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New toys I want for my 560

L

Ladymc

Novice
Instead of the Eureka, Coleman's signature instant tent (I'm still shopping), I'm thinking about this: I'm wondering if this would work as well as the Eureka?

At Cabela's:

Coleman® Signature Instant Tent•One-piece design
•Sets up in one minute or less
•Heavy-duty 150-denier fabric
An innovative pre-attached pole system lets you set up this spacious 14 ft. x 10 ft. x 76" tent in less than one minute. The walls, floor and ceiling are constructed of 150-denier fabric that’s twice as thick as standard tent fabric. All seams are taped for leakproof comfort. Imported.
Sleep capacity: 10.
Center height: 76"
Floor size: 14’ x 10’.
Weight: 36 lbs., 5 oz.

Cabela Tent

Trash Bag:

Instead of a hot water heater: (The review says it stays hot all day!)


OVEN: (Maybe later)-

I have a nice toaster oven that I'll probably take instead.

Xpress Redi-Set-Go:
I already have one of these (see link below) and use it all the time as an oven and definately will be taking it in the Raindrop! If you don't have one, it's a must have! Bakes from top and bottom, biscuits, cinammon rolls, mini pizzas, omelets, "fried" eggs (use Pam in the divided pan) all in 4-7 mins.! Great if you have shore power, which we will be using pretty much all the time.

http://www.redisetgo.com/?gcid=S12579x066&keyword=xpress redi set-go_6


I'd love to have any input on the tent - that's the big decision.
 
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Hmmm . . . the hot water pot looks pretty cool, though you'd have to boil the water in something else before it'd stay hot all day. That'd be a bit of a drag. I think I might prefer just to have an electric hot pot and boil when I need it.

Reviews on the Xpress Ready Go are bad (on the other hand, the investment is low, so if it turns out to be trash, it wouldn't matter too much). I own (and use in my kitchen at home) something not too different: The Cuisinart Griddler. I've had it for about three years, and it's a great product. It "closes" up to cook chicken breasts or pork chops IN A HURRY, or it "lays flat" for pancakes or eggs. We use that thing ALL THE TIME.

Sorry, I'm not knowledgable about the tent.
 
The Camp Chef oven & others that are similar, are quite popular among teardrop owners. I have not seen very many being used by CI owners but many of my non-CI teardrop friends have them & love them. Making cinnamon rolls in them is one of the top uses.

Trash
I'm not fond of trash containers at my campsite - don't want to have the mess or clean up & don't want to attract critters (including flies & yellow jackets). We use t-shirt bags & slip one of the handles on the wood part of the spring mechanism under the table. It stays/hangs in place nicely, handy for sliding things off the table & into the trash, doesn't collect too much trash & we can get rid of it quickly.

We do have a Bag-a-lot that we use at the Camp-Inn Camp-Outt. It is great for large gatherings or potlucks, where a lot of trash is generated.

Hot Water
12+ cup electric aluminum coffee urns are are a popular way for heating water & keeping it hot.

:cool:
 
Jenn,
That's so true about the tent - Hubby's 5'2" and I'm 5'3", and we always have to stand on step stools to do ANYTHING. I'm just LOOKING at this tent and asking for input, so yours is very helpful - it may be way too big. I should have looked at the wt. and didn't. Please let me know what you think after you've seen it - if you do! Thanks about Jack - he was ADORABLE as a puppy - now he's GORGEOUS - looks just like Lassie! Smart too!

Betsy,
I used to have a large coffee urn (30 cup) and let it go when we auctioned all our stuff off when we moved into the RV. Yeah, I hear ya on the trash - we usually just hang a kitchen garbage bag from a limb or something and toss it - I don't like trash around either - flies! Especially in Hot Texas!

Theresa,

I totally forgot that I have an electric pot for boiling water, so I don't need that hot water pot! It works quick too! It was on my mind the other day, but it slipped my mind - thanks for reminding me!

This reviewer LOVES the Redi-Set-Go - no need for the oven even. It works great to bake in! I do grill cheeses, hamburger patties, cinnamon rolls as stated, pizzas, etc. Makes a great gift to a buddy CI'er! Might make a great door prize Cary & Betsy at the gathering in the fall! Buy one get one...pay extra shipping.
 
Linda,

Your posts radiate of anticipation in establishing a new "house".

May I suggest you and Bill enjoy the Raindrop a few times before loading up with must have items. Create a basic list of necessary items, take those, and return home to compare what was used and what is needed. Heck, maybe you could camp in the driveway a few times.....

Jean
 
You're right Jean, I am getting another house ready. Since we already live in an RV and I have some "extra stuff" laying around here as well as storage I'll be taking some of those things. I know how I like to cook and how we like to eat!

We'll set up and sleep in the Raindrop outside our RV in the campground here many times before we hit the road I'm sure! We have 3 of our grandaughters coming the 3rd week of March and hopefully it will be here then and we'll cook outside, etc. Should be lots of fun!

Our home in Arkansas had a complete kitchen upstairs and downstairs, then we had the kitchen in the RV. So I have a lot of extra stuff. Now I'll be down to two kitchens instead of 3!
 
Linda, don't forget that there is no hurry to get your Camp-Inn completely outfitted. Get the necessities, and then do some camping while you figure out what other stuff will work and what won't. After all, you've got the next 30 years. :)
 
Evan's right...even after 10 years I still change things, try out new ideas, and am continually tweaking. It takes awhile to know what you need, what you'll use, what you really want. Then having the patience to look for "just the right thing."

Tina (of Tina & Jerry fame) & I have a fun time looking for a new, unique item & then when we get together camping, we see what each other has found.

That's the fun of it!

:cool:
 
Oh I totally agree and understand - My best friend lives in an RV here close to us and we do the exact same thing with our 5th wheels! Space is of the essence and even more so in the CI. We lived in our 5th wheel for 9 mos. in 2008 then had to go back to Arkansas for 13 mos. when the economy went crazy. Moved back into it in April and loving every minute of it - no hassles, no taxes, 30 mins. to clean, etc.

I'm still looking for "toys" for the 5th wheel! I don't want to have to transfer a bunch of stuff to the Raindrop when we go places, just grab some clothes and groceries and hit the road (with Jack!) The Raindrop is gonna be our "Bug-Out Bag" so to speak! But we want to be ready to roll the minute we loose the 3 grandaughters in March, that's why I'm shopping now!
 
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Linda,
the tent sounded like a good idea - easy to set-up. But I looked at it in the Coleman website and it does not look much easier than the Northen Breeze (NB) we are both seniors and can put it up in about 10 min. at most. It does have the floor in it - we purchased the floor for the NB - it snaps in and we found that easy and only use it if we need to depending on the site. We carry the floor in one of the under mattress compartments so it is always there if we need it. Also the Coleman looks more closed in than the NB. We like the open feel. And the NB has rain flaps on all 4 sides which can be stretched out like an awning - this gives a lot of possibilities depending on sun, rain, wind, etc. The NB comes with 2 poles which would only allow for 1 side to be put up - you can buy extra poles if you want to be able to put up more than one side. I also wondered how the raindrop would fit in the door of the coleman. As you can see on our pictures the NB can be opened fully on 2 sides so it work easily - we set up the NB over the galley and roll up the screens and flaps on all 4 sides. If bugs - put the screens down. If rain put the flaps down. If lots of rain we move the NB back far enough over the tear to allow access back and forth from the cabin to the NB without getting wet. Hope this helps.
 
I like those stainless steel cafeteria trays. Good price too.

Don't believe anything that says "up in one minute". Back in college, I used to work for a high-end camping store, and -- at that point in my life -- I really could pop a tent up for a customer in minutes, BUT I was doing it every day with tents I knew, and I was doing it in a perfectly flat area in the store. I was impressive! In real life, I can't manage to extract our tent from its storage bin in one minute!

Where does the tent store nicely in the Camp Inn? Will a decent-sized canopy fit into the exterior front storage? I mean, the small, all-the-way-through bin?

Finally, although we don't have our Camp Inn yet, I suspect that tents are rather like strollers: You need more than one. When my girls were small, I loved my big, cushy comfortable stroller with the big storage bin underneath for long outings . . . but I also had a little umbrella stroller that I kept in the car for quick trips. I suspect tents might be the same.
 
As well as the Eureka Northern Breeze we have a side tent from Camp-Inn and carry the poles along the side of the mattress - just have to remember they are there. I think it was Cary who suggested this. and the tent part goes where our feet go in the trailer. Since we use sleeping bags and are not that tall we actually coule leave it there if we were not putting it up or throw it in the van. We put the Eureka at the foot of the bed as well. It is great having both - we can put up what works with the site and the weather. I don't think a tent would fit in the tongue box - but I have not tried it. We put our wheel blocks and hose in one side of the tongue box and in the other side we put our long handled fire forks, etc.
 
Pat,
Your info. on the NB is good - thanks! I tend to agree with you on the size, openings, etc.

Theresa,
I hear ya on set up - 1 min. is a come on - it takes me that long to get out of the car and put the dog on a chain while I set up!

Yeah, I really liked those trays and I ordered 2 of them last night. Cheap enough!
 
Pat how do you find the NB works with the side tent will the awning stretch over the top of the side tent so you could get some coverage on the other side door without a side tent?
 
Linda,
We like the Northern Breeze having no floor. It allows us to eat in w/o bugs if it is warm enough for them. We sometimes lift it over a fixed picnic table. If there is rain, there is no worry about tracking in mud. No floor to sweep out. Set-up to dry after an outing is easier without a floor. Just some thoughts from someone who has both.
Steve
 
Steve,
Makes sense about the mud. I was thinking a floor would be better with mud, but I can see now I was wrong! Thanks for the input.
 
Hey Jenn, thanks for the update! I just found out that we have a Cabela's about 40 miles from us and I would have gone to see it too, but knew that you were going. I got to thinking about taking it down and storage too - way too big! The Northern Breeze it will be for us - just not at this moment. But then, Spring rains ARE coming....we'll have to wait and see. Thanks again - good reporting! :)
 
Barry and Annie,
we have not had both the side tent and the Norther Breeze up at the same time but I think it would work. The open side are basically wide open so it is very flexible. Also it is wider than the tear so you can position it centered on the tear or to the right or left. I will have to put them up together this summer and take some pictures.
 
I'm hoping once the tear is inside (or mostly, up to the door) you'll have enough room to sit some recliners and room to roam around a bit.
 
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