Trip report to MT/ID border

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Frosty861
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Last seen: 3 years 10 months ago
Joined: 12/06/2018 - 11:09
Trip report to MT/ID border

Hello.  We just returned from our trip to Sula, MT.  It was wonderful!  5 days with friends in beautiful country.  Now the details. 

This was the first time hauling our 2015, 13' Scamp with the '98 Jeep Wrangler Sport, 4.0L, 6 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual transmission.  We had electric brakes, a full water tank, twin LP cylinders, and a GP 27 battery on the Scamp, 2 adults and a 70 lb black Lab (required option here in Montana) in the Jeep.  We were near the Continental Divide, but more foothills than steeps.  Speeds varied from 25 MPH in towns to 65 MPH on the main roads.  No problems hauling, in corners, on hills or braking.  I need to check the gas mileage for our return trip, but let me say it was really good.  Very little down shifting as the 4.0L is high torque and very appreciated.

Now to creature comfort.  The Lab slept on his dog bed in the Jeep, as my wife says black dog hair is not a good contrast to the interior of the Scamp.  From front to back, the fridge worked well, sometimes too well.  While traveling we ran on 12 vdc, switching to LP when camped.  We packed some frozen food, as well as fresh, all stayed cold for the 4 days we were camped.  In fact, one cold night we froze the lettuce.  I then lowered the control to Low from Med.  High marks for the stove, no problems, meals ranged from coffee, eggs, sausage and English muffins for breakfast to ground lamb, tomatoes and zucchini for dinner.  Lunches were sandwiches, fruit, nuts and water while driving the Forest Service roads.  Cooking was done in a non stick skillet with glass cover, a coffee percolator and a stainless steel nesting cook set from our sailboat, purchased 30 years ago.  There was a pit toilet available, and we also used the PortaPoti stored under the front couch.  Fresh water system was great, with gray water collected in an empty laundry soap container and then dumped.  Lighting is all LED bulbs, we kept cell phones charged with a battery monitor with two USB ports; no coverage in camp, but sometimes at elevation.  The battery is charged during the day with a flexible solar panel (20 years old, different sailboat).  Voltage never dropped below 12.2 vdc over the 4 nights.  ONe night we ran the furnace before bed and in the morning, cold enough to put a sheet of ice on the dog water dish outside.  As the cushions are still a bit firm we have a 3" memory form topper, cut to fit.  In the morning, this is rolled up and placed on the forward couch, and the dining area set up. 

In closing, the Jeep/Scamp combination was great, electric brakes are good, the 13' is easy to keep warm and well thought out, on the sunny days the battery was at 13.2 vdc by end of day, we ate well, slept well and had a ball.  We could have stayed another week, with no problems.

Frosty

 

Picture of battery monitor, while connected to 120 vac in shop, not solar.  Mounted on cabinet face above the sink.

 

 

  

Frosty861
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 10 months ago
Joined: 12/06/2018 - 11:09
MPG

Just topped up the tank, 14.96 MPG, could not get to 15 but, real happy.