* Fridge ?
* Brakes ?
* Inside organizer thingie magicies from Wally world ?
* New covers for the mattresses and cushions ?
* Converter ?
* Battery ?
* Furnace ?
Yeah I know all these cost money :) It is nice to dream anyways folks :)
"All of the above." Maybe. When do you take delivery of the popup??
Maybe a PopUp Shower is in order once this all goes through?? And I don't mean as in bathing....I mean as in....housewarming....wedding shower... new baby shower (this will be Birol's new baby)....what do ya think???:)
A good cleaning, then new covers for the mattresses and seats (to make it feel more like your own), then the brakes. If it's too heavy for your van, then I say brakes first. The other items are nice, but not necessary to get out camping. Keep an eye out for a small heater on clearance since they are at the end of their season. FIRST, raid your house for items that can be used in the camper more instead of in the house. THEN, go to Walmart to get things for the camper that will make your life easier while camping in it.
A new camper is SO exciting... all the things you want to do to make it your own! I LOVE the pop-up shower idea! I have some great items I think every camper should have and I would love to hook Birol up with some of them!
You mean I need to wash it inside and out ? (Just being bad, I know what you guys mean :p ) This board is too good to be true !
I will get it Monday week hopefully ! Should be home Tuesday of if unforeseen events do occur, Wednesday !
Yeah a good cleaning is in order ! I am sure it is in good shape and all, but for it to feel like mine, I will have to scrub every corner a few times ! Same goes for the inside of the canvas ! I hope the previous owners were non smokers ! I am sure whatever smell was inside will go away soon though.
This coming week I will replace the brake pads of WIndstar, they are about to go and I want to make sure that I fix them properly before starting to tow ! That is the first thing. I agree that probably trailer brakes are a first must. I couldn't find any information on how heavy this thing really is on the net ! If it is 3,500 GVWR I am doomed :):):) Hopefully the axel has the brake square thingies, otherwise it will have to be replaced ! I am so excited with anticipation !
I'd figure what the priority of the brakes are first.
What's the weight of the PU compared to the Windstar? Will you be towing in rain, ice, sleet or snow? The trailer brakes main purposes are: Prevent the trailer from jackknifing the tow vehicle, and provide stopping power.
My old Jayco weighed less than 1,500 lbs, compared with my SUV's 5,000 lbs weight. And, my SUV has great brakes, so, under braking, I hardly even knew it was back there. When we upgraded to the Coleman, I towed it home (about 7 miles, all down hill), and we didn't have a brake controller yet. I cam to a stop at a wet intersection, and the trailer pushed us half way through.
After that, I'd do the power cleaning of the inside, then out. Recover the cushions. I hate to feel like I'm living in someone else's funk.
Then, the battery and converter. (You'll need this for the furnace, anyway, when dry camping).
Then the furnace. Don't want to freeze the family.
I'm not all that big on the fridge. I find most of our stuff stays in the ice chest anyway, although some perishables that I don't like to have floating in the ice chest goes in the fridge.
Our old jayco was so small, that I didn't want to cook inside of it. So, we never used the stove. I took the propane bottle off the tongue, and used the space for a storage trunk.
Sounds like you are gearing up! Good luck!
Our first PU was an 1985 Starcraft and it did not have brakes and we did not add them, our TV at the time as a 1988 New Yorker. Cincinnati is a very hilly place, and we live in the middle of a huge hill, we either go up, or down and it is very steep, but we never felt we needed the brakes. Other then that info, I can't help with the brakes.
Fridge, we had the ice box also like yours, and used it for storage and just used 1-2 coolers (as many as needed).
Converter, never had one, nor did we feel we needed one.
Battery, we had plans to add one, but never got around to doing it... we just didn't camp primitive.
Furnace, went out and bought a small portable one for about $15 bucks at Meijer. We camped one weekend that it got very cold unexpectedly and went out the first morning to Meijer and got the cheapest they had and it worked great. In fact, we still have it in the new PU and have used it to take the chill off the air instead of using the propane.
Cushions/mattresses... luckily ours was in nice shape. We just put a flat sheet over them. I felt the fabric on the cushions was itchy and the flat sheet took care of that.
Ornganizer things.... you may have things around the house that will work fine. Otherwise, just watch the "clearance" sections in the discount stores and when you see something that catches your eye. Grab it, as with us, it won't be there the next day when you say, I can use that for..... (buyers regret).
Take it a trip at a time and just see what is needed... take a note pad and put in PU and make notes as the days and trips go on.
Birol I would give the PU a good cleaning and fix any problems with the canvas, screens, roof, etc. Then I would look at a battery. If the PU has electrical outlets then you should consider a converter. If there aren't any electrical outlets you don't need a converter. I wouldn't get a refrigerator for a PU this old. If my fridge quit working I don't know if I would replace it. Brakes would be good, IF your trailer is heavy, but if it is light weight I wouldn't worry about getting them. If you plan to camp when it is colder a furnace is a good idea. You can use a portable heater when you are awake, but I wouldn't run one when you are sleeping. Wait until you check out the PU and decide what it needs. :)
B, I think you're getting good advice about what to do first from all of our friends here on the board. The first priorities should probably be things that have to do with safety and performance of the camper. Brakes, making sure the propane lines are safe (old ones may be rotting and leaky), making sure the tires are good, and the running lights are working. The fridge, batteries, heaters, and so on all all options (luxuries, LOL) and can wait or be done gradually.
I saw the pic of the ice box or whatever that is in your popup. We had an older Palomino at one time had the same kind of thing in it, was suppose to run on electricity, but it didn't work. We just set a block of ice in a pan on the top shelf, and it kept things like eggs, butter, cheese real well. You might not want to put meat in it and take a chance on it going bad, but some of those other items were kept cold enough. We have a small quartz heater from Walmart that really puts out a lot of heat, it was about $15. We also have a propane heater that we could use in a pinch, but except for winter camping, the quartz one is fine. Our old Palomino didn't have the lights that the newer campers have, so we got a few small lamps from a thrift store to use at night. Also used our coleman lantern sometimes. (that also added warmth during the cooler times.) If there are problems with the canvas, it may be possible to just throw a big tarp over the whole thing for a while just so you can at least get out there and camp. You wouldn't be the first one, or the only one to do that. (does anyone remember those pics posted a while back of a few campers in the campgrounds that were under huge tarps?) If you are using sleeping bags in your tent, you may be able to throw them over the cushions like comforters and just sleep on top with a light blanket during warm weather, and decide whether to recover at a later date.
I guess all I'm trying to say is that every thing doesn't have to be done at once, or immediately. If you try to do that it will become a money pit for a while, and that won't make Babette love it, she may grow to resent the popup. We don't want that to happen!!!
T
;)
Birol, those old Starcrafts weighed in around 2000 empty, so I think you're good to go. I'll get specs on the Starmaster-8 tomorrow, but mine weighed 2100# empty, and was equipped with surge brakes. Come to think of it, my Dad's 1965 Starmaster-8 also had surge brakes...
We bought a simple pop-up and the best gift we got it was a $35 microwave from Kmart. WalMart and Sears have them in the same price range. I suggest picking it up in the US. It's so much cleaner and quicker than using the inside stove. Hot water for washing up or coffee, popcorn, heating a DH favorite Dinty Moore Beef Stew . . . It travels and stores in its original box on the PU floor. Might encourage your wife to like camping more.
My wife and I just recently purchased a used pop-up and we went through the same thing as far items to purchase or to upgrade.
* Fridge ? The icebox was removed and turned it into a storage area. We decided we would use coolers.
* Brakes ? Brakes did not come on this unit. I was a bit disappointed Jayco didn't make this a standard item on a trailer that weighs around 1800 lbs. I haven't decide if this will be updated although my TW is equiped with the towing package and brake controller.
* Battery ? 99% of our camping will be done where electrical hookups will be available
* Furnace ? Purchased a small ceramic heater
Other items added include:
Microwave (Walmart for $35)
Shopvac, 1 gallon capacity with wet/dry capability (Walmart $20)
Various containers, baskets and other kitchen items purchased at discount stores such as Mazels, Dollar General or similar outlet.
Birol, congratuations on your purchase it seems like it takes forever to take the plunge. I spent the last 4 years looking at popups, researching different brands, and been a subscriber to PUT for 3 years before I made my purchase in March. I don't think you will have much trouble finding items for the camper with stores such as Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart and a Home Depot between Whitby & Oshawa to visit. You have two beautiful provincial parks to the East of you with Pres'quile and Sandbanks. Enjoy!
A couple years ago, we found a used 1987 Coleman Sequoia 10-foot popup that we could afford to buy. It has a queen bed on one end and a full bed on the but only 1 dinette.
First thing we did was replace the tires. Then we really cleaned it up inside and out. The cushions and mattresses were in excellent shape so we didn't recover them, just cleaned them. Took the curtains down and washed them too.
The popup weighs about 1400 lbs empty, and about 2000 lbs loaded. (We pull it with a Toyota T-100 6-cylinder truck.) It didn't come with its own brakes and we've never had a brake problem towing it up and down the mountains around here (including some REALLY STEEP GRADES!!! :yikes: ), so we've never added brakes. We also take it easy on the interstates when we are towing... just let the fast people pass us!
We did eventually replace the battery. We also fixed the furnace eventually. The convertor just recently died and we probably won't replace it any time soon since we never use it anyway, but we prefer to camp at isolated sites with no services so it hasn't really been an issue for us. If you really needed a converter, there's a lot of good advice on this board and others like it about what to look for.
We also had to replace the bunjee cord thingee that tightens the canvas around the biggest bunk end , and a zipper around a funny u-shaped window.
That's it so far... knock on wood!
If you plan on camping with electric hook-ups most of the time, then I'd recommend a small dorm type refridge. It's either that or keep buying ICE. The PU comes with a built in Ice Box, but I found that thing more useful as a bread box (worked excellent for this). If you are going to do mostly dry camping, then consider a Coleman Extreme or Igloo 5 day cooler.
In my first Starcraft, we removed the icebox and placed an electric outlet back there, and installed the dorm refridge in the empty hole left over from the removed ice box.
My second Starcraft I decided that I wasn't going to keep bending over to access it, and placed it on the spare dinette seat (had those dual dinettes and needed only one of them). That's when we turned the existing ice box into a bread box!!!
Quote from: birol* Fridge ?
Brakes
Quote* Brakes ?
Brakes
Quote* Inside organizer thingie magicies from Wally world ?
Brakes
Quote* New covers for the mattresses and cushions ?
Brakes
Quote* Converter ?
Brakes
Quote* Battery ?
Brakes
Quote* Furnace ?
Brakes
QuoteYeah I know all these cost money :) It is nice to dream anyways folks :)
The first time yoy really need the brakes, you will save enough money to pay for all the rest. BUT...if it is a very small trailer and requires replacing the axle to add brakes, this might not hold true.
Austin
Considering how far you are towing yours, I would check tires and lights.
Cleaning, always, always the first thing we have ever done, and we have always bought used, was thorough cleaning.
If the camper has an odd smell, Febreeze! It does have a bit of a heavy smell at first, but it gets rid of the funny smells in fabrics, and makes everything so much nicer.
* Fridge ? Go with coolers, we did fine with them until we got our current camper that had a real fridge, oh and we grew our family from four to six. We also have a tall dorm fridge now, but we only take it when camping for four-five days or longer. A good tip for using coolers? Keep your milk jugs, or juice bottles etc, wash them then fill with water and freeze. Us these for the food coolers instead of cubed ice, and you won't have problems keeping things cold, and you won't have watery mess in the bottom. We also always froze all the meats that we were not using the first day. I typically still had ice in the jugs when we would return, even from a four day trip in the Texas summer. I separate the food from drinks as well, and food coolers are opened as little as possible.
* Brakes ? Brakes, ok, guys, I don't want to be flamed, but we've owned three campers, and only the latest one had brakes. I love having them now, but was fine without them until then. Our oldest camper was a 1980 Stacraft Starmaster, and it didn't have brakes and would require a new axle to have them. We didn't have any plans on adding them when it was stolen. Our 1990 Starcraft was so light, we never worried about brakes as the tow vehicle had more than enough power to stop.
* Inside organizer thingie magicies from Wally world ? Wait on these, you need to check out your options, and actually camp a few times to really see how you want these to work and what to buy. Camp a couple of times at least before you invest in these.
* New covers for the mattresses and cushions ?
Cushions/mattresses, in our three purchases so far have never found any of these that I had to replace. I had to pull off covers and wash them and use febreeze a couple times, but never replace. I've also always added more to the mattresses with egg foam etc, but that was just because we like more softness.
* Converter ? The camper doesn't have one in it I assume? We have one but never use it, we don't dry camp.
* Battery ? Never had one, have never needed it, but if you plan on dry camping you should make it a priority.
* Furnace ? Buy one or two ceramic heaters. Furnaces will cost you a lot more than the electric heaters, and in my opinion, without something to help the air get out onto the bunks where you are, wouldn't help all that much. We didn't have a furnace until our last camper, and always used two ceramic heaters, one pointed at each bunk, anybody sleeping in the body of the camper was warm even with the heaters pointed at the bunks. We still have those heaters, and use them when fall camping if we have someone sleeping in tents.
Some things to consider that were not on your list.
Canvas, patching and waterproofing. We had to waterproof both of our older campers. We used tent seam sealer on the seams, and Scotchguard aerosol water repellent on the canvas, and we always were dry.
Chocks
Correct wiring connectors
Safety chains, the camper may not have them on there, as I recall all but the last one we have had to add them, and I think they are required by state law here, but the older two didn't have them.
A spare, a tire tool that will work with the camper, and a jack. None of our campers have a jack, and I don't think our auto jacks will work with the camper. We also didn't have a tire tool that would work. We carry a two ton "floor" jack type model in the camper, with a break down four way tire tool. We've had to use it several times, and were darned happy we had it each and every time. We got a special deal and the whole thing fits in a storage bag that we keep accessible.
First Aid kit, have not been on a trip yet that we didn't need this!
Birol, we started out camping on a budget too, and we got most of our stuff at garage sales. We still look there first for camping items, and then wal-mart/big lots/dollar store type places. We have very few items that actually came from an RV store, and those are mainly parts for the camper that you can only get from an RV store.