But it’s also a labor of love, albeit an expensive one.
Three weeks ago I posted this photo as an introduction to my brand-new camping trailer, a 2024 Rockwood Geo Pro G15FBS that I’ll be using for bird photography trips to remote locations in several western states beginning this spring. That post got a lot of comments and folks have been commenting on it since, even on later posts that had nothing to do with the trailer.
So, I thought there’d be some interest amongst my readers in how it’s been going as I try to get the trailer ready for trips to the back country. It’s been quite a project and it isn’t over yet, so this is more of a progress report than it is a summary of a completed job.
Big things, little things – they all add up to a significant investment in time. And money.
Fair warning: This is a long read so if you don’t have the interest, I’ll see you next time.
My first challenge was the Equalizer trailer hitch that I’d been using on my previous trailer. My new trailer is much smaller and lighter so I assumed that this hitch would have no problem with it. But folks at the dealership, including the salesperson and a couple of the service guys in the shop, said that my hitch was too heavy-duty for the new trailer. If I used it, I’d run the risk of it bending the frame of the trailer when I was making sharp turns, especially if the angle of my pickup was significantly different than the angle of the trailer. And where I go, it often is.
Well, that got my attention. So I visited one of the most trusted trailer hitch establishments in Salt Lake City, Pard’s Equalizer Trailer Hitch Co. (their location is almost in my back yard). They told me that with some significant adjustments, my old hitch would work just fine with my new trailer.
A new hitch would have cost me about $1200 but I got out of Pard’s with $275 worth of adjustments, fine tuning and testing so I feel pretty darn good about it,
My next (big) problem was the spare tire for the trailer.
One of the main reasons I bought a new trailer was for its higher ground clearance for getting into the backcountry spots that I prefer. The spare tire of most small trailers is carried by a bracket mounted on the rear bumper. But my trailer doesn’t have a bumper, so it was mounted beneath the trailer. Dumb! Why in the hell would they mount the spare tire there, on a trailer touted for its ground clearance? Having the spare tire beneath the trailer reduced ground clearance by a lot.
But at least there’s a receiver on the back of my trailer. So, I ordered a spare tire carrier from eTrailer.com (about $123) that fits the 2″ receiver on the back of my trailer and that solved the problem. I no longer have a bottom-dragging spare tire under my trailer.
But the damn thing caused another problem. Can you spot what it is? If you look carefully, it’s evident in this photo.
The exhaust for the furnace is right behind the left edge of the spare tire and that thing is hot when the furnace is running. The last thing I need is a spare tire that’s been damaged or weakened by extreme heat.
So I made a deflector out of sheet metal and attached it to the furnace exhaust. Problem solved. Now, when the furnace is running, the tire barely gets warm. And for a change, the solution to this problem was cheap.
I have two Honda generators. Usually, I only carry one of them to charge my trailer batteries (the solar on the new trailer helps but it’s pretty slow). But a single generator won’t run my AC so when it’s hot I carry them both in the back of my pickup.
But when I tried to get the generator on the right started and serviced it refused to fire up. I spent more time than I care to admit working on it with no luck at all. So I ended up taking it to the shop where they installed a carburetor kit and performed a tune-up on it. Cost – $169.
Trailer manufacturers are always stingy on the cupboard shelving, so I had to make and add shelves to several cupboards, including the pantry to the right of the fridge. Cost – about $80 (I already had some of the wood.)
Whoever designed the sofa in front of the Murphy bed is a certified idiot.
There’s a small rotating table that attaches to the black bracket at the bottom of the sofa but when I have the table removed there’s no convenient place to set drinks or anything else. Those two black drink holders in the drop-down arm rest are worse than worthless. They’re only about an inch deep, they’re too wide and worst of all – they’re too far back to reach with a drink while you’re sitting on the sofa, especially with my bad back. I don’t twist well.
So I had to design and build this custom black “tiny table” to hold drinks and small miscellaneous items, including the odd chocolate donut that serves as my breakfast occasionally. It may look like it’s not very stable but it is because it has a steel “L” bracket imbedded in the wood. I’m quite happy with its functionality. Cost – about $50.
The “little things” really added up, especially with the time involved. Here’s a small sampling. I’ve added a white board and towel hook on the left and a paper towel holder and small spice rack on the right. The knife holder is held firmly in place by Velcro. Cost for it all – not much.
That roll-up contraption over the sink that came with the trailer is a joke. It’s flimsy, it doesn’t stay in place and for obvious reasons it can’t be used as a cutting board. It’ll end up in the trash.
So I made a teak cutting board that fits snugly over the sink and stores in a convenient place when I’m not using it. It’s face grain rather than end grain but I didn’t want to invest the considerable time that would be required to make an end grain cutting board. Cost – about $40.
I could go on, but I believe I’ve made my point. The purchase of a new camping trailer is just the beginning of the long journey of getting it ready for the road.
And that journey never really ends, even after years of use.
Ron
Congratulations !! I see that you got rid of your old Rockwood and bought a new Rockwood Geo Pro. I have an E-Pro which is essentially the same trailer made by Forest River. You might try running your A/C on just the Honda 2000 generator that you have. If it is a no go, you can install an “Easy Start” on your A/C that will allow you to do this. I have done it and mine runs fine !!
Thanks very much for the tip, Gary. I’ll check it out.
I’d heard of that potential option but didn’t give it much credence until your comment came in.
I really enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations that go along with having a “tiny house” behind your pickup. You seem to be very ingenious for coming up ways to make things work for you. Congrats for making it your own. Anxious to see your photo captures later.
Thank you, Linda.
Nice work! Great thinking about the functionality you need in the trailer. My fav is the tiny black drink table. You will use that everyday traveling. Thanks for the post Ron
Kathleen, I love that little table. It’s small but it’s placed perfectly for me.
Hi Ron,
I’m not sure what’s more impressive- Your amazing bird photography or your equally savvy ability to build/fix/problem solve. I greatly admire your skill set! …and labor and frustrations aside, I think the new trailer will lend comfort to the field time….
Wishing you well on your birding adventures….
~Miranda
Much appreciated, Miranda. I can hardly wait, although the weather coming in later in the week makes me less anxious to get out there.
Interesting about the hitch – I don’t know about that kind of stuff, but we have so many huge Ford and Dodge trucks here in town, many set up to haul horse trailers, farm trailers, RVs. Who knew a hitch could be too “heavy-duty”!
A neat little interior, even with the design features that make no sense (they look great in the sales promo brochures). Your improvements DO make sense!
“Who knew a hitch could be too “heavy-duty””
I certainly didn’t, Carolyn. But when they explained it to me, it made sense.
I once had cocktail napkins with a wild-looking woman who’s saying, “Honey, I don’t need a husband, I need a handyman.” Oh man, YOU are the one! I loved reading/seeing all the absurd problems and your clever solutions … congratulations on getting your “traveling photo studio” ready for the open road. May the two of you be very happy together!
“May the two of you be very happy together!
”
I had to read that twice, Chris. At first I thought you knew something I didn’t about my next wife. Which, by the way, will never happen…
Thanks for sharing your new on the road digs. I’m in the process of turning a small bus into a camper so I appreciate the details.
Do you ever accept tag-alongs on your trips? I’d be curious about that if you’re coming through Western Montana.
Jean, occasionally I’ve had tagalongs on daytrips in the past but they’ve been few and far between. Looking for birds can be pretty boring.
I belong to a couple of Facebook boondocking groups and there seems to be quite a few folks who have converted school buses to campers. Good luck on your project.
Ron, your creativity and skill are showing again — excellent fixes! I don’t understand useless cupholders or spare tires that aren’t easily accessible in any vehicle. Of course I shouldn’t talk because one of our cars has the battery in the trunk. I think that the engineers and designers should have to go camp for a week or two — and change a tire — in one of their prototypes.
Your cutting board solution is very handsome (I’m guessing the roll-up thing is a drying rack). I like the tiny table as well — perfect size for a chocolate donut!
Looking forward to your next installment. Even with these glitches, I think that you’ll end up enjoying this trailer quite a bit!
“one of our cars has the battery in the trunk.”
Marty, I’ve never had a vehicle like that but it’s my understanding that most new cars with a battery in the trunk have a second, primary battery under the hood.
Yes, I think the SUPPOSED purpose of that contraption is as a drying rack, But it doesn’t make sense to me. It can’t be on the sink while you’re washing dishes and after they’re washed they’ve already been draining all over the counter. It’s just BS if you ask me.
You sure had to make many adjustments to your new camper. I wonder how many of those adjustments could cost us more, if someone had not figured it out. Maybe you could get an extra job as a trailer advisor. I am sure you will enjoy your new home away from home when you are out camping in the wild.
Trudy, I don’t need or want a new job! I can’t keep up with what I have to do now. I guess I’ve grown lazy in my retirement…
Obviously the life of a traveling Feathered Photographer is much more complicated than just having the best camera available. Wishing you much success and fun with the new rig. Good thing you consulted with the mechanical guys before taking off. Everything here looks great. Wonder what the birds and wildlife will think when they see you with your new trailer?
Everett, your first sentence says it all. Thank you.
It’s going to be a great addition to your birding life. Stay positive!!!!
I’m trying, Mary. And mostly succeeding.
Nothing in this post surprised me. As always, your determination and ingenuity are impressive, my dear friend.
“your determination and ingenuity are impressive, my dear friend.”
Sue, I’m more confident in the former than I am in the latter, but I appreciate your confidence in me. This time, things have turned out pretty well as far as I can tell. My ‘maiden voyage’ will begin to tell the tale.
I think life could be pretty dull without challenges to solve. Great solutions, Ron! I really appreciate your ingenuity.
Thanks, Brett. There are times when I’d take “dull” over “challenges”, in a heartbeat.
If I remember correctly “modifications” were needed for your old trailer also.
My Dad always commented (referring to car engine compartments at the time) that every engineer that designed these things should have to work on them for about 5 years first! ) My 1990 Silerado has the spare under the box – HA! I have one IN the box. I admire your skills and creativity and solving the problems you encounter with these things. 
“If I remember correctly “modifications” were needed for your old trailer also.”
You do remember correctly, Judy. When it comes to new trailers, mods are ALWAYS part of the equation.
And people who’ve forked out a LOT OF MONEY for a brand-new
trailer and who can’t spot problems in advance and aren’t particularly
good at fixing things and being all-around “handy” are just out of
luck ! A lifetime of watching my Dad and daily reading of your blog
have convinced me that growing up on a farm is the most worthwhile
of beginnings ( if it didn’t maim or kill you in the process, that is ).
Kris, the part of your comment about “growing up on a farm” is quite insightful. And having a dad who was a very good teacher made a big difference.
Money – YES, Time – YES – Satisfaction with yourself and your abilities – ABSOLUTELY!! It looks GREAT – and functional (until you start using it and find something else that needs improvement). You are very talented in many areas – so you will always find solutions for your needs. You will ENJOY!!
Thank you, Judy. I sure hope you’re right about the “enjoy” part.
A couple of those things are real head scratchers; cup holders where your elbows should go, and whatever that thing is over the sink. Your solutions are creative and well done.
Really like that spare tire heat shield; simple and effective. I wonder if the designers ever imagined themselves retrieving a spare from under the trailer with one of the tires flat?
The fixing and customizing is all part of the process of making a rolling house a home. May it all pay off in many happy trails.
“I wonder if the designers ever imagined themselves retrieving a spare from under the trailer with one of the tires flat?”
Michael, I had nightmares about that. Especially with my bad back.
But the challenge of creating and engineering these very cool mods? Priceless.
Suzanne, that’s part of the reason I called it a “labor of love”.