Step 1, finding a trailer.

The basis for any teardrop or tiny travel trailer is a trailer. Not having a budget to buy a new one or the skill and equipment to make one, the obvious solution was to buy used. Now a trailer is always abused and neglected, so I was not aiming to pay a lot since most of the hardware would probably have to be replaced. Wheel bearings, suspension and the whole electrical system is usually shot.

I was lucky enough to find an old boat trailer on Kijiji for $150. It was a bit small, but it was a good basic start to what I was planning to do. I set out to have a look at it and brought some money for a deposit just in case. It was as I expected, a total mess. Broken suspension blade on one side, rotted it out homebuilt wood box and suspicious electrical everything. A deposit was given and arrangements were made for future pick-up.

My Highlander doesn't have a hitch so I had no other alternative than to go get my new found treasure with my son who has a hitch on his Camry. Defying death I stepped into his car and went back to get the trailer a few days later. Apart from the "enthusiastic" driving of my son, the trip was made even more interesting by a nasty piece of steel that we hit on the highway, slashing the left rear tire. We were on a schedule for the pick up and changed the tire in record time, including putting some air with a bike pump in the spare of the Camry.

We got to the location, paid the rest of the amount and hooked up the trailer. The ball on my son's hitch was too big but thankfully the previous owner gave us is smaller ball to put on our hitch. Here's the reason why you always pick up a used trailer during the day, odds are the lights won't work. My hunch was right, not a damn thing was working! We headed out trying to avoid the highway as much as we could since city cops usually don't really care about vehicle condition or compliance. Ok, they do as well but not as much as highway cops.

We made sure to avoid sudden stops since we had no brake lights on the trailer and drove really slow to avoid testing the 5 tie wraps and wood block holding the left rear suspension together. If you ever drove on the streets of Montreal, you know that is quite the task. We managed to make it home without killing anybody and avoided by miracle getting any kind of attention from Montreal's finest. As my son put it: "That was fun, let's not do this ever again!".

The rest of that day was spent taking all that was trash off the trailer and it left me with this:

- Frame
- Axle and hubs
- 1 rim

I also had to register the trailer so it had a plate on it prior to picking it up. This was the easiest part of the entire adventure. We live in a Province who's administration just loves red tape. In this case it was very simple, show up, ask for a less than 900kg homemade trailer plate, pay $67, leave with plate and registration for life!

Next step, prep, paint and extend the frame.

Keep posted

Gerry :)

Why building a tiny or mini camping trailer in the first place?

The question bares to ask, why build a mini camping trailer? Me and my wife love camping but sleeping in a tent with the risk of getting wet every time it rains and having nothing more than nylon between us and the bears is not that exciting.


The big fifth wheel trailers or motorhome RVs are way out of our budget. Besides we just don't get the approach of "bring your house behind your car in the woods" type of camping. So what we did was to sit down and figure out what were the bare essentials that we wanted in a camping trip. The answer was a dry place to sleep.

A bit of research brought my attention to Tear Drop trailers. Those small bedrooms on wheels have been around since the 20's and most of them to this day are homebuilt jobs. I have tools and some decent skills and I figured I could pull this off on a budget.

The first step was the debating/designing stage. Although I find the classic Tear Drop shape to be very cool, my better half felt she would feel too cramped. So after some (hmm hmm) discussion, we finally agreed on the posted design.

CAD model made with Google's Sketchup 7

While not a Tear Drop per say, it is still the same basic set-up of a cabin with a bed and a galley (or kitchen for you non-tear drop folks). I still wanted more than just a box, so I went with a Shasta Airflyte inspired design. This also allows me to make the trailer wider and higher than a traditional teardrop. The dimensions will be 110" X 62" floor and it will have a height of 56" inside the cabin.

The goal is to make this project as cost effective as possible. So join us in the build adventure and eventually in our camping adventures to come.



Gerry :)

Keeping A Camping Blog In Summer

Picture from camp trip to Sugar Pine 2010

Keeping a camping blog during summer is like trying to read on the tread mill. I'm sure it can be done but were so darn busy with camping, gardening, swimming, packing, unpacking that well it's like being on a tread mill.

Happy Summer Camping,

Ruth

C'mon Campers - Take Your Kids Hiking

Families across the US are making plans for the best-ever camping trips this season. Whether it’s a trip to a new “favorite” place or an old standby, let’s face it, this is what life’s memories are made of. And there’s something special about gathering the brood and taking a walk in nature. Exploring the big beautiful outdoors with your children can be an adventure and an education.

Devise a successful hike with children by following a few simple rules. Choose a trail that’s interesting, easy enough for all participants and is not too long. The length of the hike will most likely depend upon the difficulty of the hike and the energy level of your kid companions. Look for a safe hike – no steep cliffs, abrupt drop-offs or extreme weather. Keeping energy up is vital, bring plenty to snack on – certainly pack a lunch but make sure you bring other healthy “munchies” to enjoy along the way. Remember, the hike is a journey. Take time to stop and explore, explain and teach. As your child gets older consider inviting a friend along to share the adventure.

Plan some fun along the trail with these ideas:

• Prepare a hiking kit for each child including a magnifying glass, notebook and fun writing utensils, a bug, flora and/or fauna identifier or anything else that may help pique their interest.
• Wrap wide masking tape, sticky side out, around everyone’s wrist as a bracelet for collecting flowers, leaves, etc. along the trail.
• Devise a scavenger hunt or visit GoCampingAmerica.com’s Kids Corner and print one we’ve already devised for you. Provide each child with the list of several items that are likely to be found on a nature hike, for example, a small brown rock, a leaf at least one inch long, a pine cone, a yellow flower, etc. At the end of the hike add up the pioints and give a small treat or prize to all participants.

There’s so much good to be had by simply taking a walk in the great outdoors. Share this joy – and the joy of camping – with your children…tomorrow’s outdoor enthusiasts! Find the perfect place to camp at our Find a Park page and create a tradition. It's time to Go Camping America!

Contributed by Evanne Schmarder

Home From Camping

Lake Tahoe

A five day trip feels like your unpacking for longer than the trip. Especially when it's hot outside.

My daughter and I waring matching cloths, she's making a "FACE"

Laundry DONE
Dishes DONE
Piles Separated DONE
Coolers Rinsed DONE

My new coffee pot from REI, excellent!

Now I need to put it all back together in the bins, in a neat pile in the garage ready for camp trip number three for the year. That may not happen till just before my next trip in a few weeks.

Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay

No need to sort through photos, I lost them all somehow! The Pict's I have here are from some of the 30 people who camped with us.

I'm opening bottles for our wine tasting

Early morning hair drying

Going Camping In Tahoe

The car is packed and the cooler ready to load. It's 6 am and I'm up to take care of the last details to make our trip wonderful.

House straightened
Clean hamster cage
Perishable food in fridge is out
Plants watered
Showered and dressed

This will be our longest camp trip yet, it's for five nights. Included in our trip other than the standard camping agenda is site seeing, dinning in local restaurants, shopping, wine tasting and even going to an outdoor concert for my birthday.

Just because were camping or "glamping light" doesn't mean we have to rough it all the way. Sure hiking, biking and roasting marshmallows will be done but the beauty of a five day trip is enjoying more than just dirt and burgers.

Chow for now, with so much more to share when we come home,

Love,
Ruth

SEE What To Pack When Camping For A Week
SEE Camping With Dogs   
SEE Reading Room

Tent Size And Great Sleep Camping

Tent size matters and comfort makes you sleep better.

This is really the MOST IMPORTANT matter when it comes to "Camping In Style!" Your only as good as your sleep right? A tiered camper has wimpy hikes, a dull eye for nature and an overall crummy feeling that takes the whoo hooo out of camping. You'll become a real camping grump without good sleep...... “What was I thinking? Camping is saposto be fun? Ugh!”

There are a few things to consider here when getting a good night sleep and "Camping In Style". Let’s first talk tents then what to sleep on and finally bedding.

This is the tent we have by Colman and love it!

WHY TENT SIZE MATTERS
Let me ask you a few questions first

How many will be sharing your tent
Will your dog or dogs be in the tent with you
How handy and patient are you and your co-campers
How many days will you be camping

Now take the amount of campers x's patients + days camping and you have the formula for the size tent you will want with how much work it takes to put it up. Yeah like that made since...........

Last year I finally broke down and bought a two room tent. My reasoning was that with a tall husband who doesn't like to tent camp, a young kid and a big dog with separation anxiety we needed more space. So I decided to do more three plus days camping to make the most of the effort it takes to put up the bigger tent. (Less than 30 min. to assemble)

That being said. You have to decide what you need, what you’re willing to tote and how much work you want to do putting up your tent. I would make sure whatever size you buy, rent or borrow that the tent has good reviews and says easy to assemble. EBay, Craigslist, REI and Colman are good places to start. You get what you pay for here. Usually the more expensive tents are better quality and easier to assemble.

Personally if you’re going for a bigger tent I really like the two rooms. One side for sleeping and the other for your cloths, pets, dirty shoes, and things you want out of site when you leave the campground. I find this makes camping so much more enjoyable because I'm not crawling around a mess of cloths with no place to put anything. Again if you don't have kids or pets a smaller tent is perfect.

When the label says a five person tent they measure five bodies side by side. So about two to three persons minimal per one camper makes for a comfortable size tent.

WHAT SHOULD WE SLEEP ON

Sometimes when I'm packing my car I say to myself "Geeze I'm bringing every thing but the kitchen sink" I feel like a pack rat and my husband inevitably says "Gosh Ruth how much more are you going to bring?" I hate hearing that because if I didn't bring it all he would complain about how uncomfortable car camping is. Not to mention I spent many years taking pride in camping light so my ego takes a hit.

There are several ways you can go with the bed.

Air Mattress (best bang for the buck)
Camping Pad (costly, great for one person, saves space, one of my favorites)
Foam (awkward, heavy, bulky) not worth talking about

I have one thing to say about air mattresses. INTEX. That’s it. I stop there. No other air mattress will last. They all leak, break, leave you sleeping on the ground by the end of the night. The others SUC_ ! So if you’re going with an air mattress get a quality brand that is for outdoor sleeping. Make sure to read about blanket and how to keep an air bed warm or you WILL be cold and sweaty at the same time. 

Now onto camping pads. These are the best way to go really. If only one or two of you are camping or cost is not an issue. These pad can cost about $200 each. You can cut down bulk with these and still be comfortable. I ask you this. Do you care if you have a crease in the middle between tow beds, do you care that you may need to use a sleeping bag and it may be separating you and the one you want to snuggle with? The ones that my girlfriend Kim and Mike use for rafting trips is the best I've seen yet. They are called Paco Pads and are made out of PVC and are about 3" thick, they really are comfortable and virtually indestructible.

Otherwise do go by rating and reviews. Check out REI for ratings

NOW LETS TALK Sleeping Bag vs. House Blankets

Rule number one with an air mattress is whatever the outside air temp. So will be the temp of the air in the bed you’re sleeping on. (Not as much of an issue with pads) It's like sleeping on ice that makes you sweat. It's the ickiest feeling ever. Simple solution. Place a sleeping bag or duvet between you and the mattress PLUS a wool blanket.
If you like to keep it simple and cuddling up with someone isn't important then buying a sleeping bag that is appropriate for the temperature your camping in will do just fine. Still a wool blanket under you will keep an airbed warmer.
The other thing I see over and over again is campers bringing as many blankets and covers as they use at home. If you’re camping in Tahoe anytime of year it gets down to the 30's or 40's at night. So bring enough blankets to keep you warm plus one or two. Here is what I bring as crazy as it sounds.

1 Intex queen airbed
1 wool blanket to sleep on top of
1 duvet to sleep on
1 set of flannel sheets
1 duvet to cover up 
2 blankets from my bed at home
1 fleece camping blanket "just in case"
3 feather pillows

I sometimes feel like my camp bed is totally equal to home. So I encourage you to take your bed seriously.

A FEW OTHER ITEMS I USE TO HELP ME SLEEP
Melatonin time release sleep aid
Taking a bath before bed makes for a clean feeling sleep

Ware slippery leggings to keep warm without catching the sheets

Ear plugs
No water or beer three hours before I go to bed
Knowing for sure I packed all my food in bear box and took everything out of my car I also checked again to see that nothing is in my tent other than water so when I hear noises at night I can feel confident that it's not coming from our campsite.
Use a fan for white noise

RECAP POINTERS PLUS MORE TID BITS:

• Bring ear plugs to help block out noise esp. if you go to bed early or sleep in late
• Find a place to pee away from you tent before you go to sleep (if that's your style)
• Place a tarp under your tent and fold the edges under if you expect any rain
• Ware a base layer of silky or slippery leggings and long shirt for bed
• Keep your socks in your bed to keep warm for wake up
• Take melatonin or sleep aid just in case
• If your using an air bed insulate from the cold air in the mattress with wool and sleeping bag
• A clean camp is a quiet camp
• You get what you pay for when buying a tent

What To Pack When Camping For A Week

Last night my daughter and I packed our cloths for our five day camping trip coming up next week. I washed everything is unscented soap and focused on packing old cloths. Adrienne who is five loves this activity. I like packing cloth several days before our trip so I have time to wash anything that needs to be washed and because I know the days leading up to such a big trip will be busy with cooking/freezing food, shopping, planning and pulling it all together.

Here are a few links to help you get started knowing what to pack for a week long trip:


SEE: Camping Cloths
SEE: Camping Checklist
SEE: Camping With Kids
SEE: What Food To Bring
Check out my April posts for other ideas.

Here are few note to consider:


Cloths: I like clean cloths so a long trip means packing more, washing a few things or I check to see if they have a laundry facility. BRING CHANGE if they do. Wash all your cloths in scent free detergent so your not attracting mosquito's.


ADULT 5 DAY TRIP CLOTHS:


3 Long Sleeve Shirts
3 Short Sleeve Shirts
3 Tank Tops (good for layering cool days/nights)
1 or 2 Sleeping Ware (can double as day cloths, up to you)
3 Long Pants Assorted Soft / Jeans (unless it's VERY hot weather then 2)
3 Shorts (unless it's very cool weather then 2)
1 Skirt or Dress Optional
1 Long Sleeve Fleece Hooded Jacket
1 Down Vest
1 Light Rain/Wind Jacket (just in case)

1 Water Sandals
1 Hiking/Walking Shoes
1 Flip Flops For Shower Etc...
1 Pair Of Fleece Boots Optional
5 Pair Of Under Ware
4 Pair Of Socks
1 Bandanna
1 Sun Hat
1 Swimsuit


FOR CHILDREN ADD EXTRA SOCKS/UNDER WARE AND A PAIR OF GLOVES FOR LITTLE ONES. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH SHOES ESP. IF YOUR NEXT TO WATER. CROCS WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOUR CHILD A WAY TO HAVE DRY FEET.






                                 

How to clean and scale a panfish

This is a post that we did last fall after fishing season ended for many. We feel that this article certainly applies more at this time of year. We've been asked again and again about this topic. So back by popular demand.

This video shows you just how easy it is to scale and clean a panfish.
Panfish taste great, their light and sweet. Their usually the first fish you or your children may catch.
Just use a small hook and a worm and your ready. check out the link for pictures of different types of panfish. So get the frying pan ready.

The Camping Consultants

The Family Is Camping For Five Days

Our daughter (5) with food in her mouth

This month our family is camping for five nights in Tahoe. This has been 7 months in the making.


We won't be alone though because eight families are joining us.


I would like to write about what it takes to go camping with a family for so many days.


If anyone is reading this could you tell me what was the longest camping trip you have been on.

Our dog Bravo looking for his ball