Roan Mountain with the SE Tab, Tags, & Friends

Roan Mountain

This was our first visit to Roan Mountain State Park in northeastern Tennessee, very close to North Carolina and Virginia.  It is a beautiful, mountainous area and we were there for five nights.  A big plus for us was that we got to see our camping friends.

Camping in the Mountains

It was only the second night in our new Lance camper and our first night in a high elevation campground.  Fortunately, our site was not too challenging.  I have to say, though, that I was grateful for our Ram 250 truck on those hills.  So, we are now in the category of “friends” for this group as we are selling our T@B 400.  Just happy to hang out with these wonderful people!

Roan Mountain Site 87
Site #87
More of Site # 87
Miller Farmstead

A highlight of our time in the area was a tour of the Miller Farmstead, which is a part of the campground.  Tours are free, but you need a reservation.  Barb, in our group, had a reservation for twelve and  we tagged along.  It was a lively group!

Our Group of Twelve

It was a lot of fun and very educational to see how three generations of a family lived from the late 1800s to the 1960s.  The Park Rangers provided a lot of personal information about the family, which I really enjoyed.

Miller Farmstead

The house gives an insight to life during the time the family was there.  Electricity and running water were only added later, when the place became a hunting lodge.  I had to be a hard life.

The Outdoor Tour

Marco, a Park Ranger,  provided an outdoor tour of the property.  He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about all the plants.  The outdoor part of the tour was also very interesting.

Roan Mountain Wildflowers
Wildflowers at Miller Farmstead

Roan Mountain Activities

Members of our group did some amazing hiking through some difficult terrain.  Several in the group also did a bike ride in Virginia, called the Virginia Creeper, a long bike trail.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t go because it was too long to leave our dog.  We did, however, do some limited hiking and I really enjoyed it!

Hiking at Roan Mountain
Hiking with Friends

Sitting around the campfire was another activity.  Every night, there was at least one campfire, including a big one for everyone in the group.  I believe I heard that there were about forty people at the event and around thirty campers.

Campfire at Roan Mountain
Sitting Around the Campfire

We have camped with some of these folks for five years and they are good friends.  New folks are always fun to meet too!

Lastly, we visited Jarret’s Orchard.  We purchased some apples, tomatoes, and corn.  They had some beautiful flowers outside their building.

A stop at the Orchard

Fabulous Food

For such a small area, the food was outstanding!  Our favorite was Smoky Mountain Bakers, which serves fresh pastries daily.  They also have delicious thin crust pizzas baked in a wood stove.  Lastly, they have a pretty good breakfast.  Many in our group visited this establishment more than once.

Smoky Mountain Bakers

Another great eatery was Puerto Nuevo Fresh Mex and Seafood.  A group of us had dinner there and it was excellent as well.  It will also be a must visit if in the area again.

Early Dinner at Puerto Neuvo

The Lance

The Lance was very spacious and comfortable.  We did lots of tours at the campground because our friends were curious about it.  Happily, the Ram 250 truck did a very good job pulling it, but we were very aware that it is a much bigger trailer.  Most importantly, we had room to relax with our dog.

However, we were disappointed to learn that one of the bars on the roof had come off of one side.  A friend in the group put it back in place for us.  I posted to a Lance Facebook group and learned that this is an apparent problem with the rack.  So, fingers crossed for the rest of our trip!

Bar off the Roof Rack

In conclusion, it was a wonderful five days at Roan Mountain!  Next, we are headed to Beckley, West Virginia as part of a 3 1/2 week trip.  Check out our travels to other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy Camping!

Retired couple

 

A Bigger Camper for Big Guy Tiny Trailer

A Bigger Camper

Yes, we purchased a bigger camper after almost six years of teardrop travel.  My blog is named Big Guy Tiny Trailer and we are clearly out of that category.  So, I guess now the name only fits ironically.   This post is about the why and what of this dramatic change for us.

Our nuCamp Teardrops

We have been proud owners of nuCamp RV products for the entire time of our camping history.    Six years ago, we started with a 2017 T@G XL MAX and used it extensively for almost three years.  It was a wonderful starter camper that we took all the way west to California and north to the Upper Peninsula.  The camper performed flawlessly, but ultimately, we wanted a space to be comfortable inside when the weather is too hot, cold or wet.

Good Times in Our T@G

Our bigger teardrop was a 2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite and it was exactly what we wanted.   Though still rather small, it brought a bathroom,  indoor  kitchen, and indoor dining area to our camping experience.  However, camping became more expensive because we couldn’t store the camper in our garage.  Also,  fuel economy decreased from around 17 mpg to 11.   The most expensive change was an upgrade to our tow vehicle from an Acura MDX to a Ford Expedition.  We like having surplus capacity when towing and the heavy tongue on our camper was an issue with the Acura.

T@B 400 Boondock and Ford Expedition

The 400 was an excellent camper and the extra amenities were greatly appreciated.   It provided wonderful times during the several trips we have taken in the last three years.  We especially loved the indoor bathroom and kitchen.  The Alde system was incredible with heat and hot water that was super quiet and comfortable.  Most importantly,  NüCamp quality continued in the 400.

A New Family Member

Late last year,  we decided to get Sophie, our goldendoodle puppy.  She is a sweetheart and a great little traveler.  For instance, we have taken her on four camping trips in the last year and she was a real trooper.  However, she weighs 35 pounds and will grow a bit more.  Consequently, the space that she and her crate takes in our camper made it very cramped inside.

Our new family member

Our New Bigger Camper

After having adequate room, we weren’t happy in such limited space and so decided an upgrade was needed.   We would have liked NüCamp as our brand for a bigger camper, but the Avia, nüCamp’s larger camper,  is no longer in production.   Quality was the most important factor in our search and we landed on the Lance for its perceived quality.  I really hope that perception proves to be true!

We ordered a Lance 2075 in March from Bankston Motor Homes of Huntsville and took delivery in August.  I highly recommend this dealership.  We bought our 400 from them as well and have been pleased with their service.

The 2075 is a cool-looking 25’ travel trailer with some of the European styling we loved in our previous trailers.  We specifically did not want a slide out because we didn’t want potential issues with it and are trying to keep it as simple as possible.

Our Lance 2075

We picked up this beauty in mid-August and have spent weeks getting it and our new tow vehicle ready for our next trip.  The storage we have inside and outside is intoxicating.

Our bigger camper
Lance 2075 travel trailer
Some Interior Photos

We think the Lance 2075 is an attractive camper.  The bedroom is perhaps it’s best feature.  It has room for Sophie’s crate and there will be no more climbing over each other to get up. The bed is a full-sized queen and can use a residential mattress.  It has windows all around and a skylight.  Lots of ambiance, but I hope it doesn’t get too hot.

Bedroom in our bigger camper
Lance Bedroom

With Sophie’s crate in the bedroom, we can actually use the dining area again.   We really missed having a place to eat, play games and relax.

Dining area

The kitchen area is not really any larger than our 400, but the refrigerator is a little bigger and easier to access.  The 2075 does have a small rear kitchen which might encourage more outdoor cooking.

Kitchen area

Lastly, the bathroom is bigger and has a shower that should be a bit easier to use.

Bathroom in our bigger camper
A roomy bathroom

Déjà  Vu on the Tow Vehicle

Our Expedition was within weight limits for the 2075, but we were not happy with how big trucks on the Interstate impacted us. With the 400, we had a lot of surplus capacity and we didn’t feel we had it with the Lance.  We very much wanted that same comfortable feeling.  So, a Ram 2500 diesel is our new tow vehicle.

A bigger vehicle for our bigger camper
Ram 2500 is our new tow vehicle

In Conclusion

Our two teardrop travel trailers were perfect for us as new campers who didn’t even know if we would like it.   They gave us optimal flexibility in campsites and made travel relatively inexpensive.  The quality of those campers was extraordinary.  I wouldn’t trade a thing for our time in them, but we are ready for a little more room and comfort. If you would like to read more about our travels, check out our page, which is now ironically named Retirement and teardrop camping!

We take the new camper and truck on the road soon for a 2,500 mile trip.  Hoping all goes well!

Happy camping!

Retired couple

Edisto Beach with SE T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends

Edisto Beach

Edisto Beach is a small island town on the South Carolina coast. There was a large gathering of members of Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends (SETTF) at Edisto Beach State Park and we were happy to be among them.   The group met there last year as well,  but we missed that one.  We were blessed with great weather and a wonderful group of people to enjoy the time there.

Camping with Sophie

Sophie is our five-month old goldendoodle and she is a big part of our camping these days.  This was her third camping trip and she is getting pretty comfortable with the whole thing.  She is a great little traveler in the car, which is very fortunate because Edisto is 443 miles from our home.

Sophie is ready to go camping

A Stopover in Georgia

Firstly, we stopped halfway on our journey at A.H. Stephen’s State Park in Georgia to break up the trip.  It is right off the Interstate and has nice shaded lots.  I took a long walk around the campground and, unfortunately, injured my knee.  It remained slightly swollen and sore for the rest of the trip.

Site 20 at A H Stephens State Park

Edisto Beach Campground

Above all,  the Edisto trip was about being with all our friends who were camping with us.   There were more than a dozen T@Bs and T@Gs at the campground.  It was great to see all the like-minded campers.    We had a big campsite across from the bathhouse and the only negative was a very weak cell signal.

Edisto Beach Campground
Site # 77 at Edisto Live Oak Campground

This trip, we spent more time at the campground than usual.  It is harder to get away for an extended time with the puppy and my knee was also limiting activity a bit.

Botany Bay

Botany Bay is just a few miles down the road from the campground.  It is a wildlife preserve located on the site of two old plantations.

Path to the Boneyard Beach

The beach at Botany Bay is a boneyard beach, much like the one on Hunting Island.  It is an area where the sea has reclaimed a portion of the forest.

With some of our friends

Sadly, we did not get to fully explore the preserve.  Dogs are not allowed, so our time was limited.  There is a driving tour and some historic buildings .  We plan to be there again next year, so I want to explore it more fully.

Botany Bay marshland

Edisto Beach

The campground has a lovely stretch of beach and we visited it a couple of times.  It was April and the water was cold.  However, it was nice to feel the sea air and walk along the beach.

Edisto Beach
Walking the beach

The beach is dog-friendly, so our pup was able to experience it too.

Man with dog at Edisto Beach
Sophie is allowed on the beach

Sophie seemed unsure about the incoming waves, but must have liked the overall time there because she didn’t want to get in the car when it was time to go.

Puppy enjoying Edisto Beach
Testing the water

Hanging with the Group

The wonderful group of SETTF campers was the best part of this trip.  We have camped with several of them many times and consider them good friends.   Also, we always meet new people who are fun to get to know.

Campfire gathering

Mexican Train was fun with Lois, Gary, Joyce, and David.  We played it at one of our earlier gatherings and it is becoming a bit of a tradition.

A Rousing Game of Mexican Train

Nightly gatherings around an expertly-built fire are also a tradition.  In this Covid-19 era, potlucks have gone away, but everyone brings their drink of choice.  So, it is a no-pressure, relaxing experience.  With the isolation that Covid has brought, it has been so great to have this relatively safe social interaction.

Jeff, our Fire Master

This was a great trip and we were happy to see all our fellow NüCamp owners.  There are other group gatherings coming up that we will have to miss, but we will camp with the group again in September.

Edisto has two campgrounds, and we were in the Live Oak Campground this trip.   We have also stayed in the beach campground on our T@B 400’s  maiden voyage,  South Carolina Camping, First T@B 400 Trip.

Happy camping!

Retired couple

Hunting Island with SE T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends

Hunting Island

Hunting Island State Park is a beautiful park with so much to offer.   Some  highlights are gorgeous beaches, a historic lighthouse, incredible marshlands, and a comfortable campground.  We were there for four nights with our Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends group.  There was a very large turnout and we really enjoy the people in this group.  Consequently, we had a great time!

Getting There Via Harvest Hosts

The campground was a seven hour drive for us, per Google Maps.  So, it was realistically at least nine hours with stops along the way.  Therefore, we planned a one-night stopover with our first Harvest Host, Lane Orchards near Macon, Georgia.   It was a good experience, overall because the store was unique and our lunch was good.  Lane Orchards is on a beautiful piece of property.  The only negative was a substantial amount of highway noise.

Lane Southern Orchards
Lane Southern Orchards

Hunting Island Campground

This was our first trip to Hunting Island.  We had a nice, large spot in the campground near several of our friends from the SE group.   Sites are equipped with electric and water.  The biggest negative was virtually no garbage cans anywhere in the park except for dumpsters at the exit.  This was also the case at the Florida campgrounds we visited last month.   It was very inconvenient, but a sign of the times.

Hunting Island Campsite
Site # 199

A little bird visited the campsites and seemed to have no fear of humans.  He would get very close.  He was a brave, little cutie!

A friendly little bird

This was the second camping trip for our puppy, Sophie.  She is adapting well to the campground environment.  Her trainer has us walking with her using cheese as an incentive.  It was working great, but not all the time.  She is very excitable.

Camping with Sophie

Raccoon Invasion

After time around a campfire with our friends, we were walking back to our site when I noticed movement near our car.  Suspecting raccoons,  I walked to the other side and shone my flashlight around.  To my shock, a raccoon was inside our car!   Inexplicably, I released a blood-curdling scream that was heard back where the group was assembled.  A couple of our friends came to check on us.  (It’s so good to know there are people who will look out you.)

We opened the car doors and the raccoon emerged.   He was able to get into the car because my husband had left the windows cracked because of a seafood smell that was in the car earlier.  The raccoon left footprints all over our interior and had unzipped a bag with some dog food.   He urinated on the seat and there was a wild animal smell.

It was very fortunate that we discovered the raccoon before we went to bed.  A park ranger told my husband that a raccoon got into a car through a sunroof the prior year and could not get out.  It completely tore up the seats of the vehicle and the headliner.

Hunting Island Attractions

There is so much to do on the island!  Trails abound for hiking and biking.  Several of our friends biked the island trails.  It has the only South Carolina lighthouse that visitors can climb.   I climbed it and was rewarded by spectacular views.  Though there are about 170 steps, many platforms with information about the lighthouse break up the effort.

The Lighthouse 

Hunting Island Lighthouse
Hunting Island Lighthouse
Hunting Island lighthouse
Friendly Volunteer snapped our photo
The Atlantic Ocean

It was just a short walk to the beach and it is a really great beach for two reasons.  Firstly, it was not at all crowded.  The area is a bit remote and I believe that part of the beach is just for the campground.   Secondly, a portion of the beach allows dogs.  So, it was a special treat for our pup.

Hunting Island Beach
The beach
Path to the Beach
Our puppy’s first beach experience
Marshland

The island has an abundance of marshland, which has its on special beauty.  The boardwalk was a really nice trail and we saw several birds.

The the boardwalk
Great Blue Herons on the Boardwalk
 Boneyard Beach

Because Hunting is a barrier island,  its landscape is subject to many changes.  Boneyard beach is an area of forest that has been reclaimed by the sea.   It is a very haunting reminder of what a force of nature the sea can be.

Boneyard Beach
Hunting Island Boneyard Beach
A walk among the “bones”

Creekfire RV Resort

South Carolina was a fairly long drive for us, so we tacked on a stop in nearby Savannah on our way home.  We camped at Creekfire RV Resort  for three nights.  It is a very nice campground!   One thing that was especially nice was the concrete pad—no rocks for our pup to put in her mouth and no digging.

Creekfire RV Resort
Creekfire Resort Site # 54

The resort has some awesome amenities.  For instance, it has a heated pool, hot tub,  store,  gym, and sauna.   There is also a lazy River.  However,  it was not currently operating.  We spent an afternoon at the pool and sauna and ended it with ice cream from the store.  So relaxing for a warm, sunny day in early March!

Creekfire RV Resort Pool
Enjoying the pool

Savannah was just a short drive away.  So, on one afternoon, we took our pup and had lunch with outdoor seating at Vic’s on the Waterfront.  It was another beautiful, sunny day.   Vic’s was amazing—delicious food and great service.  They were also very sweet to our pup.  On the way back to the campground, we purchased macaroons from a downtown store.  It was a very good day!

In Conclusion

This trip had so many wonderful things.   The campgrounds were stellar and  we had the opportunity to spend time with friends.  Our pup was still a handful, but is adapting well to camping.  We are so fortunate to have experienced this trip!   Lastly, if you would like to read another post about South Carolina camping, check out South Carolina Camping, First T@B 400 Trip.

Happy Camping!

Retired couple

Winter in Florida, Two Weeks Early in 2021

Winter in Florida

Winter in Florida, what could be better?  Early last year, I booked five weeks at three of our favorite Florida State Parks.  At the time, we did not have to consider a pandemic or a puppy in our plans.   However, because of the pandemic and the puppy, we completely cancelled two weeks at Topsail and the first week at Tomoka State Park.  Our puppy was very new to us and we did not think such a long trip was a good idea.

We had a one-night stopover at Eastbank COE, just over the Florida state line and four stops at Florida campgrounds.  The campgrounds were predictable because each stop was at a campground we have previously visited and loved.

Winter in Florida
Our travel route

Tomoka State Park

Our longest stop was eight nights at Tomoka State Park and a couple of friends were there with us for several days.  We loved seeing them, but it was bitter cold and windy for most of their stay.  The pandemic made it a problem for inside visiting, so we did not get to socialize in a normal manner.  However, it was wonderful to see them.

Winter in Florida
Site 67 at Tomoka State Park

The gorgeous natural canopy at Tomoka protected us from the high winds and our awning was a great space to escape the rain.

Winter in Florida
Hanging out under the awning

Because of the weather, puppy, and pandemic, we spent a lot of time walking through the campground.  Fortunately, it is a beautiful place with live oak trees and Spanish Moss.  The beauty of it made the challenges somewhat easier.

Tomoka campground road

Our puppy loved seeing all the people and their dogs.  It was a great opportunity for socialization for her.

Taking care of puppy

We did have a few days with warmer weather, but rain was a frequent visitor.  This was very different from our visit last year to Tomoka.

Fort Clinch State Park

Fort Clinch is an awesome park, but our site was not the best.  Just dirt with no gravel.  It had been raining and there were muddy areas.  The dirt proved to be a challenge, but we did have some good weather during our four-night stay.

Winter in Florida
Fort Clinch Site #49

There is a fabulous beach in the park.  It was so peaceful and satisfying to walk on it with the gentle sea breeze blowing.

The Beach at Fort Clinch

There were nesting birds on a section of the beach.  I have never seen so many congregated at a single spot.  Evidently, this is a normal occurrence because there was a sign asking that they not be disturbed.

Nesting Birds

The photo below is a path that leads to a lookout over marshland with a lighthouse in the distance.  It was a nice little walk through some lovely vegetation.

Path to View of the Lighthouse

Our only real sightseeing we did outside out of the campgrounds was a visit to Kingsley Plantation.   It is Florida’s oldest standing plantation.    An audio tour could be accessed via a smartphone for loads of details about life on the plantation and circumstances experienced by its inhabitants.  The plantation is part of the National Park Service.

Kingsley Plantation

Coastline RV

Sadly, I did not get very many photos at Coastline RV.  That is a shame because it is a wonderful campground.   Check out our previous post, Camping in Relative Luxury if you would like to see lots of photos showing how nice it is.

We met our friends there for a couple of days on our way home.  They were there for a month, but we were only there a couple of nights.  It was great seeing them and the weather was not bad during this stop.

Winter in Florida
Walking the puppy at Coastline

Winter in Florida Food

We had most meals in our camper, but did get to enjoy some local cuisine.  At Tomoka, we had takeout from Hulls Seafood and Alfie’s Restaurant.  Both were excellent.   We also had carry out pizza with our friends while they were at Tomoka.   The pizza was good and the company was great.

While at Fort Clinch, we had a wonderful outdoor lunch at The Sandollar. On the way to our campground, we picked up a delicious lunch at Fancy Sushi.

Lastly, when visiting our friends at Coastline, we had two nice meals at restaurants with outside seating .  That was really special, food I didn’t cook and conversation with good friends.   There has not been much of that in the last year.  That drink below was mine—a margarita with strawberries and jalapeño peppers.  It was awesome!

Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita

This was not one of our best trips because of the challenges of COVID-19, bad weather, and new puppy accommodations.  Even so, it was better than staying at home and we made some progress at camping with a pet.  Looking forward to getting out again soon!

Happy camping!

Retired couple

New Puppy and Her First Camping Trip

New Puppy

We took a camping trip with a brand new puppy after traveling for four years without any pet and after having no dog for decades.   We have a precious goldendoodle, Sophie, who was three months old when we begin our two-week trip.  This major change will certainly have a big impact on how we experience camping.

New puppy
Sophie, our sweet new puppy

Sophie is such a smart girl.  She is progressing well on potty training and has learned basic commands such as sit, down, stay, and leave it.  But, she can be quite a handful.  Biting and nipping, standard puppy behavior, is a challenge every day.  So, it will be interesting how she adapts to a camping environment.

Paraphernalia and Limited Space

Our T@B 400 is a wonderful camper, but space is definitely limited.  We chose a doodle predicted to top out between 35-45 pounds.  She will not require a lot of room in the camper, but when you add all her stuff, it will have an impact.

Undoubtedly, the biggest use of space is her crate.  We have an interim crate that is smaller than what she would need if fully grown, but it certainly takes up our dining space.

New puppy
Sophie and her crate

We also brought a variety of items including toys, bully sticks, a brush and comb, harnesses and leashes.  I packed those in a covered box.  Lastly, we needed food for the two weeks and her bowls.  Whew, camping has become much more complicated!

Riding in the Car

Sophie has previously taken a couple of short trips (45 minutes one way), so we believed she would be okay riding in the car.  However, we didn’t know how she would do on a much longer trip.  I am delighted to say that she was a real trooper.   Mostly, she slept in her crate.  We made frequent stops to stretch her legs and for potty breaks.  She was such a good girl in the car!

Puppy and First Night Camping

Out trip consisted of three different campgrounds with a one night stopover at a Corps of Engineers campground.  This would let us know how she would adapt to new surroundings and sleeping in the camper.

Puppy in camper
Sophie’s First Night in the Camper

She slept wonderfully well in our camper,  just like at home.  I think she was a bit tired from the long drive, but she was a good little camper.

Three Campgrounds

We stayed at three campgrounds, Tomoka State Park for eight nights, Fort Clinch State Park for four, and Coastline for two.   The awning and rug helped with the sandy site at Tomoka and the dirt site at Fort Clinch.

Hanging out on the rug at Tomoka State Park

I wish I could say that she stayed on the rug most of the time and played, but she did not.  She discovered digging!   So it was sand at Tomoka and dirt at Fort Clinch and it made quite the mess!

She was so sweet to have as a campsite buddy though.  The potty training continued to go well and she was mostly a nice companion.

Puppy camping
Happy puppy

However, she would not leave sticks and Spanish Moss alone.  We were constantly taking them away from her.

Campground Environments

It rained a lot at Fort Clinch and because the sites were dirt only, we had a horrible, muddy mess.

Dirty Campsite at Fort Clinch

We have dealt with wet campsites before, but kept our trekking in and out to a minimum.  But, that was not an option with a puppy who had to go out often.

Our last campsite was a dream for puppy camping though.  Coastline RV was all bricks, concrete, and gravel.

Walking with Sophie 

Sometimes, it was easy to walk Sophie.  She would stay close and not pull.  I began working with her to heel.  At times, she did an amazing job.  At other times, she became a crazy puppy.  She would bite on her leash, jump upon us, and nip at our hand and clothes.  It was like a switch was flipped.   That part was not fun!

Difficult Puppy
Difficult Puppy

One thing she really loved about walking was encountering other dogs and people.  She loved them and tried to go see everyone near her.  That tail would be wagging like crazy!  It was a joy to see all that puppy happy.

First Visit to a Restaurant

We had a very delicious lunch at Sandollar, a restaurant with outside seating on the water.  It is a very dog-friendly establishment.  Our server was very responsive to Sophie and gave her a big bowl of water.  You can’t really tell by the picture below, but Sophie was really good.  She just didn’t want to pose for a picture.

 

Puppy’s first restaurant visit
First Restaurant Visit

Puppy Camping Conclusion

So, our new puppy is a great little traveler.  The issues we had with her, such as the biting and not behaving on the leash are issues we had at home as well.  I hope she will outgrow those tendencies with proper training.  The downside is that our small camper is much tighter with the three of us.  We may have to get a bigger camper at some point in the future.

Lastly, if you would like to see more of our posts, check out our page, Retirement and teardrop camping!

Happy Camping from the three of us!

Puppy

 

New Campers, Unhitching and Setup of T@B 400

New Campers

I wrote this unhitching and setup post exclusively for new campers.  Experienced campers have already figured this stuff out and could possibly share better methods.   When we first began camping, we did not know anything at all about campers and how to use them.   I would have appreciated a post like this.  However, I could not find anything this basic and detailed.

We have now been camping for four years and this post reflects what we have learned and is how we setup our current camper, a nüCamp T@B 400.

Setup for New campers
New Camper Unhitching and Setup

The Order of Things

Some steps must be done in a specific order or must precede other steps.  Others can occur anywhere in the process.  In this post, I will always indicate when order is important and why.  Lastly, we have found that a standard practice makes our process more efficient and less prone to errors.  You develop a sort of muscle memory.

Level the Side-to-Side

This first step is essential if you have an unlevel site from side-to-side.  You should perform this check before other steps because the trailer must be hitched to raise one of  the wheels.  So, I use a small level that we keep in the camper to see if the the side to side is level.  If it is not level, we have two leveling pads that we drive the wheel over on the low side.  Often, we do not need these pads for leveling.  Sometimes, we need both pads and occasionally only one is needed.

New campers should check level status
Checking the side to side level status
Leveling pads
Leveling pads

It is important that the camper is level for the refrigerator and air conditioner to work properly and for accurate reading of tank levels.  Lastly, it is much more comfortable in a leveled camper.

Chock the Wheels

For safety, it is important to chock the wheels before any steps in the unhitching process begins.  An unchocked camper can roll and cause damages and possible injuries.  So, it is just a good practice to always do this before unhitching.

New campers must chock the wheels
Chocked wheel

Insert Wheel or Block

We currently use a block to unhitch and stabilize the front of our camper.  For maximum stability, we center it and lower the jack.  In our previous camper, we used a wheel.  However, we prefer the block.

Jack is supported by block
Remove 7-Pin Connector

You should remove the 7-pin connector before unhitching to prevent drain on the car battery and to get it out of the way of the hitch.

Remove the Chains and Breakaway Cable

You will want to get these out of the way before unhitching.  Regarding the chains, you should always cross them while towing.

Remove the Weight Distribution Bars

We have the Blue Ox Swaypro Weight Distribution Hitch and it requires the jack to lift the car to enable the bars to be removed.   Once the jack is raised, the bars can easily be removed.

Remove Hitch Lock

We always keep a lock attached to our trailer coupler.  It is vital while towing to ensure the trailer remains properly attached.   It is also beneficial as a  theft deterrent.  We previously used a long padlock, but wanted something that was easier to get off and on.  We settled on the Bulldog Adjustable Lock.

Lock recommendation for new campers
Bulldog Trailer Coupler Lock

So far, we really like the ease of putting it on and off.   It works much better than the padlock.   It fits snugly, which would make it difficult to cut off.

Bulldog Lock Installed on Coupler


Unhitching  From the Tow Vehicle

Next, lower the jack to release the strain off the ball.  Once lowered, pull up the lever on the tongue.  Now, lift it off the ball.  Ideally, the ball will drop from the jack.   Sometimes, it can be difficult to decouple.   In those circumstances, it may be necessary to pull forward or backward ever so slightly.  This is the most stressful step in the unhitching process for me.

Level Front to Back

Next, adjust the jack so that the camper is level from front to back.  I always set a level on the floor parallel to the door and it makes it easy to find that level sweet spot using the jack.

New campers should level front to back
Leveling from front to back
Lowering the Stabilizers

Lastly, lower the stabilizers.  This is the last step of unhitching and taking them up is the first step of hitching.  It is important because the stabilizers can be damaged if the camper is raised or lowered by the jack while they are down.

Camper stabilizers
Stabilizers are lowered

Setup

Now that the camper is unhitched, it is ready for setup.  Actually, you can attach the water and power before unhitching.  For example, if the weather is hot or cold, you might want to get the power on so the inside temperature can be impacted sooner.

Electrical Hookup

We recommend that you include a surge suppressor in your electrical hookup.  A suppressor can protect your camper’s electrical system if there is a problem with a campground’s power supply.  It can also identify electrical other issues.

Surge suppressor
Surge suppressor
 Connecting to City Water

We always attach a water pressure regulator  and a filter to our water connection.  The meter protects your water system if there is too much pressure in the campground.

I have a couple of tips regarding the water.  First, it is not necessarily to over tighten the connections.  Second, be sure the gasket is in the fitting of the hose.

Water pressure meter and filter
Connected to City water
Holding Tanks

We usually do not have sewer connections because most of our camping is in State Parks.  When we do have sewer at our site, we keep both the gray and black tanks closed until we are ready to empty.  I understand that it is critical to keep the black tank closed to prevent issues due to the lack of water.   Also, you wouldn’t want anything that might be in the sewer to have access to your camper.

Drain for Holding Tanks

New Campers, In Conclusion

It can be intimidating to set up a camper if you are inexperienced.  We learned how to do this over time, with some mistakes.  Now, we consistently strive follow the process above and have it down to a routine.  If this post is helpful to you,  check out our page,  Camping Resources for New Teardrop Campers.

Happy Camping!

Retired couple

Pandemic Camping with Friends

Pandemic Camping with Friends

Earlier, we did some camping after the pandemic began, but without friends.  It changes the dynamic a bit when you are with people you know.  For instance, it can be easy to get too close to friends.  What is safe and what is not must be considered in a group that typically has potlucks and games.  On this trip, we spent five days with another couple in one location and three days with a group of twenty or so at another location.  For the large group, we met in a very large circle.

Social Distancing

Fortunately,  we felt safe in both environments.  I must say, it was really, really good to spend time with other people.  My husband has been a remarkable companion through this crisis and I do my best, but an expanded set of people to spend time with was great for both of us.

Stopover in Augusta

The drive to  Myrtle Beach was longer than we like to make in one day.   So, we stopped at a municipal park campground, Diamond Lakes.   It was nice and relatively inexpensive  for full hookups.   Additionally, it was close to our route to the beach and our site was right on the lake. We will definitely stay there again if in the area.

Diamond Lakes Site #24
Diamond Lakes Site # 24

Pandemic Camping with a Friends at Myrtle Beach

We camped with our friends at Ocean Lakes Family Campground.  Originally, Panama City was the destination, but a hurricane nixed that plan.  Consequently, we booked the only two sites available out of 859 campsites.  I can safely say that we had the worst site in the entire campground.  The sewer hookup was at the absolute back of the unlevel site.  Additionally, there were so many large tree roots on our site, we couldn’t use our rug.  I called our little area the Root Room.

Ours was the only site that was terrible though, which might be why it was available.  Overall, Ocean Lakes was a nice campground.

Pandemic camping with friends at Myrtle Beach
Site # 4181, The Root Room

The campground is on the beach and we had one excellent day in the sun.  The water was warm, but a bit rough.  Glorious!

One lovely day at the beach

We also had an opportunity to enjoy the lazy river.  It was such a relaxing day with clear skies and perfect temperatures.

Fun times on the lazy river

Ocean Lakes has tons of golf carts for rental.  The place is so large that the carts are very popular with the visitors.  They were everywhere and often an annoyance as there was a lot of just cruising.  But, we went with the flow and rented one too.  It was fun.  The place has 300 rental unit houses. The resort owns the property and individuals own the houses.  It was fun driving through checking them out.  Some were rather shoddy, but many were very nice!

Golf Carts Everywhere

We had lots of rain for three of our days at Myrtle Beach, but we did share some meals and games outside.  On our last night, we actually ate together indoors.  It was great seeing our friends!

Another Stopover

Paris Mountain State Park was a break in our trip to the event in Georgia.  The campground is very nice with lots of beautiful trails and a very clean bathhouse.  We got the only site available.  It was an ADA, but we were able to stay with a phone call explaining our health issues.  Though the campground was great, there were very narrow, hilly, and winding roads.  I drove our camper to our site and it was stressful.

Pandemic Camping with Friends at Paris Mountain
Site # 29 (ADA)

We had two nights at Paris Mountain and one full day.  It enabled us to enjoy the park and the absolutely perfect weather.   I particularly enjoyed a hike around Lake Placid.   It was a great day and I highly recommend this park.

Hiking around the lake and reservoir

Vogel State Park with SE T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends

This was our second trip to Vogel with the SE group.  Several of the folks at the event we knew because we have camped with them before.   It was great seeing old friends and making new ones.  It is so much fun hanging out with this group.  Everyone was careful to maintain a distance and everything was outside.  Thanks to Jeff, our leader, we were fortunate to have a site at the center of most of the activities. 

Pandemic camping with friends at Vogel State Park
Site #31

We walked around the lake on another beautiful day.  The weather at Vogel was great except for rain on the last night.

Beautiful Lake at Vogel State Park

Recently, we have been discussing getting a dog.  My husband fell in love with Asher,  a Schnoodle belonging to Lisa in our group.  Doesn’t he look like a happy man?

Greg and Asher

Shelia, one of the group members, made really nice teardrop masks for those in attendance.  We love ours!

Pandemic camping with friends
Special Masks from Shelia
A Pandemic/Boondocking Option

Angie, another group member, brought a body wash spray that she requested someone formulate for her.  If boondocking or with limited access to water, this can be a good thing to have.  The bottle is $10.  If interested and on Facebook,  there is a FB page,  Shaysoaps.

Shay’s Special Blend

This was a very special trip because we were able to see friends at both places.  We have really missed other people!  I feel we were careful regarding pandemic risks and as long as we stayed safe, going camping was a worthwhile thing to do.  This trip had two stops in South Carolina and two in Georgia.  If you would like to read about our other trips, see States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Have fun and stay safe out there!

Retired couple

 

Midwest Camping in a Pandemic

Midwest Camping

We planned a camping trip to the Midwest this summer, but were concerned about the risks because of the pandemic.   Big Guy and I are both high-risk for multiple reasons.  Ultimately, we decided that travel would be safer during the summer than the fall.  Another consideration, we are older and have health issues and do not know how long we will be able to travel.  So,  Carpe Diem, we decided to seize the day!

Our Path

We hope to ultimately camp in all fifty states.  This summer we planned to pick up some middle America.  It was a pretty ambitious plan, considering the pandemic.  We did not really know what to expect or what kind of shutdowns might occur.

Midwest Camping
Five New States on our Map!

We camped in five new states:  Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.  Arkansas and Tennessee were stopovers to get to our new camping areas.  We visited fourteen campgrounds, which included several state parks, a Corps of Engineers (COE),   a county park, and private campgrounds.   Rates varied from $10 a night to $50.  The COE was the $10 and the $50 rate included full hookups,  a nice laundry, and a pool.

Midwest camping map
Our trip to the Midwest

Links to Posts for Each State

I do a memory post of our trips.  If you would like to read about any of our new states, below are links.

Illinois Camping During a Pandemic

Wisconsin Camping During Covid-19

Minnesota Camping in a Pandemic

Iowa Camping During a Pandemic

Missouri Camping in a Pandemic

Midwest Camping and Meals on the Road

Checking out local cuisine is one of our favorite things to do while camping. However, this trip was vastly different.  Our plan allowed for takeout or outdoor seating.   In some of the camping areas, restaurants offered little or no outside seating.  However, we were able to find some great outdoor options in Iowa and Missouri.  In fact, we had our best barbecue ever at Jack Stack Barbecue

Our amazing lunch at Jack Stack in Kansas City

Many, if not most,  fast food was drive through only.  That worked if unhitched, but was a problem when towing our tall camper.  We consumed  so many meals in our SUV!  I got very tired of that.

Normally, we would have a few breakfasts out.  This trip,  breakfast was always in the campground.  Lunch and dinner was often in the campground as well.

Midwest Camping and Safety From Covid

While we wanted this trip, it would not be worth it if we contracted Covid.  We tried to be careful by staying outdoors and distanced from others most of the time.  Our masks were always on when we had to go inside where there were other people.

We visited a few museums, including the Lincoln Presidential Library.  Most places required a reservation to limit the number of people.  Almost all required masks.   The only time I felt at risk at an attraction was the Mark Twain Home.  It was not requiring masks.   When a group came into the small area where tickets were sold, we waited outside until they had moved on.

Lincoln Library Wax Figures

The occasional stop for groceries was also somewhat risky.  Almost everyone wore masks in some places and at others almost no one did.   When the stores were crowded, it seemed the most risky.  We did not shop on weekends or at night to try and minimize the number of people shopping.

Health Issues

I have a lung condition that has become considerably worse in the last year.  My doctor has me using a nebulizer twice daily, which takes a good bit of time and effort for the process.  Sadly, it added a level of complexity to our trip.

Midwest Camping and using a nebulizer
Nebulizing, My Twice Daily Activity

Activities on the Road

We spent much more time at the campgrounds this trip.  A couple of the campgrounds had nice pools, which we enjoyed.

Nice Pool at Double J Campground

I am happy to say that we also went on several hikes/walks.  It was nice to be outside among nature.  Ultimately, we spent lots of time at the campgrounds.

Hanging in the Campground

We were seeking safe things to do outside.  So, we visited two botanical gardens, a sculpture park, and several beautiful parks.

Park in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Beautiful Park in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Japanese Stroll Garden
Pappajohn Sculpture Garden
Pappajohn Sculpture Garden

Now that we have made it back home and enough time has passed that we can feel confident we did not contract the virus, I am so glad we took this trip!  But, we have cancelled our planned fall trip because many of the states we were going to visit have travel restrictions.

Hopefully we will be camping again before too long.  Stay safe out there!

Midwest Camping and retired couple

 

Missouri Camping in a Pandemic

Missouri Camping

Our Missouri camping experience was such a pleasant surprise.  We camped in three cities, each different, but delightful.  All three campgrounds were private and had full hookups.   One also had a nice, big pool.

We stayed two nights in each city, which meant a full day in each area to explore the sights.  The cities offered lots of fun, yet safe, things to do.  Also, the people we met were friendly and accommodating.

Missouri Camping in Kansas City

World of Fun Village

World of Fun includes the largest amusement park in  Missouri, a water park, and a campground to accommodate visitors.  Due to Covid, the park is only open Thursday through Sunday and we were there Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  So, we missed checking out the park, but we did spend an afternoon in the really nice pool.  We also utilized the laundry.

Missouri Camping at World of Fun Village
Site # 33
National World War I Museum & Memorial

Kansas City is home to the impressive World War I Museum and Memorial.  We have absorbed so much information through the years about WWII, but there was a lot about the First World War that I did not understand.  There was a very good film, which laid out the world political and cultural climate that existed when the war began.  Timelines and graphs throughout the museum also helped me to better understand the war.

Liberty Monument at WW I Museum
Liberty Monument

The museum also included lots of artifacts from the war, including guns, uniforms, and personal effects.

Museum Artifact
Best Barbecue Ever

We had our best barbecue ever at Jack Stack Barbecue .  It was raining during lunch, but the restaurant had a nice covered area.   The meal was astounding and the service was excellent!   There was so much food, we had leftovers for the next day.  You can’t see in the photo below, but we also shared a decadent piece of carrot cake.

Jack Stack Barbeque Freight House
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbeque
Our amazing lunch
Union Station

Union Station is near Jack Stack Restaurant, so we stopped to see it.  It is a beautiful old (established 1914)  building with a few restaurants and shops.  It is also still an active train station.

Kansas City Union Station
Kansas City Union Station

While there, we bought a few truffles at a candy store.  They were a little expensive, but so good!

Union Station interior
Beautiful interior

Missouri Camping in Hannibal

Mark Twain Cave Campground

Mark Twain Cave Campground was nice.  We had a shady site and the temperatures were quite pleasant while we were there.  There were a couple of sisters in the next site and we enjoyed interacting with them.  They lived close to the campground and were helpful in identifying the local sights.

Missouri Camping at Mark Twain Cave Campground
Site # C22
All things Mark Twain

Everywhere we looked, there is a reference to Mark Twain, Hannibal’s most famous son.   We stopped at all the obligatory places:  the statue, the lighthouse, and his childhood home.

Missouri Camping and visiting Hannibal
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Statue

I climbed the 240 steps to the top of the lighthouse and was rewarded with a great view of the town on one side and the mighty Mississippi on the other.   So, it was worth the climb!

Mark Twain Lighthouse
Mark Twain Lighthouse

There are several buildings preserved in the town related to Twain, including his childhood home, Tom Blankenship’s home (aka Huck Finn), and Becky (Twain’s girlfriend’s) home.  Inside,  the two boys homes are furnished as they were during the time the boys lived in them.

Mark Twain Childhood Home

Hannibal was a fun town and it was nice connecting with Mark Twain, an iconic and amazing writer.

Missouri Camping in Springfield

Cooks RV Motor Park

Cooks RV Motor Park was one of our favorite campgrounds.  It was well- maintained and the owner was so friendly.   We will stop at this campground again if we have the opportunity.  (It is on an anticipated future path to the northwest.)

Missouri Camping at Cooks RV Motor Park
Site #21
Another Great Missouri Meal

We actually had two excellent meals in Springfield, Cafe Cusco, pictured below and Bambino’s Cafe.  Both offered shaded outdoor seating, a necessity for us.  I had blackened cobia fish at Cafe Cusco and it was some of the best fish I have ever tasted.

Bambino’s pasta and bread were incredible and inexpensive for the portions served.  I would love to go back sometime.

Cafe Cusco
Cafe Cusco Outdoor Seating

Cafe Cusco is a Peruvian restaurant and drinks were a little different.  My husband had sangria and I had a margarita.  Both had a generous sprinkle of cinnamon.  Different, but we liked them.

Delicious Drinks with Cinnamon
Nathan Greene/Close Memorial Park

This park was so beautiful and peaceful.  There were many shaded benches and we had a nice, slow-paced morning.  A little exercise and fresh air was just what we needed.

Missouri Camping and visiting a lovely park
Beautiful and peaceful park
Gorgeous flowers
Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden

The Mizumoto Garden was inside the park.   It was nice too with lovely plants along a generous path.  Benches were plentiful at the garden as well.

Beauty and Serenity

The geese were also fun to watch.

Home to a Gaggle of Geese
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

I did not expect much from this Battlefield but was pleasantly surprised to learn the story behind the people who lived in this house.  A Park Ranger was at the house and she told an interesting story about the people who lived there.  So, her details made the history come alive for me.

John Ray Family Home at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
John Ray Family Home
Interior of Ray Home

Many soldiers from both sides lost their lives on this battlefield.  Therefore, it is a beautiful, yet haunting place today.

Guibor’s Battery

In Conclusion

To sum up, Missouri was a fabulous state in our trip.  We saw so many cool things!  We were careful because of Covid-19, but it felt more like our previous trips because we were able to see and do so much.    If you would like to read more about our experiences, check out Retirement and teardrop camping!

Missouri Camping and retired couple