Newbie from Angels Camp, California

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Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby michaeln » Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:17 am

Hi Folks

I am 67 years old and live in California's Sierra Nevada foothills, in the Gold Country. I have been camping in the Sierras since I was a little kid. However, as I have gotten older, I enjoyed tent camping less and less. Crawling through the dirt to get in and out of a tent, no easy way to use my CPAP machine (which has become a necessity for me in recent years), having to load up my gear for every trip... you know the drill. I stopped camping because the fun had gone out of it.

Last week I bought my first camping trailer, an American Teardrop Trailers Classic. They are a small builder in Auburn California, just the owner and one part time employee. The one I bought is one of their rentals that has been in use for 2 years. It's in excellent shape and nicely equipped:

On my first experimental towing trip... I towed it with my 2016 Toyota RAV4 LE from my place in Angels Camp, up Highway 88 and visited PiPi campground (closed for the season):

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From there wandered around on Omo Ranch Road to Mt. Aukum, then over 7382' Echo Summit on Hwy 50 to Lake Tahoe. Gassed up in Tahoe and headed over 7344' Kingsbury Grade down into Nevada. Headed south to Hwy 88 and pulled it over 8652' Carson Pass:

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I am happy to report that the RAV4 was happy pulling the trailer, no problems at all.

I am now waiting for my new CPAP machine with DC cord to arrive before actually camping in it. Some detail pictures:

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Last edited by michaeln on Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby clamlamp » Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:26 am

Beautiful trailer!

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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby tony.latham » Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:55 am

I looked through their build photos... I think they do a really nice job.

Congratulations on a fine 'drop! :thumbsup:

I'm particularly interested in how they are securing the solar panels and sealing the wire entry points. Could you snap some other photos of that? (And no, I'm not a commercial builder, but I am toying with another build.)

Tony
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby halfdome, Danny » Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:25 pm

I too am curious how they mounted and sealed the solar panels.
I saw those flexible solar panels last summer and they got me thinking :thinking: of the possibilities.
I've thought of maybe running the wire under the insert molding vinyl but not directly through the roof.
Nice teardrop for sure.
:D Danny
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby michaeln » Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:47 pm

tony.latham wrote:I looked through their build photos... I think they do a really nice job.

I'm particularly interested in how they are securing the solar panels and sealing the wire entry points. Could you snap some other photos of that?


It's pretty dirty and still wet from morning dew, but it appears they just used RTV to seal the wires, and the panels are riveted to the aluminum skin. The sealing is kinda sloppy, but RTV is difficult to smooth out. Hope it doesn't leak.

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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby Bill n Robi » Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:52 pm

Welcome! Nice setup. Also 67 but started the TD thing at 65....
Keep an eye out for the "Beat the Heat" gathering at Lodge Pole Group Lake Alpine campground and the Hermit Fest on Hwy 4 Ebbits Pass.
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby michaeln » Thu Dec 14, 2017 2:09 pm

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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby michaeln » Thu Dec 14, 2017 2:09 pm

Bill n Robi wrote:Welcome! Nice setup. Also 67 but started the TD thing at 65....
Keep an eye out for the "Beat the Heat" gathering at Lodge Pole Group Lake Alpine campground and the Hermit Fest on Hwy 4 Ebbits Pass.


Thanks for the tip... both of those are just up Highway 4 from me.
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby tony.latham » Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:07 pm

Thanks for the additional pics. :pictures: :thumbsup:

Tony
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby G2tP » Fri Dec 15, 2017 6:42 am

Wow! What a pretty Teardrop. Thanks for the photos.

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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby IndyTom » Fri Dec 15, 2017 10:01 am

Welcome, that is a beautiful rig.

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My build thread:http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=36226

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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby michaeln » Fri Dec 15, 2017 10:25 am

Arrrrggghhhhh.

That nice galvanized icebox? The racks sit 5" above the floor. Unfortunately block ice at the supermarket is 6x6x10.

Guess I will freeze my own in cardboard juice containers or use blue ice. Looks like 6 half gallon cartons will fit laying on their sides, that should be plenty of ice.
Last edited by michaeln on Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby bc toys » Fri Dec 15, 2017 12:20 pm

welcome to site Nice trailer you got there now you can enjoy many more time of camping
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby Bill n Robi » Sat Dec 16, 2017 10:08 am

michaeln wrote:Arrrrggghhhhh.

That nice galvanized icebox? The racks sit 5" above the floor. Unfortunately block ice at the supermarket is 6x6x10.

Guess I will freeze my own in cardboard juice containers or use blue ice. Looks like 6 half gallon cartons will fit laying on their sides, that should be plenty of ice.

We found the bags from 'box wine', when cleaned, filled and frozen work great and when melted adds to the fresh water supply.
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Re: Newbie from Angels Camp, California

Postby michaeln » Sat Dec 16, 2017 10:37 am

Bill n Robi wrote:We found the bags from 'box wine', when cleaned, filled and frozen work great and when melted adds to the fresh water supply.


Good tip. I don't drink alcohol but it's still a good tip!
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