My camping trip this weekend

[Aaron Coffee]

Took my nephew to a soap box ralley this weekend, decided to take the teardrop and just stay at the track. Friday night we boondocked as electricity wasn't available, temps got down to 27, with 4 blankets we were fairly comfortable. Saturday night they left one of the portable construction light generators(they had a night race) running for us (brother was also there with his camper, and his furnace fan won't run off of his battery) to hook up to. Me and the nephew used an electric blanket, and I ran a small ceremic heater for about a half hour before bed and about 2 hours in the morning, I also set up my canopy over my TD (just bought wind curtain before leaving), temp got to 20 degrees, inside the TD was 54 when I woke up in the morning, cool but bearable. Woohoo, new record low temp for my camping, one record I won't try to brake for awhile. We had fun and as my nephew says, "it's not about winning it's about having FUN!" We pretty much just ate at the boy scout concession stand. Things I would do different besides getting a motel room, carpeted walls, I could feel the cold radiating off of the inside walls, and try out some of the backpacking meals, and putting the canopy up sooner. Really need to get my coleman powermate generator back from my brother, he borrowed it 2 years ago.

Aaron

[S. Heisley]

Congratulations on a successful trip! I don't know if I would be willing to camp at 20 degrees unless I had a heater and plenty of blankets, which you did.
I don't remember; but, I assume your teardrop is insulated.

Dehydrated backpacking meals can be wonderful or a complete flop. It's a good idea to try some before you make it your only choice for a meal. Scrambled eggs are usually good for breakfast; but, hot instant oatmeal works good too. In your situation, you probably could have had a pizza delivered for dinner!

Glad you had a good time.

[Woodbutcher]

Sounds like a fun weekend Aaron. Something your nephew will always remember. Camping in the cold is a different animal. I find getting out from under the warm blankets in the morning the biggest challenge.

[pete42]

I visited a couple of state campgrounds over the weekend just to see who was there.
I think more and more people are using pop-up's than before the gas became an issue.
the temperture didn't reach 20 just 35 cold enought in a pop-up.
makes me want something cargo trailer, pop-up or get out my tent...............well maybe not the tent but something.
sounds like you had fun

pete

[Aaron Coffee]

The roof has 3/4 hard foam insulation but the walls are just 3/4 plywood, and could feel the cold coming off of them, am considering marine carpet on the walls of #2.

[mary and bob]

Funny you mention soap box rally. When we bought our teardrop there were four U shaped brackets on the roof made of aluminum angle. We were told that a previous owner had carried a soap box derby car on top of the trailer. There were also four tie down brackets on the sides near the top. I left the tie downs but removed the roof brackets when we did the restoration, and occasionally get asked what they are for.