Maintenance & Restoration

Vickie B. · 09-20-2011, 06:36 PM

Well----

1. Throw everything in the garage or kitchen

Vickie B. · 09-20-2011, 06:38 PM

2. Dry screen room and rug all over yard

Vickie B. · 09-20-2011, 06:39 PM

3. Laundry
4. Repack and REPEAT

cpaharley2008 · 09-20-2011, 06:53 PM

That looks like my house after 15" of rain we head last week here in Pa. !!!!!

Donna D. · 09-20-2011, 06:58 PM

You have my sympathy. Wet stuff is one of the reasons I don't camp in the Pacific NorthWET during the cold, wet winter months. It's hard to dry out stuff on the lawn when it's a swimming pool!

Vickie B. · 09-20-2011, 07:36 PM

It dried pretty easily, but, dang---the leaves kept falling and blowing all over!

Dan Meyer · 09-20-2011, 09:03 PM

I want to know how you fit all of that stuff into your camper!

-- Dan Meyer

Vickie B. · 09-20-2011, 09:28 PM

Dan,

See that Honda Element in the picture? Although still my first love, it was retired as tow vehicle and replaced with Honda Ridgeline truck. We pack the back of that truck FULL!

Doug Mager · 09-20-2011, 10:46 PM

...and Carol wonders WHY we like to tow our trailer around to events with a truck???

This comes from she, who tows HERS around with a WAGON!!!! LOL

It ain't pretty when we get back to home base.

... but its always great to be back home!

Carol H · 09-21-2011, 01:21 AM

hehe actually Doug I only wonder about the gas issue and the parking issues of living in the city with a big truck.....

My little city and tow friendly gas saving wagon handled all my wet gear nicely with plenty of room to spare on Sunday. Acually the only wet gear I had to deal with was the outside rug - it needed a bath when it got home - not sure if that was due to the rain or too much wine and other beverages spilled on it on Friday and Saturday night! The awning and party tent where dry by the time I put them away - everything that was under the tent and inside the trailer stayed nice and dry.

Alf S. · 09-21-2011, 04:58 AM

Hi: Vicky B. Isn't it awfull how stuff swells up when wet??? I hope it shrinks down, when dry, so it fits again!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

honda03842 · 09-21-2011, 05:58 AM

When I first read this post I couldn't figure out the exact problem.

For those of us who travel continuously, without drying options, the solution is simple. We don't carry all the outdoor stuff that gets wet. Everything just have to have a place inside the trailer or inside the tow vehicle.

Mike Magee · 09-21-2011, 06:24 AM

Well maybe part of the issue is having a 13'er. It's so small for 2 people, the screen room and stuff become more important. Need a 16 or 17!

That's all said with tongue in cheek, though.

I know it's more a matter of camping style. Some folks just enjoy having that extra outdoor stuff, some don't, and that's ok either way. My style generally involves many miles and frequent moves with short stays, so I avoid items that require external setup. For multiple day stays in one location, those items can be a nice enhancement.

honda03842 · 09-21-2011, 06:45 AM

I know it's more a matter of camping style. Some folks just enjoy having that extra outdoor stuff, some don't....

In 2-300 days of camping this year we end up with both long and short stays; we will stay a day, a week or a month depending on... We figure that on average we'll drive 30 miles a day, normally driving 150 miles every 5 days or so. We try to have a 10 minute setup routine, outside stuff amounts to two chairs and a little table.

We had lunch with budding RVers yesterday and the wife asked me how we carry four season clothing when we're gone 10-11 months. We don't, we layer. Looking at her earings I told her that when traveling you have to choose which earings to take, Ginny normally takes 5 pair, she's uping it to 6 this year for 11 months.

We have the rule that if you don't use it it doesn't come next year. Of course that means that the last couple weeks Ginny is wearing things that have not seen the light of day for the previous 11 months. Her goal when packing is to fill the space given to her, mine is to have easy access to my stuff.

We do not store anything in the trailer like coolers, generators or screen rooms. We try to keep it really simple. We do try to create more storage space in our trailer than a typical trailer because of the way we travel and the time we're gone.

Vickie B. · 09-21-2011, 06:51 AM

Great point, Mike!!! I've already decided to have a plan for TWO camping styles! I will scale back for short stays (so hubby will be more apt to just "hitch and go"!) And one for the longer stays. The biggest help this trip was that we didn't take the 2 shedding pugs--don't even want to think about that mess!!!

I'm a big-time "nestor"---so making a "home away from home" is part of the fun--like the outdoor kitchen, etc. Cooking in a 13 footer drives me crazy!

All that being said---it only took about 8 hours (spread over 2 days) to get things dry, put away, back to storage unit, and house back in order. It was well worth it----keeps me moving!

AND, it's rained everytime I've camped (except ONCE---2 weeks ago when we camped at 2 Rivers---15 mins. from my home!) So, it's a given!!!!

Vicki A. · 09-21-2011, 07:25 AM

Well then Vickie, would you PLEASE come camping in central Texas?
We could certainly use the rain!!

Carol H · 09-21-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carol H

hehe actually Doug I only wonder about the gas issue and the parking issues of living in the city with a big truck.....

My little city and tow friendly gas saving wagon handled all my wet gear nicely with plenty of room to spare on Sunday. Acually the only wet gear I had to deal with was the outside rug - it needed a bath when it got home - not sure if that was due to the rain or too much wine and other beverages spilled on it on Friday and Saturday night! The awning and party tent where dry by the time I put them away - everything that was under the tent and inside the trailer stayed nice and dry.

Actually Doug I forgot to mention the two main reasons I love my Outback wagon.

#1 is because it has way more storage space in the rear than any other wagon I have looked at including the Volvo and way more by far than any small or so called mid size SUV's I have looked at as well. On an average 3 day camping trip I dont even come close to filling up the back area - usually only half full sometimes less - even with the cooler in the back.

#2 reason is the wagon is great in the snow by far a way better/safer ride than a truck in the snow (even the 4 wheel drive ones). As I live on the side of a mountain and spend a good deal of time in the winter months at various ski hills what I tow with in the summer months also has to serve me well in the winter months.

Doug Mager · 09-21-2011, 12:52 PM

Carol, I DO know of most of your great work, especially with the Winter Olympics and the car you drive sure does seem to serve you well....

Carol H · 09-21-2011, 12:59 PM

Thanks Doug I have done some pretty early in the AM drives up and down some mountains that some people would not like even if there was no snow. I have done some so early tht the plows haven't got out of bed yet :-) I know from having driven trucks in the past there is no way I would have done some of those trips if I had been driving a truck! :-)

Mike Magee · 09-21-2011, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vickie B.

Great point, Mike!!! I've already decided to have a plan for TWO camping styles! I will scale back for short stays (so hubby will be more apt to just "hitch and go"!) And one for the longer stays. The biggest help this trip was that we didn't take the 2 shedding pugs--don't even want to think about that mess!!!

I'm a big-time "nestor"---so making a "home away from home" is part of the fun--like the outdoor kitchen, etc. Cooking in a 13 footer drives me crazy!

All that being said---it only took about 8 hours (spread over 2 days) to get things dry, put away, back to storage unit, and house back in order. It was well worth it----keeps me moving!

AND, it's rained everytime I've camped (except ONCE---2 weeks ago when we camped at 2 Rivers---15 mins. from my home!) So, it's a given!!!!

Vickie, I recommend a vacation to the desert... Utah is beautiful. If it rains on you there, it's probably just you!