Aluminum Camper Forum

Camping => Camping General Discussions => Topic started by: Paul on April 19, 2016, 08:42:24 PM

Title: Camping season starting soon!!
Post by: Paul on April 19, 2016, 08:42:24 PM
I will get my trailer out of storage next week can't wait! And the seasonal campground I am at open May 13!
Title: Re: Camping season starting soon!!
Post by: rideandfly on April 20, 2016, 07:40:04 AM
We are fortunate with our winter weather in SE US. We did not camp during January, but every other month so far this year!
Title: Re: Camping season starting soon!!
Post by: Chappy133 on April 01, 2017, 10:43:19 PM
PA campgrounds opened Friday. Enjoying a cool wet weekend at Locust Lake CG.
Title: Re: Camping season starting soon!!
Post by: Pinstriper on April 01, 2017, 10:47:25 PM
Shakedown 2017 is next weekend. We'll find out whether I did any good at winterizing pretty quick.
Title: Re: Camping season starting soon!!
Post by: Merlin on April 02, 2017, 10:09:01 AM
I've started in on the repair work I put off last fall. I made a tester for the trailer lights and am determined to permanently fix the exterior clearance light problem. Then I need to get the brake controller installed in the new TV and the hitch set up and check the trailer brakes/bearings/tires. Then I need to get the camper to the welding shop for it's reinforced rear bumper and general weld check. Then I'll add water and hope water comes out only where it's supposed to. Our first trip is in about a month-----yippee!
Title: Re: Camping season starting soon!!
Post by: DavidM on April 02, 2017, 01:00:09 PM
I too have some significant pre camping work to do over the next few weeks. Our 2013 16TBS has three seasons on it and about 10,000 miles, so it is time to grease up the wheel bearings. Don't know for sure if it has the zerk type grease fitting but if not I learned to take apart front wheel bearings on autos some 55 years ago and it should be the same for the Camplite.

While I have the wheels off, I plan to seal up the wheel wells with spray on polyurethane foam to hopefully stop the water intrusion problem. But the aluminum floor slats may also be contributing to the water and there isn't an easy fix for that.

Before removing the wheels I am going to make accurate fore and aft measurements to see if I have an alignment problem that wore out one tire last year prematurely. I hope it was just a bad tire.

All else is pretty routine. This will be the third dewinterization and I think I have that down pat by now. Check out the water heater, fridge and furnace and we should be fine for the season.

When we finally do our first shake down camp to a state forest nearby in late April, I plan to try out a new addition- a portable steel fire pit. More and more I see deep and tall circular metal fire pits in the campgrounds we frequent which blocks radiant heat back to we campers sitting around it. I am hoping that this pit will solve the problem so I won't have to use the permanent ones any more. If it works, I will post pics and a review of it. It also will let a bunch of people (think MWP) sit around in a circle and enjoy the fire.

David
Title: Re: Camping season starting soon!!
Post by: Chappy133 on April 02, 2017, 08:29:01 PM
Well we left during flood warning and came back to 60s & sunny. Left the water tank dry. Flushed using jug water & a 5 gallon jug for cooking & cleaning. Was good to get out.  Looking forward to seeing that fire ring. I hate the heat blocking camp fire rings they have out there. They must have been designed by a lawyer.