August 2015 - Knoebels Trip

Our first trip with the new camper was to a familiar and fun place,... Lake Glory Campground in Catawissa, PA and Knoebels Amusement Park!

2015

Thursday we loaded up the camper to the truck with the heavy hardware of the weight distribution hitch and we were ready to go.  I still think that we have to lift the hitch up one bolt slot to get the trailer more level, as it is slightly nose down in the position we are at now.  The truck is riding level though and it towed very well.  On the main road I kept the truck in Tow-Haul mode which changes the shift points and keeps the truck out of overdrive.  This worked well for the ups and downs of the highway as we crossed the mountains of the eastern poconos.  We pulled off the road 130 miles later to get gas and found that we were getting 10.1 mpg on the trip with the camper.  That is about a 6 mpg loss than typical.

Of course, the radar showed a bright band of yellow and green heading our way and once we were pulling out of the gas station it began to drizzle.  As tradition continues, we would have to setup in the rain.  In fact, once I checked in at the campground the main rain valve must have been opened and the downpour began.  Before backing into the site we actually waited it out a little for the rain to calm down.  Becky then got out in the rain and helped to guide me in as I was pulling in on the blind side.  Once we were in position, then I got out and it was my turn to get wet, prepping the stabilizers and getting things level.  It didn't take to long, and then we went inside the camper, leaving the beds closed and enjoying the space inside.  One thing we noticed immediately was how much quieter the new camper is in the rain.  The popup sounded like someone was dropping golf balls on the roof!

Rain stopped, and then setup continued inside and out.  We opened the beds and finished our hookup.  The weather was now looking great for the rest of our stay and our camping friends were on there way as well.

Friday morning we awoke to have a good breakfast to start the day and to get ready for a full day at the park.  All-day ride plans are available so we take advantage of those and let the kids ride as much as they can / want throughout the day.  If Becky or I want to ride, we just share a booklet of tickets for the few that we may go on.

To start it off, the lines were short and Ally and I finally were going to try and ride Flying Turns, a roller coaster that doesn't have a track but is more like a bobsled run.  The line we were in stated 45 minutes, but it wasn't much more than 20 and we were able to jump up to fill a car since we were not part of a larger group that was trying to ride together.  Ally and I were in the front car, which was really cool for this ride.  We both thought it was great and had a different coaster vibe and a rather smooth experience too.

As we got off, we were walking down the ramp and saw Bella on one of the craziest spinning rides in the park.  I couldn't believe it..... and after a second or two the ride was in motion and there was no turning back.  This ride goes around in a circle, but the cars that the kids are in are like little wheels which rock back and forth,... given enough motion and time, and then they can go all the way up and over,... rolling the kids around the track.  She and the girl she was riding with got off with a smile, which surprised us.  But,... it wasn't meant to be... and after a trip on the Cosmotron (indoor music type ride with ups and downs) she was spent!  Motion sickness had set in, and while fortunate enough to not lose her breakfast,,.. she was really messed up and needed to chill out for a while.  Unfortunately, when you have a motion sickness it can be re-triggered so easily even hours later,... so she was very timid on rides the rest of the day and didn't get to go on a lot.

Bella, Upside down in the Blue Car

Everyone else made it till around 6 pm,... so we decided to call it a day and take the 6:30 shuttle back to the campground and make some dinner.  Bella was finally starting to feel better and it was nice for them to relax in the evening around the picnic table doing crafts or by the campfire.

Saturday morning we awoke and got setup for a breakfast smorgasbord.  Bacon, Maple Sausage, Sausage Patties, Pancakes, Eggs, Muffins, Coffee, OJ,..... if you left for the park hungry today it was your own fault!  Today we had one book of tickets for each of the kids, when they are gone, that's it.  Immediately upon arrival you could tell it was mayhem,.. yes, like the AllState Commercial.  There were so many people in the park already and the lines were long.  I guess the last weekend before college and schools for kids combined with the great weather brought out everyone.  Bella was trying to catch up on some of the rides she missed yesterday, and the rest of the kids were doing well too.  We also had family and friends at the park today with us to share the Knoebels experience.  By 4pm, we were ready to head back to the campground and warm up the fire and grill to get some good food going.  BBQ Chicken, Hot Dogs, Fire grilled burgers, and lots of sides to be had.

Love this shot of Madie

Selfie on the Big Wheel

 

Selfie on the Big Wheel

 

Ally and Madie on the Carousel

 

Ally getting a ring on the Carousel

 

Always a fun ride, the Italian Trapeze

 

Merry Mixer FuN!

 

Bella on the Flyers!

 

Kozmo and Dexter Family Portrait!

 

Madie's Little Campsite,... roasting marshmallows!

Sunday is packup day,... and every year it comes so fast.  The good news is that this year the checkout hours have changed from 11am for campsites to 2pm!  This was great!  We weren't feeling rushed to get all our things together but rather sitting around a fire burning the last of our firewood and having a relaxing time till almost lunchtime.  If you are in a cabin, those checkout times are still 11am for the cleaning crews to have enough time to do everything before the next check-in.

In summary, the weekend was a great success for our first trip out with the new truck and camper combination.  Here are a few highlights of the favorites:

Ally's Favorite Ride:  Phoenix Roller Coaster
Bella's Favorite Ride:  Paratroopers
Madie's Favorite Ride:  Merry Mixers

New Camper Performance:

Ally's Favorite:  In Camper Toilet,... and yes,.. she was first for #2
Bella's Favorite:  Her own Bed!!!
Madie's Favortite:  Her own bed space in the back with Ally

Becky and I really love the layout and we are glad we researched and reviewed.  Very few squawks (as noted in other post) and we are glad we made the transition even in the middle of the camping season here in PA.  All goes well, we will get a bunch more camping nights in the logbook yet this fall.

2015 Trip 1 with the Passport!

Post-Purchase Inspection / Review

As expected, there would likely be a few squalk items that I would need to fix or tidy up.  Some of which I new from the purchase walkthru, others I found in our "Camp Driveway" sessions.  Overall, I am VERY pleased with the purchase, construction, and attention to detail on the camper.  Everything has been tested again and again by us and I've gone over just about everything from end to end.  Here are the few things that I have come up with, and as you can see, they are pretty minor.  We had a lot more issues on our popup!

1. Fresh water tank sensor wires -- Very Tight from the factory, with loose water lines above that could vibrate these sensor wire connections.  Took just a few minutes and a few wire ties to loosen them up a little and organize to a more stable point for traveling.
2. Fresh water lines -- Surprisingly, these draped over a piece of angle on the frame where you could already see some rub marks.  I took a piece of the kids pool noodle to wrap over the leg of the steel angle to protect these lines.  Two large zip ties to secure the pool noodle in place, and then a few on the water line to help keep it in place along its run, and we are in much better shape with less risk of a problem down the road.
3. Wire Looms -- I added some additional wire loom around the wires, but most was in good shape.  I do have to add a dap of caulk where the wires go up holes in the under body.  If I don't, that is a good place for spiders and bees to find access into the camper body. 
4. Gas Line -- One of the clip supports was on the line, but not fastened to the frame.  Simple self tapping auto screw to secure.
5. Front Panel Attachment and Insulation -- At the front, right behind the battery box, I found some insulation sticking out between the frame and the front panel.  Not much, but upon review, the front panel was not attached here for about a 2 foot width.  The staples were shot in thru the panel but glanced off the frame and never secured to anything.  A flat blade screw driver was used to push the insulation back up into the cavity above the frame and then the front panel could be pushed back into the proper position.  6 self tapping screws thru the front panel and diamond plate, evenly spaced across the front, and it is secured properly.
6. Set Screw on TV Antenna Handle -- Set screw wasn't tight and the assembly fell from the ceiling.  A few minute fix, and a tightening of the set screw and we are fine.
7. Screen Door Latch Adjustment -- Poor. Design.  Simple as that.  Yes it works, but barely any catch on the door frame.  We even had them adjust it before we left the dealership.  To fix it right, I think I need to dremel a little slot in the main screen door where the latch goes and get about 1/8" more slide travel to get the door to catch properly.

There are also some new things we found out.

1. Ends of bunks are all EXITs.  The screen can also unzip to be an exit out the bunk ends in case of an emergency.
2. There is front storage.  In front of the bed, full width of the camper, there is about a 12 inch wide by 2 foot deep storage area that is only accessible from the inside.  This is where the passthru is noted on the brochure, but there is no outside door to access it.
3. Hopkins Levels we installed on the side and rear are VERY nice and make it easy to level the camper.
4. Amp Draw - Using our Progressive Industries Voltage/Surge protector, we monitored our use for each item and recorded our Amp draw for them.  (Microwave, Fridge, Water Heater Element, AC on Hi, Med, Lo)
5. There is a 12V socket up behind the TV.  This allows you to use a car charger to plug in your phone or ipod next to the TV on the shelf.  Has a little switch too next to it.  That will be helpful when drycamping in at the beach.

 

More to come shortly on our first trip out with it (shown above) as well as our improvements and modifications!

Delivery Day!!!

Thursday night came, and it was time to take the good popup on the final tow under our ownership.  I double checked that I had the folder of manuals and checklists, and hitched up and then drove off to the dealership.  Upon arrival at Indian Valley Camping Center in Souderton PA, I met the salesman who directed me to a parking spot for the camper and asked me to open it up and go thru the setup process.  I also took this time to show him the items I maintained and added to the camper while we owned it.  It was pretty clear that he was impressed with the condition of the camper inside and out and that the evaluation he had given us for the trade in was a good one.

The final setup in the Land of Giant campers,.... It was a good time little PUP.

Friday at work seemed to last forever while I thought about all the things I needed to take for the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) the next morning.

Saturday morning was here, and we were off to the Camping Center.  Thanks to the grandparents for watching the kids today/weekend, we were able to go together Kid-free so we could both learn how to use the new camper, and also so Becky could keep me from getting to carried away with my OCD / Inspection.  When we arrived, the camper was still being setup at the service area but I dropped off the truck to get the Weight Distribution system started.  The salesman looked at me quite in shock when I pulled out my ladder, tool box, and volt-meter from the truck before they took it.

"What's the ladder for?" he asked. 
"Thats for me to check the roof and the items on the roof" I said. 
"Wow, that's a first for us,.... no one ever looks at the roof." 

Well,... today my friend, you meet a Schaffer.  LOL.

Three hours later, we were done the walk around and the inspection.  Only item is the screen door latch which is a new design for this model year and is a little tricky.  I'll get it re-adjusted on a trip or two.  May need a small dremel adjustment for the slot but nothing major.  The construction is very clean and I've been over and under it now more than once.  It towed well for the short drive home so I'll pack it back up and take it for another drive this coming weekend to get a little better feel of how it handles and how I have to compensate on turns.  The truck seemed to perform well but I need to drive more and get less white-knuckled before I can really evaluate that.  Here is a nickel tour of the camper and some photos below.

Closed Up in our Driveway Corner

Back Side, Fully Open.  Dinette and Beds all Out

Front Side, with Awning still in.

July 2015 - Assateague Island Trip

At Last!  After 7 months of no break in the action at work or at home, we were finally going to get away to our fun beach destination,... Assateague Island.  The camper has been prepared and packed for about a week or more now, and the van was gone over for tire pressures and all the fluids, so we were ready to start loading things up.  Saturday evening, everything was aligned in the driveway and loaded with exception of the food, which we would add Sunday morning before hitching up.  The girls even did their toes to match for the vacation with blue nail polish and fishies!

Girls Toes for the Vacation

Sunday travel went well, with very light traffic volume it made for a nice relaxing drive once we burned off a little fuel.  I filled the tank and we were loaded up, so even though I had the air bags set at the same 28 psi, the rear end felt quite squishy and caught my attention.  Once we were down below 3/4 tank, it felt better,... or I was just used to towing again.  We arrived a little after the check in rush, and had all our papers in order.  After a few minutes, we were on our way to our campsite for the week!

Can't forget the Camp Cruiser!!!

Once we were setup at the campsite it was time to get out to the beach and explore.  The girls always have a fun reaction to the waters edge the first time we arrive each year, and this year was no different.  Ally jumped the first little wave and splashed her feet right in, while Madie and Bella seemed to be chased by each wave, trying not to get their feet wet.  The water was cold at first, but it was actually quite comfortable and warmer than last year it seemed.

Ally's Leap of faith

Don't get wet!!

Some horses on our way to our campsite

First Ice Run on the Camp Cruiser back to the ranger station

My First Cruisin buddy

Monday morning started off with some drizzle,,... then some heavy rains that soaked our campsite with puddles and made the wind buffet the camper.  Our pupup held strong though, and no leaks anywhere.  So, while the girls stayed inside, I got soaked,... completely soaked, securing the awning and tidying up the items we had outside.  Here is the radar shot....

Well,... looks like a great day to go on the beach!,.. oh,.. maybe later.

Once back inside, we played some games and relaxed waiting out the weather.  My brother Ryan gave the girls these magnetic balls and links which are quite fun to build things with.  It became a challenge to build a tower, which would slip and fall after a few inches in height, and then we tried to build a bridge.  Picking it up, it would just fall apart,... but,... Push in evenly on each end to add some compression while lifting,... and .....

Playing with the magnetic links during the rain

A Little Compression,.. and Wahoo! A bridge

Till one link slipped and it went everywhere!!  haha.  By the time we cleaned things up the weather started to improve and we climbed out of our camper ready to start the day.  Steph, Chris, and Robert came by today and the kids played on the beach for a while before we headed up to the boardwalk for the evening.

Family pic at Ocean City Boardwalk!

Ally catchin almost every wave!

Bella rockin the wave

Boogie Boarding!

Ally Caught a Crab!

After some ice cream on the boardwalk and a short drive back to camp, we were able to view a really great sunset on the horizon.  A nice end to a day that started off sloppy!

Another Great Sunset

 Tuesday was another fun day at the campsite.  Usually it takes a day to get settled in and have the kids get into a rhythm when we go camping.  Bella was a big help around the campsite and helping with dishes,... voluntarily!  Our friends came to spend the day with us again on the beach but had to depart before dinner that evening.  The horses were plentiful again in our area of the campground and northern part of the island, usually in groups of 4 to 6 in an area, just grazing away. 

Quick, everyone take a photo!!  Ooooo AAhhhh

Everyday there are events and activities that are run by the State Park service or the National Park service for the kids.  In the mornings from 9-11am each day there is a Surf-n-Sand club that they attend to do games, crafts, and other activities that is also operated by a church youth group.  Each week has a different theme, and this week it was "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader",... which was full of fun activities school related to get them back in the mood for school.  They all had fun, and I'm sure they learned something too along the way.

Tuesday evenings are Tie-Dye Tuesdays up at the front parking lot.  The Friends of Assateague Island have shirts, rubber bands, and three colors of dye that they provide for free.  A donation is requested.  We already had our shirts and a bag of rubber bands so we could pre-tie the shirts into designs earlier in the afternoon.  With them in hand, we were ready to go!  This years colors were bright and fresh and would go great together.  Each of the girls picked their color(s) and when all done we bagged them in a ziplock for the night to let the color set.  The next day, we opened them up and Becky rinsed them in the ocean (they told us the cold salt water helps set the color), which got her a few looks by some of the other campers!  They turned out great!  We'll use them for our family photo after they dry.

Tie-Dye Tuesday at the park station

Our Tie-Dye Shirts!  Turned out Great

Ghost Crabbin

 Wednesday's weather was cool in the morning,... but getting HOT quick!!  We needed some respite from the heat and the sand of the beach at this point, plus we needed to restock some of our groceries.  Today was a day that we would go to Ocean City again to get some time in the shops and get some lunch at a Chik-fila that we past the other evening.  First, while the girls were at Surf-n-Sand, Becky and I rode the Camp Cruiser around to spot for horses.  It didn't take long, as the neighbors on the loop behind us has some company last night!!

"Hey Hun,... our neighbors have company for breakfast"

We did go for an evening walk on the beach again after it cooled down a bit,... and seemed to have lost Ally?? !!  Ahh,,,. there she is!

Hmm,.. A Crab or a T-Rex hiding in the sand?

The evening passed, some s'mores were eaten, and the moon was nearly a full moon.  After a minute or two,... what is that? on the Dune...... the camera didn't turn out as nice as it actually looked.  Really cool.

A horse on the dune in the moonlight

 Thursday AM started off with Ally and I going north to Ocean City Airport to meet up with Gary, a long time Pilot friend.  We would like to get together more, but hey,.... one of us has to work right?! Gary took us up in 08R, his very well maintained Sundowner that flies fantastic and solid.  A short loop to the south to see our camping area, and then we turned north to fly over Ocean City and up to the Delaware line.  I had to opportunity to assist the flight again (October 22, 2011 was my last General Aviation Pilot In Command Flight) and I may still have some of the skills to track headings and altitudes.  I threw in a standard rate and steep turn for good measure when we were at the Lewes Ferry, and then we tracked back down the coast to the airport.  Thanks Gary for a great flight!

Our Campsite is down there somewhere!

Ally enjoying the flight with Gary and I

Ocean City from above.

One of the bridges along the coast

The afternoon was short,... a mix of relaxation, bike riding, and packing things up.  As the evening approached we went back out to enjoy the beach for one last time and to build our sand castle.

This year's Sand Castle

Again!  Pardon Me,... Comin Thru,...

Vacation Family Photo.  Last trip with our Popup!

Friday is a packing day.  With the kids off to Surf-n-Sand for the last time, Becky and I can easily pack things up in a fairly organized manner and get everything done.  Since the kids are done at 11am, and we have to be off site then too, it works out great for us to have them away at Surf-n-Sand.  But,... where is Olof?  Madie would be upset if we can't find him........

Olof was catching some rays,... In Sssuummmmmerrrr!

We had a long trip home with the traffic and will likely not travel on Friday again,..... but we got home safe and sound and have the camper all emptied out and cleaned.