I’m Finally in My Travel Trailer! What I Learned In My Camper During My First Few Months

It almost feels surreal saying I finally made it in my camper but I did. I waited a few months to do this update because honestly I was just enjoying living life as a nomad… plus I was working to get the Outdoorsy Black Women app launched lol. I do plan on doing more updates on this journey just to keep everyone informed.

This moving process was one of the hardest ones for me. I lived in an apartment so it wasn’t like I could park my camper and slowly move my things in. Paring down is a long process, lol. You have to really think about what you need and what makes sense to have in your new compact space. In the end, I pared down as much as I could and then rented a storage unit for anything that I just couldn’t throw away.

I can say that after 3 months and some change of being in my camper, I’m probably going to pair down again and figure more creative outfit combinations.

So what have I learned?

Don’t buy a ton of gadgets before you move in, you may not need them. I bought a lot of things that I wish I could return now, some I’ve given away. It’s better to buy the necessities and then wait until you’ve moved in to see what you need.
Nobody uses alarm clocks out here, lol. Honestly, I love this one because as I settled into life in my camper I realized that it was okay to live by my natural clock. I wake up when I’m ready to and sleep when I’m tired.
ORGANIZATION is key! I’m not sure how it happens but it’s so easy to lose things in such a small space lol. I’m still figuring out how I would like to organize my camper. I’m thinking a combination of baskets and such. But for now, that’s only my to do list.
The black tank Ain’t That Bad! LOL, I have to include this one because honestly I was terrified to have a black tank at first but it’s really not that bad. When you’re at a campground with full hookups, you just connect it to a sewage hole and monitor your tanks to know when to empty it. That process for me is just releasing a valve LOL. I then flush the hose with grey water and that’s it. Also I avoid using too much toilet tissue and handle my periods on the road with other alternatives.
Go with the flow! When I first came to Warthen RV Park, I thought I would only be here for a month tops. Things didn’t pan out the way I thought but it didn’t bother me. Honestly, Warthen felt a lot like home and gave me the peace, community and time to get other things done. In this lifestyle you have to be ready to roll with the punches and just go with the flow.
It’s Not As Lonely As You Think. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ve spoken to more people while I’ve been on the road than when I lived in the city lol. Most campers are friendly and just happy to see new faces too. I’ve had drinks and meals with fellow campers, the best part is we all have our own bathrooms and beds to go back to LOL.

Must Have Gadgets & Tools I’ve Bought Since I Moved In

Affiliate links included

A Surge Protector. Whew I can’t tell you how important it is to have one of these. I’ve experienced a few power outages at campgrounds already and power surges can fry your whole camper’s electrical system. Buy one IMMEDIATELY if you don’t have it already !

Hitch Ball Lock. It’s one of those things that are easy to forget but when you’re on a trip to the store and you need to leave your travel trailer at the campground, you need to protect your camper as much as you can.

Tire Covers. If you’re going to be in one place for a longer period of time, cover your tires. This will protect them from the sun and not wear down the tires. Many blowouts are caused by lack of pressure and worn down tires.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Again, you want to do what you can to avoid tire blowouts.

A good dish rack. I bought a rollout dish rack which also extended my counter space. It’s heat resistant so I can place hot pans on it if I need to. Definitely a must have!

Dawn Powerwash. You’ve heard the hype, but she’s the truth. I use her to wash dishes, the tub, freshen the toilet, get out stains and so much.

Proper Black Tank treatment. Whew, thank God for good neighbors. My neighbors recommended I get these (Valterra Pure Power Blue Waste Digester) because I would need it during the summer lol. When I first moved in, it was winter. We’ll fast forward to the summer… it’s HOT. The first treatment I had (RV Digest It) was good for breaking things down but didn’t take care of odor very well. I use a combination of the 2 now.

Weboost. When I first got to my campground I barely had any bars and when I did my calls would drop constantly. Once I got my Weboost I went from 1 bar to 3-5. Made a ton of difference. It’s expensive but a need for me.

Electric Cooktop. I have propane on board but when I’m somewhere with full hookups, I just use the electric cooktop and save my propane.

Electric Heater. During the winter this was a blessing. I have propane but because I bought an electric fireplace I was able to stay warm with this and not need to buy propane constantly.

Get Some Fans! This one is a special summertime tip. While I do have an air conditioner in my camper, sometimes it gets too loud or is just something I use to fully cool down the space. Once I have the camper to a comfortable temperature, I can use my fan(s) to push air around the camper. Also if you have enough windows and can get a cross breeze, that’s golden… in that case the fan still adds that something extra.