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Old 05-07-2009, 11:55 PM   #1
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Trailer: Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
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Talking

We did a quick Outing in the Scamp this week. We left Monday, stayed 3 nights up in the Cloudcroft area at a Forest Campground. It was a shake down cruise to see what we needed but didn't remember to pack along. There were a few things. It was great up there, almost the whole campground to ourselves. So nice and cool. The campground was at 10,000 feet. Very dry there as well as here. It was 95 in Las Cruces when we got back. It as mostly in the upper 60s or low 70s up there as highs. I rode my Yamaha some, we went on a hike to see the new Trestle Overlook, only 1.3 miles one way but it was a very steep trail, we enjoyed it. We had a picnic, enjoyed bird watching, enjoyed the cool. We read alot. It was also our first time to Towing Double with the Scamp. Here are some photos of the trip. I believe it took us longer to get the Egg ready than we were able to camp with washing & waxing the Scamp, loading it supplies not to mention washing & the loading & packing of our new tow (which we were very happy with, loved the power & the room it affords, I really like the cap/shell, it was easy to get into and find what I need). I added a 50" X 9' piece of carpet to the bed which made it much easier on my knees plus it has a rubber matt in the bed & on the tailgate. Towing Double went very well. I can not see bike trailer in my mirrors. It was cool, yes, chilly in the mornings, but not cold. We did use the generator/electric heater to warm it up to shower. I need to add an anti-sway bar to the motorcycle trailer and a flag pole (horizonally) to be able to see if it is swaying or not. We enjoyed the Broadtailed Hummingbirds. It was our first trip in our Ford F-150 and our first time to tow double (with the Scamp).


http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll120/D...mview=slideshow
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DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
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Old 05-07-2009, 11:57 PM   #2
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A photo from the Trip.
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2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
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Old 05-08-2009, 12:00 AM   #3
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Ditto
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2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
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Old 05-08-2009, 12:02 AM   #4
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One more
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2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
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Old 05-08-2009, 08:42 AM   #5
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Very nice outfit.

I've wondered about double towing. It's obvious it's legal in NM from your post, and I've seen a dowble tower in WY once. Do you know what the general rules are - is it a state by state thing, special license, insurance required?

I'm heading out your way in two weeks, to the canyon lands but planning to stop in NM for a few days. The location in your post looks marvelous, thanks for the tip. Are there any other 'near Sante Fe' or on the way toward Bryce/Zion Forest Service sites you could recommend?
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Old 05-08-2009, 01:37 PM   #6
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Phill, yes it is state by state as to legality of double towing and what is needed. Nothing in NM execpt not to exceed 65' behind the tow vehicle. CA one must have a commerical license to double tow (someone on Casita Club said). I believe it is ok in TX (same 65' rule I believe), Colorado, South Dakota & North Dakota. Not sure about AZ or other states.

New Mexico has a ton of places to camp simular to where we were and better. Check these:
http://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/...showtopic=4454

http://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/index....p;hl=DesertHawk

Bandelier National Monument would be a nice place to visit near Los Alamos and not far from Santa Fe. It was a pleasent campground when we stayed there.
http://www.nps.gov/band/
http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisi...campground.htm

Hyde Memorial State Park near Santa Fe is a very nice place (most if not all NM State Parks are very nice and economical as well, with nice showers).
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/Hyde.htm

We spent more time at Heron Lake State Park near Chama, NM going back several years in the summers. We did have a canoe and enjoyed canoeing on it. Chama is a neat place with a very nice steam train ride up into Colorado. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Chama would be about 95 miles from Taos. It is a very neat drive between Taos & Chama.
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/heron.htm
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/doc.../Heron_001.pdf
http://www.chamavalley.com/
Tierra Wools of Los Ojos near the turn off to Heron Lake.
http://organiclamb.com/artisans.htm
http://organiclamb.com/artisans.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tierra_...la,_New_Mexico
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was originally constructed in 1880 as part of the Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension, which served the silver mining district of the San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado. Like all of the Rio Grande at the time, it was built to a gauge of 3 feet between the rails, instead of the more common 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches that became standard in the United States. The inability to interchange cars with other railroads led the Rio Grande to begin converting its tracks to standard gauge in 1890.
Eagle Nest is a neat area as well. It would be about a 60 mile drive from Raton to Eagle Nest (a neat little town) to see Cimarron Canyon SP. You would be driving along or in the Cimarron Canyon much of the way. The village of Cimarron is a neat historic place. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimarron,_New_Mexico
http://www.sangres.com/newmexico/colfax/cimarron.htm
http://www.rozylowicz.com/retirement.../cimarron.html
If you do make it to the Eagle Nest Area, be sure to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, one of the first Memorials of its kind in the United States dedicated to Vietnam Veterans. A very moving place.
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/VietnamVets.htm

By driving 30 miles from Eagle Nest, one could go to Taos a very historic area. The neat Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is near Taos as well on the way to Chama.
http://www.taosvacationguide.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taos,_New_Mexico
http://www.taospueblo.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Gorge
http://www.sangres.com/statenm/
http://virtualguidebooks.com/NewMexico/Pue...orgeBridge.html

In AZ (might be on your way to the canyons) Canyon de Chelly National Monument by Chinle is great place to see from the rim on both sides of the Canyon with a free campground with showers. Been there want to go again. http://www.nps.gov/cach/
http://www.freecampgrounds.com/detail.aspx?id=1439

Grand Canyon both sides are really nice, the south side by Flagstaff is close to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument with camping nearby where we have stayed to see the area. (There is no camping in the monument. However, Bonito Campground, operated by the US Forest Service, is located across from the visitor center at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. This campground is generally open from late May through mid-October. There are no hook-ups.). There are nice campgrounds on the north side at the park and if full in the Nat'l Forest just before getting into the park. We stayed outside the park when there in summer and park cg was full. Grand Canyon http://www.nps.gov/grca/
Sunset Crater http://www.nps.gov/sucr/

Navajo National Monument is located at the end of State Highway 564 off of US Highway 160. We have not been to this one but sounds very interesting. Two campgrounds, one open all year, somewhat isolated but no fees are charged. http://www.nps.gov/nava/
http://www.nps.gov/nava/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

In Texas: Balmorhea State Park is located in the foothills of the Davis Mountains southwest of Balmorhea and nearby Davis Mountains State Park (along with the famous Big Bend Nat'l Park) are very nice places and one could spend a long time at each. Been to all except Davis, but it is nice areas, be sure to visit the old Ft. Davis a nice place to see.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findade...arks/balmorhea/

Brice & Zion both have campgrounds. Many years ago, we stayed at a campground at Brice. http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
Later, we went to Fish Lake & camped there a few days, then we stayed at a Forest campground by Panguitch Lake. 8400 ft. elevation. 18 campsites, including 1 RV site. This area is best suited for tents. Panguitch Lake South Campground is a short walk from the lake, and there are full resort facilities nearby. Panquitch Lake North has 39 single campsites, 8 double campsites, and three group areas near Panguitch Lake. Fishing for rainbow trout in the lake. From Panguitch (which is near Brice Canyon) go 16 miles southwest on UT 143. I believe we were on the North Campground. We drove from this campground to Zion (made a day trip out of Zion, it was very hot when we were there, therefore find Fish Lake & Panquitch Lake in higher elevations). We drove by or through some of the Dixie Forest & Cedar Breaks National Monument (Resting on top of the Colorado plateau, at over 10,000 feet in elevation, with breathtaking views.)


Photos of the bed/cap storage (notice the 26 gal water tank) & (MotoHauler Trailer modified to carry Yamaha XT250) (The storage container upside down is on top of the Honda 2,000):
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bed_storage_sm.jpg   BedCap_Storage_with_26_gal_water_tank.jpg  

MotoHauler_Trailer_modified_to_carry_Yamaha_XT250.jpg  
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2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
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