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Bill-GA
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Cumming, GA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 214
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Topic: 1st time out - newbie Posted: 20 Apr 2012 at 12:42am |
I finally made the jump on a 2 day outing at Bald Ridge Campground at Lake Lanier, Ga. It was only 30 mins from home but wanted a good test run close to home in case I forgot something. Cost was $32/day ... but got half price with my sr nat'l park pass ... I'm an old retired guy  .
Weather was sunny first day and rainy the second. Setup went well - used a power drill w/ bit to put down stabilizers - nice. Push out went out OK ... Hookup electric and water BEFORE next time ! Tent went down easily, set up inside poles and it really made inside look much larger. Didn't use mattress topper as I wanted a baseline first - slept well. Forgot my pillow - cushion as pillow was Ok on my side ... NG on my back. Potty break at 4AM was Ok ... didn't kill myself in the dark. Used the microwave for some lite meals and soups - no serious cooking. I didn't use R-Dome as i didn't want to break it down in the rain per wether report. Finally figured out the TV and channel scanning ... that was a challenge! 2nd night (in rain) I watched DVD on TV and discovered my Tent camper has no good seating back support to watch TV ... so had to use small folding chair were table usually goes. I'm thinking I need to get TV outside under the R-Dome with chairs when with wife on our 3 week venture North in June. I may look into stadium seats for inside?? Decided I needed 2 more stick up Hooks in front door area. Bathroom door mirror was excellent! Also, I had decided to use 4 large plastic bins (BJ's at 3 for $18) for managing cooking/camp stuff, clothes, people food and dog stuff (took my 12 year old dachshund  as company - she slept on large dog pillow by the door). Bins worked great in seperating stuff and keeping it organized and I stored them on and under my bunk beds. My pickup with hard tonneau cover was great for large items - table, chairs, etc. Finally, i used the campground dump station for both grey and black water dumps when i left even though they were barely full. Everything worked as deigned. All in all a good time and I gained lots of confidence for the June trip ... Reading everyone's tips REALLY was helpful. Thanks! 
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Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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rex
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 24 Sep 2011
Location: stuart fla
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 119
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Posted: 20 Apr 2012 at 3:32am |
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD A BLAST!THE FIRST ONE OUT IS ALWAYS EXCITING.rex pHp stuart fla
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jrr
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp
Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
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Posted: 20 Apr 2012 at 9:42am |
If possible, you may try a few nights in the driveway so you and the Mrs. can get a handle on how it will go with two of you in there..
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Hodge-PODge
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Location: Calhoun, GA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 539
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Posted: 20 Apr 2012 at 9:47am |
Sounds like a pretty successful trip to me!
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2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge
2011 Mercedes ML350
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."
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Snowbound
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Location: Edmonton, AB
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 270
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Posted: 20 Apr 2012 at 10:01am |
Glad you had a good time on your trial run, Bill. That trial run for first timers was one of the best ideas we got from this forum.
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Tom and Bette
in our 177 "The Gastropod"
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tpierce220
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2011
Location: Oswego IL
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Posts: 281
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Posted: 20 Apr 2012 at 10:24am |
Welcome, Bill! It looks like you had a great time with your shakeout trip.
Tim
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Adventures with ¡Podtástic!--Life in a Forest River RPod 182G with Tim and Louis and our two cats, Desi and Lucy. Check our website at http://podtastic.info for information on our journeys.
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Guests
Guest Group
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Posted: 20 Apr 2012 at 4:31pm |
Good stuff! Keep it up.
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9062
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Posted: 21 Apr 2012 at 2:25pm |
One suggestion, either wait for your black tank to get to at least 3/4 or fill it with water before dumping.
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DocTom
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Kansas City, MO
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Posts: 190
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Posted: 22 Apr 2012 at 9:06am |
Sounds Good!!! 1st of many happy adventures.
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Brush and Floss, It is the Secret of Life!
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Bill-GA
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Cumming, GA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 214
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Posted: 22 Apr 2012 at 9:54pm |
.
Originally posted by techntrek
One suggestion, either wait for your black tank to get to at least 3/4 or fill it with water before dumping.
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Fill w/water via the toilet and spare (not water connection) hose?
I looked down the toilet to gauge how full  . Not really good/easy as waste pipe is offset into black tank. Tank indicator light on wall has been misreading. Any suggestions?
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Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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