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The Economics of Owning a Small Travel Trailer

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The Economics of Owning a Small Travel Trailer

If you’re like me, you probably want to stay in a nice place when travelling.  A place that is both clean and comfortable and located in a desirable location.  And, the lodging cost must not be exorbitantly expensive.  Everyone has different standards regarding what is an acceptable accommodation, and this will greatly determine the outcome of a cost comparison between buying a small travel trailer vs. staying in a hotel when travelling.  For people who don’t mind staying in inexpensive motels and whose main objective is to save money (and perhaps don’t desire or appreciate the experiences and beauty of staying right inside a National or State Park or are not concerned about bed bugs), buying a small travel trailer may not make economic sense.  But, for many, the case for buying a small travel trailer is compelling.

A lot of people who own small travel trailers likely don’t purchase one with the sole purpose of saving money.  They like the freedom of having their own home on wheels they can take with them whenever they get the desire to travel.   And they enjoy the comfort a small travel trailer provides — having a small travel trailer means the interior can be tailored to the owner’s preferences, including colors, deluxe bedding and personalized amenities (like shampoos, gourmet food, etc.).  And, there are far fewer concerns about germs since everything in your space is yours!  This is especially true during the pandemic.  For us, the main reason we decided to buy a small travel trailer is so that we could stay in the midst of beautiful State and National Parks (where it would be almost impossible, extremely expensive or uncomfortable to stay otherwise).

The average rate at a Hilton hotel in the U.S. last year was around $145 / night and slightly over $200 / night at a Marriott.  And, rates at hotels within National Parks are often much higher.  For example, as of this writing, the rate at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite for June 2021 starts at $341 / night (and goes up to $1,302 / night).  Lodging rates in larger popular cities, such as San Francisco, also tend to be particularly high.  In contrast, campsite rates at State and National Parks are typically $45 or less / night.  It is important to note that there is often rate inflation, annually pushing nightly hotel rates continually higher year after year.  In contrast, once you buy your small travel trailer, the only rate inflation you may experience will be the campground fees (which generally are very low).  And, after spending a night at a hotel, you’ve spent your money and walk away (just carrying away the experience).  In contrast, at the end of your trip staying in your small travel trailer, you get to drive it home and use it again and again!  And, interestingly, small fiberglass travel trailers like the Scamp, typically hold their value very well over time so you shouldn’t experience significant depreciation either.

Because everyone’s situation is different (e.g. hotel preference, RV preference, number of people travelling, type of tow vehicle, food preference, # of days travelling….), it would be very superficial to draw a specific exact numerical conclusion on the cost savings which may be achieved by travelling by small travel trailer.  But, in general, the savings tend to be significant because nightly rates at campgrounds are usually significantly less than at hotels and food can be brought along and prepared in the trailer vs. paying a premium at restaurants.  However, there are some considerations that may make travelling by small travel trailer more expensive or less desirable.  For example, if a tow vehicle is not already owned, this could be a significant expense.  Also, driving long distances each day can significantly raise the cost of a driving trip due to fuel costs.  Additionally, buying a more expensive small travel trailer (e.g. Airstream) or paying a lot to rent one can eliminate any cost savings as well.  And, some people may just prefer hotels and eating out at restaurants despite higher costs.  And, in some situations, hotels may be better situated for a specific location preference.

Having just completed our first year owning our 2020 Scamp 13’ small travel trailer — spending 31 nights during 6 trips and visiting 22 locations – our experience has been extremely positive and economically sound.  We paid about $18K for our almost fully loaded Scamp (with wider 54” bed and front bathroom), including the $2,195 delivery charge (driven from the Scamp factory in Backus, Minnesota to our home in San Diego, California).  We store our Scamp in our garage, so there are no storage costs.  We pay less than $400 / year for travel trailer insurance.  California PTI registration (for travel trailers 16’ or less) is only $10 every 5 years!  Maintenance costs on small travel trailers are extremely low.  Our campground stays for the year averaged around $33 / night for a total of just over $1K for our first year (31 nights) of travelling in our Scamp 13’.  One contributing factor to this low rate is that a number of stay overs were for free at either relative’s homes or Harvest Hosts or Boondockers Welcome sites.  We also brought our own food along for all our trips or had meals with relatives at their homes.  If we had stayed in hotels for the 31 nights and purchased meals each day, we probably would have conservatively spent around $200 / night or over $6K for our first year [31 nights x ($150 / night + $50 / meals / day for 2 people)].  So, in our case, based on our first year of travel, we saved roughly $5K in one year by owning a small travel trailer, which is almost 30% the cost of the trailer in savings.  It’s easy to see, that if one purchases a reasonably priced small travel trailer (<$20K), it will likely pay for itself in just a few years of travel if used regularly.

We’ve found the benefits of owning and travelling with a small travel trailer go way beyond economic.  We’ve been able to experience exquisitely beautiful locations in a variety of different settings in State and National Parks over the past year (see our Adventures section).  Despite what is regularly reported in the news, we did not experience crowds at the campgrounds we’ve visited.  We did have some difficulty in finding open campgrounds at the last minute, but always found alternative available locations.  The campsites have usually been extremely quiet.  And, we have not missed the typical noises coming from behind a hotel room wall, sheet inspections of a hotel room bed, being very hygienically careful in hotel bathrooms or wondering about food safety when eating out.  It’s been great waking up in nature and making pancakes on our stove or meeting up with friends also staying at the campground for a hike.  Watching a movie at a remote location is also a special treat (see How to Watch Movies in the Wild).  We’ve also enjoyed staying over in relatives’ driveways to visit as well as free stay overs at farms (Harvest Hosts / Boondockers Welcome).   Lastly, we’ve made a number of friends who we never would have met without staying in campgrounds.

Owning a small travel trailer can not only be an economic win as a travelling solution, but may also provide unexpected social, culinary, fitness, and soul filling opportunities along the way.  Highly recommended!

 

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

Is Converting the Dinette-Bed 2x/Day in a Scamp 13′ a Deal Breaker?

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Is Converting the Dinette-Bed 2x/Day in a Scamp 13′ a Deal Breaker?

One key consideration when selecting a small travel trailer is bed configuration.  Will the bed be the right size for two people?  Can I leave the bed down all the time and still use the kitchen table?  How easy is it to convert the bed into the dinette in the morning and back again into the bed in the evening?  These questions are often key variables when considering choices of small travel trailers.

Health experts typically recommend between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night for adults.  So, if a person usually sleeps about 8 hours per night, they spend 1/3 of each day sleeping!  That’s a lot of time!  In turn, it’s really important to seriously consider sleep when deciding on a trailer brand and configuration.  With the smallest travel trailers (around 13’ in length), there usually is a compromise in order to get both a nice sized bed and dinette.  This compromise is the necessity to convert the bed to the dinette every morning (and back to the bed in the evening).  This is the case for our Scamp 13’, which has a very roomy full-sized bed for two people (54” wide x 76” long) and, after conversion, a generously roomy kitchen table for four people.  For many, the perceived time and effort it takes to make this daily conversion is a deal breaker.  Often, the solution for those not wanting to undertake these daily conversions twice a day is to buy a larger trailer with a bed which can be left down all the time.  For example, the Scamp 16’ allows for a side two-person dinette (offering the possibility for the bed to always be left down).  In this case, no daily conversion is necessary (however, if the bed is left down, the usable dinette table in the Scamp 16’ is much smaller than that in the Scamp 13’).

After deciding on a Scamp small travel trailer (see our article on Ordering our 2020 Scamp), we needed to choose between the 13’ and 16’ models.  While both allow for the low cost $10 every 5 years California PTI registration (available for small trailers 16’ or less), the Scamp 13’ fits in our garage better, is a bit lighter (up to 800 lbs lighter than the Scamp 16″ Standard according to Scamp!), and has the wider 54” bed option not available on the Scamp 16’ Standard.  We didn’t think sleeping on a 43” wide bed would be as comfortable for two people.  So, with that, our decision was made and we were committed to undertaking the twice a day dinette-bed conversion when travelling in our Scamp 13’.  We just hoped it was not going to be a real pain and get to be too much after a while.

In the end, undertaking the daily dinette-bed conversion was just not that big a deal.  Perhaps it’s because we only travel every month or so (up to 10 days at a time) and aren’t living in our Scamp 13’ full time.  However, it seems not much different than making our bed every day at home.  The actual conversion of flipping up the table arm, lowering the table into the bed position, and sliding the cushions over the tables is ridiculously easy (and similar for the reverse procedure).  Laying out the memory foam mattress topper and sleeping bag takes a little more time.  But, overall, the entire process is very doable and we are happy we chose the Scamp 13’.  If we were living in the Scamp full time, then it probably would be nice to have the bed down all the time.  If I were a solo traveler, I would likely order the Scamp 13’ with bigger 54” bed and implement a table modification to allow for a hybrid bed-table setup – so the bed can always be left down and still allow for a table (similar to the great approach presented in this discussion here).

In order to see how much time it actually takes one person to make the dinette-bed conversion, we made the above video and timed it.  In both cases of conversion (dinette to bed and bed to dinette), the time it took one person is less than three minutes.  So, if spending 6 minutes or less per day on making / unmaking your bed is reasonable and you don’t mind getting a little bit of exercise, choosing a smaller trailer (such as the Scamp 13’) could actually end up giving you more room for your dinette and bed than if you chose a slightly larger model trailer with a dedicated bed.  Additionally, you might also find you are getting into more campgrounds as a result of your smaller size (secret)!

Update:
We are still going strong in our 2020 Scamp 13′ after over four years (35 trips, 125 locations, and 226 nights) and are happy with choosing this model despite the bed conversion.  We stopped using a bed topper as the softer foam cushions make sleeping much more comfortable than the much firmer factory ones.  We also made the daily bed conversion easier by replacing the particle board on the dinette table with lightweight plywood.

 

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

Should I have a Camping Logo?

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Should I have a Camping Logo?

It all started in November 2019 when we took delivery of our 2020 Scamp 13’ travel trailer without any logos… for a clean all-white glossy look.  The only Scamp designation on the trailer was on the rear spare tire cover, which is printed with Scamp’s logo and phone number.  After a few months, the all-white vinyl tire cover was getting yellowed and didn’t look great.  (It was getting to be a bit embarrassing.)  Time for a replacement?  But, we preferred something unique and special for our next tire cover.

At about the same time the Scamp spare tire cover was ready to be replaced, we thought it would be great to start a small travel trailer blog to help others flatten their learning curve.  While developing the website, a friend recommended we have a logo.  Although not necessary, we thought this would add a nice touch on each web page as well as on our profile image for our scamptrailer Instagram account.  In addition, it would provide an opportunity to order a high quality custom spare tire cover with our own logo to replace the yellowed one we had.  So, next project: develop a logo!

The first thing we did to create our logo was develop a concept of what we wanted.  Our initial thoughts were that the logo should have a bear, owl, Scamp 13’ travel trailer, some trees, and mountains – things we love to experience while camping.  Choose design elements that are meaningful to you when creating your logo.  We also wanted the artistic elements to be integrated in some way so that it looks like a real logo design and not just a drawing.  To save a lot of time and expense, we sketched out the initial design idea ourselves with pen and paper.  Once we were satisfied, we sent the drawing to our illustrator friend and had her professionally draw it out.  The initial rendering was created with black lines and then a second drawing added just a few elements yellow (windows, owl’s eyes, and moon).  Later, we gave the completed design to a relative who is a graphic artist and he colorized the entire illustration.  Having a few color variations provides some design options for different logo uses (e.g. website, Instagram profile, spare tire cover, stickers, t-shirts …..).

The process of creating a logo can be very quick, depending on you and your ideas.  It’s also not too expensive.  If you are an artist type, then you can probably create your own logo for free in a graphics design program like Photoshop.  However, we decided on using a professional for illustrating our design.  Our logo cost around $140 to make (although our relative did not charge us to colorize the final illustration).  In the end, creating a camping logo is more than worth it if you are actively using your small travel trailer because you can not only use the logo for a spare tire cover, but also for online profile images, giveaway items like stickers, as well as t-shirts you can wear on your trips.  If your logo is on your outside spare tire cover, it will be seen quite a bit and you will really enjoy the customized look and most likely get a lot of compliments and questions.  The logo gives your small travel trailer a bit more personality, both on the road and in the campground.  Additionally, if you choose to make stickers with your logo, you can give them away to new friends you meet at the campgrounds as your calling card as well as trading them on Instagram.  You might even create t-shirts with you logo!  The list of possibilities for your logo is almost endless!

CLICK HERE TO BUY ON AMAZON

Email Marianne if interested in Logo design:  mariannerf@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

How Easy is Towing a Small Travel Trailer for the First Time?

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How Easy is Towing a Small Travel Trailer for the First Time?

I had no absolutely no experience towing a small travel trailer when our Scamp 13’ was dropped off at our home by the factory delivery driver.  After a quick review of some of the Scamp’s features and signing the paperwork (and handing over a check), the driver left and the Scamp was now in our garage ready to be taken on adventures.

I really liked the idea of all the possible trips we could take by having a small travel trailer and the probable fun we would have.  Small travel trailers are a golden ticket into places most cannot spend the night (at least not comfortably), like State and National Parks.  In the past, we would stay at a hotel if we wanted to visit scenic outdoor locations.  And, hotels at these types of places are typically not cheap!  In contrast, most nightly campground rates at State and National Parks are generally very reasonable (often less than $40 / night).  For example, a full hookup spot (meaning electricity, water, and sewer are provided at your campsite) at Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley National Park is currently only $36 / night.  In comparison, a room at the Inn At Death Valley starts at around $350 / night in January.  In addition, you can prepare all your meals in your small travel trailer, but would likely have a much higher meal cost at the hotel.

Given all the positives, we decided we would just have to learn how to tow the small travel trailer and hoped it wouldn’t be that difficult.  The first challenge came up pretty soon after delivery.  In order to register the trailer, we needed to tow it to the local AAA as an in-person inspection is required!  With no prior experience, and after a bit of research, we hooked up our Scamp and drove it to AAA.  It actually was a very easy first drive experience.  The Scamp just follows the tow vehicle and, unless you make sharp turns, change lanes too fast, or go over bumps too quickly, it really isn’t a big deal to tow.  It is important to allow for wide turns so the trailer following you can clear whatever you are turning around.  The only stress initially was changing lanes, but even that has now become as easy as driving without the Scamp attached.  You just have to take it slowly and make extra sure the lane is clear before you change lanes.

Advanced research and preparation seem to be the keys for first time towing success.  Just like studying for a test, if you prepare in advance you will stand a higher chance for a positive outcome.  First, it’s important you select the right tow vehicle before you buy your small travel trailer.  Although I did chat with someone who told me he tows his Scamp 13’ travel trailer with a Toyota Prius, I wouldn’t recommend that for anyone.  Instead, choose a vehicle that is rated to tow (meaning the transmission and brakes, etc. were designed for towing) and can easily handle the weight of your trailer as well as the hitch (tongue) weight your small travel trailer puts on your tow vehicle’s hitch ball (to be conservative, having at least 30% more vehicle capacity than the weight and tongue weight of the trailer may be a good starting point).  In most cases, a decently powered SUV will do the job for towing a small travel trailer (but check the specs on your trailer and desired tow vehicle).   In our case, we chose the Volvo XC40 with the T5 AWD engine and factory installed tow package (248 hp, tow rating = 3,500 lbs if trailer has brakes / tongue weight rating = 350 lbs).  Scamp lists the approximate weight of the standard 13’ model between 1200 and 1500 lbs. and the tongue weight at 100 lbs.  So, in this case, the Volvo XC40 is easily rated to tow the Scamp.  The extra tow and tongue capacity allows for potentially higher weights due to carrying gear in the Scamp as well as provides power for steep mountain passes.  The tow vehicle should be ordered with a factory tow package if available and the small travel trailer should be ordered with electronic brakes.

We have found the Volvo XC40 to be an exceptional tow vehicle in many ways.  First, since it’s only a four cylinder turbo, it gets relatively good gas mileage — we routinely get 20MPG when towing.  It also feels incredibly stable to drive and the weight of our Scamp 13’ is not noticeable (even going up steep grades).  And, since it is all wheel drive (AWD), it always feels sure footed even on the bumpy sloped dirt surfaces one is likely to encounter at some campgrounds.  We picked up the vehicle in Sweden through Volvo’s Oversees Delivery Program (which is a fantastic experience in itself).  This allowed us to drive the car around Sweden for a couple of weeks and get to know the vehicle and the country.

Once you have your very capable tow vehicle, it is time to order a capable hitch to plug into your vehicle’s hitch receptacle.  We purchased this heavy duty hitch (2 x 2” shank with 2” ball) which is rated to tow 7,500lbs gross trailer weight and 750lbs tongue weight!  So, this hitch can easily accommodate a 13’ Scamp weighing 1,500lbs with a 100lb tongue weight!  It has a 2” drop, but can also be flipped to give a ¾” rise (note: it’s best to go to an automotive shop that uses pneumatic tools to properly torque the nut if it’s flipped).  We started with the 2” drop, but found that the Scamp 13’ was not level with our tow vehicle (slight drop in center, see images) which resulted in the tongue jack plate sometimes scraping driveways and noisy towing (hitch ball rattling).  Once we flipped the hitch, the trailer became level with our tow vehicle resulting in no more scraping and a smoother quieter towing experience!

Having both a capable tow vehicle and hitch set up will mean that you are much less likely to encounter towing problems on the road.  Of course, it’s always important to plug in your trailer to the tow vehicle so your trailer’s lights and emergency brakes are communicating with the tow vehicle (and check the trailer lights before leaving).  In addition, it’s imperative that safety chains be used whenever towing (see images).  Getting the ball on your tow vehicle properly aligned with your trailer coupler takes some practice, but gets easier with experience.  I taped a ribbon on the tow coupler so it hangs straight down – this lets me see the ball hit the ribbon, which indicates just an inch or so more and the tow coupler is right over the ball.  The step of locking the coupler onto the ball is critical.  After locking, I recommend pulling up on the travel trailer coupler a couple times to watch the tow vehicle rear end go up and down to make sure the ball is really securely locked into place in the coupler (none or barely any of the bottom of the ball should be visible if looking at it from the side).  In addition, I recommend using a coupler lock, not only as a theft security device, but also to help prevent the coupler latch from popping open while driving.  I also like to use a hitch lock to securely hold the hitch in place and prevent someone from walking off with it.

The hardest thing about towing a small travel trailer isn’t the towing.  I’ve found the biggest challenge is backing up the small travel trailer so that it goes where you want it to.  In this regard, it’s always good to have a helper if available so they can stand outside the vehicle and direct you (either with walkie talkies, cell phones, or shouting).  Our Scamp 13’ is very responsive when backing up and it takes practice getting comfortable to what type of wheel movements are required to control the trailer.  One trick that really helps when backing up is to hold the steering wheel at the bottom and then turn it in the direction you want the trailer to travel.  Don’t let the trailer go anywhere close to a 90 degree position with the tow vehicle when backing up as this can cause damage.  It’s always better to take your time and straighten out as many times as you need to get your approach angle right.  After a few trips, you will find backing up to be pretty easy.  Note:  I no longer use our trailer dolly in our garage because I’m used to backing our Scamp into the exact position I want in tight spaces (and you will be too after some experience).

In summary, I’m really glad we decided to purchase the Scamp 13’ even though we lacked towing experience and had concerns about the possible challenges of towing.  Ultimately, towing a small travel trailer turns out not to be such a big deal.  Towing your small travel trailer should be easy as long as you are prepared and get the proper tow vehicle and equipment (and follow checklists when leaving).  If you do this, towing your small travel trailer will not be that much more difficult than driving your car.  Initially, it may be stressful, but after towing for a trip or two you will be glad you made the purchase and likely will enjoy your trailer and all the experiences it will offer for many years to come.

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

Why Motion-Activated Lights May be a Dim Idea

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Why Motion-Activated Lights May be a Dim Idea

Our Scamp travel trailer arrived from the factory with a handful of LED lights (7 x 12 volt LED lights per our custom order), which more than adequately light up the interior of the trailer.  There is a light above the stove, one facing the dinette/bed, one in the bathroom/shower, and two bright reading spot lights over each side of the dinette/bed (there are also two bright outdoor lights – one outside the entry door and one in front of the trailer near the battery).  These lights do a great job of lighting up the inside and outside of the trailer at night.  However, there are no lights in the closets or cupboards and, when it’s dark, and it’s not practical to turn on the interior lights because someone is still sleeping, having good light inside the closets is very beneficial.

We use the front lower closet for storing clothing on the hanger and for our toolbox and other essential camping supplies, like cables and wood blocks (which sit on the floor).  The front upper closet contains our double sleeping bag, pillows, paper products (TP & Paper Towels), and indoor floor mats.  I discovered on our first Scamp trip that these cabinets are very dark inside because they are big and deep.  Without adequate light, it’s often difficult to find items inside these cabinets.  Because we didn’t want to wire new 12 volt lights into the Scamp, we purchased a rechargeable battery powered motion-activated LED light made by Sylvania to try in the lower closet.  Although this light provided plenty of brightness and was nice in that it instantly turned on just by opening the closet door, we found it was quickly running out of power.  We noticed it was frequently turning on by itself inside the closet and we figured this was maybe a defective light.  We replaced the light with a circular battery powered motion-activated light.  This one, powered by AAA batteries, also turned on by itself in the closet (and by the end of just one trip, the AAAs were depleted).  We finally figured out that the slight motion of walking around in the Scamp was activating the motion sensors!

We tested the theory that the motion sensors are too sensitive for use inside our small travel trailer (which tends to slightly move when walking inside) by trying the original Sylvania light again.  But, this time, we used the ON/OFF switch setting and avoided the motion activated feature.  That did the trick!  The light was only on when turned on and the charge held for a very long time!  After learning this lesson, we now use a simple switch-on LED light in the closets.  The VIBELITE is inexpensive (we purchased in a pack of 4), bright, and comes with various mounting methods.  It’s powered by 3 x AAA batteries.  We mounted the lights by using the supplied Velcro adhesive strips on the back of the lights.  Although we have to physically switch the VIBELITE on, we are now assured we will have reliable bright lighting in the Scamp closets on each trip. Phew!

CLICK HERE TO BUY ON AMAZON

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

One Simple Way to Increase Your Trailer’s Fresh Water Supply by Over 50%!

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One Simple Way to Increase Your Trailer’s Fresh Water Supply by Over 50%!

Most small travel trailers with kitchens/bathrooms usually have small fresh water tanks compared to larger RVs.  The size of the fresh water tank in our Scamp 13’ is 12 gallons and there is also a hot water tank (6 gallons).  So, our Scamp carries about 18 gallons of fresh water when fully loaded.  Since water weighs around 8.3 pounds per gallon at room temperature, filling the Scamp with fresh water adds about 150 pounds.  Interestingly, we’ve compared towing the Scamp with (completely full fresh and hot water tanks) and without water and did not feel any difference in towing or notice any difference in average gas mileage!  Because of this, if we are heading to a location without hookups (even if there are central water spigots available) we will fill up at home (including the hot water heater tank) before heading out.

The first thing to consider when looking at fresh water is how it will be used when you are camping.  Some people use their fresh water tanks for all their needs while camping.  This includes using their sink/s for washing dishes, rinsing food, washing their hands, washing their face, brushing their teeth, and even drinking; in addition, they will use their shower.  In big RVs with 60 gallon tanks and larger, this may seem reasonable (with the possible exception of drinking).  However, in small travel trailers, one has to be especially mindful of water usage when camping without hookups due to limited water in the tank.  Note:  if there are hookups at the campground, then careful water conservation is not really an issue (except for maybe environmental concerns).

After using our Scamp 13’ (with kitchen sink, bathroom, and shower) for around a year in a combination of boondocking and hookup locations, we now have a good understanding of what the trailer’s water and tank limits are with how we use it.  If we are careful, we can go about 3 days without having to refill our Fresh tank (this is also about the same amount of time that it takes our Grey tank, 21 gallons, to get filled).  This includes 2 people, each taking a shower every day (shower turned on to get wet, turned off while shampooing and lathering, and turned back on to rinse – aka, Navy shower).  We also use our sink to quickly rinse our plates once or twice a day (depending on meals).  One thing we don’t use our water for is drinking (or water for cooking pasta).  Most of the water we use goes down the shower drain into the Grey water tank.  We know some campers who are able to go at least double our time (maybe even around a week) without refilling water because instead of showering daily, they may shower much less frequently or take wipes and avoid the shower altogether!  In our case, we pretty much like to maintain the same type of cleaning rituals that we practice at home.

The key way in which we effectively increase our Scamp’s fresh water supply by over 50% is by carrying our drinking water with us in jugs in our tow vehicle!  We always bring two 4 gallon BPA-free water jugs in the back of our SUV for all our drinking and cooking needs when we go on a typical 10 day trip in our Scamp.  By carrying an additional 8 gallons of fresh water in our tow vehicle, we are effectively increasing our Fresh water tank supply by 67% (12 gallons Fresh > 20 gallons)!!!  This gives us a lot more fresh water supply.  Health experts typically recommend a person drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (8×8 rule), which is about ½ gallon of water per person per day.  So, by using this rule, two people would bring 10 gallons of water on their 10 day trip (1/2 gallon/day x 2 people x 10 days).  We tend to drink slightly less water than this amount because we also drink macadamia milk in our cereal, oat milk in our tea, sometimes soup for lunch, and we eat a lot of juicy fruits (like oranges).  So, for us, bringing 8 gallons of fresh water on a 10 day trip works out great (we always have extra water when we return home).

In addition to greatly expanding our small travel trailer’s fresh water supply by carrying our own fresh water in BPA-free jugs, we also feel more comfortable drinking the water.  Although drinking RV tap water can be safe, that safety is largely dependent on the trailer’s tank and water system having been properly sanitized (see this article on how to sanitize your fresh water tank).  In addition, contaminants can possibly enter the trailer when hooked up at a campsite (either through contamination by the hose, spigot, or the water itself).  Using a water filter can help reduce some risk, but may not entirely defeat it.  Note: water hoses used at campsites should be rated as non-toxic for drinking.  We have always used our sink water for brushing our teeth and have not had any issues (but we do not drink this water – just rinse, and spit out).

There are many potential sources for fresh water if you choose to carry the water in a BPA-free water jug.  Bottled water is perhaps the easiest way to take water on your trip.  It can either be purchased directly at the market, or, there are often inexpensive water machines in front of markets that allow you to fill your own jugs.  Many different types of water are sold, such as alkaline and chemically treated water.  We have a filter water purification system in our home and use that to fill our 4 gallon jugs.  Whatever water and method you use to fill your jugs, you will ultimately greatly expand the amount of fresh water capacity available for your small travel trailer and likely improve the quality of your water by carrying your fresh drinking water separately in your tow vehicle!

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

Free Stayovers with Boondockers Welcome & Harvest Hosts

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Free Stayovers with Boondockers Welcome & Harvest Hosts

Sometimes things seem a little too good to be true.  The first time we heard about RV membership services like Boondockers Welcome and Harvest Hosts we thought there must be some sort of gimmick to it.  Who would let you stay at their home or on their farm for no money (and potentially even let you use some of their resources like water and electricity)?  We wondered if there would be surcharges or other gotchas.  Or, perhaps it would be very difficult to secure a stay over (like at State and National Parks).  It seemed hard to understand how this camping model really worked.

Since the cost of an annual membership of both organizations is very low (less than the cost of one night’s stay at a typical RV park), we decided to give them a try figuring we had little to lose (especially if we were able to stay at least one night during the annual membership term).  Joining is very easy and is all done quickly online.  Once you complete payment, you can then sign into each of the websites and write up a profile that describes yourselves and your RV.  It is significant to note that both services require the RV to be completely self-contained (meaning sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation are all enclosed in the RV — toilet, sink, and grey tank are required).  Once your profile is set up, you can search the available locations (with descriptions on what is offered).  After you decide on a location and verify it can accommodate your rig length, you can then make a stay request (on Boondockers Welcome, this is done entirely online through messaging with the host and on Harvest Hosts you actually have to call or text the host).

Boondockers Welcome allows searches by location on a map with host sites depicted by a trailer.  When the trailer is clicked on, more information appears about the location which can then be opened to reveal the site details (e.g. number of spots, maximum length of trailer, house rules, utilities available, reviews by users …..).  Incredibly, there are plenty of Boondockers Welcome locations across the US and Canada (and sprinkled throughout the world)!  Most of the Boondockers Welcome locations allow stays of up to 2 or 3 days, but hosts may allow a longer stay if they choose.  Once you find your desired location and verify the space can accommodate your RV / trailer, you enter your arrival date and number of days you want to stay from the pull down menu.  After your request is submitted, you are prompted to message the host and tell a little about why you are travelling.  The host will then view your profile which lists your RV type and make a decision on your stay.  You will receive an email (and text) with the acceptance decision as soon as it’s made.  It’s good to stay in touch with the host through the messages center as your arrival date gets close.

Harvest Hosts, like Boondockers Welcome, provides a search map to find locations.  The map is color coded with icons denoting if the location is either a winery (red wine glass), farm (yellow barn), museum or other attraction (green building), or brewery / distillery (brown beer mug).  You can enter some preferences such as RV length, if the location is pet friendly, and the type of location when you conduct a search.  Once you find a location that looks good, and click on it, you will see a description, including the address of the business along with how many spaces are available, the maximum RV length allowed, and if the location is pet friendly.  To reserve the spot, a number is provided to either call (or sometimes text) the host.  Generally, acceptance is given on the spot over the phone or via text.

While both Boondockers Welcome and Harvest Hosts provide places to stay for your RV adventures, they are oriented a bit differently.  Boondockers Welcome locations are usually provided by fellow campers or those interested in travelling by RV.  The properties are generally the hosts’ homes (which could be driveways in cities or spots on large parcels of land or farms outside the city).  And, it seems like the primary motivation of many Boondockers Welcome hosts in providing overnight stays is to meet and help out fellow travelers as well as socialize with them.  Hosts also get discounts on guest memberships and credits when guests stay (another incentive to become a host).  These hosts generally don’t expect anything in return for your stay and are often very generous in their time and resources.  So, it’s important that guests are well-behaved and appreciative to keep this system working.  Harvest Hosts locations on the other hand are mostly businesses which have space to accommodate certain size RVs.  In general, the Harvest Hosts location does expect the guest to make a purchase.  Since Harvest Hosts locations are mostly wineries and farms, this often means purchasing a bottle of wine or other product from the farm.  From our experiences in California, the Harvest Hosts locations seem to offer less in the way of utilities (e.g. water, electricity, dump) than Boondockers Welcome locations.

Our overall impressions of both memberships are extremely positive.  After signing up and logging in, we found that it is usually very easy to secure reservations (often with very few dates already blocked for any given location).  And, given the extremely low annual price of each service, joining both seems a no-brainer.  There really isn’t much of a gotcha in these services (beyond the expectation of buying something when staying at Harvest Hosts locations).  Boondockers Welcome seems to be the better value if your goal is to have plenty of places to stay on your travels and aren’t looking specifically to stay at a farm or winery.  For example, if you are doing a cross country road trip, Boondockers Welcome provides great opportunities for free stops all along the way (and many in scenic locations).  And, there seem to be more Boondockers Welcome sites within big cities, whereas Harvest Hosts locations, being mostly wineries and farms, are often out of the city.  For those who love wine, joining Harvest Hosts would be a must.    Staying at a vineyard and having a wine tasting can be a special experience.  Boondockers Welcome locations also include farms and other special properties as well, so unique experiences aren’t just limited to Harvest Hosts.

We recently had a memorable Boondockers Welcome stay on our way home back to San Diego on a 10-day trip up to Coos Bay, Oregon.  We were looking for a stayover at a halfway point between Oakland and San Diego.  We found a miniature donkey farm on the Boondockers Welcome map and messaged the host.  She was especially gracious and we booked an overnight stay right away through the online messages center within the Boondockers Welcome website.  We did have to drive down a long dirt road to get to the farm, but it was well worth it.  The farm is situated on over 20 acres and we were told we could park anywhere!  We parked high up on a hill on a nice quiet space overlooking the valley below (near one of the miniature donkey enclosures).  We had access to water if we needed it.  The host was really nice and spent the afternoon with us showing us her animals and allowing us to feed and pet the miniature donkeys.  We gave the host a small gift (Peanuts oven mitt with kitchen towels set) to show our appreciation.  The night was extremely quiet and the stars were out.  After breakfast, we said goodbye to the donkeys and drove off.  It was one of the best stops on our entire trip!

Our first Harvest Hosts stay was at an olive oil farm in Paso Robles.  The host had one spot behind their barn facing a grove of olive trees.  The location was on our way from Santa Barbara to Oakland and, therefore, wasn’t too far out of the way on our trip.  Other than a quick greeting from the host (and purchasing a $20 bottle of olive oil), we were on our own in a very quiet location (the main house was a far distance up the hill).  There weren’t really any hookups (although we were offered a $40 / night electrical hookup which we declined).  We had our solar panel and plenty of water (and propane gas for our hot water heater and stove), so we were fine without hookups at this location.  We enjoyed being out in the olive orchard and seeing the stars at night.  The experience was very tranquil and felt much nicer than any RV park we had visited.  After breakfast the next morning, and then a long walk in the country, we just drove off having gotten our money’s worth out of the annual Harvest Hosts membership in just this one stay.

Based on our great experiences and the low cost memberships of both Boondockers Welcome and Harvest Hosts, we highly recommend both subscription services and think it’s very easy to get your money out of them within just a visit or two.  The current subscription price for an annual guest pass at Boondockers Welcome is $50.  If you want to join Boondockers Welcome:

CLICK HERE TO JOIN BOONDOCKERS WELCOME

The current subscription price for an annual guest pass at Harvest Hosts is $70.  However, currently there’s a 15% off promotional coupon for Harvest Hosts if you would like to join and give it a try.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN HARVEST HOSTS

 

Disclaimer:  You will be supporting the continuation of this website by buying here as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are services, products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific service or product and cannot guarantee that the services or products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

How our “Water Bandit” Saved our Trip

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How our “Water Bandit” Saved our Trip

Ordinarily, we try to stay away from unsavory characters – which include bandits of any sort.  It just doesn’t seem morally right and legally appropriate to hire such thugs to perform essential tasks (even if they are legal).  However, we made an exception when we discovered the “Water Bandit”.

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No, you do not need an extra seat in your tow vehicle to take one of these bandits along.  Nor do you need to carry potential bail money with you in case your bandit is caught in the act.  This “Water Bandit” is actually a small clever rubbery device that can attach to water spigots at campgrounds – that were perhaps intentionally designed without threads (or ones with stripped or damaged threads) – making attaching a regular hose now possible.  The “Water Bandit” slides over and grips onto the spigot with the rubber side on one end and has a threaded end for your hose or water tank filler with a shutoff valve on the other end.

This inexpensive device takes up very little space and can be a true trip saver at some campgrounds!  On our most recent trip up the California coast to Coos Bay, Oregon, we stayed at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (about 50 miles north of Eureka).  We were running low on water and there are no hookups at this campground.  However, there are water spigots sprinkled throughout the campground and we found one close to our campsite (#49).  I set our water jug under the spigot and turned it on and a high pressure spray of water shot in all directions with very little going into our water container.  It was difficult to adjust the amount of water coming out (e.g. all on or off).  I realized it was going to take all day to capture water in this method without some help.  And, then, remembered our “Water Bandit”.

I screwed on our water tank filler hose onto our “Water Bandit” (since we were too far from our campsite to use our hose to reach the Scamp) and then slipped the bandit over the spigot.  I placed our dolly under the water jug so I could easily move it to the Scamp after being weighted down with water.  Note:  a gallon of water weighs about 8.34 pounds at room temperature (so our 6 gallon water jug weighs about 50 pounds when full)!  When I first opened the spigot and water shot through it at high pressure, the bandit flew off (as it is not intended to use under pressure).  So, I turned the water off, slipped it back on the spigot, angled the hose straight down into the water jug, and then held the bandit on the spigot with one hand while opening up the spigot with the other (some people report success using a hose clamp to hold their bandits onto the spigot).  The water now behaved and quickly shot straight down into the water jug, quickly filling it.  If we had been parked closer to the Scamp, I would have hooked up our hose and filled our Scamp’s fresh water tank directly.  In the end, the “Water Bandit” helped us tremendously in having an enjoyable trip by allowing us to fill our water tank.  We will never go camping again without our “Water Bandit”!

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

Coast Trip from San Diego to Coos Bay Oregon With Stops (10 Days)

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Coast Trip from San Diego to Coos Bay Oregon With Stops (10 Days)
October 18th – 28th 2020

Driving the iconic Highway 1 along the coast of California from San Diego to its northern border is a must adventure for anyone who enjoys beautiful views, sensational campgrounds, and excitement on many levels.  It’s not a drive for the faint of heart since there are long portions of very windy roads.  But, with a small travel trailer, it’s entirely manageable.   And, there are many different types of geography to explore and plenty of really nice state parks to make the trip enjoyable.  We decided that it would be a great addition to cross the border into Oregon and stay over in Coos Bay before heading back home.

We made reservations just a week before the trip and were lucky in finding site openings in wonderful state park campgrounds.  And every site we had was a really nice one.  It seems if one is flexible and can vary campground locations depending on availability then openings are more easily attained.  Our main goal was to get up the coast without driving more than 4 hours at a time and stopping at some key locations such as San Simeon, Santa Cruz, and the Redwoods.  We prefer to stay at state parks because the sites are often spread out and tend to be economical.  When planning our stay overs, we also consider our needs for dumping, water replenishment, and electricity demand.  We generally need to dump every few days, but can usually find dump stations at gas stations if they are not available at campsites (which they often are in at least a centralized dump station at the campground).

Our first stop was at my Uncle Mel’s house in Santa Barbara (about a 3 1/2 hour drive from San Diego).  We parked in the driveway on the quiet street and got set up with water and electricity.  We made some pasta for lunch in our Scamp and my cousin Melvin joined us.  We then enjoyed a stroll in Tucker’s Grove Park with my cousin Jon and his dog Charlie.  In the afternoon, we enjoyed sitting and admiring my Uncle Mel’s beautiful artwork in his backyard studio garden.  My cousins made a really nice family BBQ dinner in the backyard in the evening.  The next day we visited some of our family in the Santa Barbara cemetery (along with a family of foxes who live there).  After a really quiet and restful sleep, we left for Hearst San Simeon State Park in the morning.

Hearst San Simeon State Park, about a three hour drive from Santa Barbara, is an enjoyable campground above a beautiful beach (which is within walking distance).  We paid $43 for Site #17.  There are water spigots at the campground and a free central dump.  The cellphone service here is poor (Verizon).  However, we were able to pick up 9 channels of crystal clear high definition television signals (HDTV)!  We set up our briefcase solar panel on the picnic bench behind our Scamp and were able to charge up our batteries while out exploring.  Moonstone Beach is a fantastic location for beachcombing.  There are so many beautiful rocks on the sand, including the famous shimmering moonstones.  We were lucky enough to find a few.  California Jade and other rocks can also be collected on Moonstone Beach.  We just purchased a rock tumbler and are currently tumbling these tones, hoping to transform them into semi-precious jewels!  If you are lucky, you might also find a sand dollar on the beach (we did!).  We also visited Elephant Seal Beach which is close by and enjoyed viewing and listening to the hundreds of seals that migrate through here.

The next day, after about a two and a half hour drive north, we arrived at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (Santa Cruz).  We paid $43 for Site #27, which is a good and shady private site.  There are water spigots here but no dumps.  The cellphone service is poor (Verizon), but the HDTV is great since the campground is high up on a hill above downtown Santa Cruz.  There are really nice hikes at this campground, with one that leads up to an observation deck.  We were able to see deer, plenty of woodpeckers, beautiful redwoods, ocean views, and a nice sunset.  We drove down into town (about an 8 minute drive) and parked close to the Santa Cruz wharf.  We had a nice long walk to the end of the wharf and saw seals resting below on the wooden pilings.  The next morning, after a long hike and viewing the sites from the observation deck above the campground, we drove to the UC Santa Cruz campus (about 15 minute drive) and purchased a Slug t-shirt in their student store.  We also walked a bit on the campus which is like walking through the redwoods in a state park.

The next morning, we spent about four hours driving north to Van Damme State Park (Ft. Bragg).  We paid $48 for site #68 – a pleasant, private site (the meadow sites near #68 are also good).  There is no cellphone service here (Verizon) and no over the air HDTV.  There is a gas station very close by.  There are water spigots and a $10 dump site.  The area campsite was too shady for using our solar panel, but we had plenty of power to charge all our devices using our lithium powered Jackery 500 battery power bank!   There’s a nice long walk to a beautiful beach down below the campground.  We found abalone shells on the beach.  There are great hiking trails in the redwoods as well as an interesting pygmy forest hike close by.  We met some really friendly people at the campground and had a very relaxing stay here.

The next day we drove four hours north to reach Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (located in Humbolt County near the town of Orick, about 50 miles north of Eureka).  The park is over 14,000 acres and is home to some very old giant Coast Redwoods.  There is a big meadow and you can sometimes see large Elk grazing (we did!).  This campground is about 1,500 feet above sea level and was a bit chilly when we visited in October (clear and sunny but in the 50’s during the day).  The chill gave us a chance to try out our gas powered Scamp furnace (which is very effective at quickly creating hot air and blowing it into the Scamp).  It doesn’t take long for the Scamp to get really toasty with the furnace running!  There is no dump here, but there are water spigots.  We paid $43 for site #49 which is nice and private (but too shady for solar panels).  We had no cellphone service (Verizon) here and couldn’t receive any over the air HDTV signals.  Our water bandit came in handy in filling up our water jug as the faucet sprayed too wildly for the stream to be contained and efficiently fill the jug.  The redwood hikes are spectacular with trees so huge they seem to be from fairy tales.  We watched a couple large bull Elks in the meadow in front of the visitor center for a couple of hours in the morning.  The visitor center is nice for souvenirs (I bought a cool hat that says Redwood National & State Parks and I purchased the Elk pin for the hat since we saw two big Elk!).  This park is a must visit.

The drive to Coos Bay, about four hours north along the Oregon coast from Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, is spectacular.  With huge rocks jutting out of the ocean along the rugged coastline, the views on this part of the journey are spectacular.  We parked for lunch at a beach rest stop in the Gold Beach area and had fantastic views right out of Scamp’s rear window.  Sunset Bay State Park (Coos Bay area, Oregon) is a wonderful campground with nice amenities.  We paid $45 / night for our full hookup site #D01 and stayed two nights (note:  we paid a 30% surcharge imposed on non-Oregon residents).  The site we had was an end spot and very quiet and there is good spacing between campsites here.  We had no cellphone service (Verizon) and no over the air HDTV reception.  However, there is an RV park close by and there is mobile data (Verizon) reception out in front.  The hosts at Sunset Bay SP are really friendly and spent a lot of time talking to us about the area.  There is a great beach within walking distance (a trail leads from the campground to the beach).  In addition, there is an awesome hike (about 2 miles each way) along the top of the bluffs to a state park called Shore Acres Botanical Gardens (it was originally an estate owned by a timber baron, but sold to the State of Oregon to use as a park in 1942).  There are a couple of homes on the property as well as wonderful gardens.  We met a nice couple from Salem, OR (Todd & Yvonne) who occupied the site next to ours and they recommended the botanical garden hike.  They were taking their first trip in their small Helio travel trailer and we enjoyed talking with them about all things small travel trailers!  We’ve kept in touch via email since coming home and learned we share many common interests.

It was nice having a small travel trailer on our journey because we often unhitched and were able to easily explore the areas with just our SUV.  We had a couple of such opportunities while in Oregon.  We drove about 20 minutes from Sunset Bay SP to visit the waterside town of Coos Bay and also the fishing town of Charleston (where we purchased some excellent teriyaki smoked steelhead trout which we had on our breakfast toast the next morning)!

Having completed our coastal adventure from San Diego to Coos Bay, OR, we opted to take the more direct way home via I-5 on an inland route.  We drove about 5 hours from Coos Bay, OR to Weed, California (Mt. Shasta area).  This was our first stop during the trip at a private RV park (places we tend to avoid).  The Friendly RV Park in Weed, CA, was actually very pleasant and not very crowded.  It’s a full hookup RV park that is close to the freeway but is not very noisy.  We paid $49 / night for Site #13 (a pull through full hookup site).  The WiFi was weak and we couldn’t get the cable TV to work.  We did have cellphone service (Verizon).  We were also advised not to use a hose because it would freeze overnight.  We used our internal boondocking water tank.  We kept our water heater and furnace on all night as a precaution and to keep warm as it was cold.  There is a limited view of Mt. Shasta behind the campground (I sent up the drone and captured a full view of the mountain).  There’s not too much to do in Weed, but just a short 5 minute drive is the small mountain town of Mt. Shasta which has some nice little shops and a great view of the mountain.  This area is home to many legends including the 7 foot tall Lemurians – the beings that are said to live beneath Mt. Shasta; legend has it that they’ve evolved beyond the spiritual into the physical plane, and walk around town in white robes.  However, we only saw the town statue of one.  The next morning was very cold (18 degrees).  Hot cocoa helped!  Fortunately, everything in the Scamp was working except the dump valves which were frozen shut.  We were able to dump a couple hours later at a Pilot station when the temperatures were in the 60s.

After breakfast the next day, we reached Oakland five hours after leaving Weed and arrived at my sister Hilary’s house around 1 p.m.  We set up the Scamp on the street and, like last time, used our leveling wedge to get the Scamp reasonably level side to side (since the street is very angled).  We enjoyed seeing my sister and her family and had a nice dinner in her backyard.  The next morning we all took a long walk through a nice neighborhood on Alameda island.  We had breakfast in the Scamp before heading out to our last stop on a ranch in Bakersfield.

The Rock’n H Ranch is a very fun miniature donkey farm out in the hills of Bakersfield (about halfway between Oakland and San Diego).  It is a Boondocker’s Welcome location and there was no charge for our stay (although we did give the host a small gift for having us).  The host is very generous and has about 20 acres of land (located down a long bumpy dusty dirt road off the main road) and told us we could park anywhere.  We had access to water.  There was cellphone coverage (Verizon) and lots of HDTV channels.  We set up our Scamp on a hillside near the donkey pen and the donkeys seemed very interested in what we were doing as we set up our Scamp!  The host allowed us to pet and feed the animals.  There are also goats, horses, a cat and dog, and a llama on the farm.  We spent a fun afternoon with the host hanging out and playing with and feeding the animals.  We then had a nice quiet evening.  I took some drone images of the ranch at sunrise the next morning at the request of the host.  We left fairly early to be able to get home in time for lunch and then wash and clean our Scamp and SUV before putting them in the garage.

We had a fantastic trip, lots of adventures, and made some new friends.  Fortunately, there were no hard lessons on this trip and we look forward to planning our next adventure!  We did learn a few things about some supplies to improve future trips and will write about those in future articles.

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly. 

10 Electric Must Haves for your Small Travel Trailer

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10 Electric Must Haves for your Small Travel Trailer

There are a few essential electrical items that will make travelling with your small travel trailer safer and more convenient.

#1  Good Surge Protector

One of the most important things to have for your campground stays is a good surge protector.  It is common to hear stories about bad wiring at campgrounds.  And, plugging your travel trailer directly into a bad circuit or getting a power surge could cause damage to your trailer’s electrical system and appliances.  To avoid the risk, it’s best to use a good surge protector every time you plug in your trailer.  We have used the Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X for almost a year and have had a really good experience with it.  The scrolling digital display shows if there are any errors with the campground wiring and provides peace of mind that the power is clean.  It has a weather shield and a secure locking bracket to prevent theft.

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#2  110V Male to 30A Female Dogbone Adapter

Another very important item that should be with your small travel trailer at all times is a 110V Male to 30A Female dogbone adapter.  This will allow you to connect your trailer’s 30A power cord into a regular household 110V outlet.  It’s essential when you want to hook up at a house or anywhere there is just a regular 110V outlet.  Since we store our Scamp travel trailer in our garage, we constantly use the adapter to keep our battery charged and also run the Scamp lights and other appliances when necessary.  We often use the adapter so we can power our Scamp’s refrigerator the day before we leave on a trip [since our Scamp has 3 modes for running the fridge – AC, 12V (when driving), and Propane (when no electricity is available at the campground)].  Lastly, it’s very common for us to stop at a relative’s house during our trips and we use the adapter for power when we driveway camp.

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#3  110V Household Extension Cord

You should always carry an outdoor 110V household extension cord in your small travel trailer so you can hookup your trailer (using your dogbone adapter) to household current.  We use ours all the time when driveway camping.

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#4  50A Male to 30A Female Dogbone Adapter 

Another adapter that might be considered but might not be essential (until you really need it) is a 50A Male to 30A Female dogbone adapter.  We have yet to use this adapter, but purchased on the advice of our friend Hugh who mentioned that there are some campgrounds and RV parks where only a 50Amp outlet will be available.  This adapter is inexpensive and light enough that we purchased one and carry it with us in the Scamp in the rare event we ever run across a campsite where this is the case.

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#5  Heavy Duty 30A Outdoor 25’ Extension Cord

One item that we have already used (which our friend Hugh also recommended) is an outdoor 30A heavy duty 25’ extension cord.  Normally, when you pull your travel trailer up to the utility pedestal at a full hookup campground, all the utilities are right there (e.g. 30A power, water, and sewer).  However, in some cases, the utilities may be separated.  We first discovered this on a visit to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  We pulled our Scamp travel trailer up to the water area (which was close to the sewer as well).  But, the electrical outlet pedestal was in a separate location, quite far from our trailer.  After a lot of maneuvering, we were able to get our Scamp in a central enough location that we could reach the water hose and electrical outlet at the same time.  But, our Scamp’s power cord was pulled completely tight and slightly in the air so there was concern it could be a tripping hazard at night (since it is very dark at the campground).  Our friend Hugh loaned us his outdoor 30A heavy duty 25’ extension cord, which solved the problem.  We ordered one as soon as we returned home from this trip and always carry it in our Scamp.

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#6  Portable Air Compressor

It’s super handy to have a portable air pump so you can keep your small travel trailer tires and car tires inflated to the proper levels.  This not only saves on fuel, but it can also be necessary for your trailer’s hitch to clear driveway bumps.  We’ve been using the 12V DC Hausbell Portable Air Compressor for a while and it performs great.  It has a nice digital display and allows you to set the desired pressure.  It can also be used to fill up air mattresses and other inflatables.  It’s small and light, so it can easily be carried in your car.

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#7  Small AC to DC Converter

A nice complement to a portable air compressor is a small AC to DC converter.  This little device allows 12V devices (like the 12V air compressor) to be plugged into it and then plugged into a regular AC 110V wall socket.  This is useful when there isn’t a cigarette socket available (e.g. your car isn’t nearby and/or your small travel trailer doesn’t have an outdoor 12V socket).  We have the RoyPow AC to DC adapter.  We use it in the garage to inflate our Scamp’s tires (we plug our 12V tire inflator into the RoyPow which is plugged into one of our garage’s 110V outlets).  Or, we plug our Scamp into 110V power and plug the RoyPow into our Scamp’s outside 110V outlet.  Use it at the campground by plugging into the 110V power pedestal and then plug in the portable air compressor into it.

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#8  Battery Power Bank

A luxury item that could be essential depending on how you travel is a large external battery power bank.  The independent power bank can power many of your essential items while reserving your travel trailer’s battery power for your super essential items like lights, fan, and pumps.  We purchased the Jackery 500 which has 518Wh of power (which can power a lot of devices for a long time).  It has a 12V cigarette socket, USB ports, and even a 110V outlet.  We use it to charge our phones, drones, cameras, and power our 12V television in our Scamp.  It can even be used to run your portable air compressor.  You can charge it in your car while driving between camping locations, with 110V power outlets at campsites, and also with a solar panel.

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#9  100W Solar Panel

A 100W solar panel is a great option to help recharge your small travel trailer batteries daily when camping without hookups.  We’ve found our solar panel can maintain our Scamp’s battery at 12.5V (a good place) for days on end as long as the sun shines. The solar panel may also be used to recharge your independent power bank.  Get a good extension cable set so you can easily position the panels into the sun.  Having this connector will make it much easier to connect your solar panels to your battery.  You will need a crimper tool and a set of connectors so you can make a dongle with wires on one side that slide into solar panel and connectors on the other which plug into the extension cables.

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#10  Multi USB Charger

A multi USB charger is great for your car and small travel trailer to charge your portable devices when travelling.  We use the Jelly Comb to charge our phones, cameras, drones and other USB devices. It has a 12V socket and a long cable so we can plug it in the Scamp’s 12V socket and position it in convenient locations for charging.  We also can plug it into our car and portable power bank.

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“There’s no wi-fi in the mountains, but you’ll find no better connection.”  Anonymous

Disclaimer:  You will get the same great Amazon price by clicking on the links here compared to buying directly on Amazon, but by buying here you will also be supporting the continuation of this website as we get a small commission from each sale.  These are products and procedures we use for our own Scamp that we selected and developed from our own research and experiences.  However, we do not endorse any specific product and cannot guarantee that the products we use are exemplary and the procedures we use are complete, accurate, detail the correct recommended procedures, or apply to your model small travel trailer.  It’s always best to double check with your manufacturer or operation manuals to ensure you are doing everything correctly.