I love camping. My parents started me out backpacking at an early age, and I transitioned to jeep camping around age 19. So the camping part of things is not new to me.
Camping with a Truck Camper (or any type of RV) is a whole new experience for me, similar in some ways and very different in others.
After much Craigslisting and many hundreds of miles spent looking at "good condition, everything works" truck campers, I finally found one which actually WAS in good condition, and most everything did indeed seem to work. I bought it, loaded it onto the truck, and drove home.
Cleaned in and out, flushed the water system several times, tested all systems. Minor issues with a bee's nest blocking the furnace vent and grime build-up on the hot water heater pilot light, lots of ferrous sediment build-up in the water heater, which I removed (s-l-o-w-l-y) using a telescoping pick-up magnet.
Packed up, cleaned the house, weighed in at a CAT scale, went back home to ditch several items, and headed for I-70 west while listening to dire warnings about the heatwave I was about to drive into,
Pulled into a campground near Green River, Utah, around midnight. Morning brought views, heat, bugs, great neighbors and wonderfully cool water.
Heat was intense, but the river was cool, so I stayed a day. That next night the temp did not go down past the mid-90's. My truck's coolant level stayed at the HOT mark.
I stopped to see the Crystal Geyser, but it was not running. Budders went for a swim anyway.
I70 ended, and I hopped north on I-15 to the turnoff for Hwy 50 (which I missed on the first try because I was on the phone telling my girlfriend that I was about to head into the desert). Only a few extra miles to the next exit to turn around, and I was on the Loneliest Road in America.
I like taking 50 because there are numerous National Forest access points, and it is easy to pull off and find a good spot to boondock. Turns out it's not quite as easy in a TC as it used to be in my jeep, but still pretty darn easy.
I was given directions to a hot spring outside of Austin, NV, which was down 10 miles of harsh washboard and an interesting section of deep silt. 4wd a must. Again, not as easy as it would have been in the jeep, and much slower. Nice and warm though, and not a soul in sight.
Also no cover, so I aimed for Tahoe after a quick soak. Everywhere I had been to this point was reporting consecutive days of record-breaking heat, and with the chevy's odo rolling past 341k I was taking it easy on the A/C. That is to say that I was leaving it off.
El Dorado National Forest Access gave me a secluded spot, and cool overnight temps (finally!)
The 4th of July is not the best day to show up in Tahoe proper with no reservations or plans. Everything was quite full, so I headed for Icehouse. Pretty full up there too, but some seclusion to be found. Budders enjoyed the cooler temps.
I ripped down the hill, gathered my girlfriend from her apartment in Davis, and continued west as far as I could, to the Lost Coast. Which was overrun by the loudest, dirtiest, and most obnoxious campers and people that I had observed so far. The place was trashed, pit toilet tipped over, fire-work remains and trash everywhere, and trucks doing donuts across the wetlands/Snowy Plover habitat area. It is fairly easy to Tread Lightly and avoid doing damage to the landscape with a properly built and operated 4x4, but none of these folks were attempting any kind of responsible recreation. Rangers came later in the day, but seemed more interested in collecting $25 camping fees than in enforcing any of the other posted rules.
It is still an incredible area, but I fear it may not stay open to the public for many more years. In the photo I am parked in the Day Use area, but you can see fresh tire tracks criss-crossing the "closed to vehicles" marsh area and wetlands. At least no one was shooting at the Roosevelt Elk who were hanging out there.
The road to access this area is narrow and rough, with few turn-out areas. On the way in I was forced into a ditch against a fern-covered hill by a pickup truck who refused to give me right-of-way, but there was no damage and I was able to power out of it.
Its a beautifully forested area, redwood trees and ferns, and all.
On the way back out I was forced off the road and into a ditch again, this time by two pickups going too fast... but they did have right-of way. My rear passenger-side jack caught some roots and tore partially out and to the back.
There is damage to the wooden framing, but the jack seems undamaged, and the aluminum skin is only a little bent, not torn at all. No interior damage, and it under the dinette side, away from any electrical, LPG, or water lines, so I am considering myself lucky in that respect. I removed the jack to avoid any further damage from it moving around on the road, and headed down coastal Hwy 1, which was foggy and chilly... a very nice change from the 100+ temps of the last week. I wore pants for the first time since Colorado.
I have just made contact with an old friend from High School, and it looks like I will head for his parent's place in Petaluma to attempt repairs, hoping that his father still has the array of tools and random materials that I remember from a decade ago.
And that is where I am at, and what I would love some help with. I will be stopping a the Camping World in Vacaville to gather some supplies for this repair. Exterior caulking for around the jack brackets.. Proflex, is that correct? Grey gummy gooey tape stuff for under the aluminum at the corners... Is there a brand or specific product to use or not to use? I have a roll of butyl rubber repair tape, but It seems to be for exterior window/roof/leak fixes, not for under the skin...? The silver lining is that there does not appear to be any water damage.
I am using this as my repair guide: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/18228847.cfm
Any other advice, suggestions, or help would be... uh... helpful. Thanks.
Camping with a Truck Camper (or any type of RV) is a whole new experience for me, similar in some ways and very different in others.
After much Craigslisting and many hundreds of miles spent looking at "good condition, everything works" truck campers, I finally found one which actually WAS in good condition, and most everything did indeed seem to work. I bought it, loaded it onto the truck, and drove home.
Cleaned in and out, flushed the water system several times, tested all systems. Minor issues with a bee's nest blocking the furnace vent and grime build-up on the hot water heater pilot light, lots of ferrous sediment build-up in the water heater, which I removed (s-l-o-w-l-y) using a telescoping pick-up magnet.
Packed up, cleaned the house, weighed in at a CAT scale, went back home to ditch several items, and headed for I-70 west while listening to dire warnings about the heatwave I was about to drive into,
Pulled into a campground near Green River, Utah, around midnight. Morning brought views, heat, bugs, great neighbors and wonderfully cool water.
Heat was intense, but the river was cool, so I stayed a day. That next night the temp did not go down past the mid-90's. My truck's coolant level stayed at the HOT mark.
I stopped to see the Crystal Geyser, but it was not running. Budders went for a swim anyway.
I70 ended, and I hopped north on I-15 to the turnoff for Hwy 50 (which I missed on the first try because I was on the phone telling my girlfriend that I was about to head into the desert). Only a few extra miles to the next exit to turn around, and I was on the Loneliest Road in America.
I like taking 50 because there are numerous National Forest access points, and it is easy to pull off and find a good spot to boondock. Turns out it's not quite as easy in a TC as it used to be in my jeep, but still pretty darn easy.
I was given directions to a hot spring outside of Austin, NV, which was down 10 miles of harsh washboard and an interesting section of deep silt. 4wd a must. Again, not as easy as it would have been in the jeep, and much slower. Nice and warm though, and not a soul in sight.
Also no cover, so I aimed for Tahoe after a quick soak. Everywhere I had been to this point was reporting consecutive days of record-breaking heat, and with the chevy's odo rolling past 341k I was taking it easy on the A/C. That is to say that I was leaving it off.
El Dorado National Forest Access gave me a secluded spot, and cool overnight temps (finally!)
The 4th of July is not the best day to show up in Tahoe proper with no reservations or plans. Everything was quite full, so I headed for Icehouse. Pretty full up there too, but some seclusion to be found. Budders enjoyed the cooler temps.
I ripped down the hill, gathered my girlfriend from her apartment in Davis, and continued west as far as I could, to the Lost Coast. Which was overrun by the loudest, dirtiest, and most obnoxious campers and people that I had observed so far. The place was trashed, pit toilet tipped over, fire-work remains and trash everywhere, and trucks doing donuts across the wetlands/Snowy Plover habitat area. It is fairly easy to Tread Lightly and avoid doing damage to the landscape with a properly built and operated 4x4, but none of these folks were attempting any kind of responsible recreation. Rangers came later in the day, but seemed more interested in collecting $25 camping fees than in enforcing any of the other posted rules.
It is still an incredible area, but I fear it may not stay open to the public for many more years. In the photo I am parked in the Day Use area, but you can see fresh tire tracks criss-crossing the "closed to vehicles" marsh area and wetlands. At least no one was shooting at the Roosevelt Elk who were hanging out there.
The road to access this area is narrow and rough, with few turn-out areas. On the way in I was forced into a ditch against a fern-covered hill by a pickup truck who refused to give me right-of-way, but there was no damage and I was able to power out of it.
Its a beautifully forested area, redwood trees and ferns, and all.
On the way back out I was forced off the road and into a ditch again, this time by two pickups going too fast... but they did have right-of way. My rear passenger-side jack caught some roots and tore partially out and to the back.
There is damage to the wooden framing, but the jack seems undamaged, and the aluminum skin is only a little bent, not torn at all. No interior damage, and it under the dinette side, away from any electrical, LPG, or water lines, so I am considering myself lucky in that respect. I removed the jack to avoid any further damage from it moving around on the road, and headed down coastal Hwy 1, which was foggy and chilly... a very nice change from the 100+ temps of the last week. I wore pants for the first time since Colorado.
I have just made contact with an old friend from High School, and it looks like I will head for his parent's place in Petaluma to attempt repairs, hoping that his father still has the array of tools and random materials that I remember from a decade ago.
And that is where I am at, and what I would love some help with. I will be stopping a the Camping World in Vacaville to gather some supplies for this repair. Exterior caulking for around the jack brackets.. Proflex, is that correct? Grey gummy gooey tape stuff for under the aluminum at the corners... Is there a brand or specific product to use or not to use? I have a roll of butyl rubber repair tape, but It seems to be for exterior window/roof/leak fixes, not for under the skin...? The silver lining is that there does not appear to be any water damage.
I am using this as my repair guide: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/18228847.cfm
Any other advice, suggestions, or help would be... uh... helpful. Thanks.
Took the 101 north from Petaluma, turned onto Old River Road near Hopland to avoid construction traffic. Twisty and full of potholes, great light over the vineyards.
Headed towards the South Cow Mtn Recreation Area, I stopped to let Budders jump in the river. Thought about boondocking right there, but it wouldn't have given me the sunrise I wanted. Local family who were swimming and fishing there advised me to avoid the washboard and the noise and to head up North Cow Mtn instead.
There is a free campground at the end of N. Cow Mtn, Rd. but nothing looked level enough to even try, and there was still 4th of july trash all over the place. I took some of it out with me, drove back a few miles, and camped at an overlook instead, where I promptly ran out of propane.
My brakes were smoking coming down off North Cow, and I finished the last few miles in 4WD-Lo locked into first gear. It's pretty steep, but that just means great views from every turn.
After fueling the truck and filling the propane tank, in Ukiah, we headed into the Mendocino Nat'l Forest, where Budders jumped into the Eel river near Lake Pilsbury.
Plenty of boondocking spots right there, but I thought that I had my directions in order. Traversed the Lake Pilsbury basin, and liked the deer but not the campgrounds.
Following some google'd instructions, I went searching for Bear Creek Campground, which unfortunately remains lost. GPS kept trying to take me down closed roads and single-track OHV trails. Found a ridge-line site, nice and level, as the sun went down.
Headed towards the South Cow Mtn Recreation Area, I stopped to let Budders jump in the river. Thought about boondocking right there, but it wouldn't have given me the sunrise I wanted. Local family who were swimming and fishing there advised me to avoid the washboard and the noise and to head up North Cow Mtn instead.
There is a free campground at the end of N. Cow Mtn, Rd. but nothing looked level enough to even try, and there was still 4th of july trash all over the place. I took some of it out with me, drove back a few miles, and camped at an overlook instead, where I promptly ran out of propane.
My brakes were smoking coming down off North Cow, and I finished the last few miles in 4WD-Lo locked into first gear. It's pretty steep, but that just means great views from every turn.
After fueling the truck and filling the propane tank, in Ukiah, we headed into the Mendocino Nat'l Forest, where Budders jumped into the Eel river near Lake Pilsbury.
Plenty of boondocking spots right there, but I thought that I had my directions in order. Traversed the Lake Pilsbury basin, and liked the deer but not the campgrounds.
Following some google'd instructions, I went searching for Bear Creek Campground, which unfortunately remains lost. GPS kept trying to take me down closed roads and single-track OHV trails. Found a ridge-line site, nice and level, as the sun went down.
So, with help from this forum and the friendly family that provided me delicious food and a flat space to work, everything came together just fine. After pulling off the siding, I was happy to find that the damage was not all that bad.
Then it was just a matter of finding the right tools and materials, only slightly difficult because I didn't know the specific organizational methods. If you were a 4" lag bolt, where would you be...
Right, fresh wood, secondary bracing, steel corner tie, industrial adhesives, putty tape, ProFlex, and 16 long lags later, the only visible indications are a few dimples in the aluminum.
And now the trip can continue.
Then it was just a matter of finding the right tools and materials, only slightly difficult because I didn't know the specific organizational methods. If you were a 4" lag bolt, where would you be...
Right, fresh wood, secondary bracing, steel corner tie, industrial adhesives, putty tape, ProFlex, and 16 long lags later, the only visible indications are a few dimples in the aluminum.
And now the trip can continue.
Nice trip report, though it's too bad about the damage you sustained. Thanks for sharing, and happy camping in the future.
