Make sure you read part 1 and part 2.

Fortunately, no one complained about our tempo-tank, but I would never do that again.  Seriously, you should see the sloshing the bucket does when full. Regardless, it worked for the weekend, but you can bet that the gray water tank was number one on my list of things to add to our camper collection.

The full set up and unpacking went extremely well and rather quickly despite some of the quirks I noted above.  We were relaxing and ready to enjoy the campground on day 1.  We made campfire, had our dinner, and the kids were back at the playground.  Day 1 came to an end with snores all around.

On day 2, I decided that it would be nice to have hot water.  So, I read through the manual, made sure the gas was on, and opened up the outside access to light the hot water heater.  I was immediately puzzled as our manual did not seem to match what I was seeing.  We soon discovered that the manual did not match the model number.  I was not happy, but a friendly camper-neighbor was willing to help me get the hot water heater going.  Let me make a statement at this point…

Most fellow campers are helpful and friendly.  I know.  I know.  The people that know me are asking themselves if I have lost that wonderful cynicism about humanity for which I am well known.  However, it is well in place.  Yet, despite my cynicism, I must admit the helpfulness and general good nature of people we have met camping.  You still have idiots, but they are apparently more tolerable with wood smoke. Anyway…

The camper-neighbor and I figured out how to light the burner, and I let it run as he suggested.  An hour later, we still had no hot water.  Two hours later, no hot water.  I was not happy.  Then, something hit me.  When we were looking at the camper to purchase it, I remembered that the hot water tank had been bypassed.  Sure enough, I opened the cabinet, and it was still bypassed.  This brings us to…

New Camper
Lesson #3 – Even if the Dealer Says It’s Ready…Check!

Our dealer was excellent and friendly, and literally did a lot for us during the purchase.  We trusted them when they said the camper was ready, but they missed the bypass.  Luckily it did not damage the tank when we heated it.  However, I did contact the dealer and asked why it was not set up.  The dealer immediately asked us to drop the camper off on Monday.  They set the tank up, and added an awning to the camper without charge.  Great Deal!  However, check everything and, then, check it again!

End of Lesson

So, we spent the weekend without hot water which was survivable as we could heat it up on the stove or campfire.  It was, however, a bit embarrassing and frustrating.  Yet, it did not ruin a great campground and a good time with the kids.  At least, the weekend was going great until we received a phone call on Saturday.

I was sitting in the sun, feeling the relaxation taking affect, when my cell phone rang.  It was our Pastor. He asked if I was willing to help in the Service the next day.  I said I would, and then he explained, with relief in his voice, that he had had A HEART ATTACK and was calling me from the hospital. I spent the rest of the day buried in my Bible and praying for inspiration for the sermon I would now be delivering.  So, the final lesson from the shakedown cruise…

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!

Camping Trip 1

Cold Water, Open Flames, and Blocked Arteries

See part 1 before continuing with my husband’s version of our first camping trip.

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OK… so, despite the fact that camper was not properly supported (though I did not know it at the time), we were able to get it completely set up and ready for use.  My wife began her list of things we completely forgot and things we wanted for our next trip, and I began my mental list of things I did not like about the camper.  Yep, we had a brand new camper, and I was already complaining.  However, it was not about the camper per se, but the camper filled with 5 people.

I am not a small person, and I am not a thin person.  So, I like a lot of room.  Thus, as my wife unpacked, I began to find myself crowded by everything.  I think it was extremely psychological, but it was there nonetheless.  As things kept appearing, the first thought in my head was that I needed to design and build some form of shelving that would be reasonably priced and easy to put up and put down.  As the unpacking continued, the second thought was to run home, stretch out in the luxurious space of my workshop, and build shelves.  I eventually pushed the desire to scream and run home down and
ran outside to hook up water and sewage.

Reveling in the open space of the campsite, I had the electricity and water hooked up very quickly.  Some advice I can offer is that you should buy a new hose for use with your camper.  It allows you to have new washers in the hose and to be sure that the water coming in is not tainted by water from your home lawn and garden taps.  Also, it just looks spiffy!

Side note from Mona – you also need a pressure regulator although we didn’t know that yet.

Anyway,I digress.  So, I hooked up the water and electricity, and I hooked up our temporary gray water tank… ahem… which was, believe it or not, a giant kitty litter bucket… which brings us to

New Camper Lesson #2 – C’mon Scrooge Buy the Freaking Tank!

OK… so we did indeed use a kitty litter bucket for a gray water tank on that first trip, and let me just put a plug in for the kitty litter bucket.  Those little gems can hold everything from tools, to water, to ash from a fire place.  I really like them for carrying things in box-like containers with handles.  However, there are many reasons that you should simply spring for a good quality gray water tank.  Gaining that tank made a lot of things easier, and I will talk about it in future posts.  However, from the get go, do yourself a favor and buy a sizable, portable, and tow-able tank!

End of Lesson

Continue reading here.

This post contains affiliate links.  See my disclosure policy.

Camping Trip 1

Cold Water, Open Flames, and Blocked Arteries

I love the way my husband writes and so I’ve asked him to share some of our camping adventures.  This is from my old camping bog.

The concept of blogging (is that a word?) sets me on edge as I feel it will eventually be the downfall of printed books in general.  I have a Ph.D. in English, and I have old fashioned ideas about the fact that I think the written word should be just that or, at least, printed.  Regardless, my wife asked me to work cooperatively with her on this electronic brainchild, and I plan to jump in with both feet, or a mouse and keyboard as the case may be.

So, on with motley…

As our blog indicates, we decided to play it safe by taking our new pop-up camper for a shakedown cruise to a local campground with which we were very familiar and which was within an easy driving range of our home.  Our goal was to gain the experience of a weekend of camping with the safety net of familiar surroundings. I am extremely glad we made that choice.

At the outset, everything was going according to plan.  The hook up of the camper to the truck went well, although it was touch and go for our marriage for a while as we tried to decide who would do the “backing up” and who would do the “directing.”  Eventually, our love for each other won out, and I let her drive as I am horrible at taking directions.  We hooked up, after a surprisingly small amount of trial and error, and drove to the campground with our excitement riding high.

The campground was no disappointment either.  We were assigned a great spot by the showers and playground, and the kids could play while we set up. Then, as we pulled into the spot, and the truck listed to one side, the first complication hit.  The ground was not level.

Now, you might think that such a thing would be obvious, and I had prepared for some unevenness, but this was truly mountainous in proportion to the very level yard we had at home.  Also, I sort of misunderstood the concept of the stabilizer feet on the camper, and we ended up using them as the means by which to level and support the camper… which brought us to

NEW CAMPER
LESSON #1 – Bring Leveling Boards!

Yep… I did not bring a single leveling board.  Despite the fact that I watched my father-in-law unload his leveling boards on repeated occasions, it never occurred to me to pack my own.  I literally thought that the stabilizing feet were for leveling the camper and supporting its weight.  Thank God that no permanent damage to the camper was done and that it supported itself throughout the weekend.  Now, we take a number of boards with us, and I constructed wooden shoes for the stabilizing feet.  They no longer take the weight of the camper as supports but function correctly as stabilizers.

End of Lesson

Continue reading here.

John blogs sporadically at The Crabby Wizard.