T & E Stables' New Camper!

[ebinmaine 74,253]

Another project on the new camper today. 

 

We dont use a microwave. Ever. We're giving it to a friend and freeing up needed storage space. 

 

 

 

 

Last week we tried out the sleeping setup with the dog.

1 me Bear + 1 BBT  +  1 crazy dog 🐕  equals need huge bed. 

The shortened queen bed is just too small. 

One of the main reasons for this purchase is the ability to bring the dog. 

 

We don't need the fridge. Maybe use it once a year  - IF that...

Out it goes!!

 

 

 

We don't need a lot of counter space because we cook outside... so we decided to slice off the counter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We cut a groove in the end of the counter to reuse the factory trim. 

 

 

 

Trina built a platform next to the counter to hold the bed when down or a seat. 

 

 

 

Bed platform before:

 

 

Bed platform after:

This piece of OSB slides over the top of the existing platform. 

 

 

This new mattress is a California King size. 72" wide X 84" long. 

[953 nut 61,764]

If you have never seen the "Long Long Trailer" you need to catch some hints from this movie before you hitch up.

 

[ebinmaine 74,253]

23 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

the "Long Long Trailer"

 

 

 

 

I have seen that!!  In fact I was trying to find it a few weeks ago.  

 

Thanks! 

[Beap52 1,581]

Another project on the new camper today. 

 

We dont use a microwave. Ever. We're giving it to a friend and freeing up needed storage space. 

 

We're like you two in the personalization of our camper.  Basically we sleep in it.  It is nice to have a toilet. We do use the refrigerator and microwave is (seldom) used to reheat food and we kept the sinks.  I removed the cooking stove because we are outside cooking on Coleman gas stove, or over open fire, the smoker almost always goes with us and never leave home with out Dutch Oven.  I've got a kitchen hose sprayer with quick disconnect outside. We removed tub/shower for extra storage. We are warm weather campers and only camp in campgrounds with electricity and warm showers with lots of water.  We found that it was difficult to shower in camper as it adds much humidity, uses precious water and thusly, we don't need a hot water heater.   I winterize with one gallon of rv antifreeze.  I "teed" in a line between fresh water tank and water pump and with a twist of couple of valves draw water straight way from gallon of anti freeze. One of our best upgrades when I rebuilt what is now a 43 year old camper was a mini split.  It's quiet and cools and heats our 24' camper. 

 

 Below is Pam warming by a fire in the smoker listening to southern gospel music on a rainy morning earlier this week while we camped at an nearly empty COE campground.  Five dollars a night with senior parks discount.

[ClassicTractorProfessor 5,434]

On 9/27/2025 at 5:18 AM, ebinmaine said:

We're planning on picking up the camper this morning. 

I was surprised to find that there are NO extendable/extended/wide mirrors available for the '09 - '15 Pilots. There's a ton of em on the road...

Ahh well. 

Clamp-on mirrors can be a PITA but that's the only option. 

So I did some research and found the "least disliked" set. 

Got these yesterday. 

 

 

 

They do look pretty good... for what they are. 

I'm thinking some carefully placed zip ties could help hold them in place if/when they work loose.  

Different mirrors are definitely something I'm gonna have to invest in before we take our camper anywhere else. We pull it with our 2005 Silverado 2500HD, pulls great but with the stock mirrors you can't see ANYTHING coming up behind you. And backing the trailer in anywhere? FORGET ABOUT IT. Fortunately for us I can order and install factory style tow mirrors, but honestly I've never figured out why GM ever installed so many of these smaller mirrors on the HD trucks in the first place. 

 

Looks like a nice unit you have there, and looks like y'all are getting it fixed up to suit your needs quite well. We need to get ours in the shop (after installing new mirrors so I can see to back it in the shop) and do some work to it this winter. Need to replace the toilet, water heater, new flooring, and we have a few modifications we want to do as well to make it more user friendly for us. Main use for us is the week at our local show every year, but I do plan on taking it to the lake on some fishing trips next summer. We are only 20 miles from the lake we fish, but something about waking up and having coffee watching the sun come up over the water is just relaxing. 

[c-series don 10,464]

@ClassicTractorProfessor As you said there’s something to be said about watching the sun come up over the water! Here it is coming up over the ocean, yesterday morning. I took this after coffee! My wife and I are still able to go to work from here in about 15 minutes. 

[ebinmaine 74,253]

Here's how the big mattress is held in the camper while not in use.  

Trina's mom came up with the idea for the fastening to the lower part. Deck screw and washer.  

The upper part is an S hook hanging on the storage shelf.