Rookie questions

[cobbs1]

Hi All!
Love all the info on this message board. We just purchased a NTU pop-up :#and have already gone camping once.   I have 2 questions for you experienced campers:
1.  We were considering purchasing artificial carpet for under our awning. Any pro's/con's or opinions on the matter?  I did a search and did not come up with much.
2.  Any advice on percolating coffee?!  Even when tent camping, ours never came out quit right.

Thank you for any advice. I've already read lots of things that are a help! If you camp in North Georgia this year, we'll be the ones chasing the 2-1/2 year old little boy and our dog.:eyecrazy:

[mlslocks]

Welcome

I have found the carpets hold to much dirt and water. I switched to a mat I bought on ebay. It sweeps off easier and water can drain through it.

Lee

[ForestCreature]

Hi and Welcome to the board!
   Many use the mats mentioned above, we use neither so can't help there.
 
 But I do like my coffee! For a stove top perker I use a 5 scoops (1/8th cup scoop) per 10 cups of coffee...I like the coffee slightly strong so our scoops are a little heaping. Once the coffee starts to perk, turn it down some and perk for 10 to 12 mins then remove the grounds....frseh hot coffee :morning:
 
   To keep it hot without cooking it to death, I put it in a thermal pump pot.

[Kelly]

I can vouch for Marcy's coffee.  Always good.

I also use a mat instead of carpet.  So easy to clean up.  You can find them here in the PUT store.[/FONT]

[wavery]

We tried (indoor/outdoor) carpet also and found it a real mess to maintain, haul home dirty and to clean it after returning.

We found this one on eBay. It sweeps off nice and is ready to go for our next outing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4610367548&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT

[batsignal2]

Hi All!
Love all the info on this message board. We just purchased a NTU pop-up :#and have already gone camping once.   I have 2 questions for you experienced campers:
1.  We were considering purchasing artificial carpet for under our awning. Any pro's/con's or opinions on the matter?  I did a search and did not come up with much.
2.  Any advice on percolating coffee?!  Even when tent camping, ours never came out quit right.

Thank you for any advice. I've already read lots of things that are a help! If you camp in North Georgia this year, we'll be the ones chasing the 2-1/2 year old little boy and our dog.:eyecrazy:

Hello and Welcome!

#1.  We have an outdoor carpet for under our awning.  We decided to spend a little extra and get the short fiber, softer carpet instead of the grass type carpet.  Easier on the toes and easier to clean.  We got it at Lowes.  We found that they have ends of rolls that they put on "clearance" to get rid of it.  We purchased an 8' by 8' piece last summer for $10 from them, so we ended up spending less on it anyway.  We fold it into a square and keep it in the camper when traveling.  If it gets wet, we keep it in the TV and hang it up to dry when we get home.

#2. We just purchased a electric drip coffee maker for like $20.  We use it to heat water for more than just coffee also.  You said you have a two year old....so do we.  We use it to like heat water quickly to wash him down at night.  We place a different glass pot down and run water through it, add cold water to make it warm.  We knew there was a lot of dirt camping, but had no idea so much of it would end up in his diaper and socks!!!  Our 5 year old doesn't help matters any either....dumping dirt on him, etc   .  As far as coffee, we use about 5 tablespoons for 6-7 cups of water in our electric drip.  I think if you go to Maxwell Houses website, you can still get a free coffee scoop with the purchase of Maxwell House.  We got one a couple months ago and have it in the camper.

Hope you enjoy your camper!

[tlhdoc]

I don't drink coffee, so I can't help you with that, but as far as what to use under the awning, I highly recommend the plastic woven carpet.  They don't absorb water, any rain goes through them so you aren't walking on wet carpet and they are easy to maintain.  Just sweep them off or hose them down.

[cyclone]

I'm no help with the coffee, either.  But, I add my vote for the above-mentioned mats. We had the artificial carpet, and it was a pain to clean and a mess when it was wet.  I love the mat!

[fritz_monroe]

We've got one of the plastic woven mats also.  We've only taken 1 trip in our pup and while the floor got pretty dirty, the mat was even dirtier.  Our 2 year old decided she likes to throw the dirt straight up in the air, so everything was covered before we actually got the pup set up entirely.

As for coffee, I hate percolator coffee, it always tastes burned.  I'm going to get a Lexan Java Press.  I grind my coffee at home and for camping I used a vacuum sealer to put a pot's worth of coffee in a bag.  Eventually I'll pick up a coffee grinder to keep in the pup.

[maromeo]

RE:  Carpeting - we used the Presto fit carpeting, its ok but hold the dirt and sand so it can be a mess when packing up, especially for us here in the desert. I just purchased the 9 X 12 from Camping World for 48.99 and free shipping. We go to the CA beachs at least once a year, the carpeting was a pain to pack up. I hope the mat will be different.

Coffee - We use the percolator coffee but I use the square foldable filters to hold my grounds, makes cleanup a snap. I use a heaping tablespoon for each cup of water. I bring to a boil and let it perk until I see it the perfect coffee color through the glass bubble, usually about 10 minutes. After I pour in our mugs, I put it in a thermal carafe and enjoy. Sometimes we make espresso via the stovetop models.  That is a nice treat to have when camping.
Hope this helps.
Mary Romeo

[wynot]

For the stove percolators, it is a little trickier than an automatic percolator.
 
IF you don't drink percolator coffee normally, you're going to have to experiment.  Normal drip coffee is pretty weak stuff compared to (my opinion) superior perked coffee - which is what we drink normally.  But we also drink fairly strong coffee...  I think the 'burned' taste that Fritz is referring to is coffee that hasn't been perked long enough or strong enough, but I'm guessing.
 
The dry coffee measurements mentioned earlier sound about right, since we drink Luzianne coffee, we have a 'half' scoop in every can we buy, and I couldn't tell you what measurement that is (Luzianne uses half the coffee of other brands).  Start with cold water, put a round coffee filter in the basket if grounds bother you (available from most grocery stores).  I put in an even scoop of coffee for each cup and then one or two 'for the pot' depending on whether I am making a large or small pot.
 
Bring to a perk on high heat, once perking, turn back to a slower perk for about 10 minutes, then shut off.  Let the grounds, etc. settle, and it should be about right.
 
Coffee taste is personal - for example, I think Starbucks is pretty horrible coffee, and since I drink coffee black, I have nothing masking the flavor...

[balbrt1]

We also use the mat verus the carpet..It is a huge one so we fold it in half and works great..Just sweep it off and is stuff has stuck to it; hose it off at home. Drys really quick

Coffee is very important ...lol.  I went to our local Dollar General and got a coffee maker..If you use the perk kind, they used to have filters for them so grounds do not end up in your coffee.  If you can not find filters; a good paper towel (I use Bounty) will sub for a filter. Stick stem of pot through middle of towel, put coffee in and then fold the four corners over the stem.

tip for anyone that does not have a water heater.  You all may already know this one.  I bought a 42/48 cup coffee pot . I take the insides out. Fill with water and plug in..TaDa...hot water anytime you need it..beats heating water in the small T-kettles everytime you need hot water...

[fritz_monroe]

The burned taste that I'm talking about is passing the same water over and over the grounds.  At the same time boiling the brewed coffee.  To me, this makes a poor tasting coffee.  I go out of my way to buy good coffee.  I don't buy the best, but I also don't buy bargain basement coffee.  By over cooking the coffee, it makes it useless to buy good coffee.  To me it makes it all taste the same.

[dthurk]

tip for anyone that does not have a water heater.  You all may already know this one.  I bought a 42/48 cup coffee pot . I take the insides out. Fill with water and plug in..TaDa...hot water anytime you need it..beats heating water in the small T-kettles everytime you need hot water...

Sometimes the coffepot will "moan" when heating water.  To prevent this, leave the insides in.

[cobbs1]

Thank you all for your advice. I ordered a 9x12 mat from Sisken Sales.  They had a nice, plain brown/beige mat which I liked. They are also very friendly. It will arrive in time for our camping trip next weekend.  I'll let you know how it works out!  Anything is better than a golden retreiver laying around in pinestraw and pea gravel. I had to sweep the camper out alot our first trip out!
 
Can't wait to go on trip number 2!!  My apologies to you guys up north in the snow. But, you can laugh at us when it's 100 degrees in August.
 
Oh, I just printed out the coffee advice and we'll try to make a better pot. I know it's easier to get an electric coffee maker.  It's a sentimental thing.  I remember my grandfather and father using the percolator when we'd do stuff outdoors.  
A