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RE: Camping in Michigan west side
Better check for openings though because most campgrounds, State parks anyway, on the west side have long been booked up. People on the east side are traveling to the west side more then up north to the UP. Books up on the west side anyway.
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bonscott
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07/22/08 07:12am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Lightning and PUP's
I honestly don't worry about it much. Chances are that lightning will hit one of the tall trees or full metal Class A sitting next to me then my PUP. If it does there isn't anything I can do about it and I'll be in more danger running to the SUV or shower building during the lightning then if I just stay in my bunk and not touch any metal.
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bonscott
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07/18/08 09:48am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Honda EU1000i vs EU2000i
Just wanted to update this thread.
Finally went out and bought the Honda 1000i as we are going dry camping for the first time this weekend and we expect to do a lot more of it.
What I wanted to report is that I ran an extension cord into the house while testing and plugged my house fridge into it and it ran without any problems. The 1000i didn't change a note and acted like nothing was even plugged into it. Fridge was running just fine. Even ran fine turning it down to Eco mode. I also plugged in a couple fans and no problems.
My fridge is less then 6 months old, very energy efficient and no compressor so that's probably why.
Anyway, just wanted to update that the 1000i (for me) will be able to act as an emergency backup power for the house and will at least keep food cold in the fridge.
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bonscott
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07/17/08 07:32pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Campground near Mackinac / Tahquamenon Falls
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a very nice place. There are campgrounds at the lower falls (modern) and 2 campgrounds at the Rivermouth site. One is modern but the other is rustic with vault toilets. Some good sized sites right on the river.
Sounds like you want to be in the UP more then in Mackinac City. In MC I would recommend Mill Creek but stay out of the full hookup "bridge view" parking lot section. They have some very large sites that are electric/water only. Straits SP is very nice but check site size depending how big you need. That would be a good place to stay for a couple days if you plan to go to the Island and stuff.
I personally love Lake Muskallongue SP but it's north of Newberry and the fall about 30 miles and right on Lake Superior. Might be a bit out of your way.
Brimely State Park is between the Fall and the Soo and might be a good base of operations for all that stuff. Also the Casino's around there have some RV spots as well.
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bonscott
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07/16/08 12:16pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Sorry, one more beat to death stupid question
No matter what you do I would agree that most campgrounds are not going to allow you to run that generator all night. If you're boondocking with nobody else around you'll be fine though.
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bonscott
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07/16/08 11:56am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Michigan 131 or 127
I see 37 also runs up that way from Grand Rapids...whats that like?
37 is just a 2 lane road the whole way. It will be much faster to go up 131. BUT 37 does go thru a lot of national and state forest land once you get up to Baldwin area or so, so it can be a scenic drive. But slow due to 55 to 60 and hope you don't get stuck behind a tractor!
Oh, you have to eat at Don's Drive-in in Traverse City. Best greasy burger I've ever had. It's on 31 on the East Bay at 4 mile.
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bonscott
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07/15/08 07:16pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Stupid questions about popups
We have been thru many downpours so heavy I couldn't see our tow vehicle 10 feet away. No leaks.
As for you idea, have you checked into the PUPs that actually have a deck where you can put your ATVs and other toys? They are kinda like the toy haulers of PUPs and then you wouldn't need to mess with putting your PUP on a trailer and all that.
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bonscott
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07/15/08 07:03pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Michigan 131 or 127
127 typically is going to be *way* out of your way and you'll be cutting back across the state on M-72 over to TC and that's all 2 lane. However it might depend on where you are starting from.
If you're coming from Indiana then 131 is definately the way to go, it's direct. Once you get to Portage it's expressway all the way to north of Cadillac. You won't go about 5 miles or so of 2 lane road when you want to turn left at M-113 just south of Fife Lake. If you miss M-113 then when you get to Fife Lake take M-186 to the left which hooks up to M-113.
When you get to Kingsly (maybe 10 miles or so) you'll see a bunch of signs for Traverse City. Now what you take here all depends where in TC you are going. If you're going directly into TC then hang a right in Kingsly and that is actually Garfield road which brings you right up the middle of TC. If you need the west side of TC then stay on 113 another 5 miles or so and it will take you to M-37. Hang a right and go north and it'll merge with 31 and take you into the west side of town.
If where you are in Indiana is more to the west by Chicago then I would take US-31 on up, at least part of the way and you have a couple options. If you want more expressway then when you get to Holland stay on I-196 which will take you over to 131 in Grand Rapids. Or just stay on 31 all the way up and it'll merge with M-37 as described above. It is just 2 lane north of Ludington (with passing lanes every so often) but is a really nice drive to be honest. It might take you an extra 20-30 minutes perhaps but worth the drive at least once and there are plenty of nice towns to stop in and site see unless you just want to get up there.
I think which way you take will really depend on where you're starting from. If you can give us an idea of which city you're coming from (or just a general area) then more specific advice can be had. Also try Google Maps and see what it says is the best way.
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bonscott
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07/15/08 09:12am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: 5-in-1 Power Station - Anyone have one?
What you need is an inverter, a very small inverter.
You attach it to your battery and it changes the power to 110V.
You don't need a separate battery.
Do you have a 12V plug in your trailer? Then just get something like this:
175 watt inverter
In the PUP the lights in the ceiling each have a 12v connector but they are the small mono plug (like headphones) type plug in. So the inverter looks great but I don't have the cig lighter type plug in the PUP.
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bonscott
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07/14/08 08:43pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: How do you transport your portable waste tank?
We simply roll it onto the floor of the PUP. One of the first things out at camp and one of the last things back in when we leave. Gets dumped at the dump station if at all possible before we leave.
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bonscott
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07/14/08 08:03pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: 5-in-1 Power Station - Anyone have one?
It depends on what you are wanting to do with it. It is simply a small 12 volt AGM battery inside a plastic case with some other features also added. It certainly will NOT replace a generator.
Don't you already have a 12 volt battery in your trailer? Maybe it is enough or you can add a second battery for half the price of the power station.
Yep, battery on the PUP but it won't run a fan that plugs into 110v. This thing has 110v plugs and thus could sit inside and run a regular fan for air movement.
In research I've found some other kinds that are 600watt and 28amp battery inside so they would last longer.
I want to get a generator at some point but a generator doesn't help running a fan at night, which again needs a 110v plug.
All I'm looking for is simply something to run a fan at night that would last 2 nights. Later on when I get a Honda 1000i for longer trips I can recharge both my PUP and something like this during the day and then can use it at night again for a fan without the generator (which can't be run at night in most campgrounds).
Am I crazy with this idea?
By the way, I have seen some 12v fans for sale but they are all the 12v type plug that goes into the car, not the phono type jack that I have in my PUP lights. I've never seen an adapter for this, doesn't mean it doesn't exist though.
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bonscott
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07/14/08 12:33pm |
Tech Issues
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5-in-1 Power Station - Anyone have one?
Anybody use one of these things?
5-in-1 Power Station
I'm not quite ready to step up to a full generator as we plan to do some dry camping but for only a weekend. What I'm looking for is something that can run a fan at night when it's hot and nothing else really. These things look pretty cool in that not only can it do that but it can be used to jump start a car, pump up your tires and run 12v stuff as well.
Thoughts?
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bonscott
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07/14/08 08:13am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Backing Up
All totally normal. Just part of the deal when backing up. I remember the same thing 25-30 years ago on the farm towing trailers with a tractor. Just the nature of the beast.
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bonscott
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07/14/08 08:10am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Is the midwest the best place to own a RV today?
Honestly we love Michigan for many reasons and one of them is the variety of things to do in our own state. Every vacation we take is actually in our own state. Going "up north" is a state of mind. :)
But the main reason we live in the midwest is because you can have a really nice 2000 sq ft home in a really nice part of town for $160K or less vs. half a million (if you're lucky) elsewhere. Plus this housing slump in terms of prices really doesn't effect you as much. Losing 10% value on that small price isn't as much as in California or other high end places. $500K around here will get you 4000+ sq ft on a lake with 2-5 acres easy.
Oh, and there are hundreds of campgrounds within a 2 hour drive, easily. Everything from the beach and sand dunes to dense woods and rivers to the local Walmart. :D
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bonscott
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07/06/08 09:04pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: porta potty questions
We have a Thetford potty as well. About $120 (we got the tall one so you don't have to squat down so much). We use it for emergencies and late night uses for the most part. No #2 unless you want to be the one to dump it! :) DW uses it more then I do.
It has a spout to empty. We simply empty it in the sewer connection on site (if we have one) or at the dump station. Or even bring it home and just dump it in the potty at home.
It's a must have in my mind and well worth the bucks.
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bonscott
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07/06/08 02:03pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: MI Camping and Boating
Lake Leelanau RV Park on Lake Leelanau, about 20 miles NW of Traverse City. Right on the lake with 90+ docks to put your boat in. Can also rent a pontoon boat, fishing boat, jet ski's, etc. Lake is about 18-20 miles long and has great fishing.
Pictures
Here is their web site.
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bonscott
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07/06/08 07:41am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Are you camping this weekend and where?
Not camping anywhere. We refuse to camp on amateur weekends called "holidays".
Every time I read a post with this remark it just makes me laugh! i have been out for alot of holidays along with regular 1 and 2 week trips and have yet to see a difference!
Glad to see I wasnt the only one....
Guess you guys don't notice the huge crowds of drunks that are just out to party because hey, it's the holiday! and playing loud music until 2 am along with people that don't control their kids (more then normal) because it's the only weekend they camp a year and they don't know any better. I could go on and on.
No thanks, I'll enjoy the holiday at home having a BBQ with friends and then go camping the following weekend where the parks aren't nearly as full and the chances of having the twice a year campers who don't care next to me is much lower. ;) Holidays are just no fun camping.
What does the drunks and the music have to do with you? Do your thing. Stay at home. Since it is a busy weekend, a lot of folks need your thinking, and there would be more sites open for people that want to enjoy a "holiday weekend."
What they have to do with me is they ruin it for everyone else camping and perhaps trying to actually sleep in the middle of the night. What a concept. :D
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bonscott
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07/04/08 10:15am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Are you camping this weekend and where?
Not camping anywhere. We refuse to camp on amateur weekends called "holidays".
Every time I read a post with this remark it just makes me laugh! i have been out for alot of holidays along with regular 1 and 2 week trips and have yet to see a difference!
Glad to see I wasnt the only one....
Guess you guys don't notice the huge crowds of drunks that are just out to party because hey, it's the holiday! and playing loud music until 2 am along with people that don't control their kids (more then normal) because it's the only weekend they camp a year and they don't know any better. I could go on and on.
No thanks, I'll enjoy the holiday at home having a BBQ with friends and then go camping the following weekend where the parks aren't nearly as full and the chances of having the twice a year campers who don't care next to me is much lower. ;) Holidays are just no fun camping.
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bonscott
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07/03/08 12:32pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Are you camping this weekend and where?
Not camping anywhere. We refuse to camp on amateur weekends called "holidays".
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bonscott
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07/02/08 11:46am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: carrying shower stuff
Just a $5 duffel bag to carry everything.
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bonscott
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07/02/08 11:39am |
Folding Trailers
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