Newbie From Huntington Beach, CA

[mmeseke]

Hello...

My family just purchased a new 2016 Forest River Salem Cruise Lite 180BH. We take delivery this Friday, and couldn't be more excited. This is our first "hard side" trailer after a few pop up tent trailers.

We usually dry camp in Lucerne Valley, but we are going to explore much more now.

Any suggestions in the So Cal area on great camping spots would be great.

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new camper. Do a dry run at the house to check out the camper for any issues before a trip Later RJD

[mmeseke]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new camper. Do a dry run at the house to check out the camper for any issues before a trip Later RJD

Thanks.... Dry run for sure in the drive way. I told my wife I was going to sleep in it the first night

Also, booked a 1 night-er at a local camp group to run it through it's paces.

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome from Wisconsin and congrats on your 2016 Forest River Salem Cruise Lite 180BH.

[mmeseke]

Picture while was still on the lot.

[Ford Idaho]

Welcome to the forums from SW Idaho.



If I may suggest go to the forums Library and print out a couple of PDI checklists, two of you fill one out and then cross check the two.

Do NOT be afraid to ask any questions or to make them repeat something you may not have understood.

Make them show you how everything works, sofa bed set up.

Test everything till you are happy it works, micro wave a cup of water or a bag of pop corn to make sure it works.

Have then show you the water heater bypass valves and the water filter if your unit comes with one.

[mmeseke]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

Welcome to the forums from SW Idaho.



If I may suggest go to the forums Library and print out a couple of PDI checklists, two of you fill one out and then cross check the two.

Do NOT be afraid to ask any questions or to make them repeat something you may not have understood.

Make them show you how everything works, sofa bed set up.

Test everything till you are happy it works, micro wave a cup of water or a bag of pop corn to make sure it works.

Have then show you the water heater bypass valves and the water filter if your unit comes with one.

Great suggestions. We have a 2 hour "walk though" scheduled, but I would have never thought to test the microwave among other things. Thanks!

[HONDAMAN174]

Congrats on the new unit! If you have the ability to spend the night in your new unit, I would. So many things pop up while camping.

Here is a little get together that we are doing in October if you want to join:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ad.php?t=79040

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by mmeseke

Hello...

My family just purchased a new 2016 Forest River Salem Cruise Lite 180BH. We take delivery this Friday, and couldn't be more excited. This is our first "hard side" trailer after a few pop up tent trailers.

We usually dry camp in Lucerne Valley, but we are going to explore much more now.

Any suggestions in the So Cal area on great camping spots would be great.

Having lived in SoCal for 30 years, I can suggest some places but you need to provide more info on what you're looking for.

Hookups, things for kids, coastal, wooded, dry camping, boondocking, mountains, ...etc?

[Chunkem]

Welcome from Ontario Canada.

[jgourlie]

Welcome Welcome

[mmeseke]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Having lived in SoCal for 30 years, I can suggest some places but you need to provide more info on what you're looking for.

Hookups, things for kids, coastal, wooded, dry camping, boondocking, mountains, ...etc?

Thanks!!!

Can I just say all of the above???

Really I would like to find some campgrounds near lakes/rivers for fishing. We do most of our camping in the desert, but I'm really open to anything. The point of us getting this new trailer is to experience new things with the family (Wife, twin teenagers (boy and girl), 7yo boy and me).

[mmeseke]

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

Congrats on the new unit! If you have the ability to spend the night in your new unit, I would. So many things pop up while camping.

Here is a little get together that we are doing in October if you want to join:

Calico Ghost Town Camp Out - Oct 2015 - Forest River Forums

HONDAMAN, This looks like a lot of fun... Question; are all campers welcome? I ask because my bother has a non-Forest River trailer and he would like to join.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by mmeseke

Thanks!!!

Can I just say all of the above???

Really I would like to find some campgrounds near lakes/rivers for fishing. We do most of our camping in the desert, but I'm really open to anything. The point of us getting this new trailer is to experience new things with the family (Wife, twin teenagers (boy and girl), 7yo boy and me).

i would recommend Edison Lake, for one.
not many SoCal lakes that i would recommend. too few good ones.
north of Ventura, there are a few.

[mmeseke]

Originally Posted by bikendan

i would recommend Edison Lake, for one.
not many SoCal lakes that i would recommend. too few good ones.
north of Ventura, there are a few.

Thanks again.

Most of my camping has been boondocking. I just found out that that means

So any spots you recommend? Also, any other Camp groups with hook-ups you like?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by mmeseke

Also, any other Camp groups with hook-ups you like?

don't know what you mean by "Camp groups"?
did you mean Campgrounds?

if so, we almost always dry camp(meaning staying in campground that has no hookups), because we preferred California State Park campgrounds.

so, we rarely camped with any hookups. usually only when we camped in Oregon State Parks, which are the BEST!

by the way, used to surf a lot at HB, usually Cliffs.

[mmeseke]

Originally Posted by bikendan

don't know what you mean by "Camp groups"?
did you mean Campgrounds?

if so, we almost always dry camp(meaning staying in campground that has no hookups), because we preferred California State Park campgrounds.

so, we rarely camped with any hookups. usually only when we camped in Oregon State Parks, which are the BEST!

by the way, used to surf a lot at HB, usually Cliffs.

Haha... yes I meant camp grounds for sure.

Are there any dry camp GROUNDS you would recommend?

My son who starts high school next week is on the HBHS Surf team. Him and his friends surf "dog beach" mostly.

[Terier]

Welcome from another SoCal member! And congrats on your Cruise Lite too! I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have mine.

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

Congrats on the new unit! If you have the ability to spend the night in your new unit, I would. So many things pop up while camping.

Here is a little get together that we are doing in October if you want to join:

Calico Ghost Town Camp Out - Oct 2015 - Forest River Forums

x2 on Calico Ghost Town. I will check on your question about Calico and get back to you ASAP.

Originally Posted by mmeseke

Haha... yes I meant camp grounds for sure.

Are there any dry camp GROUNDS you would recommend?

My son who starts high school next week is on the HBHS Surf team. Him and his friends surf "dog beach" mostly.

Your son is lucky to still be on summer break. School started last week here in the Corona-Norco district.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by mmeseke

Haha... yes I meant camp grounds for sure.

Are there any dry camp GROUNDS you would recommend?

we loved coastal campgrounds when we live in SoCal.

San Elijo SB, Emma Woods SB, Carpenteria SB, Refugio SB, Sycamore Canyon in Pt. Mugu SP, Morro Bay SP and New Brighton SB, to name a few.
we like state parks, so dry camping in Cali is a must.

[CHICKDOE]

I have to say hello to another person from Huntington Beach. for a quick shakedown trip we used the rv campground at prado dam. it is a san Bernardino county park. nice lake there with full hookups. we have also used o'neil regional park which is a dry camp.