Stupid Questions from a New Owner

[cartooncaracter]

Hello,

Family just bought a new to us 97 Rockwood Freedom, We had a 78 Apache which as my son would say everything on it was "bootlegged". So alot of the problems we had on our maiden voyage was because we didnt know how to work things that actually worked the way they were supposed to. 2 of the main questions I had, was

1. In setting up a soft sided popup when do the stabilizers need to go down, I had the screw up types for my apache but I never could get the stabilizers to go down tight? They were always loose. So after 2 days I drove home got my old ones and used them. So I figured I must have did something wrong in setting it up.

2. When poppuping down, How is the best way to fold the canvas so it does not bunch up?.

3. When i hooked up the water hose , the pressure popped the hose off the nipple inside (got water everywhere), I put a regulator from Wally world on there but didnt seem to help. I ended up filling my holding tank and using it. Has anyone ever had that problem before?

[rccs]

First of all welcome to the forums.  You should put the stabilizers down after you crank the top up and release the pressure on them before you crank down. They say it has to do with the lift system possibly binding if you don't do it that way.
I have found that the best way to fold the canvas in when closing up is to crank the top down about 1/2 way and tuck the canvas straight in all around, then I usually go down about another 1/4 of the way and tuck it back a little further. Finally I lower the top enough so that I can just reach under it yet enough to tuck the canvas back far enough so that it is totally in and not out so as to close to edge of the top onto it.
As far as you problem with the water hose coming off when you hooked up the water, is there a hose clamp on the hose that came off on you? I am not sure what Forest River used for water lines in your camper but my Coleman has plastic flexable reinforced hoses and there is a hose clamp on every connection.

[tlhdoc]

When you're popping up or down the stabilizers should be off the ground.:p

[gsm x2]

tlhdoc---If Dave sees that diddy, I think you'll get a t-shirt for being a contributer to PUT.  That's a great one.

[Turn Key]

First off, there is no such thing as a stupid question. We've all been there (some more then once;) ). We use this forum to share what we've learned so others don't have to learn the hard way.
 
As far as your questions on stabilizers and popping down go, "rccs" hit them both right on the money. Nothing I can add to these.
 
As far as your water problem goes, you may find that the joint that keeps blowing off has been weakened by excess pressure. Most, if not all, pop-up water systems are ment to run at 45psi or less. City water lines run 60psi or better. You'll find that water systems where you camp can often surge at 100psi:yikes:!!! This makes a regulator a "must" have item at all times. The brass (recommended) or plastic ones you can get at Wal-Mart or other sources are set at 45psi and will do the job. DW and I found the following to be a better solution:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4516316419
 
This regulator is made by Watts and is adjustable. This allows you to set the pressure where you need it to be below your max allowable. We found that 30psi was plenty when we were still "popping-up". We still use it for our "5th wheel" but have raised the pressure to 40psi (5th wheel rated to 75psi). The $30 price on eBay is good as I paid about $40 for mine 5-6 years ago. Most "on-line" RV supply houses also carry this regulator so it's not hard to find. It's recommended that you place your regulator between the camp site spigot and your supply hose. This allows the regulator to protect your hose as well.
 
As far as fixing your popped fitting, I would suggest replacing the fitting, hose/tubing or both if you can get access. Barring that, a hose clamp could do the job but watch how hard you tighten it. A lot of those fittings are plastic and can be broken. Also, if you use the hose clamp, spend the extra and get one made of stainless steel. Rust is a pain:( !
 
Hope my ramblings are of some help and you can get your problem solved. I know, first hand, what a pain water leaks can be.  Lost a full day's camping a few years ago chasing down and fixing a drip:mad:!
 
Good Luck & Happy Camping!

[angelsmom10]

I had to make DH and idiot list... (some may not apply to everyone)

When arriving at the CG.. do this in order

Fill water tank

SET-UP

Check for level of PU

Level PU

Chock Tires

Unhook PU and set level from front to back

Start to crank up roof a few feet

Put on bunk end covers

Set up awning and put on the AAR to awning

Raise roof completely

Lower stabilizers

Pull out bunk ends, insert the poles, then pull out the slide-out

Lower door from ceiling

Put in bunk end and slide-out poles

Plug in electric

Start refrigerator

Light up hot water heater


TAKE DOWN

Turn off refrigerator

Turn off propane and turn off hot water heater

Drain fresh water tank

Unplug electric

Raise door to ceiling

Remove inside poles

Unzip canvas at supports

Slide in dinette, pull out canvas

Slide in bunk ends, pull out canvas

After all are in, arrange canvas inside evenly as possible

Raise stabilizers

Lower roof, carefully pushing in canvas

Take down awning, AAR and bunk end covers

Lower roof rest of way and close

Hook up PU

Remove chocks

[vjm1639]

Favorite gadgets have to be....the BAL leveler, the heated mattress pad for cold weather,  the cast iron umbrella supports that we use for the awning, and the fold up mats for under the awning.

[PopUpMomma]

Cast iron umbrella supports..........Not too heavy to travel with?  Where did you get them??? Sounds like a great idea...

Favorite gadgets have to be....the BAL leveler, the heated mattress pad for cold weather,  the cast iron umbrella supports that we use for the awning, and the fold up mats for under the awning.

[ForestCreature]

3. When i hooked up the water hose , the pressure popped the hose off the nipple inside (got water everywhere), I put a regulator from Wally world on there but didnt seem to help. I ended up filling my holding tank and using it. Has anyone ever had that problem before?

Yes .... The first time we ever hooked up to water :mad: (knew nothing about pressure regulators till then). The line decided to EXPLODE in the wee hours of 2 AM. It sounded like the furnace exploding, scared the @^%&  out of me. Hopped out of bed to a small lake inside the PU. The van squeege made a great tool for pushing out the water.
 
 There should be a hose clamp as rccs said, if not put one on at every water connection in the PU. We periodicaly check those to be sure they haven't wiggled loose during travel (we go down some rough roads at times). As we prefer not to sleep in Lake Aliner ever again!

[sandykayak]

gosh, angelsmom, seeing it in black and white..err..purple reminded me just how PITA-ish popup camping is!!!

Used the PUP over New Year's after a 4 or 5 month hiatus and was thinking "A-frame" next or what???

Even tent camping seemed easier.  But I'm a gearhead and manage to complicate everything I do!!!

[Dee4j]

Cast iron umbrella supports..........Not too heavy to travel with?  Where did you get them??? Sounds like a great idea...

I like campingcoxes awning supports the best :p its the cofee can with cement and a pvc pipe (i'm sure how to is on the baords somewhere) BUT she added pretty seashells and things in with the cement.
(speaking of ...haven't seen Trina on the boards lately )

oh and as far as the canvas lying flat. since I'm short I used broom (bristle end) to push the canvas all the way in and flat after lowering it about 1/2 way.

[ForestCreature]

gosh, angelsmom, seeing it in black and white..err..purple reminded me just how PITA-ish popup camping is!!!
 
 Used the PUP over New Year's after a 4 or 5 month hiatus and was thinking "A-frame" next or what???
 
 Even tent camping seemed easier.  But I'm a gearhead and manage to complicate everything I do!!!

LMAO, reading that list scared me too!!  A-framing is MUCH simpler.
 
 Level PU side to side
 
  Chock Tires
 
  Unhook PU and set level from front to back
 
 Raise roof & side wall completely (30 secs)
 
  Lower stabilizers
 
 Plug in electric (if there is any)
 
  Start refrigerator
 
  Light up hot water heater
 
 light a fire, pour a cold one, kick back and relax!!!  :p
 
 
 
 

[cartooncaracter]

Thanks so much for the answers, think i got it

LEVEL, POPUP, STABILIZE...  

THANKS.

[angelsmom10]

It's not as bad as it sounds.... why I started it was on our old PU, we didn't have a water tank, so after the new PU, DH would always forget to fill the water tank when we got the CG and either he'd completely forget till we were set up, or just after he had the PU leveled.  So I told him, I'd give him an "IDIOT" list for when he set-up before I'd get there.  Some of the things were things that were "my" job and he wouldn't give them a second thought. :eyecrazy:

[vjm1639]

Cast iron umbrella supports..........Not too heavy to travel with? Where did you get them??? Sounds like a great idea...

Nope...not too heavy at all! I actually got the idea from pictures i'd seen on thldoc's pics! :> You can kid of see what they look like behind the pooch in this pic. They are less tham $10 a piece at Wal-Mart (Target sells similar ones too) and three of them will fit along beside and behind the porta-potti and the camping mats in the small storage opening right inside the front door of the PU. Makes it easy for unloading...and they are nice looking too.