Volume 9, Number 3
August 2007
FOR TODAY’S SMALL RV ENTHUSIAST
LITTLE CAMPERS
THAT CAN
SURVS
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
WHY CAMPGROUND OWNERS
LOVE POP UPS
NATURE’S POETRY
FISHING THE SMOKIES
OR POP UPS WITH
A CARPORT
AUGUST 2007 VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3
ON THE COVER, PHOTO CREDIT: MARIA STUTZ
14
8
FEATURES
8
THE LITTLE CAMPERS
THAT CAN
by Dave Newhouse
14 SURVS OR POP UPS
WITH A CARPORT
by Bill Siuru, PhD, PE
18 FISHING THE SMOKIES
by Robert Loewendick
24 NATURE’S POETRY
by Roger Meyer
26 WHY CAMPGROUND
OWNERS LOVE POP UPS
by David Gorin
27 YOUR PHOTO ON THE
COVER . . . CONTEST
WINNERS
22 CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
by Tim Huntington
COLUMNS
4
FROM THE PUBLISHER
5
READERS’ LETTERS
7
DOCTOR POP UP
23 PRODUCT PREVIEWS
Combi-Cam
The Dumb Things Sold . . .
Just Like That
28 MY STORY:
INDIAN CAMPOUTS
by William Dingus
30 BUYER’S GUIDE
28
18
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
3
From the Publisher
Publishing & Editorial Office
262 Cedar Lane NE Ste M15
Vienna VA 22180
(703)641-2800 Fax: (703) 641-2888
www.popuptimes.com
[email protected]
Publisher:
Editor in Chief:
Advertising:
Prod. & Design:
Webmaster:
Contributors:
Dave Newhouse
Theresa Wever Hanley
Dave Newhouse
Be Intrigued, LLC
Mary Jeanne Cincotta
Steve Knight
William Dingus
David Gorin
Tim Huntington
Robert Loewendick
Roger Meyer
Bill Siuru, PhD, PE
Contents copyrighted 2007 by
Pop UP Times, 262 Cedar Lane NE
Ste M15, Vienna, VA 22180. All
rights reserved. Contents may not be
reproduced in any form without prior
written permission. The publisher
retains the right to refuse any editorial or
advertisements.
Pop UP Times encourages free-lance
contributions but cannot guarantee
the return of unsolicited manuscripts.
Guidelines and sample copies are
available upon request.
Published quarterly. Subscriptions are
$15.98 per year. (Canada $21.98) Mail
subscription requests to: Pop UP Times,
262 Cedar Lane NE Ste M15, Vienna,
VA 22180. Please include your name,
address and phone number.
Pop UP Times is not responsible for the
accuracy, content or correctness of any
web site references in this publication.
Unless otherwise noted, web references
are made only as a point of interest to
our readers.
ISSN: 1554.6012
4
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
Hello Pop Uppers!
I got a new camper! Thanks to Viking RV for making their top of the
line Clipper available to their favorite magazine publisher. It has lots
of space and all of the goodies that any hardcore camper could ask
for. If you see us at the campground, come take a look at it and we’ll
send you a T-shirt with the Clipper and PUT logos.
I had fun writing the article about little campers for this issue. I
spoke to a half dozen little camper makers and had a great visit with
Bill Kerola, a very interesting dealer in Pennsylvania who specializes
in little campers. I hope you come away with the same opinion that I
have; little campers are cool.
I want to extend my gratitude to David Gorin, renowned
campground and RV park management consultant, for taking the
time to write a short commentary for us. He expresses his thoughts
on today’s campground owners and pop-up campers. It’s reassuring
to hear that pop ups are an important piece of the industry and that
most campgrounds still enjoy our business.
We received about 50 submissions to our photo contest. There were
a lot of “snap shots” of families in front of their campers; several
potentially good photos printed out on color inkjet printers that we
couldn’t use; and a few breathtakers including the front cover. Some
of the best are in this issue. We may run several of the others in future
issues. Thanks to all who submitted their entries.
Now I have to rant for a minute. I walked out of a store today and
was immediately approached by some clipboard-carrying goof in a
plaid shirt and a paisley tie. I tried to dodge him, but he followed me
to my car insisting that I answer his five-page questionnaire about my
shopping experience today.
I don’t know about you, but it seems like every company that sells
me something feels I’m obliged to fill out some kind of a survey. “On
a scale of 1 to 5 tell us how we did; what made you come here; how
you were treated; will you come back; where else do you shop; will
you recommend us to your friends; and finally, do you have any
comments?” Why yes, if I ever see you in the parking lot again I won’t
be back. I couldn’t wait to write this letter and I feel better.
Let’s go camping!
P.S. One last thing, on a scale of 1 to 5, how do you rate this month’s
letter?
Readers’ Letters
MY GRANDFATHER’S CAMPER
*
FOR THE LITTLE GUYS
Dave,
My grandfather, Robert
Latham, loved to take
his wife and two sons
camping for family vacations. In 1963 he saw a
homebuilt camper while
staying at East Harbor
State Park and decided
he was ready to get off
the ground too. Drawing
up the plans and salvaging old car parts like the
axel from an old Nash Rambler and tail lights from a 1957 Ford, he came up
with a box-shaped camper that could accommodate four adults. He even went
to welding school to learn how to weld the
frame together.
With a final cost of only $418.00, the camper
was complete. He took the family all over
with this camper and caught the eyes of
everyone. Forty-four years later, the camper
is still being used. I decided to finally replace
the old canvas top with
a newer top and cleaned
it up with a fresh coat of
bright red paint and some
lacquer on the woodwork.
It is a treasure to me and I
am proud to show it off. I
hope that I can keep it for
another forty-four years.
Matthew Latham
Barberton, OH
LABEL US DISAPPOINTED
*
Dear Dave,
So, you did it again. The mailing
label was placed right over the
beautiful trailer restored by Clyde
Grambsch! We enjoy and treasure
every copy of Pop UP Times!
Please put the label on the back to
preserve the beauty of the cover.
Ted & Janet Koeth
Cheektowaga, NY
Ted & Janet,
I much prefer this kind of
complaint letter over the ones I
received last year. I’ve struggled
with mailing-label placement
over the years and nothing works.
The advertisers would be calling
if we put the labels on the back.
We’ll start incorporating a space
in the front cover design for them.
*
Dave,
Prompted by the several letters in
the April 2007 issue, please allow me
to write a letter that I have wanted to
write anyway.
It appears that there are those of us
who cannot afford the big expensive
trucks with the powerhouse engines,
pulling the big fancy trailer with
the pull-out expando rooms, etc., ad
infinitum. We enjoy our Jayco popup and the many stories of others
across the country who are happy
with modest, conservative outdoor
camping with a pop up.
We were disappointed when the
magazine went in another direction
and thoroughly overjoyed when it
came back to “little gals and guys.”
Please don’t desert us; we need a
magazine like “Pop UP Times” and
we shall seek to support you by
always having current subscriptions
and supporting those who advertise
in the magazine. Keep up the great
magazine!
Bob & Alice Ward Tustin, MI
Mom, Dad, is that you?
(continued on page 6)
Keep your
letters, questions
and comments
coming. If we
use it I’ll send
you a Pop UP
Times TeeShirt.
Want to share your camping views or
experiences? Check out our Writers Guidelines
at www.popuptimes.com and get published.
Dave
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
5
Readers’ Letters
(continued from page 5)
A MOUSE-FREE POP UP
*
Hi Dave,
After reading all about how to keep
mice out of pop ups I had to write.
For the past five or six years I have
been mouse-free. This is how I do it:
I load up cotton balls with peppermint extract and place these all over
the camper. Some go under the cushions, over the cushions, inside all the
cabinets, the sink and anywhere else.
I not only have a camper free of mice
and damage, but also a nice-smelling
camper on opening day. Mice hate
peppermint, but it has to be strong
and not the plant.
I also want to thank you for the inspiration to restyle my camper. The
article on redecorating was great. I
now have great, new, lively curtains,
matching pillows, new drawer pulls
and rugs; all in the bear, moose,
fishing theme. It looks great. I was
waiting to see if pulling all this off
was possible and it was.
Thanks so much.
Carol Womelsdorf
CT
STICKY CRITTERS
*
Thanks again for such a great
magazine. We have been subscribers since the onset and don’t plan on
being left out of an issue!
The Markowski Family
Jacksonville, FL
TRANSMISSION ISSUE?
*
Hi Everyone at PUT,
I am so glad that you have
continued to just stick with Popup
Campers. We really need a magazine
just for us. I really don’t want a big
camper because I enjoy the simple
life and things (we don’t even have
a cell phone). Please keep it up.
Hopefully by now you have received
our subscription for another year.
A question: a few issues ago when
you featured how other people have
fixed up their campers someone
had fabric with camper on it. Could
she tell me where she got the fabric?
I’m sure it is out of date, but I
could hope.
One more thing as a precaution: last
year we got a newer and slightly bigger camper because our 1986 Coleman was just getting too small. We
were still within the towing capacity
stated in our Ford Windstar owner’s
manual. But on our way to Moosehead Lake, Maine, the transmission
was giving us problems and we had
to stay in New Hampshire (not so
bad, but...). When we got home, our
mechanic told us he had seen a lot of
this, in fact three just that month. I
asked why and he told us it was just
to sell towing packages. I informed
Ford, but they never even responded
to me. So I’m just giving you a heads
up as to a potential problem.
Again, thanks for a great magazine.
We always pass our issues on to
another pop-up camping family.
Melodie and Terry Shumaker
Elizabethtown, PA
Thanks for your letter. I’ve heard
from other minivan owners who
have cured or prevented transmission problems by installing a transmission cooler. They’re only about
$125 – installed. I’ll ask Dr Pop UP
to expound on the subject. V
Hi Dave,
Our family is in our eighth year of
camping and the proud owner of
our second Starcraft, this time the
2007 36RT. Love it! And will love
keeping it popped up!
As the summertime [settles in],
pesky bugs are lurking around the
interior lights just as we’re ready to
turn in. Our kids figured out a great
idea to get rid of the bugs without
squishing them on the canvas or
walls. Just roll up a piece of tape,
inside out around your hand (we
used the infamous duct tape) and
just “tape those critters” away! You
6
can lightly tap the ceiling, lights and
even the canvas without making a
squishy mess, no matter how big or
small the bug. It’s quick, easy and
clean!
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
Are You Moving?
In most cases the Post Office does not forward these
magazines, so please be sure to let us know if you are moving.
NAME
___________________________________________
OLD ADDRESS ________________________________________
CITY ______________________ STATE
_____ ZIP ___________
NEW ADDRESS ________________________________________
CITY ______________________ STATE
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[email protected] (800)398-8893
Pop UP Times, 262 Cedar Lane NE Ste M15, Vienna, VA 22180
Doctor Pop Up
Mysteriously
wet mattresses
Dr. Pop Up,
I own a 2004 Jayco tent trailer Qwest model 10B.
Just after we got it, while storing the bed supports,
we noticed mildew forming under both the front and
rear mattresses. What was unusual about this is
that the mildew formed almost exactly in the middle
of the underside of the mattress, not at the edges
where you “might” be able to explain something like
this. The dealer (very good dealer BTW) could not
explain why this would happen, but was directed by
Jayco to replace both mattresses and the wooden bed
under warranty. The problem did not reappear until
September of 2006.
This past summer, a record dry summer with very
low precipitation, we again found both mattresses wet
underneath, directly in the middle of the underside of
the mattress. As no mildew had formed, it was a simple
matter of drying the mattress and holding it suspended
long enough for the wooden bed to dry.
I am perplexed as to what could be causing this
problem. We cook outside and have no shower inside
so we are not creating excess humidity. Even if this
were the case, why would the moisture and mildew
form under the mattress and in the middle, not around
the edges where it might be explainable? The top
of the mattress is dry. One other fact that may be
pertinent, we have heated mattresses that were in
use. Having said that, we use them frequently and the
problem is infrequent.
Paul Simpson
Got a question about service, repairs and
just general maintenance? Ask Doctor Pop UP
for help, he has your answer. Send your questions to
Camping Clubs
www.floridapopupcampers.bigstep.com
www.glpuc.org
www.tpuc.com
www.ntpuca.com
Paul, That’s the first time I’ve heard about mildew
under the mattress so I contacted Jayco’s customer
service manager for his advice. He reviewed the
history of your unit and found that they authorized the
replacement of the wood bunk ends and the heated
mattresses in September of 2004 because of the
formation of mildew. While mildew and mold are not
covered by Jayco’s limited warranty, consideration
was given because of the minimal time of ownership
of the unit and the uniqueness of the problem. We
also discussed the common causes of condensation
in campers and how it could possibly relate to your
problem. Warm, moist bodies lying on a heated
mattress all night with only a piece of non-insulating
1⁄2-inch plywood separating it from the cool outside
temperatures must be the source of moisture collecting
between the mattress and the plywood. And since
there is no air circulation to the center of the mattress’
underside, there is no way for it to dry out completely
during the day.
Some suggestions: keep the heated mattresses
turned off when not sleeping; air out the mattresses
and the bunk ends after you’re done with your vacation
or weekend trip, just as you would air out the tent or
the awning after being exposed to moisture; place a
towel under the mattress to absorb any moisture and
then remove it for washing when you get home.
Quite honestly, this maybe a common problem that
goes unnoticed, I don’t remember the last time I looked
under my camper mattress. I will however, take a close
look next time I open it up.
My thanks to Doyle Miller, Jayco’s customer service
manager.
Dr. PU
Doctor Pop UP, c/o Pop UP Times, 262 Cedar Lane
Suite M15, Vienna, VA 22180 or E-mail him at
[email protected] V
Incorrect or uneven tire pressure can cause trailer sway
and excessive tire heat which can cause tire damage.
According to Bridgestone® Firestone® your tires can lose
1psi per month under normal conditions. Additionally, tires
can lose 1psi for 10° F temperature drop. Check your tire
pressure on both your tow vehicle and your trailer
and get there and back safely.
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
7
the little campers
By Dave Newhouse
W
e’re hearing from a number of people searching for
small, economical trailers for
a variety of reasons ranging
from high gas prices to long-time tent campers ready to get off of the ground. Many of
the inquiries come from campers looking for
something that they can tow behind their
small vehicles.
Questions such as: “I have a PT Cruiser and I
want to buy a camper, what kind can I get?”
or “who makes a camper that I can tow with
my four-cylinder pickup?” are common. One
caller owned a motorhome that wouldn’t fit
in the campsite near his favorite fishing spot
and wanted something he could pull with his
Subaru Outback.
The good news is that there are small campers, but finding the right one takes time.
Lightweight campers tend to be small making them uncomfortable for large people.
Some people prefer a hard-side camper for
reasons that include security and set-up time
and others want to maintain the closeness
with nature that a tent camper offers. With
the variety of little camper manufacturers
available you can find one that’s just right.
8
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
that can
A-FRAME
Aliner Sportliner
Interior (right) and
Exterior (below)
MOLDED FIBERGLASS
Scamp Exterior (top opposite
page) and Interior (above)
leaving the camper itself for sleeping
and/or privacy.
Many of the pop-up manufacturers make lightweight campers, but
finding the right trailer for your
needs can be a challenge since few
RV dealerships carry small campers
for economic reasons. Some companies have little or no marketing
budget and depend on word-ofmouth advertising and an occasional
hit online. During my research for
this article I briefly spoke with one
teardrop maker who will go unmentioned because the rep was more
interested in going to lunch than
taking one minute to get me information and a picture.
Going lightweight doesn’t have
to mean giving up features. Many
lightweight units include air conditioning, heaters and refrigerators.
What you give up is space. Not to
say there isn’t room to relax inside
on a rainy day or at night before
turning in, because there is some
room. Several companies have
solved this problem by teaming with
tent makers like PaHaQue Wilderness whose specially designed
screen rooms attach to some campers and extend or even create living
areas with very roomy, lightweight
tenting and screen-meshed walls
Here’s a brief description of the various type of little campers and their
characteristics.
Hard-top Pop Ups
Many of the major RV companies
that make traditional folding campers also have smaller, lightweight
campers in their line-up. Most have
eight-foot boxes with a laminated
roof and small beds that slide out on
each end, they look like scaled-down
versions of their larger models.
Weight and size restricts the number
of amenities available, but they can
be equipped with an AC unit and an
electrical converter. Some long-time
tent campers already have many of
the basic camping needs like camp
stoves and lanterns and prefer these
“stripped down” models. Weights
on these units usually start at around
1100 lbs., but some models like
Fleetwood’s Neon weight less 1000
empty. This style of camper usually
has storage under the dinette seats.
(continued on page 11)
HARD-TOP POP UPS
Rockwood’s 1600 Series
Exterior (at left)
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
9
KEROLA’S CAMPERS
B
ill Kerola and his family have always been avid
campers. Living in rural western Penn., the Kerolas
have an abundance of pristine camping area available
to them, though Disney’s Fort Wilderness is their campground of
choice.
Several years ago Bill bought his
son a teardrop camper as a graduation present and quickly fell in
love with the whole little-camper
Bill Kerola and Son (above)
niche. He understood the popularity
shot of store merchandise (below)
of small trailers that can be towed by
a four-cylinder vehicle and stored
in the family garage, and soon made it his
business.
Today Kerola’s Campers Ltd. carries only
select brands of lightweight camping trailers,
no motorhomes or fifth wheels at the dealership. Only Viking pop ups, Little Guy and
Silver Shadow Teardrops, Aliner, Cikira Escape
and the Serro Scotty
RETRO
camping trailers. They also have a store stocked with
Serro
Scotty
interesting products from Byer of Maine, PahaQue WilInterior
(at
right)
and
derness, Coleman Products, Diluth Pack, Case Knives
Exterior
(below)
and Zippo.
The original Serro Scotty was made from 1957 to
1997 when the factory in Irwin, Penn., burned to ground
halting all production. Bill Kerola always admired the
Serro Scotty and realized that many of today’s retiring
baby boomers admired them too. Kerola’s has an exclusive license to remanufacture the Serro Scotty.
Kerola’s Campers is located in Transfer,
Penn., just east of Youngstown, Ohio and
north of Pittsburgh, Penn. For more
information call 724-962-4561 or
visit the company online at
kerola.com
MOLDED FIBERGLASS
10
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
Outback by Team Trillium Trailer Manufacturing
(www.trilliumtrailers.com) Exterior (at left) and Bathroom Model Floorplan (above) Interior shots (at right)
SOFT-TOP POP UPS
Kamparoo Vacationer Popped
(at left) and Closed (above)
the little campers that can
(continued from page 9)
Soft-top
Tent Campers
Some soft-top campers are very
lightweight campers because the top
half of the camper is canvas. Don’t
be fooled, brands like Livin’ Lite and
Kamparoo start at a mere 520 lbs.
and 650 lbs. respectively, but they are
very rugged and can take the punishment of off-road camping. There’s
not a lot to break. Both brands offer
ample storage.
A-Frames
Chalet and Aliner are the two Aframe campers on the market. They
look very similar to a traditional popup camper when closed but have a
unique appearance when set up. The
dinettes in their lightweight models
convert into beds. The advantages
to these brands are fast setup and
the hard sides/roofs provide more
security and soundproofing than
canvas. Both also can be equipped
with a built-in icebox and two-burner
propane stove, plus lots of storage
capacity.
(continued on page 12)
��
MOLDED FIBERGLASS
Outback Interiors (below)
��
��
��
��
��
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
11
SOFT-TOP
POP UPS
Livin’ Lite 5.0
Dinette (at left) and
Awning (below)
TEAR DROPS
the little campers that can
(continued from page 11)
Hardsides
Alumininum T@B
with Mellow
Yellow trim Interior shots (above) and Floorplan
(below) of T@B Model T16-Original. Exterior
(shown on opposite page).
There are a bunch of lightweight molded fiberglass campers on the market now that weigh in at less than most
traditional pop-up tent trailers. Brands like Scamp, Casita
and The Outback by Trillium Trailers offer most of the
same amenities found in larger hard-sided travel trailers,
but they manage to keep them under 1500 lbs.
If you’re into the retro scene or if you have fond memories
of the Serro Scotty, I’ve got great news. Kerola Campers
in Transfer, Penn., is reproducing the Serro Scotty with
the same appearance as the original with a few modern
upgrades.
Tear Drops
These lightweight, aerodynamic trailers have been
around for decades and still have a lot to offer the
weekend camper. A typical teardrop is 4 feet wide
and 8 feet 10 inches long. Larger models can be
6.5 feet wide and 12 feet long. Most have the wheels
outside the body and have fenders. The smaller units
weigh less than 500 lbs. and
TEAR DROPS
can be towed behind almost
Little Guy Double
anything. You may see a
Wide (at right)
customized teardrop behind a
TEAR DROPS
12
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
Little Guy Four Wide with toy hauler
(at left) and rear hatch (above)
TEAR DROPS
T@B product of
Giant Thor. The
T@B is available
in a variety of
colors and optional floorplans.
For more info go
to www.tabrv.com or call
574-534-1224.
classic car or even a motorcycle.
Teardrops first appeared in the 1930s and have been manufactured around the world. In post World War II many
teardrop campers were made from surplus materials and
sold in kit form. You can still buy a teardrop kit and build
your own with modern materials. Do a Google search
for Teardrop Trailers and you can spend all day reading
about their history, the different brands and models.
Most of your time is really spent outside anyway.
For more information on these campers go to
www.popuptimes.com and click on the little camper links. Also checkout www.teardrops.net and
www.fiberglassrv.com. V
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
13
When you think toy haulers,
you probably envision megabuck
fifth-wheel travel trailers and motorhomes
with “garages” at the rear. However, sport utility
RVs (SURV), toy or gear boxes, and sport utility
trailers (SUT) as they also are called, are available in more affordable pop-up versions. Many
of these are just the ticket for carrying motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles or other
off-road toys and then have a place to sleep at
the end of day. Others offer much more in terms
SURVS
OR POP UPS WITH A CARPORT
of creature comforts, just like you will find in
more upscale pop-up campers.
By Bill Siuru, PhD, PE
T
he toy hauler from Jumping Jack Trailers probably represents the minimum SURV. Their back-to-basics tent camper
can carry two ATVs or motorcycles on its deck. Within five
minutes after unloading the toys, the deck can be extended
and a 6x8-foot tent that is capable of sleeping up to six is
erected. ATVs or motorcycles are secured by heavy-duty
tie-down loops. Inside, there are two side beds with comfortable, padded top mats and a pop-up table. This unit is
especially great for pulling behind a Jeep or other 4WD so
that you can camp close to the off-road action.
The Jumping Jack Trailers’ toy hauler is
for those the want to rough it.
14
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
The Livin’ Lite
Quicksilver SUT
features a large area
for carrying toys.
Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles offers a somewhat similar unit, the Quicksilver
SUT, that combines a tent camper with a flatbed trailer. It comes in 20- and 22-foot
lengths and can sleep up to six. The aluminum ramp for loading and unloading
ATVs or cycles is conveniently stored underneath the unit. With a dry weight of
1500 and 1600 pounds, the two units can carry 2500 and
2400 pounds, respectively. This, of course, includes the
other camping gear carried. Inside there are two foldout
beds, dinette, storage cabinets and a sink.
If you want the features and amenities found in the typical pop-up trailer, Jayco offers its Baja model. This 20-foot
long unit that can sleep four to six, has a forward 60x77inch cargo deck with a 1200-pound capacity for carrying
toys. Like the Quicksilver SUT, one bunk area folds out
over the cargo platform precluding its use for storing toys
(continued on page 16)
Rails on the Jayco Baja also
serve as loading ramps.
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
15
The Fleetwood Scorpion S1
can carry lots of toys.
SURVs
(continued from page 15)
while sleeping. The Baja can be ordered with
an optional bathroom complete with a shower.
If you have lots of toys to carry, there is the
28-foot long Fleetwood Scorpion S1. In the rear
there is a huge 8x12-foot deck. Up front there
is another small 42x100-inch gear deck that
will accommodate a motorcycle. The living
area features two large fold-out beds, kitchen
with stove, sink and refrigerator, and complete
bathroom. Since the bed units fold out on the
sides of the unit, they do not impede on the
deck. It can even be used as a large porch that
will get you off the ground in wet weather.
Incidentally, most of the others can be used
for this purpose, but the bed will have to be
closed up. Unlike other pop-up toy haulers,
the large deck is in the rear over the wheels.
The Scorpion S1 can carry a maximum of
2,750 pounds.
If you only need to carry a single ATV or
dirt bike, there is the Fleetwood Evolution
If you want to carry a single
ATV or dirt bike, consider
the Fleetwood Evolution.
16
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
with its small front cargo deck.
There are three models ranging
in length from 9 feet 8 inches
to 12 feet with maximum carrying capacities from 1,240 to
1,855 pounds. The Evolution was
designed specifically for rugged,
off-road duty.
Starcraft currently offers its
RT-Series with five floor plans
available in lengths ranging
from 13 feet 3 inches to 28 feet
8 inches. Three models, the 13RT,
34RT and 36RT have slide-out
dinettes. All can sleep six. Frontlocated open deck areas of to 8
feet are available with maximum
capacities from 1759 to 4122
pounds with the 36RT having a
GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 8,000 pounds. V
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.jumpingjacktrailers.com
www.livinlite.com
Starcraft offers five models
in its RT-Series.
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www.fleetwoodcampingtrailers.
com www.starcraftrv.com
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
17
Fly Fishing the Smokies
Author’s son is guided by
professional fly fishing guide
Ian Rutter of Townsend,
Tennessee.
secrets and history that flowed
down as we drove up and
by. The several hours spent
receiving instruction from Ian
on the basics of fly fishing,
was the catalyst that provided
a different view of the park
and its waters.
As I hear from readers often
on the subject of fly fishing,
the sport is considered by
many to be a fishing method
too difficult for the average
person. Also attached to that
false thought, is that fly fishing is an expensive pursuit as
well.
By Robert Loewendick
I
n 2006, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) hosted over 9 million visitors. Anyone who has experienced the park, especially campers, knows
the abundance of adventure that awaits. For those who haven’t been to the park,
you’re missing out on an affordable menu of outdoors pursuits for all ages and
physical levels. Adventuring throughout the park several times, I have been blessed to
see the natural wonders and interact with them. If I had to choose one Smoky Mountain activity to sprout from a camping trip there, that would be to fly fish the park’s
streams.
The Smoky Mountains have about 2,115 miles of streams within its boundaries, and
protect one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern United States. Extensive conservation work and enforced regulations have paid off, providing an awesome trout
fishery. Most streams remain at or near their carrying capacity of fish and offer great
fishing throughout the year.
It’s common to see vehicles pulled to the side of a park road, people peering over the
edge watching a fly fisherman casting artistically. Fly fishing always intrigued me, but
I never pursued the sport primarily because I was raised on spinning tackle – that’s
what I knew. But a few years ago, when planning a writing assignment to the Smokies, I felt I must include fly fishing. I did, and now I have an addiction that has spread
to my wife, kids and anyone who will listen.
One of the benefits of being a member of an outdoor writers association is the surplus of knowledge shared by members. As I researched for an experienced fly fisher
to gather information for the trip, a member’s name kept coming up – Ian Rutter from
Townsend, Tenn., near the west entrance to the park. Ian and his wife Charity, are
premier fly-fishing guides that specialize on fly fishing the Smokies. I gave Ian a call
and a date was set.
My family and I were picked up by Ian at a private campground in Townsend, and
in minutes we were driving along a park road while Ian introduced us to the stream’s
18
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
Oh sure, it can be expensive
if you let it be, but it doesn’t
have to be. A person can be
outfitted with sufficient gear
including rod, reel, tackle,
vest and waders, for the same
money, or less, than conventional fishing gear or other
hobbies. I’ve outfitted my
family of four with fly fishing gear and even had money
left to buy a tank of gasoline
to propel us to our fishing
destination – and that’s an
accomplishment with today’s
fuel costs.
The conversation I had with
Ian before the trip included
questions from me such as, “Is
casting as tough as it looks?”
and, “What type of flies do I
need?” You can learn these
things on your own, but
spending a couple hours with
a guide or veteran fly fisher
will simplify and remove the
myths of fly fishing in short
order. It will also give you
a bit of confidence that will
leave you with a positive
experience to build on as your
fly-fishing seed blooms.
(continued on page 20)
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AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
19
Fly Fishing the Smokies
(continued from page 18)
Okay, you’re ready to take up a fly rod and head to the
stream, but first, a bit of planning needs to be done. Pick
up a map of the park, preferably a U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) map, and a fishing regulation booklet. Not all
streams are open to fishing in the Smokies so repopulation
and restoration work can be completed. A dominate regulation is that only artificial flies or lures with a single hook
may be used in GSMNP. Also, use or possession of any
form of fish bait or liquid scent other than artificial flies or
lures on or along any park stream while in possession of
fishing tackle is prohibited. Minnows, Powerbaits, worms
and other baits will have a negative impact on the aquatic
habitat that does unnecessary and invasive damage to the
park’s waters. Use or possession of double, treble, or gang
hooks is also prohibited.
At most campgrounds surrounding GSMNP, streams
rolling through the property are a favored attraction to
campers. Wading, floating and fishing can be done in
harmony – even during the busy seasons. But for a more
quality trout-fishing experience, travel into the park to
access the scenic and less human-busy waters. Hiring a
quality guide such as Ian Rutter, will improve your odds
of catching fish and teach you more about ‘reading’ the
Smokie’s waters in a fraction of the time doing it alone.
Even if you consider yourself an accomplished angler,
there is nothing like having experience at your side for the
first visit to new water. An alternative to a live guide by
your side is a publication written by a guide who knows
the waters and the fish of GSMNP. A thorough guidebook
will reveal stream names and locations and how to fish
them correctly with the proper gear.
Two GSMNP campgrounds in the western section offer
great basecamps for anglers – the Elkmont and Cades
Cove campgrounds. Both are near Townsend, a short
drive to camp supplies and fly shops. Townsend offers
several privately owned campgrounds with full hook-ups
and a list of tourist amenities and activities. Townsend is
labeled the ‘quiet side of the Smokies;’ this is true compared to the congestion found in Gatlinburg.
Not Into Fishing?
For campers who prefer to not fish, there is no chance for
boredom while waiting on your angler to return from a
day in the streams. Hiking, biking and rafting are popular
to-dos in and around GSMNP.
The park is dissected by 150 hiking trails of every level,
including paved trails accessible by wheelchair. An option
to self-guided hikes is to join an inexpensive, guided hike
with a guide from the GSMNP area, which will provide an
inside look at the area the hiking trail passes through.
Most park roads are open
to bicyclists, which provide
scenic peddling. If physical mobility is an issue, then
the park’s 270 miles of roads
will provide access to viewing wildlife, waterfalls and
historic buildings. Many of
the roads follow rivers and
streams, also plenty of access
for fishing.
Author is introduced to fly fishing by
professional fly fishing guide Ian Rutter
of Townsend, Tennessee.
20
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
Probably one of the highlights of fly fishing for me
doesn’t include catching a
fish. Especially in the Smokies, the natural surroundings
occasionally overpower my
fishing. While crouched on the
stream’s edge, watching for a
trout to rise is relaxing to say
the least. Listening to the water flowing over and around
the ancient stones, breathing
the naturally cleansed air, and
allowing my eyes to slowly gaze
upward through the mature trees
is spiritually fulfilling.
I no longer watch fly fishermen
from the park’s roadside - I’m
now one of the watched. The truth
is, the Smokies invite anyone to
interact with the streams and
trout. What a great gift it would
be to give your angler, yourself
or both; a day in the Smokies
with fly rod in hand - a flyfishing experience of a lifetime,
or the beginning of a lifetime
addiction that will have you
returning to one of America’s
greatest national parks for years
to come, and to do so not as
an observing tourist, but as an
acting adventurer. V
The rivers and streams of the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park hosts
first-class trout fishing. Quality habitat
and healthy waters provide plenty
of food to support a thriving trout
population. Fly fishing the Smokies
is a quality angling experience for all
ages and skill levels.
Robert Loewendick is a freelance outdoor/travel writer
from Ohio. Reach him at
www.robertloewendick.com
For More Information
Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
www.nps.gov/grsm
Tennessee fishing regulations
www.state.tn.us/twra
Ian Rutter fly fishing guide:
www.randrflyfishing.com
(866) SMOKY-FLY
Hiking guide service:
Erik and Vesna Plakanis
(865) 436-8283 or
www.awalkinthewoods.com
Little River Village
Campground
Townsend, Tennessee
(800)261-6370
www.littlerivervillage.com
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
21
Chang
in
By Tim Huntington
W
g a Fl
a t T i re
inflated tire on. You may need to
place something like a board under
the jack to raise it closer to the
camper’s frame.
Set the jack under the main frame
rail, close to where the springs or
camper’s suspension attach to the
main frame rail. Do not jack under
the axle or cross rails as they are not
designed to carry the full weight of the
trailer on a two-square-inch area and
can easily be damaged this way. Use
any wood necessary to raise the
jack.
hile this may sound elementary for anyone who
has ever changed a flat on
their car, some things are a little
– you should have four
different while many are the same.
of these at the campground anyway.
The first steps you want to follow
are done before you even leave even
or traffic
home. Make sure you have these
triangles to guide traffic around
items and carry them with you all
you.
the time when towRaise the jack until it applies presIf you have a flat tire
If you can’t find a
ing:
sure under the frame, but do not
on the road don’t panic
raise the tire off the ground at this
safe place to pull
or you may lose control.
over, use your cell Slow your rig to a stop. point. Loosen all of the lug nuts on
– make sure you
the tire to be changed. If you raised
Your flat tire is probably
phone to call the
have one. If you
the tire first, the tire will just spin when
damaged beyond repair
have it locked to the police who may
you attempt to do this.
so don’t worry about
trailer make sure
be able to send
Now raise the jack so the flat tire
driving a little farther
you have the key or
is
off the ground. Remember, you
on
it
to
find
a
safe
spot
someone
to
assist.
the combination to
will
need more clearance when you
to
pull
over.
You
may
unlock it.
attempt to put the inflated spare on,
even destroy the rim towing to a
so you will need to raise the jack
– check the air
different location on a flat, but that
higher than just to remove the flat.
pressure in all tires including your
is much better than placing you and
Remove flat tire and replace it with
spare before you leave. Incorrect
your family in danger by stopping
inflated spare tire. Install lug nuts
pressure is the leading cause for
too close to traffic. Once off the
and
trailer sway and tire blow outs.
roadway,
Check your Owners Manual for
hand
The trailer manufacturer will have
use flares or
proper jack placement. Do it today! tighta label somewhere on the unit that
triangles to
en
states the recommended pressure.
alert oncomthem. Lower the jack so the new
Use the tire inflation molded onto
ing traffic of your presence.
tire touches the ground. Tighten lug
the sidewall of the tire if you can’t
Now its time to get down to the
nuts using the lug wrench. Rememfind the trailer manufacturer’s label. nuts and bolts.
ber, most of them are meant to be
Check for loose and missing lugs.
Assuming you are connected to
tightened to over 100 Ft Lbs. Lower
– Make sure your lug
the tow vehicle, make sure the tow
and remove the jack.
wrench fits the camper’s lug nuts
vehicle is in “Park” or in gear and
Store everything away and continas they are probably a different size
set the parking brake (some of you
ue on your way. Just remember, you
than the tow vehicle’s lug nuts.
call it the emergency brake). Chock
should recheck the lug nuts shortly
the good camper wheel – front and
after changing a tire. Check your
– Automotive bumper jacks
back. The object of these two steps
Owner’s Manual for the distance,
won’t work on your camper. Use a
is to secure the pop-up and make
but 50 miles, then again at 100 miles
scissor-type or a hydraulic jack that
sure it does not shift while you are
works for me.
is capable of lifting the camper high
working on it.
enough to slide a flat tire off and an
Remember, safety first! V
Chocks
Emergency flares
Spare tire
Air Pressure
Tire iron
Jack
22
POP UP TIMES AUGUST
APRIL 2007
2007
The Dumb Things
Sold Just Like That
A History of the
RV Industry In America
From chauffer-driven land
yachts to today’s sophisticated,
self-contained motorhomes, the
recreational vehicle industry
has continually evolved to meet
the demands of its ever-growing body of enthusiasts. What
started out as simply a way to
store and transport more camping equipment is today, for
many, a fulltime style of living.
In his new book, “The Dumb Things Sold Just Like That, A History
of the RV Industry in America,” author and historian Al Hesselbart
traces the RV industry’s history through the lives and accomplishments of its early pioneers. In addition to an overall history of the
industry, the book features biographies of eighteen of its leaders
whose accomplishments still have impact today. Bargman, Callendar, Coleman, Crist, Schult and Sherman are just a few of those
included in Hesselbart’s book.
Highlighting the text are scores of photos of vintage recreational
vehicles. Many of these came from the archives of the RV/MH
Heritage Foundation’s library, where Hesselbart has been archivist
and historian since 1994. The book is the first in a series of historical titles that feature collections held in the Heritage Foundation’s
library. Hesselbart looks at this as an opportunity to share these
artifacts with a larger audience.
Product Previews
Combi-Cam
S
everal years ago I was about
45 minutes into setting up my
camper for a four-night stay at a
campground when I discovered
that I couldn’t find a very
important key, the one that opens
the outside access door to the
cassette toilet. Knowing that most
RV keys are the same I was able to
borrow a key from another camper
to open the access door and then I
just left it unlocked for the rest of
the weekend.
Take a close look at your camper
keys. Chances are they are 751s.
If you’re uncomfortable with
everybody in the campground
having a key to your camper you
can have the locks changed, just
don’t lose the new keys.
When I came across the CombiCam I immediately ordered three,
one for each access door on my
camper. They were very easy to
install. All I needed were a pair of
pliers and a screwdriver to remove
the existing lock. The new lockassembly fit right into the same
opening and I was able to set the
combinations to a number that I
can remember. The Combi-Cam is
a heavy-duty, well made keyless
lock that sells for $19.95. Go to
www.popuptimes.com and click on
the Product of the Month. V
To see excerpts from the book, go to rvhistory.wordpress.com.
To purchase the book go to http://www.legacyinkpublishing.com/
order.html
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
23
NATURE’S POETRY
By Roger Meyer
L
ooking for a new hobby? Perhaps one that’s inexpensive,
easy, but still challenging? Something you can do anytime,
anywhere? Consider bird watching and become more
aware of the world around us. With their beautiful plumage and song, birds have been called the poetry of nature.
You won’t be alone – many others share this relaxing pastime.
About 80 million Americans observe or feed them. Bird watching
attracts both the meek and the macho.
And you’ll have plenty of birds to watch; there are about one
trillion birds worldwide with over a billion breeding in the United
States. You can travel to foreign lands to enjoy bird watching or stay
in your backyard. Spend only a few minutes gazing out the kitchen
window or spend your entire vacation looking for birds.
It’s easy to start; the first thing to do is stop calling it bird watching.
It’s called birding by most enthusiasts. Next, you should consider
the purchase of a pair of binoculars and a guidebook. Neither is essential, but both increase the pleasure and understanding of birding.
Binoculars cost up to several hundred dollars. Generally you get
what you pay for, but useable binoculars cost about $20. Shop
around. If you wear glasses, buy binoculars with rubber cups on the
eyepieces.
Guidebooks contain complete descriptions of birds with detailed
drawings of plumage, description of their songs, and their normal
range of habitat. The most popular pocket-sized guidebooks are
Birds of North America and A Field Guide to the Birds. Local bookstores
stock them.
Beginners tend to glance at an unfamiliar bird and then refer to the
guidebook. With only a quick look, the small difference between some
species prevents a definite identification. Study the bird until you’re
able to completely describe it. Look for other birds nearby because the
males and females of some species have different plumage.
Compare its size to a common species (is it the size of a robin?), look
for stripes or spots, observe the length and shape of the beak, and listen
for its song. Does it hop or walk? Does it have an eye ring? Are the tail
feathers rounded or forked? Note the terrain where you observed the
bird. When you’re satisfied that you’ve seen everything, only then refer
to the guidebook. The identification process becomes easier and more
reliable with practice.
Most birders keep a life list, which is a listing of all the species they’ve
seen. The list can get long; there are about 8,700 species worldwide
with about 840 in the United States. Some birders object to the importance that beginners place on the list. It adds an unnecessary sense of
competition and beginners tend to ignore a species after it’s on their
life list. Bird habits are learned only after many observations and
24
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
SELECTING BINOCULARS
If you decide to purchase binoculars, here are
some tips. Binoculars are characterized by two
numbers, for example 7 and 50 (it’s written
as ‘7x50’ but spoken as ‘7 by 50’). The first
number is the magnification; the second is the
diameter of the front lens in millimeters. A large
diameter front lens allows a viewer to see better
in dim light, but it also means a heavier pair
of binoculars. Dim light observations are not
essential to most birders.
A 7x50 pair of binoculars was the standard a few
years ago, but 8x20 compact models are popular
now. Most birders prefer compact binoculars
because they’re easier to carry and lighter to hold
while viewing.
A few prefer 10x20 binoculars, but these, with
their higher magnification, are harder to hold
steady. To observe birds at long distances,
consider a small telescope mounted on a tripod.
This is useful for water birds because you can’t
approach them easily.
counting species is only a part of birding. Keep a life
list, but recognize it’s not a contest.
Most birds migrate, but some remain in the same
area year-round. Migratory birds are seen only in
the spring and fall and you’ll see some species only
in the summer, others only in the winter. Some birds
vary their plumage between seasons. Because of these
changes, birding is a four-season hobby.
Some birders arrange their vacations to observe
specific species. They travel to the seashore, California or Florida because some birds have a very limited
habitat range. The Rocky Mountains roughly divide
North America into “Eastern” and “Western” areas.
Each region has a separate guidebook. Many birds
are seen in both areas, but some are only seen in one
region.
When you aren’t camping, try to attract birds to
your yard and observe them from your kitchen window. Birders have seen 190 species from their home.
In addition to being fun to watch, birds help control
insects.
Invite them to your backyard by providing food,
water, nesting areas and shelter. Specific foods attract
different species. For example, offer thistle seed to
lure finches, sunflower seeds for cardinals, blue jays,
and nuthatches, raisins for robins and orioles,
sugared water for hummingbirds, and suet for
chickadees and woodpeckers.
vide heat from metabolism to carry them through until
morning. Birds really need high-energy suet or seeds to
carry them through cold nights. Baked goods alone will
not sustain them and you should provide more than
bread in the winter. They may not survive even one night
if your feeder is empty or has the wrong food.
Feeding into early spring encourages birds to nest
nearby, but many people stop feeding as warm weather
arrives because continued feeding tends to attract common sparrows and starlings. These then crowd out other
species.
During warm weather, water attracts birds to your backyard. Ideally, an evergreen tree about 10 feet from your
feeder or water supply helps to attract birds. If the tree is
closer, birds fear predators are hiding there; if it’s farther
away, birds hesitate to approach because they can’t easily
evade a threat.
Birding complements other hobbies and activities.
Hiking, boating, fishing, camping, and gardening are all
enhanced by an interest in birds. Some birders make their
own birdhouses and feeders; bird photography is a challenge to others; recording of bird songs is another aspect.
Eighty million birders can’t be wrong. Watch the birds to
learn about our world and enjoy nature’s poetry. V
Bird food can be expensive, but on a limited budget you can offer breadcrumbs and
trimmed meat fat. Use a feeder because food on
the ground attracts scavengers. Put up a birdfeeder and your first visitor will probably be
a squirrel. They steal the food. Preventing the
theft is difficult, but try wrapping thin metal
around the post on a pole-mounted feeder or
use a hanging feeder.
Another problem with feeders is cleanliness.
If the food gets wet and becomes moldy, it
spreads disease among the visitors. Bird droppings also spread disease. Periodically clean
feeders and bird bathes with household bleach.
Many people feed birds in the winter, but they
ignore the need for grit to help digestion. If the
ground is snow covered, place sand or crushed
egg shells in the feeder for this purpose.
You can feed all year, but many people begin
feeding only in the late fall. You should then
continue feeding through the entire winter.
Don’t stop halfway because some experts say
feeders draw birds from their natural habitat
and they become dependent upon your food.
Birds feed at dusk during the winter to pro-
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
25
25
Why Campground Owners
Love Pop Ups
By David Gorin
E
veryone who’s been RVing and
camping during the ’90s and into
the 21st century is familiar with the
“big” RV ideas of the last 15 years.
– The popularity of the diesel
pusher
– Basements
– The growing electrical requirements for RVs —50 amp service
has become the standard
– Slide-outs popping out all over
the RV
– Full-body paint jobs
– Large rigs…and larger and
larger and larger
– Class As, travel trailers, fifth
wheels (and, yes, even larger
pop ups)
– Toy haulers or toy boxes now
sweeping the nation
– Tailgating with outdoor cooking
units hanging off the RV
And while these developments have gotten the headlines and press, the backbone of the RV industry remains,
to this day, the family campers out there in their tents and pop ups,
enjoying the great outdoors, creating memories that last a lifetime and
bringing mom, dad and the kids together to learn how to appreciate the
outdoors and the excitement of fishing, hiking, and sleeping under or at
least almost under the stars.
Campground owners have always had great respect and admiration
for pop-up campers—those folks who appreciated the smell and feel of
fresh air, enjoyed the simplicity of the camping experience, reveled in
the early morning smells of bacon and eggs on the grill, anticipated the
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POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
Visit us on the web to see more exciting
more exciting camping accessories.
Free brochures available.
grilled steaks and burgers in the evening, and spent
their days fishing, hiking and romping in the pool or
river with the kids.
Campground owners serving pop-up campers truly
enjoy this modest end of the RV and camping market. Pop-up campers patronize the park store more
frequently and more generously than the large rig
crowd. Pop-up campers place a considerably lower
burden on the park’s electrical system. Pop-up campers participate in the park’s recreational programs
with the whole family joining in. Pop-up campers are
genuinely down-to-earth, friendly people, not given
to outbursts, tirades, temper tantrums or arguments
if everything isn’t always perfect. Pop-up campers
are not worried about image or airs or impressing
anyone. Pop-up campers simply enjoy each other, the
outdoors, simplicity and relaxation. Pop-up campers
are just plain, old-fashioned happy…most of the time.
I recently visited a campground in Florida in early
May. Although not typical at this particular park,
there was a pop up parked on a site near the water—
on a canal that led out to the Gulf of Mexico. I needed
to take a boat ride through the canal to see how far it
was to the Gulf, and the pop-up owner also happened
to have a boat tied up at the dock right behind his
small pop up. He offered to take me for a ride.
To make a long story short, the pop-up guy was
from Florida—not all that far from the park we were
in—and in discussion it turned out he owned a large
car dealership. He obviously was a successful businessman. As we toddled down the quarter-mile run
to the Gulf, he told me that once a year for two weeks,
he and his wife of many, many years, take their pop
up and come to this park. They fish every morning,
spend the afternoons reading by the pool, cook out
each evening, entertain their grandchildren on the
weekend, and simply enjoy spending their days in
their bathing suits and the evenings sleeping almost
under the stars.
That’s what pop-up camping is all about, the simple
joys of life regardless of your position in life. V
David Gorin is president of David Gorin & Associates,
a consulting company exclusively serving the RV Park
and Campground industry. He’s the past President
and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and
Campgrounds and is widely respected as a consultant,
speaker, writer and observer of the park industry. He
also camps out at least once each summer with his two
adult sons —in a tent.
Your Photo
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apparel, string lights, levels, RV Pets, and more. Whether setting up or
showing off, PUX Trading Post is the place to shop!
American Kestrel.
PHOTO BY DON MCCARTNEY
3rd Place — Allen Harrison
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
27
27
My Story
Finding a rat snake
is a rock-flipping
home run!
Indian Campouts
by William Dingus
I crawled, hand over hand, until my upper torso was clear of the flap of the tent. My
back was a confusion of irksome indentations from the rocks that had mocked my
sleeping pad the previous night. One rock, a particularly tenacious one, was having a
go at my left knee still.
Blinking away the ragged sleep I saw a man. It was an Iroquois Brave, a tribe member of mine, who was smiling, drinking coffee, and tinkering about his Jayco as if he
had just enjoyed a marvelous night of blissfully peaceful sleep; as indeed he had. That
was the moment I decided to buy a pop-up camper.
The Chief leads a war cry
(above)
Card game in the rain
(at right)
Nighttime scene
(below)
Little Wildflower exits the
“secret passageway”
(bottom right)
That was nine years ago. My oldest daughter, Yucca Blossom, was six and we were
awakening to a beautiful day in the Davis Mountains State Park near Fort Davis,
Texas. As participants in the Midland, Texas YMCA Indian Princess program our
schedule included a few organized games, some hiking, and the ever-popular sport
of rock-flipping. You can
always count on discovering a few scorpions and
centipedes as well as an
occasional vinegaroon
beneath the multitude of
nice, flat rocks here in far
west Texas. It’s all a lot
of fun. But I can assure
you it is a lot more fun
after a good night’s rest. I
needed a pop-up!
It took some convincing
before my wife, Significant Otter, agreed. She had
long been a camping purest. To her, camping meant
minimalism and a return to the back-country. She is
a trekker who believes you have to earn your jerky
with a hard, thirsty hike. She was disappointed that
I would suggest buying an “iron tepee”. But I won
her over, I like to think, with my impassioned yet
scientific description of how the pop-up’s superior
“mesh-to-canvas ratio” was much more like sleeping outside than a tent could ever be. It is more likely
she relented simply because she is fond of me. Either
way, we were soon proud owners of a pop-up.
28
POP UP TIMES AUGUST 2007
It was beautiful! A brand new 1998 Coleman Mesa. The guys in
the tribe dubbed it the “Taj Majal.” Today it has a few dings here
and there, but it looks pretty good considering it’s traveled over
15,000 miles to over 50 campouts. It has survived spilled bottles
of face paint, a barrage of water balloons, a few shattered glow
sticks, and a steady precipitation of white donut dust. (Unfortunately, our diet falls off a bit on these Indian campouts.)
Indian Campouts. I know that must sound crazy. Do you remember Fred Flintstone
and Barney Rubble
and their Water
Buffalo meetings replete with
horned headwear?
Add little girls and
a few “How-hows”
and you pretty
much have the
picture. We adopt
new names, paint
faces, carry torches
and have a big
bonfire, but it’s all just one big excuse to hang out for an undistracted weekend with our kids. We go four times a year. About two
hundred of us descend upon a “nearby” campsite and have a giant
family reunion of sorts. If you’re lucky, like me, you also participate
in Indian Guides with your son and get a total of eight campouts.
The final campout each spring is for the whole family. I wouldn’t
trade it for the world.
Slithering Cobra and Leaping
Lizard (right) don their Big
Braves’ hats (above)
Nighttime Visitor (at right)
Morning Buck poses with a
tarantula (at left)
Little Bird carries a Nature
Checklist (below)
One thing our family loves about camping is how intimate you get
with the weather. I don’t know what it is about pop-ups but they
attract rain! A gentle rain provides the perfect setting for a nap, but
a heavy one can wake you from the deepest slumber. Once it hailed
so hard that conversation, even by shouting, was impossible for
several minutes. How cool is that!
And when it does rain you can count on company. Hanging out in
the pop-up is a popular pastime even in fair conditions, but during a downpour you can almost always get up a good card
game with the nearby tenters.
Once as we were backing into our site I noticed our chief
had pegged his tent in an area of particularly green grass.
That night, right before dinner, we got a frog-strangler of
a rain and it quickly became apparent why the grass was
so lush in that spot. He had set up in a drainage area and
his tent quickly filled up and washed out. That night they
moved in with us.
My youngest daughter, Little Bird, is the only one of our
three children who is still young enough to participate in
the program. Her big brother, Leaping Lizard, is going into
the seventh grade and graduated last May.
Little Bird says, “observing the wildlife in the state parks
is my favorite part of camping. Remember that
time the skunk came right up to our pop-up? It
was sniffing our trashcan!”
Well, to be honest, I don’t remember that particular incident, but I can tell you, we’ve seen a
lot of skunks.
It will be a sad day, eight campouts from now,
when Little Bird and I conclude our family’s time
as Indians. Hopefully, even though we will all
hang up our feathers and stow our face-paint, we
will continue an active camping tradition with
lots of pop-up adventures to come. There’s no
better way to be a family. V
AUGUST 2007 POP UP TIMES
29
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