you guys are definitely doing it the right way. Financial freedom is HUGE. We are also debt free, so we really can appreciate healthy financial indpendence hehe! #daveramsey We can't thank you enough for the support, we want to keep it real and fun! Thank you so much Jason, we hope we can meet ya'll soon out on the road 😃

[@evanwhitney2428]

This video is a little old but one thing I really like to use (from Amazon) are brass fitted quick release ends for water connections. I keep them on my hoses and it’s a quick and easy install. Not a necessity but wow is it nice to have!!

[@timewing4549]

Just a little trucker tip for backing any trailer,...instead of grabbing the top of the steering wheel,...grab the bottom of it when backing, and the trailer will go in what ever direction you turn...it makes backing much much easier...And that means any size or type of trailer...(with the exception of doubles and triples)...

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That is a great tip! Thanks Tim!

[@karenebarker9244]

Love your videos Hanks! You two are such fun to watch. We are full time RVers for 5 years. Retired, sold all our stuff and hit the road. Loving the life. One extra step on your power connection you might want to add. As well as checking that the breakers are off like you mentioned. Look inside the outlet first to check for debris or insects. Spray some electrical cleaner in the holes and confirm that you don't see any damage or melted plastic. THEN plug in and make sure you have a firm connection. A loose or dirty connection is really bad for your power plug and cord. If you aren't happy with the looks of things, call the park office to request they change out the outlet. Over the years, when we have requested a replacement and have never been denied. The last thing you want is an electrical fire or damage to your unit. All the best!

[@captainmac9929]

Being a “newbie” myself, even with the EXTENSIVE research I did before even buying my rig, I always learn some new item, or a new way of doing something, that helps tremendously! Thanks!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey there! It's so great to meet you 😃 👋🏼 Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a great comment, we appreciate your support! Yes, the RV life never ceases to teach any of us something new LOL What kind of RV are ya traveling in??

[@captainmac9929]

It’s a new Keystone Cougar 22MLS. Kind of a “couples” camper, but it’s just me, so many of your cooperative techniques between the two of you are being performed all by yours truly, lol. It does change things up a bit.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey that’s awesome you are jumping into the RV life! That’s going to be a great adventure for you 😃 so what got ya purchasing an RV in the first place? One man show, I like it! Sometimes it can be complicated with multiple people if you are not good at communication. At least you know exactly what needs to be done out on the road 😎🙌🏼

[@captainmac9929]

@@HappilyEverHanks I’d been looking at going full time since before I retired, but when I finally did I got a seasonal job at Yellowstone National Park for two years. After that I got back on the horse and started looking again. Finally found the right one. Will hit the road full time this fall I think.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That’s fantastic! We can’t wait to hear all about your progression towards the full time lifestyle 🙂 keep us updated on things, we would love to hear from you again Also feel free to reach out anytime we can be of help with answering questions 😃 we are here for you

[@Ricks_Tech_Talk]

I'm upgrading from a popup, so I'm picking up all the tips I can. I like that pvc pipe you use to see how far the slide comes out. Your videos are fun and packed full of great tips. The first few times I was parking and leveling my pop-up, I got chewed up by mosquitos. It took maybe 5 trips before I learned that the car's exhaust was drawing the mosquitos in, lol.

[@davidlogan7216]

We've camped for 42 years. Started as tenters, then pop-up and now we are in our third year with our Travel Trailer. 2 first-year mistakes. 1: we forgot to raise the tongue jack and bent it to about a 45-degree angle on our first trip. As you said, never rush!!! 2: I was checking the roof of our slide out to be sure there were no sticks or other debris on it before closing it. Forgot the ladder I was on and closed the slider. The ladder was stronger than the trim on the slider so for the rest of the season, the trim was bent. No impact on operation but who wants their new RV dinged up. Another thing we learned is that with a travel trailer putting down the rear jacks before disconnecting the trailer just won't work, same for hooking up to leave. You have a lot of good ideas that I am planning on following up with. Thanks, Hank.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Oh wow, appreciate you sharing all of this!

[@jandblawncare8570]

I loved the intro. It's so funny because it's true lol. My Wife and I have a great system down and are usually unhitched and ready to camp in about 20 minutes. One tip I have for newcomers is even before you hook up and head out for the first time is get some lingo down or some type of system that both people understand as far as backing up a rig because that seems to be the most stressful. One thing I did years ago is when we decided to get a TT is search for videos just like this and wrote down the order of things and kind of did a mach drill in my mind quite a few times (it was winter so I had plenty of spare time lol) then come spring it was pretty much second nature.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is such a great idea thank you so much for sharing! We think more people need to do something similar to this! 20 minutes that’s a really good time! Thank you for watching and the feedback😃 ~ Renee and Kyle

[@darrenpatrick2609]

I’ve watched a ton of videos, also a grand design owner for 4 years. My process is exactly as yours. You have done a good job.👍👍👍

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you very much Darren!! 😃 That’s awesome you are rocking a Grand Design as well, what inspired you to join the RV life??

[@timlord4172]

The Anderson leveling block is a life saver on some of the out of level sites for my 32’ Travel Trailer! I did notice that you don’t run the water through your fresh water hose prior to connecting to your RV, I have learned over time that you might be surprised what may crawl into your hose or filters while traveling. I know that I was lol. Fantastic info guys and very entertaining adding your personal touch to the material. Take Care.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That's such a great tip, thanks for sharing! Hopefully people will read through the comments and get all these bonus tips! Thank you and have a great weekend 😃

[@mikealdrich7279]

I always connect my hose to itself when not in use to avoid things getting inside. I still run the water before connecting though

[@DirectCurrent4u]

One thing that I would recommend is a good pair of Trailer chalks that go between the trailer tires. (scissor type) They will lock Your trailer solid and will not let it move at all. You can also lock them if You like.I put mine on before ever unhitching my Trailer. Hope this will help someone. 😎👍

[@HappilyEverHanks]

We couldn’t agree more with you! We have some X-Chocks and we absolutely love them 🙂🙌🏼 We definitely appreciate your inside tips, we hope to hear from you again on other videos as well!! You mean so much 🙂

[@armontnash3086]

I have watched tons of youtue videos over the years I must say that your energy is unmatched and electrifying. You guys were straight to the point, not a lot of fluff or unnecessary content. And you even put the we already know it all at the beginning (lol). My wife and I are currently considering jumping into the travel trailer game and have een watching numerous videos pertaining to it. Again I love the energy and look forward to seeing more of your positive content.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you for your amazing support and for taking the time to write out such a wonderful comment. It truly means a lot to us being able to read this 😊 keep us posted on how things progress with jumping into the travel trailer, we will be curious to see how things work out for you guys!

[@camptimecreative5713]

I think this is one of the first videos I watched and now my wife and I are starting RV Life! We've been researching for a few months now but we made the decision and are taking the leap in January!

[@fredHopeBC]

Hey Hanks family, I just sold my house today. My dream of r v living full-time is finely about to happen. First I have to buy the rv then a truck . My brother is dying of cancer and sadly will not last much longer.. We are all getting together so he can dye at my sisters with family, surrounded with love. I live in Canada and plan on a lot of boondocking. I am alone in life Human wize but do have 5 chihuahuas and a soon to be 25 year old umbrella cockatoo. I am planning on buying a rv lot for a home base. I will have to learn how to edit and hope to share our journey. Sure enjoy your chanal. Fred in Canada 🇨🇦

[@honeybee2356]

Awesome! I'm considering the same since we lost the apartment, what do we really have to lose? I say more to gain hmm 😊

[@honeybee2356]

@@fredHopeBC blessings to your family 🙏🏼 ♥

[@dontfencemein-rving7439]

Level, Leveled, Leveling: You said 13 times before asking for a count and 19 times after. See I pay attention. I really like the idea of the 90 degree 50 amp adapter so you don't put too much stress on the receptacle or on the plug itself. Something else I noticed is you also use a 90 degree adapter for you City Water hookup. That way your hose doesn't crimp. This is a lot of good info. I think starting in August I will start ordering some things that I will need. I have decided on a Class C Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB. Hola from Peru and hugs from Logan.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Mack & Logan! Thanks for taking note on that! 19 times is a good amount! 90 degree connections on all hookups, even the sewer! Thanks for watching 😃 ~Renee & Kyle

[@dontfencemein-rving7439]

@@HappilyEverHanks I'm going to have to start saying Carl. Good to hear from you, Mac.

[@RanndiMarie01]

I was looking for this comment! 😆

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Yes!! 😁🙌🏼

[@valc8758]

I had to replace my electrical cord (50 AMP) and purchased one with an angled male plug, 45 degrees I think. It works great!! I have always used the angled hose connections because hoses don't bend too well!! You nailed about the stress on the plug.

[@rcud1]

If your fortunate to have a sewer hookup, thats usually the one you need to be sure to be close enough to. You usually have more water hose and long enough electric to connect those.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Truer words were never spoken 🙂 Thank you for this! Tell us about yourself, what's your name? Do you currently own an RV?

[@Glentownsendsus]

I've found I get better level if you put the slides out first, then auto level. X-Chock wheel Chocks will help prevent movement while walking around inside the RV since it helps prevent the wheels from moving. 5th wheel tripod stabilizers also help considerably.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Glen, thank you so much for this! 😃👋🏼Have you run into any problems at all with the sides being out when it is not level? Was curious because we had heard you should always be leveled before putting the slides out, what has your experience been? Nice recommendation on the X-Chocks, we couldn’t agree more! We definitely need to get a fifth wheel tripod stabilizer, any real good recommendations on those? Thank you again for taking the time to write such an awesome comment, it really means a lot Glen!

[@loismcgurk3184]

We just got our Grand Design XLS yesterday! It took hubby about 20 minutes to get it backed into our space at our storage facility! Full disclosure, we didn't get a chance to practice and we had never hauled or parked any sort of trailer. We go on our first camping trip in two days, so today will be spent practicing in a huge parking lot. You guys make everything so much fun! Laughing at our mistakes is key to enjoying life. I just love your upbeat, take life as it comes attitudes! Thanks for all these set up tips, we'll be sure to use your experience to make things go more smoothly! Thanks again!!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Lois this is so amazing!!! 😃 You guys are doing it! Don't worry, the back up process will get quicker each time. We are so happy for you both 😊 Ok...next order of business, we should meet up one day on the road! haha We really just enjoy keeping it real. Honestly, the RV life always throws curveballs at you no matter how long you have been in the game. We are learning so many new things all the time! Thank you both for your support, your comments mean so much to us! Keep us updated on your first camping trip! We want to hear all the details, success and struggles. Also, feel free to reach out to us anytime we can be of help with answering questions Lois! What's your husbands name by the way? It's great to meet ya'll 🙂

[@RVAmerica]

Man, sitting up a fifth wheel is completely different, mostly, from setting up a class c motorhome. The similarities are in the leveling and the hookups. Another great video guys! Lynn and Danny

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Yes, I would imagine it would be quite different! Thank you both so much 😊Much love to you guys - Kyle and Renee

[@Robin-wh4wr]

@@HappilyEverHanks what is the length of your 5th wheel? Is your truck a 3/4 ton, or 1ton? It looks like it's a short Rd. My hubby and I are researching all kinds. I have done full time camping with my kids when they were young. My hubby has never done this before. Just went camping a couple times with his friends. He is a pretty sharp guy. His biggest worry at this point is picking the right truck for the job. Also wanted to say you two rock. I can't tell you how many times I ended up next to a couple that fought the whole time they were setting up. Yippee, so much fun. Anyway, keep working together and having fun. Would love to run across y'all on a trip. Take Care and happy trails.🤗🐬

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Awww thank you so much Robin!! We have a 34 foot fifth wheel and pull it with a 3/4 ton Duramax diesel 😊🙌🏼 Yes, we would say if you guys ever have any gut feelings you might upgrade to a bigger unit down the road… go big with the truck so that you don’t chase your tail and have to end up upgrading the truck AGAIN 😄 Thank you guys so much for your wonderful support and kindness. Please keep these comments coming on other videos as well, you guys mean so much!!!

[@BillandKelleyAdventures]

Glad you posted earlier I'm not in bed haha. Backing in is our stressful time. I (Kelley) have learned I just walk away and let him back in that works best. Unless he asks for my help on a blind back-in. Our snap pads are awesome.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Backing in can still be stressful for us, especially after hitting stuff twice! Thanks for watching, glad you caught you before bed!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Yes Zachary, we like to do the same. Sometimes less words is better lol

[@donny2243]

I always leave my chains hooked up while coming off the hitch. Just a little tip to keep your trailer from running away!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Awesome tip Donny! Like that a lot, great extra safety precaution 😀👍🏼 What model of rig are ya rocking out on the road?

[@donny2243]

We have the 2020 Transcend by grand design. 30ft bumper pull so that I can haul my golfcart in the bed of the truck. We are not full time but love every second we get in it!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That is so awesome to hear! So happy to hear that you are part of the grand design family! 😀🙌🏼 We hope we can continue hearing from you!!! Take care Donny 😎👋🏼

[@chuckchillson2877]

Iv actually backed in perfectly straight with a cement patio got perfectly level and after unhooking realized my fold down steps hit the patio now I check every time

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Ugh! Yes all it took was one time for us to start checking that too! Thanks for watching and sharing! 😃 ~Renee & Kyle

[@dwellbig]

One tip I think could help a lot of people especially people newer into this at any level: The driver backs the rig and sets the trajectory. Whomever is outside with eyes on the rig is purely just a spotter. The biggest problems I ever witness come from the driver relying on the spotter for direction in how to back the rig. This ultimately goes south very fast and results in exactly what you guys showcased in the intro. It is also why products with sayings like “I am sorry for what I said when trying to park the camper” have become so popular. Also, to add to that….my wife and I are the absolute only people that make decisions about our rig or that are involved in backing our rig. If you aren’t making payments or going to pay for damages then you are not involved. This rule is absolute, it doesn’t matter who it is trying to help. It’s the same reason I will sit and watch someone struggle because I am not going to accidentally be the cause of damage to someone else’s property. Awesome video as always, and loved the intro.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

LOVE this, you have so many great points listed in this comment. I love the one "if you aren't making the payments, you are not involved." 👍🏼 You guys sound like you have a really great system down pat. One that you don't deviate from and one that will not steer you wrong (no pun intended) 🙂Thank ya'll so much for the continued support, we really appreciate your insight! - Kyle and Renee

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Carl! It's Ney Ney and "Carl" here 😃We haven't hear from you in awhile and wanted to see how you are doing? How is West Virginia treating you lately? We haven't visited there in little and we are long overdue! We hope to hear from you soon, would be great to catch up some more 😊Stay safe friend

[@chrischapman276]

Now serious... The tips you've done here are absolutely PERFECT Every RV dealer should make this video a mandatory watch for anyone new purchasing an RV. Perfect . Thorough. Very detailed with emphasis on the important things. Maybe left out the Don't Open The Black Tank Valve While Glamping until full or leaving.,. Good job

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thanks Chris and you are so right!

[@douglaskee9715]

Thanks so much for the info! Just something we like to when backing in a space, Bluetooth headphones for both of you then the driver is hands free to just maneuver without trying to key the mic on the radio. That’s is just us, not saying it’s better!!!! We are so used to using those because we are both retired truckers. Please don’t think less of us!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

No not at all Douglas! We really appreciate your insight! You both must have so much experience with backing up rigs 😃 you guys have a lot of knowledge, thank you for sharing! What kind of RV are y’all traveling in?

[@douglaskee9715]

We have a 38’ 5wheel, Keystone, Avalanche. We just love it! It’s also the first rv we have owned. We have been fulltime since last August. It’s been fun ride looking to do this many more years.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That is so amazing!! Love that y’all are full time and enjoying life to the fullest. We hope we can meet up with ya out on the road sometime soon 😃 congrats to you on the beautiful rig by the way, love hearing about this! Keep us updated on your adventures

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Douglas! Renee and Kyle here 🙂👋🏼We are checking in on you to see how things have been for you guys? Are you guys still enjoying the full time RV life?? You had mentioned the Keystone Avalanche before, it sounds like a great set-up you guys have!! We hope you guys are doing well

[@avocado3748]

You 2 are adorable!!! You walked thru so many practical tips that I haven’t seen or heard. Thought process is half the battle. Thank you!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Avo!! Thank you so much for you amazing support 😀🙌🏼 Are you currently living the RV life?

[@allisonpowell501]

Yes, that was a big thing that the guy went over with us about keeping the stairs up when leveling before unhooking. Great video guys and tons of great info! ❤️

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Right! Thanks Alli ❤️

[@derrybrant5505]

Before you start to hook up your water you should turn the valve on for a few moments for any settlement that may be in there come out it will help save on your filter and make it last a little longer

[@mikehen1982]

I usually get it in and check my side to side level and then determine if I need to go forward or back and put my blocks for the tires to adjust the level....2 birds 1 stone

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is a wonderful tip! Thank you for taking the time to write this out for us an everyone reading 😃 Are you currently living the RV life?

[@budlamy3870]

I laughed uncontrollably as you show how it goes the first couple times you go camping! The only thing you left out that happened to us was downpouring rain while trying to park it! More than once too! Lolololol! Love the cat, we have two with us. I took a sip of beer every time you said “level” and now I can’t stand up! I’m subscribing!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Bud! Thank you so much!! I know, we totally forgot that infamous downpour of rain 🤣Yes!! Have a beer for us lol We really appreciate your support! What are your cats names? What kind of RV do ya'll travel in? 🙂

[@valc8758]

ROFL!! Well done, well done, sir.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Val you are the best 😊

[@michaeljohnson8126]

Fill your water hose up with water before you connect it to your service center. Your pumping air into your line. Sewer line should be as short as possible, my first consideration when hooking up

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Yes that’s a great point Michael! Thank you for this, it’s nice to hear your feedback 🙂👍🏼 tell us about yourself, what kind of RV do you own?

[@MSUSpartansRock]

You two are camping nerds! LOVE IT!(especially hugging on your RV). We've been travel trailer camping for about 8 years, just sold that one and upgraded to a GD Solitude and can't wait to get her out!! will be watching your videos on how to hitch/unhitch for sure!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much! It’s wonderful to meet you, what’s your name? 😃 how fantastic you’ve been going at this for eight years now! How great that you bought a Grand Design Solitude as well! What model did ya end up getting?

[@Bill-fx8gq]

“It’s official “ your channel is the must see, don’t miss, see every video channel. Thanks you two are a best to watch. Hope my comments help!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Bill!! Thank you so much for this 😁Your comments helps so greatly and we really enjoy hearing from you! Thank you for your continued support, you rock!! - Kyle and Renee

[@enterprise59]

Having done everything from a popup, travel trailer, class C and now class A, I suggest when you hook up your water, flush that filter, put your hose on, then run water through the hose before hooking up to the RV. Prevents a few things. 1, that filter will collect carbon and rinsing it out first after each use, will be better. 2. You have air in that hose, when you turn on the water, you go inside to use the faucet, you're gonna get a gush of air coming out, it's also not good on the lines. I put a Y connector on the end of the hose, comes in handy for a rinse hose, and to let air out of the line.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Copy that!! Thank you so much for your great feedback and inside tips! We really appreciate you 😀🙌🏼 Are you currently living full time in an RV? What’s your name by the way?

[@enterprise59]

@@HappilyEverHanks We do 2 weeks each summer, but we're also at dog shows a lot camping. We retire next spring, and going to a 5th wheel full time for a few years.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That’s great to hear! Love this!! Keep these great comments coming, y’all mean so much 😊👋🏼 have a safe weekend!

[@miguelgutierrez1252]

Hilariously good. The two of you were made for each other. Love the chemistry and all the material covered. Great job and content. Happy rv’ing to you and thank you. 👌🏼

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much!😃 so glad you enjoy! ~Renee & Kyle

[@lancecourtney3900]

I recommend hooking up the sewer line to to campground fitting before the RV. That way if the RV line leaked and you take the cap off you can quickly attach the hose and route the leakage to the campground system. You two were great.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Lance!! This is such a great idea, thank you so much for sharing with us 😃 it’s great to meet you by the way, what kind of RV are you rocking on the road?

[@lancecourtney3900]

@@HappilyEverHanks We have had an Airstream,truck camper,tent trailer,24 foot travel trailer,36’ class A and 2 class C RV’s of which we have one.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Holy moly! You guys must have so much experience in the RV world 😃🙌🏼 this is so awesome to hear, we are so happy for you guys! We look forward to catching up with you more soon Lance, stay in touch 😀👋🏼

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

So one of the reasons we found out why it is important to always have a water pressure regulator is because my (Shion) uncle bought his first-ever RV and nobody told him about a water pressure regulator and he blew out all his pipes on his first hook up and he said his wife did not let him come home until he got it fixed, LOL! We always enjoy y'all's videos! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey guys 😃👋🏼 It's so great hearing from ya'll. NO WAY! That is such a bummer 😣I can't believe that happened to him. I wonder how much that labor cost to get all of that fixed? Probably a LOT 😬

[@lovestodive1879]

We have been Rving for a while now and just found your channel. Love your sense of humor. Someone down thread mentioned this but I'll say it again. Check the electric before you even unhook. It's the first thing we do when we pull into a site after making sure everything is going to clear. We plug in the surge protector without it being hooked into the RV and check it, if it's o.k. we move on to the rest. Learned this the hard way when camping in a county park. Backed in, chocked the tires, made sure the slides were clear, unhooked and moved the truck. Then plugged in the surge protector and the post was dead. We had to call the park and get a new site, rehook and move.

[@NoWay-xu1ie]

Lots of very good info. A place we go for the winter has all the hook ups at the back of the lot that are 90' deep. So I stretch out my 50' cord and water hose then finish backing till they can be hooked up. And still let my steps be able to stay on the patio when unhooked.. Also before fastening the water hose to the camper I run some water thru especially when using that blue filter. It cleans out the excess carbon. And make sure I'm getting clean water. I also run water in the camper to get the air out and make sure the water heater is full before turning on .. And that it's not in bypass after being winterized. It happened 1 time . We also have a 1/2 tank of water in case we loose water pressure. And it has happened more than once.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Mike! Thank you so much for your amazing support and taking the time to write out this great information for us and everyone reading 😃That is a great idea with running water through the hose and water filter, we will start incorporating this habit into our set up! What kind of RV are you traveling in?? Are you part time or full time on the road?

[@Glock2201]

Great video guys. We have only been camping 3 times so far and have yet to have any major issues and I think a lot of it is because of people like you 2 doing great videos. As someone else mentioned you forgot about the part of getting yourself a beverage once you are done.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That’s so amazing to hear!! Thank you guys so much for your wonderful support 😊 this means a lot to us! You got that right! Cold beverage definitely needs to be added to the list 🙂 Tell us about yourself, what kind of RV are y’all traveling in?

[@Glock2201]

@@HappilyEverHanks We have a Wildwood X-lite 263BHXL we bought late last summer.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That’s what’s up! Love hearing this! Hopefully we meet y’all on the road one day soon 😃 whats your names by the way?

[@jimhall5472]

“ You might want to stop at a rest area an hour before your destination and empty your bladder” hahahahaha!!! Spoken like the kids that you are. You should have added “ unless you’re older than dirt like Jim and then you might want to stop at a rest area five minutes before your destination... and then you will probably still have to go once you get there.” 😂😂😂😂 Great video as always! My wife and I are planning to hit the road and she has also expressed an interest in KZbining. Shock to me! But we are looking for what our niche might be.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Jim! LOL you are so hilarious 🤣 You seriously crack us up 😂 We really appreciate you both! We hope that you can start this journey that you speak of with KZbin, that would be so amazing for you both!! You guys would rock it! When is your timeframe to hit the road again?

[@jimhall5472]

@@HappilyEverHanks You guys are teaching us so much, not only about RVing but also about Youtubing. You really do a great job and make your videos fun to watch. Our time frame is not set in stone yet. We have a bunch of rental property to sell, as well as 2 tax offices. On top of that I need to retire from the police department (no, sadly being a cop ain't what it used to be). Then we have a house to sell and I'm also the senior pastor of a church. Ssssooo, lots and lots to prepare in order to make the jump but honestly I still hope to pull it off before the snow flies. We did land a 38' Class A that we had to travel 2000 miles to get and it's been in the shop since the day we got home with it. LOL Anyway, I really hope that we cross paths with you guys, Jason and Rae, and some others when we finally get out there.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow Jim, I wish you knew how much this means to us. We really cherish reading these words you gave us ❤️Thank you for your service with being a police officer, that is not an easy job at all. Coming from 2 Emergency Nurses, we have huge respect for what you do We look forward to hearing more about your progression of selling off your properties and transitioning into the retired lifestyle 🙂 Reach out to us any time we can be of help with answering questions. We really hope to cross paths with you as well, stay safe Jim! Best to you and your family - Kyle and Renee

[@captainkirk8806]

Thank you for saying what we all were thinking!!!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

You guys are the best...

[@jessicaneal3483]

Oh my gosh, the beginning is hilarious and spot on!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much Jessica!! 😃🙌🏼 It's so great to hear from you! Do you currently own an RV?

[@sharonalfaro4424]

Haha I read this before it started and I am DECEASED🤣🤣🤣💀

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hahaha!! Love hearing this Sharon 😄So glad that you enjoy the sense of humor! Are you living the RV life??

[@shawnalderson9065]

The good part is that with experience, it gets much faster and easier. On the flip side, when you get to that point, it can get a little easier to overlook something. Great video

[@wdm4995]

We have a 2014 Solitude with 6-point self leveling. I too have had some situations where the trailer is way too unlevel for the self-leveling function to work properly. Whenever I bring the trailer to the house to set it up for a trip or clean up after a trip, I have that problem. We live in an old, historic neighborhood and the street has been paved over so many times that there is a huge crown in the middle of the street and a significant downward angle toward the curb, thus making the trailer lean down on the right (passenger) side. Through trial and error, I found an easy way to get the self-leveling function to work. On your control panel, go to Manual Mode, then raise the side of the trailer that is way off (in my case, that's the right side) so that there is some semblance of right-to-left level of the trailer. Turn off the control panel, then turn it back on (easy way to switch out of Manual Mode and back into normal mode). Hit the switch for self leveling, and the trailer will obey as needed. Basically, you fool the trailer into thinking it's reasonably level, then tell it to self level the rest of the way. Works every time for me.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow William!!! This is incredible, we have never heard of this before and we cannot wait to try it 😀🙌🏼 THANK YOU!!! You are a lifesaver, it’s simple tricks like this that make a world of difference Keep these great inside tips coming, we really enjoy hearing your insight. Thank you again for all your support, hope to talk to you again soon 🙂👋🏼

[@MingoMoon]

Good coverage of those things you should look for. A couple of things you did not mention. Look UP your slides may clear a post of table but many times there are branches that can obstruct your slide, if you have slide toppers they extend up to another 6 inches from the top of your slide. The other thing is your awning, if you have one it extends way past your slide and you want to make sure that there are no trees or branches that will impact its use.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much!! 😃🙌🏼 we really appreciate your wonderful feedback! Yes, these are some fantastic points that you make. Couldn’t agree more, it’s nice to hear your perspective! You guys sound very knowledgeable in the RV life 🙂 What are your names by the way? What kind of RV do you guys currently own?

[@MingoMoon]

@@HappilyEverHanks hi, I am Russ and my best side is Laura, we own a 35 foot 2015, Big Horn 5th wheel by Heartland. We have been RVing in one form or another, popup, travel Trailer and now the 5th wheel, the longest continuous traveling was in 2019 for 5+ months and learned a lot about our travel style, things that go wrong and things that break. What we can fix and what we should have a professional fix, and even if your RV is no longer under warranty, sometimes you can get the manufacture to reimburse you for the repairs if you file a safety report. We love our RV and will probably keep it until we no longer travel in this format and will then downsize to something more simple. My wife is a quilter so we have made mods to the RV living area to give her room for her craft but also still be functional.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

So nice to meet you Russ and Laura!! What a fantastic setup that you guys have with the Big Horn 😃 You got that right, things always seem to break in the RV world..you have some great suggestions with fixing things yourself That's really great that she is able to maintain her quilting while on the road as well 🙂 It's a pleasure to meet you both, we hope that we can see ya'll on the road one day soon!!

[@therealvinnyb690]

Since we are new to the fifth wheel world, this is a great video. This answered several question I had. Thanks very much. Plug in early and do not put the steps down till after level! Got it. Thanks. I love the idea of stopping before you get to the campsite. Especially since Diane is not using any bushes! Hahaha. Keep up the good videos, you guys are great.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Vinny you are so awesome for sharing this 😊Lol yes!! We can't blame Diane for not using any bushes 🤣We appreciate you both so much, be safe and have a great weekend - Kyle and Renee

[@TheTropics4]

Awesome and thorough video! I'm a super newbie going to buy my very 1st RV this summer and watching your fun and very informative videos makes me feel so much better! Thank you! 🥰

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is so awesome to hear! We are so happy for you! 🤗🤗❤️ What kind of RV are you rocking out on the road??

[@darylberry6286]

For the longest time, this video showed up in my KZbin feed but there was something about the Intro photo that just didn't appeal to me and I just scrolled past it. I finally watched one of your other videos and got hooked on watching you two. I came back to this video recently and realized how helpful it is. You guys by far have the best channel I have seen so far. The way you put a positive spin on negative events is so much better than the gloom and doom I have seen elsewhere. Keep up the good work.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much Daryl!

[@DailyDriver.]

Loving the hook up tips. This video is gold! I’ve been watching all your stuff since I found you a week ago. Love your video! It’s like having friends who do what me and my fiancé want to do in a few years

[@bryankurn4848]

Truly great happy 😊how to's and absolutely hell no don't's, with a great comedic flare. But absolutely very informative. Now I have a truck camper but I do level and I have chunks of 1" of a rubber conveyer belt and I put those down first and also in those travels I found a 2.5"x10"w x 4"L plank. Cut up into 4 pieces. I then put those on top of the rubber belt. Works great if its rocky just not smooth ground. Adds some great cushion / give for the blocks.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

LOL thank you so much Bryan 😁 🙌🏼 Love hearing how you go about this with a truck camper! Do you take frequent small trips with your truck or do you enjoy taking longer trips on the road? Where is the next vacation or getaway planned for? 🙂

[@monicanasser9503]

We always check the electric with a serge protector before we plug in. Saving our inline protector if it’s bad.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Monica! So great to hear from you 😃👋🏼 do you guys have 2 surge protectors?? Always a great idea to check before getting settled into the site!!

[@richardhuffman58]

@@HappilyEverHanks Does NAPA have RV surge protectors

[@bryanmontgomery4050]

My surge protector has been stolen three times, I now check voltage with a meter.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Sorry to hear that Bryan... goodness that is so frustrating. Smart move on your part with checking with the voltage meter We have an in-line surge protector, so it sits underneath the belly of our RV. It’s great hearing from you Bryan, we hope to talk again soon with you!

[@bigjokerhere111]

@@bryanmontgomery4050 wow, I didn't realize theft was common with RV parks, RV living. I guess that's the world we live in now. Greetings From upstate New York. In route to Kentucky right now in the Wildcat 5th wheel. God bless!

[@amypletcher4411]

This video of hook up for newbies was fantastic!! The intro was just like our first time!! Thank goodness the RV park was not full. It was the end of April or mid April for our first! Plus, love the pvc pipe to tip because we have 3 slides on our new 5th wheel. Used new to us!! We had a travel trailer before with no slides. Our steps are Solid Steps but do have leveling legs. I really like the Moryde. Will get someday but not important enough to spend the money.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@dougshirley3460]

15 seasons & over 1900 nights here, very seldom more than a few nights at any place. Never had those 'lego blocks' for leveling. We carry 4 2X10 boards long enough for both wheels plus wood blocks for weight distribution under legs & stabilizers. The wood is multi purpose. It gets used in jacking up, leveling picnic tables, shoved under wheels when stuck, anything else & eventually firewood.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Doug! That’s amazing!! You make great points with the wood blocks, we should get on board with getting some of those 😁

[@eschaufler1]

When setting up your water hoses quick connects are your friend. My setup on my Grand Design is pressure regulator, splitter (one side for fresh water, one for black tank when needed (or anything that else that needs water), hose, then water filter, then connect to RV. Everything has a quick connect so that you don't need to be constantly screwing and unscrewing connections.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey there!! It's so great to meet you! Thank you for this suggestion, we don't have any quick connects. They sound amazing!! Love that you are part of the Grand Design family as well 😃What model of Grand Design do you travel in? Also are those quick connects expensive?

[@kdadpyro3702]

Pretty cool video. I also mention the final thing I do on my solitude, after everything else, is walk and check your slide seals/rubber. Are they flipped out correctly and fully? I have a old small wooden broom handle, and it is great for pull the seal away at the bottom, put the handle under rubber, and carefully let it ride up and away to position the seal all the way up. Sometimes you need to roll it to get to the top. I hate a flopped seal because campers and rain don’t play well.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is a fantastic suggestion! We do this as well, but we failed to mention this 😃 thank you for taking the time to write this out for us and everyone reading, this is great information What model of solitude are ya rocking out on the road? 😎

[@kdadpyro3702]

@@HappilyEverHanks got me a 2019 Grand Design Solitude 377 MBS. Love the big living area, boy in the downstairs bunk, and daughter up loft. Bathroom is roomy and master has plenty of storage and hiding spaces. My next upgrade is to make the under stairs storage into a 3’ pull out on sliders with magnet locks for long extra storage with a plywood top over in the understorage and access from pass through by a flip door pinned and magnet to hold open so we don’t have to remove the wall to access the new storage under, but over the drawer, if ya follow. Been in since new from lot and full time during work, average 6-8 months a year in my travel “home”.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is fantastic! What a great rig you landed 😎🙌🏼 Love that idea of the sliders underneath the stairs. We noticed on our rig that there is a lot of room for dead space. Coming up with hacks like what you mentioned really helps seat in the most use for storage. Come teach us your ways 😅 The pass through it where we have the most issues. I want to create something with multi level storage compartments. Right now, it doesn’t matter how “organized” we stay, we always eventually run out of room and start stacking things on things

[@the305hauler]

Hello, well the leveling process for us is a hoot. The radios should still stay on at this time, lol there is often a power failure during this time for some reason. We have a bumper tow travel jibby [Star Command 2], we have Two square bubble levels. One at the tongue and one inside either on the floor in the kitchen or countertop in the kitchen. The kitchen is the dead center of Star Command 2. Now the floor and counter both get surveyed because there have been a few occasions the floor was close to being level, and the counter had things on a roll, lol. On the outside I use 2x6 pieces of wood or 4x4 and 4x6 pieces of wood to help us go up from wheels. The same wood pieces or at least pieces from the batch get used for our stab jacks. We dont have slides so that's a step in the future for us, maybe. Cant wait for our next trip. 👍

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Oh my goodness, so much great information in this comment 🙂Thank you for this! How do you like your travel jibby? We can't wait to hear more about your upcoming trip!!

[@jeffforbess6802]

I feel like that’s all jibber jabber. Are you using sailor jargon? What’s a jib by? Is that the jib sail? Why do I have a jib on my RV? “Lower tha Mains’l to tha Forecastle! Heave to! I need coffee.

[@bwade6964]

0¾00⁴40⁴¾

[@bwade6964]

440⁴34in

[@bwade6964]

17401w

[@doggomom5176]

Soooooo many great tips, especially the set up for the surge protector! Way to "level" up your channel!😉

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey there!! It's so great to hear from you 🤗 LOL I am glad you caught onto all of the levels 🤣 Hope you have a fantastic weekend!! - Kyle and Renee

[@charisma-hornum-fries]

Yeah. Asking for or receiving help is just about as human as can be. And I just love your humor.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Charisma! Thank you so much for your wonderful support, you hit the nail on the head 😊 Are you living the RV life??

[@tonyv3843]

Another thing to do. Before hooking up the water hose. Run the water for a little bit. Just to make sure no black water and anything comes out.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Tony!! This is an awesome tip, thank you so much for sharing this with everyone! What kind of RV are you traveling in? 😃

[@NinetyOneAdventures]

I learn so much from you guys and laugh hysterically in the process. If my teachers would have taught like you guys I would know all the things LOL!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Oh my goodness, this means so much to us!! 🥰 seriously, you rock!! Thank you so much! Much love from the Hanks family 😃🙌🏼

[@GovG33k]

14:55, I've actually seen problems from the cord to the adapter to become a collection point for water, and they spark/melt. I think you're better off without the adapter and using the shore-power socket how it was designed. The thick depth of the cord and threading is part of the stress relief water-proof equation and why these are on boats as well. 22:35 You may want to talk about your slide's seals. You want to be sure that they are not folded partially in when the slide is out since that's an entry point for outside elements. There's "nubs" you can affix to the slide side-wall that will take care of that when slides go in/out. ;)

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much for this!! We definitely need to look into this! We have never heard of these nubs before, are they an easy install? Would it prevent the slide from having an adequate seal when sliding back in? 😃 Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful information, you are very helpful!

[@GovG33k]

@@HappilyEverHanks So, in my reviews it appears that this is something Heartland has implemented at the factory. I think it can be replicated by using simple rubber seals which I casually call "nubs". I found an article that might be a good launching point for your research. heartlandowners.org/threads/slide-out-flap-seals.44566/. Apologies if that doesn't help. I'm just a simple geek who loves to tinker with our RV. I'm not as cool and legit as you guys, but I have built a website for my RV and the upgrades I've done at rv-therapy.com/ and I'd be curious what you think.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is fantastic and really helps!! We love learning, you sound like you have a lot of knowledge to share! Keep up the amazing work, we are so happy for you 😃🙌🏼Hope to hear from you again soon! Best to you

[@GovG33k]

@@HappilyEverHanks Much like you guys, I just like to share and learn. Unfortunately I can only document in my spare time. I think the RV community is amazing and folks like you sharing with good production quality is awesome! I don't have the patience or courage to film. Funny enough, I ran across your channel researching new RV tires. So far, so good. I'll be checking back in.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That sounds wonderful, we look forward to catching up with you more soon! Be safe out there! 😀👋🏼

[@hollycomstock4204]

Thanks so much for sharing your RV adventures, wisdom and humor. My husband Josh and I love to camp with our two pups Jamie and Daisy and in the process of researching and considering purchasing a travel trailer this summer. We have been tent camping but think an Rv would be a safer choice here in Colorado thw weather gets unpredictably cold in the mountains. Thank you for educating us on the good the bad and reality of situations that mayhaps occur. We live in johnstown Colorado and I was wondering since you and your cat are celebrities!! Are you planning on visiting the new Buccee's in 2022? OH my goodness it would be so awesome to meet you two and get a signed autograph. Totally think your cat is so cool!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

We had no idea there was going to be one there! Thanks for the heads up 🤗

[@MingoMoon]

BTW, we are pulling our house behind us, we use our RV bathroom 90% of the time while moving from camp site to camp site, after this last year of pandemic we started to pack our own lunch and eat our snacks in our TV as many of our favorite stops did not have dine in space only drive through and that is impossible while towing your RV :) but a definite must food and bladder management before getting to your site. But we have gotten to the park and used our onboard bathroom before setting up, because old as dirt bladders can’t hold much!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That’s another great point! Also love how it saves money while packing lunches 😃 nicely done! Yes, the struggle is real when it comes to the emptying of bladders 🤣 we also struggle with this and constantly remind ourselves to take the time to empty before getting there!! Thank you guys so much!

[@Tillyduck]

Sometimes when I'm down and depressed - I come on here and find your video's and laugh a ton - brings me right back to my normal self. Yes, been following you for some time now - but don't need to put my foolish thoughts on here like some. I do appreciate your simple application to problem solving and getting things done right. Learning is a life long experience - and rv ing is certainly one of them

[@stahpit1971]

WOW! Great acting.. Kept me watching for a full 42 seconds. That's a new record for me. Thanks for posting love that RV.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much!! We really appreciate your support 😊🙌🏼 Hope you have a wonderful weekend, hope to talk again soon with you!

[@meshallpoole101]

Great content and very informative. I happen to run across your channel while doing research on RV life. I am a nurse as well that will be traveling to different locations in a 5th Wheel Great tips!

[@tikolamb2718]

One suggestion to consider, check the electrical and water first thing. Some sites have issues and you have to move to a different spot. Anyway, great video!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That’s a great point Tiko! Thank you so much for sharing this, we appreciate your insight 🙂👍🏼 It’s great to meet you, what kind of RV do you travel in?

[@tikolamb2718]

@@HappilyEverHanks my wife and I have a Lance 1172 double slide truck camper on a Dodge dually. We tow a boat and travel around to different fishing spots ranging anywhere from the White River in AR to the flats along the TX coast. We hope to sell out and hit the road full time in the next 2-3 years. Your videos are very inspiring, thank you! New subscriber here. Best wishes to ya always.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow you guys are doing it so right Tiko! You own both an RV and a boat? #goals 😃 Keep us updated on your adventures and journey into the full time life. We would love to hear more from you. Hopefully we can all meet out on the road one day soon! Thank you both for your support, you means so much to us. Be safe and talk soon - Kyle and Renee 🙂 👋🏼

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Tiko! It's Ney Ney and Carl here 😀How are things going for you and your wife? Have you guys been getting out on any trips lately? Hopefully no more encounters with trees for you guys like you had with your other class C ❤️We hope you both are doing well, stay safe out there! We hope to hear from you again soon 👋🏼

[@tammyashley3816]

Just bought a 2011 36.5 foot Laredo fifth wheel. It has a brand new eight thousand dollar roof. It's all oak inside. It has three slide outs. The man I bought it from is sadly dying of cancer. He sold it to me for $10,000. We're all set up and I'm loving it. We have our 2 big black kitties with us. The trailer was appraised at $43,000. I love it.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Tammy!! This is so amazing, we are really happy for you!! It sounds like an absolutely beautiful rig 😊Congrats to you guys! What are the name of your kitties?😻Are ya'll going to be full timing in the new rig?

[@tammyashley3816]

@@HappilyEverHanks We are loving it. The kitties names are Shadow and Jackson. I've only had my rig for 10 days and I'm already addicted. Love it.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

I love the names of your kitties! That is so amazing to hear!! You are totally rocking it Tammy!! Keep these great comments coming, we really hope to hear from you again soon in other videos 🤗

[@jeffreydegroot7675]

I just have one addition to your city water hookup. You and I think alike with the pressure regulator and filter. The one thing I do before connecting the hose to the camper is I turn the water on to flush the filter and hose of any debris. More times then not i always see brown water come out of my filter for a brief time. This ensures that you feed clean water to your camper system. Just my 2 cents.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Love this Jeffrey!! Thank you for the great tip and taking the time to write this out for us and everyone reading 😀🙌🏼 What kind of RV setup do you currently have??

[@jeffreydegroot7675]

@@HappilyEverHanks Thanks for your response! My wife and I aren’t full timers but we sure go allot in nice weather. We have a 2018 Cedar Creek Hathaway 34RE. Here’s where you and I differ. You’re running a Duramax, I’m running a Powerstroke. Both are excellent trucks though. Love your shows!

[@MellowNomadicAdventures]

Love the intro to this video! You all are funny and make this entertaining to watch! #ThanksHanks Great tips for setting up your campground! -Marshall 🎸

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey, thanks Marshall!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Marshall! Carl and Ney Ney here 😃We just wanted to reach out and see how you have been doing? Any big adventures for you recently? We hope you are staying safe. Anyways, have a great night!! 😊👋🏼

[@JAnn319]

Tip: Release water from faucet before installing water pressure device and filter.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much for this!! We really appreciate your feedback :) Do you currently own an RV?

[@FernandoGomez-nt2po]

Good video, one thing I like to do before I hook up the water to the camper is let water run through the hose for a bit to flush anything that may be in the hose small particles or debris.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much Fernando! That is a really great tip, we appreciate you sharing this 😃🙌🏼What kind of RV are you traveling in?

[@FernandoGomez-nt2po]

@@HappilyEverHanks Hey, thanks for your response. I have the same manufacture you do, Imagine 2670MK. Been Rv’ing since 98’, started with a small 20 ft, travel trailer, then a Classe A 36 ft gas, graduated to a 42ft Diesel Pusher with 4 slides, and now I’m in my 2670MK. Maybe someday when our paths cross I’ll go into the history more,but I do know a lot about repair and maintenance, so if you ever need second opinion let me know always glad to help. Also if your ever in El Paso TX you are welcome to park at our home I have a 50 amp connection on the side of the house with plenty of room for your RV. Be safe and stay well, Fernando

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow that is amazing Fernando! We are happy you are part of the Grand Design family 🙂👍🏼 We would definitely love to meet ya sometime in El Paso. We really appreciate your invitation 😊 Best to you, we look forward to taking with you again! Cheers friend

[@toddsnyder5135]

yeah trailer camping involves a lot of work, you nailed it! this video reminds me how great traveling and camping in a Class A motorhome is.

[@jasonm2006]

We had to come back to this video and say THANK YOU!!! The idea of using the pvc and marking it for your slides is....GENIUS!! We have used this trick and it is AWESOME..thank you again.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Love it!! Thanks for stopping by again! We love getting any kind of feedback on all our content!

[@adriannurse1502]

Great video. I never knew there was so much involved in setting up a fifth wheel. Wow! We have a Class A and it is so much easier. Definitly! Definitly! Make sure you have the proper room to open your slides. Also when backing into your site have your spotter also look up. There is nothing worse then scratching up the roof of your RV along with your AC units.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much 😊🙌🏼 yes, there is a lot it seems! You guys have it figured out right with the class A! #goals These are really great points! Thank you for this, it definitely pays not to take any shortcuts in the RV life.. you guys know! Any plans for you this weekend or upcoming camping trips? 🙂

[@adriannurse1502]

@@HappilyEverHanks We are waiting for after the holiday weekend then we are heading out. We don't know which direction yet, but we'll figure it out. Fortunately we were able to buff the scratches out of our roof. 🙂

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That sounds perfect! No plans are the best plans sometimes 🙂 we can’t wait to hear about your adventures Yes! So glad for that 😊 glad for superficial scratches

[@trisheastman3898]

Yes definitely look up too. Once when my husband was backing out of a driveway a looked up and saw we had forgotten to put the antenna down and it was about to get caught on a power line or bring it down upon us. So always look up!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is fantastic information Trish! Thank you for sharing this, we couldn't agree more. It's amazing how much you NEVER stop learning in not only the RV life, but life in general 😅We all have to stick together lol What kind of RV are you guys traveling in??

[@chrischapman276]

One thing to think about and I'd like to add about parking the tow vehicle is to, first of all, if it['s possible park the trailer as far off the road as your hoses, power cords and drain hose will reach. Then the tow vehicle.... don't park it sideways in front of the rig. If possible park it along the side of the rig. Reason..... I've found when we're backing or pulling out with the size we have that some that are parked in front of their coaches are in the way for the swing out needed to get in or out of the site we're at. I HATE IT when I have to beg someone if they could relocate their truck! Makes me feel like an ashole! Also have found when doing the leveling I like to block the legs as much as possible but not too much so the legs don't have the travel; to do it correctly. I found that the less amount of the travel the leg has to do the more secure the stabilization is of the coach. If you have12" of leg out, you have a lot of leverage for the coach to shake, especially in the wind let alone just walking around in the coach. The less leg you have extended the less the trailer will sway. (Just what I've found in the past 6 months......) I hope you guys are doing well! Still your #1 fan!!!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Great information! Thank you for sharing so everyone can learn :)

[@johnturner7322]

Nice job, well done. I now have the Anderson Leveling chocks for that side to side leveling. Under my jacks I have the same 2x6x6 blocks I have been using for MANY years!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Oh that's perfect John! So glad you have them as well! Aren't they a life saver? We use ours frequently! Love that you have been doing this for many years, you probably have a TON of experience 🙂

[@erickamekonapeper4007]

21:05 my first step for water is running the water for a little while and make sure there’s no sediment or discoloration before hooking up anything to the faucet. This will keep the filter clean longer. God Bless you and your Family ❤️🖖🏼🇺🇸

[@ryancornelius1007]

Monday is our first trip with pur new trailer, new tires on the truck, tranny cooler installed all flyids changed. Super nervous lol. Ive ordered a ton of stuff and i think i got everything, we are going to the adirondack mountains which is about 2 hours from us. My only hangup, the previous owner left me a nice full black water tank from last year. How lovely, hoping to dump it tomorrow. I appreciate your videos i have watched so many, nice truck and trailer!

[@roseallie4089]

Good luck!!! We just brought our new FW home and I think we over bought on essentials in be prepared for our first camping trip next Monday LOL