First trip out tomorrow!

[Weezy]

We will be heading out tomorrow to Jellystone Campground in Natural Bridge VA for a two day camp out with two families! I am so excited to try out my new to me 1992 Starcraft. I have packed everything that I can think of and then some. In fact, tonight my husband helped me install grommets in the indoor/outdoor carpet that we'll be using under the awning. My children are so excited, they've never been camping in the pop up, except for the night in the backyard! I know my husband is a little sick of hearing me talk about this trip! He is not quite as excited as I am! Anyway, wish me luck! I'll report back next week!

[vjm1639]

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Jellystone will be a fun campground for the kiddos.  :>  I fully understand your excitement. We've owned our PU for three camping seasons now and I still get excited for every trip.

[cjpoppin]

Hope you and family had a good time camping at Jellystone.....Hopefully Husband now see's why camping in the pup is soooooooo much fun and is by now looking forward to the next campout........carol

[tlhdoc]

How did your trip go?  I hope it was everything you expected.

[Weezy]

We had a great time! It was VERY hot and I think that is the only problem that we really encountered. The camper had a hard time staying cool during the day due to the lack of a shaded site and 90 + degree temps. during the day. But we just stayed in the lake all day, and that helped us stay cool. Any ideas on how to make a pop up more "Insulated?" We were pleased with how well it pulled with our Honda Pilot. I loved our little awning! I even purchased a piece of indoor/ outdoor green carpet to go under it. I also picked up a cheap little porta potty. My DH thought I was crazy, because on the map of the campground,  it looked as if we were "right beside" the comfort station. Well, it turns out that the map didn't show the 50-70 step flight of stairs needed to get there!  With a 3yr. old and a 6 yr. old, it was nice to have another option. That little potty was worth its' weight in gold! We weren't able to get our propane stove to work (it mounts on the outside of the popup). Good thing we brought along our old Coleman stove. I just love that little thing. I guess we'll have to do some tinkering to figure out the problem. Overall, I am quite happy with my little camper. I hope we can go again in Sept. after school starts. I am a teacher and have only one remaining week off!  I think we'd enjoy it more in cooler weather.

[dee106]

sounds like you did ok, you might think of getting reflective (silver) bunk end covers, they block the heat in the summer and keep it about 20% cooler inside the ends , also if you keep the curtains to the bunk ends closed and the windows on the ends open a bit it keeps the heat out of the center area of the camper. This way the a/c and/or fans don't have to work as hard. also if open you roof vents a bit that helps
 
 
 as far as the stove, if you haven't used the stove in a while you might want to to see if the gas line is clear of dust,rust,webs, etc.  also sometimes it takes a while to get the gas thru the line when it hasn't been used it gets a air block, we put the stove on inside first to get the gas moving , then hook it up to the  outside stove

[tlhdoc]

Ways to keep the PU cooler.
 
1.  Camp in shady sites when ever possible
 
2.  PopUpGizmo's bunkend covers would be the first thing to buy and use
 
      http://www.popupgizmos.com/
 
3.  Trim a few of the reflective auto sunshades (the accordion folding type) to fit in the bunkend windows
 
4.  Use fans
 
5.  Get an air conditioner

[flyfisherman]

We weren't able to get our propane stove to work (it mounts on the outside of the popup). Good thing we brought along our old Coleman stove. I just love that little thing. I guess we'll have to do some tinkering to figure out the problem. Overall, I am quite happy with my little camper. I hope we can go again in Sept. after school starts. I am a teacher and have only one remaining week off!  I think we'd enjoy it more in cooler weather.

I remember on a trip some time ago where I could'nt get the stove to work and come to find out I was out of propane! Now, I know that you and DH have already checked that out! On my first popup camper, the propane tank that came with the camper, had a valve that would stick every now and again (old style valve) after it had set idle for a time and it would be necessary to connect, then dis-connect and then re-connect the L/P line from the tank to the regulator, while turning the tank service valve off and on again. Fortunately that tank was replaced with a newer tank which also had the newer valve and never experienced that problem again.

I disconnect my L/P tank and the hose that connects to the regulator on the camper. And I have dust caps that fit over the valve opening on the L/P tank and on the regulator hose connector. There have been stories of spiders, mud daubers and maybe some other kinds of critters setting up a nest in these openings and clogging the L/P flow. You might want to give those fittings & valve a look see and make sure all is clear. Also, regulators have been known to go bad. Most L/P suppliers we have in this area will give your regulator a quick check to make sure it's up to par as they have the equipment, and this is at no cost (so long as your buying their L/P). But is necessary to take the camper to the supplier's work shop.

Glad you had a nice trip.


Fly

[vjm1639]

Glad to hear you had a good trip.  It certainly was terribly hot this past weekend. Can't imagine being out there...but then, I'm a real wimp when it comes to the high temps with high humidity!   Just can't take it.  :>  Sure has been a beautiful past couple of days though....I'm finding it really difficult not to just take off work and go camping somewhere!  ;>

[Weezy]

Thanks for all of the great advice and ideas. I picked up  some auto shades yesterday, but haven't had time to fit them yet. I hope that helps. The pu does have ac, but when it's that hot, it only makes a dent. I think we will work on the propane issue in the next few days. THanks for the tips!