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RE: Who is camping over Memorial Day?
Butterfield Ranch, Julian, CA. DW wanted trees...so I give her desert. Go figure!
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Hot-Rod
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05/18/08 12:16am |
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RE: Who is camping over Memorial Day?
I'm actually trying to find somewhere to go here in SoCal. It's been a long time since I had any time off even on weekends so I want to get out. I know it's going to be crowded, hopefully I can find somewhere to go that's remote...and available. Anyone got any suggestions for San Diego, Orange or Riverside counties?
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Hot-Rod
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05/17/08 09:18pm |
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RE: Help roof SPUT
I looked at pictures of an Avalon but they didn't show what I was looking for. Does your Avalon have hasps that lock the roof down? If so, maybe you could simply undo the hasps and you could use your hands to push up on the roof above the door just enough to allow the door to move. This would take some finesse but might do the trick.
I know with my PUP (Starcraft RT) I can move the roof slightly if I apply the right amount of pressure at key points. I typically don't apply pressure anywhere but at the corners and I only have to do this when I take it down. For some reason it doesn't come down perfectly every time. Again, I am careful to apply gentle, steady pressure and it doesn't feel like it's going to shift I stop.
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Hot-Rod
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10/31/07 09:24pm |
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RE: Securing battery case & battery?
Sound like you need to put a cable lock around that battery if it doesn't feel right to go without one. What you have to ask yourself is - what if it does get stolen?
Self-charging??? Now I know there are many in this forum that are real electrical guru's, and I'm not one of them, but that doesn't sound right to me. Unless he was trying to say you have a built in charger on your PUP...but I've never heard of a self-charging battery. Someone with some real technical know-how will post on this one I'm sure.
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Hot-Rod
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10/31/07 12:33am |
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RE: Dual Fuel Lantern & Camp stove storage?
You can keep it in the PUP if you want. For whatever contains fuel, make sure it doesn't leak. If you are leaving your stove in the PUP for an extended period then I would recommend you empty out the gas can. Emptying the fuel applies no matter where you stove your stove if you are not using it for an extended period of time.
BTW - did you get the checklist?
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Hot-Rod
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10/31/07 12:22am |
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CHAMPION GENERATOR
I would like some advice on generators. I already did a search and reviewed previous posts but I would like more recent and relevant information. I expect many people would recommend a Honda or Yamaha but they are both out of my price range now. With enough reason I would save my money and get one but that would delay getting one for a while.
I have a microwave and AC. I've already been suggested to get a 3000 watt model in order to handle the AC. I am considering the Champion 3500 watt C46540, which I have found for $400-$500. What do you recommend?
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Hot-Rod
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10/29/07 11:10pm |
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RE: Age Limits!!
I don't have an answer to the thread question but I do have a related observation to mention.
I have had many an odd look when I mention I have a pop-up. I get the "oh...one of those." I basically want to tell them to go *@&$ themselves but instead I laugh at their ignorance.
I find it so crazy that in our society today we have discrimination in the type of camper you own! It just makes me sick.
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Hot-Rod
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10/27/07 10:02pm |
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RE: !500 Watt Ceramic Heater
I didn't use the same material in the windows. I purchased Reflectix at Lowe's. It cost approx. $50 for a 4x25 roll. It is insulation material...I heard about it on here as well. If you do a search on here for Reflectix you will find a lot of previous posts regarding it.
I put it under the mattresses. If you follow the link in my previous post - you can see the pictures of the how I did it.
For the windows I simply traced the screen onto the Reflectix with a Sharpie marker. I trimmed to fit then finished the edges with aluminum tape. I know it makes the pup look like a Jiffy-Pop but it kept the heat in. I'm assuming it will have the opposite effect in hot weather.
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Hot-Rod
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10/27/07 09:49pm |
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RE: !500 Watt Ceramic Heater
gfdengine204 - no problem. Actually I can't take credit. I got the idea from others on here. He Ruide was the one who had pictures of how he did it. I'm not sure if he still has them. Anyway I followed the directions of others and this is what I did.
I ordered 5 Sportsman Space Blankets from Cabela's ($12.99ea). I ordered the green ones. (Cabela's Sportsman Blankets)
I used two on each end and one on the slide-out dinette.
For the two on the ends I taped them together using aluminum tape on one side and green duct tape on the other. I overlapped them and lined them up at the grommet holes. I also put a zip-tie through the grommet and trimmed off the excess pigtail.
I purchased 25 tarp clips at Lowe's. I forget the exact price but I think they were $1 or $2ea. They are small, blue, and have a locking bar to them. They don't come off without disengaging the locking bar. I use as many clips as necessary to attach it - roughly 9 clips per end.
In the cold I put the shiny side down. This helped retain heat in the pup. The slippery tarp material helped keep the snow from accumulating on the ends.
In hot weather, I will put the shiny side up. My pictures.
Let me know if this helps or you need further clarification.
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Hot-Rod
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10/27/07 04:40pm |
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RE: !500 Watt Ceramic Heater
I run two heaters - one at the AC outlet and the other at the other end of the pup on a 15 amp - just like "Intheloonybin". This might be overkill because the main pup heater never even came on.
I use the Lasko ceramic heaters and they work great. I mistakenly got the forced air type (another brand) - then switched to ceramic heaters. The ceramic heaters were cheaper and put out a whole lot more heat.
I also made my own covers for the ends. I took it one step further and put Reflectix under the mattresses and cut panels for the screen windows.
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Hot-Rod
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10/26/07 10:42pm |
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RE: Anybody use their Pup for a survival Situation?
Sorry - a major type-O.
It helped tremendously to keep them FROM worrying about whats going to happen with their toys.
I'm no sicko, I don't want my kids worrying...that's what DW & I do for them. Ha!
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Hot-Rod
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10/26/07 10:20pm |
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RE: Anybody use their Pup for a survival Situation?
He Ruide - Thanks! You are so right...who would have known this thread would apply so quickly.
Everyone - I can't emphasis enough how having the pup made everything seem so normal. For those with kids...it helped tremendously to keep them worrying about whats going to happen with their toys.
I was far enough away that hot embers weren't an issue. I wouldn't have stopped driving until I was clear of them. As we all know, canvas and hot embers don't go well together.
I gave some thought to hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. I see it going one of two ways:
1. You wait until after the fact - if your pup is still intact, you live out of it during the recovery process.
2. You have enough advance notice to hook-up and get out of the area completely and live out of it until the "all-clear".
Either way, keep it as ready as you can within reason. Be prepared to pack in short order. Have your Bug-Out checklist - having already worked out the kinks. With that, you should be able to fare a whole lot better than those that stick their heads in the sand and pretend it can't happen to them (saw a whole lot of that too).
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Hot-Rod
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10/26/07 10:18pm |
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RE: Anybody use their Pup for a survival Situation?
We used our PUP this week after being evacuated because of the fires. We had everything packed up expecting to be evac'd and then around 330a.m. they gave the order to get out. Our neighbors have a pup also so we joined forces and left together. We also took two other families with us. The two other families have three kids and two dogs each and didn't have any place to go. We all went to Doheny SP which took us in at no cost. I can't say enough about how great they were. A local church showed up every day with meals, although we didn't take it because we had prepared. Anyway, four families, 9 kids, and 8 dogs...and everyone was happy camping at the beach. It was as if nothing unusual was happening - which is really how it should be for the kids sake.
I'm proud of my pup. We had two families - 7 people and 4 dogs...a little crowded but bearable.
We are so very happy we had our pup to make our evacuation - turned in to a stay at the beach - less stressful.
We were able to come back today and all is well. I have to admit I feel bad for all those families that didn't fare so well.
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Hot-Rod
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10/25/07 11:37pm |
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RE: New PUP Now what do I really need?
Sounds like you are off to a good start with your shopping spree and the camping gear you already have.
catvet had some good points. I put together a pup tool kit from extra tools I had in the garage and I also have a more complete kit in my truck. Also, a first aid kit is essential. You probably already have a camping FAK that you can move to the PUP.
I raided my camping gear when I got my PUP - per recommendations from this site - and realized I DID already have much of what I needed.
I would recommend a ceramic heater. I picked one up for $20 at Walmart and it is much better than the $25 forced air heater I have. I'm sure the more expensive ones are better in some ways - but why spend the extra money?
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Hot-Rod
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10/24/07 02:15am |
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RE: Anybody use their Pup for a survival Situation?
rmjhrt - sent you a PM - sorry it took me so long. After my post this a.m. the situation here kept me from the computer. I would not recommend San Onofre SB at this point. I can see it from my house and our housing area is in the pre-voluntary evac stage. (read - I can see red sky) All depends on the wind direction I believe.
I thought I was good with where I live but things have changed. Fires on Camp Pendleton may be threatening to our housing area so I finished packing up the PUP, the TV and the car with all that we felt most important. For all the grief the DW gave me for getting the PUP - she is really grateful we have it now.
Also, the fires on Camp Pendleton caused the closure of allowing traffic through because the fires have blocked the route leading through base to north San Diego county. I think you could still cut across base to the south - go through to the I-5, then head north. However, if you caught the 10pm news you would have seen the fires threatening the I-5 south of SONGS so no guarantees there.
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Hot-Rod
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10/24/07 01:31am |
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RE: Anybody use their Pup for a survival Situation?
Survival situations may be in order for a lot of us SoCal members. Lucky for me I'm already on Camp Pendleton and about 800m from San Onofre SB but even I have the family's bags packed and the pup ready to go...the real questions is...go where??? With west to the ocean being the only route...should I have bought a boat? Fortunately I recently sealed all the holes up under the PUP...now if I can just figure out how to attach an outboard.
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Hot-Rod
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10/23/07 07:58am |
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RE: Sway Bars
I would recommend you get the sway bar also. You didn't say how fast you were going but keep in mind your speed needs to be slower than when not towing. With a little experience you will figure out how close to the speed limit you can get before you need to back-off and slow it down.
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Hot-Rod
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10/21/07 12:23pm |
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RE: From 5er to PUP??
I'd have to argue just the opposite - you get the benefits of a travel trailer (ie. bathroom,shower, full size fridge, tons of storage, loading on the driveway w/o having to pop up and down) but almost double the living space as the same size travel trailer. We looked at high wall pups but couldn't justify the price for something we would still have to set up and tear down all the time plus a few features that the pup couldn't compare with (much larger holding tanks, a shower that doesn't have to be built, full fridge again).
As far as security - I still camp - if I didn't camp in a hybrid, I would camp in a tent. Sure not much security with a tent. The day I am so scared I need to lock myself in the camper at a campground will be the day I call it quits. The best folks I have met in my life were found at campgrounds.
You stink! ;) You know I'm just kidding. You keep talking about how great a hybrid is and the next thing you I'll be shopping for one. I like my PUP - that's my mantra. Anyway - SPOT-ON! with the security comment. I went to a city park nearby and had some no-kidding "gang-bangers" camped right next to me. They assign sites so I didn't have a choice. They decided to drink beer, play loud music and carry on all night - I left the next day after filing a complaint. It shouldn't be that way.
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Hot-Rod
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10/19/07 05:54pm |
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RE: Considering a trip next summer
I think you can do this trip and you have a good basic plan so far. I recently took a trip from southern California to Wyoming. It was 1,000 miles one way. I took two days to get there with a stay-over in Utah. However, it was just me and one of my dogs. I stayed at a KOA, which was really nice. I have a couple suggestions for you to consider.
1. Plan on no more than 8 hours of driving with breaks along the way. You know your kids so you can guess how long and frequent the breaks need to be.
2. Plan to put in the work. Setting up and packing up isn't exactly relaxing.
3. Pick your campgrounds along your route that suite your needs.
4. Stay-overs will make everyone feel better so don't push it too hard.
5. Don't try to accomplish too much, otherwise it probably won't happen. Keep it simple.
Okay, so I didn't have any great revelations here - just some things that occurred to me from my trip. The bottom line is plan your trip well and enjoy your whole trip. The experience will be something to remember even in it's simplest form. Good luck.
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Hot-Rod
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10/19/07 01:05am |
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RE: From 5er to PUP??
Also don't quite understand the criticism of folks that "camp" using a travel trailer or a motor home. Not everyone wants to live off the land for a weekend or week long camping trip. Sure, it may not be your thing, but why chastize everyone else? There are many, many of those folks that started with a tent or a pop-up, myself included.
A pop-up with fridge, microwave, toaster oven, and heater ain't exactly roughin' it. (Is that a television with rabbit ears?)
I read your post and felt you were addressing me to an extent. I apologize if I was misunderstood. I didn't mean to come across as "chastising" anyone. I wasn't and believe in "to each his own - just stay off my lawn". ;) I was simply making a statement based off my observations. Camping and RVing are two different activities. I have a PUP and would get slapped by everyone if I said I was RVing. Don't you agree?
If I don't remind myself to be thankful for what I have I would wish to have a big TT, 5er or Class A. Those can be palaces on wheels and I hope to have one some day but I simply can't afford it. So like it or not - no matter where I go in my PUP, a resort or a SP, I am "camping". Yes, I agree, the fridge, microwave, toaster oven, and heater ain't exactly roughin' it but that's why I use the PUP instead of a tent. After 22 years of being an infantry Marine and carrying everything I own on my back "to go camping", I'm not ashamed to admit I'm tired of that. When I take my family camping I don't need to subject them to the same primitive camping experiences I had, but if necessary that's pretty easy to do - just leave it all behind. You know, rub two sticks together - grunt once in a while and all that. If I could afford the RV for them, you bet I would get it, but probably not happening in this lifetime.
Again, I apologize. I didn't mean to offend anyone. Everyone's welcome around my campfire.
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Hot-Rod
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10/18/07 01:34am |
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