2013 Camping Thread - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Hockeyguy15 · 04-01-2013, 09:34 AM

I know it may be a little early for this thread, but I just got my first trailer so I am pretty pumped for camping season.

Just a couple questions for you seasoned vets out there...We live in an apartment and have no way to fill our trailer with water. If I go to my parents the outside tap is pretty far away so I would most likely need to use some green garden hose along with my white fresh water hose. Is this going to give me that garden hose taste in the water, or will that go away? Should I just go buy some extra white hose?

When I de-winterize the trailer is this the correct process...I fill up the fresh water tank, turn on the water pump, then I turn on all the cold and hot taps until it runs clear (and flush the toilet). When all the taps/toilet run clear I can fill the water heater correct? I have a plug on the outside by the furnace that I have to put in I believe, is there anything else I have to do? Once I have put the plug in turn on the hot water taps and wait until all the air is out, then that means the hot water tank is full and I can turn on the hot water heater? I don't want to wreck the element in the water heater and I was told if you turn that on when the tank is empty you will blow it.

Madman · 04-01-2013, 09:37 AM

Most campgrounds have fresh water taps for you to fill up right there. Saves you having to pull that much weight all the way to the campground.

When you dewinterize, hook up to your house hose and use pressurized water, not your fresh water tank - cleans it out better and you don't have to wait as long. Do each tap individually, don't just crank them all on at the same time.

If you have a hot water tank bypass, make sure it is returned to normal flow operation.

ken0042 · 04-01-2013, 09:50 AM

The single biggest thing for your water is to determine how you want to use it. I have decided that the water in my tanks will not be used for drinking- that we will use bottled instead. By making that choice, I no longer have to worry about going somewhere that has bad water; and/or water that needs to be boiled.

I am going to disagree with Madman about using the pressurized water; as that will not remove the antifreeze from the water pump. I am assuming the dealer winterized it- so they likely used the pump to draw in the antifreeze.

Madman · 04-01-2013, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

The single biggest thing for your water is to determine how you want to use it. I have decided that the water in my tanks will not be used for drinking- that we will use bottled instead. By making that choice, I no longer have to worry about going somewhere that has bad water; and/or water that needs to be boiled.

I am going to disagree with Madman about using the pressurized water; as that will not remove the antifreeze from the water pump. I am assuming the dealer winterized it- so they likely used the pump to draw in the antifreeze.

Yes, forgot to mention that point Ken, thanks.

I do run a quick cycle of fresh through my pump as well.

Hockeyguy15 · 04-01-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madman

Most campgrounds have fresh water taps for you to fill up right there. Saves you having to pull that much weight all the way to the campground.

When you dewinterize, hook up to your house hose and use pressurized water, not your fresh water tank - cleans it out better and you don't have to wait as long. Do each tap individually, don't just crank them all on at the same time.

If you have a hot water tank bypass, make sure it is returned to normal flow operation.

I would assume Jarvis Bay has fresh water taps, maybe I will just wait and fill up there.

FlamesKickAss · 04-01-2013, 09:57 AM

This a great thread, we are hopfully picking up our new trailer in the next week or so and plan to test it out April 12-15 weekend and have 6 trips booked up to July long!

So excited to get out camping this year.

Is it recommended to use the taps at the campgrounds to save the weight of towing to the destination?

ken0042 · 04-01-2013, 09:58 AM

Yes, looking at their website they do have a dump station and therefore fresh water should also be available.
http://www.albertaparks.ca/jarvis-ba...s/camping.aspx

Most provincial parks do; if not right in the park at least nearby. For example a few of the campgrounds west of Bragg Creek do not have water and dumping; however at the entrance to the park there is a dump/fill station beside the information booth.

ken0042 · 04-01-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Is it recommended to use the taps at the campgrounds to save the weight of towing to the destination?

I made the mistake of hauling water before; it was a huge loss in fuel economy. I did that shortly after stopping in a small campground in BC that only had the hand pumps for water.

What I would recommend is buying and installing this winterizing kit:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...rizer-kit/6279
You can buy it locally for around $20. Not only will you need it in the fall for winterizing, but if you ever find a campground with just the pumps, you can fill a jug with water and use this by-pass to draw your water.

FlamesKickAss · 04-01-2013, 10:24 AM

What about if your going in April? Will they have the taps open at that time? Looking at going to McLean creek to get a feel for the trailer.

Anything else that you can recommend getting?

Where is the best place to pick up an awning mat?

Hockeyguy15 · 04-01-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

What about if your going in April? Will they have the taps open at that time? Looking at going to McLean creek to get a feel for the trailer.

Anything else that you can recommend getting?

Where is the best place to pick up an awning mat?

I don't think most places turn on the water until May long weekend. Night still gets pretty cold, are you sure you would want to dewinterize it? I'm not an expert (obviously) so maybe someone else can confirm that part.

Awning mats were about $50-$60 a Woody's, they were more at campers village but those are the only 2 places I have looked.

FlamesKickAss · 04-01-2013, 10:31 AM

Very good point on that..

Hevishot · 04-01-2013, 10:46 AM

Depending on Temp Maclean Creeks water is usually turned on after May 1. For the first trip pulling water out is probably the most fail safe way.

Daliwan · 04-01-2013, 10:51 AM

I am planning to go in late May to BC. Still trying to figure out which part is warm enough.

ken0042 · 04-01-2013, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I don't think most places turn on the water until May long weekend. Night still gets pretty cold, are you sure you would want to dewinterize it? I'm not an expert (obviously) so maybe someone else can confirm that part.

The key is the location of your water pump in relation to your hot water tank. In my trailer both are in the same cupboard, so I am fine. We ran into this last April when we went camping- I was concerned so I placed a digital thermometer in there. It only got as low as 8 degrees, even though it was -5 outside one night. I was trying to figure out why, and I realized that the hot water tank being in the same space allowed some residual heat into the cupboard.

When I got back from the camping trip I kept the cupboard open and had a lamp with a 60 watt bulb burning near the pump. Last spring we didn't have a cold snap; every day had highs above zero. However if there was going to be a cold snap I would have winterized it again. Once you install that bypass I mentioned winterizing is so easy, and for $10 worth of antifreeze it was worth it to have running water on the trip.

Once again, last year Mount Kidd had water available in April; however I would call ahead first to make sure.

return to the red · 04-01-2013, 11:39 AM

excited to get out this year love my little trailer

This isnt personally mine but it is the same style/model I have

FlamesKickAss · 04-01-2013, 11:39 AM

Where did you get that bypass at?

ken0042 · 04-01-2013, 11:50 AM

I bought mine at Woody's- and I seem to recall paying around $25. When I was up at Rangeland a couple of weeks ago I saw them for $18.

Slava · 04-01-2013, 12:08 PM

I love the Alberta Parks site, but its disappointing to see that July weekend is virtually booked solid in K-country already. I assume people book like Friday and Saturday as soon as they become available and do that all weekend? I get it....I just think that its too bad that you can hardly get a spot there 3 months out.

ken0042 · 04-01-2013, 12:13 PM

It's 3 days since that long weekend has been available to book. Yes, Alberta Parks allows reservations for arrivals 90 days ahead of time. We have stuff booked for May and June already.

There are several other places in K-Country that are first come, first served. However keep in mind that the ones close to Calgary will have people come out on Wednesday and pitch a tent; and pay though the weekend. Last year for May long we went to Gooseberry at 5:00 on the Thursday, and got one of the last spots.

Slava · 04-01-2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

It's 3 days since that long weekend has been available to book. Yes, Alberta Parks allows reservations for arrivals 90 days ahead of time. We have stuff booked for May and June already.

There are several other places in K-Country that are first come, first served. However keep in mind that the ones close to Calgary will have people come out on Wednesday and pitch a tent; and pay though the weekend. Last year for May long we went to Gooseberry at 5:00 on the Thursday, and got one of the last spots.

I thought that today was the first day to book, but I guess you can book to arrive on the Friday since this past Friday (if that's what you mean?)

I booked elsewhere (Beauvais Lake....hopefully its good there). I guess last year we ended up checking out a bunch of places we otherwise wouldn't have, so its not the end of the world. I just find that some of the K-country campgrounds are by far the best ones.