Memorial Day Maiden Voyage of RT Little Guy

[Ratkity]

Greetings TD and TTT campers!

After 17 yrs with a coleman williamsburg popup, I had my first weekend with the RT Little Guy. I went sans Golden Retrievers because 1) The cornchip feet doggies need baths 2) I was camping by a lake and didn't want stinky wet dogs (of course, I missed them).

The RT pull flawlessly with my 6cyl Rav4 and I had to remember it was behind me in the Rav4.

Stayed at Kerr Lake at Bushcreek Point. Very nice shady spots.



A shelter covering the vent and side windows would be nice. It stormed hard Friday night (after food and cleanup). I was nice and dry in the RT, but it would have been nice to be able to open the windows or run the fan. Rain easily came in the fan and there are no gutters over the windows. So, I've searched and searched for one of those unfolding shelters and have one on order - a 10x10 Coleman.



I determined I can't have so much cra.. er stuff inside if I want my goldens to join me. I worked on figuring out what I really needed and what could be put in the back of the Rav4.

What was really nice is that I could put stuff in the RT!! The old popup was designed so tightly that nothing fit for storage.



The first night, I apparently scooted just far enough under the cabinets so that when I turned over, I whacked my right knee on the cabinet edge. OW! I didn't do that again the next 2 nights.

Other things learned:

I need some clips for my tacky chili pepper lights!
My sister needs to bring her own extension cords (she used both my extras hehe).
I need a 5 day cooler - soft sided thingie wasn't good for anything.
My small side tables aren't big enough for my 2 burner stove.. ordered larger folding table.
Never put the cardboard egg carton in a cooler with ice = loose eggs as cardboard deteriorates.
The tinier gnats can get through the screens - I spent 15 min playing "squish the gnats" before bed.
An extra deodorant might be prudent cuz after losing one, I was getting ripe after a few days.
After reading the midnight tinkling thread on lady teardroppers, I'm thinking of alternatives to tree watering (a couple of late night drivers saw 2 moons that night).

I'm sure there are other things I'll think of.. the entire weekend was a BLAST! I need to find a Maryland camping spot I can take the dogs to get used to the RT (suggestions welcome).

Of course, my tiny camper was the talk of the campground. My neighbor said everyone who walked by was talking about it.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[S. Heisley]

Hi, Rakity:

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your camping trip and of your new RT. Your RT looks very nice. Having just purchased your trailer, you probably looked at both TD's and RT's. So, can you tell us what are the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other? What was it that sold you on the RT?

[hiker chick]

Looks great! Nice to finally see pics of an R/T in action.

You might want to ask Little Guy for brochures to handout to those who request a tour (usually the seriously interested).

Maryland State Parks recently (April 2010) have instituted some dog-friendliness but that varies by region and park. You'd have to first wade through their extensive chart of exceptions and stipulations (two columns -- post-April and post-September)

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/pets3.asp

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/ ... 202010.pdf


Virginia is for dog lovers. The dog-friendliest state park system in America, they even allow them in the cabins.

Don't know where you live in Maryland but Douthat State Park in Virginia is heaven for peops and pups who love swimming, boating (no motors), fishing and hiking.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/dou.shtml


Shenandoah River State Park is closer to Maryland (near Luray) and recently expanded and updated its facilities:

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/and.shtml

And of course there's the lovely Shenandoah National Park, where we usually go (Big Meadows campground at Milepost 51). SNP's Matthews Arms campground is closer to Maryland but doesn't have showers (and is considered SNP's "best" bear country). Big Meadows campground is at 3700-foot elevation so cools off at night and is 10-15 cooler than DC or the valley.

Big Meadows is practically a dog park, I'd bet more campers than not have their dogs with them. Yet you could hear a pin drop most nights. We were there for three nights this week and around midnight I couldn't tell that there was another soul -- human or dog -- for miles.

[hiker chick]

Re: gear.

Peruse the following for all the stuff you didn't know you needed:

www.llbean.com
www.rei.com
www.campmor.com
www.cabelas.com

So long as ice is available at the campground I'm delighted with the Coleman stainless cooler. It's walls are thinner than the "x-treme" 5-day coolers which take up more space in the car to hold the same amount of food.

[Ratkity]

Thanks for the campground dog-friendliness summary!!! Much appreciated. I saw the new dog laws in MD. I get the feeling dogs aren't the most welcome visitors in the MD parks. My two goldens are rescues as adults and haven't been properly trained in camping etiquette. Working on it!

Sharon - I wanted something simple - with no water, but electric for fans and I have a cpap machine (breathing thingie for sleep apnea). The other thing that swung me in the RT direction was the great deal I got on the thing - it sat for a year on a lot and they wanted to get rid of it. I know they made little money off of me. Still, it was a slow time at the dealer and I got personalized treatment and enjoyed my interaction with the guys. I got to hear towing horror stories and told a few of my own.

Every time I took that popup out, something would break. Then something would leak - the AC leaked and ruined the roof, the bathtub cassette started filling up with water inexplicabily (after changing seals 2x.. geesh), then the water lines would break even after winterizing/flushing and using a water pressure regulator (old age, methinks). I am tired of leaks!!!!

I looked at both reg TD and the RT. I decided I didn't want a hatch. That was just asking for leaks LOL, especially since I don't have a garage. Also, there are little sugar ants here who absolutely love to make homes in the seals of that old popup. I sprayed, powdered, etc.. they'd still find a way. Stupid ants.

I also don't do any big time cooking like some of these exotic camp chefs here. Man, I can't believe you chefs! My little sis camps with me a bit and she has her kitchen tent all set up like she likes it. I'm more of a mini-meal person and sorta graze all day long due to some stomach issues. Sis likes to cook. I'm more of a hotdog-on-a-spit type of person. At the most, I like an egg blob in the late morning (sorta over easy with cheese on top) after I've had my tea.

On the galley note, OMG the mods and stuff everyone has done - fabbo! I lurve them all. If I was a cook, I'd be all over that and would have probably ordered a Silver Shadow.

Letsee.. I've rambled a lot, sorry about that! I chose the RT because:

I'm not a cook, don't need a galley
Paranoid of leaks, so no galley
Absolute great deal on the RT
Liked the larger door in the rear too
Liked the birch cabinets and tons of cubby space inside
Liked the DVD player and radio combo
Liked the fantastic fan and electric option
Liked the platform in front (but I think all LG's have those)
Liked the toolbox in front

Hugs,
Ratkity

ETA: Wow Shenandoh is booked for weekends! Maybe I'll just need to do a weekday trip.

[Miriam C.]

Looks great! If your fan reverses it may keep the rain out. There are also large hoods that might fit over the vent.

http://www.adventurerv.net/translucent- ... -p-88.html

[pbrunicorn]

sounds like an overall good trip. hope the goldens make it out next time. (big golden fans over here)

[Ratkity]

Hikerchick,

I checked out the Shen. National Park. at Big Meadows. Seems most of the sites are first come first serve. How well do they fill up (barring gov't holidays)? Are the potties just latrines? Are there potable water stations?

The map they had on their website was a little sketchy. I get that they don't have electric. I'll see how long the battery lasts! I see all coolers need to stay in the vehicle cuz of bears. I like that the website catagorizees how much shade each site has.

Thanks again for all the great info!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[hiker chick]

Hey RK,

Most of Big Meadows' 219 sites are reservable. They have 35 drive-in sites that are first-come and a number of the walk-in sites are first-come.

Usually, they only fill up on Saturday nights during the summer. But they say this year has been remarkably busy and they've been filling up on weekends since Good Friday.

For a quieter camping experience, the thing to do is show up at noon on Sunday and stay until Thursday. Even without reservations you'd then have pretty much your pick of sites. For the past three years, we've gone up on Memorial Day and it's ghost town at noon. Absolutely peaceful. The half of the campground we were in this week (Mon-Tu-Wed nights) was maybe 20% occupied.

The campground starts getting significantly busy on Thursday evenings and this summer expect it to be full Friday and Saturday.

You can probably go on Wednesday and snagging a first-come spot through the weekend. But in that scenario I very highly advise arriving no later than noon.

Checkout time is noon and a lot of campers (such as myself) wait until the last minute to leave.

There will be fewer options on Thursday but I'd expect you could still grab a spot. Worst-case scenario is Big Meadows fills and you go onto Lewis or Loft Mt or Matthews Arm.

If you want recommendations on specific campsites, send me a private message and I'll let you know my favorites and what some other regulars prefer.

[hiker chick]

Are the potties just latrines? Are there potable water stations?

The bathrooms are nice -- normal toilets and sinks and an electrical outlet and hand dryers. There's a laundry facility and over a dozen showers. Also, ice and firewood are sold next to the campground.

There are water faucets spread around the campground.

The wayside at Milepost 51 is one mile away and has a gas station, small restaurant (take out and seating), gift shop and surprisingly well stocked camp store (camping gear, food and even wine and some Lodge cast iron). There's also a very interesting Visitor Center there with an exhibit on the building of Skyline Drive - well worth touring.

Highly recommend reserving in advance the daily van tour down to "Camp Hoover" (pre-dates Camp David) which was built by President Hoover with his personal funds and he later donated it for the use of future presidents. He personally selected the spot because of the fishing and is above the mosquito zone.

Historic Big Meadows Lodge is a 5-minute walk from the campground and has a very nice restaurant and "Tap Room" which is popular in evenings. The campground (Loop E) is literally on the AT so you'll have an interesting mix of tenters, RV-ers and thru-hikers.

Highly recommend getting on Skyline Drive at Front Royal and driving it from there. If pressed for time then get on Skyline at Thornton Gap (intersection of Rt. 211)

Big Meadows suits me but none of the campsites is particularly private and some are quite close together (for that reason avoid the even-number E and I-loop sites). All the more reason to take a couple days off work to go early in the week.

[Ratkity]

Thank you hikerchick!! Wonderful information! Guess I'll have to take a little annual leave from work and do a few day trip during the week. I wanted to keep the trip short to train the dogs. I also have an infirm old evil psychotic kitty (Ratkity) who I don't like to be away from for very long. She's not long for this world, but such a fighter!

Hugs,
Ratkity

Edited to add: Aha! I got my avatar up of the evil Ratkity. She's so sweet to me. Just a bit xenophobic.

[hiker chick]

Edited to add: Aha! I got my avatar up of the evil Ratkity. She's so sweet to me. Just a bit xenophobic.

She looks tortoiseshell. We had one when I was a kid -- suitably named "Princess."

Prickly personalities may be endemic to t-shells.

[Ratkity]

You are correct, she is a torti. Nuttier than a fruitcake, but so lovable to me. Just hates everyone else for some reason.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[grizz]

Great first outing, and report.

I guess we as modern humans often over complicate stuff for ourselves.

Too much stuff, so hats off to you for getting a trailer that suits your style.