I'm new with a few questions?!

[Kristenamber]

Hi all!  I have been reading this message board for at least a year, studying hard for the day I would finally become an owner of a pop up:)  We just bought a new 2007 Fleetwood Royale last week!
About me...I'm Kristen and I am a young mom of 3 little boys under 5 years old.  My husband works a lot and hates to camp, so I used to take the boys tent camping but dreamed of owning a pop up.  We took our first trip to Raystown Lake in Entriken, PA last week and even though it rained and rained, we had a wonderful time.  I'm feeling rather proud of myself for doing all of the work myself!
A few questions if you don't mind?
First, when I packed the pup to go, I put our bedding and blankets underneath the booth dinette cushions.  Big mistake!  It was raining that day and the pillows and blankets were SOAKED!  I then realized that there is no seal between the wheel well and the floor, (part of the wheel well is inside the storage compartment underneath the dinette cushion).  I wonder if it's supposed to be cauked or sealed?  
Also, my front stablizer jack is broken.  It sticks horribly and seems a bit bent.  I wonder if I somehow damaged it on the trip to the campsite, because it was fine when I set up at home before I left.  I cannot find my warranty info, and I wonder if stabilizers are covered.  I hope so!
Anyone else own a Royale?  I can't understand why it's not on Fleetwood's website.  And in the brochure's the Royale is an insert paper!  But the Royale, for those of you who don't know, is the same weight and layout as the Graphite.  Anyway, enough blabbering!  Thanks for reading!

[AustinBoston]

First, welcome to PUT.  

I'm feeling rather proud of myself for doing all of the work myself!

As so you should.

First, when I packed the pup to go, I put our bedding and blankets underneath the booth dinette cushions.  Big mistake!  It was raining that day and the pillows and blankets were SOAKED!  I then realized that there is no seal between the wheel well and the floor, (part of the wheel well is inside the storage compartment underneath the dinette cushion).  I wonder if it's supposed to be cauked or sealed?

Yes, it should be sealed.  The trailer should be water-tight, especially when closed up, including when on the road.  If left alone, water coming in like that will rot the floor and walls.  This is a warranty item.

Also, my front stablizer jack is broken.  It sticks horribly and seems a bit bent.  I wonder if I somehow damaged it on the trip to the campsite, because it was fine when I set up at home before I left.  I cannot find my warranty info, and I wonder if stabilizers are covered.  I hope so!

For a 2007, the stabilizer should be covered.  But - no warranty covers damage because of a mistake you made.  If you forgot to close it or hit something with it, that is not a warranty issue.

Anyone else own a Royale?  I can't understand why it's not on Fleetwood's website.  And in the brochure's the Royale is an insert paper!  But the Royale, for those of you who don't know, is the same weight and layout as the Graphite.

I'm not familiar with the Royale, but it may be a brand new model, one that was added mid-season and so isn't in the brocure yet or on the web site yet.  If it doesn't sell well, it may never make it there, either.  But what is important is that you enjoy it!

Austin

[Kristenamber]

thank you for your response!  I definately put the stabilizer jacks up and I know they were up there the whole time traveling.  I didn't run over anything crazy either.  I just can't figure out how it got the way it is.
It's a bummer I will have to send my pop up in for service, but I definately need it water tight!  So in it goes tomorrow.  I'm fortunate that the dealer is just 2 minutes down the road.

[austinado16]

Welcome Kirsten and cheers to you for taking your sons camping!  Just going camping for the first time in a PUP is a huge deal, let alone with 3 little men under 5!  Right on!

[Recumbentman]

Hello Kirsten and welcome to PUT
I wanted to comment on you putting your bedding under the dinette cushions. I used to do something similar until it stuck me to just lay the bedding on the bunks flat and close up the PU this way. It worked great, now when we open the PU all the bedding is in place and ready to use.
Thought you might want to give this a try on your PU.
As others have said, most of your issues should be covered by your warranty.
Good luck

[wavery]

First, when I packed the pup to go, I put our bedding and blankets underneath the booth dinette cushions.  Big mistake!  It was raining that day and the pillows and blankets were SOAKED!  I then realized that there is no seal between the wheel well and the floor, (part of the wheel well is inside the storage compartment underneath the dinette cushion).  I wonder if it's supposed to be cauked or sealed?  

Please don't take this problem litely......this could be a HUGE problem.

I would take it back to the dealer ASAP! You may already have severe damage to your floor. If the water sat in that floor floor a period of time, the floor will rot and will continue to rot. At some point, you could be held partially responsible for not reporting the problem in a reasonable amount of time.

[Tgraham]

Welcome!

I just had to compliment you on taking those boys camping. That is awsome! I am glad you are able to do this on your own, and I am sure they will never forget it.

As for the issues with the camper, everyone is right. It should not be leaking. Since you have already planned to have this fixed, 'nough said.

Again, kudo's for giving your sons memories that will last a lifetime!!!

 :-()

[Kristenamber]

My dealer was upset that he missed the sealing issue and that and the stablilizer jack will be fixed Tuesday!  Thanks for all of your replies.

[harleywolf]

I

[brainpause]

Congratulations, and thank you, on behalf of your boys. You are working hard for some great memories. I went through a photo album with my wife this weekend, at my parents, and was able to point out some tent/popup memories of when I was small.

You have gotten excellent advice about everything already. But I wanted to add something: Make sure you are leveling the popup correctly, and NOT using the stabilizers to level. They should not be used to level. Level left-and-right with boards/BAL Leveler/Lynx, then front-to-back with the tongue jack. More on this if you search.

However, since you have been lurking here for a year, you probably are already leveling correctly. I just wanted to rule out that as a source of your stabilizer problem.

Oh, and Welcome to PUT!

Larry

[Kristenamber]

Nope, I would NEVER level with the stabilizer jacks!  You're right...I've been lurking here long enough to know that's a big no no!  My dealer recommended just enough of a crank to feel tension between the camper and the ground:)

[munchkin]

Congrats on camping. You "did good." Many memories to come!

[ScouterMom]

Kristinamber

Welcome to PUT! You and your boys have a wonderful lifetime of memories in your camper ahead of you!

As single mom myself I know how much taking my son camping at an early age has helped shape his life. I started taking him camping with me in a tent when he was 1 1/2 - when he was in 2nd or 3rd grade, we bought a friend's tiny, used PUP and fixed it up together.  He learned loads of skills helping me fix up & set up that camper!  In 3rd grade, he could set up the whole campsite by himself, including hooking up and setting up the camper! Those summers in grade school, we were out camping every weekend that he was with me.  Camping is a great outlet for kids - somehow their energy and rambunctiousness seem to be absorbed by the great outdoors.  they learn so much and it's so much fun, they don't think of it as 'educational'.

I grew up as an active camping girl scout, in a family that did alot of canoe & wilderness camping as a family. I didn't want Jon to miss out on the fun I had growing up and the things I learned. So I found ways to make sure he got to camp - tenting, biking, backpacking and canoeing, and in a PUP.

Jon was raised very actively in Boy Scouts - I could hardly wait until he was old enough to join Tiger cubs in 1st grade!  He was already learning scouting skills at age 2 & 3, and as he grew, He learned many life lessons from our camping trips.

He's now a 17 yr old Sr in high school - a wonderful young man that I am VERY proud of!  He was recently elected Senior Patrol Leader of his Scout troop, and he's working on his Eagle project and should have his Eagle Rank by next summer.

You have given your boys a wonderful gift by taking them camping - they are lucky tohave a mom like you!

laura