T & E Stables' New Camper!

[squonk 44,171]

We used to get campers towed in off of the NYS Thruway all the time. Awnings not secured and tearing the sides off. TV antenna's blown off and leaving an un-scheduled skylight. AC's torn off leaving a bigger un-scheduled skylight. The best was a 35 ft. Holiday Rambler travel trailer with all of the axles ripped out from underneath. We had to pick the back end with a forklift and used a tractor with a ball on the 3 pt, on the front to get it in the shop.

 

RV Tip of the day:

 

Whilst camping and yo have the awning out and it rains. When putting the awning back, don't stand underneath the arm being lowered first unless you need a bath! 

[ebinmaine 73,734]

5 minutes ago, squonk said:

When putting the awning back, don't stand underneath the arm being lowered first unless you need a bath! 

 

Free shower 🚿 

 

[lynnmor 7,955]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

 

RV Tip of the day:

 

Whilst camping and yo have the awning out and it rains. When putting the awning back, don't stand underneath the arm being lowered first unless you need a bath! 

 

Tip of the day, additional information.  If rain is expected, lower one side of the awning so a pool doesn't develop in the middle.  That pool can weight enough to cause damage to the trailer or the awning, or it might just give you a much needed shower.

[ebinmaine 73,734]

1 minute ago, lynnmor said:

 

Tip of the day, additional information.  If rain is expected, lower one side of the awning so a pool doesn't develop in the middle.  That pool can weight enough to cause damage to the trailer or the awning, or it might just give you a much needed shower.

 

We wouldn't even have the awning out in the rain unless it was supported in the middle. 

I've seen some interesting mechanisms used.  

Boards with rounded ends. Dinner plate on a stick. Spaghetti mop. 

 

Maybe I'll hire @Pullstart to stand under the awning with his hand holding it.  

 

 

 

[lynnmor 7,955]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

 

We wouldn't even have the awning out in the rain unless it was supported in the middle. 

I've seen some interesting mechanisms used.  

Boards with rounded ends. Dinner plate on a stick. Spaghetti mop. 

 

Put the awning out, especially when it is raining, it ain't one of the junk power awnings with little support.

 

Oops, it may be a junk power awning, it wasn't mentioned on the link provided.

Edited 4 hours ago by lynnmor

[c-series don 10,262]

Here’s another thing I just learned with our new camper. It has a slide topper, basically an awning for the slide out. This keeps debris off the top of it so when you retract it leaves sticks etc won’t get caught in the gasket. Apparently it also retains rain water. I found this out when I was raising up the stabilizer jack in the rear. I had my cordless drill in my hand and was bent over, as the jack went up the camper came down and the water dumped on my head and down my back! Immediately I thought “Well I will not do that again!” But I probably will forget and do it again! 

Edited 4 hours ago by c-series don

[fourwheelhorseman 357]

On 9/22/2025 at 1:36 PM, ebinmaine said:

 

Maybe. The only Advantages it offers to us is the above mentioned noise reduction and also not having to open the tent back up to let it dry when we get home.

Comfort will be comparable. Warmth isn't an issue. Food storage probably won't change. It's unlikely we will use the fridge in this unit most of the time.

I like a smallish camper over tents any day. My experience with tent camping ( I done it for around 6-7 years many times a year) is that a tent collects moisture and my sleeping bag always got a little damp, now mind you that’s been 20 years ago or longer, possible that advances have been made by now. If you’re in bear country, then a camper will offer a little more protection for your food and anything else a bear would get into than a tent. My vote will always be for the camper!  😊 I’m interested to hear about your first excursion with it! 

[wh500special 2,283]

On 9/22/2025 at 9:10 AM, ebinmaine said:

 

We talked about picking up a much smaller version of the Westinghouse that we have at home.

 

I bought the Westinghouse 2550W inverter unit on clearance for $250 at Menards this summer to use in my parents’ barn.  It seems like a nice little unit. Price was too low to pass up.  It was a store return, but didn’t show any signs of usage. 
 

I don’t know that it’s noisier than the little Honda inverter I’ve had for several years, but it does sound different and “seems” louder to my ear.  Pretty quiet when in Econ mode and under half load.  I think if you aim the exhaust away from other campers it would be quite acceptable to use in a campground. 

 

I ran it in the full sun for several hours on a humid 100 F day this summer under a constant half load and it never seemed to get too hot, so that’s a win. The gas gauge is nice. And it has a convenience light on it too.

 

 I like it a lot.   I do like my EU3000i more as the Honda build quality is certainly more robust and more pleasing, but no complaints about this one yet. 
 

These little inexpensive inverter generators are a good value.  I don’t think there is much of a replacement part market for them, but that’s an acceptable trade off.   I view them as semi-disposable. 
 

Steve