October 2022 - what did you do for your camper?

[Susan Premo]

Brought it back to the house from storage. Found that some low life theif stole the sewer hose. Guess I have to lock that too. DW washed the black streaks off and washed the hole thing, now bright and shiny. Drained the water out of it, crossing my fingers we don't have a freeze in the next 3 weeks b4 we go camping so I don't have to winterize it.

We had my grand fathers aluminum boat in storage, someone stole everything aluminum, even the little plaque that showed the weight. Money hungry ass hats!

 

[Susan Premo]

Sor

Haven’t done much with my camper yet other than charge the battery. I wanted to go to an apple festival I used to go to every year near Gettysburg, PA unfortunately after getting Covid a few weeks ago I don’t have the strength or stanama back yet. Also probably isn’t very wise to be in a big crowd even though I’m not testing positive anymore. i do hope I get my stanama back soon so I can winterize my popup. I have time though. Worse case I can open the low point drains until I get a chance to pump antifreeze in.

Ryan, that sucks, I always see all the things around the house I should be doing when I'm sick, everything seems to look cleaner when I'm well!

 

[darthRudolph]

What did I do for my camper this month? We took it on its maiden voyage as a Rudolph


Dogwood campground, Rim Forest CA

The Kia wasn’t so happy about pulling a trailer for the first time in its life though. Couldn’t hit much more than 40 mph up the hill. It made some… interesting sounds that I’d never heard it make before. Gonna be fun figuring out where those were coming from

 

[kitphantom]

What did I do for my camper this month? We took it on its maiden voyage as a Rudolph

View attachment 88534
Dogwood campground, Rim Forest CA

The Kia wasn’t so happy about pulling a trailer for the first time in its life though. Couldn’t hit much more than 40 mph up the hill. It made some… interesting sounds that I’d never heard it make before. Gonna be fun figuring out where those were coming from

From what I can find on the internet about both your popup and tow vehicle, it looks like you're right at the safe limit of your tow limit. Uphill is a stressor, as is wind, etc. so that may explain the why of some odd sounds.

 

[darthRudolph]

From what I can find on the internet about both your popup and tow vehicle, it looks like you're right at the safe limit of your tow limit. Uphill is a stressor, as is wind, etc. so that may explain the why of some odd sounds.

Yeah, we’re pushing it with this little car (her name is Elcee, which is long for LC, which is short for Little Car). The manual claims limits of 1500 (2k with brakes, which don’t work yet), 150 tongue weight. We’re smack at the 150, unknown on the overall

I’m going to move a bit more stuff rearward when we pack down tomorrow. Then go back down the hill in 2nd gear lol

The F150 needs a bit of work still but will become the main TV in the near future

 

[kitphantom]

the F150 should be much more tow-capable. Most recommendations I've seen over the years have been to stay at or below 80% of tow limit, which would be 1200#.
As we've changed campers and tow vehicles over the years, I will confess that we found that we're more comfortable when quite a bit under that 80%.

Yeah, we’re pushing it with this little car (her name is Elcee, which is long for LC, which is short for Little Car). The manual claims limits of 1500 (2k with brakes, which don’t work yet), 150 tongue weight. We’re smack at the 150, unknown on the overall

I’m going to move a bit more stuff rearward when we pack down tomorrow. Then go back down the hill in 2nd gear lol

The F150 needs a bit of work still but will become the main TV in the near future

 

[PaThacker]

Yeah, we’re pushing it with this little car (her name is Elcee, which is long for LC, which is short for Little Car). The manual claims limits of 1500 (2k with brakes, which don’t work yet), 150 tongue weight. We’re smack at the 150, unknown on the overall

I’m going to move a bit more stuff rearward when we pack down tomorrow. Then go back down the hill in 2nd gear lol

The F150 needs a bit of work still but will become the main TV in the near future

Kia is not rated. Don’t push whatever that CUV noise was.

 

[darthRudolph]

Kia is not rated.

From the owners manual “Your vehicle can tow a trailer.”

Also from the owners manual, I was mistaken, 1000 pounds without brakes (still 2k with), 200 pound max tongue weight.



Still not going to push it tho, we’re not pulling it again (other than back home) until the truck is done. Which means spark plugs, any dead boots and coil packs, and an oil change. Easy peasy

 

[BikeNFish]

What sort of storage facility do you use, indoor? Are they expensive? We have a friend who is storing it on his property, outside and up for an aliner, but it's far away, I'd like to have it closer to home. Looking into options.

I have a friend of mine that has an airplane hangar on his property but it is not heated. So in the winter, he keeps his airplane in a heated hangar off of his property and rents out his hangar for storage for cars, boats and RV's.

I paid $400 for the winter last year which is a pretty good price for indoor storage. Because I am a friend of his since high school, I pay less than his other customers. I used to store my boat there for free before he turned the hangar into a winter storage business. He has never asked me to pay rent, but I always feel obliged to pay and don't mind doing so. He says he charges by the square foot with a $400 minimum but he's always reluctant to take even that from me.

I have heard that the average price in the Twin Cities for indoor unheated RV storage is around $125 - $150 per month.

 

[Susan Premo]

We

I have a friend of mine that has an airplane hangar on his property but it is not heated. So in the winter, he keeps his airplane in a heated hangar off of his property and rents out his hangar for storage for cars, boats and RV's.

I paid $400 for the winter last year which is a pretty good price for indoor storage. Because I am a friend of his since high school, I pay less than his other customers. I used to store my boat there for free before he turned the hangar into a winter storage business. He has never asked me to pay rent, but I always feel obliged to pay and don't mind doing so. He says he charges by the square foot with a $400 minimum but he's always reluctant to take even that from me.

I have heard that the average price in the Twin Cities for indoor unheated RV storage is around $125 - $150 per month.

We had a boat in storage for a few years, also an airport hangar, that guy charged $100.00 year, I'm a bit surprised at the $400.00 price tag. He really only had his and his sons boats and ours. Unheated as well. We gave our boat to the guy that let's us store on his property. It's nice of him but I'd just like it closer to home, so we could take care of it. I feel a bit obligated to spend time with him and his wife, and we're pretty beat after driving 4.5 hours to get there, small price to pay though I guess.

 

[Anthony Hitchings]

Paid $150 to get a fractured front "C"- beam's lower flange repaired - it had snapped where a tongue member passes thru an opening in the beam. .

 

[xxxapache]

Even though we have a trip in a few weeks, I drained the tanks, blew out the lines, and put some antifreeze in the traps. We are getting nights below freezing....I ain't taking no chances.

 

[BikeNFish]

We

We had a boat in storage for a few years, also an airport hangar, that guy charged $100.00 year, I'm a bit surprised at the $400.00 price tag. He really only had his and his sons boats and ours. Unheated as well. We gave our boat to the guy that let's us store on his property. It's nice of him but I'd just like it closer to home, so we could take care of it. I feel a bit obligated to spend time with him and his wife, and we're pretty beat after driving 4.5 hours to get there, small price to pay though I guess.

I'll pay him $400 anytime. His hangar is secured on private property in a remote, secure and exclusive area, he checks on the equipment regularly, he has electronic anti-mouse devices set up all over the hangar - he has never had any traces of mouse infiltration in the hangar for the 20 years he's lived there. The mouse deterrent alone is worth the money!

 

[Susan Premo]

I'll pay him $400 anytime. His hangar is secured on private property in a remote, secure and exclusive area, he checks on the equipment regularly, he has electronic anti-mouse devices set up all over the hangar - he has never had any traces of mouse infiltration in the hangar for the 20 years he's lived there. The mouse deterrent alone is worth the money!

Yea, ours was just the boat, so it didn't matter, it was a few years ago and he said we were probably paying more than the boat was worth. I'm just glad we found someone who wanted it, Lund boats never go bad, I still would love to use it while we're up there, next year I hope.

 

[BikeNFish]

Yea, ours was just the boat, so it didn't matter, it was a few years ago and he said we were probably paying more than the boat was worth. I'm just glad we found someone who wanted it, Lund boats never go bad, I still would love to use it while we're up there, next year I hope.

My boat is a Lund. You are right that they never go bad and I really like how Lunds hold their value. I paid $16K for it in 2005 and I could probably get close to $14k for it if I sold it today. The boat stays safely tucked in the garage when not in use.

Over the years have rigged it as a fishing machine - 90hp Yamaha 4-stroke, Minnkota Terrova trolling motor, Humminbird Helix 7. It has given me endless fishing adventures including seven times to Canada and back. We also use it for water skiing and pulling the grandkids on the tubes The DW still waterskies and she turns 60 this year. And that's with two partial knee replacements!

This year, however, I have only used the boat a few times (we rented a cabin for a week near Itasca at the end of July). The infrequency is because we have been camping in our new TT so much this summer (28 nights in seven trips).

I have three major "hobbies" - I like to fish, camp and bike. I have learned that if I spend more time on one, then the others get diminished attention. This year the camping got the most attention, so the other two activities were down.

 

[Susan Premo]

My boat is a Lund. You are right that they never go bad and I really like how Lunds hold their value. I paid $16K for it in 2005 and I could probably get close to $14k for it if I sold it today. The boat stays safely tucked in the garage when not in use.

Over the years have rigged it as a fishing machine - 90hp Yamaha 4-stroke, Minnkota Terrova trolling motor, Humminbird Helix 7. It has given me endless fishing adventures including seven times to Canada and back. We also use it for water skiing and pulling the grandkids on the tubes The DW still waterskies and she turns 60 this year. And that's with two partial knee replacements!

This year, however, I have only used the boat a few times (we rented a cabin for a week near Itasca at the end of July). The infrequency is because we have been camping in our new TT so much this summer (28 nights in seven trips).

I have three major "hobbies" - I like to fish, camp and bike. I have learned that if I spend more time on one, then the others get diminished attention. This year the camping got the most attention, so the other two activities were down.

Good for your wife! I've never gone to Itasca, I know it's beautiful. So many places to go! Wish our seasons lasted a bit longer, the older we get the faster it goes. I miss the smell from the gas oil mixture from the boat, hoping next year... we'll see.

 

[sargant]

Maybe there's a way to attach it to the wall or rail. A slot that it fits into would do the trick.

Ordered another table leg. Did a test fit this weekend and it's too wobbly with just the one leg.

 

[BikeNFish]

I've never gone to Itasca, I know it's beautiful.

I've been to Itasca State Park more than 20 times, though I haven't camped there since I was a kid. We spend a day there when were are up at the cabin rental. Always something fun to do there. I highly recommend it.

Climbing the 110 foot fire tower is always a favorite for everyone. Especially when it is windy and the tower sways while you are at the top. This year, instead of driving to it, we parked near the Douglas Lodge and hiked the couple of miles to it. We always eat at the Douglas Lodge and finish our meals with either one of their famous malts or a piece of strawberry-rhubarb pie.

Besides the fantastic campgrounds, there are also plenty of other things to explore - miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, visiting and walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Wilderness Drive, the fire tower, Lake Itasca boat tours, bike, kayak, paddleboard and canoe rental, wildlife watching, Mary Gibbs Center, Brower Visitor Center, swimming beach, pioneer cemetery, Indian mounds burial sites, and much more.

Even though plenty of people visit there every day, it doesn't seem crowded.

 

[TSQ]

Cleaned out the trailer and removed the batteries from the smoke detector and thermostat. Pulled the solar panel fuse. Removed the propane tank. Put the awning inside. Filled it with dryer sheets - not sure if they really do anything but they are cheap and we have never had any mouse problems. Took it up North to my parent's place where I'm lucky enough to be able to borrow a garage bay for the winter. Shot some GoPro footage looking back at the trailer during the trip - it fell off the back window a few times due to the imperfect seal caused by the defrost wires. Video is sped up 20x, looks best at 60fps (use the gear icon to select 720p60, 1080p60, or 1440p60 quality):


Removed the LFP battery and put it up on axle stands:

 

[no Fries]

Ewwww, that's gross.

Re read my post. Maybe I should be a little clearer. The trailer was washed not the hose. Hose was stole, now I'm waiting on locks to come from Amazon. LOL