Project Choose Your Own Adventure

[ScottyB]

The biggest problem for me is storage. We'd end up paying to park somewhere.

this was the biggest challenge so far with the teardrop - the logistics of where you're actually going to put the stupid thing the 340 days a year that you're not pulling it around. you really don't want to leave one sitting outside...its amazing what hail and UV rays will do to rubber and flexible, waterproof material over time.

we hit the trail this past weekend for a camping trip.

bad news - we went into camp setting up knowing we had severe t-storms on the way, and they dumped on us all night. we barely got set up and fed in time.
good news - trip was a blast, we stayed dry (when we wanted to) and the wife and son are enjoying camping more and more. i never thought i'd win my wife over which was part of the whole point of the teardrop. she's getting more excited which only makes it more fun for me.

the trip was for enjoyment but its also a really important trial run on how family camping can work and what changes i need to make in prep/equipment to make it so we're spending the most amount of time having fun and not setting up/breaking down camp half the time or chasing down equipment shoved in bags or drawers. this was hugely helpful for narrowing down some new storage and access goals for the teardrop as i continue plotting out the galley and storage areas:

• build in collapsible counter space. kitchen prep areas get used up really fast.
• need places to hang wet things...i will install cleats on the outside of the camper to allow for line tie-ins from things like trees or poles.
• centralized bath and kitchen storage. kinda obvious, but just confirmed nothing is more frustrating that rooting through bags for stuff you need every day that gets continually buried.
• lights and good light switch access. man does it EVER get dark in the woods. i forget that living surrounded by light pollution and convenience all the time.
• ensuring a fairly large fresh water container. we went through 8 gallons in 2.5 days (2gal "dispenser" style jugs) between hydration, dish washing, hand washing, and cooking. I am looking at the 5-7gal. jerry can style carriers to install in the galley....possibly with an additional one stored on the tongue.
• i can't wait to get the cooler out of the back of the Xterra and into the back of the teardrop on a slider. its just a huge, heavy PITA to have to carry it around in the primary access area of the back of the car.