Tag: Outdoor recreation

Our Li’l Camper

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Here are the specs of our main camping accessory: the camper itself.

Inside features: always-up queen bed w/single bunk over, 2-burner propane stove, 3-way “dorm sized” fridge, AC, single sink, thermostat-controlled propane heat, 2-seater dinette (converts to small sleeper space), small closet, wet bath, propane water heater, water pump,  under-bed storage with exterior access, galley-style push lock cabinets, interior cabinet with exterior access, microwave/convection combo oven, and two standard 14”exhaust fans (which we just upgraded to a better model of “Fantastic Fan”).

Outside features: stabilizer jacks in front, scissor jacks in back, another exterior only access cabinet, single propane tank mount, battery mount, hand crank tongue lift (with a wheel), single axle 13” wheels plus spare tire underneath, electric trailer brakes, fresh, gray and black water holding tanks, sewer hose “keeper,” water hook up and fresh water tank fill port, 30 amp electric twist lock marinco connection and last but not least, an exterior hot/cold water hookup for a special fit quick connect hose (handy to hose off a dog, feet, or other icky stuff).

It is constructed from mostly aluminum–frame, floor, exterior, cabinet frame and all. The pipes are PEX and pretty much the rest is Azdel, which resists mold and doesn’t “swell” if it gets wet. I always joke that I could take my camper to the recycling center if it got damaged beyond use, but I really don’t like thinking of that.

What we love:  the 13’ camper is just right for us. Besides being lightweight and easy to tow with our 2008 Wrangler and our 2007 Nissan Pathfinder, It has a full-time queen size bed (QB) and a single bunk(B). The single bunk serves as a “shelf” for our dog crate set up.  As I said, it works for us. The shelf can support 125 pounds and our dogs and their crates weigh less than that. Our dealer installed d ring hooks for us to anchor the crates in place for towing, but the dogs never ride in there.

bunkwithdogs
The dogs at rest. We can store their toys (and our “Frosty” collection) above, as well as extra clothes or blankets. At night, they sleep in bed with us, of course.

The queen sized bed seems larger than it is since the front of the camper bows out a little; you don’t feel boxed in. We have taken the mattress from the bunk bed, covered it in a homemade extra long sleeping bag-style pillow case, and put it between the mattress and the front of the camper.  This gives a little cushion if you want to lean against the front of the camper to read or converse with visitors who are seated in the full-time 2 person dinette. The mattress that comes with the QB is pretty thin to save weight, so we added a memory-foam topper, and it’s pretty darn comfortable.  In the 13 footer, you do not have the luxury (and I do mean LUXURY) of being able to walk around the bed to get in, out, or make it up. If you are the inside sleeper, you might even need a helmet, “noodle,” or chiropractor.  Did I mention there was a bunk…well, as lovely as the bunk is as an extra sleeping space, or shelf, its drawback is that it pokes out (as you can imagine) partially over the QBB. Trust me, it hurts when you bang your head on it.

We liked this model for a lot of reasons, but one of the big ones was that we needed a full-time dinette and a full-time bed. We did not want to have to break down the dinette to have a sleeping spot every night. The dinette can be broken down to make a small sleeper area, but ours stays in dinette mode all the time.

As mentioned in the list of features, there is a propane heater, water heater, and 2 burner stove. We are sure these items are lovely and work great, but in 4 years we’ve never used them. We heat with a small electric space heater, shower in the bath house at the campground, and heat water in the microwave to wash dishes and cook outside (sometimes in cast iron, but more on that later). The fridge also has a propane option, but we have only used it on electric and 12 volt. It does work very well and actually holds a ton of stuff. We “tetris” load it in a very space efficient manner with containers that stack well together.

We have also taken advantage of the airline galley style cabinet doors and have purchased several “over the cabinet door” hangers for towels and such. We have also placed a number of “Command Hook” hooks around for hats, jackets, leashes, etc.  For our miscellaneous items, we lucked into the perfect size plastic container at the Dollar Tree. I mean not only were they a good fit, they were a DOLLAR (plus applicable sales tax). We were not as lucky finding bins that maximized space in the closet. Those came from the Container Store and were many multiples of a dollar, but hey, they fit well.

We absolutely love the awning. Many big-rig-ers are surprised to see that our little camper has an awning. It is easy to roll out and roll back in, too. We just have to make sure we roll it in if the wind gets too strong; heavy winds will rip yer awning off in a New York minute.

Our favorite feature, at least top 5, is the windows. They push out, and pneumatic rods hold them open in a couple of positions. That means when it is lightly raining, you can still have the windows open, and we love having the windows open, especially in the fall. Part of the top 5 factor for the windows is the screen/shade combo. They are easy to operate, they don’t flop about, and the shade blocks ALL the daylight when closed. That’s important when you are a vampire (real, not sparkly).

As Mailey is fond of saying, our camper “has everything you need, and nothing you don’t.”

Camping With Older Dogs, Part 1

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Whether your older dog will enjoy camping, and the activities associated with it, depends on a few factors. Over the next several posts I will address the joys and concerns of camping with older dogs.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES and RECREATION

How old is your dog?

Dogs reach “senior” status between 5 and 10 years of age. The larger the dog, the sooner they would be classified as senior. A Great Dane is senior by age 6, because many only live to 8 or 10 years of age. A Chihuahua, however, may not be considered senior until age 12, as they can live into their 20’s.

The dog’s general health is also a determining factor.

The old adage that “one dog year is equal to 7 human years” is only partially correct. Experts agree that the first year of a regular-sized (15-65 pounds adult weight) dog’s life is equal to 15 human years, and each year after that is equal to about 4 human years. Adjust up or down, depending on your dog’s size.

What is your activity level while camping?

Are you the type of camper who likes to be on the move? Do you hike a lot? Bike? Climb? Or are you more of a relaxer? You may wish for your older dog to accompany you on all of your physical exploits, but it may not be feasible. She may only be good for a few short walks, one hike, and then mostly relaxing by the campfire with you. You may need to make adjustments to your activity itinerary if you are taking an older dog, or have a safe place to leave her behind.

What is your dog’s normal activity level?

Even older dogs may still be considered spry for their age. As the one who lives with your dog, you are best equipped to know how much exercise he or she needs, and can tolerate, per day. Is she sore the day following a long run? Did she used to play fetch for hours, but now grows tired of it after 10-15 throws? These are the things to look for so that you will know when she is getting tired.

Dogs are stoic by nature, so they don’t always slow down when they are getting overheated or tired. It’s our job to monitor their activity and slow them or stop them when they need a break. Heat and humidity play a large factor in this. Even agile adult dogs expend more energy in the heat, though they might drop from heat exhaustion before ever willingly stopping the game.

Here is an article about recognizing heatstroke in dogs.

What type of activities will you be doing on your trip?

Has your dog ever done this type of activity with you? You may want to bike that 7-mile trail, but if you’ve never taken your dog biking before, it would be best to try a short jaunt around the neighborhood with your bike-leash apparatus before going into the woods. Some dogs are great at running alongside a bike, and some are terrible.

We recommend a product that attaches the dog safely to the bike, as opposed to just tying a leash to you or allowing the dog to run off-leash. The former can be seriously dangerous, and the latter is likely illegal and, unless your dog is really well-trained, may result in a lost or injured dog. It is also not a welcome sight to others who may use that trail who are nervous around dogs or have dogs who are nervous around dogs. Use a leash, please.

(Want to learn more about why you should obey leash laws, and when you can disobey them?)

If you will be hiking on rocky or uneven terrain, or ascending and descending in steep areas, your dog may need some conditioning to do these hikes with you. Don’t assume. Trust me, it sucks to be at the bottom of a huge ravine with a 70-lb dog who cannot make it back to the top without help. I learned this the hard way with my Doberman years ago. I ended up carrying her to the top of Tallulah Gorge. That trip taught me a lot, let me tell you.

Swimming is a bit easier on an older dog’s joints and bones, but it, too, has some hazards and cautions. I’ll address this more thoroughly in a future post.

Has your dog had a senior checkup lately?

We get senior bloodwork done on all our dogs when they reach “that age,” and we do rechecks every 2 years if they haven’t had any problems. That way, we have a baseline and we will know if something is ”off” down the line. If you are planning any strenuous exercise with your dog, it’s best to have your vet in the loop.

Coming Up Next: More Things to Think About When Camping with Older Dogs

Our Camping Setup and Philosophy

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Camping means different things to different people, doesn’t it? Tons of ways to camp exist, but people aren’t always in agreement about what “real” camping is. Tent campers scoff at RVers. “Pioneer” campers scoff at tent campers AND RVers. Backpackers are usually too tired to scoff, but most wouldn’t consider being able to hook up to electrical in a real campsite—or sleep inside a vehicle–as camping.

Of course, there’s also “glamping,” “urban camping, “and “tent-free.”

Us? We roll our eyes at “glamping,” admittedly. But really, we don’t judge. You like to get outside, look at and listen to and participate in nature, and aren’t opposed to spending several days and nights doing it? Then you are a camper, whether you sleep literally under the stars or inside an RV.

(We do draw the line at TV. We watch it at home, but there is no TV on our camper. I will happily sleep in my dry camper bed and enjoy a meal at the tiny dinette when the weather is foul, but watching TV seems a sacrilege. We read, knit, play games, write blog posts, and stare into each other’s eyes when we aren’t outside.)

When we met, we both had a decent amount of camping equipment, and lots of experience in tents as shelters. But after a few very rainy/stormy trips, the hassle of having multiple dogs in tents and no way to secure anything became too annoying. We started to do the unthinkable and look at RV’s. Some of our friends had motorhomes, and we liked the idea of exploring nature but being able to sleep dry and warm, as well as secure the dogs and valuables and go exploring or into town (when bringing the dogs wasn’t feasible).

McKinneycamper
Our first camper camping trip, McKinney Campground, Lake Allatoona, GA.

Turns out that a pull-behind was our best option, and we finally, after an exhaustive search, settled on a 13-foot Camp Lite by Livin’ Lite, which was light enough to tow behind the cars we already owned. We liked the idea of being able to unhitch and drive about, too, without breaking down camp. (We’ll highlight our camper in a post very soon. We love it and love giving tours–it takes a whole 26 seconds to see the inside.) We bought it in October of 2012.

Camping is about being in nature. Regardless of weather, we spend most of the time outside, cooking, hiking, taking photos, relaxing, and hanging out with the dogs. It’s getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, leaving the mindlessness behind, putting down your phones and tablets and picking up neat pebbles by the river, or logs for a fire. It’s cooking that doesn’t always go as it would in your kitchen, but tastes delicious because it’s eaten outside. Fallleaves It’s fall breezes and blue skies and s’mores and a nip of Basil Hayden bourbon from a flask as the day wanes and the fire dances. It’s meeting old friends and making new ones, or just hanging with your loved ones without distractions. It’s getting your dogs to new places where they can smell new scents and explore beyond the borders of your yard, or ride in a rented canoe. It’s summer nights with the lullaby of cicadas and crickets, with breezes to help you sleep, mornings of coffee made the old-fashioned way, bacon in a pan and pancakes on the griddle. It’s taking off your watch when you get camp set up, and not looking at it again until it’s time to break down. It’s wearing the same clothes a few days in a row, minimal showers, smelling like smoke and bug spray, and sleeping in.

Camping is heaven.

It’s also occasionally hell, but a lot less frequently when you have a dry place to sleep, eat, and hang out that bears cannot get into. We aren’t dumb.

So scoff at us as “not really camping” if you like, but please keep 1.) camping in whatever way you prefer, and 2.) coming back for updates and product reviews, and some interesting photography, at least.

Beginning in the Middle

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The light has begun to fade.  I crouch on the bank of the creek that flows by our campsite, enjoying the unseasonably cool breeze and the deep green color of the moss adorning the river rocks. It’s cooler than it should be, definitely more so than in the city right now—and that makes me happy.  Supper is resting in my belly and I’m thinking about s’mores. I gather the makings of a fire and set it alight, watching the flames lick up the kindling. My wife moves about  inside the camper, assembling the graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows (she knows me, and after 16 years together, that’s a plus).

The world smells of pine, burning wood, smoke, earth, and suddenly, dog breath. Yukon settles himself in my lap and two more little dogs gather at my feet, noses working on all the scents, breathing in a million more particles than I ever could—ancient smells in this state park that simply wait to be rediscovered.

Camping is our favorite recreational activity and one of the reasons is because time just stretches. It’s also a natural fit for our four dogs, who love being in the woods as much as we do. It’s also inexpensive, easy to do when you only have a few days off, and is quite relaxing.

Does the above sound lovely to you? If you enjoy camping with your dogs, then this site is for you. Join us as we chronicle our adventures, review products you might find useful, and pass on wisdom about enjoying the outdoors with the pooches and the people you adore. My wife is a darn good photographer, too, so she can share some great tips of getting excellent photos indoors or out.

We are Camp Chahooahooa, and this is Dogs Go Camping. Check out the About section to learn more about us and our current crop of dogs.