Outfitting New Trailer: What Can't You Live Without?

[MuleLady]

I've ordered a new trailer and it'll be here in about six weeks, so I have some time to think about things to outfit it with to make horse (well, in my case MULE) camping more enjoyable...typically long weekends where I sleep in my gooseneck and the mule is either picketed or in a stall or corral.

The trailer is a Hawk 2H gooseneck with dressing room, so space is sorta limited. Here's my list so far:

25 gallon corner water tank
Bench box with hinged lid, used for storage, as a seat, and as a step up to the sleeping area
Air mattress
Plenty of bridle hooks and two fold down saddle racks
Small portable propane heater
Camp table and camp stove or grill
Grooming supplies organizer on dressing room door
Mounting block (mule is extra tall, this is a must)

What else can't YOU live without when horse camping? What mods have you made to your non-LQ trailer that makes it more comfy for camping?

[Rayman421]

Doesn't make the LQ more cozy, but I have racks that slide into the sides of the trailer and hold two buckets - one for each horse tied there, and extra tie rings up high (for hay nets) as well as lower for the horses. If a horse gets a foot hung up in the racks they come right up and off, but otherwise are very stable for holding water buckets.

[lawndart]

That is one thing I can't live without. You can buy a small one for under $100 at a camping store. I've been to too many disgusting public bathrooms.

I have a trailer very similar in size/set up to yours. My DR is 5 feet, which is enough for my daughter and I. The best thing we did is go to the Kmart Automotive/hardware section, buy a couple of those hardened plastic cabinets they have for shops and garages. Virtually indestructible. Hubby installed them in a short amount of time (studs between ribs of trailer wall, screwed cabinets into studs) The doors have holes where you can put a clip or lock to keep the door from swinging open in case of a violent stop, the doors do latch pretty well on their own. I put all the permanent stuff in these cabinets so I only have to load things in the spring, take out in the fall.

I also purchased some magnetic curtain rods. My trailer is steel, so I put two of the rods on the ceiling in a corner in the horse section, hung a light shower curtain. I put my porti potti there, and can also wash/shower with a cowboy shower.

I use a mounting block as steps into my trailer, just move them over for the horse.

Also, a fan is something you will need. If you don't have access to electric, they do make battery powered ones.

I was in Lowe's this weekend, saw a small electric water heater (I think it was 2.5 gallons) that was portable. It was $168. I couldn't make up my mind if I'd need it or not, so I didn't get it, but its a thought if you are camping for more than 48 hours.

We did buy a seperate 5 gallon water container for human use only. Those large water tanks are harder to clean out, just personal preference for me to use a portable 5 gallon one I can bring into the house to clean.

I wish my trailer had an awning, but really can't justify the $800 it would cost to put one on for the few times I've needed one. Most of the time I can park by a tree, and I do have a small canopy thing I can put up alone.

[5]

A tiny closet for the clean clothes, hamper for the dirty, net between bridle hooks to hang the sweaters/jackets (easy to grab when it gets chilly/clean place to put them when it's not
Electricty

[dawglover]

You absolutely must make room for a well supplied veterinary emergency kit...my vet was very helpful in suggesting and supplying items I would need, knowing that I am often camping WAY out in the boonies without quick access to a veterinarian's services.

You want a human first aid kit too.;)

[BEARCAT]

Bought one of those clear shoe pocket thingy made to hang over the door - around $5 at Wally world - very useful to keep sunscreen, keys, brushes, Kleenexes, camera, etc, etc, etc... You can see what's in there and won't waste time looking around for your flashlight, lip balm, horse treats....

[MuleLady]

Gosh everyone...thanks for all the GREAT ideas! Wow, lots to think about. The opinions of what NOT to take along is real useful, as I always tend to over-pack. Seems I need to spend some quality time in the storage and closet organizer aisles at WalMart and Lowes.

gothedistance...The marine battery and inverter for power sounds intriguing...for powering my laptop in particular. Are these commonly available at auto parts stores or places like Lowes?

Looking forward to more responses here...my list of "must haves" is already way shorter, LOL!

[rideapaso]

I have a 40-gallon water tank mounted up under the gooseneck. Its out of the way and is usually enough horse water for a long weekend. I had an electric pump mounted on it, so I can hose off my horse after trail riding on hot days.

Futon mattress on gooseneck with memory foam topper on it (from Costco). VERY comfortable!!

Porto-potty in horse stall

Fantastic Fan in place of a roof vent

Insulation and paneling in dressing room makes it much warmer and cuts down on condensation

Love my Hi-Tie

[MissBri]

You guys are great - all kinds of wonderful ideas. One thing not mentioned that I always have tucked away is extra rope of varying thickness and of course duct tape. Definitely instead of an air mattress get one of those compact foam pads - you can usually find them at outdoor outfitters/Walmart. Instead of bedding I bring a sleeping bag.
At Lowes and Home Depot you can find a step stoll tool box for about $10-15. These are great items, hold quite a bit of stuff, and are a nice height for a mounting block, step, seat, etc.
Another thing you should consider taking along is a rasp and hoof knife. If your horse wears shoes, also a shoe puller.


Of utmost importance is a really good cooler filled with your favorite beverage!

Have fun above all!

[JoJo]

Gothedistance, you have a lot of good advice, Thank You!!!

I've just been going through the same questions as the OP of this thread. Bear in mind, I will be camping out of the 2nd stall of a 2H bumper-pull with a 38-inch walkway (escape door on each side), and that is IT. (Plus tent, canopy, etc. to whatever extent I decide to set up.)

Here's what I've come up with. I did LOTS of research on items.

PROPANE SPACE HEATER: Recommended strongly was Coleman ProCat (NOT "GolfCat or any other "cat," the ProCat. It has a built in fan, is very lightweight. Odd shape, granted, but reviews on this were great. In addition to the person who recommended it. I was initially very attracted to the Mr. Heater (their Buddy or the Big Buddy). However, many reviews said ignition is totally unreliable and they blow out with the slightest breeze. (Buddy has no fan, Big Buddy does.) I went with the Coleman ProCat.
Where to buy: Prices ranged all over the place, but I got mine on eBay, brand new, $64 included shipping. (It took this seller over 2 weeks to even ship it, but that was the only drawback.) While meant to use in a tent, etc., DO leave some ventilation, this is true with any propane-operated appliance.
Link to best price I found (seller has many auctions for them):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6043452762&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

HOT WATER HEATER:
Again, I researched the heck out of these. The Zodi units are cheaper, but they don't have (a) a built in faucet; and (b) ability to set your temperature, anywhere from cold all the way to "tea making" temperature. I settled in on the Coleman "Hot Water on Demand." This is a slightly heavy unit for its size, but built like a tank. In the heat of summer, I like to rinse off totally, I hate being hot and sticky. Also a real time saver in dish washing, etc. Comes with a built in pump and rechargeable battery. One propane canister is supposed to last 40 minutes of run-time. I hear that it does. I believe battery lasts that long also without recharging. You buy shower (4-ft. hose) attachment and carry bag separately. I didn't get the garden hose adapter, but kind of wish I had for horse bathing even at home. I think out of the two (Zodi or Coleman HWOD) the Coleman is far superior here also, based on all I've read. (Also more expensive though.)
Where to buy: On this one, best price by far was at Country Supply (countrysupply.com). Free shipping on it EXCEPT there is an FOB added because of its weight. Weight is okay for me in exchange for the convenience and reliability of this unit.

STORAGE UNITS:
OMG, I ran across a unit at Walmart on sale ($10 each), brought it home, looked at it and realized I wanted more of these. Ugly, but they grow on you. Two good sized drawers (maroon) set into a hunter green frame (awk???) But the drawers slide out and become carry baskets. (Drawer handle is also a carry handle, one on each end). There's a stopper on the back side so the drawers don't slide beyond where they should (you can override if you want). Tops are flat and make great counterspace. They weigh nothing. (They can also stack in your garage.) What I particularly love about these for trailering? The drawers themselves are a little smaller at the bottom than the top. The frame is the same width. You can therefore thread bailing twine in between drawer and the open frame and secure to wall for travel, either side or back side. Look soon, they were on clearance, but a couple of days ago, still there. Made by Starlite, these are great units.

MAGNETIC LIGHTS:
Great for steel trailers! In camping section, Walmart, about $7 each. Extreeeeeemely strong magnets, on/off switch, I have one by each human door and a 3rd. All three could be ganged up around a mirror if your lighting is bad.

PORTA POTTY:
Thetford is "the" name in Porta Potties. However, my space is so limited, I wanted the smallest flush unit I could get. Walmart again, but get it soon. I talked to the company and they have discontinued that unit. I have tested this thing out every which way (including using it without chemical just to see how its seal was.) Century "Passport" porta-potty. $64 I believe. 12w x 13d x 12h. Has fresh water tank and little hand pump that swirls water around. (Pump needs initial priming but works well and with a great swirl pattern). HINT: Don't take up holding tank space with TP, it's a hassle to dump out anyway. Just keep a gallon size ziplock bag nearby and put your paper in that. (#2 paper, your call, I think I'd use the holding tank, lol.)

AWNINGS:
Under $15. I ran across an eBay seller who has designed a hardware setup where he says if you install a C channel on horse trailer, his hardware will let you have a tarp all along the length of your trailer just like an RV. I have not bought one yet. He uses any tarp... cheapos from Walmart. He notes that all tarps have grommets in different places, this hardware will accommodate that. I have a feeling it's a "find" but don't understand how it works. I also don't know anything about the required C Channel. But just looked like it was definitely worth bookmarking.
Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8772367022&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

CANOPIES FOR HUMANS:
I looked at everything out there. See Noah's Tarp made by Kelty. I'd go right to Kelty's website, click on canopies, click on 2001 or any other year, scroll down on pop-out menu, choose Noah's Tarp. Setup instructions are on website also. You should pay $50 for 9-footer, $60 for 12-footer and I think $70 for 16-footer. Does NOT come with poles. I wrote Kelty Cust. Svc. and pinned him down, he says these are waterPROOF, not water RESISTANT. These are an incredible design, extremely versatile. He said I could likely set up the 9-foot by myself, wasn't sure about the 12-foot. Reviews on backpacking sites: "Withstands winds beautifully because you can configure them a zillion ways. Kept rain OUT." Google Noah's Tarp for price comparisons, they range all over the ballpark again, but you can get them for the above prices. Shipping shouldn't be more than $5. These weigh NOTHING and take up very little packing space. Mine is on the way.
Best price I found:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kelty-Noahs-Tarp-12-NEW-2006-model-1-pound-15-oz_W0QQitemZ8777197770QQcategoryZ36118QQtcZphotoQQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

FANS:
Walmart. $12 each. 10-inch battery operated fans made by Ozark Trails. (Buy now, they are OUT of them in camping season.) I bought two. Hot sticky nights are miserable.

TABLE: Walmart again, Ozark Trails. I paid $30 and this is going to be very worth it. Lightweight, 5-ft. long, fast, no-brainer setup. Regular table height or close, I think 30+ inches wide. A little wobbly but sure could be worse. I chopped veggies (asian style w/big cleaver) on it in the kitchen just to get a real feel for it. I'm keeping it. Great table! Folds in half, has carry handle that sticks out of the box. Heat "resistant" top. (Note: I've seen these offered for up to $60. Cabelas wants a LOT for the same table.)

SLEEPING:
TENT-COT: OMG, I am in LOVE with Kamp-Rite tent-cot. (www.tentcot.com). Cabelas makes one also, this looks better. You just have to see it. Go to their website and click on the single with the domed top. Or the original (not domed top). Domed top is wider bed. Only reason I was able to resist this uit was because I see no way to use fans with it in heat of summer. Love it, love it, love it!! (www.tentcot.com)

Here's another one I ran across just for a look-see.
http://www.venturacampsystems.com/

ALTERNATE: I bought on ebay a totally mesh-sided sleeping tent. Cheap. It has a 53-inch footprint, enough for fans enclosed (bugs outside). Looks like very easy setup. Looks like quick setup. It's on its way. Have a look if the sound of it appeals to you. I just thought it would be GREAT in summertime, and the Noah's Tarp can be lowered for privacy and/or rain or wind.
http://store.yahoo.com/americanesuperstore/349.html

GADGETS:
Tie Thingies:
Ran across these by accident at Walmart. (I think automotive or hardware, it wasn't with camping). Ask for "KwikTwist." This is a package of two bendable tie thingies you can twist closed. Two things about them made me buy it. (1) Can't think of a better thing for wither tracings which I have to take. These bend however you want and keep their shape long enough to trace without any loss; and (2) these things screw together! You can make one long one. Just looked extraordinarily handy for securing things to trailer or truck bed, inside and out. (Rubber-wrapped steel cable --> very strong and rubber is thick enough and has give, so things wouldn't get marred.) I also looked it up on google, and got taken to their website.

"Serious" tying of gear into truck:
The "Rope Ratchet":
I read a huge praise review on this.
http://www.roperatchet.com/video.shtml
Click on "Product Video." Looks really handy! I haven't bought one, but may. I called the stores they list (Lowe's, HD, etc.) and have yet to find it. Could be ordered from website and I think they have a return policy.

HighLining or PicketLining:
Best website I've found for everything needed (complete with great photos of setups)...

COOKING:
If you are not familiar with 3-legged dutch ovens (cast iron is best but heavier than aluminum counterpart) these are phenomenal at campfire OR with briquettes. You can bake bread in one. You can do stews in one. You can fry on their inverted lids. Food is fun in these, and tastes GREAT!!! Best brand (and it matters) - Lodge. I think it's www.lodge.com. Best price I've found: Cabelas has the Lodge 10-inch DO (dutch oven) for $30. Does not come cheaper than that. That's a good size. Expect it to weigh some, and must be padded in transport, cast iron IS breakable. Nothing like it tho.

Pressure Cookers:
So easy to use, and really conserves on fuel. I turn out a stew in 11 minutes of cooking time, using meat off a 7-bone roast which is pretty tough cut (but delicious and super tender if cooked right). Normally that takes minimum an hour of simmering, sometimes more in regular methods. The perfect pot for camping!!!

Battery operated electric fence energizer: Can't beat Zareba, and best price anywhere is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zareba-Battery-Powered-Electric-Fence-Energizer_W0QQitemZ7600025465QQcategoryZ66898QQssP ageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

His shipping was fast, he answers questions honestly, instructions weren't in my package and he FED EX'd them OVERNIGHT. (Very conscientious seller.) NOTE: He willingly told me his reserve. $55. Some of his auctions get bid up way higher. Just wait for one with no bids and plug yours in at the last minute.

MISC:
Okay, I'm just not comfortable dropping my drawers in the woods. Two products to look at: www.travelmate.com and www.freshette.com. I bought the Travelmate. Jury is out so far, but I'm impressed. Note: There IS a learning curve. When it's positioned right, it works fantastically just as described on their website (fully clothed included)! When it's not? It doesn't. I think it's worth the practice to get positioning memorized. Very small, compact unit.

Hope this adds some food for thought! It's the best I've come up with, and I have checked reviews and prices bigtime. If it benefits others, all the better!!!

[MuleLady]

Gosh the responses get better and better! You all are a wealth of great info!

About Fans: My new trailer has the vent hole in the roof of the dressing room that is wired and ready for installation of a heating/ac unit or a fan that runs off the battery. Most seem to think the fan is the best idea. Who sells such things to fit that small-ish hole AND are they made such that they can move air in OR out at the flip of a switch? Any suggestions here?

Boy....I was all gungho for a number of things (corner water tank, porta pottie, water heater) that I am seriously reconsidering thanks to all this valuable feedback.

I want to be comfortable but the truth is that most if not all of my mule camping will be done at sites set up for that...they already have bathhouse and restroom facilities, water hydrants, shaded camp sites, and corrals or stalls for the mules. So...this discussion is really good for figuring out what I really NEED vs what I think I WANT. My list has morphed with each new post!

[JoJo]

Well, this will be my first year for horse camping, but one thing I realized when reading Go's post... I'm going to be doing "wimpy" camping compared to you, lol. It sounds like you are going out overnight with horse and camping "out there." I will be staying at an equine campground (trailer and all right there with me).

I do already think I have overbought some stuff. My recommendations were based on the stated (I think) desire to get those things. So they were more on which product I'd pretty much determined were getting better success than their competition (e.g., Coleman Hot Wter on Demand vs. Zodi).

Things I definitely am glad I bought... Porta potty is at the top of the list, I'm keeping it in the trailer so it's there just for pulling over on the side of the road. I'm addicted to Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee. That stuff turns a human into a peep machine. But I have to make rest stops more than I used to, and I really like having that thing in there. To me it's worth its space.

Heater: Not 100% sure I will use it, but about 99% sure. I THINK I will love having it in the trailer in Spring and Fall camping. It's also a good backup at home when we lose power. The little one you mentioned sounds pretty neat too. Probably not as powerful, but sounds like it reeeeally makes up for it in space.

Hot water heater: Wellllll, that may have been overkill. I thought about it long and hard, too. Just sort of had to have one. My biggest rationale? Summer. Yes, some of the places I'll be camping will have bath houses, but not sure I want to leave my beastie unattended while I trek off. Yeah, the quickie convenience of just turning it on and not messing with boiling water appealed to me too. But truth be known? Coulda lived without it I'm sure.

Magnetic LIghts: Thanks for the heads up! If they last a season, I'll live with it. But dang, those magnets are gems!! If they do die, I will ressurect the magnets, that's for sure. Could probably hold up the horse with those things, lol.

I know the lights you're talking about -- "tap lights." They don't put out anywhere near as much light, so I bought 3 of the magnetic ones. Will see how they hold up.

Fans: I will definitely use the two I bought. Especially at night. I like sleeping fairly cold, and wrapped up in down.

Canopies (human): Again, different strokes, except you may be right about the time it takes to set up. My impression is that the Noah's Tarp is a no brainer in time. I really want shade! So to me it would be important to have something, and I liked the versatility of that one. I also want to be able to sleep outside in rain but not get wet. I'll stay with that. May find the experience test says different tho. But hey, you have a gooseneck for shade and I can see the picture you described (under it, cozy little place). Mine isn't a gooseneck so I won't have that. Wish it were!! ;-)

Where will I keep all this? God knows!!! ROFL! I will transport it in the 2nd stall, packed well, and the truck bed, but once there, it'll come out of the trailer, because the 2nd stall will be used for more than storage. After several trips I figure I'll have made some of the same mistakes you write of, and start discovering some of it will be better left at home. It's a weeding through process, to some extent, I'm sure.

You make some very good points. They don't all fit my thoughts (e.g., porta potty which, to me, is definitely worth the space it takes). But some others that you bring up definitely do ring like they may hold true once I see where I've overkilled.

As for cooking stuff, again, if I were going "out there" overnight as opposed to likely being in a base camp situation (day trail riding mixed with camping) then I'd be heading exactly in the same thoughts you expressed. My kind of camping will, in some cases, be just mid-week or weekend getaways for a couple of nights at a time. Leisurely morning, couple hours trail riding, come back, let horse rest, read for a while, take a snooze, then go hit the trails again in the afternoon. Then come back and likely break out a Dutch Oven and play with it at night by campfire.

Sure won't know until I try it a few times. (I may look in the mirror after a couple of trips and see egg all over my face, lol. And become a hot eBay seller, lol.) But hey, we'll see.

You mentioned Nor'easters. Are you in New England also??? Other parts of country don't necessarily refer to Nor-easters.
JJ

[JoJo]

PS: Not all the things I mentioned have I bought. The list includes things I ran across in my cyber travels that just looked useful or had been recommended one place or another (e.g., rope ratchet, awning hardware kit, tent cot). I thought they were worthy of mention in either event for people who had those needs. I don't yet know WHAT I will be "needing" vs. "wanting."

Now just watch. First camping trip I'll take it all and use it all, just to see how it works. Second camping trip I'll prolly show up with a sleeping bag and a pillow, three jugs of water and two MRIs. ROFL!!

[JoJo]

GoTheDistance--

First, a couple of tips I learned about that I forgot to mention...

Handwarmers: If you crack them open and only need them for about 20 minutes, then the rest of their heating power is wasted. If, however, you put them into a ziplock bag and press all the air out, they will cool down and then you can re-use them! Air is what activates them (and re-activates them). I tried it several times. It works.

Ice: I'm sure people know this, but only takes a few lines to write it... on any trip where I need an ice chest, I freeze 16-oz. bottled water. These are a solid block that won't melt as fast as ice, and as it starts melting you have ice water. (Put them on TOP of cooler since heat rises, cold sinks.)

GTD, several things you wrote where I have questions...

2-step kitchen step stool (from WMart or Costco) that you mentioned. I haven't seen these. Do they have storage inside? The way you wrote it, it sounded like they do. The only 2-step kitchen stools I recall have an extention you can use as a handle, pretty hard to sit on top step. Sounds like I'm missing something, these sound handy! Can you describe more?

You mentioned "carry plenty of bridle hooks and fold-down saddle racks..." Also referred to "portable" bridle hooks in another place. The only bridle hooks and saddle racks I've seen have to be screwed into something. Do you have another kind?

You also refer to screwing things into ceiling. My steel 2H BP is pretty much just a shell except for where the ribs are. Do you have a way to screw things into ceiling OTHER than on ribs?

Same question for the saddle racks you screwed into outside of trailer (you said one under gooseneck, but other on the side). I'm so far a little afraid to be bolting stuff into side of trailer. Even nervous about the ribs. (I don't know where they ran electrical wires.) Any advice on that? I'd sure like to feel a little more good about bolding into trailer! This is pretty new to me so maybe I'm being overly cautious.

Quoting whole paragraph...
"Also nice to have is a pop-up tent for nasty weather. Nothing worse than saddling up in the pouring rain. Ugh!! I used those put-together 8x10 canopies from Wal-Mart -- about $29. Pain in the butt to put up and take down, but... they are lightweight and very portable. Now I have a instant 10x10 snap-up canopy -- on the downside it is heavier, requires two people (or you can attach one leg to your trailer as a "dead man"), and more expensive $69... but the perks are it is faster to get up and down, higher, and covers more area. Plus it won't blow apart in a heavy wind (been there). "

When you say "pop up tent" for saddling up... Are you referring to a regular camping type shade canopy you set up? I haven't seen any pop-up tent that a horse could be under except a whole canopy setup (poles, guy lines, etc.) And second, what is the "instant 10x10 snap-up canopy? Is this something that's meant for shade for normal camping use? I have ZERO experience with canopies or tents, I've been looking at them with a lot of assumpions in mind, then question my assumptions.

Thanks,
JJ

[JoJo]

PS...

If you haven't seen these yet, Ziplock has now come out with HUGE bags. The XL size is about 2-foot x 3 foot and has a gusseted bottom for width. I saw them online first (order, shipping, etc.) but then noticed them in my regular grocery market! They come in a box of 3. The "L" size (don't know dimensions) come 4 to a box. Both are likely to be very useful. Like for hay or really big items you want to protect.

I've found that the more things that can go into ziplocks (and this includes suitcase packing), the better. Things will slide in and out of a very tightly-packed setup without disturbing the things around them.

Also: If you use big black 32-gallon trash bags to protect stuff (or haul stuff or try to keep it waterproof) when underway, you can get bigger, MUCH thicker ply ones. A lot of people don't know these exist. These are called "Contractor's Bags." I believe they're 3-mil or 4-mil (really heavy plastic). BJs has them. A whole roll of them is about $17 but these things are huge, and very sturdy! I have loaded broken pieces of gypsum board into these which have jagged edges and add up weight fast, for disposal. They really hold weight, they're gigantic and no water is very likely to find its way into one if well-stashed.

[JoJo]

First Aid Kit!?

I am new to horse ownership, and new to horse camping. So what are things I should be getting for first aid kits (horse and human)? If anyone has a list (and what to use various products for) that would be GREAT!!!

[MuleLady]

JoJo...you and I do the same kind of horse camping, so I'm going to be really interested in what you find useful. Also, I posted this question on a mule list I frequent and got a really cool suggestion for a hot shower (or even hot water) from Fred M., who said:

Go to Home Depot, buy your self one of the 3 gallon metal bug sprayers and a kitchen sink hose attachment. Cut the metal bug sprayer off and with a hose connector attach the kitchen sink hose to your bug sprayer. Fill with water, put on the camp stove and in 5 minutes you are taking a HOT Pressure shower. One tank will wash you but we went ahead and bought two tanks (would love it if I could find a 5 gallon metal sprayer) That way you can take an honest 15-20 minute hot shower with water pressure. They costs about $34 to build and they are one of the nicest things in elk camp each year!!!

Also...some folks over there mentioned condensation problems with the little propane heaters...have any users here experienced that and if so, what did you do about it? Do you actually run those heaters all night or just get the trailer warm before hitting the sack?

JoJo...Contractor Bags...who could live without those! We go through them like crazy around here. I love them.

[gabz]

JoJo, the canopy you should look for is EZ-Up. There are some imitators too, but google for EZ-Up canopy. These do need 2 people, but as someone else suggested, hooking a leg on the trailer would be helpful.

Some of these canopies come with angled legs... some come with straight up & down legs. Spend the extra money for the larger tubing with straight up & down legs - they will last longer and usually come with side walls. Check at sporting goods stores or discount merchandisers in the camping area.

First aid... tube of banamine paste; tube of bute paste (get from your vet and if you are unsure of when to use them, ask) - the pastes are easier to carry in trail bags than a needle and bottle of medicine. Vet wrap, polo wraps, woman's sanitary pads, furazone ointment (or equivalent), saline solution, turkey baster. The saline solution is the safest solution to use for eye wash or wound wash. The turkey baster is useful for squirting solution where you need it - or even for getting liquids w/electrolytes into your horse. small basin/ rubber feed pan that can serve feed and be used for soaking a foot. Epsom salts, granulated sugar, iodine. (Sugardine paste is sugar & iodine). The iodine must be be diluted in water if used on the horse, or used full strength to disinfect tools. thermometer (if you have a glass one, store it in a toothbrush holder)

needle nose pliers, regular pliers, hammer, tweezer. Duct tape. Scissors (optional), sharp knife.

Bandaids and adhesive tape, in addition to tylenol, ibuprofen, for yourself. You can use the furazone (equivalent of neosporin) and vet wrap on yourself too. Same with the saline solution (eye-contact section of health & beauty aids). Sunblock, sting-eze, benadryl - tablets or liquid. You can use the benadryl on the horse too in case of allergic reaction. Someone posted the amounts. I have them written in my first aid book - the spiral bound one by Dr. Eleanor Kellon, which is in my first aid box - a step stool described below.

For showering. I have a coleman 5 gallon rubber bag with hose and sprayer (about $10 in camping section of stores - like a giant, old-fashioned, douche bag). fill it and lay in the sun during the day. I use a bungee cord and/or lead line between the rear doors of my trailer and hang a small tarp or rain poncho. I stand on the ground, at the back of my trailer to shower. Hang the shower bag from a window inside the trailer (high enough for gravityfeed). This shower bag is also good with heated water from camp stove. Not too hot though. I then place my shampoo, soap, etc. on the floor of the trailer, within easy reach. You might also "invent" your own shower curtain rod or simply get a tension rod and take your shower inside your trailer.

I have a portable table with folding legs. I put an ironing board cover (the metallic kind) on it where the stove sits. I use a coleman 2-burner propane stove. A double boiler pot is a fantastic item. For 1 thing, it packs easily and gives you 2 pots. Secondly, you can boil/simmer something in the bottom and reheat something else in the top. Or - simply heat water in the bottom while you warm up something in the top.

I love my lounger camp chair, but I also take a good upright one too, for sitting in to eat. My step stool is a tool box-step stool. There are shown in horse catalogs for about $30 and up, but I buy mine in discount merchandise stores for less than $20. They support up to 250 pounds, have a small tray, and that's where I keep my first aid supplies (ones that I don't carry on the trail), leather punch, small items. It's my step stool for putting up a picket line, it's my mounting block, and my sit down and tie my boots, etc.

For my porta potty. It's a bucket with a seat and a lid. I use 2 plastic bags inside it and sprinkle some shavings and 1/4 cup or so of PDZ, the stall freshener. I then take the bag to the dumpster at the end of the day or weekend. To me, it's no different than a bag of dirty disposable baby diapers.

Good Luck and have fun!!

[birdsong]

I've been doing extensive research as well. First, let me establish that my camping is for leisure and relaxation, mostly for 3 days at a time. I have a gn with a 4'short wall and all my other camping buddies drive trailers with full LQ. So while they comfortably shower, etc. I smile thru my dust and sweat.

Well no more!! I have the Coleman Hot Water on Demand, a small fridge powered by inverter and marine battery, a great little propane Coleman Stove and a fold away table that goes into a small bag no larger than my camp chair. I do also have a dbl pillow top mattress. Before this I had a thinner more light weight mattress that I liked...but could NEVER tolerate an air mattress!!
This newest trailer has an AC/Heater but I have yet to use it preferring to use my very small fan. We usually have access to a water hose nearby but when I haven't I have simply put a large plastic muck bucket or galvanized tub in the back of the truck with water to dish out as needed for washing up or for my horse. Now I am looking for a 30 gallon plastic barrel that I can take in the trailer empty, fill and use when I arrive for the shower too. Oh yes, I am not comfortable with the idea of all the water in the horse area while using the "cowboy" shower so I bought the pop up porta-privy tent thingy from Evergreen sold at Bass. Have heard really great things about the simplicity of use. It pops up and then folds flat in seconds. Whew!!- stuff!!
I've been camping for years and have worked into all of this but I really like to be comfortable.
Shoe bags are great for stuff too..and I have a see through large net bag for my horse emergency kit.
I guess the inverter could handle a small tv and laptop but don't find those necessary for me personally...prefer a good book.
Sounds like a lot but it all packs away nicely.

[JoJo]

Well, I'm printing out this whole 2nd page! Sounds like I better get busy with the first aid kit !!!!! I have not worried about it so far because there are emergency horse people (vets also) who can be gotten pretty quickly, but that must change immediately.

New at horse ownership, what do you use some of these things for that were listed in the list of medicines? Not sure what each does.

BIRDSONG, Hot Water on Demand... so you are getting use out of this and you are finding it pays its weight to lug along? That's the one thing I've been wondering if I overkilled on, because I bought it and it's definitely a piece of equipment, that's for sure! LOL.

[gabz]

Oh, on those $10 storage units from Wal Mart? If they are what I have, they are FANTASTIC. I have a 4 drawer one that I bought from Target years ago. 2 deep drawers and 2 shallow drawers. The supports between each layer come apart too, so the configuration can be changed. Because the drawers become totes when out of the frame, I used one of the deep ones for shipping boots, bell boots, hay bags, head bumper, spare halter and bridle. When I arrived at destination, the tote went to the horse area to hold all those items. The bottom slot, now empty, became safe place for boots / sneakers. One drawer is personal / bath stuff and the top surface my "dresser".

Another nifty item are golf towels. These have the grommet and metal shower curtain ring in them.

HEATERS. Although the Mr Buddy doesn't have a fan, these have multiple safety devices. #1 is a low oxygen sensor that shuts the unit off if oxygen levels fall below safe levels. The other, is the tip-over shut off.
If you want to project the heat, put a small fan in front of it. : ) I use mine while sleeping. I keep a window open a tiny bit.

WATER TANKS: I see that there are several new styles of water tanks (Valley Vet).. but I have the 30 gallon saddle rack type. I love it because i can put it either in the bed of the pickup - under the gooseneck - or, in the very back of the trailer - Gooseneck, 3H slant with no rear tack. Because it's the saddle rack type, I can put my saddle there (taking it out of the 4' shortwall dressing room) and my icky pads hang on the stall dividers.

The bridle racks are fantastic to hang folding chairs from. : ) I use smaller bungee cords around the collapsable camp chairs to keep the legs closed instead of messing around with the fabric tube covers they come with.

For anyone screwing things into the trailer walls. Be sure to use stainless steel screws - and when possible, attach strips of wood to the frame with the ss screws, then attach the other things. Anytime you put a screw into the frame, you will be allowing moisture to travel through the screw, into that metal which equals rust. So, the fewer screws you use into the frame, the better. You can also drill the hole then squirt a dab of silicon sealant into the hole, then screw into it.

[JoJo]

GTD:
Glad you liked the hand warmer revival idea. Just for the heck of it (for home) I vacuum-sealed a couple of them in a mason jar (FoodSaver) and used the things for a week, lol. Then also tried the ziplocks, They work pretty darned well!

Thanks for link to the bridle hooks, I didn't think that's what you were meaning, but a couple of those would come in pretty handy! I'm turning the 2nd stall into a "human stall" with multiple uses (will sleep in it, shower in it, etc.) and one of those would fit great over the center divider between the two stalls. Not sure how I'd hook them to the side of the trailer, but who knows, if they're wide enough (the overhang) then may be able to be looped over side of truck bed also.

Anyone have a good plan for a makeshift tonneau cover? I'm doing this on a budget. (Would NOT know that because I keep buying stuff!!!) But I've done that so much so that I really have to start cooling it, fast! (Gadget queen here.)

The ziplocks for ice are something I do also, that works very well for lots of things as you pointed out -- ice water, keeping stuff dry and if the ice cubes aren't gigantic honkers (or the quick-melt hollow ones) then the bags can be molded around stuff also. (LOVE multi-use!!!)

STEP STOOL: I am totally stumped what you're describing. Hollow so you can put stuff under it, in it... hmmmm. Not sure I've ever seen such an animal. Now I will really start looking!

Ribs of trailer:
Now I was told TO bolt stuff into the ribs, that they're the strong part, the rest is just a skin and wouldn't support much weight AND would be a big open armed invitation for rust. (???) You're saying to avoid the ribs? I was kind of counting on those. Online horse camper guy friend suggested possibly putting a board across the two front ones (very front of walkway which is in front of stalls) and run wood between them, possibly a saddle rack or ?? there -- things that require hooking on. I decided to abandon that because I want to keep walkway as clear as possible for USING as it's the widest part of the human part of the trailer. I know some ribs must have electrical in them (can see a smidge of wiring going into one) but figured most of the rest were just for support, hence stronger. And a bolt into those wouldn't go all the way thru to the outside. So what again is wrong with bolting into them?

EZ-Up... you mean these??
http://ezupdirect.com/ezup-instant-shelters/express2.php
________

GABZ... the storage units you're describing sound different, but similar, and definitely useful. Never thought of sticking shoes in the bottom hole without bin in it, but that would be a good palce to get them out of the way, lol. The ones I bought are just two drawers (tote baskets). One o top of the other. The drawers are 19.5L x 15W x 11D, slightly smaller at the bottom. What I liked about these is that 2 together makes a very nice tabletop for 2-burner coleman stove (or morning wash stand inside trailer). As for drawers, helmet, cantle bag, other bags... everything taking along on trail ride can go in one and you can just whisk it out of the frame and it's a carry basket, solid-sided. Just struck me as a great way to keep stuff together and organized. The drawers are big enuf so I have Cloud's fleece cooler and gortex sheet in one of them with some room left over. (I stuck them in there just for some stabilizing weight while fooling around with them.) Yours sound like they may be even more versatile.

Oh, forgot... GREAT cantle bag on sale at country supply! I bought one and promptly turned around and ordered another, they are on Clearance. These are sweethearts! Super well made (surprising detail). Fergit the convertible fanny pack idea, I locked the waist strap buckle and looped it over my shoulder and it doesn't slip at all. (VERY wide strap!) A perfect thing to throw all your stuff in (jacket and umbrella whatever) for trips to the city when you're walking a lot and don't want to be fussing around with handbags (which I'm abandoning anyway). I crammed a winter down jacket into one and STILL had room left over! Here's the link for those, but if you want one would suggest you act fast because I think once they're gone they're gone...
http://www.horse.com/products/sku-HBA32.html
I bought both in brown to blend in with saddle/tack, etc. and I actually hate most colors of brown (either pink tones <yech> or baby-poop tones or sometimes shallow shades of brown make anything look cheap. These are a really nice color of brown. Haven't seen this kind anywhere else, and the thing is just really well constructed (rain flap over zipper, etc.) Little extra pocket will hold easy-reach stuff as well (e.g., personal stuff) while riding.

BY THE WAY! All sorts of gadget-y tricks are coming back. You would need a FoodSaver that seals bags to do this, but if you have a friend with one you'll be able to do it there. I won't go into infomercial mode on FoodSavers, suffice it to say it is THE best appliance I've ever bought. (Can we say caramel corn tasting right out of the box after a year???) Anyway, they come with bag material so you can make any length bag you want and seal it. If you fill a length of bag material with Dawn Dish Detergent (not dishwasher, the liquid you hand wash dishes with) and squeeze the extra air out, and then seal it (not vacuum, lol, just seal) -- you can make any length ice pack you want. Any width also (6-inch bag material, 8-inch, 11-inch). This isn't for horse camping, it's for home remedies. If you need an ice pack for your horse, when you freeze the Dawn-bag (heavy plastic bag material it is) then it becomes a totally flexible "wrap around" ice pack. Totally re-useable, just re-freeze. I made some very little ones for a small lunch box size fabric ice chest, and keeps my stuff cold for a long time on the road. As with any ice pack, you'd pad it with terry towel so it doesn't frostbite a leg or whatever, but I would imagine could come in VERY handy for the beasties if swollen anywhere.

I'd also like to look at one of those bug spray units, that WAS a clever idea!!!
JJ

[JoJo]

To run a bolt through something, you have to drill a hole. When you drill a hole in a rib, you compromise the strength of that rib. Trailer "ribs" are not only hollow, but also very narrow and *only* designed to prevent twisting of the trailer body. Putting holes in them is NOT a good idea, especially since air can then get in that hollow to start rust.

Now, drilling through the skin doesn't compromise anything, is easy, and requires only a small bolt whereas the rib would require a bigger one. It is far easier to rust-proof the skin than the interior of a rib.

Well, that makes sense. Yup, it does, definitely. Then doesn't the bolt go through to the outside of the trailer? If so, do you just seal it off with something to prevent rust? Seems it would, but maybe I'm underestimating the thickness of the shell part. I agree, less bolting the better, but maybe it would be a neat idea to weld a few shallow loops inside in strategic places (talking about the ceiling).

I did a google search on magnets and there are a couple of websites with some SERIOUS magnets! I have a feeling some of them would make the magnetic lights (mine are oval with on/off button if yours are the same) look like kid's play. Some of them have "CAUTION" -- not to let kids near them and to be very careful or you could crush a finger. (Now that is a magnet!" But somewhere in that range there must be a variety of strengths that could come in awfully handy.

I think I"m agreeing with your notions on the ribs. Seems that sounds pretty true, those are not big ribs, they're pretty narrow, and you're right, I bet that could start some rust activity you couldn't do a lot about.
JJ

[Simbalism]

JoJo, Check out the web site for Equimedic. They have all types of first aid kits.Some of them are a little pricey, but it will give you an idea for things you want in your first aid kit.You may just want to purchase one of their premade ones. They also have a check list in with it so you can just order what you need to refill from them. What I did is check out their lists and also did an internet search on first aid kit for trail riding. Got lots of great tips that way. I then compiled a list of what I thought I would need. I bought one of LLBean's toiletry bags with all the pockets inside. I got one that is red in color to stand out.That one lives in my saddle bags and has stuff for horses and humans in it. I also have another bag that is larger that has more dressing stuff in it that lives in my dressing room. For that one, I got one of the Ariat grooming bags which has lots of pockets. Both work great and it is easy to find stuff because of all the pockets which keeps the stuff organized. Whenever I go camping with my riding club buddies everyone always wants to park next to me 'cause I have "everything" in my trailer.

[JoJo]

Sheeesh! This thread just keeps on getting better!

Symbalism, that is an XLNT idea, I will likely not get a pre-made kit, but would definitely like to see what's in it. Thanks for that tip!

GTD, wowza! Tons of great "been there done that" info. I was thinking of ordering some serious magnets, but for exactly the kinds of things you're saying didn't end up working well. Thanks for that tip! I'll settle for ones that'll give me "instant curtain," shower and otherwise.

PLEASE tell how you do this whole repainting job!! I bought an oldie-but-goodie 1989 steel trailer, Valley, 2H bumper pull, heavy ramp (which I can't lift myself). The woman I bought it from is a wonderful, neat, conscientious type person, where every time she hauled a horse, she pulled out the mats, cleaned them off, left them in the sun to air, swept out the trailer, edges included. She took it in for annual inspections to a trailer place. It doesn't have any critical-place rust, but does have cosmetic rust, some of which could become problematical if left unattended.

I would LOVE to preserve this little sweetheart. Friend said she'd never seen that old of a steel trailer in anywhere near that shape. It is unlikely I will ever buy another one unless some weird freak phenomenal deal comes along, and I just have an affection for it.

I would LOVE to treat the rust, and re-paint it, and you are doing this yourself??? Are you talking about the little cans of rustoleum you get from a hardware store? I've never seen it in any other form, but then haven't looked. How do you do this? Surely not with a paint brush, but ???? Please some guidelines on this. The ONLY thing I don't like about this trailer (other than the ramp weight which may have a fix) is that it's dark brown, inside and out. I would so much love to paint it white, or at least a light grey.

Can you brief out what form you buy the Rustoleum in (and if it's hardware store cans, it's cans), and about what it costs in total? Yours is tons bigger than mine, of course, but approximate. If I could lighten up the inside, I'd be in 7th heaven. And also I would really love to stop the rust on the outside. (Mostly where fenders meet body, stuff like that.) Frame is pristine. Floor boards also. Solid as a rock! It's worth some TLC. I have an actual affection for it, lol.

The welded-on bar across the top sounds GREAT! The more I look at those hanging bridle racks, the more I can see how these could be phenomenal, both inside trailer and outside while docked. Especially when inside space is at a premium, which mine sure is.

Dying to know about the rustoleum!!!
JJ

[MissBri]

Not sure but I think this is what she's thinking of

http://www.keysan.com/big/picsrub0116.html

[lawndart]

http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/search.aspx?HKW=Rust+Converter&B1=Search&UID=20060317105032078312281

Gemplers carries this, its a liquid that you brush on. Worth its weight in gold. Wait till it dries, then spray paint in color of choice. Much easier than Rustoleum
IMHO.

We do our 14 steel stock every couple of years (kept inside Nov-april)it looks great.

Gemplers has a lot of neat products, different colors paints, all kinds of farm stuff.

[JoJo]

GTD, I love it! OMG, you've really gone and done it. Convertible everything!! It looks like you're using every inch for human purposes when horse is not being transported. I am a huge fan of convertible space use, and this looks like a terrific setup.

So since you're using all this space after unloading, how do you deal with the horse poop, pee? Do you have a slide-out floor slat on horse's side so after s/he exits, you can slide that out and have lush carpeting underneath? LOL! (Ah, it sounds like I'm making fun, anything but!!) You've done a fantastic job with it from what I was able to see and read. I am curious about the beastie leavings though. I'd love to put some human use to my horse hauling side, but if that animal ever gets constipated, I think all I'd have to do is load her into the trailer. So what do you do about that so it's nice and friendly to human use after s/he unloads?

Kudos! It's a great setup. And your price... well, sheeesh, I don't even wanna hear about it, lol!

Is that a magnetic towel rack on the left per chance? Of all the things to pick out in that setup, it caught my eye because somewhere I bought one that I have on the front of my fridge and can NOT find another one! It has heavy duty magnets and also expands small or big, with about a half-inch rod, all plastic so towels really can dry. I would really like to find another one, and been looking for a while. That one looks like mine.

Really nice setup, if you're proud of it you have every reason to be. In a heartbeat I'd rather do what you did (open concept, modifiable) than have dedicated living quarters designed like a pop-it-out RV. Those are nice, no question, but your way is much more fun and tailor made!
JJ

[JoJo]

Not sure but I think this is what she's thinking of

http://www.keysan.com/big/picsrub0116.html

A-hah! Ya think? I did a search last night "step stools" and lots of configurations. I didn't think that was it because GTD said it collapses and other reference said stuff can be stored in it. This one sure looks like it would stack though, and definitely serve both purposes (in/out of trailer and mounting block).

[Nancy!]

I had an old two horse straight haul gooseneck that I camped in for many years. I agree that a foam mattress is much better than an air mattress and doesn't get cold.

I also had a bench that for a step up to the gooseneck. It was great because it also housed my cooler, coleman stove and bbq. I also had a small cabinet that I kept towels, clothes and dishes in and it proved a nice countertop as well. That trailer had tack storage under the managers.

I've now got 2 trailers, one with LQ and another stock trailer. Since hubby and I often go two directions we needed two trailers. When I'm stuck with the stock trailer which is a gooseneck that has the tack in the front, and a small corner step. The short wall is only about 2 feet. When I arrive I take all the tack and put it in the back of the trailer on saddle racks with my tack box. I then remove the saddle racks from the front. The many bridle hooks contain all my clothes then. I am going to get a magnetic light for the inside by my head at night.

Lots of great suggestions here.

Nancy!

[SLW]

Baby wipes and hand sanitizer liquid for quick cleanups.

[LostFarmer]

In the mode of multitask items milk crates are high on my list. I have 2 that ate the old style that are longer than they are wide and 6 or so of the newer square type. The rectangle ones are great inside of panniers when we are packing in somewhere. The make camp chairs and a camp kitchen. They also work as a stool or step ladder. A garbage bag inside and you have a camp bucket for hauling water.

My little mare got to where she would try to take your knees off on every rock and or tree. I finally put a pack on her with the milk crates in the panniers and a 50 lb bag of salt in each side. She taught herself that it is best to steer wide around obsticals. The look on her face when she hit one of those boxes was priceless.

LF

[Austin Rider]

Don't leave home without one of those metal ramp things that you use when you have a flat tire on the trailer. Also, be sure you have lug wrench that fits your trailer tires. Ask me how I know all this...

[MissBri]

Due to a thread in the Other forum I would suggest a fire extinquisher if not already noted.

[prudence]

Out west in the summer we really need a water tank. We ride out of staging areas with no water, and the creeks are often dry. I know alot of people don't encounter these conditions, but if you do, a water tank is a wonderful thing. Unless of course you manage to leave the hose on, or forget to put on the cap, etc.

I am using my trailer tack room as my only tack room. So unless something is being cleaned (haha) it is in the trailer, ready to be used. I have flooded it twice and I am now VERY careful about that. Mine fits into a triangle space just inside the door which works well.

Did anyone mention a hole punch?

[Tom King]

2 good sources:

www.campingworld.com

www.campmor.com/

[lizathenag]

make sure they raise the trailer high enough to change the flat.
I bought one from State Line and was feeling very prepared when the folks I was in a convoy with got a flat.
wasn't tall enough. . .

[SLW]

Found a nice item at Cosco this evening- a 4 inch deep, 3 section foldable camping mat! Large twin size for right at $35. It is covered in vinyl on one side and nylon fabric on the other- even has carrying straps. I'll try it out at an endurance ride in two weeks and if I like it I'll get a second one to keep in the gooseneck. This will take up so much less room when not in use which isn't the case w/ the twin mattress in there right now.

[ArabianDreams]

Some things you might want to consider:

Forget the water tank. It takes up critical space for a singular purpose and isn't multi-functional. It also requires careful maintenance for cleaning and use. When it isn't being used, it is in the way. You can pack the same amount of water just using buckets that stack, can be used for "fetching" water, are portable (they can go anywhere), easily cleanable, and are expendable. You can put them all outside once you are at your destination, and free up the space inside your trailer. Water tank - $$$. Buckets - free in many cases after you use up the product intside. My local aquarium fish store sells their 25 lb (10 gallon) sea salt buckets with the nifty screw lids that lock into place for $4 each. Best bargain I've found anywhere!!

Air mattresses demand time and effort to inflate/deflate and (for my purposes) just aren't all that comfortable. A simple foam mattress is actually better for your back and for sleeping. They are always ready whenever and whereever. Just throw a nice set of sheets and quilt over them, and you're good to go... or crash.. at all hours of the day or night.

The bench box is a good idea, and the dual -usage is appealing. However, the lightweight plastic 2-step kitchen step-stool you can get from Costco or Wal-Mart is more multi-dimentional, plus highly portable. It weighs nothing, serves as a mounting block (very, very nicely, I might add), an extra "seat", a perfect step-up into the gooseneck, handles all types of weather, and when in transit can be flipped over and used to store all kinds of stuff inside the cavity. You can also by two (as I have) -- they stack neatly into each other -- and use one outside for mounting, one inside for trailer use. Cost: $5

I also carry plenty of bridle hooks and 1 folding saddle rack (I own 3) that I use to carry my saddle when I'm traveling to a ride. All very handy. But what I also did was install two additional tack room style flip-down saddle racks directly onto my trailer -- one on the side that I use for my horse's corral, the other under the overhang. In good weather I can simply flip down the saddle rack (which is held up in transit via a bungie cord) and use it for my saddle or miscellaneous stuff). In bad weather I can use the flip-down under the gooseneck -- which can hold all the dirty stuff without it being exposed to the weather. Very convenient, and more efficient that the carry saddle racks. Plus they are always available, and right there when you need them.

The single propane-cannester stoves are fabulous. I love mine and it does everything I want with little in the way of needing space or storage. I did pack a grill several times, but... I never found the time it requires to actually use it. Being a frivilous item, it finally got relegated to the "stay home" pile. Were my family to come with me, and need something to do (being guys) I would probably bring the grill again... but, otherwise it was just in the way and not useful at all., especially when a campfire is so much more fun, and less work.

You want to get an inverter and a marine battery to supply power. I have this setup and I **LOVE** it. It is absolutely dead quiet, powers my television, DVD player, radio, lights, and re-charger for my GPS unit. Running all this stuff over a 3 day weekend still leaves me with power left in the battery ... but not much more. I now am in the process of putting solar panels on the roof of my trailer to trickle-charge the battery, although I'm also going to get a second battery for the very long (4 day) stays at the camp where no electrical power is available. Where it is, I carry a very small, lightweight plug-in trickle-charge recharger to keep the batteries up and fully charged.

Oh, and you'll want to add to your list a long, heavy duty extention cord for when electrical service is offered. You can save on your batteries that way.

Also nice to have is a pop-up tent for nasty weather. Nothing worse than saddling up in the pouring rain. Ugh!! I used those put-together 8x10 canopies from Wal-Mart -- about $29. Pain in the butt to put up and take down, but... they are lightweight and very portable. Now I have a instant 10x10 snap-up canopy -- on the downside it is heavier, requires two people (or you can attach one leg to your trailer as a "dead man"), and more expensive $69... but the perks are it is faster to get up and down, higher, and covers more area. Plus it won't blow apart in a heavy wind (been there).

Folding cloth-covered lawns chairs are wonderful. I also carry (for the long weekends) a chaise lounge. I love it. I can lay out in the sun and read, fall asleep, lay listening to music, and be uber comfortable. It takes up the same room as two folding chairs, but you can't beat it's appeal for resting and relaxing outside the trailer.

I also carry an armload of quilts with me -- to throw across chairs, to snuggle in when around a campfire at night, to hang in order to separate off my sleeping quarters from the rest of the room for more privacy, to pile on for extra warmth on the cold nights, as table cloths, picnic blankets, extra "blankets" or a quick throw for my horse at needed (my stock of quilts came in VERY handy once for this purpose on a very cold night for a sick horse that belonged to a fellow camper). Lots and lots of different uses.


A few things that won't take up space or weight, but come in very handy:
- Door mat for wiping feet
- indoor/outdoor carpeting for floor (very nice)
- railing installed along the upper walls to hang bridle hooks, coat hangers, wire baskets for gloves/small items, and etc.
- eye hooks in ceiling to hand lanterns for light, tack cleaning hook, etc.
- fold-down rings installed in the walls for securing bungie cords to hold stuff in place while traveling.
- lightweight plastic cabinets with drawers (Wal-Mart, K-Mart) for storing food stuff and utensils, and the flat top surface can serve as small tables. Can be easily removed from trailer when not in use and stored in barn tack room.
- plastic storage containers marked for specific purposes -- electrical stuff, first aid, horse feed, electrolytes, tools & hardware, propane cannisters, fencing charger & equipment. I have these, which help me to put my hands on what I need immediately, plus they are portable and can be removed and stacked in the barn (or elsewhere) until I need them.

If you can have a rack installed on the outside of your trailer to carry your fencing equipment (electrical poles, corrals, etc) it is so much easier than having to haul them out of the back of your truck, or from the extra stall in your trailer.

I'm sure I'll think of some more items later. After doing this for 5+ years, one learns how to economize, and what perks are needed to keep one sane. :-)
Agree, with all but the water tank thoughts, great list and posts! Oh, and we have the same trailer, except mine is still that lovely grey colour and no screens. :) I would love to "refinish" mine, as you say you have done yours. Would you mind explaining how you did?
Anyway,I have a trailer corner water tank, and I LOVE it, we use it for horse water everything. We have a steel stock trailer, and put it in the corner of the DR, against the outside wall of the trailer. Then, drilled a 1' inch hole in that wall it would be against, for a spiquot to be on the outside of the trailer. That way, there is a spiquot right outside my trailer DR door, low and discret, but very easy to use. As for cleanup, I have a water hose attatchment that I have attatching my spiquot to the tank's valve that I unscrew from the tank and have the tank free from the spiquot. I also have bungee cords holding the tank in the corner I undo, and then I can easily remove it and wash it out.
Of course, I do use buckets and they are good for things such as 1-day shows, etc. But when I am away camping or on Endurance rides, the tank is the best thing for the job, and doesnt take up the critical space, as it is very discret and fits easily in small corners that are often unused. ( I have a hanger for bridles I hang on the outside of mine as well, facing the inside of the DR; no space is regretted. )

[JoJo]

Well, I have been down and out for the last whole week with stomach flu, so have not been online. I wanted to get back to this thread because of all the great suggestions and do a print-out of the whole thang! Three pages at this point, whew! LOL.

GTD, step by step on painting the trailer... first you just wash it down, yes? Do you use TSP for that or another product? Second, you what... just paint it with the gallon cans of Rustoleum? I assume you don't use a brush, but instead, some sort of spray device. If so, what kind and how hard is it to deal with? Also, how do you avoid getting drips? I'm sure you likely just use a very fine spray and maybe go over it a couple of times, yes?

You don't use a primer first? Just go from the wash down to the strait Rustoleum?

If this was covered, please just be nice to me and rough it out again, I'm still feeling rotton and operating at half mast.

Also, the step stools you were talking about, sounds like you have a good idea there, but one question... are they the kind that another poster said "I think these are what she's talking about" then included a link? (Sorry, I can't get back to that page w/out losing this one.

The EZ-Up w/straight legs... you said something abaout as long as the frame goes all the way up and "not on the level," I didn't know what you meant by that.

I don't yet know what level of horse camping I'm going to be doing, this will be my first time at it, but thinking that canopy could be great for horse shade, and as you said, get two legs attached to the trailer in some way.

You have changed my mind entirely about bolting into the ribs of the trailer. Someone told me to do that, but you bring up points just way too good not to heed -- compromising strength AND rust inside. I didn't know the skin of the trailer had much strength but you're not new at this obviously, I think you have some really good advice there.

Also someone else mentioned bolting a piece of wood to the trailer, then doing your "hanging" off of the wood -- less bolts to go into the trailer. That makes a whole lot of sense to me. I was thinking about maybe doing that along the length of one side of the trailer and attaching an awning to that (similar to RV). But I like the idea of wood (two or 3 bolts) a whole lot better than a bunch of individual bolts right into the skin.

Really curious about the rustoleum process, what kind of sprayer, etc.

Just out of curiosity, re removing poop or its residue from horse's side of trailer -- tell me if this is a bad idea or not. What about just getting a big rubberized independent mat that isn't too heavy and putting that in the back end of her stall? Put shavings over that. Then when docking for camping, do the normal poop/pee cleanup, but then also be able to remove that mat? I'm thinking of a flat Home Depot type that people buy for doorsteps. No way I would be able to pull the whole mat that's in there, those things are super heavy and bulky. Would the horse trip on an added partial mat? Seems she wouldn't, but your opinion? It would be really nice to be able to simply keep all droppings as contained as possible on an independently removeable extra piece of rubber matting that I could easily hose off, keeping the trailer's original mat pretty unaffected.

I know that's a lot of questions all at once, my apologies, I just re-read the whole thread and those were the things that came popping out at me.

One thing I did buy and do not regret (though time will tell) is collapsible bucket (holds 3 gallons) from Country Supply. It zips shut, is made of very strong material, can be carried and hung. (Will stand-alone filled but not if kicked I don't think). The dumb little water bottle for human that comes with it leaks if you tip it to drink from (really dumb design, cheap little thing) but it's a give-away. At least the holder that clips onto saddle is nice tho and could probably be used for other things. Main thing was the bucket, I just thought it would be a GREAT thing to keep in the trailer for quick watering of horse under route or if just going on a couple hours ride at local trails.
JJ

[JoJo]

[QUOTE=gothedistance]JoJo -

Sorry to hear you were so sick :( ... but glad you're better now. :)

A simple scrub down is all the trailer needs before I paint. I consider the base coat of paint put on by the factory to be the "primer".

I don't spray the paint -- that requires hours of prep to prevent overspray, AND too much cleanup of expensive equipment.

Easiest to simply use a brush and roller to paint. Use a paint brush to first to get all the corners and nooks and crannies. Then I switch to a roller, and paint it like you would a room. Lays down a nice coat of paint and doesn't drip (unless you get too much paint on the roller). Easy cleanup, and the rollers are cheap. :)

QUOTE]

Well, I'm "better" now -- just not back to normal. Exhausted easily. Thanks for the sentiments and well wishes.

Okay, using a roller usually leaves a texture -- not like a paint brush but sort of a mini-bumpy surface, not smooth like a spray-on. At least that's how I would imagine it coming out. That may still be okay, but do you get a textured finish like what I'm describing? Also, the whole inside of my trailer is curved sided (corners and ceiling corners). That could be a tad tricky. Do you just use smaller rollers there?

I can't imagine doing metal with a roller and brush, but maybe only because I've never tried it. Rollers are kind of fuzzy (at least the ones I've used from paint stores). So when that nap leaves the paint, I would think it would create a texture. And then you'd see a difference where paint brush was used, no?

[JoJo]

[QUOTE=gothedistance]When you use a roller with the smooth nap, the paint (which is pretty "thick") settles flat as it dries. My horse trailer looks like the paint was sprayed on -- it is that smooooooth. :)
QUOTE]
___________quote code seems not to be working _________

Oh reeeeeally!! Okay, this is now becoming a real possibility.

So now two detailed tools questions.

1. What kind of roller do you get? Is there a type it's called or a brand? The only roller-ing I've ever done is on walls and ceilings (and not a lot of that) and those have been nappy. I'm not sure, though, that I've ever done anything but buy cheap rollers. So is there a specific type I should ask for?

2. For brushes, I hate cheap brushes for any purpose. Have you had best luck with nylon bristle or another kind?

3. Also, have you found that you can pick up where you've left off IF you leave off in a place where the Rustoleum has dried? Or is it the sort of thing where once you start, keep going "or else"?

This is sounding very do-able !!

4. Okay another question. Trailer is currently brown inside and out. Not a light brown either. Would I be asking for trouble if I try to paint it with a light color (e.g., a light grey?)

<Pant, pant, pant> I would LOVE to re-paint that trailer!
JJ

[JoJo]

http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/search.aspx?HKW=Rust+Converter&B1=Search&UID=20060317105032078312281

Gemplers carries this, its a liquid that you brush on. Worth its weight in gold. Wait till it dries, then spray paint in color of choice. Much easier than Rustoleum
IMHO.

We do our 14 steel stock every couple of years (kept inside Nov-april)it looks great.

Gemplers has a lot of neat products, different colors paints, all kinds of farm stuff.

_______________________

LAWNDART--

Sorry for the belated reply, there is SO much info on this thread I got boggled. But I'm really thinking of doing this, and would appreciate knowing your technique as well as GTD's. You both seem to have good experience in painting trailers!

I took a better look at Gempler's Rust Converter. It looks like it would be fantastic for places where I do have rust (around fenders mostly).

You said you spray paint after using it on any rust areas. Could you tell me what kind of spray paint you use? I did a Paint search on Gempler's, and it appears they have mostly Rustoleum in small spray cans.

Also you said, "much easier than Rustoleum." Did you mean the rust converter specifically, or ???

I would like as much info as possible before taking on a project like this. Anything you can post regarding your process (kind of paint, kind of sprayer, etc.) would also be extremely helpful!

Thanks in advance,
JJ

[DustyRider]

I just wanted to say thanks so much for all of this info.

We just bought what has to be the ugliest trailer in the whole USA last week. Structurally, for the age, this trailer is built like a brick house. It does have a bit of surface rust here and there that will be taken care of this summer. We are planning to overhaul it from one end to the other.

I have a question that I haven't seen answered in this thread. Where do you purchase Diamond Plate? This trailer has the old version of aluminum plate on the fenders and in a couple of other places that we will pull off before painting the trailer and I would like to go back with diamond plate.
Also, does anyone know of a website or store where you can purchase replacement trailer windows and aluminum trim?

Keep the ideas coming, this has become my favorite thread on COTH!
:)

[gabz]

Take your trailer to a car wash where you put the quarters in. Make sure that the bay is high enough to clear the ceiling mounted pipe and hose. Use the long-handled scrubby brush. You'll probably have to do the roof at home - unless you can stand in the bed of the truck to reach the roof of the horse trailer (at least most of it).

Regarding the GEMPLERS Rust Converter - the stuff is fantastic.
Be sure the surface is clean of any wax or grease. When I was dabbing at all the rivets on my steel trailer, the stuff only stuck to rust!! So once it dried, I wiped away any excess flakes. A quart bottle was more than enough for a 2H with large dressing room, 7"4" tall trailer. (roof was fiberglass) to apply to rust patches only! If you are doing the entire trailer, you'll need more.
I bought a package of several different sized wire brushes.

Paint rollers come in different thicknesses and "naps". The thicker the nap, the more texture you get. In a house where there are walls or ceilings with some lumps and bumps... the 3/4" nap is better, but there is also lots of spatter. As GRD said, a smooth nap is best for very smooth surfaces.
Rollers come in a HUGE assortment of widths and materials. There are even sponge rollers. There are rollers that are narrow and used in corners too. Many sizes of paint trays as well.
You can use Saran wrap and aluminum foil to cover, TIGHTLY, a pan of paint while you run to the store, eat lunch, take a break, etc.

There are also some pressurized tubes of silicone sealant. These are FANTASTIC. I like these SO much better than the huge tubes and blue pumper thing. I bought the pressurized sealants at Auto Parts stores. These can be used around windows and vents, after painting or before. Whichever you prefer.

DUSTY:
The metal diamond plate is available at many hardware stores in different thicknesses and sizes. You can also look in the yellow pages for welders and then call them about purchasing material. And, ask at a local auto-parts store. Truck accessory shops is another option, but probably most expensive.

When I replaced some items on my old trailer, a friend used stainless steel rivets. Very nice.

Another item available in hardware stores are metal strips with lots of holes in them. Like giant erector set pieces. Instead of attaching wood - these can be used.

My method of attaching things to the ribs is the same method used by interior conversion companies. But GTD makes excellent points about weakening a structure and how wood would transfer moisture. That's why it's critical to attach one "layer" (using furring strips) to the ribs, and then attach paneling to the furring strips. (for anyone who might be looking at used trailers that were converted.)

[JoJo]

Gabs, thanks much for the rundown on the Rust Converter, it looks like an excellent product!

What kind of paint did you use? You mentioned spraying yours on, what was your spray delivery method?

Thanks,
JJ

[ArabianDreams]

Go> Thanks for the details.
I plan on doing our trailer sometime soon; I will keep yall updated. ;)
As a sidenote, someone mentioned wood paneling on the inside- that is what my trailer has, and it is horrid for the most part-especially in the back where it gets urinated and pooped on regularly. Rotting away it is. I will be replacing it as well, and most likely spraying or painting on a "protective" rubber or foam sort of protection. Any suggestions?

[gabz]

Jo Jo .. no, I didn't spray. Spray painting is much harder than you might think to get a good covering. Very messy.

I used various size brushes to apply the gemplers, depending on the size of the area I was rust-coverting. Then, I custom mixed (on my own..) a color that was very close to the color of the trailer and painted over the gemplers... feathering the paint out.

I recently picked up a catalog from a vendor at a horse expo - his company carries many, many trailer items. And, there used to be a place called "Not Just Parts" that sold all manner of pieces - various sized fenders, replacement under-manger tack doors, a few windows, roof vents, lights etc.

And.. some catalogs - ValleyVet is one - carry trailer equipment. They have the padding pieces, the thin rumbar type material to put on the interior of the horse area, and some ready-made hangers and supports.

I am using wood in the inside of my LQ (large dressing room) area. I have put thick styrofoam insulation panels between the ribs, taping them with the metal (not duct) tape, and then covering with the wood paneling.

[JoJo]

Jo Jo .. no, I didn't spray. Spray painting is much harder than you might think to get a good covering. Very messy.

I used various size brushes to apply the gemplers, depending on the size of the area I was rust-coverting. Then, I custom mixed (on my own..) a color that was very close to the color of the trailer and painted over the gemplers... feathering the paint out.

I recently picked up a catalog from a vendor at a horse expo - his company carries many, many trailer items. And, there used to be a place called "Not Just Parts" that sold all manner of pieces - various sized fenders, replacement under-manger tack doors, a few windows, roof vents, lights etc.

And.. some catalogs - ValleyVet is one - carry trailer equipment. They have the padding pieces, the thin rumbar type material to put on the interior of the horse area, and some ready-made hangers and supports.

I am using wood in the inside of my LQ (large dressing room) area. I have put thick styrofoam insulation panels between the ribs, taping them with the metal (not duct) tape, and then covering with the wood paneling.

Thanks Gabz!!
JJ

[Simbalism]

This post contains so much info. I had a couple of questions GTD, I was curious what size inverter you use, and is there a specific size of marine battery that I should purchase? Also, where did you get the trickle recharger? How do you recharge the marine battery after use? I guess those are all the questions I can think of for now. It is great to pick the mind of others for info.

[mmyers]

I can't believe that I just found this thread--the information in it is great! I recently bought a '95 Rollin' M gooseneck trailer that is built like a tank, and I'm trying to outfit it as reasonably as possible. My daughter events and we plan to sleep in the trailer at events to save some money. My question is, I notice that several of you say that you sleep on foam, but I can't find any foam mattresses that aren't WAY more expensive that a regular bed mattress. I would really like to sleep comfortably, and don't think an air mattress would do the trick. What is your solution for a good night's sleep without breaking the bank?

[Simbalism]

GTD, also curious where you purchased the solar panels.

[alysheba]

I don't own a trailer yet, but I honestly think I would be as basic as possible. I know the new ones are beautiful and have those cushy plush beds, but I'd rather sleep outside on a cot next to my horses pen.

I'll say a microwave, a fridge, a mirror, a tackroom/feed room and room for 2 horses and I would be set!

[MissBri]

Ya know, I don't know if this was mentioned yet or not. But no trail rider worth his/her margarita salt should EVER leave home without a damn good cooler filled with a variety of favorite beverages. AND a battery powered blender (with extra batteries).

Just thought I should mention the obvious....wouldn't want anyone stuck out in the middle of nowhere and have to bum a beer from a fellow trail rider (course we are always more than happy to share!).

[katarine]

For thirty dollars we got a nice Coleman brand air mattress. We already had an inflator, so we didn't need that. I topped it with a nice (but cheap) thick foam topper and a good mattress pad. That puppy sleeps GOOD and even though Mr. Kat's a light sleeper, I can easssse off the bed and he doesn't even notice.

I did not want a 'real' mattress as I've heard from too many people that they get to smelling musty from sitting in a closed up trailer in the heat. We're in Alabama and I know it just wouldn't work for us, and I can't leave the windows open, the trailer sits uncovered. So, I'm really happy with my air mattress.

[mmyers]

katarine, thanks so much for this info--I hadn't even thought about the mattress getting musty from sitting in the heat! However, I wonder if putting one of those plastic zip up mattress covers on it would keep it clean? I SO want to have a comfortable night's sleep!

[mmyers]

and...no one has let me know where they got their foam mattress from? They are so firm and comfortable--there's bound to be a way/place to get them cheaply! Thanks again!

[MuleLady]

I always about half freeze to death on an air mattress...even in a warm place (the "heat sink" and "ice queen" are two of my husband's pet names for me). Yet, I find them comfortable. Does putting the foam thingy's on top insulate you from the frigid (to me, LOL) air in the mattress so that you can be cozy? I'm all about piles of covers, but that doesn't help when it feels like you're sleeping with a block of ice under you!

BTW...as the OP, I should announce that I got my new trailer and LOFF it to DEF. How the heck did I live w/out a dressing room for so long?! Got a sweet little surprise from hubby when we picked up the trailer...I was "auditioning" the 25 gal corner water tank in the DR to figure out where I *might* want to put it when I could afford to buy it (so as not to have tie rings, etc. installed in the way). He happened to walk up at that moment and said, is that included with the trailer? "Um, no...that's something for later when I can afford it." Then I went back inside the office to do some paperwork and he had the mechanic go ahead and install it for me! What a guy, huh?! I REALLY am glad to have that tank...used it quite a lot last week when I was at Fair Hill and then Graves Mountain. It's installed right inside the door to the right, up against the gooseneck bulkhead, so it's handy yet out of the way. The pump is wired into the trailer, but I want it to go to a marine battery because it's a pain in the butt to have to turn on the truck key to run the pump. Easy switchover, though, according to the dealer.

On the short list for camping in the trailer are a porta pottie and a little propane heater. I've decided against the built in hinged lid box hubby was going to make me; for the moment, I like the portability of a cheap step stool and large totes. I also love the extra set of bridle hooks I got with the trailer, for a total of 12. Amazing how fast they fill up with stuff! I want to add several more tie rings in key locations inside and outside the trailer...one being above the DR door so that I can hang a tack hook and clean tack more easily.

Here's a pic (http://www.tuliphillfarm.com/images/newtrailer.jpg) of the trailer, if anyone is intersted.

Does anyone know of a place to get screen doors for dressing rooms...or something custom-sewn that would connect with velcro tabs top and bottom? (So the door could be open to let in air, but keep bugs mostly out) I suppose I could sew something like that myself, but if they were cheap enough, I might prefer to buy one.

[MuleLady]

Colorful beads keep out flies? I never knew that and wondered why they ever were used/popular! You learn something new every day. Here's another fly repellent idea: A mom-and-pop drivein restaurant near us hangs ziplock bags full of water over the doors that lead into their ordering windows. They SWEAR that those bags of water repel flies. I am not sure I believe it because can't figure out WHY it should work, but I have to admit, there are very few to no flies in their ordering area. If this idea really does work, it's certainly adaptable to trailers.

[katarine]

MuleLady, the foam DOES keep you warm. Seriously, I can't feel that I'm on an air mattress at all. Our old one, yes, but this new one has great support, and the foam thing is about 1" thick, with a cross-cut pattern in the foam, hard to describe, but it's not 'egg crate-ish in looks. I topped that with a nice quality mattress pad. Done. It's truly very comfortable.

[MuleLady]

Thanks Katarine...you probably just saved me a lot of money! I already have two air mattresses and solving the "stay warm" thing with those foam toppers and a mattress pad is going to be a lot cheaper/easier than buying/dealing with a regular foam or traditional mattress.

[katarine]

Hey, you're welcome. That foam makes all the difference! I know what you mean about the freezing cold air in an air mattress;) even if it's 100 outside, that mattress could double as a cooler :D

My other essentials?

lanterns
head lamps to wear around dark camps
awning (I'm SPOILED)
lots of hooks
clear stackable drawers- I have four in the rear tack- 2 for first aid, 2 for horses.
ceramic heater, I don't like the heat strip in the ceiling
battery charger for AA batteries- I have reading lights that run on batteries so this helps
Plug in cooler with DC plug
tools
trailer-aid for changing tires
camp chairs

cooler of sweet, sweet beer. :yes:

[gabz]

When using an air mattress, put a sheet of plywood under it, covered by carpeting. A padded mattress cover and flannel sheets, and voila! not bad at all. The added benefit of the carpeting is that when using an air mattress in the gooseneck area, stuff doesn't slide all around.
The grippy cabinet liner stuff is good in various places too.

[Fancy]

What a fantastic thread! Well worth the price of admission---lol Kidding aside, this is great. I am resolved to take my mare camping this year, in preparation for the 250 mile Michigan Shore-to-Shore that we WILL do next year. OK. I have a 3-horse slant. LOTS of room back there and mats on the floor. But I need a way to curtain off the side slats so the mosquitoes con't carry me away. Any thoughts?

[Bensmom]

I am currently living in my trailer (darn divorce!) while some work is being done on a remodeling project and am sleeping much more on my air mattress than I had intended to. (Going on month two! :eek: )

It does get cold, so I have a featherbed topper instead of the foam (though I haven't tried the foam -- sounds like that works great too!) , and that has stopped the body heat drain feature of the air mattress.

BUT, what I am having a problem with is that the darn thing is way too tall. I keep whacking my head on the roof of the gooseneck when I sit up. Anyone know of an air mattress that is thinner? They all seem to be on the "ooh, look at our super thick, cushy air mattress" trend and not only is it tough to fit sheets over the mattress plus topper, but also it is just too tall.

Thanks!

libby

[JoJo]

Bensmom, I'm guessing 7 years ago I looked at camp mattresses and after lying on a lot of them, a friend highly recommended ThermaRest LE (stands for "luxury edition"). Self inflating. At the time they were selling at $120 but I found that I didn't "bottom out" on it on point of shoulder and point of hip if lying on my side. That was my complaint about all others. I bought one and let it self-inflate, then I THINK I added just a couple of breath blows more. I slept on the thing outside on my deck for a good month before the mosquitos drove me inside again. I thought it was extremely comfortable! Like... I was starting to prefer it to my own mattress which is a good solid "9." Last time I used it I over-inflated it and it was harder than I like, but that's pilot error and fixable with unscrewing a valve cap. Totally adjustable to your taste, and their "cell" technology is impressive.

I re-visited their website about 4 months ago and they have way more choices than they did when I bought mine. But they're well-explained in features. I'd strongly recommend you take a look through what they're offering, then dig up a retailer who carries them. At the store, tell them you want to inflate several top choices and lie down on them.

Here's their home page with 3 categories, lurk through all three and see if something looks good to you. I sure do love mine. Oh, also, I did NOT find them to be cold like I understand air mattresses are.

http://www.thermarest.com/

[Fancy]

Regular fiberglass window screening (comes in rolls at your local hardware store) and magnets if your trailer sides/roof are metal. Sticky-back velcro works, too, in place of magnets.

HaH! Very good! Thanks! Yes, my trailer is steel, thankyouverymuch. Magnets will work perfectly.

[FairWeather]

I just said no to the air mattress and got a Futon mattress. It takes up a big more room, but is hella comfy (especially with the foam topper). I put two hooks in the head of the goose, and ran them under the mattress, and just cinch it up into the back in a roll when i'm not using it.
Now that i've camped in it off and on for a year, here is my new list:

Water tank with sprayer
shelves/cabinets and lots of them!
hydraulic lift for the hitch (ouch my back!)
Overhead vent/fan in the roof
DVD player in the roof

I'd also like to add some type of fold away table outside, as well as an awning, but that will wait for a while :)

[Fancy]

I really, really, REALLY wanted an awning for my trailer. I loved the convenience factor, but...the true horror stories from prior owners of awnings being blown over the trailer, twisted about in the wind, and catching and holding rainwater just turned me off. ...everytime I see someone sitting under their awning .... I long for one. :cry:

There are tricks to awnings, just like there are to hi-lines. I've never camped with a horse, but I have a LOT of time (six months at one stretch) in an RV. First, a pro HAS to mount the awning. You DON'T want it pulling loose from your trailer. Second, when you put it out you want to tie it down to the ground. They sell anchors--look like dog run tie-outs, which are cheaper--to twist into the ground on both corners. Straps tie the awning to them to hold it down. We spent the aforementioned 6 months in Albuquerque where there's two seasons--summer and windy. Our 40' awning did fine in 40+ mph winds. When the BIG ones were forecast, however, we pulled 'er in.

You can learn the tricks of the trade. Find some old guy at a trailer store that knows what he's talking about, and pay attention. For example, rain is handled by dropping ONE corner of the awning down a couple of feet. The rain won't have anywhere to puddle. Just remember that every single thing you add to your trailer is one thing more to put up and take down. Don't collect so much "stuff" that camping becomes more trouble than it's worth.

[MuleLady]

It might have been mentioned earlier in this long thread (which is GREAT by the way and I'm glad so many new ideas are being shared), but someone on ebay was selling some kind of hardware that fit into a C-channel on the side of a trailer and could be used with any tarp to set up a canopy. A clever search would probably find his listings if he's still offering the product.

I've seen the situation where a freak windstorm ripped a canopy right off a horse trailer with LQ. My rig was right next to that one and I was VERY concerned about getting struck with flying debris as I rushed to get my own EZUP tent down before the wind ruined it too (it was tied down but in the tornado like conditions, I was concerned it would be torqued beyond use). I have NEVER gotten that tent down and stuff tossed into the trailer so fast! Fortunately for my pals in the neighboring trailer, the only damage to their canopy was a $70 piece for one of the struts.

I have to tell you, my new trailer's tack room is now so stuffed with gear that I'm wishing I had gotten a 10' tack room, LOL! Of course, at a camp site most of it would just pull out and be used outside, but the challenge is trying to leave it in there (to avoid packing for camping trips) and still be able to get to the stuff I need for local day rides.

So much of the good advice on this thread has helped me figure out how to keep "must-have's" to a minimum, though! Y'all are great.

[JoJo]

Mule, I'm just starting out on horse camping (haven't done it yet, spent the winter getting stuff for it). Mine won't be days in the wilderness, but I'm already seeing the wisdom of "less is more."

I'm planning on using 30-gallon square rubbermaid storage boxes (with lids) for the "must haves" and that/those would be for no-brainers that I'd need for just an overnight.

What's also handy, a friend sent me her list which she put in table format in Word. Three columns - one for the item, one for "need" and one for "packed." She just checks things off.

I took her format and tailored it to me. One page is a checklist for things I want to always keep in the truck and the trailer, just to double check to be sure they haven't been "borrowed" for another use and not returned. Then take it from there, depending on the trip's type and length. I think that will make it MUCH easier. Keeping the basics (the no brainer stuff) in one place, ready to go, also seems like it's worth doing.

[JoJo]

Mule, I think I know of the ebayer you mentioned. I tried to ask him some questions about the C channel but I think his invention is something he doesn't want to explain much. He does say on his listings though that it works on trailers that are set up for awnings. I don't know what that means. Check his feedback, one guy refers to that. If his setup works though, hey, price is right. ;-) But do read the last sentence of his listing, in one way you could take it that his setup would work if you simply welded a c-channel to your trailer, in another way you could take it that the trailer has to be set up for an awning beyond that.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8794203358&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

[MuleLady]

That three column list is a GREAT idea!

I'm a big fan of Rubbermaid totes. The Sterlite ones are cheaper but they seem to break easier. The Rubbermaids seem indestructible. I'm getting things organized into totes...one for "Camp Kitchen" one for "Horse Stuff" etc. My plan is to be able to easily "customize" the load for the activity without having to think too much about individual items.

[MuleLady]

Re shade: Haven't tried this yet, but have thought about setting up the portable corral such that my mule can go into the trailer if she wants to, to get out of the sun. Then no canopy is needed at all. The new trailer is big enough to make this feasible, and all the partitions can be easily removed so that there is quite a big stall. Emma isn't destructive, so this would likely work with her; I plan to try it out soon.

[katarine]

STORAGE: I have a big green STOUT rubbermaid to pack lanterns and boots in. Once we're set up at camp it's a good half-ass place to set stuff down, like a beer.

HORSE STUFF STORAGE: Four smallish sterilite stackable drawers - one for grooming tools, one for people crap like snack bars, sunglasses, etc, and two for equine first aid. Stacked 2X2 they fill that spot under the bottom saddle rack perfectly, and I still have room height-wise to stack the western saddle pads there. Perfect. Supplements, salt, etc, go in ziplock bags, labeled in marker. Much less space consuming than the bottles, etc that they came in.

BRIDLE RACKS- the tack door has about 8 hooks, and I got one of those black metal bars that hook onto them, and it has 6 hooks on it- doubled my hanging options, so Old Macs, extra halters, etc have a home.


TABLES:I got a collapsable aluminum table (like an end-table in size) that I love. It folds FLAT. Love it. I also have a eating table that's a plastic topped table with metal chairs. Will seat 4-6 easily. Folded flat, it slides under the air mattress when not in use.

CHAIRS: I hate bag chairs. I bought two aluminum directors chairs. They were 25.00 each but worth every penny.

POTTY: Porta potty that I really like that lives in the first stall. Easy to clean and flush waste at the end of a trip.

FLY CONTROL: sprinkle golden malarin upon arrival, and premise-spray entire horse box. I am going to mount a small fan OVER the people door into the LQ, pointing down and out- that should help blow flies away that want to come in (saw this at a cafeteria this weekend. Smart) we can't rig a screen door, so I'm going to give this a try.

AWNING: Love mine. I drop one arm from the trailer, the one by the LQ door, and anchor it with a tent stake. I lower that end, too, to drain the dew/rain water off. If a storm is truly horrid enough, that's what insurance is for.

[JoJo]

Mule, I don't know how to PM on this forum, if you can tell me how to do that and send me your email address, I'll be glad to send you the file with my list. You can tailor it to yourself. I spent HOURS with it, lol. Still have some revisions to make (stuff to add, stuff to take off), but I think I thought of it all. It works really well in not forgetting stuff, and it's set up so you can pretty much just check whatever boxes, wham, wham, wham, presto, done deal.

On mine, I separated riding and other clothes and stuff I have to gather from the upstairs vs. downstairs because I HATE having to make a zillion trips upstairs for stuff I forget. I'm trying to get this down to a pretty fast science so I dont end up spending more time packing and unpacking than I do being there.

[MuleLady]

Hey! I have one of those plastic tables that folds flat; it's 4'x2' soo EASY but sturdy. Never thought about storing it under the airmattress, great idea. In fact, it probably makes sense to store ALL the camping stuff in the bed area of the gooseneck, so it's out of my way for day trips but doesn't have to be repacked when I go camping.

I have been looking at porta potties...want one of the more expensive ones eventually but have settled for the cheapie hassock style. I'm going to try clumping kitty litter in it, double-bagged. If it works great in the cat box why not in the porta pottie? Any thoughts on this idea?

[MuleLady]

To PM someone, just click their user name and choose the Send a Private Message option...you'll get a screen that looks just like the one where you reply to a topic, but the message just goes to the one person instead of the forum itself.

If you send me that list, I'll put it on my web server and share a link to it so everyone can access it...if that's okay with you.

[MuleLady]

Katarine sent her list...it's here (http://www.tuliphillfarm.com/emma/documents/CampChecklist01.xls). Thanks!!!

If anyone else wants to send me their horse-camping related docs to post on my web server, my email addresss is mulelady @ bullrunhunt.com (take out the spaces).

[MuleLady]

I want to go camping with you, GTD!

[katarine]

no no no - if I don't list WATER, then WINE, then BEER- then I end up with nothing but beer. Me, I likes my wine, and my water, too ;), THEN my beer :winkgrin:

[JoJo]

LOL, it looks like two campers would get up pretty bleary-eyed, but fun. lol!

One neat thing that I ran across (any supermarket, mine is Hannafords) is... Ziplock now makes gigantic bags. The X-Large is about 2 x 2 feet, but the XXL is 2 x 3 ft. These look like they'll be GREAT for carting hay and keeping it dry and anything else along the bulky line. They come with a cut-out handle, and the ziplock strip seems pretty darned sturdy to me. I've been keeping my helmet, on-trail fly mask and bridle in an XL and it's pretty easy to shlep to and from trail riding start point (just over at a friend's house). I just grab my saddled horse in one hand and the big baggie in the other, and that's that. They seem pretty strong too. Definitely disposeable if one gets funky or a hole in it.

[JoJo]

GTD, I'm looking at these canopies you suggest, and need to know something.

Why do you say you insist on peaked roof and straight legs?

[JoJo]

The Huge Ziplocks: Well, I'm thinking of these for transporting to/from horse camping site next weekend. No tonneau or truck cap. I figure anything I want to transport in the truck bed would stand a pretty good chance of staying dry in these, hay included. They're a really thick grade of plastic, and seem to lock really tightly. I only bought one bag of the XL and the XXL to be able to look at them and picture uses, but think I may be getting more.

Strait Legs and Peaked Roofed Canopies: The straight legs seem better all the way around for both the reasons you mentioned. As for the "vertical supports," I've never seen how one of these things is constructed, so I don't know what you mean by vertical supports but am picturing accordian type baby gates, and yeah, if the horizontal supports are like that then if a horse walks under an open part (widest part of diamond shape) and keeps walking, that would not be good, lol.

What I'm now thinking as a possible alternative (these canopies are minimum $150, ouch) is... corkscrew type pet tie out stakes, the longest ones I can find, set in at an angle flush with the human side of the trailer. Run ropes vertically up the side of the trailer, to the top edge. Attach it to the tarp at that point (top edge). Run the tarp right over the top of the trailer and straight out, however far. Secure that other side via tent poles. And let that be horse shade.

Additional possibility I've been thinking about... attach two tarps together (say 9 x 12) with wrapped bailing twine, grommet to grommet. Drape the thing over the top of the trailer with length on each side, then use tent poles and guy lines on each far end. That would make horse shade on one side and human "awning" type shade on other side. Two cheap blue plastic tarps, 4 tent poles and 4 corkscrew stakes plus some rope. Seems it would be pretty stable, no?

It would surely take 2 people to slide the tarp that high up onto and over the trailer top, but seems a really cheap way to get both horse and human shade on each side "in one swell foop."

[catm]

I'm not sure it has been posted, but I use a lot of the gallon and two gallon size ziplock baggies when I pack for a weekend trip. One bag may hold my coffee bags, tea bags, splenda etc Another will hold my toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion etc.
I also set up my folding table in the boxstall portion of my trailer and use those plastic table clothes from dollar store. Just throw the plastic tableclothe away after the end of the weekend.

Heading down to Iron Horse Mountain Camp at the end of June. Anyone been there? Any comments?

TGIF!
cat

[MuleLady]

Hi Cat--nice to see you here! I could not LIVE without ziplocks, much less camp without them. I swear, my whole life is organized into them and plastic storage boxes!

I'm anxious to hear what you think of Iron Mountain, as I'm thinking of going down there later in the year. I'll be at Ft Valley June 30-Jul 2.

[JoJo]

Hi Cat, I use the 1 and 2 gallon ones also... a LOT! Even when going on a plane, "suitcase camping" -- I keep unders, socks, shirts, etc. packed in them first before putting them in suitcase. The reason I do this is because they slide against one another really nicely, and if you have something at the bottom of your suitcase that you want to get to without getting everything on top of it skewed (hence wrinkled), you can just slip out its ziplock and everything else stays stacked.

In fact, once I had a pair of super warm, soft sheepskin slipper boots that were very, very bulky. Way too bulky to take with. I fit them into a 2-gallon ziplock with the harder rubber type soles facing flat. I then zipped up the ziplock all but a teensy bit. And placing the bag on a chair so the soles were flat against the seat, I then SAT ON IT. And squeezed all the air out, then quickly zipped up the bag the rest of the way. It was like being vacuum sealed, LOL. I got them into my suitcase. I figured if the bag wasn't air tight and it expanded, at least the suitcase was shut and strapped. Interestingly enough, it actually was (and stayed) airtight. The whole thing stayed compressed until I opened it and let air in. Then they bounced back to their fluffy, floppy, bulky state. Got 'em home the same way. ;-)

This whole idea would also lend itself to using jackets or towels you want to keep clean as padding between equipment. Just pack them into ziplocks, sit on them, zip them flattened, wedge them in between equipment (e.g., ProCat which is delicate and odd shaped heater) and other stuff, then once it's all arranged, let in some air and everything will puff up and make things super tightly padded.

Hey, whatever works right? LOL.

[ArabianDreams]

Colorful beads keep out flies? I never knew that and wondered why they ever were used/popular! You learn something new every day. Here's another fly repellent idea: A mom-and-pop drivein restaurant near us hangs ziplock bags full of water over the doors that lead into their ordering windows. They SWEAR that those bags of water repel flies. I am not sure I believe it because can't figure out WHY it should work, but I have to admit, there are very few to no flies in their ordering area. If this idea really does work, it's certainly adaptable to trailers.

This is off-topic I know, but wanted to back the claim about the water-bags.
My trainer did this in her horse barn with the large Ziplock bags after hearing it from someone (her husband I think??) and did it at first to humour him, but then, did notice a signif. reduction in the # of flies around the barn as a result and "swears by them" now. (advocates?) She has had the same ones up for a year now, and they are still hanging up there, neat idea. I am going to try it one of these days ( when I have time!?!?!) at my barn. :)

[Fancy]

Hey, guys. I was searching the net and found this website:

http://www.robertsmanufacturing.com

Check out the cool racks. They're a little pricey, but you could make almost the same thing yourself. I have a 3-horse slant--I'm thinking about hanging the racks on the front wall and hauling my mare in the second stall. I don't have 3 horses in the trailer twice in one year.

[gabz]

HaH! Very good! Thanks! Yes, my trailer is steel, thankyouverymuch. Magnets will work perfectly.

I buy the super heavy duty magnets from hardware stores. I bought a couple of yards of mesh screen fabric and hang it over my door with magnets. I also have a small mag light with a magnetic holder and a Coleman personal fan with a magnet base (that sucker is STRONG!!). I keep the small mag lite attached to the inside of the DR door for emergency in's and outs... I love my Coleman flourescent lantern - but it doesn't work when it's super cold!!

[JoJo]

Well, I'm working on a way to create shade over the top of the trailer AND get awnings on both sides -- one for the horse(s) and one for the humans. Once I get the details figured out, I'll post it.

Meanwhile, I've been looking for a magnetic flashlight (full size) for ages. Hardware, Walmart, no one seemed to have them. Well, yesterday I noticed a two-pack of Ever Ready flashlights. I already have these, and they're good flashlights. However, in the two-pack, one does have a magnetic side. I bought two packs just to get the two magnetic ones. Highly recommended, they are strong enough to stick anywhere (steel trailer) but not so strong they're impossible to get off.

GABZ -- WHAT hardware store have you found that carries just plain magnets? I've checked several and no one has them. Only craft supply stores and those are teensy, piddly little things that wouldn't hold beans. (Quite literally.) Pray tell!

Meanwhile, I tried my Hot Water On Demand unit. Whoever mentioned loving hers, I can sure see why. I bought the thing over the winter and never tried it. What a great unit !!!!

So I bought a hoola hoop (a 24-inch, the smaller size) from Target and rigged up a way to hang it with bungie cords in the walk-thru of my little 2H BP steel Valley oldie-but-goodie trailer. It rocks!!! Plan is to stand in a Rubbermaid 31-gallon rectangular storage box and drop the shower curtain inside the box so water doesn't trail down onto the carpeting. HWOD unit is meanwhile placed in horse's stall (sans horse of course) on a 2-drawer Starlite unit (the drawers are removeable and actually storage bins). Can reach the thing easily, and the shower hose/head is long enough.

One thing about the HWOD, I thought I'd have to turn off the unit to soap up, wash my hair, or whatever else doesn't need water running then and there. A friend has one, and simply drops the shower head right into his water source (an ice chest since it holds more) -- and he leaves it running. Not for long, but it beats turning it on and off. Besides, as it's recirculating its own water in the ice chest, that water's getting warmer so it's all a no brainer. I'm not sure I'd have thought of that. ;-)

Also today set up Kelty Noah's Tarp for first time. GREAT tarp!!! I understand these neither blow down in the wind NOR do they leak. High tech design, they can be configured a zillion ways depending on the wind, velocity, direction, etc. One backpacker (review website) said he used his in super high winds and a downpour, and was snug as a bug. This is something you CAN put up by yourself. Anyone who's considering one, let me know because the directions that come with it just didn't work. Friend and I figured out a way to set it up yourself. (Of course I haven't done it from scratch alone yet and proof is in the pudding, but I think it'll work fine.)

Getting ready for first horse camping trip this weekend, and many ideas and advice on this thread have been extreeeeeeemely appreciated !!! !!! !!! Hopefully I'll be able to report back with the awnings/shade setup once I get the thing somewhat refined. It's actually a little comical. But hey, whatever works. IF it in fact does.

[gabz]

Here in Michigan we have ACO and ACE hardware stores; also True Value.

Look in the automotive sections ;) . I usually can buy 2 in a blister pack. 1" by 2" ?? and 3/8" thick. I have also bought very strong clips on magnets too.

I have considered a device that is used for oil changes to stand on for my showers. It's a round thing, about 5-6" high, about 28 - 32" across, and has a small hole in the center. It's used as an oil collector when you change the oil in a car. It has a handle on it and a drain plug, sometimes you can find them with wheels. I thought it might be easier to empty... I hadn't thought about recycling the water through the HWOD unit. But then I couldn't use that water for anything else ... hmmm. gonna consider that though when I get my HWOD.. Plus, the rubbermaid container could hold the HWOD, hoses, etc. right?

I usually stand at the back of the trailer - I tie the rear doors open and hang my shower curtain between the doors. That gives me the floor of the trailer to put things on (shampoo, soap, etc.) I hang my 5 gallon bag of hot water from one of the bars over the last butt window.

Your sterlite drawers? Buy another set and put them together to make it taller.

[JoJo]

Here in Michigan we have ACO and ACE hardware stores; also True Value.

Look in the automotive sections ;) . I usually can buy 2 in a blister pack. 1" by 2" ?? and 3/8" thick. I have also bought very strong clips on magnets too.

I have considered a device that is used for oil changes to stand on for my showers. It's a round thing, about 5-6" high, about 28 - 32" across, and has a small hole in the center. It's used as an oil collector when you change the oil in a car. It has a handle on it and a drain plug, sometimes you can find them with wheels. I thought it might be easier to empty... I hadn't thought about recycling the water through the HWOD unit. But then I couldn't use that water for anything else ... hmmm. gonna consider that though when I get my HWOD.. Plus, the rubbermaid container could hold the HWOD, hoses, etc. right?

I usually stand at the back of the trailer - I tie the rear doors open and hang my shower curtain between the doors. That gives me the floor of the trailer to put things on (shampoo, soap, etc.) I hang my 5 gallon bag of hot water from one of the bars over the last butt window.

Your sterlite drawers? Buy another set and put them together to make it taller.

Gabzs, I must not have explained it right about the water. It's not recycling (as in dirty water), it's re-circulating clean water IN clean water. The scenario is this: With the HWOD you either screw the pump end onto their plastic container that you've filled with water OR you can just use a bigger bucket and submerse the pump end into that. He actually fills an ice chest and leaves it in the trailer because it's just a big water container.

So if you want to take a shower, you'd get wet. Then you'd normally turn off the water while you soap up so you can conserve water. Then turn it back on to rinse. Okay, the difference is, he just leaves the unit running rather than turning it on and off. But rather than waste the water as he's soaping, etc., he just drops the shower head into the ice chest. Clean water is coming from the ice chest through the HWOD and it's now going back into the ice chest.

All this does is allow you to take a shower without having to turn the water on and off or turn the heater on and off. Sounds like a real winner to me! Because you won't have to re-set your temperature or anything at all. Just grab the shower nozzle any time you want, and drop it back into the water bucket in the moments here and there where you're not using it.

If you leave your water set to a hot shower temperature, then what you'll end up with is... the water gets warmer, naturally, because it's being heated during the recirculation process. But that ain't no biggie. Yeah, you waste a tiny bit of propane and battery time, but it's negligible. You still take a fast camp shower, but this way it's just a whole lot smoother operation. See? ;-)

Okay, the oil changing pan sounds like a very good idea. I like its size from what you say, definitely. I assume you can plug up that drain. The only problem I see is... is the drain in the center? Because if it is, it wouldn't work for me because I wouldn't be able to fit the pan through the door. If it's on a side, then I'd actually consider installing a hose onto it. You have it a lot easier, being able to take a shower right there hugged up against your trailer. Now I was also considering that, except at the side escape door. On a hot, hot day that would be MUCH preferable to inside, because the trailer's hotter than it is outside.

Hoola hoop works great for holding the shower curtain. My inside hooks (for hay bags and cross ties) are perfectly placed for it. Also there's a tiny hole in one of the ribs RIGHT where I need it (sheer LUCK) where a little hook bungie can fit in, and that gives it the support it needs on that side. The center side is the problem, but I took the pin that holds the chest bar shut, inserted it up high right near the ceiling, but upside down. It'll just fall out from gravity normally, but I ran a "dummy" bungie from that to a welded on loop (for cross tie or something) just to put tension on it. That stops it from falling. Then I hook that side of the hoola hoop onto the dummy bungie cord. Hey, whatever works right? LOL.

Just packed the trailer with a fair bit of stuff, and dang if it didn't just all end up the right size to wedge in with no play room! I'm sure going to diagram THAT out, because it rocks. My big fear is having stuff banging around underway and not know it and have Cloud freaking out. Although I must say, an escape door wasn't latched well enough and flopped open on one ride back from a friend's and she was fine. Anoher time I didn't secure the pin in the back top door (2 doors on top of the ramp) and that was banging open and shut. Again, she wasn't freaked. So I figure she's pretty laid back, lol.

Is there any reason not to just store all your camp gear right in the trailer? I'm seriously considering just doing that all season long. The more I can be ready to just pick up and go with minimal preparation, the better. Do you happen to do that?

One thing I discovered that's turning out to be a super cheap "investment" with high usage is... Walmart has a knockoff of the EZ-Up canopy. It also has accessories, you can buy screen panels, etc. One of the accessories is "sand bags." About $5 for a box of four of these things, and dang, they are super handy! 10 x 10 circular with a flat bottom, made of nylon and a draw string on top. I put my collection of bungies in one, a gaggle of batteries in another, and my grooming supplies in a 3rd. I can't for the life of me recall what I put in the 4th but it must be packed, lol. But those are just nice size bags, and thin enough nylon so they'll contain things but not add any space.

I did buy GTD's recommended shoe bag ($7.00) and cut the bottom two rows off so it'll fit on the non-horse stall's side of the center divider. I rigged the grommets with wire and bent it so I can slip it down in the teensy crack between the side padding and the divider it's attached to. Works great! It's like pinned right onto it with no jagged points sticking out.

Other thing I bought... Walmart has those "noodles" pool toys. Those bend in any direction you want, and they don't crack. Good for wedging in between things that don't quite fit snug enough not to slide around. Can also cut them to size for padding. Some of them are round, but others are six-sided so there are flat surfaces.

I'm also finding those tall white buckets that are sold in paint section (also horse supplements come in them) -- reeeeeeeally handy! You wouldn't want to jump on them, but that's what I use as a mounting block. Also works to sit on when organizing stuff in the trailer. Also a pretty manageable 5-gallon bucket for horse wter assuming nothing toxic came in it. They're about 14 inches tall. If you leave your mounting block out (once you're on horse) and someone does happen along who's not overly honest, while they may take off with a mounting block, I doubt they'd have a lot of interest in a bucket.

Best thing I ever did was have a body guy weld on latches for locking the trailer. It didn't come with locks, but I can now padlock it and leave a little more expensive stuff in it. (No cap on truck ;-(

Well, I will sure check at our True Value for the strong magnetic hooks. The ones I bought at Wally World are crap. Breathe on them and they fall off.

The Sterelite drawers. Well, I bought SIX units, lol. Hey, they're ugly colors (except I'm used to them and they're so ugly that they're camp) -- they were on sale for $12 or something each. A green frame that holds the 2 drawers, and the drawers are actually bins with handles on both sides if you pull them out (a deep pink). But dang those things are handy!!! I seriously thought about stacking them but they dont' lock into stacked position and I really wouldn't want that thing tumbling down. Could probably secure it at least on the wood which goes half way up the stall side. But it's the top I'd want to secure and that's steel. It could be worth welding a loop on for, but then if you want to haul a horse, it's just one more thing s/he could bang onto. But maybe a very flat kind of loop. Sure would be nice to have four up!!!

[JoJo]

Just discovered something else. I bought a tent 5 years ago and never even set it up. Well, I did Wednesday and along came back the rain. LOTS of it! HOURS of it. Actually, now, days of it. Too rainy to take it down, and besides I wanted to see how much water it would let in.

Well, took it down tonight, very wet tent. After getting the fly unhooked, we just carried it into the barn "as is," and set it down. It dried really fast, so I was out there starting to disassemble it. There, crawling, is this HUGE honking spider. Ugh, shudder. Big thing. I tried to flick it far enough but couldn't tell where it landed, and likelihood was pretty good somewhere on the tent (now spread out across the cement). Well, tent was still damp (only 2 days packed wet so should be okay). But that spider was very possibly in it somewhere, and for all I know, several of its brothers. So instead of struggling to pack it back into its too-teensy sleeve (they always are), I put it in an XL ziplock and closed all but several inches of the zipper. Then sat on it, squeezed a whole lot of the air out, and zipped it up. Now 45 minutes later, it's still compressed. So with that little bit of air in it, that's long enough so... wahhhhll, a dead spider IS better than a live one, no? I hate to suffocate a fellow creature, but hey, it looked like the biting kind.

I did the sitting/compression number with my sleeping bag earlier, and it stayed compressed for several hours. Air eventually permeates back in, at least this one did, but it sure works to minimize spacing stuff until you get it packed. Then if it expands, all the better, it fills up any spaces, and wedges stuff in all the more securely.

Bottles of water are frozen. I'm using them as "ice blocks" until they melt some and then get ice water so, so far things are seeming to be coming together for a first horse camping trip.

Lots of tricks to learn!! ;-)

[gabz]

On those sterlite drawer tote things.

Did you have to assemble them? If so, the top surface should pop off, then you insert a set of "legs" with the drawer/ tote; set of legs, tote, etc.

But your's might not be exactly like mine but it sounds like they are. My deep drawers I kept 4 shipping boots, bell bots, head bumper, extra lead & halter, and other stuff, & horse cooler. That's how huge it is. It's big enough for at least 2 and possibly 3 helmets.

I always worry about how much weight I'm hauling... so I try to minimize wherever possible.
Have a great trip!!

[Fancy]

I thought I'd copy this thread into Word so I could print it. Fat Chance!!! It's *68 pages* long. Waaaaaa! I have no intention of printing the whole thing! But, it's great info. Keep 'em coming, folks. You guys are awesome.

[JoJo]

Gabz, no mine aren't like the ones you describe. There's a frame (Christmas-y green) and two drawers which are actually carry bins (handles on each side that slide in and out so they're removeable and can easily be carried in the house, loaded, brought back out and simply slid in, done deal. You actually "can" pull out the drawer/bin from front or back, but there's a stopper so you have to finagle it if you're pulling it out from the back. However, if you really need to get something, you can (great convenience). I stacked two units in the back of the trailer, right up against the butt bar in the back and against the side wall padding. This leaves just enough space between it and the wall to slide in an extra saddle pad which I like to keep, just in case.

While these don't lock together in any way, they're compatable surfaces for stacking (both flat legs and tops). Since the bins narrow just slightly at the bottoms and there's a little space between them and the frame, that leaves JUST enough space to slip in a mini bungie at each corner, which amazingly holds them together solidly, stacked. (By the way this is an open frame which allows tons of leeway.) This morning I put in a very small screw eye, used one of those mini bungies with a knot tied at each end to shorten it, and whammo, that one anchor point wrapped around a corner of the frame holds it solid against the wall. I never thought I'd use those mini bungies that much. HAH! They've saved my butt a couple of times.

I did run across something in automotive, actually two things y'all may like. One is a mini trash can for a car. It's black nylon fabric around a coil spring that'll compress and flatten for storage if you wanted to, or let it go and it stands upright on its own. Way too small for a trash can (even in a car) but what great drawer organizers! They're deep, so no lost space at the top.

The other thing is a pack of something they call "magic straps" or magic ties maybe. Just a piece of velcro that sticks to itself with a slit at one end so you can wrap around something and close the strap like a waist belt, then press it down. Great for stuff that doesn't need to be squeezed (as in "bungie.")

I have rounded front corners in my trailer, and I perched a short muck fork head on a horizontal rib, then used sticky-back velcro onto the trailer, let it set up 24 hours, and I secure the muck fork there. Keeps the tines way above head height and out of the way in an area that doesn't lend itself to a lot of ceiling use. My muck broom fits in behind it, but will slide out, so one of those ties holds the two handles together. No shifting.

How was the trip? It was a disaster. Would have been do-able had I been prepared differently OR my trailer had been parked in a different place. Both parking fields were filled, so I went between them, what can only be described as "off road." (No road there at all.) Weeds were a tangled jungle, about 2 ft. tall all around truck and trailer, both. It was pouring the whole time starting Fri. night, shortly after I arrived, so couldn't move anything outside, even to re-organize for the occasion. Also discovered my trailer had sprung more leaks than the two I knew about. My down pillow got wet and so did my sleeping bag. No place to dry it at all. Then my lantern broke. Propane was spewing all over the place. I did NOT have rain pants. The ones I had proved not to be waterproof, pretty much a joke. So I was wet from boots to crotch, and had I changed, it only would have taken walking from my trailer to the truck and back again to be wet legged all over again. (No machete, and that's what I would have needed, lol.) Stove was packed way at the back and I literally couldn't get to it without moving stuff, but no place to move it (including stuff that "belonged" outside). I hadn't eaten all day (nada) because I was on a dead run, couldn't reach the stove, had no clue at this point where the propane was, or the food box, and wading through the brush to the ice chest (front of truck) was so much hassle that I just went to bed, starving. (It's getting funny now, wasn't then of course.) Then I ripped my rain jacket right down the front.

I ended up pitching my camp mattress in my horse's stall (put down a contractor's bag in the back part, eeeew.) And just slept on a wet pillow. I'd high-lined her to the trailer and a tree, so of course every time she moved, the trailer jiggled and since this was the first time I'd picketed her, I had to keep peering out to make sure she was okay and the high line was still taut (big etc.) So I got about 2 hours sleep.

Accuweather had said, before I left Fri., that yeah, there would be rain Fri. night ("showers") and some periods of "rain" in the morning but then "showers" after, and Sunday was supposed to be clear. So I figured I'd just gut it out and things would get better. But after breakfast Sat. AM, a woman said she'd made the coffee run, and listened to the weather, and they were talking about non-stop storm conditions from then through the whole weekend. Things had changed.

So it started looking like there was just no reasonable reason to stay and put up with being wet 70% and hopelessly damp the remaining 30%. People with LQ *AND* who were parked on regular ground... different story. But without either, it was kind of an impossible situation. So I left Sat. before lunch. Had so many things not gone wrong I think I would have just taken my wettest clothes, put them on, set up a tarp in the woods (which were only about 25 feet inward) and then pitched my tent under it. Ditto with horse -- a tarp and either high line moved, or else temp corral (I brought both) -- into the woods.

And therein lies the sad part. Omigod, you should have seen those woods where I was. Sherwood Forest!!!!! Absolutely beautiful. There were like... rooms. Literally about five clearings, inside the woods, where trees were spaced about 6 feet apart in a perfect circle. Their top foliage was bowed over making a lush leafy canopy. And on the ground, no weeds, totally clear, with a thick, cushy bed of pine needles. If I'd had my patience still intact, Noah's Tarp could have gone in one "room" with table, stove, chair, etc. under it. And tent in another with likely a plastic tarp over it because it coulda been done. And adjacent to that, horse corral that was basically already there a-la-natural. Likely with tarp over that too. Could have been quite a delightful setup! As long as you stayed there, lol. To get out, however, you had to wade through that high, thick, tangled WET brush and with rain and water everywhere, the trade off would have been just being constantly soaked if you wanted to venture to/from it.

Back up lantern. Serious rain suit. With those, it would have been a whole different story.

But hey. I did learn a lot. So there's value in that.

New England has had constant rain as you've probably heard and seen. Floods, bridges damaged, people's houses flooded, some forced evacuations, the ground just can't handle much more water. The first three trail rides I was signed up for were cancelled or postponed, and this one wasn't, but probably should have been. Sunday did, however, turn out nice after all. So I hope those who were better experienced (hence a little more smartly prepared) at least had a good day of riding on Sunday.

Sorry this post is so long, but since it was my first horse camping trip and so much went wrong (I left out several things including my driver's side truck door lock broke, and of course, it broke "locked." So nothing to it but to open the other and slide across the seat, right? (Wrong. It was the ONLY place I had to move stuff to, lol. It was packed to the ceiling with tossed-in "stuff." And bags of hay. Etc. It's actually kind of comical.
:-D

[JoJo]

GTD, sounds like some great advice! When you say you rode 100 miles, is this returning to camp each night, or is it camping en route with the stuff you carry on your horse? A-la wild west??

Yes, I definitely learned to organize stuff differently, that's for darned sure. I did end up moving the hay under the truck (XXL ziplock bags). Labeling outsides of drawers and other holding containers is something I'd thought of but never got around to (my bad) but sure is a great idea, like way high on the list.

I do have some questions about your GREAT sounding suggestions.

1. Sealing leaks in trailer with Florsheim's hoof packing:
It would have been impossible to get up onto the top of the trailer, let alone find WHERE the water was getting in. It's over 8 ft. tall and not something I'd cherish doing on a dry day, but if that's what you meant, what kind of ladder do you carry with you? Or did you mean sealing it at the inside??

2. The small one-can propane heaters you referred to -- I haven't seen those. I have a Coleman ProCat (operates off one can of propane) but I wouldn't call it small.

3. Deep cycle marine battery and inverter -- you've mentioned those before, I may just be looking into those. I don't think the kind of horse camping I'll be doing is anywhere near as challenging as what you seem to be doing, but can you direct us to any brand or specific type you use?

Now I've heard such great things about those Outback oil skin coats, and saw a few people in them. They LQQK serious, and very effective, and my farrier swears by them (he did the 100 mile gone for a week type trips). HOWEVER, one guy told me they are very heavy and unless it's cold, miserable to be under because they don't breathe. Really hot. I would have hated wearing something big and heavy, would have preferred being naked I think, lol.

Oh, one more thing. You said magnets with shower curtain. Where did you get your magnets? They sound really strong. Hardware stores, etc. seem to draw a blank when I ask about magnets, or magnetic anythings beyond those wimpy little white hooks that don't hold any weight.

[JoJo]

GTD, thanks for the detailed reply!! It sure sounds like you have had the experiences, lol.

Well, I hit the hardware store and Gabz was right, they had some great magnet hooks. Oddly enough, what looked like a wimpy hook (thin metal hook) said it holds 15 lbs. What looked like a much more serious hook (bigger, fatter, plastic covered) only said it would hold 5 lbs. I bought all they had of the wimpy ones, which was only three. I have no clue why Wally World doesn't have any of these things, but they don't seem to.

Well, if the Coleman tent lights frazzle after a season, I won't get more than one trip out of two of mine. When I found my lantern was broken Fri. night upon arrival, I had to do stuff outside, so brought two of the tent lights out and it was raining right on 'em. But I definitely agree with you about the magnets -- when the lights die, I'll pry those babies out, because they sure are strong!

Where do you get the Florsheim putty stuff? It sounds terrific. If you're talking putting it on the inside, while I know I'd be smart to get the leak stopped from entering the trailer anywhere at all, at least this could be a temporary fix. That would downright make my day! And for sure my nights, it ain't fun having a pillow with brown wet stains from rust on it, yuk!

The Outback coat you described sounded like a nightmare!!! I definitely like the sound of the ponchos and how you modified them because I have two of them and they're great. I think a whopping $3.00 each or something of the order, but they'd totally cover the saddle and from what I could tell, pretty much the whole leg.

[JoJo]

GTD--

Clarifications please...

Re the trailer leaks, did you mean Forshner's hoof packing? (Made by Farnam.) I looked up Florsheim's and got human shoes which is the first thing that came to mind when I read it. I figured maybe there was another Florsheim's, but did find Forshner's. If that's it, smallest quantity that I found is a 4 lb. bucket for $19. If I wouldn't need much maybe someone I know has some, doesn't sound like I'd need a lot.

Second... re the Coleman 1-burner propane stove, it appears to be made for cooking, not for heating. So did you mean you use it as a heater? If so, do you add something to the top to make it project space heat? Or were you talking about just warming your hands by it??

It does look like a space-efficient little stove though, if just making a pot of coffee. I'm not sure how a 9-cup pot of coffee would balance on it though, seems like it would be pretty top heavy right off the bat. If not though, it sure looks like a lot quicker "do" than a 2-burner tabletop stove.

[lawndart]

It was an Endurance ride. 2-day 100. 50 miles each day in really crappy weather. Stationary camp. Had to dry out everything each night -- was up until the wee hours with that, too. What it taught me was to get several of those long cheapo plastic ponchos from Wal-Mart (or K-Mart), slit them up the middle, and sew on velcro as front closures. **Best** raincoat you can have for riding - extremely light, extremely airy, extremely efficient, able to be crumpled into a tiny ball and shoved in a pocket, and bright enough to be seen 1 mile away. Plus they are expendable because they are cheap.




A BIG magic marker will do the job quickly, efficiently, and the labeling won't "fall off".


Yes, I meant sealing it from the inside. You can generally follow the course of a drip back to the source. The Florsheim's packing is like the modern equivalent to a 18th century sailor's tarred hemp "packing" that they used to stop leaks on the wooden sailing ships. :cool: You can keep a ball of Florsheims in a plastic bag in your safety equipment box (the box with the hammer and screwdrivers and pliers). Guaranteed Florsheims will keep soft and pliable for several centuries. It gets harder when it gets cold, but will soften up very quickly in the sun or near heat.


Mine is also a Coleman -- it's called a "One Burner Propane Stove". It has just the holding foot and the screw-on burner head. Nothing else. An endurance rider years ago suggested it to me when I was struggling with one of those kerosene pump-up stoves that just would not work. I threw out that pump-up stove, bought what she had, and it's been fantastic since day one. Uber light, highly portable (fits in a 8"x8" box), extremely easy to assemble/use/disassemble, and 100% reliable.

I've got one of these, very useful, but I'm curious too how to use it for heating.

Any inverter that can give you at least two outlets will be more than sufficient. Read the labels -- they will often tell you how much power they can process from a battery. And as I said -- an extention cord is a must with these for camping so that you can take that power a distance away to use. I have two of those grab-clamp swivvle lights with a round metal heat shield that both projects the light forward and acts as a heat shield. You can find them at automotive stores. Mechanics use them because that grab-clamp can attach to about anything with an edge, and the head swivvels to whatever position you want to aim the light. I also use the green earth light bulbs -- they pull WAY less amperage than a conventional light, yet give you the same illumination. Very important consideration when your energy source is a stand-alone (and heavy like a big battery that should stay put) and not part of a commercial power grid. I have seen the small inverters with small car batteries -- they actually work great for running field computers and lights, AND they are portable. Mine is designed for heavier useage (TV, DVD, lights, small battery charging, etc) so it does "stay put" in the corner of my trailer. I have the portable solar panels to recharge the battery -- they are silent and highly efficient. I like that my renewable "source" of power is Ma Nature. ;)

You can purchase both marine batteries and inverters at Tractor Supply.


Trust the last guy. He's absolutely right.. except for the part being good in the cold. They are HORRIBLE in the cold. You sweat like a pig, then when you take the coat off you get chilled by your sweaty clothes. Wish someone had told me these things just don't work, but... I found out the hard way. It also didn't keep out the nor'easter rain, either. In no time at all it was soggy and extremely heavy. It rubbed in all the wrong places -- even under my arms !!-- and in some areas the rubbing "burned" raw spots. I had to vet-wrap those parts of me to protect the raw spots. I was extremely miserable for a whole freezing cold, rainy, sleety weekend, and never stopped cursing that damn coat. Only thing that kept me going was the image of me burning it in the trash barrel once I got home. The coat now hangs on a hook at home (my husband thinks it looks stylish to wear and was horrified when I told him I wanted to torch it). That thing won't find itself on my back again. They might look uber cool on a good look'n Outback cowboy, but ... if you are serious about staying dry and comfortable while riding I would NOT recommend one of these coats at all. Period.


The best magnets I've found were the ones on the back of those Coleman tent lights. They have two REALLY strong magnets - worth the price of the light, IMHO. Those lights only last one season anyway (the contacts corrode VERY quickly) so I would pry off the magnets and just stick them in one spot of my trailer for using whenever I needed them. I have about 6 of them and they are always "on duty" for one job or another. The other source of strong magnets are the holding ends of those magnetic curtain rods. You can find them at the bigger hardware stores. But if anyone else has a source of where to find really good magnetics, it would be great to know. :)

I too have been searching for magnets. Strongest one so far my son gave me out of a computer. Haven't found another. The ones on the magnetic curtain rods are good, have three of those. If you take the magnetic curtain rods, put them on the ceiling of your trailer, you can hang a shower curtain (with rings) anywhere (like in a corner) to create an area of privacy for dressing, shower, or porta potti.

I found those 'florescent stick lights' they sell at Sears for around ten dollars to be great. They have a hook on the top so you can hang them anywere, and take less wattage then a convential bulb. Throws quite a bit of light. Comes with a long enough cord that I can hang it outside the trailer at night so I can find the darn thing in the dark and rain. I hate rain when camping.

I camp much less than GTD, but I find if I can keep dry, fairly warm, and fed, I can stand 2-3 days. Just a hot cup of tea or soup can make the difference between staying or going for me. I don't have LQ of any kind, but I do have a gooseneck that is totally enclosed, a 5' dressing room that we converted into a 'living space'.

I've not found the stand alone canopies to be worth the effort. An awing on the trailer would be nice, but not worth the $800 it would cost IMHO. Rather spend that money on a new saddle :winkgrin:

[JoJo]

Lawndart, where do you get the curtain rods with the good magnets? Those could be very handy! I seem to remember when I called around for "magnetic anythings" that Target said all they had was magnetic curtain rods. I didn't act on them at the time, but buy them at a place like that?

I got a hoola hoop for the shower curtain but what you're suggesting sounds SO much easier.
Thanks!

[lawndart]

Lawndart, where do you get the curtain rods with the good magnets? Those could be very handy! I seem to remember when I called around for "magnetic anythings" that Target said all they had was magnetic curtain rods. I didn't act on them at the time, but buy them at a place like that?

I got a hoola hoop for the shower curtain but what you're suggesting sounds SO much easier.
Thanks!

I got mine at K-mart. The ends are separate from the rod part, so you can extend the rod (or shorten it) or place shower rings on it, then pop the end back on. I use a corner by a door in the horse section, that way I can access the porta potti from outside without getting mud/hay/etc in the living part. The door/wall and the short wall form one "L" of the 'room' the shower curtain, hung on two rods forms the other "L". I've been using a cloth shower curtain since that lets the air thru, making it cooler, but I can see where a plastic curtain would have its benefits too.

I get amused, at the rodeo's I go to, all of us that don't have LQ's get together to discuss new ideas that work well. One woman told me (she has a rather open stock trailer) that she replaced those small canisters on her coleman heater with a full sized propane tank using tubing (I didn't actually see this, so I'd be no help there). The small canisters only last about 8 hours on a cold weekend (they do High School Rodeo all year) while the full sized propane tank (like on a grill or camper) will last all weekend, sometimes two weekends or more.

That same family sleeps on cots, I prefer a good foam filled mattress on the 'goose' part of my gooseneck. After a very cold weekend filled with rain in May of last year, 8 hours from home, I started looked for a gooseneck. I kept the bp stock trailer, love the thing for its versatility, but after one night in a horrendous thunderstorm floating on a air mattress in several inches of water despite the tarp wrapped on the wind side, I decided my life was worth more that the cost of a used Goose. Found a nice used Bee here on COTH :D Saving money is good, but not at the cost of my (or my kids) life. Thankfully, the horse had a stall that weekend, I was jealous of her.

Anyone have suggestions for a good battery operated fan? I didn't find one last year, forgot to look again this spring, so my choices are probably limited, but I will need one in the next couple of weeks. Rodeo's rarely have hookups for electric.

I am amazed at the stuff people bring for a 2 day campout. Do you really need a microwave, a toaster oven, AND a grill? You can make almost anything on that one burner propane stove. I'm just as happy with oatmeal as I am with Bacon, eggs and potatoes tho. I bring along hard boiled eggs for protein, they are great. Wraps take up less room than bread, don't get squished either ;) Someone on here mentioned putting the ice on top of the food (why didn't I think of that?) that works great, especially if you can leave it right in the bag, will last most of the weekend. I do have a separate cooler for drinks that gets opened more often.

Lollipops are great for a pick up on the long trail rides, but be careful, I've almost given myself a new throat opening when I bent over to get under a tree.....A granola bar saved my life this weekend when I forgot to bring my lunch, I really didn't care that it had been in my riding buddies bag for a year or so :eek:

I know you didn't ask for all this info Jo, but I had to put it somewhere! :lol:

[JoJo]

Well, in some ways you do need most of the same stuff for a 2-day camping weekend that you do for a week. But not nuker, grill and toaster oven, lol, that's overkill. But I was thinking that last week -- heater, HWOD (which I do want to have along), tent, sleeping bag, pillow, camp mattress, propane batteries, tarps -- awk. I don't think you'd need much more for a 1-2 week trip except more food, paper goods, fuel and clothes.

Whoever said to put the food under the ice was right. Heat rises, cold sinks. I always freeze 16-oz bottles of water rock hard, and use them for cold as a base in the floor, PLUS the ice cubes at the top. As the weekend wears on, the bottled water melts, or begins to, and so you have ice water. Another neat trick for putting food down into the coldest place and getting it out easily... if you buy bagged oranges, be careful how you rip the orange net bag, and keep it intact. You can put food items you're going to use together (e.g., lunch meat, cheese) together and drop it down in there, top of bag labeled. If you want to make a sandwich, just quickly grab the tagged net bag and yank it out.

Walmart carries a very decent battery operated fan, I bought 2 of them. O2 Cool (aptly named) -- about $12.00 each, 10-inch fan, it takes 8 D batteries, a lot but if you need a fan, you won't care. I just consider the batteries and propane "utilities."

I had to kill an hour at Walmart this afternoon while my truck was being worked on, and their only magnet curtain rods were sash rods, very small. But I'll keep looking.

You call it small that you only have a 5-foot dressing room you converted into LQ, lol. I'd LOVE a 5-foot width room out there, I could already tell that this weekend. But I think I'm at the sparce end of space, I'm using the stalls themselves and a 38-inch wide walkway across the front of a 2H BP. Optimistic, however, I figure it's only a matter of time until I have it nailed how to do it and not be driven nuts.

Another neat snack on trails is dried fruit. A friend took me to Costco where I'm not a member and I discovered Costco is a ton nicer than BJs or Sam's Club from everything I could see. But they had a humungous bag of mixed fruit, cheap. I didn't have a lot of hope for it, but it's delicious. Ditto nuts since they're pretty nutritious, and the two (dried fruit and nuts) go together really well, don't take up much room and you can't crush them.

[LostFarmer]

For strong magnets with and attitude I went to the salvage yard at the dump. I took the magnets off of the old speakers. Those things can be hell for stout. Most welding supply shops carry a never ending supply of magnets to brace parts as they are welded. Not cheap but certainly stout. Check out the army surplus stores they often have some good ones. As a last resort try this page. http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVSH?SISHNO=1476395&SISRCH=1&SIS0NO=303402&SIT4NO=8709408&SIOR=1
They have some magnets that will pull 200 lbs. Never give a geek a challenge to find a geek toy. :D

LF

[JoJo]

LostFarmer, thanks for the link. I'd done a google on magnets some time ago and found another site that explained the numbering system for their strength (1 through 9 I think) and can't find it again. It had various shapes of magnets with their strengths listed. I sort of thought there would be some source for them already on hooks, etc., so just filed it in the back of my mind... whereupon the link I THOUGHT I'd saved isn't anywhere to be found.

The hooks Gabz mentioned at TruValue, etc. may work out just fine as they do seem reasonably strong. Sorta only time will tell. But since you mentioned computers and speakers, where in those would you find the magnets?? Unfortunately I junked two computers that were relics, but quite some time ago. Wish I'd waited on those now that I know there's a hidden treasure to be found in them, lol.

[gabz]

I have a Mr. Buddy heater. WOrks with the small propane canister or can be attached via hose connector to a larger tank.
If you use the large tank, put it in a milk crate in the bed of your pickup for transporting. You can also make a hole in the wall of your trailer, close it with a dryer vent or get the actual flap thing from an RV place. Then, run the approved hose connector through the hole from the tank in the bed of your truck into the trailer area where you are sleeping / eating. You can use the pool noodles or the grey pipe foal insulators to "pad" the hole to prevent ripping the gas hose.

I put beverages in one cooler; food in another. Use baskets (look in the bathroom section) for food stuff. I prefer to use gallon & 1/2 gallon milk jugs of frozen water to keep food cold... less water than with cubes; plus, as the gallon jug thaws, I have water to drink. It also stays cold MUCH longer than individual bottles of water. While having the cold above the food is more efficient, it's a bigger pain in the buttski... Lay a piece of bubble wrap over the top of the food before closing the lid to keep the cold in.

Muddy Creek makes EXCELLENT water-proof long coats and pants / chap like pants. VERY lightweight, very water proof: they are made from some sort of micro-fiber.

I bought a vinyl / zippered closet bag. It has the coat hanger thingy at the top and is meant to hang long dresses in. Put all bedding in one of those to prevent it from getting wet. I used to wet the hay for my horse in his 2H straight load, with managers... I never thought about it leaking into the dressing room area. I was glad my bedding was in the vinyl carrying case. I was able to put the vinyl case on the floor (that was wet) and put the sleeping bag/mattress on top.

[JoJo]

Gabz, you are hot ticket. Among other things, the bubble wrap seems like a good solution, because while the food "should" be at the bottom, you're right, it's a royal pain to deal with it that way. I like the individual water containers for tons of convenience, but it sure wouldn't hurt to pack in some bigger bulk water containers when longevity is an issue. As for bedding, next time I'm going to put it in those XXL ziplock bags, because those suckers are waterproof! I'm amazed it took them so long to make the huge bags, but now that they have, they make life a whole lot easier.

Aren't those pool noodles great?? Dang, they lend themselves to tons of uses!

[Fancy]

We did our first overnight this weekend. It wasn't much, by most standards, but we were "out in the woods." :winkgrin: My mare and I went to a local state park with friends and spent the night. I got to use my brand new high-line, and my new Prussic Loops, and see if I could set things up so the high-line didn't sag. :) And I spent the predictible sleepless night worring about my mare, :confused: who spent most of the night laying down, sleeping. :sleepy: Our experienced camper taught us a trick. She gifted each of us with the little $1 light sticks. I hung mine on my horse's halter and I could see her all night long. It looked like she was wearing a little lantern.

I had a ton of fun. Gotta go do it again, and soon! :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

[JoJo]

Fancy, Congratulations! I sure know what you mean about worrying about the horse, first time on a high line. My ill-fated, rained-in camping trip... I did the same thing! Of course I had her tied to my trailer and a tree, so I felt her every move, lol.

I also bought a package of light sticks, and though I didn't use it that time, they sure look like just that added measure of security, being able to see them!

I'm planning another trip in mid-July, hopefully this one won't have rain! I sure loved waking up to the sounds of nature and the sight of my horse right there. Glad your first trip went well !!!

[gabz]

Fancy - where did you camp?

[MuleLady]

This has evolved into the MOST helpful thread I've ever seen...thanks again to all. I have gotten so many ideas and been able to make so many little decisions about my trailer outfitting, thanks to y'all.

So, this weekend, I'm heading up to Ft Valley for 3 days/2 nites; gonna stay in a campsite but no hookups to anything. The mule will be in a paddock with a water hydrant nearby (so I won't have to lug it to her) and they have a bath/shower house so I can stay clean. It's not really roughing it, but it will give me a chance to see how well all my decisions about what to take hold up.

Having never been there, I am somewhat concerned about the mule having some shade during the heat of the day. If the paddock doesn't offer any, I am taking stuff to see how she does with picketing (assuming there is a place to do that) during the day when I can supervise her. Worst case scenario, I can put up her corral in the shade near the trailer (letting her run up into the trailer as a shed if she so desires; with the partition to one side, there's plenty of room for her to relax in there).

I'll report back on whatever I learn from the experience!

[Fancy]

Fancy - where did you camp?

We were at Pontiac Lake State park. I must say, it's a nice place. I had never been there before. When we poked around a little, we found two REALLY nice sites, with about 8 hi-line poles in a semi-circle, and not too far from the outhouse. LOL Us lil ole ladies gotta be aware of these things, ya know. :yes:

I bought rope and stuff for a hi-line. I was REALLY pleased with how well it worked out. Looked almost like I knew what I was doing! :lol:

[katarine]

I check this post almost daily to see who else has ventured out there and enjoyed camping with their horses.

Be warned- it's addictive. I predict many Friday's off in your collective future :cool: wish I could go somewhere this weekend, but one pony has a flat tire/new abscess :no:

[MuleLady]

...not too far from the outhouse.

No kidding! I've got my little porta pottie all loaded up with clumping deodorizing cat litter (hey...it works with the cats...why not me? :lol: AND it makes the pottie bottom heavy so I am less worried it will move around or tip easily). I predict that each time I wake up in the middle of the night and DON'T have to venture outside across the dewey grass to an outhouse, I am going to be very grateful I decided to spend the $30 on it!

Here's what I decided to do for now regarding curtains for privacy...I bought cheap lightweight but non-sheer fabric for a buck a yard. I cut it to length and am just going to drape it over inexpensive cafe rods that I mounted on plastic stick-up hooks. All very lightweight and I like the idea of not leaving the curtains up all the time...since there are going to be times when I don't want the windows blocked. When I get back from camping, I can just fold up the curtain fabric and store it in a quart size ziplock in the "kitchen stuff" tote that stays in the trailer.

Some other things I thought might come in handy that are tucked into the "other stuff" tote: plastic clothes pins and twine from the dollar store to use as clothesline (in case I need to hang stuff to dry), table-top tap lights that run on 1 D cell battery (3 lights for $10 at walmart), wasp/hornet spray, a roll of screen and a pack of 50 3/4" round magnets that *might* hold the screen up over the tackroom door to let air but not bugs in at night if it's hot, and in a fit of exuberance, a nifty lightweight hammock for camping. The hammock takes up very little space in the tote but I think I'll get a lot of use out of it.

[rideapaso]

The pipe corrals at Ft. Valley offer plenty of shade. I always bring a rain sheet for the horse. Unless you are in one of the covered corrals, there is no shelter from rain. Have a great time!

[Fancy]

:D :D :D
Next step is to get a bar or two welded on my door so I can hang a nice shoe bag or something for incidentals. My DH works at a place where they can do such things. I cleaned out the trailer very nicely the other day, and realized that I could actually SLEEP in there without it smelling like horse s***, so I need to find screens and magnets and stuff. I am really getting excited. Addictive? You betcha! Even a short trail ride is addicting. And I've been hooked since I was three and the horsey photo guy came around and took a picture of me on his pony.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[MuleLady]

Well, I got back from my first real experience camping in my trailer at Fort Valley and learned a couple of things:

> Plan meals out ahead of time and pack victuals accordingly to avoid taking too much along that you just have to unpack when you get home.

> I LOVE my little charcoal grill, also love the grate with legs I put over the fire to set open cans of food on to cook. Heated hot water in a whistling kettle for coffee, oatmeal, etc. Worked great.

> My "catbox" (e.g., hassock style porta pottie with cat litter in it) came in handy NUMEROUS times at night. Was VERY glad to have it.

> Those 50-packs of little round craft magnets come in handy for hanging lightweight fabric across the windows at night for privacy. Easy up, easy down.

> Can't say enough good things about the usefulness of Dollar Store tap lights.

> Need to pack more libations next time. We ran out the first night! :cry:

Edited to add: If you would like to see a report of my trip (with pics of our hair-raising Saturday ride), it's here (http://www.tuliphillfarm.com/emma/ftvalley2006-01.htm).

[Simbalism]

Mule Lady, Just read your story of camping at Fort Valley. NO freaking way would I have been able to do that loop. I have a terrible fear of heights and there is no damn way you would get me by myself on a ledge much less with my horse. Kudos to you for bucking up and doing it. Guess I won't be going to Fort Valley any time soon. hehe...

[MuleLady]

LOL, well it wasn't like I could turn around and go back--or so it seemed at the time! Not with my gigantic mule on that narrow ledge, anyway.

That experience has prompted me to put "well stocked bar" on my list of trailer necessities, cuz I really wanted about a 16 oz Black Russian when we got back! Heck, if I'd been thinking straight, I would have packed a filled flask in my saddlebags. :yes:

[Simbalism]

Yep beverages of the fortifying type are always on my list of necessities for camping.hehe...Luckily, I have a smallish TB mare, my butt would have been turned around and gone outta there...

[JoJo]

Mule--

I went to your website and that trail setup looks trecherous! I can see where you'd say you were glad to say you've done it but may not want to do it again, LOL. Really nice pictures! Thanks for linking it!

[MuleLady]

GTD: That was eloquent and I can very much relate to it. Funny you mention the pull of that place...because I already want to go back to FV. It IS magnificent there. The rocky trails were notable but not a big deal for the most part. The mule had zero problem with any of the footing. However, places like that ledge are probably just too much for my innate cowardice and terror of heights to overcome! I could kick myself for not thinking to take a picture in the middle where I was the most frightened...it'd be nice to look at a photo and adjust my perception based on reality rather than my admittedly overactive imagination!

[Mtn trails]

I don't like those very narrow trails that are straight down over your toe either but sometimes you have no choice. Just last weekend we were riding out of a horse camp in central WA and the trail was soft, very narrow, and straight down to the river on one side. I was riding my 3 year old mustang and at one point, she was looking to the right up the hillside and both hind feet went over the edge! I was just about to bail off and was kicking and yelling at her to get up and she scrambled back onto the trail. If that trail had given way, we both would have gone down. There was another narrow area later on and I got off and led her, if she fell, she was falling without me. I think a few more rides and she'll be fine, it scared her as much as it scared me.

Mulelady, don't worry about your Emma going over the edge, as you probably know, mules have a highly developed sense of self-preservation and I don't think you could force a mule over the edge if you tried.

Emma's such a pretty mule too!

[sam6974]

Thank you Mulelady for the information about Fort Valley. I've book a cabin there for Oct and I'm trying to talk my friends into going. I wont tell them about the trails though.:no:

[MuleLady]

Thanks, Mtn trls! I did have a brief moment of giving thanks that I wasn't up there on one of the whacky OTTBs I used to have.

Sam6974: That is just evil! I hope you have a great time and post about it afterwards!

[sam6974]

;) Yeah, I can be that way.

Hey if I cant get anyone to go, I may be emailing you as you know the trails!:D

[MuleLady]

Do that! If I can, I'd be willing to head up there again (though October is practically booked already, and I'm not sure if gun hunting will interfere with trail riding at that time...I guess gun season doesn't start til around Thanksgiving?).

[MuleLady]

yup, i had meant that *I* am booked almost all of October with trail riding and foxhunting "must do" dates! Ain't it fun!

[JoJo]

GTD, you ARE a writer, yes?? If not, then you are missing your calling, m'dear. Your style speaks to the soul. (No kidding, you took me there). You are a very treasurable writer!

MULE, well now, that sure didn't take you long, sounds like you're lusting to get back there. So come on, what'd you do, get home, unpack, take a shower, sleep a night or two grateful you weren't dead, and then start itching to get back there again? (GTD hints at that tendency.) LOL!

MULE, now I am totally intrigued about mules! Could you tell us more about them? From the photos, I must say, I did kind of fall in love with yours. Tell us what they're like. Their good points, their not-so-good traits, health issues, whatever. It may be just me, but I really don't know beans about mules.
JJ

[MuleLady]

JoJo: I didn't even unpack the trailer all the way, LOL! And I'm not gonna...less to put back in...only the perishables and need-it-everyday stuff came out. Yes I DO want to go back to FV already...heck, I wanted to stay for a few more days but couldn't. I LOVE this whole riding/camping thing...more than foxhunting, really. I plan to go somewhere at least once a month during good riding weather.

I know I started this thread oh so many bajillion pages ago, but don't want to hijack it by carrying on about mules here...I'll start another thread shortly in Off Course that quotes your question about mules and I"ll respond there...then other folks with mule opinions can notice our discussion and join in!

Edited to add: Here's the mule thread for JoJo. (http://praha.planetsg.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=1731683#post1731683)

[Fancy]

*I* want to go horse camping again, too. Unfortunately, Mr. Fancy has vacation time coming. :sadsmile: I'll just have to cope with it. We've got another one set up for September--how late in the year do y'all go out?

[MuleLady]

Around here, you could comfortably camp in your horse trailer pretty much through October if the weather is agreeable...which it often is that late, though the nights might tend to be a bit cool. But hey, for those of us dealing with hot flashes, that ain't such a bad thing, :lol: :lol:

[Fancy]

Those are POWER SURGES, my dear! Repeat after me, "Power Surges!" I truly wish I had no idea what you're talking about.:lol:

[MuleLady]

Power Surges, LOL! No kidding. They can be useful in winter for serving a impetus to get out of the once cozy, now blazingly hot bed into the now refreshingly cool, former friggin freezing house (downfall of heating soley with a wood stove is a cold house in the a.m.).:lol: :lol: :lol:

GTD: I hope you go on the "suicide ledge" trail and get some pics of that ledge so I can compare reality to my memory! I would not want to be at Fort Valley right now...it is sweltering here...went on a Bull Run trail ride out in Culpeper and it was just gagging humid. Had fun though! VERRRRY thankful for that water tank, pump, and hose in my trailer.

[Fancy]

GTD: I hope you go on the "suicide ledge" trail and get some pics of that ledge so I can compare reality to my memory!

An *I* hope that you put said pictures somewhere that we can all see them an drool over them, thankyouverymuchinadvance. :D

[MuleLady]

GTD, I am jealous! I want SO badly to get away from this deadline-driven grind I'm in right now, wahhhhhhhhh. VERY tempting to just load up and run to the hills with my mulie, haha. Hope you have a fabbo time...glad you are catching a weather break. I *am* going on a hunt trail ride Saturday, so that'll be something. I'm sure I'll be thinking of what fun y'all are having up there :) And looking forward to your photos.

Speaking of trailer outfitting...hmmm, I got a $50 gift certificate for Outfitters Supply. What to buy...hmmmmmm...decisions, decisions. Probably going to put it toward one of those little battery driven shockers for my temporary corral.

[Simbalism]

Wow, this topic just keeps on going. I got by the hot Virginia temperatures last weekend by going to the eastern shore and swimming with my horse in the Chesapeake Bay. Wow was it refreshing! My horse loved swimming after she got used to the little waves. Can't think of anything better when it is hot! In two weeks, I am going to a night time trail ride at Beaverdam(near Gloucester-sp?)They are going to have an ice cream social after the ride. Will be hooking up with someone I have chatted with online but have never met in person. A group of my friends want to try to do James River State Park in September for a camp out. It's so interesting to see the different things people do with their horses and mules.

[MuleLady]

What a story! Remind me never to ride with you two, haha! I've marked that trail off with big red X's on my map, :lol: I checked out your (very adorable) web site...no story yet, or did I miss it?

I have one of those little tabletop grills, too and LOVE it.

[sam6974]

Cant wait to see the pictures!

You make it sound like I will have a lot of when I go down in Oct:D . Thanks for all the great tips on this thread.

[MuleLady]

I'm busy loading the photos of the trail on my website, along with the story.

Hey GTD, didja ever post story/pics? I couldn't find them...would love to see them.

[Simbalism]

GTD, I checked out your pictures. It was great to see all the beautiful sites, but have to admit (being afraid of heights) that my favorite parts were the nice wide trails and the road back to the stables. Also wanted to add, that I was doing some online searches, and found a great site for anyone interested in getting an inverter. The site is www.donrowe.com. It has a great section of frequently asked questions(quite detailed) for use of inverters.

[lawndart]

GTD, I checked out your pictures. It was great to see all the beautiful sites, but have to admit (being afraid of heights) that my favorite parts were the nice wide trails and the road back to the stables. Also wanted to add, that I was doing some online searches, and found a great site for anyone interested in getting an inverter. The site is www.donrowe.com (http://www.donrowe.com). It has a great section of frequently asked questions(quite detailed) for use of inverters.

I ordered my inverter from here http://http://www.sportsmansguide.com/search/search.asp?r=Page%3A+%2FDefault.asp+KW+Box&s=SEARCH&a=search&k=Inverter (http://http//www.sportsmansguide.com/search/search.asp?r=Page%3A+%2FDefault.asp+KW+Box&s=SEARCH&a=search&k=Inverter)


It can be hooked to a battery, or a power pack, which is what I'm using. It ran lights, and a fan all night with plenty left over. Cost for both around $50.

Pennsylvania has a amazing number of equestrian trails in some of the State Forests. The PA Equine council has done a great job working with the DCNR getting the trails opened, marked, and getting designated parking. I purchased the "Ride PA trails, books 1 and 2" by Carolyn Cook. Every trail she designated as a nice trail is just that. Lots of info on best place to park, local vets and farriers, and best route to take to get there as well. Every state should be so lucky!! Now that DD is heading for college, I'm hoping to hit every one of them with my QP. Might take me years :D :D

[MuleLady]

GTD: Thanks for posting that link. GREAT photos--really brought back some recent memories, LOL. That ledge doesn't look ANY wider than I remember it...especially seeing as how my head was initially 9 feet up in the air when we started across. It was a little less freaky after I dismounted. But just a LITTLE. :lol:

LawnDart: I am planning to get Cook's books and want to spend some time on the PA trails...they seem awesome, and a very reasonable distance from here if I go for several days. I have a lot of mules friends in PA and we've been talking about organizing a big group ride for a week next year.

LawnDart & Simbalism: Thanks for the links to that inverter info. Really useful.

[lawndart]

GTD: Thanks for posting that link. GREAT photos--really brought back some recent memories, LOL. That ledge doesn't look ANY wider than I remember it...especially seeing as how my head was initially 9 feet up in the air when we started across. It was a little less freaky after I dismounted. But just a LITTLE. :lol:

LawnDart: I am planning to get Cook's books and want to spend some time on the PA trails...they seem awesome, and a very reasonable distance from here if I go for several days. I have a lot of mules friends in PA and we've been talking about organizing a big group ride for a week next year.

LawnDart & Simbalism: Thanks for the links to that inverter info. Really useful.

Welcome! The head of Trails for the PEC are mule people too. Bud and Gwen are good people.

[Fancy]

I want to revive this thread, because I found a REALLY nifty thingie or two on our camping trip this weekend. The guy we shared a trailer with had a 25 gallon dump tank--the two wheeled kind that you can pull to the dump station yourself. Only THIS one was kept clean, for dog/horse water. There's a nifty handle that will hook over the hitch on the truck so you can drive down, fill the tank, and pull it back behind your vehicle. He had a hand pump to get all the water out.

The other water idea I saw was a 50 gallon barrel with a siphon up in the bed of the truck. I think the barrel is the better idea for me, because I can't manhandle 25 gallons of water.

And, this guy had a little propane barbecue grill (18" x 24"??) that did everything but walk and talk--grill meat, make toast, heat coffee. I gotta have me one of those babes!

[lawndart]

I use the 50 gal. drum on the back next to the tailgate, fits under the goose nice, and will last 2-3 days for two horses (this includes sponging them off) you do have to periodically do a bleach and flush.

I have the barbecue grill which is very useful, but if you don't have room for it, just purchase the one burner top that screws onto one of those little green propane tanks they sell at Walmart. Very useful thing. I can stick a pot full of chili on top of one, and its bubbling in a short time :D

There are so many neat camping things out there anymore. Now if they can just make something that makes my horse sleep thru the night, so I can sleep!
:lol:

[ChocoMare]

Time to revive this thread because I GOT A TRAILER!!! :D and needed the info contained herein. I also have a question or two of my own.

First, I'm seriously coveting the grid systems from www.theorganizedhorse.com (http://www.theorganizedhorse.com) BUT I am reluctant to just let Mr. C'mare loose with his drill hanging the buggers. Any chance I could finagle some way to hang them with super-duper strong magnets?

Has anyone tried or use the Equine Pine pellets instead of cat litter for their port-a-potties? That stuff is so cheap and since I already buy it for my cats, figured I'd check.

I was gonna do a cargo net over the gooseneck opening/above the drop down gate, but have changed my mind to just doing heavy-duty magnetic shower curtain rods. Think that'll work ok? Pic of the opening: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2196940950015305252UWJzqY

I'm quite fortunate to have the screen door. That was an added "freebie" from the WONDERFUL folks at EquiSpirit ;)

Thanks!

[Icecapade]

http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/search.aspx?HKW=Rust+Converter&B1=Search&UID=20060317105032078312281

Gemplers carries this, its a liquid that you brush on. Worth its weight in gold. Wait till it dries, then spray paint in color of choice. Much easier than Rustoleum
IMHO.

We do our 14 steel stock every couple of years (kept inside Nov-april)it looks great.

Gemplers has a lot of neat products, different colors paints, all kinds of farm stuff.


so late on reading this thread... great stuff in here, way more than I"m used to having compared to Cav weekends but this looks like awesome stuff, I have a 1980 trailer and it moved from california to nj and is getting hit pretty hard w/ humidity... might be time for some rust converter! I think I love it!!!

[gabz]

Choco -
If your trailer is steel, you don't want to drill directly into any frame or sheet metal because any condensation will flow along the screw into the frame. If it's alum, do not use steel screws into alum.

You CAN, drill into it and use sealant (silicone) and cover the screw.

I use many magnets in my converted DR... but I also have insulated mine and added walls, so I can screw into the wood walls.

I have some Coleman camping items with magnet bases that work well - a fan and a small tent light.

You might want to consider finishing the inside of your DR... insulation, furring strips attached to the steel supports, then 1/2-3/8" plywood screwed to the furring strips. Then, you can hang whatever you want to the plywood. It will make your trailer heavier.

[gabz]

I use regular shavings in my hassock bucket port-o-potty. I also put 1/2 cup of Sweet PDZ in there. TP, hand cleaner hang in a zip lock bag close by. : )

[JustTrails]

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the few pages I perused, so I apologize if this was mentioned - a Jiffy Jack, the metal one. I've never had to use it on my horse trailer, but did when the tire blew on my toyhauler, it was awesome. I actually keep it in a box in the bed of the truck, so it's always with us.

[Romany]

If your trailer is steel, you can use magnets for everything, and then you don't have to screw anything in anywhere. :)

I buy those little magnetic bowls that are used for nails and screws, etc; they make great bridle hangers.

Just search websites such as Lowe's, Home Despot, Lee Valley, etc, for magnet, or magnetic.

I also use the super HD magnets - they're VERY strong.

[RackOn]

OK, so I read online about the PETT portable potty and how great it was. So I ordered one from rei.com (I think that is the site) and used it last summer on all my camping trips and LOVE it.

It folds up into the size of a large briefcase, but when set up it is the standard height of a toilet. Then you buy these things called "wag bags" - packets containing one large plastic bag that fits under the rim of the toilet and one disposal bag.

You put the large bag under the rim, go potty, gather it up and then put in whole thing in the smaller ziplock-type bag and then into the trash. The large bag comes with this powder stuff inside that turns the pee and poop into a landfill allowed gel. Plus the bags are biodegradable.

I know it sounds weird but it is easy and neat to use; no porta potty to clean out and easy disposal because the big bags are SO big all you ever touch is the edge. The gel neutralizes the ick. I also read that it is one of the few waste disposal systems allowed in parks that have "leave no trace" policies.

During the day I usually use the restroom at the campground, but do not like the hike to the bathroom in the middle of the nite. Also the bags are somewhat pricey so I try to conserve.

Horse camping is the best!!

My husband and I just have a 2H gooseneck straight load so we fixed up the 4' dressing room as our living quarters.

One of our best purchases was one of those dollies for saddles and bridles. Load the saddles, put it in the dressing room, and then upon arrival we just roll it into the horse compartment and have the entire dressing room for us.

We also have an LCD TV mounted on a swing arm so we can lay in bed and watch movies, a queen sized regular mattress, a microwave, cabinets and shelving. Also electricity, a/c and heat. And a crank up TV antennae so we can get the weather.

C'mon summer!

[Icecapade]

We also have an LCD TV mounted on a swing arm so we can lay in bed and watch movies, a queen sized regular mattress, a microwave, cabinets and shelving. Also electricity, a/c and heat. And a crank up TV antennae so we can get the weather.

C'mon summer!

so confused with the definition of camping at this point :confused::confused::confused:

[katarine]

Ice I think Rack On is way down south like me. You get up EARLY and ride, then come back about 11ish, let the horses snooze in the worst of the heat..then ride again really late in the afternoon/evening. It's just Too Hot in the middle of the day.

We aren't as 'civilized' as Rack On...but I most certainly have AC and heat, an awning, and Sirius satellite radio :)

[jazzrider]

I so want an awning. :sigh:

[RackOn]

so confused with the definition of camping at this point :confused::confused::confused:

Hey now, we are roughing it compared to the fancy living quarters trailers I see at all the campgrounds and drool over. I am looking forward to the day of flush toilets and actual showers in my trailer.

Besides, I don't really go to camp, I go to ride and camping is just a necessary part of it. I wish there were luxury hotels instead of campgrounds, where you could go and ride and then come back to a spa and room service. Maybe there is such a thing but not anywhere close to where I live.

[RackOn]

Ice I think Rack On is way down south like me. You get up EARLY and ride, then come back about 11ish, let the horses snooze in the worst of the heat..then ride again really late in the afternoon/evening. It's just Too Hot in the middle of the day.

We aren't as 'civilized' as Rack On...but I most certainly have AC and heat, an awning, and Sirius satellite radio :)

That is our schedule when the summer is full on. It is HOT and humid.

I don't have Sirius satellite radio.....or an awning.

See, I'm roughing it!

[Icecapade]

lol if my dad had taken me camping like that I might enjoy it now....

ah oh well. if you guys have fun thats all that matters, I'm always suprised by the various definitoins of 'camp' but who am I to judge, I don't ever go on overnighters unless I must for a race or something, and then I sleep in the truck or trailer (2 horse BP) no heat, no AC no living quarters, bathroom = horse trailer...

no wonder I don't like it!!! I've been doing it wrong all this time!!!!:D

[katarine]

LOL we started out in a tent and a BP trailer, doesn't everybody?. I don't compete, my SO and I strictly trail ride...so we're often gone for several nights. Last tent-trip we left the rain fly off, as it was a beautiful, clear night. 2AM...kaboom- thundershower ;) I huddled in the corner of the tent and cried like a baby, I own it, I was a big baby LOL. Within a month we had a tiny LQ and I was sleepin' in the nose, dry as a bone.

Icecapade we also travel to MT in the summer to hit the back country with our friends out there- some years it's a pack trip and gone a week, last yr it was a FS cabin and horses overnighting tied to the trailer. I'm an equal opportunity camper :)

[ChocoMare]

Uuuuuuhhhh - I wouldn't suggest it. Magnets tend to "migrate" and fall at the most inopportune time.

I only thought of the magnets because I found a source that has magnets SOOOOOOO strong that it'd take serious effort to dislodge them. Plus they have a J-channel that the grid would fit snugly into.

Anyway, so if we drill into the steel frame, just put a glop of silicone sealer in there before the screw then?