She might get a good deal on one.  It looks like they are not offered for 2011 and it has been replaced with a model 183, which has a slide out (but weighs about 400lbs more). 

I know we will be going to Camping World to look at their offers on used trailers.

 

 

 

This is my 1963 Impala SS, which I restored.  It helped keep me from going totally insane thru the girls' teen years (and ex's menopause).  I briefly thought about making it my tow vehicle but, it only gets about 10mpg - not towing!  I still have it, but haven't shown it much for the past few years.

 

I agree with those who do not cover their entire camper....at least for those of us who get wet, cold and snow.

 

Hillbillies.....  I have hillbilly blood pulsing thru my veins!  My "mommy"(hillbillies - mom and dad are always mommy and daddy) was from a little town called Gatlif, KY, which is a little south and east of Williamsburg, KY and about 10 miles from Jellico, TN (my older sister was born in Jellico).  Tars, ain't, yuns (you'uns), beyar (beer)....I'm fluent in "hillbilly"!

 

 

The husband was raised here in East Tenn. , had all the TVA lakes, did a lot of family camping, LOTS of it. We did not have time (or thoughts of it) for camping in our first years, living in Hawaii. The Corps kept him busy, sometime camping!

Only after we had the second child and were in Virginia did we start camping. Maybe it was the mountains, but one baby in diapers (before disposibalies) and a 5 yr. old, one took to camping(he likes to do the back country(Mom takes the kitchen sink), the daughter could not take her hot rollers, but we kept plugging away at it. The wonder was, we still wanted to camp when they left home. Had a lot of years with no camping because we were flying somewhere for vacations or driving places. Did not even think about camping it seems. But at some point the husband wanted to try a motorhome, but had 5 in the space of 8 years, a very good way to lose money in my mind. He is a car person, can take one apart and put together (not that he is going to do that) and was never happy with one , automotive wise. Thought they were mostly a piece of junk. That put him up to a few years ago when he was getting physically tired of driving one. I was glad he was wise enough to reconize it, I note that some men are driving them way past the due date to quit. Dangerous to my mind.  Then we started taking cruises, but had been many places in the world due to his job, we soon had gone where we wanted and they do not interest us.

Recently went to Texas, road trip in order to take the dog, and we are 3 worn out critters. Being from an airline family, I am so disgusted with air travel anymore that only for dire ememgency will I set foot on one again.  Guess I just want to be home in my mountains and take my Pod out, maybe some farther afield, just giving up is not my way.

By the way, the Pod was a 50th anniversary gift from my husband.  He just stays home and worries about me being out "there".  Even grannies get to camp

 

I may go the hillbilly way and wrap my "tares" with something.  They are going to get a flat bottom by sitting on the gravel, not really thinking of jacking it up on blocks. I have noted in the forum that having a cover for it was possibly not the best bet. I know in the past that having a fitted cover for cars have given one "pimples". Pretty expensive to aquire only to find not the best buy.

 

The husband said I would have to let it rest at some point so that we could "finish Winterizing it"

I have not had my last play date in it yet. But coming up soon.

 

Thanks for information

 

 

The biggest enemy (IMHO) of your tires and clear coated wheels is the sun's ultraviolet.  Trailer tires tend to dry rot, long before the tread wears out.  If you can't buy the guards now, just be creative with what you might have on hand.  I've seen people wedge scrap pieces of plywood in front of them, cut up an old blue tarp and bungee or tie them on with rope, etc.  It's not the end of the world if you don't cover them, they'll just likely last and look good longer.

 

I've been "full circle" a couple of times.  Starting camping when I was 18 in a pup tent - and the Smoky's were my first "real" trip (stayed at Cosby).  Got married along the way and she really didn't care for the tent.  But, if we got something nicer, she might want to go camping more often.  Bought a used Apache pop up and then later, a Coleman Gettysburg popup.  Summers went by...if we would buy something nicer, she might want to go camping more often.  Bought a fifth wheel with all the goodies.  Still had to "drag her kicking and screaming" camping.  I think she just didn't like camping (or me either)

 

Anyway 12 years ago, when the girls(2) where grown and gone, she set off for greener pastures.  I kept the fiver for a couple of years, but did not use it, so I sold it.  When I got tired of sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, I went out and bought a tent and used it a couple of years.  Then I bought the Coleman Taos (used) and used it a couple of years.  Then, the Rpod and now the Coleman.  I can see myself (again) in a small fifth wheel when retirement presents the opportunity to travel more.  The only thing I haven't owned is a motorhome.

I sort of fell into the Pod experience, husband had quit camping, sold the last coach. I went out and bought 3 man tent the next week, so was back to what we started in many years ago, better tent, a Coleman.  He did get a little jumpy about me in a tent, so suggested something else, I looked at Teardrops, but wanted to stand up! Don't even remember how I got on to the Pod ifnormation, but was pretty much love at first sight and do not need more than that for myself and a small dog. Really cozy little thing. BIG PROBLEM was learning the ropes, never having pulled a thing, trading cars to have proper pulling, and learning to maintain all. I was the inside keeper on coaches

Doens't take much to care for the inside of this one since it is so small, but the outside is a new world for me. BUT if you want something badly enough you most likely can learn it. However slowly.

Thank you for additional information on Winter care, will try one more outing in Elkmont this month while it is open as long as it is not icy. Then put it to bed until Spring.

 

Is there any other way to wrap the tires if I can't spend the money for tire covers this year.

 

 

 

This is the Surveyor like mine,  SP-186:

 

May have to set a date that I won't let anyone rope me in , already up to the 17th. I do want to try camping without unhooking. I had heard that unhooking the electrical cord from car (the 7 prong one) was best so as not to drain car. The site at A-18, while not great, is pretty level. I may try for one across from the river in an open area that is really flat too. It has Sun exposure, good for this time of year.

Did not know the Colman was a new trailer. I think she would like one kind of like it, will keep your suggestion on hand, by the looks of it might be about the right size, whatever the brand.

 

 

 

 

 

Camping without unhooking is fine as long as the site is reasonably level.  I do it anytime I am just "overnighting" somewhere.  Just as a precaution, I do unhook the electrical cable from the tow vehicle.

 

Regarding my camper/your friend....it is a little easier to move around in the Coleman, vs. the Pod, with Dixie.  It is a little wider (7 feet) and a little longer (less than one foot).  It weighed 3018 lbs. with all of the options, so it is very close to the Pods in weight.  Used ones may be hard to come by, as they just started making them about 11-12 months ago.  Mine was made in January of 2010 and I bought it in March.  She may want to also look at the "Surveyor" line, as there is one nearly identical to my camper.

Have been gone to Texas (and NO color change in the Hill Country), so missed this year color.

Have camped (in tent) and had a ranger help me move it the back of his pick up truck to higher ground. Rule is that when hard rains are coming, be on higher ground, even it everyone is fighting for waterside!  Living here in G'burg, I don't even bother to do that fight, let someone that does not have this beauty all the time have the pleasure of it. I take a site up on A-18 mostly and walk the dog, she loves to dip in the river. I will have to check and see where L-15 is, did not remember L's. But mostly camp on side of river as you enter campground and not cross over bridge. Right now I think "over the bridge side" is closed. Hope to get out and get some R&R time while it is still open this month.

Your pictures were Great. We are due for drying out by Sunday (might be snow there tonight on)

have camped in the snow, but with a large coach. I think the POD would be snug and want to find enough days together to try "camping without unhooking", a dry run for traveling and not unhooking every stop. I like to be near a bathroom, don't use any of the water since I have Winterized Escape Pod.  The place is splendid when it is not over run, mostly November

Did my Winterizing yesterday, had the dangest time finding the water pump, was in and out contacting this forum, finally found it by sound (under the mattress on my 2011 171). Took more than 10 minutes for me, but now know where to locate, will be some faster. Getting under that mattress is a 2 person job. But feel better having protected the investment. Crazy people with some sense of humor while building Pods, just a guess where things might be. Guess it keeps them from getting bored.

I have a friend that may be looking for something a little bigger than the Pod since she has large dog, your camper may be about the size she has in mind, if she can find a used on in good shape.

She has a Suburban, will pull about anything.

 

Glad you enjoyed Elkmont, Cosby is less crowded, have camped there. On out to Cades Cove is really pretty and has the Cove to explore for nice. I like Elkmont because it is near enough to home that I can get a shower and keep appointments. I may try my own yard this Winter since it is on edge of National Park and REALLY close to a bathroom

Nice to walk in Elkmont in the Winter, they are gathering all the down trees (use to stack it , cut, for the April campers, but alas, now the concession people get it to cut up and SELL), but lots of fallen firewood for gleamers early in season. Interesting to see it cleaned up as the month progresses, by Summer there is hardly a stick free for fire starting

 

 

This is campsite L-15 and it is laid out more to my liking.  It also had a small stream running behind the campsite, which was nice.

 

 

Across the road were mainly tent sites, but right on the river

 

 

Although it rained/stormed every day or night, I have to agree with the "masses" and give Elkmont high ratings.  It is a beautiful place to camp, albeit busy because of it.  Water fill and a dump station is located about 6 miles away across from the Sugarlands visitor center.  There are some supplies at the campground store (open after 4pm) such as; wood, ice, milk, hot dogs, vending, etc. 

 

I did see one interesting "camper" but have to admit...I don't "get it".

 

 

I think it was called  "Adventure Trailer" and a lot of people were curious about it.  While different, it seems like a lot of extra work/expense for a two man pup tent that required a ladder to get in to.  But, to each his own.

 

At high elevations, much was already gone, leaving only the evergreens.

 

 

At mid elevations and lower, much seemed to be yellows and browns.  I don't know what their weather was like this year but, here in Indiana, it has been very dry and the trees have been less than inspiring.

 

 

Back to my story.....

Awakened at about 4am - wind roaring and driving rain.  I need to get the weather radio out and find out what's going on.  Dang, it's broke!  Next thought - the ham radio will tune these frequencies.  NOAA is in the 162.400 - .500 range.  I find it at 162.475 mhz.  The familiar computer generated "voice" comes in:  "This is NOAA radio station KEC74.  A  tornado watch is in effect for your area.  Strong winds, gusting to 50-60mph with heavy rainfall and possible hail.  Damage to trees and unsecured objects is likely.  If you're not scared yet...you WILL be...he heh!"

 

I hear the sounds of the awning trying to remove itself from the side of the camper and take flight.  I must get it down!  In the following moments, I think I understood how the sailors of yore must have felt; with the howling winds, driving rain and fighting the sails.  The Gordon Lightfoot song, "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" came to mind...(taking liberty with the lyrics)

 

That nice little stream is getting bigger, too.

 

 

Though, not quite this bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finally arrived at Elkmont campground, site B-17.  I'd call it an OK+ site...probably a better tent site than a RV site - just because of how it is laid out.  It was my first stay at Elkmont and I picked the site off of the map on the internet reservation form.  (Note to self: remember to hold the camera level when taking pictures!)

 

 

It has a small stream running just a few feet outside the camper door but, the fire ring and picnic table are some distance back from the camper - near the tent pad.  As you can see the smoke of the fire, I'm scorching some much needed food and settling in for the first night.  Little did I know that mother nature was sending a bodacious storm my way, in the early (4am) morning!  Also, little did I know that my portable AM/FM/Weather radio decided to break itself somewhere along the road.  Luckily, my ham radio was set up and fully functional.