As I mentioned in the previous entry, I went down to Kansas at the end of April to get the camper.
It’s a fair question: Why do I not already have the camper with me after all those months—given I’ve been here in Minnesota since August 2020?
Several reasons. First there was logistics of moving everything that we had to Minnesota. Most of our possessions got transported in U-Boxes and whatever we kept with us (including items such as electronics, jewelry, other valuables or simply things that we didn't want to risk to a moving company) we decided we would just take ourselves. However, we had but two vehicles at our disposal. There is the Chevy Suburban that I typically drive and Geogal’s Subaru. I already had a good idea what was going to fit in the Suburban and what the Subaru could accommodate. Even with that, there remained additional items and it became clear our two gas-burners would not carry everything. So the obvious answer was to rent a U-Haul trailer, to be pulled by the Suburban.
And that ruled out being able to tow the camper on our August caravan.
I know what some of you were thinking: why couldn't I just put all these excess items into the camper and then pull the camper as I normally would? Well, there was a fair amount of belongings and I didn't want to load the camper with too much weight. I also figured once I got settled it wouldn't be that difficult to take the Suburban, come back down to Kansas, get the camper. After all it is 400 and something miles one way, it's not like I was going halfway or all the way across the country.
Another barrier: where would I store the camper once I got here? I was really fortunate that near Saint George, Kansas there was a very good reputable storage lot with secure access, fenced all around and had reasonable rates. Yet I couldn't find an equivalent in our area. It's surprising but true. Way surprising, in fact, given the amount of campers, boats and ice fishing RV’s I see in Minne-so-cold.
So, with April rolling around I did find a place that could store the camper. It’s actually a local place, they just didn't have a webpage or an online presence so it took me a little while to find them and it took even longer to get a hold of someone on the phone. However once we made contact and I was told their rates I thought, “OK this is very doable.” Once that was set then it was just a matter of arranging to take the appropriate days off from work, get the Suburban in order (oil change etc.) then it's off to the Sunflower State.
First part of my journey is really not much to talk about. Leave work, then guide Suburban onto Highway 60 towards Iowa. Stop in Worthington to grab a bite at Burger King (gotta love the Whopper). Then it's continue on into the Hawkeye state on my way to Sioux City where I'll be spending the night. In fact I'd be spending the night at the same Holiday Inn Express that was able to have a room for us on that trip that we don't really like to talk about much.
The following day it’s get up, have my breakfast, have my coffee then I'm raring to go! Gas up and then it's south on Interstate 29 south and then on through Omaha/Council Bluffs then further south until I get to Nebraska City. Turn off the interstate, cross the river into Nebraska, head south on US 75 and snake towards Sabetha, Kansas. From there, head west on Highway 36 and then turn left on State Highway 99. This gets me to the old stomping grounds of Wamego.
By the time I get to Wamego I'm quite hungry so I grab a sandwich at Subway. Then it's finally time to head to the storage lot. I definitely had some anticipation/excitement building as I got closer to my beloved camper.
I get to the storage unit, scan the gate open with the keytag. A few seconds later, there’s my baby. Good to see you again!!
Open up the door and…
Well I've had an unwelcome visitor. I see mouse droppings right by the door as soon as I open it.
Oh (unprintable word here)!
Sure enough. Yep, looks like a during the months that I was up in Minnesota and this thing was at its storage site a mouse decided to take up residence or at least pay occasional visits.
Take some breaths. Think it through. First of all how many and do I need to get any of them out of here? I take a quick look around, check out the storage spaces underneath the dinette, underneath the fold out couch, toward the front where the queen bed is and while I do see the telltale droppings I don't see any mouse.
I think, “OK well I can deal with that once I'm at my campsite for the evening,” but for now let’s get to the business of hitching this thing up.
I take the battery out of the back of the Suburban, drop it into its battery box on the camper's tongue, connect the leads and… Nothing.
Oh (unprintable words here)!!
Even though I had this battery on a trickle charger, well, it's dead. At least I hope it's dead. If it's not there I'm gonna have other problems so I'm thinking, “all right what's my next move?” Get back into the Suburban and head to Tractor Supply Company which was where I bought this battery back in 2018. Let’s just see about getting myself a new one.
TSC is only about 10 minutes away, except that they don't have that particular deep cycle battery. In fact, they don't even sell those kind of batteries anymore. The one positive from this visit is that they put it on a tester and sure enough it is a dead cell so I breathe a little sigh of relief, but still need to procure a new battery.
I then head into the eastern edge of Manhattan. All the while experiencing this odd “familiar-but-no-longer-familiar” dynamic. Ace Hardware didn’t have these batteries either but Walmart did! And since they took my dead one in trade I think I actually got $10 off. Hey, take these little victories where you find them. Back to the storage lot. Connect the battery and this time YES I have current!
Woohoo!
Now I can finally work on getting this hitched up. Slide the trailer hitch into my receiver, make sure the cotter pin is securely in place. Time to back it up towards the tongue. Next in the process is to get out and just use the electric jack on the camper’s tongue to raise it.
Except when I flip the jack switch nothing happens.
Oh (unprintable words here)!!!
Fortunately since the time I first had the camper I always did fear this scenario. And having done homework for a work-around, I know I can just pry the rubber boot off of the top, use a socket wrench and manually crank the jack. Fortunately I brought along an awesome socket wrench set which YES YES YES had the exact size socket I needed. From that point it was just a matter of turn turn then turn then turn then turn some more. But I got the hitch ball raised up high enough back the Suburban underneath it and then lower it right onto the hitch ball.
Without a spotter or a backup camera. I’ve perfected this over the years.
From that point on things weren’t very difficult. Put on the weight distribution bars, plug in the electric connection, check to make sure the turn signals are working and then just get inside and make sure everything is where it needs to be for travel.
Oh and I should mention that in this mist of getting a new battery I also went to the hardware store in Wamego and picked up bleach, a mop and other assorted things that would be very very useful for both getting rid of the mouse crud and keeping mice out of there.
Time to hit the road. Again, fortunately I had arranged it where my first night of camping wasn't going to be very far away. Maybe 20 miles give or take—a campground in Westmoreland Kansas. So, even though I had an aggravating afternoon, once I got the camper hitched and left the storage lot things went very smooth. Arrived at my campsite, and it's a pull through so I don't have to worry about backing it in nor do I have to worry about unhitching. Connect the electricity, connect the water, start turning faucets on which de-winterized the camper. No problems there.
Eat my supper (I cannot remember what I picked up for that meal, except that it was something I could pop in the microwave, plus a bag of salad to ensure my eating was balanced). Do some cleaning then try to relax and just come down from the stress of the afternoon. And try not to think of the start of tomorrow’s drive, which will involve Highway 99 going through some hilly terrain with no shoulder to speak of. Not a good time to have a tire fail or anything else unforeseen.
But that’s for tomorrow. Eventually I fall asleep. Tomorrow is another day.
