For the last several years followers of Feathered Photography may have wondered why it’s been so long since I’ve been camping. I used to go on regular camping trips to out-of-the-way places in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and a wide variety of areas in Utah for purposes of bird and wildlife photography. And just as importantly, for soul rejuvenation.
There are two reasons why I haven’t done it in a while.
- Three major back surgeries in the last 4 1/2 years. Enough said about that.
- My camping trailer wasn’t really designed for the remote areas I strongly prefer. The trailer is too long, too heavy and too low to the ground for such back country shenanigans. I’ve bent all the stabilizing jacks I care to bend. The trailer is larger than I prefer because there was nearly always two of us on those trips and we needed(?) the extra space. But now there will usually be only me.
So, as you may have already guessed, I now have a new camping trailer.
Geo Pro G15FBS Camping Trailer
Three days ago I traded my old trailer in on this one, a new 2024 Rockwood Geo Pro G15FBS.
My new trailer is more than 6′ shorter, 6″ narrower and about 700 lbs. lighter than my old one. It also has a lift kit and larger, off-road tires so it’s significantly higher off the ground. It has a single axle instead of double axles, which has advantages in weight savings and maneuverability in tight areas.
Two 200-watt roof-top solar panels, along with the generator(s) I always carry in the back of my pickup, will reliably keep my trailer batteries charged on those long trips.
There will undoubtedly be some tradeoffs. I’ve already adapted to less interior space (doing so was easy) but this trailer doesn’t have a traditional kitchenette (table with benches) so I’ll have to get used to a smaller table that attaches to the sofa (or I may build a slightly larger table). Having only a single axle with two tires instead of a double axle with four tires makes potential flats or blowouts more of a pucker factor, so high-quality tires (which I have) are essential.
Most everything else with this new trailer is an upgrade for my purposes rather than a downgrade so I’m really looking forward to getting out there again. There are no guarantees my bad back will cooperate, but I decided to roll the dice and hope for the best.
If all goes well, beginning this spring and summer readers of Feathered Photography should see more variety in the birds and wildlife I photograph and post.
Ron
Notes:
- If you have the interest, here’s a link to a video review of the Geo Pro G15FBS Camping Trailer. The trailer reviewed is exactly the same as my new one, including the slideout.
- It goes without saying that many of my future camping trips will be to my home state of Montana. I have a new incentive for that because my younger sister Sheila and her husband Randy have recently moved from New Mexico to Helena, MT., which isn’t too far north of Montana’s Centennial Valley where I often camp. Who knows, maybe my ex-wife Diane (we’re still very good friends) will accompany me on one of those MT. camping trips. Diane is Randy’s younger sister so it would be sort of a twisted, double family reunion.
Congratulations Ron, the trailer looks great and we’re all happy you are feeling better! Looking forward to posts from out in the sticks again!
Thanks, Ken. “Out in the sticks” sounds really good right now.
Pls check out a StarLink system for internet connectivity from almost anywhere. All my camping – hiking friends who frequent remote locations have one. Rave reviews from my group.
Thanks for the suggestion, Kathleen. I’ll look into it.
That’s a beauty! Looking forward to both photos and tales of camping.
Thanks, Bill.
Very interesting Ron. Your new trailer and your plan both look good. Will be really good for you to get back to some of those camping areas where you can photo some birds you have been missing.
Best wishes for much success and safe travel.
Thank you, Everett.
Congratulations!! Hope all goes well for you – and expecially your back.
Look forward to seeing some fantastic shots.
Thanks, Judy.
Congratulations on the new camping trailer, Ron! That’s a lot of luxury in a small footprint.
So excited for you to get out into the wilderness again! Also a pretty nifty trick to be able to do a double family reunion with Diane and your respective siblings. 
(For off-off-grid camping, have you considered one of the emergency text/SOS devices like the ones by Garmin?)
Thanks. Marty. I haven’t considered anything like Garmin but I will now.
And off you go!
Can’t wait to see your reports from Raptor in the Wild. LOL
And I can’t wait to take the photos and publish them in those reports.
Congrats on the new photo studio on wheels, it sounds well-suited to your current needs and I hope you do get a lot of use out of it.
Am really happy to see your post today because I’ve now discovered your wonderful Valentine Kestrels post from Friday (we had some sort of “data outage” and no service all morning, so I totally missed the earliest messages in my mailbox). Of all the great images you presented (so many), that very first one is my very favorite. “Shy boy meets shy girl … boy thinks she’s cute, she thinks he’s a hunk.” And the rest is history!
” the new photo studio on wheels”
Chris, that made me smile. I never thought about it that way, but you’re right.
Glad you found, and enjoyed, the kestrel post.
Well good for you. Too bad you will be traveling alone, but sure things will go ok. I am sure you will carry a spare tire with you. Looks like Home Sweet Home. I am sure you will try the new camper before you make any long trips.
Trudy, I’m absolutely fine with camping alone. In many ways I prefer it but then I’m a bit of a hermit by nature.
I usually take a new camping rig for an overnight stay on Antelope Island for what I call my “shakedown cruise”. I hope to do that this time too.
Would love to read about your thoughts on the new trailer after its test run.
Nifty trailer! And love the twists of your family dynamics! Here’s hoping for good travels for you, with us as the beneficiaries of your photographic adventures.
Carolyn, I love that word “nifty” from back in the day. Don’t hear it often anymore, except from me. We actually had a dog named “Nifty”.
Hey Ron, that looks great! Should save you a lot of driving and keep you rested and comfortable when you’re out on a trip, plus get you out into some more remote areas. Post some pictures sometime of a couple of your camp set ups.
Have fun planning out some trips!
“Post some pictures sometime of a couple of your camp set ups.”
I most definitely will. Thanks, Quentin.
Way to go!! May the Force be with you!
Thank you, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Snappy-looking rig, and sounds like a great– functioning improvement for you ! “Twisted” or not, likewise, any functioning
family and friendship relationships should be cherished and
maintained– the future sounds good for you—Camping and
photo-work and good times ahead…….
Kris, if it happens that would be fun. I saw Randy recently but I haven’t seen Sheila in too long.
I hope you review your new trailer after you go out on a couple of trips. We’ve flirted with this camper series for years, but I have to admit that the price has always put me off. Did you get the awning, too? I think eating outside under the awning would be a great way to make it feel larger.
“I hope you review your new trailer after you go out on a couple of trips.”
Good idea, Kaye.
Yes, it has an awning that’s almost the full length of the trailer (see the first photo).
What wonderful news! A new camper, I am ever so happy for you.
I cannot wait to see and hear about your up coming adventures!
Take Care,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
Congrats Ron!
Thanks, Kathleen.
Nice! Have often wondered how workable the old one was in the back country!…..
This looks much better suited to what you want to do with it.
Since you’ll be traveling solo do you have a satellite phone?
Nope, no satellite phone Judy. But in many of my favorite remote camping spots I still have phone service. In the past that has been a priority so I can publish blog posts from the field.
Have fun! And I’m looking forward to the new photographic results.
Thanks, Burrdoo. So am I.
Congratulations on your new trailer!! May you get many great trips out of it!!
I sure hope I do. Thanks, Joanne.
Nice, nice, very nice!
Thanks.
Don’t know anything about campers, but I watched that video and it would seem it has all that anyone would need in a fairly compact container.
Curious about the 5G antenna. Does that give you phone or internet access in remote locations? Thinking emergencies.
“Does that give you phone or internet access in remote locations?”
I’m not sure, Michael. This trailer has so many new-fangled upgrades I haven’t yet had time to research them all.