New 2005 Fleetwood Tucson newbie!

[madkatz1]

Great information everyone! Thanks so much...

[tlhdoc]

Your welcome.

[madkatz1]

Hi, we purchased our 2005 Tucson last November, used it twice so far, didn't get A/C, everything else the same as yours. We upgraded from a 1978 Viking Little Gaser that we had for 16 yrs. Basically the same size as the new one, except the bed sizes(enjoying the larger bunk). We pretty much use it for sleeping only, everything else we do outside (old tent camping habits) so far we like it alot.

Hello hatlet!
Did you add any additional mattress support for your Tucson? I am wondering if the roof will go down with a 2" memory foam left on the bunk.
Are you happy without the AC? In Florida, with the heat/humidity, I thought AC was a must-have! Besides, when hurricane season returns, I will have a cool place to sleep when the power goes out. Last year with all the %*@# hurricanes we were without power for almost 2 weeks! We were miserable! So, the pu will be great, not only for camping, but my retreat for comfort after the next, inevitable hurricane that is looming in the distance....

[madkatz1]

madkatz1....this may be a better link for the mats
//www.cherrybrook.com  and under search put in rugs, you will get all sizes.

I bought a 6x8 (they also come in 4x7 and 9x9) for a trip to the beach last summer.  We liked it so much I came  home and ordered a 2nd 6x8 and we take both of them camping.  Some times we lay them side by side for a larger area and other times I use just one under the canopy and put the other on the ground with the dog pen on it for the dogs to have a spot to lay when there are stones.  They are thin but stiff, do not cause tripping when walking, nor do they bunch up and get in the way.  Water runs right through, don't think I would try to cut them.  They also have grommets in the corners if you wanted to stake them but I haven't found that necessary.

You can see ours at //www.fchris.smugmug.com

You sold me on your web pics...very nice. (I like your doggie and your fire pit, too!) I ordered a 9x9 - figured I can roll up an end if too big or leave it as it is. I haven't put up the awning yet or the AAR so I don't know what to expect.
Some say "don't plan so much" and "don't worry about the small details, just camp and have fun" - I guess "those people" might be men, no offense. (I still want a clean and attractive camp site... thanks ladies!)

[tlhdoc]

when hurricane season returns, I will have a cool place to sleep when the power goes out.

How are you planning on running your air conditioner?  Do you have a generator?

[hatlet]

Hi, we didn't add any mattress pads, so far it's comfortable without them. we've camped in a popup for 17 yrs without a/c. I think we can survive in California without it. We did camp last Feb. at the beach, it poured all night and I was really surprised the trailer did not leak one drop. One thing I want to add is a battery, my TV is only equiped with a 4 prong plug, so the battery won't cahrge when we drive, probably will wait till I get a new TV that is wired correctly for the battery.

[madkatz1]

How are you planning on running your air conditioner?  Do you have a generator?

Yep, got a Coleman Powermate generator.

[wavery]

Yep, got a Coleman Powermate generator.

I hope that you (and your neighbors) are happy with that thing. How many watts is it?

The guy in the spot next to us, last weekend, had a Coleman Powermate 1850. I could not believe how loud that thing was. It sure won't run an A/C unit. At least not one that I am aware of.

[madkatz1]

I hope that you (and your neighbors) are happy with that thing. How many watts is it?

The guy in the spot next to us, last weekend, had a Coleman Powermate 1850. I could not believe how loud that thing was. It sure won't run an A/C unit. At least not one that I am aware of.

Wavery,
My Coleman Powermate is a 3750 max watt generator. My neighbors won't care because they all have generators, too.
It's intended purpose is for residential use after the next hurricane messes up Florida.
In a previous thread (post#18) I stated we lost power last year for 2 weeks, we were miserable and hot - I can now use my generator and pu for a cool place to sleep...in my driveway. We can only use it for 1, maybe 2 appliances at a time...then we rotate it for the next appliance we need.
It's not a high powered gen, but it gets the job done.

I respect my camping neighbors and the peace & quietness of the outdoors. The generator does not get to come along on camping ventures...unless we plan on camping in the boonies with no one around. Hope that clarifies it a bit. Cheers.....

[tlhdoc]

Wavery,
My Coleman Powermate is a 3750 max watt generator.

I was afraid that you though you could run your AC off of the battery in the PU.  Glad to hear that you have a generator.  Couldn't you use the generator to run the AC in your house, it would be quieter than the camper?

[wavery]

Wavery,
My Coleman Powermate is a 3750 max watt generator. My neighbors won't care because they all have generators, too.
It's intended purpose is for residential use after the next hurricane messes up Florida.
In a previous thread (post#18) I stated we lost power last year for 2 weeks, we were miserable and hot - I can now use my generator and pu for a cool place to sleep...in my driveway. We can only use it for 1, maybe 2 appliances at a time...then we rotate it for the next appliance we need.
It's not a high powered gen, but it gets the job done.

I respect my camping neighbors and the peace & quietness of the outdoors. The generator does not get to come along on camping ventures...unless we plan on camping in the boonies with no one around. Hope that clarifies it a bit. Cheers.....

That should certainly get the job done. That gen-set will run continuously at 2800W. That's certainly enough to keep your fridge lights & TV going .

I have seen people make noise containment boxes for industrial type portable gen-sets. Basically, it's a heavily insulated box. It usually has a ventilated grill mounted low on one side and an electric fan mounted high on the other side for cooling. People just place the box over the top of the gen-set. It makes them a lot more tolerable.

[madkatz1]

I was afraid that you though you could run your AC off of the battery in the PU.  Glad to hear that you have a generator.  Couldn't you use the generator to run the AC in your house, it would be quieter than the camper?

I could if I had a small, window AC for 1 room, like the bedroom.  However, that's not the case. My generator is much too small to run the central AC. Central AC's draw a LOT of watts!
They do have big ones to run the whole house, but they cost about $5,000 or more and I'm too poor for that.

[TroutBum]

I have seen people make noise containment boxes for industrial type portable gen-sets. Basically, it's a heavily insulated box. It usually has a ventilated grill mounted low on one side and an electric fan mounted high on the other side for cooling. People just place the box over the top of the gen-set. It makes them a lot more tolerable.

Wave..

If you see one in the near future would you post a pic?  It sounds interesting.
Granted I am putting the cart before the horse since I don't yet have a generator.  

[madkatz1]

That should certainly get the job done. That gen-set will run continuously at 2800W. That's certainly enough to keep your fridge lights & TV going .

I have seen people make noise containment boxes for industrial type portable gen-sets. Basically, it's a heavily insulated box. It usually has a ventilated grill mounted low on one side and an electric fan mounted high on the other side for cooling. People just place the box over the top of the gen-set. It makes them a lot more tolerable.

Post Hurricane....
When the power is out, the fridge gets plugged in every other hour or so, for about 40-50 min, enough to keep food from spoiling and to keep the beer cold! Then we plug in the coffee pot and microwave - cooking a meal is a creative process. Then, we start all over again. We are literally, camping in our house!
The big screen TV gets ignored until the power comes back on... too much power. I have a small, battery operated TV that works just fine for local channels. No Discovery or Science Channel for me...and not for weeks cuz the satellite is out of whack. The pool turns green, the mosquitoes are horrible, and it goes on and on.

The generator keeps me from going completely insane!!!

Now, tell me why there are 1000+ people moving to Florida every day???

[madkatz1]

Wave..

If you see one in the near future would you post a pic?  It sounds interesting.
Granted I am putting the cart before the horse since I don't yet have a generator.  

Ditto...