First Camping trip - 2004

[Creek]

New to the board. I thought I would post a photo of my first camping trip for the year. This is a lake not far from my residence in Arkansas.

[beverlyt]

The area looks beautiful. So what did you think of your first camping experience? Any tips to share while camping in a teardrop?
Bev

[mikeschn]

That is quite a pretty scene you've got there. Did you actually camp where that picture was taken? And what kind of temps did you see overnight?

Mike...

New to the board. I thought I would post a photo of my first camping trip for the year. This is a lake not far from my residence in Arkansas.

[Creek]

I got my teardrop last year and this was my third trip out with it. It has been great. The only thing I wish I would have done different would be to get air for it. Last Summer it got so hot that it was hard to camp in the teardrop. (Upper 90's) The temp this past weekend was in the low 80's. The best thing I like about the teardrop is being able to get into remote areas. The above location would have been very difficult for most travel trailers because of the road going into the area.

[beverlyt]

Do you have two doors/windows? How about a roof vent?
I've bought a Coleman tent fan and plan on perhaps buying another. They are neat little critters that take a D battery and adhere with a strong magnet. I've also got a 12v fan that we plan on using. Being as use to air conditioning as I am... I'm hoping that most of the time the nights will be cool enough to sleep comfortably.
Bev

[BufordT]

Creek,

Nice tear you have there. and a great looking place to camp.

Even with Air A/C you would have to have 110. Add one of those 12 volt fans. This might help.

Bufordt

[mikeschn]

If you're going to add a 12v fan like a ceiling vent, make it a "Fantastic Vent" It moves much more air than the regular run of the mill vents. I tried. I know!!!

Mike...

[Jiminsav]

I still intend to get one of those thermo-electric coolers and pull the guts out of it and stick it inside my tear to see if it keeps it at least around 78º inside during the day..of course, i'll need a solar panel to shade the tear and provide electricity to keep it running..anyone got a thermo-electric they'd like to donate to science..

[mikeschn]

I think backwoodssolar has a panel they'd be willing to donate. They also have a charge controller they'd be willing to donate. Of course, in return, they'll ask you to contribute to their fund... probably somewhere in the range of $339.

I'd sure like to get a report back on how that thermo-electric idea works. I think it's been hashed out before, but I don't remember the outcome.

Mike...

[beverlyt]

Exactly how warm does it get in these little trailers? If you park in some shade and IF your trailer is also insulated..... doesn't it stay somewhat cooler than the outside?
And...since the inside is such a small space...couldn't you put some ice in a small cooler, prop the lid open a little and get some cool air off a 12v fan?
Bev

[Jiminsav]

Bev, I don't know about your neck of the woods, but here in coastal Georgia, it's not unusual to have 99 degree days with no wind and 98% humidity..and remember, it's not the heat, it's the humidity that makes you miserable..and your ice and fan idea is sorta like a swamp cooler, which don't work worth a hill of beans when it's humid..so, even with shade and fans, it's gonna get hot inside a tear even if you left the doors closed all day.

[Creek]

I agree with Jiminsav. Arkansas temps last summer reached 100 a few times. The humidity is what gets you here. I did get a small fan which did help. I park in the shade and my tear is insulated. The problem is at night when no breeze is blowing which makes it hard to sleep. Do not get me wrong I still enjoy the tear. I just need to work on cooling it during the 100 degree temps.

I do wish I would have added the Fantastic Vent and I think this would have been good enough for me. This is something I need to get added at a later date.

[Joseph]

I do wish I would have added the Fantastic Vent and I think this would have been good enough for me. This is something I need to get added at a later date.

Hey Creek,

I've spent enough sweaty nights in a tent that I never even considered building mine without one. It shouldn't be that hard to add. The problem I have with mine is that it's much thicker than my roof - see my page, picture #39. It's not that big a deal - you can either shore it up on the outside or on the inside, I'm opting for inside.

Joseph

[mikeschn]

Joseph,

What do you mean your fantastic vent is much thicker than your roof? Didn't you use 1x2's or 2x2's for your joists? If so, then when you drop your vent into the 14" square hole and put the trim plate on the other side, it should look perfect. What needs shoring up?

Mike...

[Joseph]

Didn't you use 1x2's or 2x2's for your joists?

I used 1x2s but I used them horizontally, so my roof is only about an inch thick. I'm using the 1939 Honeymoon House Trailer plans and that's how he did it. No biggie - I need something of a frame to cover the opening I have for the wires anyway.

Joseph