Post by diymom on Jul 1, 2014 8:46:22 GMT -8
SO in preparation for our 10 day road trip with our trailer- we did a maiden voyage to see and test out camping in the trailer this weekend- so glad we did!
We camped at the Antique tractor and steam engine museum's weekend fair that happens 2 weekends a month twice a year. I think this was the IDEAL environment to do a test-its only an hour away, everyone is friendly (comes with tools), is vintage machinery minded, the facilities were clean and the whole place was very organized. We did not expect to get so much attention though! There were 2 other shastas there-another 58 and a 62-which was very beautifully refurbished-and a restored aloha. Of course we were welcomed into the fold by our fellow vintage trailorites- and even though we brought the cruddy shasta-people still wanted to take pictures and come inside. We got so many positive comments on the trailer and a few people who really know what they're talking about-thought it was in pretty fair shape-(so did we when we bought it---then you pick it apart and see the...truth). We had a really easy time socializing thanks to the trailer.
We did learn things we needed to fix, bring along for convenience and how much expertise the ice box takes to use. Even though the drain was clear, we still got some puddles on the bottom shelf. Ice blocks I guess need to be really big and also secured somehow-(we are totally freezing all liquids in plastic cartons from now on!). One major disaster that we discovered was that the mattress was absolutely AWFUL!!! It was so uncomfortable that I didn't sleep for more than 30 minutes all night the first night! Yesterday I went and bought a futon mattress and mattress topper and a plush comforter and made up the bed for our big trip---TOMORROW! Its sooooooo comfy now!
We also found out how lame a hand pump is for getting water into the tank-and how messy it is splashing everywhere! I was surprised by the one level of stovetop heat the stove lets out and how quickly that seemingly low flame heats things. We were shocked at the storage and comfort of the trailer-even when it was very hot outside- we were still cool and comfy inside.
We realized how our son percieves the trailer---as a bounce house and fun zone---ugh so we know to bring a baby gate for the door, a dedicated high chair for eating so we aren't chasing him between bites...and we found out the BEST toy for him to have in the trailer is a punch balloon! doesn't hurt anything-can be thrown, bounced and punched anywhere with no negative results.
We found out a fitting on the sink drain leaks and the fitting at the tank leaks (both just barely-but we'll fix it now) and also that we burned out a fuse and needed to rewire the coupler because the blinkers were switched and a tail light was out-good thing to know before a road trip through several states right? We also finally got the registration figured out- well-someone else did at one of those dmv assistance places...$180 bucks for a bill of sale only trailer that hasn't been registered since 2002...glad we didn't attempt it ourselves...these people use "special" methods I'm sure.
We are also scurrying to seal up any obvious window, door, skin and roof potential leaks with silicon for now-heard where we are going is having lots of "weather" and we'll be bringing a huge tarp to put over the trailer when we camp...
My stove/dinette division wall looked exactly like the original ones in the other shastas-that was so rewarding to see! plus we could easily access the dinette seat area-unlike before-the entry path was 4 inches narrower.
All in all, our first trip was a total success
any other road trip advice would be appreciated- I'll check beck tomorrow before we leave...then we"ll be away for a while.
We camped at the Antique tractor and steam engine museum's weekend fair that happens 2 weekends a month twice a year. I think this was the IDEAL environment to do a test-its only an hour away, everyone is friendly (comes with tools), is vintage machinery minded, the facilities were clean and the whole place was very organized. We did not expect to get so much attention though! There were 2 other shastas there-another 58 and a 62-which was very beautifully refurbished-and a restored aloha. Of course we were welcomed into the fold by our fellow vintage trailorites- and even though we brought the cruddy shasta-people still wanted to take pictures and come inside. We got so many positive comments on the trailer and a few people who really know what they're talking about-thought it was in pretty fair shape-(so did we when we bought it---then you pick it apart and see the...truth). We had a really easy time socializing thanks to the trailer.
We did learn things we needed to fix, bring along for convenience and how much expertise the ice box takes to use. Even though the drain was clear, we still got some puddles on the bottom shelf. Ice blocks I guess need to be really big and also secured somehow-(we are totally freezing all liquids in plastic cartons from now on!). One major disaster that we discovered was that the mattress was absolutely AWFUL!!! It was so uncomfortable that I didn't sleep for more than 30 minutes all night the first night! Yesterday I went and bought a futon mattress and mattress topper and a plush comforter and made up the bed for our big trip---TOMORROW! Its sooooooo comfy now!
We also found out how lame a hand pump is for getting water into the tank-and how messy it is splashing everywhere! I was surprised by the one level of stovetop heat the stove lets out and how quickly that seemingly low flame heats things. We were shocked at the storage and comfort of the trailer-even when it was very hot outside- we were still cool and comfy inside.
We realized how our son percieves the trailer---as a bounce house and fun zone---ugh so we know to bring a baby gate for the door, a dedicated high chair for eating so we aren't chasing him between bites...and we found out the BEST toy for him to have in the trailer is a punch balloon! doesn't hurt anything-can be thrown, bounced and punched anywhere with no negative results.
We found out a fitting on the sink drain leaks and the fitting at the tank leaks (both just barely-but we'll fix it now) and also that we burned out a fuse and needed to rewire the coupler because the blinkers were switched and a tail light was out-good thing to know before a road trip through several states right? We also finally got the registration figured out- well-someone else did at one of those dmv assistance places...$180 bucks for a bill of sale only trailer that hasn't been registered since 2002...glad we didn't attempt it ourselves...these people use "special" methods I'm sure.
We are also scurrying to seal up any obvious window, door, skin and roof potential leaks with silicon for now-heard where we are going is having lots of "weather" and we'll be bringing a huge tarp to put over the trailer when we camp...
My stove/dinette division wall looked exactly like the original ones in the other shastas-that was so rewarding to see! plus we could easily access the dinette seat area-unlike before-the entry path was 4 inches narrower.
All in all, our first trip was a total success
any other road trip advice would be appreciated- I'll check beck tomorrow before we leave...then we"ll be away for a while.
