Introducing myself

[PlanoMan]

Hi

We are Jean "Sandi" Goode and Jay Goode. We live in Plano, Texas, which is north of Dallas. We have been running a Casita Freedom Deluxe for more then five years.

Some places we have travelled:

• San Antonio, TX
• Branson, MO
• Ruidoso, NM
• Flagstaff, AZ
• New Orleans, LA
• Memphis, TN
• Hot Springs, AR
• Nacogdoches, TX
• Jefferson - Caddo Lake, TX
• Shreveport, LA
• Galveston, TX
• and others ...

Our tow is a 2013 Honda Ridgeline RTS. We just purchased it. It's set up, but we have not travelled in it yet.

Sandi is retired insurance executive. I am a retired computer programmer and currently own my own internet development business. Goode Web Design I also have a photography business Jay Goode Photography.

I have added two solar panels to my Casita

[jwcolby54]

Welcome to FGRV. Sounds like you are not new to the experience! I have just purchased a Scamp 16 and am flying to pick it up this weekend, so while I have been on the forum for many months, I have yet to spend a night in my new TT.

Tell me about your solar experience - placement, mounting, wiring etc. I am looking at doing that as well.

I am a database analyst / programmer, working in Research Triangle Park in NC as a contractor for IBM.

Again, welcome!

[Donna D.]

Hi Jay and Sandi, to FiberglassRV, we're glad you're here

You've joined a forum with lots of kind and helpful people!

[carlkeigley]

WELCOME to the Forum Jay.

Any recommendations for staying at Branson, Missouri?

[RogerDat]

Welcome aboard.
Another IT person, how nice. Web application analyst/programmer here. Or as I like to say I'm in the business of asking a couple thousand questions so I can do the CRUD right. With some server admin and DBA stuff thrown in. Just to keep me from getting too bored with the same old same old.

Some nice photos in that portfolio.

[PlanoMan]

Thank you RogerDat,

I started planning the solar thing right away. My intention was to become completely self-contained. However, the math does not fit the size of a Casita. I have two panels. A 15-watt panel I got from Camping World and an 80-watt panel I got from a firm in Arizona. They are permanently roof mounted. It has been on for more about 5 years and has performed flawlessly. It keeps the battery charged and will run the fans at night. One caveat: I must have the refrigerator on gas. As a matter of fact, I found I can run on the road with the refrig on gas. I mounted a monitor panel in the back of the Casita.

Shady camp sites are out.

I have looked at the Scamp, and I really like it! I would like to see one up close. I picked the Casita because the factory is just down the road. I take it back in once a year for a "tune up".

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

Welcome to FGRV. Sounds like you are not new to the experience! I have just purchased a Scamp 16 and am flying to pick it up this weekend, so while I have been on the forum for many months, I have yet to spend a night in my new TT.

Tell me about your solar experience - placement, mounting, wiring etc. I am looking at doing that as well.

I am a database analyst / programmer, working in Research Triangle Park in NC as a contractor for IBM.

Again, welcome!

[PlanoMan]

Thanks and nice to meet you, Donna

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Hi Jay and Sandi, to FiberglassRV, we're glad you're here

You've joined a forum with lots of kind and helpful people!

[Ian G.]

Jay and Sandi to this friendly and very inspirational forum
Great to have another FD owner represented.

[UtahPete]

I'm curious; how do you 'fly out' to pick up a TT? Don't you need a tow vehicle?

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

Welcome to FGRV. Sounds like you are not new to the experience! I have just purchased a Scamp 16 and am flying to pick it up this weekend, so while I have been on the forum for many months, I have yet to spend a night in my new TT.

Tell me about your solar experience - placement, mounting, wiring etc. I am looking at doing that as well.

I am a database analyst / programmer, working in Research Triangle Park in NC as a contractor for IBM.

Again, welcome!

[carlkeigley]

to the Forum Pete.

That was quite observant............LOL

[UtahPete]

I'm not sure what you mean by the 'math does not fit'. Can you explain that?

Also, have you posted any pictures of the installation? How did you wire it into the TT system?

Thanks. I'm looking at putting a 45-watt set of panels on my 16' Scamp for the purpose of keeping the battery charged and running the vent fan while boondocking.

Originally Posted by PlanoMan

Thank you RogerDat,

I started planning the solar thing right away. My intention was to become completely self-contained. However, the math does not fit the size of a Casita. I have two panels. A 15-watt panel I got from Camping World and an 80-watt panel I got from a firm in Arizona. They are permanently roof mounted. It has been on for more about 5 years and has performed flawlessly. It keeps the battery charged and will run the fans at night. One caveat: I must have the refrigerator on gas. As a matter of fact, I found I can run on the road with the refrig on gas. I mounted a monitor panel in the back of the Casita.

Shady camp sites are out.

I have looked at the Scamp, and I really like it! I would like to see one up close. I picked the Casita because the factory is just down the road. I take it back in once a year for a "tune up".

[jwcolby54]

Originally Posted by UtahPete

I'm curious; how do you 'fly out' to pick up a TT? Don't you need a tow vehicle?

I bought a 2009 scamp and the 2000 dodge Dakota the po used to tow it. $11k for the package. But I live in NC and the tv & tt were in Maine. Getting it home has been an adventure.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

I bought a 2009 scamp and the 2000 dodge Dakota the po used to tow it. $11k for the package. But I live in NC and the tv & tt were in Maine. Getting it home has been an adventure.

Congratulations on your find and getting it home.

Wipes egg off face for not thinking of tow and tt in a package.......LOL

[papa-t]

Welcome to the forum

[jwcolby54]

Not home yet but getting close. The tt was closed up for a year and leaked water at the bottom of the door. I am throwing away all the moldy bedding, towels and such and starting fresh. Replacing the cheap door handle with a higher quality latch.

An adventure. Or as Donna would say, making memories! It has been fun.