22 mle questions for a newbie

[LIBBY123]

After looking at various brands for the last year, I believe I have decided the model that will fit my needs is the 22 MLE. All our kids are gone, so it will just be the two of us.we both want the theater seat, dinette, in a trailer that is fully accessible without the slide open. All that while staying about 5k dry weight.
I have owned fishing boats and know alot about fishing and boating, but zero experience with a nice travel trailer. and camped in tents for years to extend my fishing time. But at 51 years old, the tent is at the end of of my enjoyment, and was about 5 years ago for my wife.
I am very capable.of maintaining and fixing things that come up that need tended too, so that part I am very comfortable with.
I would just like some thoughts on a few items I have 0 experience with, and would like some opinions from you all, as I get various answers from different dealers.

Tow hitch.....which one and why.
The MLE is 5200 lbs dry and I will be towing with a 2015 F150 5.0 with tow package. I dont want one that I have to take off to back up....but which brand and what size?

Items needed to get started....I dont need the absolute best items....but want to get ones that will work along time and not wish for something better.
Sewer Hose
Surge Protector
Water pressure deal
Wheel chalks
What else you all think I would need?

I have a deposit down at 24% off MSRP. It is suppose to be in next week....give or take a month with this pandemic stuff. Appreciate any insights you all can share.
Rick

[RickLight]

I suggest search on each of those terms.
Books of posts have been written on them. It would be foolish to try to sum it up, especially without knowing far more about you and where you want to camp.

[D2Reid]

What else you all think I would need? Rick

Rick welcome to the life. Like Ricklight said there are a lot of things to consider. Very first thing is a Twist Lock Gate Valve to go on the exit end of your sewer pipe. Dump valves eventually have issues, the add on gate valve just closes the system and prevents minor leaks.

Some stuff I have found useful over 10 years of travelling full time in an RV.
#2 Fredericks screw driver, that's the one that fits the silly square headed screws they use.
Extra water hose, not only for extending the water hose to hard to reach places but also useful for washing stuff.
Y valves for the water connection.
Little electric testers that show good connections and voltage, or a good multi-meter.
Decent lawn chairs, there are a lot of choices out there so you have to use your own good judgement, but when it comes time to buy don't cheap out.
An accurate tire gauge.
I like carrying 4x4 wood blocks one foot long, useful for lots of things like chalking the tires, supporting jacks while changing tires in unusual places, supporting the rv while working on the suspension, firewood if you run out.
A can of CRC Powerlube with PTFE. Recommended lube by GD techs, keeps locks working...
An extra set of water hose grommets/washers. I have no idea why they fall out so having extras reduces frustration in the wild.
Extra fuses.
I don't know your model very well, but if you have a rubber roof research what type it is and get an appropriate self leveling sealant, just in case you meet a mean tree.


And the list goes on and on, mostly you will learn by experience.

[Tigger1]

Tow hitch.....which one and why.
The MLE is 5200 lbs dry and I will be towing with a 2015 F150 5.0 with tow package. I dont want one that I have to take off to back up....but which brand and what size?
I have a deposit down at 24% off MSRP. It is suppose to be in next week....give or take a month with this pandemic stuff. Appreciate any insights you all can share.
Rick

Welcome to the forum!
Like others have said, Search is your friend.

As for the WDH there are several good ones on the market. I’m using an Andersen mainly because it’s light, is rated for up to 14,000 lbs gross trailer weight and up to 1,400 lbs tongue weight.

Here’s a thread I created with more info:
https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...676#post302676

[Nick05]

Welcome to group and congratulations! I looked at the MLE along with a couple other floor plans and it looks like a nice floor plan. It is difficult to recommend a WDH as there are many varying preferences on them. I wouldn’t think you would need more than 750lb bars with whichever hitch you get with your truck. I have a 2019 F150 5.0 and my Winnebago was about 500lb tongue weight and didn’t use the WDH with it.

Below are links to most of the items I use that I like. I’m using the sewer hose the RV dealership provided me, not sure the brand, so I can’t recommend one. Wheel chocks, I use the rubber ones from Harbor Freight. They work pretty well and are cheaper than similar elsewhere.

Other items I use that I like:
Water pressure regulator: https://www.amazon.com/Renator-M11-0.../dp/B01N7JZTYX
Fresh water hose: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Diamete.../dp/B07TGKPBJT
Surge Protector: https://www.amazon.com/PROGRESSIVE-I.../dp/B015Y9MX38
Level blocks: https://www.amazon.com/Tri-Lynx-0001.../dp/B0028PJ10K
Tongue stand: https://www.amazon.com/Andersen-Hitc.../dp/B0754NWJGR
Outdoor mat: https://www.amazon.com/Reversible-Ma.../dp/B00V94ZE84
Black tank flush hose: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-RhinoFL.../dp/B06XGW1NGD
90 degree hose connector: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Degree-.../dp/B003BZD03K
Water hose splitter: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Stainle.../dp/B0024ECDL4
Air tight food storage containers: https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Air-Tig.../dp/B01GBT9NJC

A few other things to consider, review camera, high quality water filters (clearsource), level mate pro, Andersen Levelers. I have a camera and wouldn’t want to not have it. I bought the level mate and Andersen Levelers, but have not yet tried them. You will also want to get adapters to from 30amp to 50amp and 30 amp to 20amp in case you end up in a place without 30 amp connections.