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Subject:Re: end of camping season????
From:Yoel and Tina Crane
Date:Mon, 20 Sep 2004 10:56:46 -0700

sounds like you need this propane boot dryer....
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0006605830050a&navCount=0&cmCat=srchdx&cm_ven=srchdx&cm_ite=srchdx

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 19:46:09 -0700, Craig Oda <craigoda@gmail.com> wrote:
> I camp in the snow with a 2WD Westy.  I think many people do.  I have
> two catalytic heaters, one that is tapped into the main propane system
> and the other that is powered by small Coleman canisters.  Both are
> rated for interior use.   It's warmer if you don't have to pop the
> top.  I camp with 3 people in the Westy, so I have to pop the top.   I
> had a problem with snow being tracked into the van and the carpet in
> the main cabin getting wet, then it would eventually freeze and then
> rethaw.  I found this to be unavoidable since our hiking boots would
> get covered with snow and freeze.  We would take the boots inside the
> van to thaw out and they would get the floor wet.  To resolve the
> problem, I ripped out the carpet and installed linoleum tile in the
> main cabin area.
>
> If you are coming from a background of camping in tents in the snow
> and you move to a Westy, it will be posh.  The Westy is much warmer
> than a tent.  However, if you're coming from a background of camping
> in an RV, then you'll freeze your behind.  Even with two heaters going
> inside the van, everything froze inside the van, including the saline
> soluttion for my contact lenses.   My wife's sleeping bag is rated at
> zero and she was still cold.  Remember, I camp with the top up.
>
> There's various solutions to making the van warmer, including the
> fabrication of a  secondary vinyl jacket around the pop top tent and
> installing warmer curtains.  People have also installed larger heaters
> with a thermostat.  I haven't done these mods.
>
> It'll be much warmer than a tent, but it's not going to be as warm as
> camping in a vehicle with four solid walls and a thermostat.
>
> Very much doable as a winter camping vehicle.  If you have a syncro,
> you'll rock.  Winter is one of the times I really wish I  had a
> syncro.
>
> I totally recommend camping in snow.  It's beautiful and the crowds
> are way down.  If I had a better solution for drying out my son's
> shoes, it would be even better.
>
> -- Craig
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 02:02:52 +0000, Chris DeLong <green536@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I see alot of you talk about it being the end of camping season. Why do you
> > say this? Does anyone here camp in the snow or in the cold?
> >
> >
> > Chris DeLong
> > Fine Tuning
> > 206.522.5503
> > www.finetuningperformance.com
> > Seattle, WA USA
> >
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