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10-25-2012, 10:41 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Cold weather camping
Did some more prospecting before winter time comes along. It got pretty cold at night, around 20 degrees! I'm glad that I broke in the furnace over the past couple weeks, because it got a workout for sure! I did feel bad for the guy and his two sons that were camping in a tent, but the only person that I have to worry about is the wife!
We kept the thermostat at 60 overnight, and the furnace would kick on maybe twice an hour for about five minutes. The only thing that woke me up was my wife saying that the roof was leaking. It turned out that it was condensation. The two of us and three dogs makes for alot of water droplets in the camper!
I finally ordered a 80 watt folding solar panel. It worked great. I bought it off of ebay from sandiegoimportsllc. The last thing that I wanted was to have the furnace go out on our last night because of a low battery. But the high altitude sunshine worked great with the panel. I don't know how many times I've checked the battery with my multimeter, smiling everytime I seen a higher voltage. I did upgrade the wiring to a 12 gauge wire, 15 ft long, and added quick disconnects from the panel.
I'm still on the first tank of propane from when we bought the camper. I thought for sure that I would have been on the second tank this trip.
All in all, we are glad that we bought our camper. I'm really glad that we got the toyhauler version for all of our extra prospecting equipment and other gear. Our next trip will probably be in Arizona in feburary.
Happy trails.
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10-25-2012, 10:53 PM
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#2
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Villa Estate 392FLFB
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,085
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ya condensation is a problem in an air tight trailer.
__________________
 One state/province at a time!
Full Timing - Salem Villa Estate - 392FLFB - Purchased July 29th 2010
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10-25-2012, 11:56 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,447
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In one of the pictures that's a serious looking campsite fire. 
I suck at building a fire so my campfires looks more like a Bic lighter.
__________________
Great choice for "Living within my means" and camping for one...
Formerly owned 2011 Salem Cruise Lite 20RBXL & 2011 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab
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10-26-2012, 09:01 AM
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#4
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Flagstaff 22FBS
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rural Illinois
Posts: 344
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Did you find your retirement fortune while prospecting? 
Very cool campsite, well actually it looks pretty cold! I'm looking at the snow (or heavy frost) on your gear 
Good to hear your furnace worked well. Have fun in AZ and let us know how that trip goes. Oh yes, we'd love to see some pics of that trip too!
Deb
__________________
Deb & Gary
2021 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost, 2021 Flagstaff 22FBS
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike._ John Muir
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10-26-2012, 01:11 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 141
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Did you sleep in sleeping bags?
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10-26-2012, 01:35 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The Woods
Posts: 209
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Gold gold gold gold gold gold....fevavavava!! Sounds like fun!
LM
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2012 Flagstaff T-12DD
2004 Chevy Suburban
2000 GMC Sierra Z-71
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10-26-2012, 05:33 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 553
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How long to charge batteries with that? How much $?
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10-26-2012, 08:43 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 141
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Camping out to nite. Low of 34!
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10-26-2012, 11:04 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terier
In one of the pictures that's a serious looking campsite fire.
I suck at building a fire so my campfires looks more like a Bic lighter. |
Yeah, it was a roasty fire for sure! When I was taking the dogs for a walk, it started to sprinkle. Looking at the mountains, you could just see the clouds coming down towards us, so we went back to the campground and started the fire. I had alot of wood left to burn before we left the next day, so we made it a good one!
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10-26-2012, 11:12 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gregory
Did you find your retirement fortune while prospecting?
Very cool campsite, well actually it looks pretty cold! I'm looking at the snow (or heavy frost) on your gear
Good to hear your furnace worked well. Have fun in AZ and let us know how that trip goes. Oh yes, we'd love to see some pics of that trip too!
Deb |
I found enough to maybe pay for the gas that we used. To me, its a chance to go camping and make some money. If I don't find anything, its still better than being at work!
I love it in Buena Vista. During the day it was in the 50s. The last night was cold enough to partially freeze our one gallon containers of water! After running the furnace the first night, the battery voltage was at 12.27 I think. That was after playing the radio while playing cards, running the LED lights and the furnace. I didn't know what to expect since it was the first time running the furnace off the battery, and not off of power cord plugged into the house.
I tell you what, when we go to arizona, we won't be going in August! That was miserable dealing with the hot weather at night, rattlesnakes, and spiders. This was before we had the camper, we just slept in the truck and ran the AC all night!
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10-26-2012, 11:18 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinsu
Did you sleep in sleeping bags?
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The wife sleeps on the bigger bed with the two chiuahuahs, and I sleep on the bed where the table is with my chocolate lab. We have some cheap $20 sleeping bags, down comforters to lay on, and my wife made sewed up some warm blankets. I woke up a couple of times feeling too warm, but that was probably my Lab, she likes to cuddle up against my back.
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10-26-2012, 11:25 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wincrasher
How long to charge batteries with that? How much $?
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I'm not sure how long it took from 12.27 volts,I was too busy playing in the water, but by the time I went up for lunch, the LED indicator was showing that it was trickle charging. I guess it helps to have a trailer that is insulated well, with a great performing furnace and LED lights to put a low load on the battery.
It was 250, free shipping.
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10-26-2012, 11:27 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinsu
Camping out to nite. Low of 34!
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Enjoy!
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10-26-2012, 11:34 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Some more pics
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10-27-2012, 05:34 AM
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#15
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Flagstaff 22FBS
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rural Illinois
Posts: 344
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BelgianSquiggy
The wife sleeps on the bigger bed with the two chiuahuahs, and I sleep on the bed where the table is with my chocolate lab.
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Sounds like a one dog (or two tiny dogs) night. hehe
Your deer photo reminded me of the 4 turkey I saw 20' from our home yesterday. Don't they know Thanksgiving is less than a month away?
Deb
__________________
Deb & Gary
2021 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost, 2021 Flagstaff 22FBS
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike._ John Muir
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10-27-2012, 07:11 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 274
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.
as a teen, a half century ago, I and 5 others camped around central/southern California (Yosemite, Sequoia, Kern River, Lakes Arrowhead and Big Bear, Angeles Natnl Forest) - shelters were Pup Tents or none, sleeping under the stars
one Winter at Big Bear we had 3 tents, placed end to end, in/on the snow and it snowed so hard at night(s) that the caved-in sides of the tents restricted turning over while sleeping
the only heat we had were our sleeping bags at night and a campfire during the day (along with our bullet-proof teenaged bodies) - was fun.....THEN
now I only go where I can take clothes OFF to be comfortable - layering on, never again.....Bill
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10-27-2012, 08:30 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Northern Minnesota
Posts: 81
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Camp driveway last night, 21 F outside, 68 inside with a little ceramic heater and also heated mattress pad. Very comfy =)
__________________
2 Happy Campers & CoCoa the camping Yorkiepoo
2005 Salem LE 19FD
2009 Ford F150 Lariat
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10-28-2012, 12:47 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Washington state
Posts: 1,258
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Are you headed to Quartzsite? We have a blast when we go on digs..thinking of going out on a trip w/GPA next year... We think it might be fun to socialize now and then...I am also pleased with the large deck on the trailer -great for equipment and motorcycles. Cool photos, thanks for sharing! Solar is on the list...haha...well after Cattledogs kayak set up....LOL
__________________
2012 FR Flagstaff T12SDTH
1996 Shadowcruiser Pop Up Truck Camper
1967 Newell Motorcoach
2003 Ford F150 5.4 V8 Triton Super Cab
2004 Nissan Titan LE 5.6 V8 4x4 Crew Cab
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10-28-2012, 08:53 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 141
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Felt very comfortable in camper. 34 outside. Since there was electric, I used ceramic heater inside. Kept heater at 55. Left roof vent open a little Used sleeping bag. In morning I used the heater's remote to warm it up to 60. very pleased.
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