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Things newbie must have for PUP

Started by handfixer, Jan 22, 2008, 06:30 PM

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wavery

Quote from: handfixerThanks!  What exactly is "an inverter" (a power converter?) and in what situations would I be using it?  Any particular type you recommend?

I am really enjoying really people's comments and advice to me.  I feel like I am making a whole new set of friends. Thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome!
An inverter converts your 12v battery power to 110v so that you can use home appliances like microwave, coffee maker, TV etc.

I think that an inverter is a little more complicated than you may want to deal with, starting out. A decent size inverter would be about 2000w. In order to use it, you would need 2 large batteries. A microwave can drain the batteries pretty fast.

We have a 2500w inverter. We use it to run the coffee pot and/or microwave early in the :AM (before generator hours).  With 2, 29 series batteries, we can go a weekend without charging the batteries and using the coffee pot and microwave each morning.

Here is a link to pics of our set-up:
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/558141557SmJjBm

wavemaker

Take a good camera to take some nice pics.......

pojv

Handfixer,
All that we have added to our 3612 is lynx levelers (Wal-Mart 30.00)
and the cube fan for the frig. You should already have the bunk fans and lights as they should have come with your unit.
We did replace that heavy shower curtain with two vinyl curtains and it works much better.
As stated before make sure that you take along paper and pencil,
for your "We forget that list"
           

'tiredTeacher

Quote from: flyfishermanFishing pole ...
and cold beer.

handfixer

Quote from: 'tiredTeacherand cold beer.


Thank you everybody for great ideas.  I thought I knew everything about camping.  PUP camping is whole different ball of wax.

AZsix

Quote from: handfixerThank you everybody for great ideas.  I thought I knew everything about camping.  PUP camping is whole different ball of wax.

You are right about that. After I found this forum I told my wife that it seemed like I had discovered a whole new world. I find that pup campers seem more passionate about their campers and camping in general.

Before we bought ours I always heard from people and salesman that pop up camping was a great way to get into camping before moving up to something else. I have since discovered that that is not the case and there are many people that don't want do move away from a pup and I have seen some on this forum that are getting rid of motor homes and hardsides to get back into a pup.

It's funny but now when I go camping I always look to see how many pups are there. It's almost like we have a kind of kinship.

My one concern when getting a pup was space or rather lack of. I got some great suggestions from this forum about space management and it's no longer a big concern of mine. I found through this forum that pup camping is almost a world unto itself.

Along with all the great suggestions you will undoubtedly come up with some of your own that in time you will pass along to the rest of us.

Clarabelle

I found it interesting when taking our first long road trip with our PUP.  I was stopped several times by people asking where we were going etc.; then with a wistful sigh tell how they missed their PUP since trading it in for a larger Trailer.  It "sorta" affirmed my choice in RV.

AZsix

Quote from: ClarabelleI found it interesting when taking our first long road trip with our PUP.  I was stopped several times by people asking where we were going etc.; then with a wistful sigh tell how they missed their PUP since trading it in for a larger Trailer.  It "sorta" affirmed my choice in RV.

Clarabelle,

I was planning on buying a tt this spring before we bought the pup. My wife kept suggesting a pup but I resisted mainly due to the fact that I thought our family of 6 would be too crowded in a pup. I relented and told her that it would at least need to have a toilet for me to consider it. When we were offered the pup we have now for only $500 I had to jump at it. It had a new canvas that was used twice, new tires, new axle and springs, a new water pump a toilet and a shower. When we bought it my intention was to keep it for a year or two and then get a tt. My thinking has now changed. If I do buy something else it will most likely be another pup. It would be nice to have one with a slide out and a hard sided bathroom. But I may just invest money into keeping mine in good shape. (It's an 88) I like the ease of towing, the fact that we don't have to pay to store it and the feeling I get when camping in it, being able to look in any direction and see what's around us instead of peering through a window.

I have stated in other posts that I was very surprised to see how passionate people are about their pups. I have three neighbors with toy haulers and the reason they go camping is to ride their quads. What they talk about and are more passionate about are their quads. The toy haulers are a means to get them there and a place to stay so they can ride. Pups in my opinion add to the experience of camping and enjoying the beautiful outdoors which is the reason we camp. I may be a pup'er for life due largely in part to the people on this forum. Because of them I have gotten more enjoyment out of my pup than I think I would have had I not found this forum.

ronerjones

I posted this a few months ago, here is a copy of some easy little things we do. All of the following items have made our tripe much easier. Enjoy the new camper.

1) Towel rack:
I went to Home Depot and got everything I needed for a simple storable towel rack that does not leave your camp site looking like the local laundry-mat. First stop inside garden where they sell the tiki oil and torches they sell a small steel steak that hammers into the ground $3.00 it will accept the PVC pipe and screw down to secure it (best part when you store it just loosen the screw and slide the steak up on the pipe)

fallsrider

Quote from: wavemakerTake a good camera to take some nice pics.......
Yeah, don't do like I did on our last trip. We went to James Island County Park in Charleston, SC for 3 nights over New Year's weekend. We took the digital camera AND the digital video camera. During the 3 days we were there, I failed to get either camera out once. How stupid! My two nieces, who live in Charleston, camped with us, and we never even took one picture of the 4 cousins together.

What was I thinking??    :yikes:

AZsix

We also take a good set of walkie talkies with us. We have enough so that each kid can have one. They have stated range of 12 miles so hopefully even in wooded terrain we won't be out of contact with any of them should they wander off too far.

Not that this is something you need but today at a yard sale I picked up a Kabob Basket for cooking Kabob's with that I will keep in the pup.

tlhdoc

One thing no one has mentioned so far is that you will need a good since of humor.  At some point something will go wrong and laughing about it is much better for everyone than #$&@ about it.  

Don't feel that you have to go out and buy every gadget someone tells you about.  Over the years I have purchased or received many camping items.  Some I still use and others didn't even last a camping season.  My philosophy is buy slowly.  
 
Things you will need to have are:
 
1.  Something to block the wheels of the camper with.  It can be some scrap wood or plastic wheel chocks.  After unhitching an unchocked camper will roll away if there is any slope to the campsite.
 
2.  To be comfortable you need to level the camper.  Front to back is easy.  You do it with the tongue jack after you are unhitched and level side to side.  To level the camper side to side (believe it or not many campsites are not level :D) you need to raise the lower side of the camper.  There are several ways to do this.  Scrap wood can be piled up and then you back or pull the camper onto it.  Lynx Leveling blocks (Lego like plastic blocks) can be used the same way.  The third way is to use a BAL single axle trailer leveler.  You slide the BAL Leveler around the low side tire, then crank the leveler up until the trailer is level side to side.  You can eye ball how level you are or use a level to be more accurate.  There are small levels that you can attach to the outside of the trailer.  If you use these make sure the trailer is level when you install them.
 
3.  You will need a fresh water hose to either fill your tank or if you have water hookups to connect the faucet to your city water intake on the camper.  If you are using the city water connection you should consider using a water pressure regulator.  It limits the water pressure going into your hose (it you attach it to the faucet) and camper.  If the campground has high pressure it can cause leaks in your camper's plumbing.  You will also need a "grey water" container  and a grey water hose to drain your sink/shower into.  If you have a sewer connection you will need the proper connection for that.  A foam donut and a hose fitting (it depends on what type of hose).
 
4.  Take a pad and pen/pencil along to write down everything you forgot to pack in the camper.  
 
5.  You will need bedding, cooking supplies, a first aid kit, lighter, etc.
 
Good luck and have a great time camping. :)

AZsix

I don't think anyone mentioned a first aid kit. Don't forget any meds that anyone may be taking and bring some aspirin in the first aid kit.

wavery

A cork-screw and something to use it on......... :sombraro:

handfixer

Quote from: waveryA cork-screw and something to use it on......... :sombraro:


Thanks everybody.  Great ideas.  I can' t wait to go camping.