Here is the view of our site on Thanksgiving morning ...
As you can see I've found a good spot for my large Coleman cooler. I just lashed it to the tongue with a ratchet strap and plan on carrying it that way for future trips.
Here the two kiddies are enjoying the front bunk. You can see the Sunbeam ceramic heater in the foreground. It was very, very cold (around 24 degrees at night), and while we could definitely feel the chill from the floor, this little heater was more than enough to keep us warm. I pulled the table out and set it there, essentially putting it in the middle of the trailer.
There is definitely a pronounced thermocline within the trailer. The bunk - being up the highest and closest to the insulated roof - was much warmer than the futon. I think I will bring my small fan next time to help circulate the air better.
We also found 'Mr. Stinky' incredibly valuable to have onboard, especially in the morning :) Odd to say, but I was very pleased - nothing 'malodorous' about it.
I also made good use of the external power plugs next to the door. I set up my little camp table and plugged in my single cup coffee maker for a proper breakfast each morning.
It also turned out to be a good location for prepping other meals ...
... and cooking them on my Camp Chef Explorer Stove, also in close reach of the cooler on the tongue.
Lessons learned from the trip ...
- Need to come up with better exterior lighting at night. I'm thinking of putting together some more LED fixtures, but have to figure out where these would go and what would they look like.
- Didn't really need to put the futon in 'couch mode', and I want to use the quilted mattress topper next time - the futon is much more firm than my regular bed.
- Cabinetry for the unused space in the rear will be a welcome addition. In the new year I'll look to fabricate and install something, but at present I'm still getting my ideas together. I did find the space between the futon and the back wall handy for just dumping stuff, but storage for little things that need to stay in the trailer is needed.
The next thing done will be the Compass Rose decals. I was able to re-engage the decal designer and show him the trailer. He has provided some proofs, and I'm thinking that perhaps in the next week or two we will have the Compass Rose sporting her custom livery.
