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Old 06-06-2019, 04:52 PM   #1
mwemaxxowner
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Hi Folks!

Hello folks, I just bought a new to us 2005 Keystone Springdale 268BH Clearwater Edition. I stumbled across this forum in my search to answer some questions about my unit, but I look forward to sticking around to learn tips and tricks and offer up my experiences!

I'm not necessarily new to camping, I grew up vacationing in campers. I owned a fifth wheel of my own for 5 or 6 years, but I have been without one for several years. My wife has never done any camping, but she's very excited to get started. Our 3 year old daughter asks to go out and see the camper every day [emoji4].

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Old 06-06-2019, 04:55 PM   #2
Logan X
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Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your trailer!
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Old 06-06-2019, 04:56 PM   #3
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Congratulations on your camper, looks like it's in good shape ,There is a lot of great people and Info here. Welcome from New Jersey.
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Old 06-06-2019, 05:02 PM   #4
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Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania!
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Old 06-06-2019, 05:51 PM   #5
mwemaxxowner
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris P View Post
Congratulations on your camper, looks like it's in good shape ,There is a lot of great people and Info here. Welcome from New Jersey.
Thank you (and the rest of you) very much!

It's not without its problems, but it's in good shape for sure, and the price was right. We looked at quite a few, wanted something we could pay cash for. My wife has never done any camping, and used to be opposed to the idea. I'm not sure what's gotten into her, but suddenly she started talking about campers and sending me links to used ones here and there. After looking at quite a few, as soon as we walked into this one she said, "This is it!"

Which basically ruined my chances of talking the guy down much because he knew I was on the hook. Lol

I just spent the better part of a year doing quite a bit of remodeling on a house to sell it, some of it extensive stuff. I'm pretty handy with a broad range of things, so I knew I could tend to the things this camper needs without paying all that much.

I found a small leak on the kitchen sink drain and one on the bathroom sink cold water line. I just got the parts in from E trailer to fix those things and a new faucet for the kitchen also. Stuff like that. Oh, and I had to put a new thermostat on it. Prior to that you had to hold the sliding temperature selector JUUUUSSSTTT right for it to kick the AC on.

He claimed it was leak free, but it hasn't rained yet. I stomped around and beat on the walls and ceiling and haven't found any rot, but I'll reserve judgement until I investigate after a rainy day. I have 4 tubes of dicor non leveling at the ready. I might go around the whole camper and caulk all seams anyway. The rubber roof looks good.

It has no awning. Not sure what happened there. I may try to buy the roller tube and arms and add one, or we might make do with a sun canopy thingamabob. Regardless, pop up canopy it is for now.
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Old 06-07-2019, 04:25 PM   #6
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Old 06-07-2019, 04:31 PM   #7
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That is a really clean looking 2005 model, that's for sure. Looks like it was well cared for, judging by the exterior. That's usually where you can quickly tell how well they were cared for.
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Old 06-08-2019, 04:21 AM   #8
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It is, and I believe it was. I honestly think that I overpaid for it just a little bit, but we looked at quite a few. And, as I mentioned, once upon a time my wife's response to camping was "no way, Jose". Well we looked at quite a few, and some others were actually cheaper and in better condition. What I mean by that is everything appeared newer and less worn and used".

However, even after looking at those, some that were LIKE new, as soon as we walked into this one she said this is the one. The layout is perfect for a smaller camper. It still feels roomy and it has a TON of storage. I'm okay with things being a little more work and dingy from use. Somebody enjoyed it but cared for it, best I can tell.

I paid $6000 for it, I think I would have done better around $5500, but we had the cash and I did talk him down a little bit already to where we settled.

I used to work in a custom cabinet shop, and in our old house I did the flooring throughout, including refinished oak hardwood floors, installing laminate flooring, luxury vinyl plank flooring, tile, and linoleum. So my wife already has lots of plans including paint, flooring, and I would love to get my hands on the cabinets. Some of the particle board with the veneer on it is swelling near the floor from excessive mop water or maybe some plumbing leaks from over the years. It's such a small space that it would not cost us very much to make it a totally different space.

As it sits, after testing everything works as it should, the AC blows ice cold, and we can take her on down the road as is.
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Old 06-09-2019, 01:12 PM   #9
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New kitchen faucet, new drain/strainer to replace the leaky one, and a new faucet in the bathroom. I could have probably fixed the leaky bathroom faucet and kitchen drain by disassembling and replacing some seals and reassembling/tightening, but I didn't want to get them apart and see that I needed a faucet for some reason, or a new drain, and not have it. We are 100% leak free now.

This camper has some great access panels to get to the plumbing. I can see under the tub, I can see the inner compartment where the city connection is, I can see below the bathroom sink, etc. My old camper wasn't like that. It was an '85 Jayco J Crane. You just had to pray nothing was leaking.
It also has this sweet outside storage compartment that part of me wants to use to build a simple stowable outside kitchen out of.
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Old 07-04-2019, 01:01 PM   #10
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Wow, I forgot how expensive it is to get all these basics together at once. Lol. The trailer came with almost nothing. So far I've bought the Curt True-track hitch, Camco aluminum screw-type stabilizing jacks, Camco leveling chocks, 9x18 outdoor carpet, 20' of sewer hose (10x2) and all necessary connections, Camco electric water heater conversion, water pressure regulator, and a pack of the Lego type leveling blocks. I have an assortment of wood blocks too, mostly 2x10s in a few lengths and a few 6x6s.


I used to use some PVC pipe ripped in half to support my sewer hose, and I actually did have some of that left lying around so I'll use that for that task. I still need to get a surge protector.

I've filled both gas bottles, and I pulled all 4 tires this afternoon, and will drop them off at the tire shop tomorrow (my new tires arrived last week). I turned the fridge on and after 12 hours put my wireless meat thermometer in. Freezer got down to 25 and was still dropping and I just pulled the thermometer out. I put it in the fridge and checked it the next morning and got 34 degrees. Pretty doggone good as far as I know! Of course this is WITHOUT any food in there. I have a battery powered fan in it for circulation.

Our maiden voyage is planned for a week from tomorrow. It's just a shakedown run. close to home and a Walmart, but it's a fantastic campground. Cheese State Park here in SC on Lake Juniper.

As expensive as all these odds and ends have been, 3 nights in this campground was only $80. And that's very close to water front! When we rent a house it's generally $200-$300 a night. Boy I've missed camping!

Oh, also, I think I mentioned this camper is missing an awning. For the time being we bought a 16x16 canopy from WalMart. The ends will fold down if you want, and the legs are set in from the edges. I hope that I can set it up so that on end oVerhangs the roof of the camper a bit. So that if there is a light rain, there won't be any dripping between the canopy and the camper.

Attached are some pictures my Mom took at the same campground we're heading to. We are site #13. Click image for larger version

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Old 07-04-2019, 01:34 PM   #11
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Sounds like you're almost ready. Looks like a really nice place. That first pic looks almost identical to a little lake I take puppy to every day when we are in FL....she loves it (just got to watch out for the gators). I tried to find the state park you listed but I found Lake Juniper at Cheraw State Park. I was interested due to the picture and I thought I might make a trip there when we in FL this fall but it's quite a ways up into SC so doubt we will make it.

The list of things to get for traveling can get quite extensive...and expensive. Something I didn't see on your list was an EMS. I didn't remember from your other posts if you had purchased one, but if not, you really should. They are worth every penny IMO. Also make sure you've got tools/jacks etc. to change a flat in the event you have one. Hope you have a great trip and let us know how it goes.
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Old 07-04-2019, 01:48 PM   #12
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Oh absolutely. I keep a 12 ton bottle jack in the truck, and I hope the Camco levelers will raise a tire enough (that would just be easier) Not sure if they will or not. I also make a habit of keeping a half inch pull handle in the truck and a socket for the truck lugs and the camper lugs. I have a cordless half inch impact wrench I'm going to take with me too.

I did state that I need to get a surge protector. Is an EMS that...And more?

Here is the park

https://southcarolinaparks.com/cheraw#jump-gallery

I hope that we absolutely love the place. It's Crazy cheap and only about an hour from home. It has (reportedly) very nice bathhouses and whatnot. Kayak rentals too, although I may bring my own.
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Old 07-04-2019, 02:56 PM   #13
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Yes, the EMS is more than a surge protector. It protects from low/high voltage, loss of ground and various other electrical issues that could really damage your RV and electrical appliances. Here are a couple of links to the more popular EMS units;

https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-I...gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Surge-Guard-3...gateway&sr=8-7
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Old 07-04-2019, 03:27 PM   #14
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I'll do a little research on that tonight and pull the trigger before we go on our trip. Love me some Amazon prime shipping!
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Old 07-04-2019, 03:47 PM   #15
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I failed to note they make units that permanently mount inside the RV vs those pictured that plug into the end of your power cable. The permanent ones take a bit to install and are part of the trailer and reduce or eliminate the possibility of someone walking off with it. The portable just plug in so you can move/remove it anytime for any reason. They also make a locking guard for the connection so it's not so easy to just unplug it and walk off (at least Surge Guard does). Mine is portable with the guard and I've not had any issue and this is my 5th season with it.
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Old 07-04-2019, 04:03 PM   #16
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I may just be a glutton for punishment, but I'm cool just plugging in between the cord and shore power.
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Old 07-04-2019, 05:43 PM   #17
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May I be so bold to make a suggestion?

It takes so little effort, all poles are integrated. I love mine
Have an awesome summer, and nice work on the trailer.
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Old 07-04-2019, 05:51 PM   #18
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from Toronto
May I be so bold to make a suggestion?

It takes so little effort, all poles are integrated. I love mine
Have an awesome summer, and nice work on the trailer.


I was going to recommend the same thing (we love ours) but the OP had bought another solution. If the OP is interested I have the video sent to me from the Clam product manager after I visited with him with a little more detail....somewhere. No see ums? NO MORE!!!
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Old 07-04-2019, 09:23 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by mwemaxxowner View Post
I may just be a glutton for punishment, but I'm cool just plugging in between the cord and shore power.
I've used the portable EMS for about 12 years, never locked it up & been all across the country & it has never walked off.
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Old 07-05-2019, 06:43 AM   #20
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I was going to recommend the same thing (we love ours) but the OP had bought another solution. If the OP is interested I have the video sent to me from the Clam product manager after I visited with him with a little more detail....somewhere. No see ums? NO MORE!!!
I would like that if it's not too difficult to dig up.

My goal was to find something that would mimic the function of the awning that should be there as closely as possible, without breaking the bank for now. At 16x16 and $117, I HOPE what I already have will accomplish that. Shade the front area of the camper in front of the door and oVer our carpeted area, and allow us to pass through freely in any direction and back into the camper door.

However, this screen room does look very nice as something I could set up on our lot in addition, when I'm staying somewhere that has the space. Being able to relax and keep the "skeetoes" (as my little one calls them) away would be nice.
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