Communications when there is no cell service

So in a earlier post I said that I was going to add ham and cb communications to my fifth wheel for when we cannot get cell service, we have 2 BaoFeng UV-82 handheld radios for use in a 4X4 club we will use these till I get a mobile unit. The BaoFeng operates at 136 - 174MHz & 400 - 520MHz and on 25KHz (wide band)12.5KHz (narrow band)and they are programmed with local and state club frequencies so in Montana & Wyoming I should be able to reach out and touch someone if needed. I added a Nagoya 19" magnetic roof top antenna on the trailer it sits on a steel plate secured to the roof so the wind won't knock it off and when in motion I will take it down and it will attach to a steel plate mounted to the ladder. I bored a 3/4 hole through the trailers rear wall and into a overhead cabinet and sealed the hole, the cable will stay in the cabinet till needed.

Camping entertainment

We have our tv and antenna and our dvd player and over 100 movies to watch, but sometimes playing games at night is our entertainment. We started out with Yatzee & Uno from our popup and this year we added Domino's, Monopoly, Life and our last addition was Montana Opoly a spin off of Monopoly with places on it that you would find in Montana or Wyoming there are many versions of the game for other states and cities check them out at https://www.lateforthesky.com/board-games/city-games/montana-opoly/

Long term camping

Where can you long term camp, I don't mean for a few weeks I mean months ? Snowbirds and fulltimmers can use places like LTVA's in California & Arizona where you can stay for up to 7 month's for $180 most are just dispersed camp areas, some have amenities. Another alternative is New Mexico's State Parks where you can purchase a annual day use permit for $40 and then a annual camping permit for $225 for out of staters, then you simply move from 1 state park to another every 14 days and if you want a site with full hook ups you only pay $8 a night or $4 for electric only. Nevada has a similar deal in their state parks where a out of stater pays $200 for a annual permit but if you want to use full hook ups you still pay $10 a night. Even with the extra fees in both of these states it would still be cheaper than not buying the annual permits.So for the least expensive way you can boondock in California and Arizona for 7 months for $180 if the heat doesn't run you out and not ever have to move to a different area or pay $3185 for a year of staying in New Mexico state parks with full hook up or pay $3850 in Nevada's state parks with full hook ups as opposed to paying the USFS or BLM $6570-7300 for a year with full hook ups in their campgrounds.


https://www.blm.gov/visit/search/0/0/LTVA/1

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/FeesPermits.html

http://parks.nv.gov/fees/annual-permits

Power adapter storage

I added magnetic hooks in the front storage compartment with the batteries for hanging the power cord adapters.

Coleman lantern stroage

I have a 1945 Coleman lantern made for the military that I will be using for camping and have needed a storage box for it, I had a old homemade box for another lantern so I repainted it to go with the military lantern.

This will help protect the old girl during transport.

Fresh water hose storage

So up till now we have been carrying around 2 Camco 25' white drinking water hoses that are a pain to roll up since they are stiff, we need 50' of hose at home to fill our tank but so far anywhere else 25' will do. I have pulled the white hoses out of the trailer and in its place is a 25' coiled drinking water hose a Plastair Springhose 3/8"X25'

I wanted the hose to be mounted outside on the water tank side of the trailer so I picked up 4' of 4" pipe a plug for the end and a removable expanding test plug for the other end. I cut the pipe to the length that I wanted and glued the plug in the end.

I temporarily taped the tube in place on top off the bumper under the ladder and behind our spare tire. We don't use the ladder on the trailer so it is not really in the way.

I next installed the removable plug and cross drilled the bolt behind the wing not after it was tightened up and installed a #3 hitch pin to keep it from coming loose. I will add permanent mounts when it is warmer out.

Duck Tape brand glow in the dark tape on the entry steps

I wanted the steps to stand out a little more in the dark so I bought some Duck Tape brand glow in the dark tape 10 ft for $4.97 at Walmart. I put three strips around the hand rail and a long strip on the top and bottom steps I will also and some on each end of the second step that has a rug on it.

And here it is as it is getting dark.

This stuff does work, how long will the tape hold up I don't know yet we will see.