Finishing the trailer frame and making the floor

So here is the frame, all done with new suspension and everything. Ok, not everything. I still need to get 2 decent rims, weight rated tires and grade u-bolts to hold the axle. However that is fine for now, I needed the thing to stand on it's wheels so I could start the build while having an idea on how the trailer sits.

Next step was to get some lumber, resin epoxy, roofing tar, nuts, washers and bolts. I used 1/2 thick first grade plywood and 1"X1" pine to frame it.

The plywood was cut, glued and screwed into the framing. Notice the notch made to clear the wheel. Once the lumber was all put together, the top of the floor was epoxied using fiberglass resin to seal it.

The next day we flipped the floor and rested it on the frame to apply roofing tar to the bottom.

We used 3/4 of a gallon of the stuff. Be generous, you want to seal that underbody real good. Remember that water will be sprayed up there at highway speed. I'm not done yet for protecting from water spray in the wheel wells, I have another trick up my sleeve, but that will be for another post.

The floor was then bolted to the frame and it now sits ready to accept the walls. Many thanks to the good folks at Remorque BGS, they are very good people and they do cater to the hobbyist as well as the pros. Go see them.

Gerry :)

Campfire Treat - Doughboys

For some families the kids are already back in school; for others the start of the school year is just around the corner. Either way, all across the country the upcoming Labor Day weekend is a big summer weekend to go camping America. Plan to enjoy quality together time hiking and exploring, geocaching if that’s your thing, grilling some mighty tasty chops, and capping the perfect day around a roaring campfire (find campfire tips here).

Top it off by trying a delish fireside treat that’s sure to be a hit...doughboys. These little toasted tubes can be filled with your choice of fillings - chocolate syrup, jelly, pie filling, whipped cream - you get the picture - and enjoyed on the spot. Here’s how to make your own doughboys:

You’ll need a “stick” about 1 ½ inches in diameter and about 2 feet long (pick up an untreated wooden dowel at your local home improvement store and cut to length). Decorate the holding end with permanent markers (this makes a great campsite craft).

At the campfire, butter the doughboy end of the stick and using refrigerated biscuit dough roll a single biscuit into a snake shape. Spiral wrap the dough on the buttered end of the stick making sure the dough is sealed on the sides and end - creating a “tube”. Rotate/toast over the fire for about 5 minutes - until it’s brown and easily slips off the stick (careful - they’re hot). Fill and enjoy - bet you can eat more than one!!

Find more kid-friendly recipes as well as your perfect place to tent camp or go RVing at GoCampingAmerica.com.

Contributed by Evanne Schmarder

CAMPSITE ICE SAVER - Barb's Bear Box Cover

When I saw this I almost hit myself for not thinking of it first. Then I tried it and it worked SOOOOOO DAM GOOD that I did hit myself.

While camping at D.L. Bliss this month I couldn't help but scope out the campers a few spaces down from me. Everything was so tidy, their gear was job specific and well designed and then "THE BEAR BOX COVER" like a beacon it stood out as the most sensible idea since the darn boxes were installed.

Barb. told me she has cut down on ice consumption considerably. That the material she uses can be found as foil insulation at a place like Low's or OSH and other hardware stores.


If you frequent a campground you can pre-make one of these covers (most campgrounds offer the bear box size or you can call) or just bring duct tape and scissors and create one on the spot. I found that making it so that the piece that covers the doors works great if it can fold up and rest on the bear box doors when it opens. I used my car insulation just to give it a try and it was amazing how well it worked.


Barb. also said she likes using the marine coolers as they are best insulated and with her tips she can go days without buying new ice.

Coleman 150-quart Heritage Marine Plus Cooler at  Overstock.com

Thank you so much Barb. for such a wonderful idea. Your campsite was inspirational as you brought only what you needed but didn't skimp on style or comfort. Happy Camping !
SEE BUGS
SEE CAMPING WITH DOGS
SEE MY NOTE TO READERS

And what do you think about this?

Camping AT D.L. Bliss

Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe California

D.L. Bliss Campground - Not all campsites are equal - Scroll down to see BEST sites
9881 HWY 89
Tahoma CA 96142
Click Here For State Park Link

Entrance of D.L. Bliss by Gary O'Toole

Location – Directions

17 miles south of Tahoe City on Highway 89, a couple of miles north of Emerald Bay
Tahoma Latitude/Longitude: 38.9851 / -120.1304
Phone: 530-525-7277Reservations: 800-444-7275 Click Here

Even though this park gets a 10 rating from most of the camping books, many campsites are on slops that are rocky or are small. I would rate this place a 5 or a 10 depending on where you’re parking your tent. I love the beach access at this park and a few nice sites sit facing the water. You pay extra for that though and no dogs on beach here, not even on leash. However early rise and sunset ball throw worked for us just fine. The beach is BEAUTIFUL and it’s the beach that makes this campground great. If you want to book a good site you will need to be on the ball and get it the day they open for sale, 7 months in advance on the first day of the month.
The sites I've chosen are based on SHADE, PRIVACY, NO BATHROOM LIGHT SHINNING IN YOUR TENT, SIZE and FLAT. Everyone has their own real estate requirements but I'm sure you will be happy with this review.

Bliss Water by Ruth Chase

 


BEST SITES                           Click Here For Campground Map
Beach Camp Loop:
148: Water side, shade & some privacy, near stairs & people traffic
151: Water side, view, smaller
153: Water side, space, odd shape
156: Water side, close to neighbors tent location
158: Water side
143, 162, 165, 164 all seem best for privacy, shade and flatter, may be close to group


Pros: The Beach loop is mostly great for being able to walk to the beach. Especially early mornings and night strolls it's nice to be so close. Most days we drive down and park the car early in the shade for our gear and dog who isn't permitted on the sand. I also like the water spigot in each campsite.
Cons: Small spaces packed in tight, best when your neighbors are friendly. Cost more to be at the beach. You do get a view but it's not an open shot of the water as the trees are dense between you and the view of the water. Parking allows two autos however they are tiny.

Morning Ball Throw by Ruth Chase

 
Other Loops: 
103: Spacious
105: Spacious
113: Interesting, large rock forms
10-12: Flat, shady, quiet, bigger, good to group together
17 & 19: Flat, shady, quiet, bigger, good to group together
24-25: Flat, shady, quiet, bigger, good for group, too close to bathroom light


Pros: Quieter camping away from the beach with access to beach by bike or short drive. Lower Pines loop is my favorite in terms of larger, flat sites and the most quiet as well.
Cons: Distance from beach

Trolly Ride by Ruth Chase

 
Prices:
Drive-In Developed $35.00 $35.00
Group Developed $165.00 $165.00
(2 night maximum) Hike & Bike Special $7.00 $7.00
Lakefront Drive-In Premium $45.00 $45.00
If you cancel before 5:00 PM the day before your arrival date you will be refunded your purchase with a $7.50 charge for canceling.

Looking At YOU by Ruth Chase

 
Details and Fun Facts: The park is named for a pioneering lumberman, railroad owner, and banker of the region. The D.L. Bliss family donated 744 acres to the State Park system in 1929.
Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite. The inside dimensions of the food locker 36" deep, 43" wide, and 22" high.


Click Here To See Park Brochure
Chick Here To See Bear Information


Max Camper Length: 18 Feet

Max Trailer Length: 15 Feet
Each campsite is allowed one vehicle, one additional vehicles to be parked at campsite for $7 or $8. A parking area is available for any vehicles after three or more.

THINGS TO DO:
Trails:

Balancing Rock Nature Trail: The Balancing Rock, "tons of granite resting precariously on a slender stone base", has long been a natural attraction on Lake Tahoe's western shore. Visitors to the Lake Tahoe area in the late 1800's and early 1900's enjoyed being photographed next to this geological marvel.
Today, the Balancing Rock is the feature attraction of a short, half mile self-guided nature trail in the northwest section of D.L. Bliss State Park. The granite of this large rock began weathering more rapidly at the joint plane, an extensive horizontal crack that is easily seen at its "waist".
The overlying rock weighs around 130 tons and is now balanced on the rock below. This precarious remnant of granite rock will eventually fall when enough material has eroded away to break the equilibrium between the two pedestals.
We had a blast riding the trolley from our campground to Camp Richard for the yummiest ice cream EVER!
Visitors can pick up a brochure at the start of the trail that describes 19 numbered markers, where you can stop and learn about the relationships between the soils, plants, and animals found in the park.

Riding The Trolly by Ruth Chase

Go to site to see images

WondaWedge IS Wonda Full

Is the WondaWedge Wonda Full?

 

PRODUCT: WondaWedge
CONTACT: wondawedge.com
PRICE: $24
SIZE: 1.3 lbs and about the size of two pillows together

PROS: Perfect size, not too big or small, easy to pack, comfortable with angle options, not expensive and I like my orange color. When deflated packs small.
CONS: Blow up is easy but you will need to blow it up

OVERALL: So I just came back from a beach camping trip. Every day we went to the beach and I was very happy to take the WondaWedge instead of a chair. It was so comfortable and I liked being able to rotate it to find the back support I wanted. I also used it in the tent to read in bed - totally FAB. If less is more is your style then taking a WondaWedge will be the perfect gear for you.

SEE TENT SIZE AND GREAT SLEEP
SEE 12 THINGS TO CONSIDER CAMPING W/ KIDS

So much more to come, click here to see images

Stretching the frame

The basic boat frame is way too small to accomodate the 110 inch by 62 inch floor I want to put on it, so I must extend it. Having no welder or any type of knowledge on how to use one, I figured I would have to bolt the extensions on.

The first thing on my mind was to find material to make the extension. A short trip to the local big box hardware store and I found that they only had 4 foot long sections of angle iron at $30 a pop! There was no way that this was viable for me since the size and price were nowhere near what I needed.

The answer came when I went to our City's recycling center, to dump the remains of the box we tore off the trailer when we got it, bed frames. I managed to get six angle iron bed sides for a wopping $15! It was the right length and the price was more than adequate.

The next step required cutting the pieces to the proper length with an angle grinder, thanks Bob for the tool loan, drilled some holes, got some nuts, bolts, lock washers and put the whole mess together. It seems to hold up pretty well as my slave monkey is demonstrating below.

                                                          

Money spent and made comes out presently at $127 out of pocket. Keep posted as we will get the thing back on its wheels real soon so we can get some wood on it.

Gerry   :)

RV Cooking Show - St Louis for Free and Chops on the Grill

Here at the RV Cooking Show we have a thing for cities. There’s a certain buzz, an abundance of culture and cuisine, and a sense of urgency that calls to us. When the opportunity to go RVing in or on the edge of a city presents itself we are tickled. That’s just what happened to us in St Louis – a generous host offering plenty of free things to do and see. Sure, you could spend a bundle if you wish, but you can just as easily fill up your days (and senses) with complimentary admissions, neighborhood strolls, etc. Find out what freebies we loved in St Louis then join us as we grill pork chops and top them with a magical compound butter (a fancy way of saying butter with a few mix-ins).



Looking for terrific tips on Missouri? Check out the Go Camping America Missouri page. And don’t forget…getting there in the camper is half the fun. Pick up some helpful  RV driving tips here...can't hurt, right?

Here’s to a summer of great grilling and happy camping / RVing!

Evanne
RVCookingShow.com

PS – Print this delish recipe here…oh, yeah!

Low Country Camping Trip

This sign is from the Penn Center in St. Helena, South Carolina.

We are camping down the road from this historic site and an important piece of African American history. This site is on the National Historic register.

Here is a description from the Beaufort S.C visitor bureau.

"With its abundant farms and shrimp docks, St. Helena Island, just 5 miles east of Beaufort, offers visitors a glimpse into rural Low-country life past and present. St. Helena is home to the Penn Center, one of the first schools for the children of freed slaves the location of a small rural cottage, where Martin Luther King, Jr. drafted his famous “I have a dream speech”.

After visiting the Penn Center we were moved and felt inspired by the culture of the Gullah/Geechee people.

There are 15 historic buildings and structures on the Penn Center Campus, and over 50 acres of beautiful live oak trees leading to a expansive salt marsh

Salt Marsh behind the Penn Ctr.

Penn Center St. Helena S.C.

This area is a must see, for all people not just African Americans, so much culture, art and history.

Designated by Congress in 2006, the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.

Museum

Stay tuned for more of this historic area.
The Camping Consultants