PopUp Maiden Voyage

[tjy355]

Finally got to take the new pop-up camping for the first time! Only two nites but we've been waiting for a free weekend since we picked it up 6 weeks ago.

2005 Jayco Baja 10Z, our first pop-up! (longtime tent campers - making the move to the "dark side" :-) )

A couple of problems delayed our Friday morning departure. First, I went to tighten the lug nuts, as advised by the dealer and discovered a MISSING nut! I had only towed it home from the dealer and it's been in the garage/driveway since. I'm suspicious that I could have lost a lug nut in a 6 mile drive, wonder if it wasn't missing from the start. Anyway, a quick stop at a local tire store and a $5 tip to the nice guy that gave me a chrome lug nut and put it on for free.

Next we spent a little time to try to adjust the brake controller (Prodigy). Even with the max sensitivity, I could not get it to lock the trailer wheels as described in the setup docs. We decided to stop off at the dealer and let them have a look. A brake adjustment and hour later we finally hit the road.

It's been tremendously hot in Phoenix (110+) and we headed north hoping for some cooler weather. The trailer pulled easily, and no evidence of sway. I did limit it to 65mph just to get a feel. We noted the large thunderclouds building up north - typical this time of year and welcome to us desert dwellers. We call this the "monsoon" season.

We go from 1600' elevation Sonoran desert to 7200' Ponderosa pine forest in about 2 hours. The area we are headed is called the Mogollon Rim, in the Coconino National Forest.

We pulled off the highway and roll down the windows and noted that it had just rained, everything is cool and damp, and the pine forest smell is rejunevating. A six mile drive down some dirt roads and we find our spot. Some bastage has already taken the spot I planned to camp, so we had to detour a little bit. We ended up in a place that was about a 50 yard walk to the edge of the "rim."

I've been reading this forum for a few months, gathering details and ideas, so the actual setup went smoothly. (a few driveway practices helped) I did purchase the Lynx leveler blocks, and some stick on level gauges. Ths site we picked was actually pretty level, so I used the blocks for the tongue jack, and stableizers. Most of the rest of our camping gear was used as normal, except no tent. We began the process of integrating the tent camping "system" into the pop-up system - trying to figure out what can stay in the trailer and where to stow it.

So the rest of the weekend, we ate, drank some wine, napped, took a bike ride, played some bocce, ate, drank some wine, napped, etc... Friday and Saturday afternoon, the thunderclouds built gradually, and then the storm arrived with dark clouds, winds, lightning and thunder - then a spit of rain. Total bummer, I really enjoy sitting under the tarp as the summmer monsoon rain pours down, but not this time. In fact it was a little hot, upper 80's but I guess that was better than Phoenix which hit 116 Sunday !!!

Check out some photos here:

http://members.cox.net/mottsoy/campout1/index.html

All too soon, it was time to tear down and head back to the blast furnace.

Looking forward to our next outing.

Tom Yost
Gilbert AZ

[cyclone]

Sounds like a great first trip!  Nice pics, too.  Enjoy that new pu.

[Kelly]

Sounds like a great maiden voyage ~ looks that way too!!  Great pics.

Nice rig.   [/FONT]

[Fuzzymike]

Sound great.  It's great getting out if only for alittle while.

[Papaso]

Unlike the "Hokey Pokey". That's what it's all about.

[rjm38]

Been to that area many times, both camping and hunting. That is one good looking chili-cheese dog.

[ChisholmTrail-er]

What a beautiful area for a maiden voyage.  I've been reading about the scorchers in the Pheonix area -- looks like you found a nice place to get away from it all!  Thanks for sharing the photos.

CT-er

[TheViking]

Man I miss camping on the rim......

[pershingd]

Man I miss camping on the rim......

Me too! Nothing beats camping during the monsoon season.

Enjoy it extra for me will you?

David Pershing