Booked :) What is the weather like in Sept? TRIP CANCELLED 7/10

[rideswithchrist]

We went this past September for the first time, we usually go in Feb. and I think the weather was more enjoyable with rain only a couple of times in the afternoon.

So you preferred Sept?

 

[jandafortcampers]

So you preferred Sept?

Yes, the weather was great and it was also the food and wine fest at EPCOT

 

[bama_ed]

Whew! First thing is first if we are going to camp 8 nights at Disney- replacing the bunk ends!!! It was like sleeping in a bowl.
We also need to get some jacks because the drop foot stabilizers do not "level" the pup.

She is a 1992 Palomino Mustang

You know, rwc, at one point when I had my old Jayco I thought I might end up with a hybrid next. But since it will shortly be just the two of us, we didn't go that way. Given your kids' ages, you might. Who knows?

BTW, is your tow vehicle a Suburban? It looks very much like mine (the back end of it in the picture of your popup on the campsite) which is a 2005 LT. I have a picture of it on page 2 post #23 of this thread with my Aliner hitched up.

I want to ask some questions about your set up. In your picture your back end of the popup looks a little low and the front a little high. Here is they way I back in and level off before setting up.

I back in close to the driver's edge and then get out and put my bubble level across the front roof to first get things right side-to-side. I also carry some square pieces of 1" board which I then stack up in a slight ramp so that I back the LOW SIDE (driver's or passenger's) tire up onto the boards until the side-to-side is level. (experience will teach you what bubble angle needs how many boards). Then I put the vehicle in park and chock both wheels on both sides. I crank the front wheel down far enough to lift the hitch off the tow vehicle ball and then pull the vehicle forward to get it out of the way.

Next you need to level it front to back. Again the bubble level goes on a side roof and the front wheel gets cranked until the bubble says level front-to-back. Then you drop your stabilizers front and back to reach the ground and then you are ready to raise the roof. Your stabilizers are not lifts. You need to adjust all four down to the ground so that they reach it and maintain your level position. Maybe the 1992 technology is not too friendly but all 4 stabilizers should be adjustable (have to be).

If boards are too basic, some folks like to use a Bal Leveler http://www.amazon.com/BAL-R-V-Products-Group-28050/dp/B000BH5MAA which both lifts the low side and also locks/chocks that wheel at the same time. This might be a good investment if you size it to also possibly handle your future hybrid. For stabilizers my old popup had scissor levelers underneath each corner which are easy to adjust to reach the ground each time http://www.etrailer.com/Camper-Jack/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF48-979002.html . If you go with the scissor jacks, get this little fob http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF48-979005.html so that instead of cranking the 4 jacks by hand you put this in a cordless drill or torque wrench then all it takes is squeezing the trigger 4 times to get them down and up.

Again the goal is to have the frame level side-to-side and front-to-back before you raise the roof.

Not sure I understand what you mean about the bunks were like sleeping in a bowl. Aren't there poles underneath the bunk corners back to the frame to support the ends and level the bunk as well? We had a 6" thin sheet wood on the underside of our bunks that were just STAPLED over the seam of the two big side boards that extended to the sides that body weight in the center of the bunk had stressed so I reinforced those 6" boards on each side with short wood screws.

Bama Ed

 

[rideswithchrist]

Thanks for the tips! I think we I'll get some 1: boards for sure but are also thinking of trying the scissor jacks too.

You know, rwc, at one point when I had my old Jayco I thought I might end up with a hybrid next. But since it will shortly be just the two of us, we didn't go that way. Given your kids' ages, you might. Who knows?

BTW, is your tow vehicle a Suburban? It looks very much like mine (the back end of it in the picture of your popup on the campsite) which is a 2005 LT. I have a picture of it on page 2 post #23 of this thread with my Aliner hitched up.

I want to ask some questions about your set up. In your picture your back end of the popup looks a little low and the front a little high. Here is they way I back in and level off before setting up.

I back in close to the driver's edge and then get out and put my bubble level across the front roof to first get things right side-to-side. I also carry some square pieces of 1" board which I then stack up in a slight ramp so that I back the LOW SIDE (driver's or passenger's) tire up onto the boards until the side-to-side is level. (experience will teach you what bubble angle needs how many boards). Then I put the vehicle in park and chock both wheels on both sides. I crank the front wheel down far enough to lift the hitch off the tow vehicle ball and then pull the vehicle forward to get it out of the way.

Next you need to level it front to back. Again the bubble level goes on a side roof and the front wheel gets cranked until the bubble says level front-to-back. Then you drop your stabilizers front and back to reach the ground and then you are ready to raise the roof. Your stabilizers are not lifts. You need to adjust all four down to the ground so that they reach it and maintain your level position. Maybe the 1992 technology is not too friendly but all 4 stabilizers should be adjustable (have to be).

If boards are too basic, some folks like to use a Bal Leveler http://www.amazon.com/BAL-R-V-Products-Group-28050/dp/B000BH5MAA which both lifts the low side and also locks/chocks that wheel at the same time. This might be a good investment if you size it to also possibly handle your future hybrid. For stabilizers my old popup had scissor levelers underneath each corner which are easy to adjust to reach the ground each time http://www.etrailer.com/Camper-Jack/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF48-979002.html . If you go with the scissor jacks, get this little fob http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Ultra-Fab-Products/UF48-979005.html so that instead of cranking the 4 jacks by hand you put this in a cordless drill or torque wrench then all it takes is squeezing the trigger 4 times to get them down and up.

Again the goal is to have the frame level side-to-side and front-to-back before you raise the roof.

Not sure I understand what you mean about the bunks were like sleeping in a bowl. Aren't there poles underneath the bunk corners back to the frame to support the ends and level the bunk as well? We had a 6" thin sheet wood on the underside of our bunks that were just STAPLED over the seam of the two big side boards that extended to the sides that body weight in the center of the bunk had stressed so I reinforced those 6" boards on each side with short wood screws.

Bama Ed

Yep- 2006 LT in the blue/green I wanted but could not seem to find. Got a good deal because the passenger seat is torn. We gave our 2001 Tahoe to my Brother in Law. I love my upgrade. it even has a Sunroof. After our last tent camping trip we realized how much a family of 5 can load and figured the extra space in the back would be useful,plus the Tahoe has 202K on it so as not Texas to Disney worthy

Thank you for the hints. I will re-read it to make sure I understand it.We are looking to do the scissor jacks, and have them welded on because we just could not seem to move the stabilizers, they just hit the ground. Do the 1" pieces of wood just need to be tire size?

The front was WAY higher. We could not even use the extra bunk to ground poles because they were 12" too short. (The bowl effect is because the wood is so bowed it drags when opening and closing it) We are going to try to brace it but may just need new wood.

What we did this time was- drove around to find the flattest camp site, backed it in, dropped the back stabilizers and then the front ones. Really, they do not seem to adjust well, it is more of a foot that drops.If we were to jack up each corner and drop them, they may be more level, but we could not figure out that part. We also seem to have too much tension on the front panels when the King bed is extended which causes the door not to close so my husband tried to compensate by having the front a tad higher.

When we were in, you could feel that it was not level side to side LOL.

 

[PaHunter]

Thanks for the tips! I think we I'll get some 1: boards for sure but are also thinking of trying the scissor jacks too.


Yep- 2006 LT in the blue/green I wanted but could not seem to find. Got a good deal because the passenger seat is torn. We gave our 2001 Tahoe to my Brother in Law. I love my upgrade. it even has a Sunroof.

When we were in, you could feel that it was not level side to side LOL.

My wife said our latest truck did not need a sunroof, AKA gunners hatch.

Pop ups really need to be close to level, I have seen the roof collapse on one that was pitched too much front to back. It was not pretty, luckily no one was hurt.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Yikes. We will get that leveling bit down better on our next trip. The plan is to get a few camp trips under ur belt this summer to iron out the bugs before FW.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Before we took the kids camping, we surprised them with our reservation confirmation, in the pop up when we revealed the new curtains. And we fancied up the Disney Jar a bit.

 

[bama_ed]

What great ideas to reveal your reservation and the jar.

The door problems and tension on the side panels is definitely caused by the roof not being held in a level position. Imagine holding a big heavy flat square over your head, at a slight angle, and try to keep it there at an angle. So I think getting the popup level will address that.

I use some old 1"x8" boards that I had and cut them into lengths about 12-15" for stacking so yes, they are wider than the tire but that was because they were just scrap. I stack what I need to make a ramp up against the rear of the tire then back it up and my spotter tells me when the tire is on top of the boards (although the backing pressure releases as well so the driver can confirm it that way). RV stores and even my Wally World (in the auto dept on their little RV/Trailer shelf) sell some square, yellow, stackable flat risers that look kind of like Legos that are sectional that you can use in place of the boards. The Lego types are about $25 and you get 5 or 6 IIRC.

The board sag on the bunks is something I saw on my old Jayco popup over the 10 years we had it. When it was new, bunks slid right out flat, smooth, and easy (and back in). But after people sleeping on them, they bowed down in the middle such that when they were slid out, the bunk edge nearest the popup needed my son's shoulder underneath the middle to get the bowed wood lifted close to flat to start the slide back in. So that might be true in your case that you need them replaced with something light and strong. And like mine was, maybe it will be really two pieces side by side with some sort of joiners.

I'm considering a September trip to the Fort for 2018 because Alabama will play Louisville to start the college football season on Labor Day weekend in Orlando so I'll be watching how the weather is for your trip as well.

Good luck. Sounds like at least you folks know what you need to get done before September.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

rideswithchrist,

Just as a follow-up, I was in our local Wal-Mart yesterday and went by the automotive department and here is a picture of the Lynx Levelers I was talking about (that stack together like Lego's) and the same yellow chocks I use. Bama Ed

 

[4077]

rideswithchrist,

Just as a follow-up, I was in our local Wal-Mart yesterday and went by the automotive department and here is a picture of the Lynx Levelers I was talking about (that stack together like Lego's) and the same yellow chocks I use. Bama Ed

View attachment 150001

Those levelers are great...I love mine!

 

[rideswithchrist]

Took another test run camping trip. It dropped to 32 and ice on the TV. The two little heaters we had were great at 50 degrees, not so much at freezing!

We did get it leveled though, using the help from here. We did however accidentally rip one of the stabilizers twisted (was still down and hubs pulled forward). So we will likely be getting some scissor jacks fairly soon. Thankfully we had a bottle jack in the TV.

I have to figure out the kitchen set up. It is very hard to wash dishes in the tiiiiiny sink (which ended up pulling out of the top of the wood which had rotted.)

 

[rideswithchrist]

I saw those on a few campers I think the wood we use is pretty usable for now, but I know my husband would really rather have these. Our pop is pretty old and ugly compared to some of the other ones. I have to keep reminding my husband that it was THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

 

[rideswithchrist]

 

[bama_ed]

That was one of the shortfalls I experienced when I had a canvas popup camper. It was too much work to camp when it was cold (still above freezing but below, say, 50F). You can nibble at the edges of the calendar with electric blankets at night when its coldest. But my propane heater had a loud blower fan and went through propane quickly trying to use it. Heat leaks like a sieve out of the canvas bunk ends.

Some people use Pop-Up Gizmos (PUGs) http://www.popupgizmos.com/bunkcoverpage.htm which basically is a solar blanket over the canvas roofs which prevents heat transfer. In other words, in winter keeps heat inside and in summer keeps the cool inside. For cold weather, people use the plugs with REFLECTIX material in the ends and walls of the canvas to keep heat in as well.

This is one reason I went to an Aliner which is hard walls (Styrofoam in between for insulation). It's not perfect either but it's better than my old popup. I have time to camp between Thanksgiving and Spring Break but it's cold.

Bama Ed

 

[4077]

View attachment 160280

Love the kids picture....this is why I love doing this...they have such a great time ! (Okay, I kinda like it too...)

 

[FtW Mike]

RWC congrats on your PUP and glad test runs went well. We normally suggest to friends that purchase a trailer or RV they do a test run in a very exotic campground Camp Your Own Backyard. Use the house only as you would comfort station ie Potty calls and showers. You can only use what you have in the camper and tow vehicle. This gets you used to making sure you pack what you do need and setting up. Suggested it to our neighbor recently and they loved it. Their grandkids had a ball and want to go camping every weekend now.
Sidenote This way if disaster strikes your trip home is very nearby.

 

[rideswithchrist]

That was one of the shortfalls I experienced when I had a canvas popup camper. It was too much work to camp when it was cold (still above freezing but below, say, 50F). You can nibble at the edges of the calendar with electric blankets at night when its coldest. But my propane heater had a loud blower fan and went through propane quickly trying to use it. Heat leaks like a sieve out of the canvas bunk ends.

Some people use Pop-Up Gizmos (PUGs) http://www.popupgizmos.com/bunkcoverpage.htm which basically is a solar blanket over the canvas roofs which prevents heat transfer. In other words, in winter keeps heat inside and in summer keeps the cool inside. For cold weather, people use the plugs with REFLECTIX material in the ends and walls of the canvas to keep heat in as well.

This is one reason I went to an Aliner which is hard walls (Styrofoam in between for insulation). It's not perfect either but it's better than my old popup. I have time to camp between Thanksgiving and Spring Break but it's cold.

Bama Ed

YES! Thankfully in Texas, we don't have super cold winters but more than one night of that would not have been fun. We only ran 2 heaters because we did not want to risk tripping the breaker- again. We will need to prep for any Feb trips when the temps can get down to the 40/50's at Disney huh?

Love the kids picture....this is why I love doing this...they have such a great time ! (Okay, I kinda like it too...)

They ask when is the next trip as soon as we leave the campsite. We plan on camping every 10 weeks

RWC congrats on your PUP and glad test runs went well. We normally suggest to friends that purchase a trailer or RV they do a test run in a very exotic campground Camp Your Own Backyard. Use the house only as you would comfort station ie Potty calls and showers. You can only use what you have in the camper and tow vehicle. This gets you used to making sure you pack what you do need and setting up. Suggested it to our neighbor recently and they loved it. Their grandkids had a ball and want to go camping every weekend now.
Sidenote This way if disaster strikes your trip home is very nearby.

That is what we were thinking- hubs can't take many days off because of needing to save for Disney PTO, so I want to pull it into the backyard onto one of the slabs we have a do a 4 day dry run so I can figure out the kitchen. I love being eco-friendly but I am 100% certain we will be buying paper plates for Disney.
One thing that got us was the clothing! How do y'all pack your clothing for an 8 day Disney trip? (Are there washing mats at FW?)

 

[rideswithchrist]

We also figured out that the King side bunk end pulls the entire front end wonky...so we had to brace it like crazy! My husband may tackle a rebuild before we go, depending on if my dad is able to come up and help him. (He once bought a TT that had been hit by a train and rebuilt it)

 

[FtW Mike]

All the comfort stations have washing Machines. Bring 2 rolls of quarters and those you don't use for washer and dryer work in frontierland shooting arcade or pressed penny machines

 

[2goofycampers]

The

All the comfort stations have washing Machines. Bring 2 rolls of quarters and those you don't use for washer and dryer work in frontierland shooting arcade or pressed penny machines

They also take credit cards now. I liked not having to tote quarters last trip.