This weekend we’ll be at our next RV adventure.  This time, Diane and I will be in the RV at a camping area adjacent to the Girl Scout “Scout Out” here in Orange County.  Unlike last weekends RV Resort, this one will be a BIT more primitive, with no hookups or amenities, unless you count the nearby pit toilet and surrounding nature an amenity.  Should be a great time to see how we fair at “boon-docking”, as they call it.

Oh, and I’ve added a twitter feed connector, so all the people (all 32 of them) that follow me on twitter will now get an update from me when we post or edit entries or pages.  Good times.  Will need to register as a use to post comments, so we can keep the hack spammers away.  :/

In the RV world, they call them Toads or Dinghy’s, but it’s basically the car/truck/jeep you pull behind your RV. You could use a trailer, or a tow dolly, or “flat” tow, where all four wheels of the towed vehicle are on the ground. Flat towing is the best from the stand point of reducing weight behind the RV, and for easy of disconnect when needed. But, you need to make sure the vehicle you tow can be flat towed.

Originally, we were going to tow the FJ. This would require not only the tow bar, base plate, wiring, and brakes, but also a drive shaft disconnect as the FJ is not able to be flat towed without the disconnect. Also, I took the FJ to a scale. With all the modifications and such, it came in very close to the 5000 lbs capacity of our RV. I wasn’t comfortable maxing out my towing abilities given that we are likely to be bringing more stuff in the RV than the typical vacationer.

So, we gave Diane’s car to a friend, and used a pre-approved vehicle loan from the credit union to buy a used 2007  Honda CRV.  This car has the ability to be flat towed, has a great reputation, enough room for us to be comfortable, and the weight is less around 3500 lbs.  Diane loves the car, as it came with heated seats, probably her favorite add-on of all time.  All the vehicles are 2007 now.  Still undecided on what to do with the FJ.  We’ll likely keep it at first, just need to find a home for it either here in California, or possibly at my sisters in Indiana.  Might also sell it too, just not sure yet.

Well, the inspiration for this post today is that the CRV is over getting a base plate, lighting, and brakes installed today at the El Toro RV center in Irvine.  This should be finished later today or early tomorrow, and then the RV goes over for part of the braking system install, and some final fitting up to be done.  Hopefully by the end of the day tomorrow, we’ll be ready to take our “Toad” with us to The Springs at Borrego RV Resort in a couple weeks, and then wherever else we venture too beyond then.  Keeps getting closer!

Just to add some specifics… We have a Demco Baseplate, Demco Dominator Tow Bar, and the Unified Tow Brake System from US Gear. So far, I’ve just used/driven with it from the service center to the storage center, so the upcoming trip should be a learning experience!

It’s been almost 3 weeks now since we bought the RV. We’re still working with the financing guy, and waiting to hear when we can pick it up and get our orientation. This financing “thing” was way different than when we bought any other car, and even different than when we bought the house. It is pretty cool though, just takes time.
Got a storage spot for it up in Lake Forest off of Bake. Should be a good place to keep it, and to work on it for small projects at times too.

Plans are already made. We have THREE camping reservations booked right now. First one is at an RV resort down in San Diego in just two weeks. We won’t have the “dinghy” setup by then, but should at least have the basics like dishes and toiletries. 🙂

I have a trip to Las Vegas next week, so we’re hoping to get into the RV before Sunday. Tata for now.