We just purchased our first popup. We will be picking it up this coming weekend and camping on the way home (picking it up in San Francisco are and home is San Diego area). Any advice on things to bring. I have tent camped alot but have never had a trailer before. I have no idea what to expect. I don't want to forget any of the "obvious" things we will need (tools, etc.).
Any advice to some "newbies" will be greatly appreciated.
Also any advise on nice campgrounds on the way???
Since you're picking it up brand new, it won't have all the 'good junk' in it that we come to pack in. So you'll need a container with some basics, paper plates and plastic ware (unless you're really set on the real stuff) and a can opener, coffee pot, cups and glasses. Some bedding or sleeping bags, pillows. If you are going to camp in parks with hookups, you'll have water and elect. Are ya going to have real food, and cook? If so you'll need some pots and utensils. Use your knowledge of tent camping to guide you, this is like a deluxe tent in heaven. Also, have the dealer make sure that your manual and all paperwork are there, and have him really give you a good walkthru and set up demo.
T
;)
Quote from: jendak760We just purchased our first popup. We will be picking it up this coming weekend and camping on the way home (picking it up in San Francisco are and home is San Diego area). Any advice on things to bring. I have tent camped alot but have never had a trailer before. I have no idea what to expect. I don't want to forget any of the "obvious" things we will need (tools, etc.).
Any advice to some "newbies" will be greatly appreciated.
Also any advise on nice campgrounds on the way???
I'd say a big change from tent camping, assuming you will camp with electricity and want to take advantage of this is the need for one or two power stips. You know like what we plug our computers in to. This isn't something you'll think to pack first thing. Bring bedding, or sleeping bags so you don't have to sleep on the nice new mattress covers. A broom, and a walk-off mat for the door as you'll instantly track in dirt. I'm sure there is much more to think of. Enjoy your new "tent"
Hey Jen! :W
Sounds like a humdinger of a maiden voyage!! My advice would be to keep the dealer's phone number handy. We called ours every trip the first few times we camped in our PU and they were wonderful about walking us through stuff we either didn't understand or couldn't get to work. I have also posted a shout out to NNC, the brother No Cal camping organization to SCCampers. They should have some wonderful sugggestions for places for you to camp on your way home to SD. Here's the link to that thread: http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?p=74579#post74579 (//%22http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?p=74579#post74579%22)
How exciting! Congrats on your new PU and I wish you a safe and enjoyable trip. Hope to see you at one of our So Cal rallies in the very near future!!! :D
You'll need something to level the PU from side-to-side and to chock the wheels. Two by sixes (and a small level) will work until you decide how you want to handle these tasks.
TV mirror extensions may or may not be an issue, but something to think about and don't forget the hitch ball like I did.
Also don't neglect calling your insurance company before you pick it up.
Yikes,
that's a long way to go to pick up a new popup!!
8 hour drive from San Diego to S.F. and even longer going home with the 55mph speed limit when towing.
First off. What is your tow vehicle, and is it ready for towing, with tow bar, and ball, wiring, and brake controller?
Better to have all these done before hand.
The time spent at the dealer can be from 2 to 3 hours. (our last trailer took over 5 hours as the hitch on the hybrid needed a bigger draw bar ball, and I needed to get a n anti sway bar bracket welded on)
Not only is there plenty of paperwork, they will want to give you a walk through the unit and explain everything and how it works, how to open it up and how to close it down.
If you don't have the children with you, this can be a lot easier, and you will take in a lot more info.
As for camping in it on the way home, I would suggest only bringing the bare minimum, like sleeping bags and pillows. Eat out rather than trying to bring all the necessary cooking utitensils.
Good luck, and we look forward to seeing you at Pismo in a few weeks
Kevin
Bring what you would bring to tent camp, but leave the old tent at home. You will need chocks, to block the wheels. Wood, Lynx Levelers or a BAL Leveler to level the PU side to side. A deep cycle battery is nice to have to run the lights in the PU, and the electric water pump if you have one, unless you are going to be camping at electric sites on your way home. Take a note pad and pen to jot down all of the things you want/need for the PU. Have a safe trip and happy camping. :)
PS feel free to ask questions. :compumad:
Quote from: 6QuigsYikes,
that's a long way to go to pick up a new popup!!
8 hour drive from San Diego to S.F. and even longer going home with the 55mph speed limit when towing.
First off. What is your tow vehicle, and is it ready for towing, with tow bar, and ball, wiring, and brake controller?
Better to have all these done before hand.
The time spent at the dealer can be from 2 to 3 hours. (our last trailer took over 5 hours as the hitch on the hybrid needed a bigger draw bar ball, and I needed to get a n anti sway bar bracket welded on)
Not only is there plenty of paperwork, they will want to give you a walk through the unit and explain everything and how it works, how to open it up and how to close it down.
If you don't have the children with you, this can be a lot easier, and you will take in a lot more info.
As for camping in it on the way home, I would suggest only bringing the bare minimum, like sleeping bags and pillows. Eat out rather than trying to bring all the necessary cooking utitensils.
Good luck, and we look forward to seeing you at Pismo in a few weeks
Kevin
We are getting the van all ready this week (tow bar, wiring, etc.) How would I know if I need TV mirror extensions? And sorry to sound like an idiot qith all of the questions. I also need a water pump? This isn't something that would be built in to the trailer? :eyecrazy:
Wood, Lynx Levelers or a BAL Leveler to level the PU side to side??? HUH? I thought thats what those cute little jacks were for on each corner of the trailer. :confused:
Ok, like I said we are totally new to this. Thanks for everybody help. There are alot of things I wouldn't have thought about.
I hope these answers help you out.
Quote from: jendak760How would I know if I need TV mirror extensions?
Find out how wide the PU is and how wide the TV (tow vehicle is). If the PU is wider than your TV you should get towing mirrors, unless you can easily see over the roof of the PU.
I also need a water pump? This isn't something that would be built in to the trailer?
Yes you do have a water pump in the PU. If it is an electric pump you will need power to run it, either a battery or electric hook ups. If it is a manual pump you just pump it up and down to get water.
Wood, Lynx Levelers or a BAL Leveler to level the PU side to side??? HUH? I thought thats what those cute little jacks were for on each corner of the trailer.
NO, THEY ARE STABILIZING JACKS. They only stabilize the PU and they are not for leveling the PU. You need to level the PU from side to side with wood, Lynx Levelers (sort of like giant Lego's) or a BAL Leveler (lifts the low side of the PU by lifting the wheel).
One other thought Jen--
When you pick up the camper, bring your video camera and video everything the service technician shows you on the walk through. We did this and then were able to watch it again later on when our brains weren't quite as full and on overload as they can get during the walk through. We just explained that we wanted to be able to remember everything they told us and our delaer was fine with us taping it.
I would also agree with 6Quigs about eating out rather than trying to pack everything you would normally need for a trip. It's a long drive, especially for your first time out and I would just make as easy and enjoyable as possible. :)
A Camping Diary! It is a must have. We bought a small diary book at Wal Mart and keep a record of everything in it...date PU was purchased, trips (date, place, site #, weather, events and people, distance from home (to keep track of mileage for tires and hub greasings), and we also write in maintainance/fix-it problems.
Our first PU was an 86 Jayco, bought used, after owning it for eight years we had taken her on 72 trips! It is fun to look back on the past trips and remember details. The saga continues with the Rockwood we now own. :)
I just wanted to emphasize again what Tracy has already said: The corner "jacks" are simply stabilizers, and not to be used to level the camper, no matter what your dealer tells you. The proper procedure to level with is this:
Level side to side with the tires (and using a carpenter's level, or the stick-on levels, if your camper isn't equipped already with them). Use the Lynx Levelers, or a BAL leveler, or some thin boards under the tires. Once you have your camper near where you want it, check its level. If one side is lower than the other, use boards/Lynxes/BAL to level it.
Once you have it level side to side, you can now disconnect from the tow vehicle (TV). Then level front to back with the front jack (the cranking one on the tongue). Once that is level, raise your roof FIRST, THEN put down your stabilizers.
Trust me, from experience: You will drive yourself crazy trying to level with your stabilizers. It is difficult at best, and you can damage your camper's frame doing it.
Larry
PS: Welcome to the site. Remember, the only dumb question is the one that goes unasked! :D
Larry
You're getting good advice---especially about the STABILIZERS not be levelers.
As far as campgrounds. If you are coming down the 101, here are a few that we've camped at.
Mount Madonna---west of Gilroy
San Lorenzo County Park--in King City
El Chorro County Park--just north of San Luis Obisbo on highway 1
Lake Cachuma---on highway 154 east of Solvang, but take the 154 cutoff from the 101
Enjoy the maiden voyage. That will be quite a nice trip. Here's the best advice I can give you. Make sure the camper tows LEVEL to reduce the possibility of sway.
gsm x2
Welcome to the board, neighbor!! How much time do you have for your trip from SF to Escondido? Adults only, or kids too? Is this a new camper or used? Do you really care about food, or is a grilled cheese sandwich and a can of soup considered an ok dinner? There are really only three things to consider: a place to pop up, something to eat, and something to keep you warm at night. We have found that the AAA SoCal camping book is pretty accurate. You're gonna love it and think it's the best "tent" you've ever had!
Quote from: cbWelcome to the board, neighbor!! How much time do you have for your trip from SF to Escondido? Adults only, or kids too? Is this a new camper or used? Do you really care about food, or is a grilled cheese sandwich and a can of soup considered an ok dinner? There are really only three things to consider: a place to pop up, something to eat, and something to keep you warm at night. We have found that the AAA SoCal camping book is pretty accurate. You're gonna love it and think it's the best "tent" you've ever had!
Are you from North County also?
We are leaving on Friday afternoon and planning on returning home Monday. So we plan on driving on Friday ~ staying at a hotel that night and then picking up the trailer Saturday morning. We will have 2 kids (9 and 2). It is a new trailer. We are still debating whether or not to eat out or cook for ourselves. :)
Quote from: jendak760Are you from North County also?
We are leaving on Friday afternoon and planning on returning home Monday. So we plan on driving on Friday ~ staying at a hotel that night and then picking up the trailer Saturday morning. We will have 2 kids (9 and 2). It is a new trailer. We are still debating whether or not to eat out or cook for ourselves. :)
If it is that short of a trip, I would just park the camper at the cg (remember, set up isn't going to be a routine for you yet) and eat out rather than worrying about grocery shopping and cooking and dishes and who's going to watch the 2 y/o on top of everything else. There will be plenty of opportunites for cooking--wait until oldmoose and young moosette teach you the joys of cooking with a dutch oven!!! :p Yum!!!
Hey, it's your maiden voyage--make it a real celebration!! :-() Of course, we'll all want stories (and pictures if you've got 'em) on Tuesday. :D
"Any advice to some "newbies" will be greatly appreciated"
Best advice I can give you is to check out Tim5055's web site there is a wealth of information on his site.
Welcome to the board
Quote from: jendak760Are you from North County also?
We are leaving on Friday afternoon and planning on returning home Monday. So we plan on driving on Friday ~ staying at a hotel that night and then picking up the trailer Saturday morning. We will have 2 kids (9 and 2). It is a new trailer. We are still debating whether or not to eat out or cook for ourselves. :)
Whether you cook or not may depend on what your camping plans are. Since you are going to pick up the camper Saturday morning and probably roll away about 1:00 (I am assuming), you could do one of two kinds of trips. Streets and Maps says it takes about 8 hours to drive 511 miles from SF to SD
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- Drive half way to San Diego, park and stay two nights at the campground and drive home Monday.
- Drive a short distance, setup and camp Saturday night. Pack up Sunday and drive a good distance, setup and camp Sunday night, then drive home Monday.
There are advantages to both methods, but after a brief conversation with G-Whiz, we think you should drive half way...camp for two nights....then drive home. That gives you a more relaxing experience, a chance to find "just the right place" for things, a chance to drink the beverage of your choice, maybe cook a meal. Yeah---better than two setups and take downs.
Enjoy whatever travel plans you make.
gsm x2
Shhhh, don't tell....we're in El Cajon!
I think gsm's idea of driving like crazy on Sat afternoon, set up and spend two nights before resuming the drive, is a good one. I think you'll have to add a few hours to the 8 predicted because of 55 mph with trailer. Let me look at the map a bit and see if I can come up with a campground we're familiar with. What part of San Francisco will you leave from?
Quote from: jendak760Are you from North County also?
We are leaving on Friday afternoon and planning on returning home Monday. So we plan on driving on Friday ~ staying at a hotel that night and then picking up the trailer Saturday morning. We will have 2 kids (9 and 2). It is a new trailer. We are still debating whether or not to eat out or cook for ourselves. :)
Me?, I'd pre-cook something and just heat it up the first night. Gotta have that First Supper in the new camper!
Lot's of good advice given so far. You may want to take a notebook along just to jot down all the stuff you want to put in the camper as you find it out. Pillows! Don't forget them.
Enjoy that new camper!
We picked up the trailer this past weekend and took our first trip to Yosemite.
:-() We had a great time. We couldn't have asked for a better trip. The only thing we wanted to see but didn't get to was a bear. They kept saying how much bear activity there is up there but no luck. We did see a rattle snake, some other kind of snake (have no clue what it was), 2 coyotes, of course the usual squirrels, a chipmunk, and a dear. Yosemite is such a beautiful place.
I am so excited to finally have our new trailer. Can't wait for the Pismo Rally, where I am sure we will learn alot.
Quote from: jendak760We picked up the trailer this past weekend and took our first trip to Yosemite.
I hope this was a planned trip to Yosemite, and not one where you took a wrong turn on your way fron San Francisco to San Diego ;)
Congratulations on picking up the new trailer, and glad to hear you had a successful first trip.
Here's my list of essentials:
A drinking water approved hose, for hook up to water.
An adapter, to go from a 30 amp plug, to a standard 20 amp plug, in case you need to plug in to a regular outlet.
A piece of regular hose, to hook up your sink drain to the sewer drain.
A bunch of wooden blocks, for leveling, and also to place under your stabilizing jacks. (Eventualy, you may wish to get the BAL leveler. Very convienient for leveling the trailer, and worth the $).
Wheel chocks (2 for each wheel), to hold the trailer in place.
I also like to bring a bunch of bungee cords, tie downs, etc, just in case.
Get a star wrench for the lug nuts, lug wrenches are typically not included with your trailer. Also, don't assume that the lug nuts are the same size as the bolts holding the spare tire on its carrier.
Get a decent air pressure gage, with enough range to cover the trailer tires, (my tires are 65PSI.) Make sure you keep your tires inflated at their rated values.
Also, a bottle type hydralic jack. Most trailers don't come with a jack. (Remember, if you need to jack up a wheel in case of a flat, never use the stabilizers, and always place the jack under the frame, not the axle.)
I also like to put a small piece of rug outside the trailer. It helps keep the dirt outside, and not being tracked inside.
To answer your question about the extension mirrors: If the trailer is significantly wider than the tow vehicle, (and they usually are), the mirrors are a good idea. I don't have them (yet), but I do miss them particularly in heavy traffic. Without them, I can see immediatly to the side, but, I have a bit of a blind spot to fast moving traffic in the adjacent lane, and directly behind the PU, becuase of the height of the PU, and A/C unit blocks most of the view.
When driving, take it easy. Remember, California has a 55mph speed limit for vehicles towing trailers. Leave plenty of extra stopping distance.
Trailers are restricted to the right two lanes on the freeways, and the right lane on a 4 lane (2 in each direction) highway, the exception being for passing slower traffic. If you get a big rig, or yahoo towing a boat, etc, comming up fast on your tail, do him a favor, and move over and let him by. Remember, he's restricted to the two lanes as well. If you get into a heavy sway situation, ease off the accelerator, and gently apply trailer brakes to help pull the trailer back in line. Don't panic, and don't attempt to overcorrect with steering.
That's "all" the advice that comes to mind right now. Good luck
Congrats on your new PU., perhaps we'll see you at one of the SCAMPER rallies! A nice bunch of folks!
Quote from: Steve-o-budAlso, don't assume that the lug nuts are the same size as the bolts holding the spare tire on its carrier.
Yep...found this out Saturday. Fortunately I was at home changing the tire.
Larry
Yes, it was a planned trip to Yosemite. Well kindof, we decided to go there right before we left the house. We did happen to pick up a few of those things on the list wheel chocks, hose, lug wrench, etc.
Now the trailer looks so lonely in our driveway just wanting to go somewhere this weekend. :( But I guess we will have to wait until the Pismo Rally. :#
Quote from: jendak760Yes, it was a planned trip to Yosemite. Well kindof, we decided to go there right before we left the house. We did happen to pick up a few of those things on the list wheel chocks, hose, lug wrench, etc.
Now the trailer looks so lonely in our driveway just wanting to go somewhere this weekend. :( But I guess we will have to wait until the Pismo Rally. :#
Did you guys camp in Yosemite Valley? I would suppose that at this time of year, it wouldn't be too crowded. Wasn't that a pretty long haul?
We've had our pop up at the Crane Flats campground, and latter this month, we will be taking up it to the Wawona campground.
If you want to see bears, I would suggest the Dorst campground in Sequoia National Park!. We were there a few years ago, and every night there were bears in the campground. We had one walk through our campsite, while we were making smores!
Your trailer sounds like it will be frequently used! That will keep it happy, and it won't be so sad sitting in the driveway.
We actually camped at Yosemite Lakes. It is located 5 miles outside the park off of Highway 120 (west entrance). We picked up the trailer from a dealer right off Highway 120 so we didn't really have to travel any further to go to Yosemite ~ just East. It definitely was a long haul (are we there yet :eyecrazy: ). But it was worth it. We turned it into a little history lesson for my 9 year old who missed school for it.
Quote from: jendak760The only thing we wanted to see but didn't get to was a bear. They kept saying how much bear activity there is up there but no luck.
I would think NOT seeing a bear would be a GOOD thing!!!!:yikes:
My DH and I were tent campers for 11 years before we bought our PU and we used to camp every year at Sequoia and Bridgeport (north of Mono Lake). At the cg in Bridgeport, the bears used to invade the cg we stayed at every night, tipping over all the trash cans--you could hear them crashing all night!
One night, we forgot to put the cooler in the car before we went to bed, and in the middle of the night, I heard the cooler open (it had a wicked creak on one of its hinges) and thought a person was trying to steal the cooler! :rolleyes: I woke my DH and when we unzipped the tent, there was Yogi, no more than 10 feet from us, seeing what was on the menu. I about jumped out of my skin! DH quickly zipped the tent back up (yeah, that would keep us safe) and Yogi helped himself to the eggs, bacon and my stepson's tootsie roll! He finally lumbered off when he got tired of listening to the next site's dog barking at him!!
We've never cooked in our camper, but we have stored food in it on past trips and because of that incident with Yogi, I am now scared to pieces to camp at Yosemite, Sequoia, or even back up at Bridgeport. Yep, NOT seeing a bear would have been the highlight of the trip for me! :) ;)
Looking forward to meeting you and giving you the NNC/SCC intiation rites at Pismo!:J ;)
Quote from: jendak760 The only thing we wanted to see but didn't get to was a bear.
Don't worry about the bear sighting.
This will be arranged for you at Pismo, just when you are least expecting it ;)
I just wanted to see a bear ~ you know like walking through the wilderness or something like that. I didn't say I wanted it to tear through my popup or anything. That I could live without. :yikes:
You should come and camp with COTOC (Hickory Run SP, PA) in September. They have a healthy black bear population. :yikes:
but I think we will probably keep our trips for the first season to this side of the country. :)
Quote from: griffsmomI would think NOT seeing a bear would be a GOOD thing!!!!:yikes:
My DH and I were tent campers for 11 years before we bought our PU and we used to camp every year at Sequoia and Bridgeport (north of Mono Lake). At the cg in Bridgeport, the bears used to invade the cg we stayed at every night, tipping over all the trash cans--you could hear them crashing all night!
One night, we forgot to put the cooler in the car before we went to bed, and in the middle of the night, I heard the cooler open (it had a wicked creak on one of its hinges) and thought a person was trying to steal the cooler! :rolleyes: I woke my DH and when we unzipped the tent, there was Yogi, no more than 10 feet from us, seeing what was on the menu. I about jumped out of my skin! DH quickly zipped the tent back up (yeah, that would keep us safe) and Yogi helped himself to the eggs, bacon and my stepson's tootsie roll! He finally lumbered off when he got tired of listening to the next site's dog barking at him!!
We've never cooked in our camper, but we have stored food in it on past trips and because of that incident with Yogi, I am now scared to pieces to camp at Yosemite, Sequoia, or even back up at Bridgeport. Yep, NOT seeing a bear would have been the highlight of the trip for me! :) ;)
Looking forward to meeting you and giving you the NNC/SCC intiation rites at Pismo!:J ;)
At Sequoia, the rangers are very strict about enforcing keeping no food in the trailer (even the fridge), and keeping all cooler and food in the bear boxes. It can't be left out for even a few minute!
In Yosemite, they aren't too strict, and apparently, they don't have as serious a bear issue. The same rules apply, and they definitely tell you not to leave coolers or stuff in the car, or in the trunk. The bears have a very good sense of smell.
I also don't like cooking in the trailer, I'm paranoid that the aromas will stay in the trailer, and attract the bears.
I'm with Jendak, bears best are observed from afar!