Any tips and tricks for new Chinook Destiny owners?

[thomasinaTRP]

Just bought this yesterday. We've never owned an RV.
1. What tools we always have along?
2. Any lessons learned from your experience?
3. What to use on the couch bed for comfort?
4. Apps that are very useful?
5. What kind of screen tent is sturdy and lightweight?

We plan to use within a 2-3hour radius of Fort Bragg while we learn how to use it.

[chin_k]

I carry the bottle jack, a spare fan belt, and some basic tools like screw drivers and sockets as well as pilers and disposable gloves. The pilers and tools came in handy one time when I do a "test run" 700 miles away in a camp ground with no cell phone signal I found out that I do not know how to use the remote dump valve actuators (trick is to have the ignition on ACC), and the tanks were full. Had to use the tools to remove the actuators and operate them manually until I find out the proper procedures.

[bolerama]

Congratulations on your Destiny! It is very beautiful. You lucked out with getting light wood, so it looks so bright. We are in the process of updating our interior.

For a screen tent, we use a 6-sized Gazelle. Clam is another option, but more expensive.

We mostly boondock, and our favourite websites/apps are freecampsites.net, Campendium, and Allstays. There are other popular ones like RVParky and iOverlander. You’ll find out what works for you.

There are many threads about making the bed more comfortable. Adding a topper or 2 self-inflating mats can help. We opted to remove the furniture and build 2 twin beds with lots of storage. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1640

Have fun with your new Chinook!

Lisa

[68camaro]

Congratulations on your rig, I have smaller concourse and love it...I bought mine as a newbee two years ago to use exclusively boonedocking and there are several things I had to learn or experience, in no particular order:

- Check manu date of tires and replace if over 5 - 7 years, do not go by tread wear. Tires can rot out before tread goes;
- Change furnace regulator; mine went out on trip. A regulator is $25.00 and insanely easy to change, these rigs are minimum of 14 years old so a little preventative maintenance goes a long way;
- If you plan to boonedock a lot, I would get batteries tested to make sure they charge correctly and can hold a load.
- Another preventative main tip - if haven't replaced dinosaur board in frig might want to do it (very easy and inexpensive), no rush but worthwhile to bring current, also have shop put refrig recall kit if warranted, my frig didn't work consistently and this fixed issue;
- Make sure drain hole behind frig is not clogged up, this caused me some damage;
- As Chen said get tools. I bought a roll bag with tools and used it quite a bit already;
- Test bottle jack to make sure it works before heading out, also make sure you can use it and know lifting points on rig;
- I put a battery disconnect switch on negative termal of engine battery, this stops parasitic draw draining battery when it sits for long time. It was only $20.00 and works easier than disconnect and then reconnecting;
- I also put master cutoff off switch on coach batteries, again this protects coach batteries from draining during long storage;
- Buy a good quality RV cover if stored outside, I went cheap and it lasted one year. I am now deciding on new one and won't go cheap again.
- Do repairs.upgrades yourself if you can. I started by having RV shop do everything I needed and over time I have become very disenchanted with RV shops. In my area it takes forever and I haven't been too happy with some results. I am now tackling projects/upgrades/repairs on my own and much happier with better result;
- Living with you in the South, I bought and plan to install twin cooling fans to make refrig more efficient in cooling;
- I also just bought a very good surge protector, it was like $259 or thereabouts but if I had one I would have saved replacing my power center due to electrician screwing up install os 30amp breaker in garage, surge protector will protect you while plugged in anywhere else also;
- to avoid all the different keys on storage covers, I had replaced barrel locks and installed with new ones that use same key, I think there are seven on the Concourse,

Some very helpful purchases:
- tire monitor to watch tire pressure;
- Scangauge to monitor engine diagnostics plus has lots of helpful info at fingertips, also helpful for managing MPG.

I actually find the couch very comfortable, I travel by myself so I don't even pull bed out.

Bolerama recommends Gazelle tents which I agree with. I don't have one and not sure if I will get one, but I did see in person and really like them alot. I don't relax much when rig is parked so I don't think I would use it much, but if I did Gazelle would be way to go.