When Should I Replace My RV Batteries: Testing and Ponderings

Camper Upgrades, Camping, , ,

It has been almost five years since we bought our Milan 26RLS travel trailer. Hard for me to reconcile the fact that each year seems to accelerate faster and faster towards the end of the game. When we bought this trailer it replaced our 2006 Fleetwood Niagara that had been “totaled” by our insurance company when vandalizing thieves destroyed it.

Two Exide CG-135 6-volt golf cart batteries installed in September 2013.

That whole process meant we didn’t go camping all summer. Once we got our new Milan the first order of business was to install a solar system and other electrical upgrades prior to its maiden voyage. At the time I was working so there wasn’t a lot of time to shop for the needed materials and components. Fortunately the best deals are on the internet if you know what you really need. There is one exception: batteries. Since 6 volt deep cycle batteries weigh over 60 lbs. each, in 2013 shipping costs made the internet cost of lead-acid batteries prohibitive. Not having a lot of time, and no local retailers close by that sold Trojan brand batteries, I compromised and bought a pair of Exide 6 volt golf cart batteries. At best, at the time, I hoped they would last for 5 years. Continue reading When Should I Replace My RV Batteries: Testing and Ponderings →

Rock Steady: How to Level, Chock, and Stabilize a Travel Trailer

Camper Upgrades, , ,

Back in 2013, before we bought our double-axle Eclipse Milan 26RLS, I wrote this post on How to Level and Stabilize a Tent Trailer.  I should have titled it, How to Chock, Level, and Stabilize a Tent Trailer.

I finally have, after almost five years and some not-so-good products, come up with the solutions to quickly and securely level, chock, and stabilize our travel trailer.

Through trial and error, and a couple of almost disastrous and dangerous events with our Milan, I have finally figured things out so we can camp safe and secure. Not only have I eliminated some potentially serious problems, our travel trailer now sits rock solid without any noticeable shaking when we move about inside.

Hopefully this post will help my readers who own campers to avoid some of the mistakes I have made with our tandem axle travel trailer.

The solutions include a pair of Andersen Camper Levelers, a Fastway ONEStep Chock, an Ultra-Fab Odyssey 4000 electric tongue jack, a pair of BAL Industries X-Chock tire stabilizers, and replacement stabilizers jacks that are 6” taller than the originals that came with the trailer. I will review each of these and go through the process of how to level, chock, and stabilize a tandem axle travel trailer. The steps should be applicable to any multi-axle trailer including 5th wheels. Continue reading Rock Steady: How to Level, Chock, and Stabilize a Travel Trailer →

Update Your Old Kelty External Frame Backpack

Backpacking Gear, ,

There has been a lot of interest in this post on Vintage Kelty External Frame Backpacks.  Seems many folks have figured out these backpacks are fairly light and extremely durable, not to mention several companies are starting to bring new versions of external frame backpacks to market. Yes, as things often go, the old stuff works and marketing people think they have come up with something extra-ordinary, when in fact, they are just re-inventing the wheel. Although I mostly use a couple of internal frame backpacks most of the time theses day, I still use my old Kelty external frame backpacks. They just work and are fun to hike with. Often these old Kelty packs can be found pretty cheap in thrift stores and on eBay.

One problem with these old Kelty packs is the foam in the shoulder straps and hipbelts get rock-hard after several decades. Several folks have told me they would have bought a used one, but the foam was too hard.

Now there is a solution. 

In fact the solution has been around for a long time! Order a replacement shoulder strap set and hipbelt for Kelty’s current Trekker 65 external frame backpack. In this post I will show you how to install them on an old-school Kelty backpack.

Continue reading Update Your Old Kelty External Frame Backpack →

How Our Honda Quiet Generators Saved Us (product review)

Camper Upgrades,

Last week was hot at home.

The temperature wasn’t bad for us desert dwellers. Then a large wildfire starting burning in Idyllwild. Although the fire was on the other side of the San Jacinto Mountains, it was less than 15 miles from our house as the crow flies. No danger of fire at home, but the air quality was poor.

So we decided to leave. Given the local mountains were out of the question and the Southern Sierra further and crowded, we headed to Lake Mead.

Continue reading How Our Honda Quiet Generators Saved Us (product review) →

Up (and down) in the Trinity Alps

Backpack Trip Report

A couple weeks ago I joined a group of friends for a backpacking trip in Northern California in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. It has been quite a while since I wrote about a backpacking trip here on PopUpBackpacker, mostly because I find trip reports to be time consuming to put together and the entire process is somewhat boring for me. However, this is a special case.

Continue reading Up (and down) in the Trinity Alps →

Easy Trailer Stabilizer Upgrade!

Backpacking

The stabilizers on our trailer have been irritating me for almost 5 years. They’re too short and they’re welded to the frame. Typical replacement requires:

  1. Welding new ones means grinding off the old ones and welding the replacements. And I’m not an accomplished welder.
  2. Bolting on new ones still means grinding off the old ones, drilling holes in the frame, and then bolting the replacements to the frame.

Or is there another option that is easier? Yes, there is.  Continue reading Easy Trailer Stabilizer Upgrade! →

The Business Case for Renting an RV Instead of Buying One

Travel Trailer

 

The average person can become a multi-millionaire and create a secure retirement. Buying toys like recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and other stuff is a sure way NOT to become financially independent. For most people who like to go camping, renting instead of purchasing is smarter. If you go to a RV dealer, the salesman will likely tell you that a RV is an investment. That is absolutely false – a RV is a depreciating asset. Continue reading The Business Case for Renting an RV Instead of Buying One →