Hello All!

[DangerBird]

New to the Forum but have been lurking since this past summer. Great community and enjoy reading the posts very much. I have learned alot and this group has reignited our desire to get back to using our RV which has been sitting on the side of our house for the past 13 years. Long story short, got everything back into shape on our compact 18ft 5th wheel (1993 Kit Road Ranger) and our 1993 Dodge Dakota tow vehicle.

We live in the Phoenix Metro area and are planning on attending the RTR as well as the Quartzfest hamfest which is right after the RTR.  We are planning on leaving New Years day or the day after and head out to the Saltan Sea to pay a quick visit to Slab City and then spend a week at a RV resort called "The Fountain of Youth" for a week staying in their dry camp area to deal with any surprises with the rig that may pop up. We used to go out there years ago over the holidays and it is a very nice park with developed mineral hot springs. Not far from Bombay Beach. Then head over to Quartzite around the 10th for the RTR.

Have 200W of solar that are not mounted on the RV so I can chase the sun charging 2 group 24 deep cycle batteries (for now).

Does anybody know if there will be a Honey Truck servicing the area and selling water or do we need to run to town to dump and fetch fresh water?
Looking forward to meeting everyone at the RTR!

-Mike

 

[Txjaybird]

   Hello and Welcome  I'm a nite owl and just saw your post.  I haven't made it to a RTR however I'm sure everyone needs to bring whatever they need to boondock.  I haven't heard of a water truck or waste disposal provided/servicing the RTR.  Doesn't mean there isn't one.  Somewhere here I think Bob did a Blog about what to expect at RTR.  Maybe I can find it.

Jewellann

 

[Txjaybird]

  Aha I found it!  Click on Blog at top of page. Search bar= What to expect at RTR. Go to bottom of current blog that first shows up and click older blog on bottom left.  Should get you What to expect at RTR, posted in Oct 2016.  Hope this helps

Jewellann

 

[CityWoman]

What does RTR stand for?

 

[cyndi]

City Woman - Rubber Tramp Rendezvous
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/gatherings/

Mike, there is a mobile service for dumping tanks. If I stumble across the contact info I'll pass it on. It shouldn't be hard to locate.

 

[WriterMs]

Mike,
Welcome! Such a short fiver sounds really neat! The advantages of pulling a fifth wheel without as much bulk. How about some pics for those of us not able to get to the RTR?

 

[DangerBird]

Thanks for the info Folks!

I already knew that nothing would be provided at the RTR but friends who have boondocked many times in the winter at the 14 day limit area's mentioned trucks that are running around pumping tanks and selling water. Was just curious if that would be the case at the RTR. Either way we will manage our resources as best we can and if we need to tow into town to dump, so be it.  

Attached is a pic of our setup. We have had this all around the country twice without issues (except it is a bit of a dog on the hills). Was getting around 12mpg loaded. We needed a new roof but really didn't want a rubber replacement so a friend suggested this guy he knows that does RV roof with this spray on polyurethane. So we went with him. Everything on the roof is new. All vents and new AC cover and boy is the roof material extremely tuff! It is also guaranteed for life against cracking, de-laminating and leaks . The best part of it was that it was half the cost of a new rubber roof! We had no leaks so we were lucky there. It is similiar to the material used for spray in truck bed liners.

Other things done included a new water pump(old one still worked so I have it as a spare), added an accumulator, new propane tank(40lb), new Carlisle load range D tires, bearing repack and seals, LED lighting everywhere, new waste dump valves,  new over pressure valve on the water heater, new kitchen faucet and 2 new group 24 deep cycle batteries that I will be charging with 200W of solar on the ground(I would roof mount them but then I would need to carry a ladder to clean them) Also a bunch of other minor things that needed done. I did all the work myself except for the roof job.

The platform on the back I added in 1995 using my limited welding skills and my friends awesome set of tools. We carry all the support equip plus a 10lb propane tank for the grill and to run our Olympic catalytic heater as needed. I also have mounts for various Ham Radio antennas and a bike rack on the back. All up weight is a bit over 8000lbs(truck and camper loaded).

Back in 1993, this 5th wheel was very difficult to find. All were bigger and that would have been too heavy for the truck. It took about a month to locate this one (before the Internet so we had to hit the lots) and we bought it brand new on the spot. The inside is extremely clean also. We yanked the old crappy mattress out and got a queen air bed instead so we will see how that works out.

Total investment for the rehab was around $3500 including 2 new rear heavy duty truck tires. Not bad for a trailer that sat for 13 years on the side of our house.

If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.

-Mike

 

[highdesertranger]

hi Mike, I thought I spotted an antenna tuner under the bunk in the second pic, "I also have mounts for various Ham Radio antennas". highdesertranger

 

[DangerBird]

You are correct Highdesertstranger! Not actually in use on this trip tho. I will have my Yaesu ft-817, LDG autotuner, Signal link USB (for psk31 QRP) in a go box and a small netbook. I will be using a 40ft telescoping fiberglass pushup mast and a par end fed wire antenna for 10, 20, 40m but will work anywhere thru the autotuner. Also a compliment of VHF/UHF portables as well as a new mode called DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) Be sure to stop by and say Hi at the RTR.

 

[T-Bone]

Dangerbird - nice user name.  I have a hammock made by Dream Hammock that is called the dangerbird.  Now that I started hammock camping, I might never sleep in a tent again, lol.

 

[DangerBird]

Thanks T-Bone, funny you should mention Hammock camping... I have been full time in my Byer of Maine Traveler XXL for the last 1.5 years in the spare bedroom. Sadly, I will be stuck in the bed in the RV since there will be no place to hang. I am also a member of Hammockforums.net under the same moniker.

I got this nickname back in High School(mid 70's) where I was the only kid with a pilots license. Did some really stupid things in an airplane back then and am lucky to be alive... (it was alot of fun at the time!)

 

[rvpopeye]

DangerBird
Welcome aboard and don't forget to let air out of that airbed when going up in altitude !
Old man experience right there.......I had a brand new giant beach ball on that trip over the continental divide....
Memory foam these days(nights?)

 

[DangerBird]

Popeye, I was enlightened to the air mattress at altitude balloon thing thanks to your comments a few weeks ago in another thread. Prior to that, we would have had to live it. Thanks!

 

[ArtW]

Welcome!

 

[rvpopeye]

YW
Hope the trip is a great adventure full of wonderful memories.

 

[DangerBird]

Made it out to the saltan sea area without incident. The old dodge and 5th wheel did great. Stopped by slab city with the intent of staying a day or two before moving on to where we are now but after driving around decided to just move on. I will leave it at that.  

Going to boondock at this beautiful resort till the 9th , maybe an extra day before moving to the RTR on the 10th or 11th....  even with the heavy overcast, I managed to get 20 amp hours back into the battery bank!  

-Mike