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RE: Best way to get discounts on sites
Absolutely nothing wrong with accepting Walmart's hospitality for a night or two. After all, when you're in the rig it looks the same whether you're parked at a resort or Walmart. Spending $20-30 or more to park overnight is folly IMO. Long term (week+) is the only way RV parks make sense to me. You are not "seeing the country" at night you're seeing it during the day.
I don't fulltime but on a two month trip to the Great Lakes states I think we spent $200-300 on camping fees. We never felt like we didn't "see the country". Matter of fact, I felt like we saw more of it by staying at the occasional Walmart, church or hospital lot, and dispersed camping wherever we could find it.
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CSG
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07/28/10 10:45am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Is there such a thing as a "lightweight" full-timing unit?
If everything is paid for I imagine you will find no savings by buying a new unit or truck. One can fulltime in anything depending on one's needs.
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CSG
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07/28/10 10:37am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Does Size Matter?
In 1992, my wife and I owned a Lance 9.5' truck camper that we used for vacations. However, we decided to get out of California and take a trip to find a new place to live. We got rid of our place, put everything in storage, and headed out. We spent six months traveling the west with no home other than the camper and no date certain when to end our travels. No cell phone, no computer, a family member to collect and forward mail. It was easily doable but we would have wanted a bigger rig with a proper bathroom (the camper had a wet bath) had it lasted for a few years. For one (me), it would have been fine for an open ended period. I could live in a B with a good bathroom easily. It would be refreshing from the consumptive lifestyle we've ended up in. ;)
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CSG
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07/28/10 10:32am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: life in a rv park
I see the OP is long gone...
FWIW, having owned a truck camper, two fivers, and a B, I could easily fulltime in a proper B (unlike my Traverse). Something like a Pleasureway Excel, RT 210, or any of the Sprinter conversions would work just fine for someone who didn't feel they needed to fill every square inch with******to haul around. Once you start adding people or dogs the scenario changes. But for one? A nice B is dang near perfect and far more flexible that any other rig save for, maybe a truck camper.
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CSG
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07/27/10 09:55am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: TV and DVD upgrade in 2006 RS Adventurous
Not to dissuade you from enjoying your B however you see fit bit the last thing I want to do when I head out is watch TV or movies. That's what home is for.
Meanwhile, why not call RT and talk to them about your desires?
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CSG
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07/27/10 09:27am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: 180 Degrees South
Very enjoyable, thanks for the link.
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CSG
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07/26/10 01:26pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Where do you park
With my B I try to park in dispersed sites (no campgrounds) but will park almost anywhere en route. I hate paying for campgrounds and being crowded in with others who may have a different idea of what *camping* is.
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CSG
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07/26/10 12:09pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Hello Pleasure Way and Leisure Travel Chevvy Owners
What retraite said. I currently own a Pleasureway Traverse. Great rig considering its limitations as a pop-up camper. I've been interested for the last year or two in a fully self-contained B and assumed that the PW would be the brand I'd want based on my current experience. When I spent time last summer comparing and contrasting PW, RT, LT, and Airstream at a dealer in SoCal that had most models in stock of the chassis' and sizes I was interested in, I was surprised that it was RT that suited my needs more.
The only way you will know is to do the same and really spend time in the rigs and go through the motions. I love PW and their customer service but the Roadtrek 190 and 210 models were both better executions in logistics than the PW offerings on similar chassis' (Lexor and Excel) for my taste.
Meanwhile, I've delayed doing anything because my Traverse is not only paid for but the simple systems and low operating cost (I get nearly 18 MPG on the road) suit my travel style at this stage of life. Longer trips (two weeks+) would leave me wanting a bath, shower, standing headroom all the time, and a built-in genset.
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CSG
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07/26/10 08:18am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: When is a Class B too big?
To me, a classic B shouldn't be more than 19 or so feet. A B+ or C type of van isn't really a traditional B. My Traverse is 17 1/2' and absolutely perfect save for the lack of roof vents, generator, storage, and bath/shower. If only I had 19'! ;)
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CSG
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07/22/10 08:43pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Showers
I'd love an indoor shower in my Traverse but alas. I rarely go to campgrounds and those I do rarely have showers. Because I'm often camped in a remote area and outdoor solar shower is what I've got. Any doubts about privacy, I wear swim trunks. As I keep my hair short I can often shampoo in any bathroom sink with little fuss and in the rig can do a reasonable sponge bath. The thing is, most of my trips are short enough that a full shower is not required. If necessary, on longer trips I'll stay at a place with facilities and do laundry too.
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CSG
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07/21/10 09:57am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Going Light
The only "light" travel is solo. With kids and wife it's different. As I do volunteer search and rescue, my Cruiser has basic equipment in it at all times including a pack with appropriate gear, a light sleeping bag and pad, camp chair, small ultralight spinning rod, reel, and tackle, and basic medical kit. To go camping for a couple, three nights I add a small duffel bag with clothes, a small cooler with a bit more food, a firearm, a book or two, and some moccasins.
My day pack has things like rainwear, a small stove with tea and soup, a couple Clif bars, flashlight, compass, and other basic survival gear. I've also got a case of water and hiking staff in the back of the rig.
That's about as light as I travel when I sleep in back of the rig.
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CSG
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07/10/10 09:47pm |
Tent Camping
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RE: Must have tent camping gear
UCO Candle Lantern.
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CSG
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07/10/10 09:35pm |
Tent Camping
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RE: camping cooking questions from a camping newbie
Just a thought but for me camping isn't about eating and dealing with an outdoor kitchen as much as it is about other activities. If I'm going alone, I take beef jerky, coffee, Clif bars, and maybe a few other odds and ends that don't need much if any prep. You might look into some of the instant food at the grocery store or freeze-dried items at your local camping store or online.
When I take the camping van I have the luxury of a built-in propane cooktop and nearly 3 cf fridge but even then all I add is a little fruit and sandwich makings and maybe some eggs.
But when I'm going in the Cruiser, I take either a little MSR isobutane stove or a small single restaurant burner that runs on butane canisters. All I ever do is heat water for coffee so my requirements are low.
If we go as a family and I take the fifth wheel, well, all bets are off and we make lots of proper meals.
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CSG
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07/10/10 09:33pm |
Tent Camping
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RE: pickup truck camping
Around 1980 I bought a Plymouth Arrow (same as Dodge D-50 - a Mitsubishi p/u). It had a camper shell on it that had sliding screened windows on the side, fake wood paneling, an overhead light, and a couple little cabinets at the front end. I got what was called a carpet kit which was, essentially, a carpeted set of boxes that ran along and over the wheel wells and a center board that fit between the wheels or on a railing built on both boxes. This allowed the center piece to sit flush with the boxes and make a platform bed the width of the truck bed. The carpet was padded underneath and the was a carpeted tail gate piece as well as piece to go across the front of the camper. In those days, carpet kits were very popular and a lot of guys had them in their pickups under a shell or minimal "camper" like mine. It was tall enough that I could sit up in the rig when the center piece was on the floor.
I'd bought the rig because my then girlfriend (now wife) didn't like backpacking or tent camping. Unfortunately, for her, this wasn't much better but for me it was great. I did a fair amount of traveling with this rig, once for six weeks. I carried a small cooler, sleeping bag and foam pad, a backpack, and a few small boxes for clothes and such. For one, it was great. With a fullsize longbed it would be great for two if the partner was game.
These days, I will sleep in the back of my Land Cruiser when it's just me. Local overnights and such. When I take my boys we go with the camping van. If my wife wants to come we have to take the ginormous fifth wheel... ;)
Simple is better.
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CSG
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07/10/10 09:22pm |
Tent Camping
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RE: Sportsmobile vs PW Traverse
I think Jake said what I was going to say only better. I really like the Traverse I own and just did a nine day trip with my 10 and 12 year old boys. The upper bed is useless for all but small kids and I removed the front mattress section long ago. We use the upper area to hold clothing, laundry, etc. My oldest shared the sofa bed with me and the youngest was the floor monkey sleeping with his head between the front seats and feet towards the rear.
Used Traverses show up from time to time and they are usually much less expensive that Sportsmobiles but it's an apples to oranges comparison unless they are equipped the same. Sportsmobiles are more often than not 4x4 with diesel engines.
Thanks to a tip by ARCruiser, I found mine 2 1/2 years ago. When all was said and done, I bought my 2002 with 44k miles for $16.8k I had to have it shipped from back east which ran another $1200 and pay local sales tax. I had been looking for a Sportsmobile when this came along.
One thing, I have not been able to use the included porta-potty as it's like going in your living room/kitchen so I removed it. The added storage space under the sink is appreciated. I do carry a collapsible dry toilet in back but only my kids have used it so far. I miss a proper bathroom but the benefits of a small rig like this (we average close to 18 MPG) and the number of public facilities generally available make either of these rigs a good choice IMO.
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CSG
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07/08/10 09:43am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: endless search for THE right mattress topper
My Thermarests have been wonderful in all uses. I've moved them from our old truck camper to our 5iver to our B and even use one in my Land Cruiser to sleep in back. You can even add a bottom sheet to them if you wish. I love memory foam and have a TempurPedic at home but in the rigs, especially the B, they are too bulky unless you can leave them in place 24/7.
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CSG
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06/05/10 11:01pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: How do you "reserve" your campsite?
I rarely camp in campgrounds but 25 or so years ago I had a bunch of "CAMPSITE OCCUPIED" signs made as a hopeful commercial venture. They were a white vinyl plastic of some sort (flexible and were fine in freezing weather) and had the lettering silk screened. A small hole was punched in both ends so they could be tied across the entrance to a site.
I sold most but kept some for my own use and I'm pleased how well they held up over the years. They always worked in years past but, like I said, I avoid campgrounds now as much as I can. When I can't I use one of my old Campsite Occupied signs.
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CSG
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06/05/10 10:49pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Generator on a hitch carrier?
Glad you started this topic, sizzy as I'm heading out for a trip with my boys soon. I went over to see a farmer friend with the van and generator and we (he) figured out a small (12"x30") receiver mounted platform - tube frame with a steel top. Tube so I can use tie down straps and not abrade them and a little extra width to carry a one gallon gas can should I choose to. Would also be able to strap on a Rubbermaid ActionPacker box or cooler large enough to fit the EU2000 in. With the straps it can be cinched down tight but easy to remove to put in the rig for security when we're away from the vehicle. I figure a big black garbage bag will work well for temporary weather issues (set the gen inside and strap the whole thing down. This will be way better than the huge Hitch Haul I've got now.
Now, we can run the microwave and a/c anywhere! WooHoo!!
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CSG
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05/29/10 04:38pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Generator on a hitch carrier?
I haven't figured out a good way to carry my Honda 2000 on the Hitch Hauler cargo tray I have. I could strap it onto the HH and the same with a one gallon gas can but anytime I left the vehicle I'd want to move the generator inside. So far, I've never taken it with my Traverse. Honestly, I don't miss the hidden length of carrying a Hitch Hauler hanging out the back anyway. But it would sure be nice to be able to have that generator in reserve to run the microwave or the a/c.
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CSG
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05/27/10 12:49am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: PleasureWay Driveability
I have an '02 Traverse. I run Michelin LTX tires and it seems to me that the bottom line is that Ford van handling stinks. That said, the Traverse is not all that difficult to handle. I've also driven a new Lazy Daze class C built on a Ford cutaway chassis and found that it was a bit squirrely but not too bad.
People seem to do all sorts of things to try to improve Ford handling. Chevys and Sprinters seem to have fewer issues.
I don't see where the OP told us what she was driving.
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CSG
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03/10/10 10:40am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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