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Date:         Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:22:55 -0700
Reply-To:     PB <pbrattan@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         PB <pbrattan@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: First camping trip!
Comments: To: Ellen <elleninoregon@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BLU144-W9928DE4973301AEA8178AB86F0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Thanks for all of your replies. Now I have a few questions. I'm looking at the Mister Heater Portable Buddy, vs the Coleman Black Cat. Of course I'd love to have a built in furnace, but am not ready to spend that amount right now. Can I get some insight as to which is a better choice? I am extremely sensitive to the cold, and can't sleep at all if it's less than 70 degrees (!), so I just want to make sure I have a heater if needed. I understand the temperature at the campsite goes down to 55 at night. I know that a 1 lb cartridge only lasts 4-6 hours with the Buddy, and lasts about twice as long with the Black Cat. I also know that the Buddy has a higher amount of BTU's than the Black Cat. We have an extra 20 lb propane tank, and will probably bring it if we get the Buddy. Can the Black Cat also be used with a 20 lb tank? I like the compactness of the Black Cat, but I like the low oxygen safety shutoff pilot on the Buddy. And I'd like to choose a heater that will heat the Westy in VERY cold weather.

About the Dometic...I haven't tried it out, yet, and don't know if I will. Should I try to use it as an ice chest by filling it with ice cubes? Would dry ice work better? Or should I use it as a cabinet and just bring an ice chest? I would eventually like to replace the Dometic with something more efficient.

Thanks again. Patti 90 Westy Automatic ****************************** On Sun, Aug 17, 2008 at 3:38 PM, Ellen <elleninoregon@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Congratulations, Patti! Once you get bit by the camping bug, you will > wonder how you lived before you took frequent camping trips. I went 20 > years without camping! Our vans make it so easy. > > Take notes. Each trip, list what worked and what didn't work and adjust. > This will take a few trips. Try to keep it simple, so it's not a chore. > Too many times we overdo it and wonder why it's not fun. It's so easy to > get into that gadget trap, and before you know it, you can't even sleep in > your van unless you put half of it outside. > > Make lists! Lists of menus, lists of what to bring for food, lists of > equipment you need depending on the season (obviously I need thermal > underwear in the winter and a swimsuit in the summer). I like to pre-plan > my menus in advance, so I only bring what is absolutely necessary. > But still have some staples packed in the van in case I don't feel like > fixing it, or for one of those last-minute impromtu trips I'm so fond of. > > Pack for contingencies, those things that could happen, but probably > won't. It was forecast to be 83 degrees on the coast this weekend, but I > still brought heavy jeans and a warm jacket and am thankful I did (it didn't > get that warm and was rather cool). I keep a single burner propane stove > and a spare bottle of propane in case the main tank runs out in the middle > of a trip (that has happened to me before). > > Above all, enjoy yourself, take lots of pictures, and write a trip report > when you get back. > > Ellen & Lola, '85 Vanagon ASI > > > Don't wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel; stride down > there.....and light the bloody thing yourself.' ~Dara Henderson > > > Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:28:04 -0700 > > From: pbrattan@GMAIL.COM > > Subject: First camping trip! > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > > > My husband, my 2 small dogs (3 lbs and 11 lbs,) and I are about to go on > our > > very first camping trip in the Westy, which I've had for a little over a > > year. The van was recently checked out by a mechanic, and is working just > > fine. We're going to Lake Lopez in California. I haven't been camping at > > for around 15 years, so I hope I don't forget anything. We're planning to > > stay for 3 nights. > > > > For safety, I've decided to get the propane tank changed out by GoWesty, > > which is fairly close to where we're going. > > > > Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for us? > > Thanks. > > Patti > > 90 Westy Automatic > > > ------------------------------ > Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with > Windows(R). Game with Windows<http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/> >


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