Posted on

Upgrades and Improvements

ForestRiver Rockwood GeoPro 19QB

  • What needs improvement:
  • As mentioned earlier the construction of the shell is solid, however, the interior finish is hit and miss.
    • The cabinets look great but the’flap’ panels to cover pipes are flimsy.   See the photo below. So… we removed the panel; created a little bench shelf; and gained additional storage space. I added a cross support for hanging a couple of pans too.
‘Flap Panel’ in the lower left cabinet, (left of sink).
  • Wiring not all ‘tucked in’ and tied down.  
    • The tank sensor wiring under the rig, (exposed to the road), needs a little help! We added split-tube loom to the wiring to add a little protection and abuse from the road debris.
  • Tank heaters are exposed to the road and this might be a problem in the future.  A light weight panel may protect the heaters and the tanks without adding too much weight to the trailer. (Future project)
  • The tongue is loaded!  Two batteries, two propane tanks, power jack and bike rack!  There’s no space on the frame for the Ford backup-target which is disappointing.
  • We were concerned that we may have limited access for a WDH because of all the stuff. (note, we added an Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch, see photos below and it is a tight fit)
  • Weight Distribution Hitch
    • We did not have any real issues towing, however, handling in the wind was a bit more of a problem than expected. We looked and read about the various models and chose the Andersen product.
    • Installation was easy and straight forward as you can see on the photos above.
    • We had to move the break-away switch back about 5″ but there’s still plenty of play in the break-away cable.
  • Protection and Cover
    • Classic Accessories Cover… good protection when the unit is parked at home. We used pool noodles to cover the rain gutters and antennas.
    • A source for product reviews and suggestions is www.Your-RV-Lifestyle.com where they also list the Classic Accessories line.
    • We replaced the Classic Accessories cover after 2 years of the Texas sun and have replaced it with a King Bird. We will see how it holds up!!
We replaced the Classic Accessories cover after 2 years of Texas heat with a King Bird…
  • Removed outdoor speaker connection for now…
    • The Geo-Pro radio was wired with the inside speakers as one stereo channel and the single outside speaker as the second channel… not a real enjoyable sound.
    • So… we removed the connection to the outside speaker;
    • Wired the inside speakers as the left and right channels and;
    • Added a wiring terminal strip for easy changes in the future.
    • We also reinforced the interior panel material with Gorilla glue as speaker mounting looked like an accident waiting to happen… a bumpy road and the speakers would break out of the ceiling!
  • Added an additional solar panel
    • We added an additional 100W panel a SunPower model, (see the photos below).
    • We used pre-made ‘Y’ cables to connect the two panels in parallel.
    • We had to make 3 foot cables to connect everything together however, this is easy with crimp-on MC-4 connectors and UV protected 10AWG wire.
    • We used the 3M 5200 sealant/adhesive product and double-sided exterior tape which is consistent with the factory installation of the original panel.
    • We also added UV protected loops for cable tie-downs.
  • Where does all our juice go???
    • I thought we should know what is consuming power in our rig and at what rate, so we could plan ahead for boon-docking days and off-grid days.
    • To test the DC current, I used a Hall-effect loop current detector and ammeter.
    • To test the AC current, I used a AC loop ammeter.
    • The results are in the summary in the link below.
    • As always, your mileage may vary… this is just what I measured.
  • Battery Wiring and Distribution
    • Every bolt and connector is used as a tie point around the battery and DC disconnect switch. To make it easier to troubleshoot, safer and easier to service we added power distribution bus bars as shown.
    • We moved the DC distribution from the battery to a proper bus bar
      • Labeled wires, (solar charger, shore charger, etc)
      • Protected wires with split-tube loom.
    • There will be more to come – as I needed 1” loom and did not have any on hand.
    • There is one point where a frame screw had arced to an in-line connector! Glad we did this now rather than discover a problem on the road!
  • Other Items we have changed:
    • We have added storage organizers for the pass-through bay to make it easier to get gear in and out. (photos later)
    • Added Velcro under dinette cushions to keep them in place, (they slide when you sit on them)
    • Replaced the dinette cushions with the Foam Factory Lux – High Quality foam on the seats… what a difference!!
    • Added a ‘stuff-in’ insulation block to the shower skylight to keep the light out and help keep the trailer cooler. It is attached with velcro and can be easily removed.
    • Added an additional 12V plug with USB charger ports and removed the Satellite TV connector on the underside of the radio cabinet.
    • Added power switches for each DC device: The WiFi Ranger; The Radio; The new Accessory Plug; and the TV Plug and antenna amp.
      • We will label them properly before the next trip! 🙂
    • Added 2 – 12v continuous duty computer fans to the inside of the top fridge vent to move heat outside the cabin. Also added a 12v mini-fan inside the fridge and snaked the wire through the condensation drain to the outside. Put all these on a switch and regulator to maintain 12v for the fans.
    • Removed the refrigerator insulation and added radiant barrier foam inside the cabinet to keep heat out of the cabin.
  • Fridge Removed
  • Radiant barrier installed

  • All blinds need a foam bumper to keep them quiet in the night with the windows open and a slight breeze, the blinds bounce agains the metal window frames.
  • The kitchen window needs a black-out cover as the metal blinds are not adequate for blocking the light.  This will need to be something simple, stowable and easily removed for cooking, as anything but metal would be a fire hazard. 
  • More to come!

More Changes

Stairs

The pull-down steps have a metal edge that I kept catching the back of my heel on… (size 13 feet could be part of the problem…) So, to soften the edge, I split and glued a piece of rubber tubing to cover the edge:

Drawers

The drawer glides were screwed on by machine and only two screws per glide. After 10,000 miles in less than a year, the drawers were breaking out of the glides. We removed the drawers and reseated the glides with Gorilla Glue and added an additional screw. We also added an additional screw on the sides where staples are used and glued the reinforcing piece on the base.

Posted on

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Location & Map

  • When – Feb, 2019
  • Weather – 80’s 40’s

Facilities

  • Notes:
  • This is a small camping/RV area tucked in the Lost Maples valley with only 30 spaces for tent and RV camping. Our advise, Reserve Early!  
  • The camping area is fairly open without a lot of mature trees.
  • The restrooms and showers are clean and well kept.
  • This is a quiet park, with most spaces full, the noise was minimal.
  • The park staff were very friendly, helpful and showed a great deal of care for managing this little oasis in the woods.
  • There is a single Dump Station near the entrance on the main road. Dumpsters and recycling bins were plentiful and the guests were keeping the area clean.

What we liked / disliked

  • This is supposed to be a beautiful park in the Fall with the changing colors of the maple trees. We’ll plan to return to see the colors.
  • The trails are dog friendly, (leash required), and seemed to be well marked and maintained.
  • Our stay was short, but the birds were at a minimum and no sign of any four legged critters. We did hear two owls talking to each other… but that was it.
  • The camping area is disconnected from day-use area by ½ mile park road which was nice to see.
  • The day use area is large and there are several hiking trails up into the hills – see map below. The trails follow the Sabinal River and branch off into the hills.
  • The river area is pretty, even for early Spring, even though Spring… had not quite sprung – the colors were flat and the trees had not started to bud out just yet, but as mentioned, we’ll be back in the Fall!

Please support the Texas State Parks and donate here!

Photos

The Camping and Day Use area:

  • Our parking location
  • The camping area
  • The Day Use area

The Trails:

Posted on

Big Bend National Park

Location & Map

  • When – February 2019
  • Weather – 70’s – 40’s and one cool night in the 30’s!

Facilities

  • Notes
  • This was our first trip back to Big Bend in almost 30 years and it was quite a treat to see again. The park is full of vistas and I think we stopped to see as many as possible.
  • We stayed in the Rio Grande Village which is a really quiet camping area! In fact, in the ‘no-hook-up’ area, there is also a no generator area keeping noise to a minimum. In the areas that are approved for generators, they are only allowed in certain hours of the day.
  • The trailer and RV parking pads are level crushed rock and bigger rigs may find them a bit tight. We were disconnected from the trailer and could park parallel to the road.
  • The dump station is accessible just past the RGV store and on the road to the camping area. It is clean but tight for multiple rigs, only one wash out and one fresh water fill line.
  • The camping area itself is not overly ‘scenic’, however, the trees were just budding out and we are sure there will be plenty of color and shade.
  • Plan to park and go explore on the roads and trails as there are very few trails near Rio Grande Village. However, the trails do not allow any dogs. Your pet can only go where you can drive!

Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • You are a Long Way from anywhere when you get to the park. In fact, you are probably 50 miles from the park entrance when you are in the Rio Grande Village!
    • Very limited cell service and amateur radio repeater coverage.
    • No TV service in the RGV.
    • If you are entering from the North, plan to fuel up in Fort Stockton as fuel prices in Marathon are $1.50/gal higher and fuel in the  park is at lease $.60/gal higher.

Boarder crossing

  • The boarder crossing at Boquillas is closed Monday and Tuesday. If you are going to make a trip to the little village in Mexico, you must have your passport for return entry to the US. You need to plan on limited days and times for your crossing as well.
  • Not everyone uses the legal crossing location. The US Boarder Patrol makes very frequent patrols throughout the park.

Rio Grande Village – store

  • The ‘Village’ consists of:
    • A full-hook-up parking lot for big rigs;
    • A couple of large grassy camp areas;
    • A large no-hook-up area for tents, travel trailers and big rigs;
    • AND… a single convenience store with camp basics, fuel, laundry and showers.
      • Showers are so-so and run $2 for 5 minutes.
      • The laundry had only 2 washers and 1 working dryer.
      • Fuel was expensive.

Sights and Vistas

  • Panther Junction – This is the main park headquarters and visitor center. Restrooms, water, Post Office, gas and permits for camping are all available here.
  • Sotol Vista – Is probably the best kept secret in the park! The view, shown below is spectacular!
  • The Hot Springs is down a dusty ‘4WD recommended’ road. This site is not a secret and parking is limited.
    • The pool space is limited and the mossy steps can be slippery for young children.
    • The path to the hot springs pool has a couple of vintage buildings and some ancient pictographs.
  • Santa Elena – Is an awesome wall of granite! From the river the wall rises up several hundred feet and is worth the trip.
  • Mule Ears – Has a nice hiking path and again unique views of the park.
  • Unimproved roads – Many of the park’s unimproved roads should be traversed with 4WD vehicles… and expect to be shaken! After a rain, these roads could quickly be impassable with low-water crossings and heavy mud.
  • There are many pull-outs for photos along the way, look for them and you won’t be a hazard to others.
  • Wildlife – Spring is coming… but not quite here yet. Because of this, the wildlife sightings were fairly minimal. We did see:
    • Yellow Bellied Woodpeckers;
    • 1 deer;
    • Wild burros;
    • …and we heard coyotes each night.
  • Chisos Basin – The Window is a fantastic view, no matter which trails you take, you will be treated to views which the park is known for.
  • The Lodge – The lodge has a nice view of The Window, a restaurant and motel.
  • The Basin Store – The store is nice, clean and well stocked.
  • The Basin Visitor Center – This is a small visitor center and not as big as the main visitor center at Panther Junction.
  • Trails – All the trails are well marked and back country camping is allowed with permits.
  • The Lost Mine Trail -The Trail head is just off the main road to The Basin and has very limited parking.
  • Study Butte and Terlingua – Terlingua is located outside the park on the West edge and has many services available including:
    • A market;
    • Gas stations;
    • Ghost Town – not worth the visit… stacked rock buildings… our opinion;
    • Snowbird and extended stay RV camp areas;
    • Art shops.
  • Grapevine Trail – 6.5 miles of minimally maintained road, much of it bedrock!  
    • Limited trail parking to the Balanced Rock trail;
    • Parking for 7-8 cars max.

Please consider donating to the National Park System by clicking here.

Photos

Our Parking area

  • Our site
  • Entry to the park
  • RGV Camping area

Some of the sites to see:

  • The river at Santa Elena
  • Castolon station
  • Marathon – gas station $$$
  • Sunset from RGV
  • Our co-pilot waiting to be served!
  • Did we mention – no service…
  • Classic Camping!
  • Teralingua
  • The Window
  • The Window
  • Wild Burros
  • Santa Elena
  • Tuff Canyon
  • Mule Ears
  • Sotol Vista
  • Hot Springs
  • Pictographs
  • Trail to Hot Springs
  • Guests in the Hot Springs
  • Pictographs
  • Pictographs
  • Boquillas Crossing
  • Mexican vendors
  • Boquillas Crossing Vista
Posted on

Goose Island State Park

Location & Map

  • When – January 2019
  • Weather – 70’s & 50’s

Facilities

  • Level hard-pack (chip seal) pads for RV and trailers.
  • Most spaces are back-in and many have ‘T’ or ‘Y’ areas for parking your tow or towed vehicle.
  • Recycling bins for aluminum cans were near most dumpsters.
  • A nice picnic area and large overflow parking lot with sidewalks to the beach.
  • There are two separate dump stations on the roads to the camp areas and not located in the camping areas.
  • Two restroom buildings with showers, (maybe four when the island camp areas are reopened).
  • A fish cleaning station is available and the local pelicans will help!
Park Map – note: the Island camp sites are closed at this time.

What we liked / disliked

  • The park was very clean, quiet and walkable.
  • There is a nice birding area near one of the shower buildings for attracting and encouraging birds to become accustomed to the human activity.
  • We noted there were several park hosts and a separate birding host with planned bird walks and talks.
  • The staff were very helpful and upon check-in, allowed you to drive through the area to pick your space from the available pads
  • The Big Tree live oak is separate from the park, (about 2 miles walk/ride on a public road). There is a loop road that takes you along the bay for a way to stay off the main roads if you are walking or biking. (Google Maps can be your friend)
  • Media – Local TV stations from Corpus Christi and Victoria are available.

Photos

  • Trees ripped apart by Harvey
  • Typical parking row
  • Typical pad
  • Nice bird area by showers
  • Birding area with water/marsh access

Wildlife

  • Locals at the dock
  • Things get crowded when someone approaches the fish cleaning station
  • Only one ‘focused’ on the prize!

The Big Tree

  • This is one massive tree!
  • History
  • Texas State Champion Virginia Live Oak

Island Camp Areas Closed due to Hurricane Harvey

  • Island camp sites… closed
  • Unfortunate
Posted on

Lake Corpus Christi State Park

Location & Map

Easy Access from Mathis, TX (c) Google Maps
  • When – November 2018
  • Weather – Beautiful 75F days and 50F night

Facilities

  • The staff were very friendly and in-fact guided us to a good parking place with nice shade.  The site is circled on the map below.  One note, the tree roots have grown up to the parking pads and it made for some tricky walking maneuvers, (watch your step in the dark 🙂 ).
  • We watched one family park an extra long trailer with some difficulty, (read – one dent later), because of the wooden posts lining the parking pads.  If you are towing anything longer than 22-24ft, you might find the spaces tight.
  • The pads were level and I think most were concrete.
  • The lake supports all water activities.  The dock was busy with fisherman, (and hungry herons and egrets).
  • The camping area was generally quiet, however the boat ramp was busy and the jet skis were a bit noisy by mid-morning on a weekend day.
  • The dump station had easy access with space for two rigs and no waiting.  The dumpsters were located near the  restrooms.  The showers were located in the adjacent loop and easy access to all sites if needed.
Park map

What we liked / disliked

  • The park is very well kept and has some nice trails for some easy hikes.  One trail had a bird hide and seed available to attract some of the local residents.  
  • The ducks, herons, great egrets and deer were everywhere!  It was fun to see and enjoy.
  • Media – Local TV stations available from Corpus Christi

Photos – the campground

  • Our site
  • Evening Fisherman
  • Dock at night
  • Dock at night
  • Fall…

Photos – the wildlife

  • Great Egret
  • Evening visitors
Posted on

Technical Details of Our Rig

ForestRiver Rockwood GeoPro 19QB

2018 Ford F-150 King Ranch 

The GeoPro

Forest River 2019 G19QB link

The Floorplan:

Our Likes / Dislikes

  • What we liked:
  • Full featured rig, queen bed, nice bathroom, kitchen slide-out makes the plan much more spacious, included solar panel and charger system, nice size water tanks.  
  • Standing room!  
  • Low profile AC unit keeps the trailer height down just a bit!
  • Vent cover is great to keep some air moving through the rig when parked/stored without worrying about rain coming in.  The power vent fan is super quiet and moves a lot of air!
  • What needs improvement:
  • Construction of the shell is solid, interior finish is hit and miss… Cabinets look great, ‘flap’ panels to cover pipes are flimsy.   See the photo below.
  • Wiring not all ‘tucked in’ and tied down.  I will work on that.  
  • We added an additional page for our upgrades

Customization:

  • We may look at a Weight Distribution hitch, improve the ride and handling although we have not had any real issues to date.
  • Classic Accessories Cover… good protection when the unit is parked at home.

Things we will or have changed:

  • We have added storage organizers for the pass-through bay to make it easier to get gear in and out. (photos later)
  • Removed the ‘flap’ covers in the storage cupboards and added plywood shelves. (see photo above)
  • Added Velcro under dinette cushions to keep them in place, (they slide when you sit on them)
  • Added a ‘stuff-in’ insulation block to the shower skylight to keep the light out and help keep the trailer cooler.
  • We may add an additional solar panel to improve our battery recovery time for boon-docking.
  • All blinds need a foam bumper to keep them quiet in the night. If the windows are open and a slight breeze, the blinds bounce against the metal window frames.
  • The kitchen window needs a black-out cover as the metal blinds are not adequate for blocking the light.  This will need to be something simple, stow-able, as well as easily removed for cooking, as anything but metal would be a fire hazard.