Seasonal camping thread

[KDHfan]

Originally Posted by Platokidd

Seeing how this is the seasonal thread and I'm sure some of you are using a water softener. I ran across this today https://www.flowpur.com/html/rv-pro10000.html.
Looks like a good price.
Any who looking for input as I would like to get one for next season.

That's pretty interesting. I'd like to hear first hand knowledge as well.

[grumpyoldman]

I bought a similar one from the RV Water Filter Store (more expensive). I used it this past season but not very much due to health issues. Have not regenerated it yet due to the low usage. I also added a ceramic water filter upstream of the water softener. When I winterized the filter it had a large accumulation of rust. This probably took a load off of the water softener. I love the ceramic filter. It is expensive but it cleans the water very good and it is cleanable.
We are going to a new seasonal campground next year and I was told the water smells and tastes awful. Other campers said they use a water softener to make the water usable. I will see how it works next year with the poor quality of water.
P.S. Make sure you winterize the softener at the end of the season. I blew mine out with an air compressor. You can also drain the water out by turning it over with the hoses disconnected.
https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/SoftenersMineral.htm

[KDHfan]

Gotta be honest... i love the fact that i'm just relaxing and waiting... waiting and relaxing... and not stressing out about finding good sites, working around summer camps, or waiting on friends to decide what weekends they're available.
We will be stopping at our campsite on Friday to check things out. We cant camp or have services on until mid-April, but have 365 day access to our site/unit. All the nice weather last week sure got us chomping.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by KDHfan

Gotta be honest... i love the fact that i'm just relaxing and waiting... waiting and relaxing... and not stressing out about finding good sites, working around summer camps, or waiting on friends to decide what weekends they're available.
We will be stopping at our campsite on Friday to check things out. We cant camp or have services on until mid-April, but have 365 day access to our site/unit. All the nice weather last week sure got us chomping.

Is it mid-April yet

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by KDHfan

Gotta be honest... i love the fact that i'm just relaxing and waiting... waiting and relaxing... and not stressing out about finding good sites, working around summer camps, or waiting on friends to decide what weekends they're available.
We will be stopping at our campsite on Friday to check things out. We cant camp or have services on until mid-April, but have 365 day access to our site/unit. All the nice weather last week sure got us chomping.

I have to agree, one of the nicest things about seasonal is not stressing about reserving a site. Drive out, unlock the door, put out the awning and grab a cold beverage.
We are planning to have our new rig delivered the third week of April. Should be right on time, just came off the line last week.
Hopefully your cleanup goes well with no surprises.

[KDHfan]

We have decided that the initial plan is to leave the slide out all season, bringing it in once a month to keep things moving. What do you all use on your rubber seals to keep them in good shape? I read somewhere that aerospace 303 was good, but it has mixed reviews on Amazon. Currently using CRC silicon spray.
Also... I'm going to make steps up into the camper. Since I currently have 2 steps, I was planning on going with a two step riser. Any advantage/disadvantage of going to a 3-step? I was thinking a 3-step would give us a little more room coming out of the camper before the first step, but it would also extend out another foot at the bottom, possibly being in the way of foot traffic... Thoughts?

[timfromma]

10 days until we start waking our camper up from her long winter's nap. There's still 6 weeks to go before our first trip but I have a long list of things to do get her ready.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by KDHfan

We have decided that the initial plan is to leave the slide out all season, bringing it in once a month to keep things moving. What do you all use on your rubber seals to keep them in good shape? I read somewhere that aerospace 303 was good, but it has mixed reviews on Amazon. Currently using CRC silicon spray.

I use this stuff. I believe you can also get it at Walmart.

https://www.amazon.com/Protect-All-4.../dp/B0027MBE9U

Originally Posted by KDHfan

Also... I'm going to make steps up into the camper. Since I currently have 2 steps, I was planning on going with a two step riser. Any advantage/disadvantage of going to a 3-step? I was thinking a 3-step would give us a little more room coming out of the camper before the first step, but it would also extend out another foot at the bottom, possibly being in the way of foot traffic... Thoughts?

I just bought a couple of pre-cut risers and steps from Menard's I only have 3 steps on my trailer but had to go with a 5-step riser to get the height I wanted. I guess it really depends how much yard you have in front of your trailer. Ours doesn't seem to stick out too badly.

[wiscoheel]

Originally Posted by KDHfan

We have decided that the initial plan is to leave the slide out all season, bringing it in once a month to keep things moving. What do you all use on your rubber seals to keep them in good shape? I read somewhere that aerospace 303 was good, but it has mixed reviews on Amazon. Currently using CRC silicon spray.
Also... I'm going to make steps up into the camper. Since I currently have 2 steps, I was planning on going with a two step riser. Any advantage/disadvantage of going to a 3-step? I was thinking a 3-step would give us a little more room coming out of the camper before the first step, but it would also extend out another foot at the bottom, possibly being in the way of foot traffic... Thoughts?

We have been seasonal campers for 5 or 6 years. We love it and don't miss the towing, the set up, take down, trying to get site, the cost of towing and wear and tear on the Suburban. We had built a deck and added stairs with a landing just outside the door so that we could step on there, stand there, even place items there, before going into the camper. It was the best move we made and it was suggested by my wife. Unfortunately I have developed Charcot foot, tho' I am not diabetic. Our hope is to get camping in late April, or at least set it up. We missed most of last year because wife had her knee replaced. Can't wait for spring . . . we are expecting up to 6 inches of the white stuff in Central WI today.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

I use this stuff. I believe you can also get it at Walmart.

https://www.amazon.com/Protect-All-4.../dp/B0027MBE9U

X2

[Tapex]

X2

[MIRedbird]

Originally Posted by Platokidd

Is it mid-April yet

April 15 can't get here soon enough! Of course, on the first day of meteorological spring, the weather outside is more wintery than anything (blustery, cold, and snowy)... I haven't had a chance to open the camper up and do anything since mid-October, so I'm getting impatient for a stretch of nice weather to come back our way!

[Seasonal]

Last weekend it was in the 60s on Saturday and Sunday (Mid-state WI) and we went up to our seasonal site, campfire, beer, stayed over night. Came home on Sunday. Campground owner said that he would turn on the water but I didn't want to have to re-winterize. We brought water along for coffee, washing, and toilets. Re-winterized the toilet and sink before we left. Camping last November and now in February. Never did that before.

[wiscoheel]

Originally Posted by Seasonal

Last weekend it was in the 60s on Saturday and Sunday (Mid-state WI) and we went up to our seasonal site, campfire, beer, stayed over night. Came home on Sunday. Campground owner said that he would turn on the water but I didn't want to have to re-winterize. We brought water along for coffee, washing, and toilets. Re-winterized the toilet and sink before we left. Camping last November and now in February. Never did that before.

Living in Central WI we are envious of your ability to get to camper. Either too much snow or the ground was too wet and soggy. I haven't been to the camper since mid-September.

We don't have access to our camper from October through April. Have you found something that helps keep mice out or at least to a minimum??

[AbdRahim]

Fresh Cab, Bounce dryer sheets, lots of peppermint oil and mothballs.

[MIRedbird]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

Fresh Cab, Bounce dryer sheets, lots of peppermint oil and mothballs.

We use Fresh Cab (I have about eight packs of that stuff in the trailer right now) and dryer sheets. I've also heard that parking the trailer on a cement pad makes a difference.

[Seasonal]

We use Tom-cat bait stations and single use stations on both the outside and inside of our camper. Maybe a half dozen outside and a dozen inside. Also expanded foamed all the pipes and holes that give the critters easy access. Some of our neighbors had significant issues last year but we didn't.

Our campground is open all year around. They even plow in winter. Until today, the Milwaukee area has been snow free for several weeks. When we got to our site, there was 50% snow coverage. When I started our campfire, some water appeared in the fire ring due to melting the frost out of the ground. We had a few neighbors around us too. Some just drove up for the day and a few others stayed over night, like we did. No trace of mice in our around our RV or in our shed.

We love our seasonal site.

[GaryNc]

This will be our first time seasonal camping and also first time having a trailer! Hopefully it will allow us to camp a lot more than on the past. The campground is about two hours from home. We plan on leaving after work every Friday. The owner said we could bring the camper up there any time and we hope to get it up there in the next couple of weeks, I want to get everything just the way we think we want it so we don't have to work on it much at the campground

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by GaryNc

This will be our first time seasonal camping and also first time having a trailer! Hopefully it will allow us to camp a lot more than on the past. The campground is about two hours from home. We plan on leaving after work every Friday. The owner said we could bring the camper up there any time and we hope to get it up there in the next couple of weeks, I want to get everything just the way we think we want it so we don't have to work on it much at the campground

Welcome to the seasonal side of the forum.
Have fun on your new adventure.

[Seasonal]

Originally Posted by GaryNc

This will be our first time seasonal camping and also first time having a trailer! Hopefully it will allow us to camp a lot more than on the past. The campground is about two hours from home. We plan on leaving after work every Friday. The owner said we could bring the camper up there any time and we hope to get it up there in the next couple of weeks, I want to get everything just the way we think we want it so we don't have to work on it much at the campground

We almost always travel on a Friday evening after 7pm and find the traffic in our part of the world is very light. At this time of day, the RV/cottage crowd has taken a half day at work and are already at their destination. We kind of have the road to ourselves. We arrive at the camper around 9pm, put out a bowl of water for the dogs, move stuff into the fridge, turn on the water, open a can of beer and we are camping.

+1 - Welcome to the seasonal side of the forum.