Camper for Illustration Only…This is an awning idea!

Our new-to-us camper is an absolute delight! I’ve spent several nights “yard camping” and getting a good feel of how to make everything work when we head out to Colorado in a few weeks. I’ve learned SO much about campers since that day, as a new widow, I went to an RV dealer in Denver and bought my first little trailer. I knew NOTHING about campers then. I didn’t know you have to check the air in your tires literally every time you pull out towing your little house on wheels. I didn’t know to keep tabs on the axle temperature and grease the bearings from time to time.

I really had only a rudimentary understanding of what Gross Vehicle Weight Rating meant, or how to empty a black tank, or how packing your camper can affect the sway. Heck I didn’t know what camper sway meant or how to stop it when it happens. I didn’t have an understanding of the wind dynamics and how a passing tractor trailer can suck you into it.

The Girl Camper Podcasts taught me so much about all aspects of trailer camping. I can back up on a dime and have a nickel left over. I can hookup and unhook a 30’ camper and tow it with confidence cross country in the biggest cities during 5:00 traffic. I know how far I can go, how much gas I’ll need to get there, and how to find a place to sleep for the night. I’m pretty adept at this point. One thing I learned early on was when to purchase new tires for your camper. There is a four digit number at the end of the info line printed on the side of your tires. The first two digits of that number indicate what week your tires were made and the last two digits indicate the year. In my case, the tires that are on the little 2015 a-frame we bought is 1714, meaning…they were manufactured the 17th week of 2014. Trailer tires should be replaced at the very least every five years, even when they visually look just fine. Dry rot can render a tire unstable and…trust me…you do NOT want to be traveling down the highway and have a blowout. Especially in a single axle camper. 

I’m pretty particular about my tires, having experienced a blowout in the mountains of WV on a snowy spring day in 2016. I don’t go for the cheapest thing I can buy. That is probably more important on my big camper than this little one, but still…I want quality between me and the road. I spent a good deal of time researching tires yesterday. I asked questions in some of the camping groups I belong to. And Mr. FixIt has lots of experience with campers and tires. I haven’t made my mind up yet what I want to get, but I’m getting there.

The next issue is going to be storage. There isn’t a whole lot of room in this little a-frame. Due to the way it folds up, there are no upper cabinets. There is one cabinet under the sink, but if you know anything about campers, there are a lot of pipes and drains and the water pump under there. There is a drawer under the microwave, but I use it for things I need to get to right away like a flashlight, the manuals for all the inner workings of the camper, a couple of screwdrivers, and a container of wipes. The previous owner gave me a wire shelf that fits right on top of the counter above the microwave that can be removed when you set up and take down the camper. She used small baskets on the shelves to store some food and other cooking items. Janine Petit uses clear plastic bins to keep organized. I like that idea because you can see what’s inside without taking it down and going through it. They come in a variety of sizes so I’m going to measure the shelf and see what will work best for us. There is storage under the bed and under one of the benches of the dinette. I can use that for extra blankets, and the plastic bins while we drive.

I’m also looking for ideas for an awning for over the door of the a-frame. I think I may have found the ideal solution because it doesn’t involve adding Velcro tape to the camper itself. And, it’s cute as a bug. It’s really nice to have something over your head as you enter and leave the camper. I usually stand at the camper door and watch the birds in the mornings when I have my coffee and brush my teeth. This little half umbrella would work great!

Planning for an upcoming trip is one of the best parts. I remember as a young girl, when I got my first bike, I used to pretend I was riding my bike to Canada and I would lay in bed at night and plan my menus and how I would pack my food and clothes. Camping with “Birdie” is going to draw on those long ago daydreams in such a fun way! I have an app on my phone called RVParky. You can plan trips, find campgrounds and attractions, investigate campgrounds and make reservations. It gives you an estimate of your gas costs based on your vehicle, specific camper, and weight. It will even route you away from low clearance bridges and underpasses…not something important with this little camper as it is collapsed down for travel. I love being able to look in the rear view mirror and actually see the traffic behind us.

I was thrilled when we looked at this week’s calendar and saw only one appointment listed. I told Mr. FixIt we should go camping. He reminded me that may not be quite so much fun with the temps predicted in the 90’s all week. Unless we went up in the mountains to get away from the heat, we might as well stay here. Then again….hmmmmmm.

*wheels turning*

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“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 ESV