Hello from Simi Valley, CA

[Bibbidi_Bobbidi_Boo]

Hi everyone! We are new trailer owners but not new to camping. My husband and I grew up camping as kids - well into adulthood. We've been tent camping or bunking in someone else's rig until we finally got a trailer of our own April 2018. We are so excited for the new adventures and memories.

Currently, I'm trying to educate myself on batteries as my father gave me 2 (under a year old) HB XW 6 volt deep cycle batteries to replace with the crappy 12v that came with our trailer 2019 Evo Stealth T3250. It also came with a solar panel but from what im reading, it won't do much. It's confusing but not - if that makes sense - it's just a lot to remember and kind of a pain in the arse figuring out our amp hours and how long we can dry camp for. We really want to do beach camping, desert camping and free off the grid camping.

I'm also learning that camping is not as cheap as it used to be. It's a real bummer because it is definitely limiting us on the location and amount of trips we are taking. If anyone has any places they'd like to share that's accessible from Simi Valley with a 3/4/5 night stay please let me know. I'm having trouble finding places.

Looking forward to hearing all of everyones stories and amazing tips!

Best,
Renee

 

[bikendan]

Welcome to FRF, from a former Camarillo resident and former Ventura County firefighter.
Having had to dry camp a lot, due to California State Park campgrounds having less than 1% of their campsites with any hookups, we got a trusty Honda 2000i inverter generator that provided all the power we needed.
We left Ventura County in 2002 and campsites are much harder to get now, in all the California National and State Parks.
Have you tried Lake Casitas?

 

[valleyduo]

Hello and welcome from western PA!

 

[a32deuce]

Hello from South Jersey.

 

[Sagecoachdriver]

Welcome from the SFV just over the hill.
Solar is GREAT if you know how to use it. Don't give up on it.
Enjoy!
I just noticed you are 36' long and may not fit in many campgrounds . You will definitely need to make sure that your TT will fit in the site and you can maneuver it in and out.

 

[babock]

Like Sagecoachdriver, we are just over the hill as well in Northridge. Just got back from a 3 night stay in San Simeon.

I am a retired electrical engineer and have 700W of solar on my trailer. Can help you out if you want.

 

[bikendan]

Welcome from the SFV just over the hill.
Solar is GREAT if you know how to use it. Don't give up on it.
Enjoy!
I just noticed you are 36' long and may not fit in many campgrounds . You will definitely need to make sure that your TT will fit in the site and you can maneuver it in and out.

actually, it's 1 inch shy of 37ft long.
that's not going to fit in very many California national and state park campgrounds and even fewer with any hookups.
bottom line is that if you want hookups in California, you're better off staying at private RV parks. Especially with a 37' TT.

 

[Sagecoachdriver]

actually, it's 1 inch shy of 37ft long.
that's not going to fit in very many California national and state park campgrounds and even fewer with any hookups.
bottom line is that if you want hookups in California, you're better off staying at private RV parks. Especially with a 37' TT.

The only National Park that comes to mind is Furnace Creek in Death Valley. They had a few pull-thru with hook ups. But not sure about the drive in and the long winding steep roads coming in from Olancha or Trono. Check on the road coming up from I-15.
Maybe Flying Flags in Buellton and some of the CG's outside Yosemite on Hwy 140, but you'd have to check. Most National and State Parks have a 32' limit.
For something real close, try Ventura Beach Resort. You can take a drive down to Rincon at the north end of Ventura and check out the beach parking campsites. They are 45' long and you parallel park. I know you'd fit down by the sea wall backing in diagonally in spaces 3-18. All the other sites there don't give you much room to maneuver in and out. But if you get a space by the dumpster or go with a buddy having the site next to you and can utilize his site getting in and out, then it would work.
Oh, and Babock really knows his stuff and helped me out with my setup.

 

[geeman53]

We;lcome from SW Ohio ,enjoy your 2019 Evo Stealth T3250 TT !

 

[Bibbidi_Bobbidi_Boo]

Welcome to FRF, from a former Camarillo resident and former Ventura County firefighter.
Having had to dry camp a lot, due to California State Park campgrounds having less than 1% of their campsites with any hookups, we got a trusty Honda 2000i inverter generator that provided all the power we needed.
We left Ventura County in 2002 and campsites are much harder to get now, in all the California National and State Parks.
Have you tried Lake Casitas?

Thank you so much for putting your life on the line to protect ours. Yes, it's very hard to find anything with availability - let alone we didn't take size into consideration when we purchased our trailer. My dad gave me his old Honda 2000i as well. I'm still trying to figure out how exactly everything works with batteries, solar and the Honda.

I looked into Lake Casitas - everyone said it's an awesome place. But at $66 a night during the hot summer and were not allowed to touch the lake - I think thats a place we will try in the off season. I did see they have a water park though..

 

[Bibbidi_Bobbidi_Boo]

Like Sagecoachdriver, we are just over the hill as well in Northridge. Just got back from a 3 night stay in San Simeon.

I am a retired electrical engineer and have 700W of solar on my trailer. Can help you out if you want.

Yes, Please! I would appreciate the guidance. Full disclosure - I have no real idea what I'm doing. The forums and thank goodness for the search tool have helped a lot. I'm determined to figuring this out.

 

[Bibbidi_Bobbidi_Boo]

Welcome from the SFV just over the hill.
Solar is GREAT if you know how to use it. Don't give up on it.
Enjoy!
I just noticed you are 36' long and may not fit in many campgrounds . You will definitely need to make sure that your TT will fit in the site and you can maneuver it in and out.

Ugh... I guess bigger isn't always better. Thats the #1 problem I have , is that I can't find any place that can accommodate our trailer - let alone with hook ups. and with out making reservations a year in advance.

 

[Bibbidi_Bobbidi_Boo]

actually, it's 1 inch shy of 37ft long.
that's not going to fit in very many California national and state park campgrounds and even fewer with any hookups.
bottom line is that if you want hookups in California, you're better off staying at private RV parks. Especially with a 37' TT.

Unfortunately, your right - my best bet is a private rv park. It's not horrible but not great on the wallet.

 

[babock]

Yes, Please! I would appreciate the guidance. Full disclosure - I have no real idea what I'm doing. The forums and thank goodness for the search tool have helped a lot. I'm determined to figuring this out.

You can always take a short drive over to my house and see what I've done. I can give you some recommendations depending on your needs. I helped my brother with a simple system on his 39' motorhome.

 

[bikendan]

Since we escaped California 5 years ago, we still spend some camping time there, visiting family and friends, in the off-season.
What's gotten worse now, is if you want to stay in national and state park campgrounds, in the off-season, you have to make reservations for the more popular places. Like state beaches.
What also has changed, is there are more people living full time in RVs. And more young families are too, due to California's high housing costs.
Camping in California was bad enough before, when we lived there. Now, getting reservations is even harder, even in the off-season.

 

[Sagecoachdriver]

Have you tried checking Indian Flat Campground on Hwy 140 just before Yosemite? My neighbor with a trailer said they accommodate longer RVs. Dry camping on BLM in Anza Borrego and Josuha Tree.

 

[Bibbidi_Bobbidi_Boo]

Have you tried checking Indian Flat Campground on Hwy 140 just before Yosemite? My neighbor with a trailer said they accommodate longer RVs. Dry camping on BLM in Anza Borrego and Josuha Tree.

No, I haven’t. I have Joshua tree on my list as well as Idylwild. My parents live at Lake McClure which is about 90minutes from Yosemite. We go to Yosemite quite a bit for a day trip. We were just there last Friday.