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francoisfrogpod 
Senior Member 
Joined: 24 Feb 2013 Location: Missouri Online Status: Offline Posts: 109 |
 Topic: Call me crazy...Posted: 31 Oct 2013 at 8:27am |
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DH and I are planning a mid-winter 3 week trip to south Florida. Due to gas mileage, we have decided not to bring the pod.
 We are planning on "living in" our conversion van for most of the trip.We will be staying at state parks along the way except for a short stay with some friends. We used to be tent campers, so I am looking forward to the challenge of returning to my roots except I'll have a comfy bed to sleep in. We plan on taking the EZ up, propane stove, tent for storage, outside potty etc. to make outdoor living possible. My question is this: Does anyone have any suggestions for making the van more convenient to sleep in/hang out in during bad weather? Certain things must stay inside, like clothes and food. I'm afraid we may be a little cramped. (not enough to stay home  ) DH already removed the captain's chairs so we have lots of floor space. |
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Denny and Linda
2013 Pod 177 '08 Santa Fe |
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P&M
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Aug 2012 Location: Spokane, WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 454 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2013 at 8:55am |
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My first suggestion would be to make sure you have lots of cushions & pillows to make sitting around in the van more comfy during the bad weather, if you have to. My second would be to bring an easy-up type of cover that you can quickly setup to give you some protected overhead space outside.
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P & M ... and Comet too!
2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp 
Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2013 at 10:58am |
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You are crazy.
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp
Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2013 at 10:58am |
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Don't hate me.. you asked for it.
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp 
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2013 at 11:39am |
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I understand, pulling the pod around ain't cheap. I just mentioned in another thread that we did 4 trips from MD to FL in 2011, but only one of them with the pod even though I would have preferred to have it the other 3. Two of the non-pod trips we slept in our minivan (our TV at the time). 4 people and a dog on one of them!
Since you'll have your EZ-up, get 1 oversize tarp, a large clear-plastic drop cloth and a dozen spring clamps. You can find the tarp fairly cheap online, spring clamps and drop cloth at any home improvement store. I have a tarp that can completely cover the top of 2 EZ-ups with a 4 foot gap between them. Covering just one it will cover the top (original cover isn't rain proof anymore) and one side. With additional clear drop cloth I can completely enclose two EZ-ups for bad weather camping trips.
I'm thinking you could set up your EZ-up against the van with the sliding door or rear doors open, then use the tarp to cover the EZ-up and bridge the gap to the van. Add the clear plastic on the other sides (clear to let light in) and you'll have a huge dry area to hang out without being trapped in the van.
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francoisfrogpod
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Feb 2013 Location: Missouri Online Status: Offline Posts: 109 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2013 at 12:48pm |
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What a great idea, Techntrek! I have tarps for the side of the EZ up for sunshine in the summer, but clear ones would be better for winter. It will just be two of us and a small-who-thinks-he's-big dog. P&M, thanks for the suggestion about lots of pillows, that will help I'm sure. We already have many large pillows in the pod. I'll just take them with us.
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Denny and Linda
2013 Pod 177 '08 Santa Fe |
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Paige
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 23 Jul 2012 Location: Upstate NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 216 |
Posted: 01 Nov 2013 at 2:23pm |
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Two thoughts from someone who is now in Florida, after bringing their pod down from New York:
A. On the way down, you might want to stay at a Cracker Barrel overnight,,no charge. Just let the management know. B. It is very HOT down here at this time,,,so sleeping in a van with no AC might not be such a great experience. Just say'in
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Paige and Pete
2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 01 Nov 2013 at 3:15pm |
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Other options are Wal-Mart and truck stops. We actually feel safer in truck stops.
Very true about the A/C. We ran our van for the few nights we were in it - not cheap and not something I would want to do long-term, but it was absolutely necessary to get any sleep.
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hogone
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1060 |
Posted: 02 Nov 2013 at 7:18am |
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truck stops, cracker barrel and walmart...............how about rest areas?
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Jon & Pam
2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1452 |
Posted: 02 Nov 2013 at 8:51am |
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Interstate rest areas generally have a 2 hour limit, probably for good reasons. They could get crowded and there are a lot of potential safety issues.
TT |
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
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Call me crazy...