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RE: GETTING READY FOR THE 2010 CAMP SEASON
I have never had a battery on my PUP but need to add one for trip to Alaska. The storage shed where I store my PUP does not have power so I am looking at solar battery chargers. Next to the solar panels I see regulators to keep the battery from overcharging. Is this really necessary? The little panels that you find in Walmart, etc, in the 15-25 watt range are barely enough to keep fully charged battery from bleeding off. I would absolutely disconnect (unscrew the negative, or install a cutoff switch) to keep the parasitic draw from the detectors in the pup from pulling the battery down.
Another option I due for the winter is to pull the battery off and take it home. Plug in a battery maintainer like the BatteryMinder or similar.
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bondebond
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03/12/10 09:58am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: racoons and pop ups
Agreed, keep a clean campsite in general. Fifteen years of camping in a tent helped us develop good habits in regards to food storage. However, we have stored food out in the PUP in a hanging cupboard, and have yet to be bothered by raccoons: things like cereal bars, oatmeal packets, etc.
Now, when in bear country, it's a whole 'nother game.
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bondebond
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03/11/10 08:36pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: GETTING READY FOR THE 2010 CAMP SEASON
IMHO, your bearings are just fine. Without exposure to water, garage-kept and very low miles, I wouldn't worry about them this year. Check your manual or figure out what kind of axle you have. You could have something as simply as the Dexter EZLube, which you just get a grease gun and pump in new grease, pushing out the old grease. Wipe up the old grease and you're done. You would want to have the bearings inspected every couple of years, but if your usage stays low, less of a concern.
What is of concern is the battery. If you plan on doing anything without being hooked up to shore power at the campsite, then you have to take care of your battery.
Let it run down and sit that way is a sure fire way to have to spend $70 every year for a new one.
Battery maintenance is scary the first time, and a big let down every time thereafter.
Keep it charged at home. Keep the water levels full. Don't get any on you.
After plugging in the PUP over the winters and letting the onboard converter keep the battery charged, I've given up on that method. The converter would "boil off" the water inside, increasing my risk of reduced battery capacity.
Now, I have a BatteryMinder that will keep it charged and maintained over the winter after I charge it up full after the last use of the season.
I disconnect all connections to the battery and just use the BatteryMinder. $50 once for it saves me having to spend $70+ every year or so.
Best way to charge it: You have a couple of options. Chances are your built-in power converter will charge the battery when hooked up to shore power. Plug it into the wall in the garage and let it charge for a day or so. The better option is to get a smart, three-stage charger from an auto parts place or Walmart. I like the ones that indicate the percentage of charge on the battery. I hook it up to my main battery every once in a while and just turn it on to see what it says my battery is at. It usually only takes a couple of hours for this charger to bring my battery back, and it's obvious when it is done, when the battery is "full" again. The LCD panel tells me "100%".
RVs, even PUPs, aren't completely "set it and forget it" items. They do require us to be proactive in maintaining them. Glad you're checking up on it.
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bondebond
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03/08/10 01:00pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Need Mod for Storing awning poles - 4" PVC Mod
I placed the 4" PVC tubes on top of the frame on the rear bumper and held it in place with multiple industrial strength zip ties. The one on the front rides on the A-frame right behind the propane tanks up against the front wall of the PUP, and is held in place by the same zip ties. It has worked out well, because I had to do some gas line work and re-routing. I simply snipped the zip ties, pulled the PVC out of the way, finished the work and reinstalled the PVC with minimal fuss.
Many thousands of miles and several mountain passes/switchbacks later, no problems. And no additional drilling into the frame needed.
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bondebond
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03/08/10 12:46pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Just added "different" back up lights
Good deal.
I would definitely add the manual switch. I've used mine a number of times when the TV wasn't connected, for helping the kids find whatever they lost, etc.
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bondebond
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02/26/10 08:50pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Just added "different" back up lights
It looks quite professional and "at home" on the PUP. Great job.
I just wouldn't want to cut into the siding at such a water spray area right behind the wheels. I assume you used some sort of caulk or mastic?
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bondebond
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02/26/10 08:22pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: 3-Way Refrigerator Freezing?
You won't usually find a sensor inside of a refer in a Pop-Up.
They use mechanical thermostats and not an electronic sensor like in the big ones.Partially true. I have the standard Norcold 323 3-way refrigerator. It has small copper tubing that comes from the outside to the inside and is held against one of the fins by some clips. It is a sensor.
From the Norcold 323 manual: A nonadjustable thermostat controls the AC and DC operation of the refrigerator. The thermostat has a capillary sensor that is attached to the cooling fin. The AC or DC electric heater operates in response to the temperature of the cooling fin to keep the refrigerator temperature constant.The manual control knob only affects the gas flow.
Of course, the manual also says that gas will have reduced cooling above 5500 feet. I ran a week on gas at 9200 feet with no cooling issues.
From the manual (and my own experience to back it up), turn the gas to LOW COOL position, keep the fridge full, put food that are more likely to freeze on the lower shelf. Of course, add the fridge cube fan to stir the air.
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bondebond
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02/26/10 08:10pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: How do you start your campfire?
I'm kind of old school: build up kindling and small twigs next to a backlog, but I stood back (quite some distance) last summer while I was on an ATV trip to Colorado. The guys took turns trying to light each day's fire a different way.
Gasoline was a common method, since we had a ready supply. But the way to light it grew more grandiose every day. I can't tell you how glad I was that my camper was 30 feet away from the fire pit, which was 6 feet in diameter.
Boys will be boys, regardless of age.
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bondebond
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02/26/10 07:49pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: emptying a porta potty
OMG this is too funny! Potty-issues; the one great equalizer! lol
I'm really glad I posted the question; I've learned so much here!
If you have not seen RV with robin williams be sure to rent it soon. It may change your mind about upgrading to a 5th wheel, larger trailer or a Motorhome in the future. RV should be required viewing for anyone that has a black tank in an RV to dump.Right where I was going to go (no pun intended).
At this point in life, with a PUP, I have no desire to mess with black tanks, etc. We're were die hard tenters before upgrading to a PUP, and still have no issues with using park facilities. However, I'm sure that some day down the road, especially after the little ones have been launched on their own, I'll want something 10 feet away that's indoors.:C
For now, we bring along a little training potty for the 5 and 3 yr olds, and that fills the bill. For now.
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bondebond
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02/26/10 04:02pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Spare Tire Cover for PopUp
I just went to Google and typed in "12" tire cover" and came up with scads of them, including a cool Cabela's version. Substitute your tire size.
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bondebond
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02/22/10 05:33pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Where are you going???
We're not sure when, but we're going to make a trip to the Cascades. I've never been. Most of our camping has been along or west of I-35, so I'd like to head east in the next several trips.
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bondebond
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02/17/10 11:55am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: canvas cover for pop up
I bought my '06 used, but it had been stored in a barn when not in use. I left it on the driveway for the first six months I owned it. That aged it cosmetically quite a bit, not that I'm worried about keeping it "pristine". However, the UV exposure made the decals disintigrate, the paint sure seemed to oxidize and rust show up faster than if I had covered it.
I now keep it inside the garage.
I would recommend something to block the weather and sun exposure, if that concerns you. I just don't want the plastic exterior components failing faster, if I can do some simple things to make them last. My two cents.
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bondebond
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02/17/10 11:52am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Dispersed sites---what do you do for a table?
I bring the chainsaw. Cut a tree off at the height I want and attach some plywood for a work surface.
Then, I have firewood without having to buy or gather, which can be prohibited in some places.
That's for when the roll-up table shown above doesn't cut the mustard. It's a great little table and always goes with us. I put the small BBQ and Coleman 2-burner stove on it.
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bondebond
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02/05/10 11:01am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: New Kid On The Block
I must say, that from my own personal experiences, trying to portage a PUP is going to be A LOT tougher than a tent. Add some pontoons to it, so it won't have to ride in the canoe.
Congrats, and welcome aboard.
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bondebond
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01/28/10 11:16am |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Do I need to prop open refrigerator?
There is such a thing as humidity where I live, at sufficient levels, to induce mold growth, even after I had towelled out a freezer and left the door open for two weeks before it was shut over a winter in the garage. Not a pretty sight next spring.
There's a reason for those tabs from the manufacturer. Not always is it because the reason you propose. But thank you for your opinion.
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bondebond
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01/27/10 12:53pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Do I need to prop open refrigerator?
Cool. Three pages of "leave it open or mold".
Any time you trap moisture without a dessicant or mold inhibitor, consider it a petri dish.
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bondebond
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01/25/10 02:05pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: repairing a roof
Sounds like an excellent deal, if you're hand or want to pay for a roof replacement.
Personally, I would lean towards a rebuild. There are a few threads on here about roof rebuilds. Work methodically, and it's a challenge but rewarding. I would do a search for you but this "smartphone" isn't conducive to multiple brower windows.
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bondebond
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01/25/10 01:22pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Water, please
For dumping, most interstate rest areas have dump stations.
Wrong! The few that have dump stations have the stations closed.Depends. Every rest area I passed on I-80 in Iowa had active dump stations. Rather obvious when there were RVs pulled up with hoses attached, dumping.
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bondebond
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01/25/10 11:23am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: My findings/advice after my 1st RV trip.
Ok, I've often lamented the lack of a potty inside my PUP. I remember first observing, then helping, grandparents and parents emptying the black tanks but never start-to-finish for my own experiences.
I *KNOW* I would have one, given the opportunity. It's only a matter of time.
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bondebond
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01/25/10 11:11am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Finicky Mice
Try some corn chip crumbs on peanut butter to bait this one:
We use this "plastic cat" in our machinery storage shed. When it gets near freezing, pour some RV antifreeze into the water to keep it liquid. Hope it helps! http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/easterly110.htmlWow. I wished I had seen this at the beginning of last summer. I will be setting this up in my little yard barn come springtime. Thank you for the link.
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bondebond
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01/25/10 10:57am |
General RVing Issues
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