first Popup campout ever - need to stay near Phx - Suggestions?

[Rawhide Kid]

See signature below - we just got out popup (actually we'll get it on Saturday).
 
I'll be working diligently to clean and prep it over the next several weekends, and then will need to do an easy "test run." I've been warned to "stay close to home" for the first run, so I don't want to go to far from our home in west Phoenix.
 
Any ideas for a nice campground near Phoenix? Perhaps within an hour? I have van-camp'd at Piccahio peak (sorry spelling) near Tucson but that's a bit far to go I think.
 
Thoughts anyone? I would buy a six pack or good bottle of vino if a "veteran" camper wanted to show me and the family how to popup correctly and help troubleshoot issues we may have.
 
My son's spring break from school is end of March so we may wait til then. Not sure though...

[GrizzlyTaco]

Hi Kid, for our first trip we traveled over 300 miles to camp. You dont really need to stay real close to home, just practice setting up at home a few times and camp in your driveway overnight, you can learn how to start all your new appliances, use your sink, and run the water heater and heater. If you camp in your driveway, dont run in the house everytime you are short or missing something, do without and make notes of what you were missing so you'll know what to add to your camping gear. I'm sending you a PU set-up list, i hope it will help, you might also consider the Pop-Up 101 DVD, it will help lot.....http://rveducation101.com/
I hope this all helps,......Ed

PU Set-up Check List

1)   Back into site

2)   Level PU side to side before unhitching, (using Balance leveler or leveling blocks)

3)   Chock the wheels

4)   Unhitch, and pull away TV, then level PU front to rear using tongue jack.

5)   Release 4 roof latches, then raise roof half way, then unzip and take out canopy. Now
      finish raising roof.

6)   Now put stabilizers jacks down. (Caution: never raise or lower the roof with the
      stabilizer jacks down.

7)   Now set-up the canopy.

  Now pull out bed ends and put in bed supports on both ends.

9)   Set-up canvas on beds, (velcro ro bundgy cords). Dont put in bed bow supports yet.

10) Now pull out slideouts and set-up canvas (if applies to you)

11) Now lower and set-up door and secure canvas to door.

12) Now put in bed bow supports.

13) Now do electric, water and sewer connections.

14) Now time to turn on you water heater, fridge, etc. (if this applies to you)

15) Time to relax and enjoy!!!!

[Rawhide Kid]

Thanks Ed. Good comments and great directions. I worry more about bearings, tires, etc., but I'll work on those over the next few weekends and make sure they are ok before we go out.

I haven't packed wheel bearings in quite a few years. If I can get them off, I should be ok. Wonder if I need a bearing puller?

I haven't seen a good description of how to get the bearings off - pictures would be great.

oh well, I'll keep looking.

[TheViking]

Nice CG at Lake Pleasant. Full hook ups, etc. Houston Mesa in Payson. It's not on the Rim so maybe no snow. Tortilla CG, up by Canyon Lake at Tortilla Flats. I've been out of AZ for a couple of years so I'm a little rusty.
 
Oh yeah, there was a CG at Lake Roosevelt too.

[TheViking]

Hi Kid, for our first trip we traveled over 300 miles to camp. You dont really need to stay real close to home, just practice setting up at home a few times and camp in your driveway overnight, you can learn how to start all your new appliances, use your sink, and run the water heater and heater. If you camp in your driveway, dont run in the house everytime you are short or missing something, do without and make notes of what you were missing so you'll know what to add to your camping gear. I'm sending you a PU set-up list, i hope it will help, you might also consider the Pop-Up 101 DVD, it will help lot.....http://rveducation101.com/
I hope this all helps,......Ed
 
PU Set-up Check List
 
1) Back into site
 
2) Level PU side to side before unhitching, (using Balance leveler or leveling blocks)
 
3) Chock the wheels
 
4) Unhitch, and pull away TV, then level PU front to rear using tongue jack.
 
5) Release 4 roof latches, then raise roof half way, then unzip and take out canopy. Now
finish raising roof.
 
6) Now put stabilizers jacks down. (Caution: never raise or lower the roof with the
stabilizer jacks down.
 
7) Now set-up the canopy.
 
Now pull out bed ends and put in bed supports on both ends.
 
9) Set-up canvas on beds, (velcro ro bundgy cords). Dont put in bed bow supports yet.
 
10) Now pull out slideouts and set-up canvas (if applies to you)
 
11) Now lower and set-up door and secure canvas to door.
 
12) Now put in bed bow supports.
 
13) Now do electric, water and sewer connections.
 
14) Now time to turn on you water heater, fridge, etc. (if this applies to you)
 
15) Time to relax and enjoy!!!!

Tell him what it's like to set up in the wind Ed. LMAO !!!

[GrizzlyTaco]

Tell him what it's like to set up in the wind Ed. LMAO !!!

Brian, I know you'll never let me live that down!! :J

[GrizzlyTaco]

Thanks Ed. Good comments and great directions. I worry more about bearings, tires, etc., but I'll work on those over the next few weekends and make sure they are ok before we go out.

I haven't packed wheel bearings in quite a few years. If I can get them off, I should be ok. Wonder if I need a bearing puller?

I haven't seen a good description of how to get the bearings off - pictures would be great.

oh well, I'll keep looking.

Kid,  Here's something to help you with your bearing service, with pictures.....
http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/bearing1.html

[wavemaker]

Kid..
 
up to lake pleasent is a nice place too camp at this time of year,
Barbara and i went last weekend weather was realy nice... we had a great time,
 
now a couple questions
 
1. do you have a battery for the camper a 12volt will come with your purchase but you might want to look at 2-6volt
2. are you going to be DRY camping, or electric/water
3. right now electric sites are day by day last weekend there werent any available... and the non-elec. sites were filled up to... so if this happens to you when you go.. go up to the 10 boat, boat launch go all the way through the parking lot and go down the hill you will see another parking lot you can park there or go down to the end of that lot and take the dirt road to another parking lot. go to the end of that lot there is another dirt road follow that road to the lakes side camp anywhere ya want...
if ya have any questions just ask
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kid, Here's something to help you with your bearing service, with pictures.....
http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/bearing1.html

[Rawhide Kid]

now a couple questions
 1. do you have a battery for the camper a 12volt will come with your purchase but you might want to look at 2-6volt
2. are you going to be DRY camping, or electric/water
3. right now electric sites are day by day last weekend there werent any available... and the non-elec. sites were filled up to... so if this happens to you when you go.. go up to the 10 boat, boat launch go all the way through the parking lot and go down the hill you will see another parking lot you can park there or go down to the end of that lot and take the dirt road to another parking lot. go to the end of that lot there is another dirt road follow that road to the lakes side camp anywhere ya want...
if ya have any questions just ask

1. the battery that came with our used camper is fried I think. Probably will need to buy a new one or 2 6 volt'ers.
2. For this "first time" we probably will stay somewhere with water/electric, but eventually we definitely want to try a more "rural" site.
3. Thanks!

[Arizona Native]

Lost Dutchman state park is also nice and you can't beat the view or the hiking.