This is the first of a two-part series about preparing for spring camping in a travel trailer.

Weather is a major consideration when my wife, Garnet, and I begin to think about spring camping. We camped at Martha Lake on March 1 a few years ago and had a great time, experiencing warm weather or at least not freezing weather.

The past couple of years the March 1 weather has been cold to the point there was ice on the lake. Yes, we are able to camp in freezing weather, but doing so isn't fun for us.

When this spring weather is sunny and warm, we go to the travel trailer, a 26-foot Hideout, and survey what is needed to head out on the first camping trip of the year.

Checking the 10-weather forecast we have highs in the high 50s and low 60s, with the lows in the high 30s or low 40s.

Checking the April averages we have temperatures warming from the March forecast. The April record lows dip into the 20s, but I am not expecting this to happen this year.

Flushing the water system isn't necessary until we are ready to head out on the first camping trip, such as the day before, so this chore need not be completed right away.

Water system

The trailer is still full of RV antifreeze, so this will need to be flushed. I will open all of the drains, refill the system and drain again. The RV antifreeze is not toxic to plants or animals, so there is no need to use precautions and save it for special disposal.

When all drains and faucets run clear I will follow Ron Sumner's advice and fill the water system with a bleach solution. This solution will circulate through the entire system, until I can smell bleach at every faucet and drain. Let the solution sit in the system for one to 12 hours, the time frame is a matter of debate, so it is your choice.

Next the system will be flushed again, until bleach cannot be detected at every faucet and drain. At this point I will consider the trailer water system sanitized, but there is one more step; sanitizing the white hose.

The white hose is known as the fresh water hose and designed to bring potable water to the trailer. Pour the bleach solution into the hose and connect the male and female ends and let it rest for the same time as the waterlines. Then flush the hose also.

The water system is sterilized, but I also purchase and use a water filter to attach to the RV park faucet.

Now for the funny or strange part of making sure the water system in our trailer is safe to drink; we seldom use water from the holding tank or from the RV park waterline to drink or use for cooking.

Instead we purchase water from retail stores in gallons. One is always cooling in the refrigerator and used for drinking and the others are stored at room temperature and used for cooking.