Anybody go camping?

[Chris142]

I've been wanting to go camping but I hate tents. Been looking for a camper that I can drag out into the desert, cook weenies and marshmallows and go home the next day.

Been having trouble finding a decient trailer in my price range. Seems that everything here under $3000 is garbage or has $5000 in back DMV fees due.

I saw a little trailer for sale yesterday and stopped to look at it. I knew that it was pretty old but was in pretty decient shape.
It's a 1972 Aristocrat lo-Liner

The price was right and it was the cleanest I have see so far.

We made a deal and I pulled it home. Spent this morning tightning every screw I saw, spraying disenfectant in it.
I put a 12v battery in it just to see if the lights work and they do. So does the water pump.

I'm afraid to try the toilet.

I'm going to pack the wheel bearings and get my truck equipped with an electric trailer brake controller.

I've found a little bit of info about it. Does anybody know anything about these?

http://www.tincantourists.com/wiki/doku.php?id=aristocrat

 

[The_Jeff]

Do you feel like your 2WD truck is going to let you camp where you want to hide? Seems your Jeep would really get you away from it all.

I like the idea of metal keeping coyotes out when I'm sleeping, LOL.

 

[ls1mike]

I do, always have a great time. I lucked out when I found my fiver. It is clean everything works and it was 3500 bucks.
1995 25 foot Fleetwood Prowler.
It is about 7000 lbs loaded. Camping has turned out to be a great family/friend activity.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: Chris142

That thing looks super clean for it's age. I love it!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Not Camping! - that trailer trash kind of camping is for outlaws and outcasts. Get familiar with a tent and hike in - or stay home!

Wife was walking by .... wait .... wait .......

O.K.

Now, Where do I chill the beers and put my 30-aught.?

 

[Jim 5]

I'd run some water/bleach through the water tank, drive around, then pump it all through your toilet into the holding tank, drive around some more and empty the holding tank.

Then fill the tank with fresh water a few times draining through the holding tank.

Nice little unit.

Here's our set-up near Banff National Park, Canada. We have the tow vehicle in my sig now. The Avalanche wasn't quite enough.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

We camped all over the Pacific Northwest with a 65 Serro Scotty 15" and loved it. Easy to camp with the small ones because we were pretty much self contained. Still have an 8' slide in camper.

Toilet should not be a big issue even if it doesn't work. Replacement is not all that costly. Check it out as it is generally important for the women folk.

Make sure your propane appliances all work correctly and there may be some roof maintenance issues over time. Otherwise the appliances, etc are all fairly easy to keep up. Overall. looks very good for a '72.

 

[JimPghPA]

Do not allow belach to get into the black water holding tank, unless you have an air tank type self contained breathing setup, like firemen use. Bleach can react with the existing bio-mass and produce deadly gas.

On the show 1,000 ways to die, someone used bleach in a cloged up trailer septic system and died before he could get out of the unit.

 

[JimPghPA]

Check the tires for dry-rot cracks. If you see any get new tires. And always run trailer tires at full rated pressure.

Also, you will be amazed at the improvement in gas millage you will get if you replace the old bearings and races with new ones.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Do you feel like your 2WD truck is going to let you camp where you want to hide? Seems your Jeep would really get you away from it all.

I like the idea of metal keeping coyotes out when I'm sleeping, LOL.
Actully thats my 1973 International 3/4ton 4x4 truck!. It has a 4bbl 392, T-19 with the granny low 1st, NP202, D60 rear,D44 front with 4.30 gears.

It's towed all kinds of atv's and dirt bikes into the desert

. And on the way home it goes around the 460 Fords and 454 Chevies that were pulling less weight.

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Do not allow belach to get into the black water holding tank, unless you have an air tank type self contained breathing setup, like firemen use. Bleach can react with the existing bio-mass and produce deadly gas.

On the show 1,000 ways to die, someone used bleach in a cloged up trailer septic system and died before he could get out of the unit.



Good to know. I was kind of talking about a capful or two in a huge water tank.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Check the tires for dry-rot cracks. If you see any get new tires. And always run trailer tires at full rated pressure.
ya I planned on new tires. They are 13 inchers LOL

 

[beanoil]

Camping rocks! My family had gradually moved up through the years from tent (no fun in inclement weather) to a pop-up (major fun and cheap) to a 26 foot TT, to our current 29 foot Flagstaff. I wasn't a camper until I got married at 34. My wife brought that pleasure to me on our first camping trip with her family in spring of 1995. Been doing it ever since. looks like the OP has a fine unit there. Drive carefully. Did you really tow it home without a brake controller? Yikes!
ls1mike.. great rig you have too. What a score for that price!

 

[Jim 5]

Tekonsha Prodigy is a great brake controller. I used a cheaper one at first, but then spent the money on the top-o-the-line prodigy. Money well spent.

 

[Cause4Alarm]

you can't go camping with a camper........you go camping with a tent

 

[simple_gifts]

Originally Posted By: Cause4Alarm
you can't go camping with a camper........you go camping with a tent


Sure you can, it just "getting away from it all" and then deciding to bring "it all" with you....

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: Cause4Alarm
you can't go camping with a camper........you go camping with a tent

After the time I spent in the Army, I decided camping was not in a tent and I never camped in a tent ever again. Tent camping is nice, but give me a trailer anyday. You still get away from it all even if you go a half hour down the road.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: Jim 5
Tekonsha Prodigy is a great brake controller. I used a cheaper one at first, but then spent the money on the top-o-the-line prodigy. Money well spent.

Concur.
I have the Primus(a step below the Prodigy) in the new truck and man compared to my old 20 year old brake controller in the old truck, it is like having disk all the way around on the trailer. Technology is awesome.

 

[Spazdog]

I used to primitive camp. Really primitive. If it could not be carried on myself or my mountain bike, it didn't come along.

Then I got married. My campsite must have a nearby restroom now. Wife's rule. It's still fun and now I get to carry a cooler with "essentials" like beer.

I'm strongly considering a Casita. Not sure about how it will effect transmission life.

 

[ls1mike]

One more thing, I have had a few drinks today, camper um ah ahem, you know the stuff that makes kids...is the best...