Thursday, March 10
I hitch the Best Little Trailer to the Perfect Tow Vehicle. As the crew and I leave our campsite at Buckeye Hills, I give a parting glance to make sure I haven’t left anything behind.
This was a good camp, far better than I expected!
We wind out of the campground and, before turning onto Route 85, I stop and get out.
I wonder how the new cabinets are.
I open up the BLT and peek around the corner of the refrigerator. Total disaster! All three cabinets are tipped over, the drawers are out, and stuff is all over the place.
What a mess. Oh well, no sense putting it back together now.
Route 85 takes us south to Gila Bend.
East of town we stop at a Subway and I order an egg-and-cheese with tomatoes on flatbread for breakfast. I share it with the crew, of course. Then we go next door to Holt’s Shell Station. I dump the waste tanks and fill up the water tank (both free!). I don’t need gas. The PTV had a fill-up when in Buckeye.
Interstate 8 takes us east.
We pass the exits for Casa Grande and turn southeast on Interstate 10. By now the clear, cool morning has become hot noontime. I pull off at Toltec Road for the crew’s potty break, a drink, and walk-around. I check the blog online and look for an RV park.
Today is a day for air conditioning and a shower!
I can’t bring myself to pay $30-$45 for an RV park.
Instead I take our chances on securing a campsite at Picacho Peak State Park. Only four more exits and we’re there!
Picacho Peak (elev. 3,370 ft.) as seen from the state park’s campground
At the entrance booth, I pay $30 for one night.
The attendant hands me a map, gives me tags for the site post and windshield, and directs me to our campsite, #1 in the B loop.
Hoo-boy. I hope she gave us a good site.
I find our campsite is behind the restroom/shower building.
This is good! Being close to the shower house means less time away from the crew.
The shower is hot and the water doesn’t turn off every minute or two!
What a treat!
Rest room and showers building
It’s nice here at Picacho Peak.
In general, for a short stay, I prefer a state park that’s located near something of natural beauty or interest, rather than an RV park situated on a flat piece of land.
Our site is level. It has a picnic table, grill, electric hook-up. Saguaros and a variety of desert vegetation surround us.
One can explore on trails here.
I’m not interested in that. It’s too hot. The BLT’s air conditioning cools our little home in a flash. I don’t use air conditioning much, but when I want it, I’m glad I have it!
“Yes, we’re going out. You were good travelers today. I know you’re anxious to sniff around.”
After a brief walk in the heat, Bridget and Reggie crash on the bed in cool comfort. I go online, of course.
~ ~ ~
Later, when the heat of the day cools off, the three of us walk the campground.
We meet a reader of this blog and a fellow blogger! You may recognize the name Micky from her comments on this blog. She travels in a Casita with her canine crew of two Golden Retrievers, Joy and Shiloh.
I’ll let the photos and captions tell the story.
The first hello — Bridget is tentative, Reggie runs in circles, hard to catch in a photo.
Joy and Shiloh probably think, “What a crazy, little guy!” Reggie thinks, “I’m big, too.”
Bridget casts her evil-eye warning — “You’d better be nice!”
Bridget keeps a watchful distance. Not the Reggie Man. He wants to socialize!
Joy and Shiloh are gentle, mature dogs; they politely watch Reggie’s youthful antics.
Introductions over, we walk the campground loop together.
Reggie leads the way. Bridget avoids the camera, walking by my side.
Micky and I talk about travels, camps, and plans.
Of course we discuss blogging, too. Use this link to see Micky’s blog, Wandering Spirit.
Another canine camper joins us!
The owner says Roscoe is a pup needing socialization. Reggie goes into alpha male attitude. Ooh, you’re such a big, little man, Reg!
Roscoe responds with submissive, playful body language. Joy and Shiloh don’t bother with all that hierarchy stuff!
Micky and I point our cameras at another beautiful, Arizona sunset.
In the next post . . .
The crew and I continue our journey to another camp!
rvsue
THANKS, RVSUE SHOPPERS!
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Interstate 10 at the base of the Newman Peak (elev. 4,506 ft), Picacho Mountains
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#1 ??
CONGRATULATIONS, JANIS! You did it!
Hi Sue,
Happy Saturday
Norman
The same to you, Norman! You almost made first place today. 🙂
Ahem, Sue . . . they both logged a time of 9:23am!
Oops – didn’t have my reading glasses on! 9:23am and 9:26am Ahem, Renee!!!!
Oh boy – I was right the first time – they’re both at 9:23am. You, Sue, have the 9:26am that I saw! Forgive me for being too fast with the keyboard! Dang.
Renee, any chance that you are a Libra? We Libras are very concerned about fairness and justice!
I’m a Libra and couldn’t agree more!
Old Libra here and guilty of the “balance” tendency.
LOL – no, I’m a Taurus. My DH says that I often am like a dog with a bone when I’m focused!
Or a bull in a red cape! LOL! But you guys get stuff done!
Renee is right! YOU ARE ALSO FIRST TODAY, NORMAN! WOW! 🙂
Yeahhh for me !
🙂
Oh boy! I think I’m #3! Now back to read the posting.
Oh Sue! I’m so sorry to hear about the cabinets. I’m sure there’s a solution short of permanently attaching them in some way. Maybe with some sticky putty or something. Hmmm. Loved the dog pictures though. Thank you for that!
You’re welcome, Renee.
It’s going to take something more than putty to hold these big cabinets. I may try tilting them back and holding them that way with something underneath. Permanent affixing them to the wall or fiberglass underneath them isn’t something I’d like.
bungee cords…….:)
Not strong enough (see comments below)…
Could you possibly get some tension shower or curtain rods and place them running each from floor to ceiling in front of the cabinets? Just a thought, as they seem to fit pretty snugly from side to side.
See my reply to Carolyn below (Idea #2).
Congratulations, Renee, on 2nd place!
What? Oh, yeah, that’s right! Thank you. I’ve never been happier than to be in 2nd place than here! Thank you!
Despite it’s proximity to the freeway, we loved Picacho Peak park. The only downside is that not being hikers, there isn’t a whole lot to do while there.
Have you spent any time in the SE corner of AZ? If so, can you point me to your blogs about it? Thanks.
If Sue can’t help I might be able to. I lived in the Sierra Vista/ Bisbee area from 1989 until we went full time in October. I don’t know many boondocking areas, but do know the area.
Hi, Robin B.,
No, we haven’t camped in SE AZ. You can find information at the Wheeling It blog.
If it weren’t so hot while we were at Picacho Peak, I would’ve enjoyed taking photographs. You’re right… It’s a place to hike or to relax at camp.
I don’t have any info on boon docking places, but we’ve camped at Kartcher Caverns State Park and enjoyed it. The tours of the Caverns are very interesting, also. http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/facilities.html
ahh..a pleasant surprise…sit down at the puter and there is
your report!…now to go back and take my time reading and
looking at pictures….
thanks
chuck
You’re welcome, Chuck. I hope you are enjoying your Saturday.
Hi Sue, just a lurker here, but wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your blog.
No such thing as a “just a” here Tim. You read and now you’ve posted so like it or lump it, you are now a blogorino…..Welcome aboard!
Thanks, Jim. What you did is one of the things that makes this a place where people feel comfortable and welcome.
I couldn’t have said it better than AZ Jim!
Welcome, Tim in Seattle! Thanks for the positive feedback.
Welcome, Tim! 🙂
We have gone by Picacho many times. Glad to seed you were at a nice spot. And hot showers, must have been heavenly. Glad Reggie got to meet some new friends, and you a fellow blogger.
Hi, Lisa W.,
Picacho Peak State Park is in a convenient location where there isn’t a lot of boondocking opportunities. Right along the interstate, easy off, easy on….
Yey Sue you found a stop over camp and it looks like the crew has been having fun ,, it’s chilly here but it’s supposed to warm up later this week,,, have a great week,,,,, rusty
You have a great week, too, Rusty and Piper!
Picacho looks like a very nice park. Dogs socializing & getting to know each other–a lot of fun to observe. I got a big kick out of Bridge giving JOY & Shiloh the stink eye. A shower that doesn’t turn off–now that’s heaven!
Hi, Dawn from Camano Island,
Without realizing it at first, I prepared for my shower in the handicapped shower. It wasn’t until I went to turn on the water, that I saw the fold-down seat and shower hose. Too late to turn back now! I’m goin’ in! Ha!
Helpful hint for some: if I’m really tired/sick, a sit-down shower is a great gift. They’re easier to set up in a do-it-yourself rig, too.
Do you mean simply a chair that is set up in a shower?
I would think first of that, but people have used many things. The simplest I’ve seen is a tote with the rest of the shower materials (garden sprayer, shower curtain) among its contents. He has hooks overhead for the curtain and sits on another tote. He can control his gray water that way, too. That’s in a van. In vandweller applications, not having to stand is a great advantage.
Thanks, Calvin. I see what you mean.
Hi, Sue, just a thought, if you have a few moments you may want to take a look at Tool Free Spa Bath Tub Bathtub Shower Chair Seat Bench With Back from Eva Medical that Amazon sells( maybe provide a link?). I think it would work better than a regular chair for comfort, size and safety in an RV or a sticks and bricks home.
I search Amazon with that phrase in order to place a link here and it brings up 15 different chairs. Here’s a link to one:
Tool-free Spa Bath Tub Bathtub Shower Chair Seat Bench -Grey Bath Bench with back
My shower memory: Arrive campground with roll quarters. Very proud of my advance planning. Never had right coins til that day.
Proudly march to shower house. Sign said: “No coins allowed. Shower cards only. Go to Park Office. Park Office closed.
Do you drink (lots)red wine or (lots) white wine with s’mores?
Super cute story and love the last question!
It gave me a hardy chuckle 🙂
…now where DID I put that Margaritaville Blender? I know I hide it somewhere along with those 10 $1.00 bills…
Oh, I’m sorry your wonderful new storage units fell over. I’ve had great luck with Command Strips and Hooks in our RV. I’ve used them to hang some pretty heavy items, with good luck. I wonder if you put some on the back of the storage units and then put the opposite adhesive on the wall of the Casita if that would work. All the pup pics were really cute – they look like they had fun together.
Hi, Cynthia from San Clemente,
I believe these cabinets are too big, to bulky, and, when filled, too heavy for Command Strips. They don’t sit flush to the back wall because of the window and the curve in the wall. I appreciate the suggestion. Every bit of info helps me to think creatively about this!
If you can install a bolt in your walls, you could run bungee cords around the cabinets when you are on the road.
Hi, Pat,
Even if I installed bolts, how would I wrap the bungees? The cabinets are flush tight to each other and the end ones have a side flush to the walls on their side. A bungee can’t be put under and over. BTW, the bungee I put to hold the drawers closed didn’t do the job.
Hey, Sue – what about somehow securing the base of the cabinets to the floor? What about that double sided heavy duty wide velcro? My DH used that for a lot of stuff in our RV and it works. We have one of those kitchen tables that stores the leaf and at first it stayed shut, but after a few years, when we stopped and went inside, we found the table top had slid open, so DH put a strip of the velcro, top and bottom to each side, under the table edge and voila! It never comes open. Also, we have all the electronic components plugged into the same power strip in the entertainment cabinet in our bedroom and he used that heavy duty sticky velcro to mount it up on the wall inside the cabinet and in all the travels and bumpy backroads we’ve been on, it has never fallen down! I even use it inside our house for LED light strips mounted on the bottom of my shelves in my craft room for more concentrated light. The name of it is Velcro Brand Industrial Strength 15ft x 2in Black Tape Superior Holding Power. If you ever decide to remove a cabinet, you can use a plastic putty knife to scrape it off then an adhesive remover for the residue.
Velcro strips won’t work because the cabinets are hollow. There is no bottom. The drawers slide on tracks along the interior sides.
Ahh, I see.
Oops…..how about lying the chair down in the area between the bed and the drawers.
Playtime! Hot showers to boot!
What a nice sunset……. Have a great day!
Hi, Cinandjules,
“how about lying the chair down”… I don’t understand how that would help. The bottom of the cabinets sit about 15 inches above the floor, sitting on the channel that houses the wheel well and water tank.
You have a great day, too!
If you laid the chair on its side…in the aisle..the backrest and the legs would prevent the drawers from tipping while in transit.
Bed
[———————————]
Chair. |——-
——–|——-
Shelf
[———–][———-][———]
Oops the chair didn’t come out right….center the chair so it blocks the drawers.
It blocks the bottom drawer of one cabinet, leaving 8 other drawers unblocked.
I tried using the chair on the second move (the one I haven’t written about yet). The two drawers above the bottom drawer came out and twisted around, dumping the contents, and the frame “came following after.” It was quite a tangled mess!
It probably seems I’m just being negative and shooting down suggestions… I am carefully considering each idea. Thanks for clarifying what you meant.
Missy….I posted this little story a couple of years ago but since then I added a couple of other memories. If it consumes to much space feel free to delete it, no worries, I promise. Jim
An old guy remembers Mission Beach Amusement Center.
I first set eyes on the park in 1946. It was an Amusement Center that provided many years of fun for families and military personnel. It covered several blocks and was on the Pacific Ocean. My Dad had a background from years ago of his life as a concessionaire in the Carnivals so he was once again romanced into the idea by an ad about a concession for sale in the Amusement Center. He took me with him when he went to see it. It turned out to be a game called “knock Mabel out of bed” in which a young lady was perched on a bed behind a chain link cage and if the player threw a baseball and hit a target, she tumbled out of bed.
Dad was still working at Convair (later General Dynamics/Convair) days but he bought the concession called a “joint” in Carny talk. He worked at Convair till 3:30, came home, ate and headed out to Mission Beach where he ran his joint until 10 or 11. I can hear him now, “hey mate step right up and knock Mabel out of bed, three balls for a dime, and nine for a quarter”.
To a kid the park was magic, smells, sights, sounds all unheard previously by this 10 year old boy. Time went by, Dad bought another joint, then another and soon he became one of three partners in the ownership of “The Mission Beach Company”. That lasted a few years and Dad bought out his two partners and became sole owner operator of the Park.
I ran a couple of concessions that Dad let me run for myself over the years and bought my first car (41 Chevy) by working all summer of my 17th year on the maintenance crew..
We had a huge Ballroom, the biggest in San Diego, an Olympic pool, a long midway with concessions and a large Skating Rink. There was an underpass from the midway to the bay that went under both sides of Mission Blvd. and down there were huge doors that led into big concrete rooms in which all kinds of goodies were stored, most from the Twenties. Old canoes, hand crank girly picture shows, all kinds of props and things. I was allowed to go there when I wanted and explore. It was wonderful for a curious boy.
The Roller Coaster, most probably don’t know there was a tunnel built into the structure and around 1953 the guy who leased it from Dad was trying to destroy some paperwork so the IRS couldn’t get it and he tried to burn them in that tunnel, the fire got out of control and he was trapped, burned to death.
There was a huge Penny Arcade which Dad kept as his own concession and ran. Between 1951-2 we lived in a two level apartment in the back of the Arcade. It was so much fun.
In the Ballroom where I met and watched from our private box on the balcony every big name band of the era had some secrets too. Built into the Balcony were three apartments that were for VIP parties during dances, thought we never used them they were used in the twenties and thirties. But in each room were boxes of publicity pics, newspaper mats used to advertise our dances, etc. We had one dance a week in summer, less frequent during winter. All the big names played there in our Ballroom.
I was by this time in High school so I could go anywhere, do anything I wanted by just going and doing, all free of course. I would take dates through the park, the rides, and even an occasional dance.
In 1956 the city would not renew the lease on the property and instead demolished the ballroom, most of the midway, most of the Oceanside concessions, and the mini golf course, and rides. What little was left was called Belmont Park. Not even a ghost of what had been there before. A note of interest, Dad, as I said worked at Convair a couple of years at the tail end of the war as an hourly in the wood mockup shop. He died the year before I went to work there and worked my way up from an hourly raw stock handler to a supervisor of all material procured for all programs with 25 analysts working directly for me spend millions of dollars. I’ve often thought he would have been proud of his son, who spent 30 years working at his old work place. I retired in 1991.
There’s a million memories and as many stories but another time perhaps.
The “new” stuff follows….
Well, here I am again with another memory of my young life at Mission Beach Amusement Center. Our midway was loaded with characters. People migrated from the dying or dead carnivals that once roamed America.
Two of them were a married couple, Moxie and Babe Miller. Dad leased them a concession on the midway near the Penny Arcade. They had been on the road with a carnival and had settled in San Diego. They had a German Shephard named “King”. On night in the past Moxie had fallen asleep with a lighted cigarette and escaped the fire only because King had made so much noise it awakened them. Moxie taught King to stamp out a burning cigarette. It was a lesson the dog never forgot so when they were running their concession and anyone nearby threw down a cigarette, king immediately rushed to the downed butt and proceeded to rake his big paws across it to ensure it was out. I used to worry about it but it apparently didn’t bother King.
Another character that stood out was “Bobbie”. She was an old woman (I have no idea of her actual age but she was old). Bobbie ran a booth that featured a basket hoop and she sold tosses for dimes with the reward being small prizes after so many successful throws. She worshipped my Mother and on all Saturdays she would stop in a bakery in downtown San Diego and buy her a small cupcake sized cake and bring it to Mom. Bobbie rode the Bus to the beach so it had to be problematic to lug that little cake on a bus, but she never failed in her mission.
If I have bored you with my remembrances I apologize but the older I get, the more precious these memories become…..
What has this to do with anything? Who knows, I don’t work here….
I remember this story, Jim! Good to see it reposted. I’m going to write more replies and then take the crew outside. I’ll reread it later when I can enjoy it without being pestered by you-know-who. 🙂
I loved your stories. Write them down or record them for future generations. Cheers
If you wrote a book, I would read it! I can just imagine the sights and sounds!
Great stories. The Aunt I was named after lived in San Diego back then. I bet she visited the place. You really should collect your stories into a book. You can self publish these days pretty easy on Amazon and other places. Keep writi g, it’s good stuff. Thanks for sharing with us!
I agree! Those memories need to be saved for generations to come.
Thank you for sharing, Jim! 🙂
AZJim,
I could read one of your stories every day. I love them!
Really a neat story! Thanks for posting.
You’re all too kind, thanks…
We stayed 4 days at Picacho in January. Absolutely love that park, although the camping fee is a bit outrageous. But the park is in such demand that they can get away with it. On the other hand, it is extremely well maintained. I wrote a review for Campendium. Neither the Interstate (10), nor the train on the other side of the freeway are an issue. It’s a great park to overnight while transitioning between Phoenix and points east or southward. Or, as we did, for exploring the area. While at Picacho, we took a day trip north to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. A must see if in the area.
I’m actually shocked that you of all people would pay $30 WITHOUT getting a Senior Pass discount, which of course they don’t honor. 🙂
Hi, Ed,
Yes, it is shocking! 🙂
On a hot day of travel, the $30 doesn’t seem expensive for a shower and air conditioning all afternoon. We would’ve been miserable with it.
Picacho Peak SP is popular. I wasn’t sure there’s be a campsite open for us. It being a Thursday, I took the chance. Before we left on Friday morning I learned that our site was reserved for incoming for the weekend.
That’s maddening about the drawers – guess if you aren’t back there when it’s moving you don’t realize how much bounce goes on! I look forward to hearing your solution. Those are a couple of good looking retrievers.
I looked at my first potential motorhome this past week. Had to pass it by, but it had potential and I feel like it was a good experience. I have narrowed down what I want and this gave me a chance to get a feeling for size and space and talk to the owner about how it handled. I also got to measure to make sure I don’t have to put another gate in 🙂
And, I got emotionally closer to how I feel about “a project”. We’ve full-timed before (but in a big coach) and I have no illusions the work that just goes into maintaining a newer RV much less an older one! I needed to pin down my gut reaction. And, surprisingly, I feel confident I could do this and would rather go this route.
Also got a referral to a good local mechanic as well–which is never a bad thing.
Hi, Dawn,
Well, you are making great strides!
One way to help bring about the right decision is seeing what one doesn’t want or what isn’t exactly right. Not only are you evaluating and analyzing physical dimensions, you also are considering the emotional dimension. This has given you the confidence to go forward. Good for you on the mechanic referral!
Yes! Exactly. Up until now it’s felt more like a pipe dream. Just guessing at things.
🙂
Love the evil eye Bridgett gives. She is such a diva. All the dogs look so happy.
The next to last picture of the sunset is an all time best.
Flooding here in Mississippi and raining again. Close to 7 1/2 inches. Hope this is last day of it. At least it isn’t snow and ice. ?
Hi, Judy,
That’s a lot of rain! Sounds like you’re staying dry….
Thanks re the photo. Easy to grab a good shot of an Arizona sunset!
Well, I’ve finally caught up to the point where I started following your blog, and I loved every trip and campground and adventure you’ve had since starting this journey in 2011.
Love love all your nature and animal pics, too. You know how to frame a beautiful sunset/sunrise, horse, flower, stream tree.
Will miss my nightly read now that I’m caught up with the archives.
Hope you, crew & all blogerinos have an awesome love filled day!! Cheers until next time.
Hi, Corker,
Your reaction to my posts leading up to this one gives me a lift. I’m always pleased to hear that someone has enjoyed our journey… the stories, the camps, the photos, and, for some, the comments from blogorinos. To think I could’ve decided against this lifestyle. What a mistake that would’ve been!
Wishing you an “awesome love filled day,” too! Thanks for reading all my posts.
Good Morning RVSue and Canine Crew
Well almost still morning. Enjoying the traveling crew socializing photos. Northern AZ had a hellacious windstorm pass through yesterday. Especially beautiful day after the storm….sort of life’s troubles. Feeling grateful. Spring has sprung!
Do you use long range weather forecast in deciding when to move along? Do you have a favorite or most reliable site. I like and use my Sanjean NOAA weather radio.
Happy trails and adventures all.
Marilyn …dreaming of my own BLT…I have the truck.
Hi, Marilyn,
I like you closing — “dreaming of my own BLT… I have the truck.” That’s great.
To answer your question: I rarely use long-range weather forecasting. I haven’t found it to be very reliable. I have a NOAA weather radio that I haven’t used. I bought it for when I lived in Georgia and needed to receive any tornado warnings.
I look at wunderground.com (which is the widget in the sidebar) to see the weather for the coming week and then plan from that. I might check accuweather or another site also.
I always want to know the wind situation when considering a move. The BLT (with sway bar) handles very well in wind. It’s the other people I don’t want to be near — Those that let their vehicles drift into my lane.
Enjoy the beauty after the storm!
Sorry for your drawers dump. Wondering if a Blogerino’s comment about a cargo net might be a quick and inexpensive method to secure them underway. Then just raise it when at campsite. Betting other suggestions are on the way /smiling/
Marilyn, again?
It would have to be an awfully taut net to catch and hold these flying drawers and cabinets and I’m not sure how one could wrap the net around them. You have me thinking . . . . 🙂
Gosh, I’m glad you had the air conditioner working and a nice shower, too, was putting things back a huge chore? I ‘m sure you’ll have your own ideas for what solution to use, I wonder though if just a 3 pack of command brand large hooks would be worth experimenting with. Attach one to the 3 closest surfaces and get long twine, tie 3 loops into it so each move you just wrap it around once hooking the loops into the hooks? They make them so one can remove and reuse them without damaging the surface.
Nice for the crew to have a surprise play date . I’m glad you took time during that visit to photograph “another” beautiful sunset, I never get tired of seeing the way you capture the desert with all it has to offer.Company, two moves in two days- you’ve been busy! I hope you are somewhere with altitude, shade or electric hook up so you can stay cool and relax for a bit.
Hi, weather,
I appreciate the wish — It is cool where we are today! Thanks for the comment on my photographs.
Two obstacles for securing the cabinets. They fit so tightly it is impossible to wrap anything around them nor can they be wrapped top to bottom. The other obstacle is difficulty attaching them to the wall — plastic will tear, the walls are curved which prevents the cabinets from being pushed all the way back, etc. Even the handles on the drawers are made such that one cannot loop anything through them.
Every suggestion opens my mind up to think creatively toward a solution. Thanks for adding yours. I’ll let you know what I come up with. In the meantime…. “clean up in aisle one!” Ha! I had a devil of a time lifting the drawers and cabinets back into place. Oh well, it’s worth it, right?
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Just a suggestion . . . Gil uses tension rods, normally used for hanging curtains, for restraining all sorts of things. They are very versatile; come in a variety of lengths and widths. Very strong & can be tightened to hold firmly. Also good for propping open doors, drawers, etc., like our bed, to access hidden storage.
Tension rods? Good luck with tension rods? I’ve never had a tension rod withstand any resistance other than the gravity of a light curtain. Believe me, these cabinets and drawers bouncing around give a lot of resistance. Gee, Gil must have a special touch… 🙂
How about a shower curtain rod? Much stronger and adjustable….
I can’t wait to see some of those sunsets in person! Love the pictures.
I can see where it would seem a shower curtain rod would work. It would have to be a tension rod and that’s not going to hold back these big cabinets. Think about three bedroom bureaus up on a shelf, bouncing and being held by a tension rod. Not going to happen! Thanks, anyway…
Could you possibly get some tension shower or curtain rods and place them running each from floor to ceiling in front of the cabinets? The tension, of course would have to be tight. Just a thought, as they seem to fit pretty snugly from side to side. I had posted this above, but decided to read the comments first.
This morning after a leisurely breakfast we head up a pretty trail toward a peak for my birthday walk. The phone beeps announcing an incoming email so I stop to see who it’s from. What?!? Picacho State Park?? That’s where we are! What a coincidence. After our walk I see your B 1 campsite. It’s about a hundred yards from our A 21 site with the loops backing up to each other. I’m sure our golden, Bailey, read Reggie’s notices on the bushes this morning. The weather is a cool 68 degrees this morning. Last night I thought we might blow off the hill and end up down in the valley! Today a sweet little Airstream is occupying your spot. Wherever you and the crew are off to, I hope you’ve found a good place for the weekend.
Thanks, Marilu,
Well, your comment shows the popularity of Picacho Peak. This is a better day for hiking then Thursday. Gosh, it was hot! It’s a pretty park, isn’t it. Enjoy!
Hi Sue & Crew,
Following along and Enjoying your blog as usual. I think velcro strips might work with holding your cabinets. Looking at the pictures it’s hard to tell exactly what you have to work with. I was thinking four strips of velcro 2-3″ or so in length in each corner of the cabinet that rests up against the refrigerator and another set of four in between and under each cabinet. Then using velcro again, use 1″ or so plastic or fabric strapping from the bottom center of each cabinet across the front of the drawers over the top and attach just over the back. Might work? Hope you have a Great Day! FloridaScott
Hi, FloridaScott,
Hmm… I have to think about this. One problem with velcro… The bottom of the cabinets do not touch what they rest on except for ridges of plastic. There no side of a cabinet that touches a wall. There’s the wall along the side of a cabinet, the wall along the refrigerator. There are rivets there (protruding “bumps”) that would keep the cabinet from touching the velcro. Whew! This is what is known as “a sticky wicket!”
Great hearing from you… Have yourself a wonderful day!
Hi Sue, just catching up here. Have you solved your cabinet challenge?
Do the plastic ridges create enough of a gap between cabinet bottom n supporting surface to screw in eyebolts? With the drawers removed drill holes n zip-tie to the eyebolts. (Zip-ties come in amazing sizes) I realize this won’t contain the drawers but if the cabinets are secure other ideas given should be strong enough to hold the weight of the drawers
Hi Sue The last several comments I’ve made haven’t posted. This is a test to see if I should try again.
One of your comments appeared above. I don’t know why you’re having a problem posting.
I found Gilbert Ray Campground, a county park near the Sonora Desert Museum, to be a better alternative to Picacho Peak SP and only cost $20 for electric, no traffic noise, more scenic and less cramped. JMHO, of course.
Hi, Patricia Abson,
Nice to see you here! If I haven’t welcomed you before, I do so now. Welcome!
I considered Gilbert Ray. It was too far for us to travel, especially on a hot day, plus it isn’t right along the interstate. We would’ve been a wreck. By the time we reached Picacho Peak it was close to noon. The extra $10 was worth it to be able to quit at that time. I don’t doubt Gilbert Ray is as nice as you describe. Some other day, perhaps we will camp there.
I’m surprised you mentioned traffic noise. It doesn’t seem to be an issue at Picacho Peak.
I’m actually mockturtle but signed in with my new Mac and forgot to use my screen name. :-\
🙂
We are at Gilbert Ray now. It’s beautiful but, sadly, no showers.
Well, that’s a disappointment. Is there no shower house or are the showers not working? My guess is there isn’t a shower house, hence the $20 rate.
Woo hoo! I finally read through your entire blog and I’m now up to date. is there a prize or an award or something ? It took a lot longer than it should have because of my wonky Internet here at Box Wash just outside of Wickenburg, but now it’s done and I can join the ranks of your INFORMED blogorinos.
I said when I first put a comment on your blog that I wanted to find out how you manage to get and keep so many dedicated and enthusiastic readers. As a new blogger, it seemed like that would be a useful bit of information for me to know. And after reading your entire blog this is what I have come up with.
There are two things that make your blog different from the other blogs that I read.
One is that you freely open up and share your blogging life, letting others come in and join you where there treated like family and not just another comment to answer, while at the same time keeping your personal space private. Some other well-known bloggers seem to want to be stars and be recognized at all of the rendezvous’s and other gatherings. But they often come off as very commercialized and aloof. You give a tremendous amount of yourself to your readers sharing their joys and their tears, and they love you for that, but I don’t know if I would have the strength to do that without internalizing some of there pain that they share with you.
The other thing is… The Dogs, I think if something happened to you, the dogs could continue to blog and the blog would remain just as popular as it is now. Your readers appear to love your dogs as much as they love their own pets, and I think it’s because you don’t treat your dogs LIKE family, they ARE family and your blogorinos realize that.
Well, looks like I’ve rambled on too long so I’ll go. I will be leaving Wickenburg tomorrow morning, and staying in Phoenix for a week, and then I’ll be heading down to Tombstone for a while. I’m glad I’ve caught up with your blog, it’s been a great read.
theboondork
Hi, the boondock,
It’s fun for me to read an analysis of my blog. I enjoy every word! I think your conclusions, after reading my entire blog, are correct.
As for internalizing the pain, suffering, setbacks, and heartaches of my readers… Yes, I do that! That’s what I meant when I wrote the post about “it feels like I’m carrying rocks uphill in a shovel.” I ruminate on the fact that I haven’t heard from a reader in a long time. The troubles of readers pop into my conscious mind throughout each day, much like a mother thinks of her children scattered hither and yon (no condescension intended here). That’s why I need to take a break now and then.
Yes, you are right. Bridget and Reggie are my family. Spike, too.
Thank you for the compliments woven throughout your comment. A treat for me! I imagine it’s chilly in Wickenburg today. . . Safe travels to your next camp!
Hi, Sue,
As always, a great post! Your “remodel” is beautiful! How wonderful to pop in the door and see all that bright happiness awaiting you. Air conditioning and showers, cool pups and cleanliness, now there is another happy combination.
I was wondering if you could use some of those Command hooks to make four or more attachment points, then use a stretchy net, like the ones used for pickup beds, to hold the whole cabinet in place while you travel. Those nets come in different sizes. Hmm, might a stretchy hammock work as well? Random thoughts…
We will be battening down the hatches here, as we are expecting another windstorm tomorrow. Quite a few downed trees and power outages from the Thursday storm. This time we will secure the recycling and the trash better, along with the deck furniture! Lesson learned – again. We just tend to underestimate the power of the wind.
Safe travels – Enjoy!
Kitt
OK, by the time I composed and posted my comment, you have received a bunch of great ideas! I like the Florida Scott’s velcro idea. You can get velcro in different strengths to hold different loads.
Kitt
Thanks, Kitt, for adding your suggestion on how to hold these cabinets in place. I really don’t see how a net would hold the cabinets, although a net might keep the drawers from sliding all the way out. I’ll let all these ideas roam around in the back of my mind . . . 🙂
Spring winds can be very strong! It’s windy where we are today. Of course, I can’t say where — I don’t want to “spill the beans” before our next post. (Silly, isn’t it.).
Enjoy the weekend, Kitt. Thanks for writing.
Kitts idea sounds like a good one, just stretch it tight without much slack in the netting, like a cargo net for your car trunk. You may have to use two of those, but I would use drapery hooks on your carpet walls and command hooks on the refrigerator wall.
These cabinets would rip those drapery hooks right out of the wall. Maybe not the first time, but soon. I’ve replied about Command hooks somewhere else.
Great dog party – and a good time was had by all! It has finally stopped raining here, at least for today. Looking forward to getting in my yard tomorrow afternoon so I’m hoping the warm temps and sunshine last.
I hope you do have the warmth and sunshine you want, Susan. It’s a pleasure to go outside after a long spate of rain. I remember picking up small branches from my pecan tree in Georgia. Pecan trees are “self-pruning” and after a heavy rain my usually neat lawn would be littered with leaves and branches. Funny how that isn’t something I think about now…. Leaves and branches on the ground are fine! 🙂
Hi Sue,
About the cabinets….can you screw sturdy hooks on wall on either side….three hooks each side going down? Then use a three lengths of rope stretched tight across?
Or could floor to ceiling tension rods work, butted up against the front of the drawers?
Or could you screw a hook or two onto the flat surface of each cabinet and then a hook in the bottom drawer front. Then secure each with a length of rope? Rope winding from top of cabinet down to bottom hook and up again?
Just brainstorming….
Carolyn
Hi, Carolyn,
Let’s see now. . . .
Idea #1… The window is at one end (no hooks there!) and the refrigerator is on the other end (no hooks there!). Plus I don’t know how I could put hooks in the wall. I don’t know if there are studs for that.
Idea #2…. I don’t have much faith in tension rods (See my reply to kgdan). The ceiling in a Casita, like the walls, is covered with carpet. The squishiness of the carpet would make it difficult to obtain the necessary tension. Even then, I think the rods would bounce off along with the cabinets.
Idea #3… Not sure I understand this one. Put hooks into the cabinets and secure a rope to a bottom hook. So I’d have hooks sticking out. Gee… If it didn’t work…. Oh, my… This is tough!
Thanks for helping me think this through, Carolyn. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
Hi, Sue and crew –
Picacho looks like a nice site and so convenient. So nice you had free water and dump station. Are those difficult to find? There must be an app for that.
My vote is for some screw type tension rods. You know the ones you turn to tighten. Looking forward to see what you decide will work. Trial and error.
I saw that first photo of the pups and their new friends and could see Reggie getting into his spin mode. I chuckled out loud. He is full of youthful exuberance.
Happy Trails and stay comfy.
Pamelab in Houston for now…
Hi, Pamelab in Houston,
Are dump stations hard to find? No. You can find them at sanidumps.com, among other sites. Do a search for dump stations and you’ll find them. If you read RVing blogs for a length of time you hear about dump stations. Also you become familiar with businesses that often have them — truck stops like Pilot and Loves, Shell gas stations. While driving through a new-to-you town, look for RV parks. Many RV parks will let you fill up with fresh water and dump your tanks for a fee, usually $6-$10 (as I type this). Some city or county parks provide dump stations — Wickenburg, AZ does that. In the state of Washington, there are dump stations at the rest areas along the interstate. How great is that!
In some areas it’s more difficult to find a place to take on water (from a spigot). That’s why it’s handy to have a funnel in case you need to get all your water from a vending machine.
Yeah, Reggie goes bananas when he meets new dogs.
Sue,
With only your pictures and what you have written about your new cabinets to go on what I suggest may be as impractical as all the previous suggestions.
Could you drill holes in the drawers so that a metal/wooden rod could be inserted down through all of them and into the ‘shelf’ that the cabinet and drawers sit on? This would/could(?) keep the drawers from opening and keep the entire cabinet on the shelf.
That is the best I can do for you from here without seeing the problem. Perhaps the best I could do even if I saw it.
Your idea makes sense, Ed. Drilling holes through the cabinets and drawers takes commitment and resolve that I don’t think I have. Once you drill, there’s no undrilling! Ha!
Thanks for trying, based on the limited information you have. I’m hoping all these suggestions will come together somehow and the solution will present itself. Or I’ll continue to deal with the aftermath of quakes. 🙁
I was thinking the same thing… when my kids were little we took a yard stick and stuck them through the handles on the cupboards… I wonder if someone could drill you the holes at a shop for a tiny amount of $. I am wondering if something like that could be accomplished.
OR, can the cabinets be turned around to the wall during transit? And then turned back during times you are parked? Then put something in front of them to keep them from moving…
I have been there. We forgot to bungie at one point a cabinet that NEEDED it. And of course we have forgotten to lock the fridge ( ONLY ONE TIME THOUGH!!! 🙂 )
Gosh what a challenge!
Hugs from Hoquiam!
Barb
Hi, Barb…
Turning the cabinets around would take more work than cleaning up the mess caused by their fall. See Denise’s suggestion below — I think that might work.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Oh yes, there’s a lot of living-and-learning with RVing!
Wow, what a great post! I love the new overnight whistlestop, but have to admit I was a bit shocked by the pricetag. At first I thought it must be a typo, but after reading the comments, I totally understand that hot, tired, I can’t tow another mile feeling. Reggie looks so happy socializing with the extended pack, Bridgette not so much. I hope you had a nice visit, walking the loop with those of similar tastes, meaning campers, dogs and bloggers. Never thought of this before, but you do a heck of a good job clicking those photos while hanging on to two tethers, especially with the whirling dervish Reggie’s antics. Those yellow flowers by the prickly pear cactus are so pretty. Does anyone know what they are?
I am deep into planning my trailer renovation today. I have figured out heating, coal stove, and found an unpressurized alcohol stove made for boats. I know the fridge I want to use and even have a little 12v black and white television for rainy days. So today I am educating myself on solar power. I’ve got a lot of reading and calculating to do, then it’s all done but the sweat equity. I haven’t had much luck selling things as I downsize, so I figure the local thrift store is going to benefit. It’s ok, that’s where I got most of my things that were not gifts, lol.
I’ve been thinking about your flying storage drawers….how about a Kentucky tailgate? If you could fasten an upright piece of wood to the closet corner and the back wall beside the window, you could slide one or two boards in front of the drawers in your cabinets and hold them in tight. I use a shower curtain rod to hold storage containers in place under the dinette table in my trailer, but the rod is only extended about 5 feet. Another option stronger than bungee cords or cargo nets is nylon webbing, like a ratcheting tie down, or a tow strap. If we all keep thinking we’ll come up with a solution. Time for me to do my homework.
Hi, Lisa,
Thirty bucks at a state park isn’t unusual. I can understand your shock at reading about ME paying that, the Queen of Cheap. 🙂 Our first year on the road I was super cautious about spending. At this point I have a good idea what it costs for a year, for the way I like to live and travel, therefore I feel free to treat us once in a while. I’m not going to make us suffer in the heat!
Thank you for noting the difficulty of taking photos while tethered to a whirling dervish and Bridget. I’m often amazed to find a shot captured something (like Bridget’s eyes of warning). I attribute that to the camera. It does a fantastic job stabilizing shots that I take at moments like in this post, also in handling the weird light and contrasts of that time of day. (For those interested, my camera is a Panasonic LUMIX 70, 60X zoom).
Your renovation of your trailer sounds like a major project, yet you seem to handle it well. You will be immensely proud when you’re done! As for selling stuff… I didn’t bother with that after one yard sale. Too much trouble and I didn’t want strangers coming to my house (typical of me!). I enjoyed giving my things to people and thrift shops.
Thanks for the suggestions on holding the interior of the BLT together. And thanks also for an interesting read!
BTW, the flowers are brittlebush (if I’m seeing correctly). Lots of it in the Southwest. Roads are lined with it. Quite pretty.
Hi Sue,
So glad to have been able to meet you! Total Surprise….I was focusing on the dogs and as recognition set it….hey that’s Reggie! That’s Bridget! Then that’s gotta be Sue! 🙂
Could have knocked me over with a feather!
Friday was hot again, and terribly windy, but today it has cooled down and is quite beautiful here.
I told you I would find out the name of the product I washed my Casita with and it’s called Wash & Wax All. I got it on Amazon, so perhaps you would want to post a link here. (I don’t know how to do that.) It’s a waterless wash, very easy to use. I washed Wandering Spirit (the Casita) and Joy Ride (my truck) with it. It waxes too, but I also used Meguiars to put more wax on. There are a lot of Meguiars products and I don’t have the bottle any more, but it’s specifically for fiberglass. Probably available at Amazon also. I wanted a waterless wash (when I discovered they exist!) because most RV parks don’t allow washing of vehicles with their water, and when boon docking, I don’t want to use my water for washing vehicles.
I just posted my blog a little while ago and it’s mostly about you today. 🙂
Are the cabinets heavy when full? Probably, but if not too heavy could you turn them around so the drawers face the wall when you travel, and then put the fold up chair in front of them? I dunno….maybe I don’t have the logistics right?
Best to you and the Crew!
It was nice meeting you, too, Micky. I apologize for misspelling your name. I’ll go take the “e” out.
Thanks for the info on the dry wash. Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 oz. Aircraft Quality Wash Wax for your Car RV & Boat. Guaranteed Best Waterless Wash on the Market
BTW, I’m glad you didn’t attempt to make a link to the dry wash for me. Amazon does not want anyone making links on behalf of Associates. That’s a big no-no.
I use Meguiars. I like it.
Yes, the cabinets are heavy and snug. Turning them around would be more work than picking up the mess and putting them back together again after they tumble. Thanks for trying to help!
Okay, I want to go read your blog post! 🙂
LATER…. What a lovely post, Micky! You have me glowing over your report of our meeting. Well done! As for Bridget, yes, it’s always appreciated when the butt is cropped out of a photo. You accomplished the near-impossible getting them both in one frame the way Reggie darts around. Nice shot of the sunrise behind the saguaro, too — Well, the entire post is topnotch. I urge my readers to take a look. (If you want to go to Micky’s blog and don’t have the link saved or handy, a search for “one wandering spirit” will bring it up. There is a link in this post.)
Joy and Shiloh are truly “golden” in my photos taken in the light of the setting sun. They’re really nice dogs.
I enjoyed reading your blog, Micky! 🙂
Hi Denise, thank you for coming by!
Hi Micky – I just read parts of your blog, and it is great! Thank you for sharing…
Hi Eliza, and thank you for letting me know you stopped by. I enjoy the sharing. 🙂
Hi Micky, I too, checked out your blog. Nice job of posting. I read the posts back through January. Will read more late. Consider yourself bookmarked.
I read your blog, Micky, and you were here in Prescott!! And you have photos around Watson Lake where I often walk my dogs! I have wondered if I could tolerate a winter here in a Casita and you did, so it is possible. I know that our winters are now much milder than they were in the 1960’s and 70’s.
Also, the photo of your dogs in the water at Watson Lake might be the same cove where a scene in “Little Miss Sunshine” was shot. FYI. ?
Hi wildflower in prescott,
I like Prescott very much, and I like cooler temperatures. Most nights I was there the temp was in the 30’s, but one night it did get down to 25. I’m warm enough inside, under my blankets, but I do worry about pipes freezing outside when it gets that cold.
From what I heard Prescott was having warmer than usual temperatures for this time of year while I was there. During the last week all the flowering trees in town were blooming their little heads off, some pink, some white, and all just beautiful!
Nice blog, Micky! And what a joyful coincidence to cross paths with Sue! I think I probably would have fainted when I realized it was RV Sue walking toward me! I don’t know how my little Lhasa would react to crossing paths with a rambunctious little guy like Reggie, but I do know that he would be head-over-heels in LOVE with your two golden girls! He’s got a thing for the tall blondes with long fur!
My husband and I have enjoyed a few quick weekend camping trips to Picacho Peak State Park. It’s a quick drive from Phoenix. Since I’m still working we usually only have a weekend. Nice scenery and hiking. You will probably be planning to head for cooler climes now. But we are having a short reprieve from the heat this weekend.
Hi, Phyllis in Phoenix,
It’s nice that you and your husband have Picacho Peak nearby. This break from the heat is great! It was windy earlier, calm now, a cloudless sky. I love a clear, brisk day. Hope you are enjoying yours!
Hi, Sue!
Hope you and the pups found a cool spot to enjoy today!
It has been an exhaustingly (is that even a word?!) busy week at work. A project I started in December will not be complete until the end of May. I did not get a chance to check in on you and the blogorinos until Thursday evening, and then it took me until last night to catch up on all the comments. Now I am all caught up – yippee!!
I have enjoyed all the pictures, especially of the Crew. Bridget’s sweet kiss on Reggie’s cheek brought happy tears to my eyes, remembering her doing the same with Spike. It was almost like she was saying, “I love you dearly, even though you sometimes pluck my last nerve, little Reggie!” **sigh**
I love, love, love your color/pattern choices for the decorating update of the BLT! So lively and cheerful! It delights me to no end that both Bridget and Reggie like them, too! Bridget thinks they are pretty, and Reggie just cares about the comfort! I noticed the cute colander before you even mentioned it! I thought, “That is a great dual-use item, pretty, too.” I hope that quilt holds up well for you until next year’s update, then it may be transitioned to an outside pallet.
I might have a solution to your storage bins tipping over, IF the inside of the BLT is laid out as it is in my mind! Install a footman loop under the middle of each set of drawers on the fiberglass area below. Install another footman loop above the cabinets on the edge of the metal window frame…bottom or top, (I cannot remember if the window is as long as the storage area) . I imagine you could install the loops with the museum putty to see if this works before making it more permanent. Ok, now purchase some lashing straps. Feed a strap through the top/bottom loops over each bin, then tighten. (very similar to the military-style mesh belts we wore as kids, with the locking belt buckle) This solution would be easy to install and remove, would not deter from the décor, and the straps could be stored in one of the drawers until you are ready to move. The footman loops and lashing straps are available on Amazon. I would imagine that the loops and belts could be found at a Walmart, Lowes or such if you are not in an area to accept deliveries. 🙂
Today I was surprised by a morning phone call from one of my sisters. She and her hubby would be in town and they wanted to meet me for lunch. I put my chores on hold and met them – we don’t get together very often, so I was happy our schedules meshed. We enjoyed crab cake salads dressed with a light Asian vinaigrette – yummy! It was a very nice visit! Tomorrow, one of my nephews and his girlfriend will be coming over to help me with some yard work. With grey, overcast skies, and comfortable temps, we should knock the chores out in no time! Gracie pup will be overjoyed to see them and get some extra attention. 🙂
I have rambled on enough….I do need to get some of those chores done! Hope you and the Crew have a good evening! Sending you all hugs from me and Gracie pup! 🙂
DesertGinger: I hope you were able to move to the rehab center and are seeing little improvements each day! **hugs** 🙂
Barbara (Nashville): I hope your husband’s appointment went well yesterday. **hugs** 🙂
Sending wishes to ALL of the blogorinos for an enjoyable weekend! 🙂
Hi, Denise,
I hope you are able to rest and relax after an exhausting week. I’m glad you are caught up on the blog. It’s always nice to see you here.
I think your idea of footman loops with straps is excellent! It just might work! I admit I had to do a search on Amazon to see what a footman loop is. There are several at Amazon. Here’s one: Footman Loops Pack of 10
To implement your idea I need to get over my reluctance at having holes drilled in the fiberglass below the cabinets and in the wall above the window. There will be a lot of stress on the footman loops so I’d want a block of wood behind the fiberglass where the bolts would go through. Also I’d need to find out if anchor bolts can be inserted above the window frame.
I like the fact that a strap can be tightened, whereas a bungee only has elasticity. Hmm… Your suggestion just might work! I also like that the footman loops would not be an eyesore and the cabinets themselves are not altered.
Thank you very much! It may be a while before I can try it.
How nice that you’re getting together with family and eating crab cake salad! I love crab cakes!
Have fun, Gracie pup, helping mom with the yard work tomorrow!
Perhaps instead of drilling holes in the outside walls put the footman loops in the bottom of the upper cabinets towards the back. Personally, I would value the integrity of the outside walls over holes in the cabinet. When I need the perfect length and gauge of a few nuts and bolts I go to True Value Hardware where they have always been very helpful. They would have footman loops also. Wally World might have them. Do you have access to a drill? Stainless steel won’t leave any dirty looking stains on your pristine white fiberglass. ?
Wally World has black straps with buckles for tensioning in their camping section. I think they call them sleeping bag straps.
Master Lock 12-Foot-by-1-inch Lashing Strap, 2-Pack
Thanks for the tips, wildflower!
Good morning, Sue,
Ok, we need some of the woodworkers or car folks to chime in here…
I agree…no drilling into the fiberglass. I have read that the 3M automotive double sided foam tape is excellent. It will hold just about anything, but be sure to prep the area properly and think twice before adhering, because it will not be easy to remove. The foam would flex as needed, and because it is auto rated, it will not unglue in extreme heat. Now, I wonder if you purchased some very small wood plaques in the craft section, screwed the hooks into each plaque, and then attached each wood based hook to the fiberglass. You could even paint the plaques white so they would blend in better. I like Wildflower’s idea about mounting the top hooks on the bottom of the wall side of the cabinets. Amazon has the automotive 3M products…be sure to get the one with foam that is rated for high stress applications. A roll runs $20+, plus you would need to also order a prep pad to clean the surfaces so the bond would take properly. Good luck! 🙂
Thanks for the additional information, Denise. I have to say, I absolutely HATE anything that sticks. Hooks on the wall side? One side is fiberglass (surrounding the refrigerator). There is no room to “mount the top hooks on the bottom of the wall side of the cabinets” anyway.
There isn’t much I can do right now as we are camped far from any store or possibility of receiving a mail order. My head is swimming with all these suggestions anyway. I’ll let them roll around in my mind for a while…. I do appreciate all the thought, time, and effort you and others have put into this very stubborn problem for me. 🙂
Use these anchors to attach the footman loops:
http://www.amazon.com/Hillman-Group-41298-Hollow-20-Pack/dp/B000H6KF5C/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1457902044&sr=8-32&keywords=wall+anchors
Thanks. I need to figure out the thickness of the exterior wall as well as its composition underneath the carpeting.
Do the drawers rock during transit because there is space behind them? And is this action then causes the drawers to open…fill in the gap with old t shirts…and use three tension rods..tight and against the bed. No rocking equals no tipping and no mess to clean up.
I’m stumped! Let us know what you do.
Where is Mick…..oh Mick you hooooo!
I think the drawers open because they slide very easily and when the BLT tilts on an uneven road or goes around a corner, the drawers fly open. Then the weight in the drawers causes them to tilt and fall out of the frame. No way to put tension rods “tight and against the bed.” The drawers are mostly higher than the bed. Thanks for brainstorming for me!
I think Denise has the solution.
THANK YOU, BLOGORINOS, for your suggestions on how to keep the new cabinets and their drawers in place while the BLT is moving down the road.
I can see the “put the camera in a bag of rice” phenomenom is developing. In case you aren’t familiar with that reference . . . Quite a while ago I left a camera out in the rain. I think I received over twenty suggestions to put the camera in a bag of rice. It was funny!
We’ve tossed around using tension rods, Command strips and hooks, velcro, putty, bungee cords, blocking with the chair, stuffing tee shirts or something behind the cabinets, setting up “kentucky tailgates,” putting a pole through the handles of the drawers, screwing the cabinets to the walls, turning the cabinets around, and probably more that I’m not recalling right now. I’m liking Denise – Richmond, VA’s idea of using footman loops and straps that can be tightened.
Thanks again… I appreciate your desire to come up with a solution. Let’s move on to other topics.
BTW, if you ever get your camera wet, place it in a bag of rice. I’ve heard that works. 🙂
Ooops ?
Overflowing ideas?Even my head is spinning by now
Picacho Peak is the next exit headed Weston I-10 from my exit, Marana. Or, put another way, if you are headed east, one stop before my exit. So Close! Burin not there, of course.
I cannot express how eager I am to get home. I yearn for the desert. I just want to get home, start workingwiththe pulmonary hypertension clinic at U of A, and start saving for a van. Get back to doing knife work.
Beyond that, life is good. So good!
Hi, Ginger,
We went by Marana. I didn’t realize that’s your exit. It’s a nice area. I smile to see your words that “life is good.”
Yes I’m just a few hundred feet off the interstate, at the Marana exit. We have a nice little mobile home park with clubhouse, pool, spa. 3 blocks away is Marana city hall complex with senior center and exercise club. And a library. All within 3 blocks. Not too shabby.
DG, So glad to hear you are in better spirits and seem like you health is much improved. I am so happy for you.
Yes the heart surgery was successful.unfortunately I am still struggling with atrial fibrillation, which means I have a high heart rate most ofthetime and feel pretty crappy. They may still try to do another cardio version toget me out of a-fib
Hi DG,
We went past your town today, too. It’s nice to be able to picture you there. I hope you’re home soon.
I can’t wait. Thanks Marilu.
Your sunset with the graceful cactus in the background is beyond beautiful! All the doggies interacting was great! Bridget gives the evil eye better than anyone, human or canine, that I have ever met!
As for your sliding drawers… I have no ideas or solutions, sorry!
Guess it’s time to be heading north again, to avoid the heat, looking forward to the journey! Getting warmer here too, too quickly Spring has come and gone and we find Summer on our doorstep!
Hi, Geri,
We will stay in Arizona a while longer and go up in elevation if it becomes too hot for us. It seems every year we’re caught in snow on our way northward. I expect it to happen again this year. That’s a good thing, a reminder to appreciate warm winters in the Southwest.
Thanks for complimenting the photo. Hi to Chuck, Radar and Doogie Bowser!
I’ve stayed there, pre Geri, and liked it. Sorry about your drawers, like Geri no ideas. Reggie is turning into the real social butterfly but looks like Ms B keeping him straight! Great pix as usual…but no horses!
Hi, Chuck,
If these wheels keep on turning, I’ll be sure to post more horse photos for you. 🙂
That’s so cool that you got to meet Micky. I just love the look Ms. Bridget is giving to Micky’s two sweet dogs. Ms. Bridget is a hoot! Thanks for taking the photos of the campground. I drove by Picacho Peak this January while driving a car from the east coast to the west coast. I saw the campground from the Interstate and wondered if the campground was worth a stay. It looks like a good place to stop for a couple of days to take in a hike and enjoy the beauty of that region. Safe travels!
Hi, Monica,
Yes, Her Royal Haughtiness is going to make it clear to any dogs approaching that bad behavior will NOT be tolerated. 🙂
Picacho Peak SP is good for an overnight stop when traveling through the area ($30) or spend the night, hike the next day, then leave in the morning $60)… preferably during mid-week when it’s not too hot.
Aw dogs are the best entertainers!! So much laughter in watching them!! Thanks for sharing, Sue.
You’re welcome, Elizabeth. Have a great day…
Just missed you. I pulled into Picacho early this afternoon, but did not check my email until just now. Have you tried Gilbert Ray down in Tucson where I just left? No reservations, but I had no problems getting in. Fee is only $2o for an electric site, but there is a very nice dump stations and lots of water fill places. Sites are nicely spread apart in most areas and a very pretty desert setting with lots of hiking trails. Within bike riding distance to Old Tucson and Sonora Desert Museum, which is good for me. Good Verizon service, also.
Hi, Fulltimer Judy,
No, we haven’t camped at Gilbert Ray (see my reply to Patricia Abson aka mockturtle). I hope you are enjoying Picacho!
Get a weather balloon, inflate it when you move, deflate at the new camp. 🙂
Oh-kaaay….
Good morning Sue & Crew! Love the pictures of all the “babies” meeting each other!
I don’t remember if you took pictures of your drawer units or not, but I have ones as you describe. I have them sitting on the floor though and don’t know if that would make a difference or not, but anyway, I was thinking …. how about a dowel running through a drilled hole in the top and through the drawer handles to keep them closed. As for keeping the units on the wall, is there a lip on the top but in the back …. Mine have the post running across the back of the plastic unit (you know where the drawers stop in the back), perhaps putting a hook for each of those would work as those hooks are big and sturdy — just a thought! Those 3M big hooks work really good as well as another post that I read on velcro. Velcro is a cure-all like Duct Tape! 😉
Best to you and the crew!
Good morning, Elaine in Colorado,
As I told others above, a rod or dowel or whatever through the handles will not work. The handles do not protrude. They are recessed. No there isn’t “a lip on the top or in the back.” Velcro and Command hooks will not work (I explained why somewhere above).
I’m pleased you liked the photos of the canine capers!
Micky!!!! What a small world…being in the same campground as RVSue 🙂 The kids are looking great. (I met Micky last year when I was still on the road.) Whaaaaa missing being on the road. MUD SEASON is here (way early) and you CANNOT drive on the dirt roads…it is terrible. Also some flooding. It was 55 degrees yesterday. Hope all is well with you. RVSue I love the “look” of your site but $30 a night!!! Wow I just put my head up and saw an “Arizona Sunrise” out my big windows in the living room…beautiful. Have a great day. xxoo
You have a great day, too, Krystina. Ah… Mud season… I remember that. 🙂 It will dry and you’ll have another beautiful Vermont spring. I thought of you when a woman came up to me with two dogs and introduced herself. You met Micky in South Dakota . . . another nice person.
Good Morning Sue, Crew and Everyone in Bloggerinoville,
The sunset photo ties with the Crew’s photos as the most beautiful in the desert. Love all those puppies having fun and HRH there to keep everyone on the straight and narrow. She is such a Great Lady!
Mick emailed me last night (Saturday) about some further things I need for my solar camping setup. I didn’t find his email til about 4AM this morning. I logged into Amazon, put a number of things in my cart and – having not had the benefit of any caffeine at that hour – hit “send”. Then I gasped. So quickly it would make your head spin, I hit “cancel order”. And my luck was holding, Amazon cancelled my order.
I reset my brain and filled my shopping cart one more time, meaning to go into your blog THEN hit “send”. Nope, rinse, repeat previous stupidity. So the moral to this sad tale of woe, go to McDonald’s FIRST.
THEN place order, check to be sure I’m on your blog BEFORE hitting the “send” button. So, I hope you have an early “Happy Spring” present in your commis. envelope soon. I ordered a battery just like yours and things to go with it. I’ll meet Mick in Tn soon to pick up my solar suitcase, connect it to my new battery then take a few days to drive round the east coast to try things out. I will be camping in my truck. Too many things going on to have time to order my trailer. However, I have your blog and other bloggerinos through whom I live vicariously for now.
Hope nothing exciting happens on your blog in the next few days as I’m not going to be able to read it. I will be up to my ears reading and learning the unlearnable – everything about electricity before meeeting up with Mick. Even planting my tomato plants will have to wait for a bit. But I am determined to learn this. It’s a small sacrifice to make in exchange for free power. Well, free after you spend hundreds of $$ on the solar equipment.
Happy sunrise and beautiful weather to everyone wherever you might be.
Wishes for continuing speedy recovery to Desert Ginger. Your spirit and determination are indomintable. Thank you, Sue, for sharing such a trove of information, encouragement, caring, energy, happiness and Earth’s beauty
with all of us who follow your travels and adventures with The Duchess and the Little Princeling. Love those two.
Anne
Hi, Anne,
I’m not sure if you’re saying that you did eventually place an order after entering Amazon through one of the links or ads. I’ll go check my reports and be back here later.
LATER… I don’t see any of the stuff you ordered. What a disappointment! That would’ve been a hefty commission, possibly in the 3 figures. Oh well, no sense “crying over spilled milk.” 🙂 Thanks for trying.
Drive safely (when you’re not sleepy!) and good luck learning about electricity. What fun. NOT!
i just ordered it at 4am this morning. would you see it that soon?
A.
Since Amazon made changes in their reporting system, I usually do see orders on the same day. I hope yours is an exception. That would be great!
Hi Sue, I started reading your story. I am 1 year in….we have a casta and I installed some solar but I was wondering about your system. I like the system where your batteries are in the PTV. How do you get the power to the camper. Do you have an inverter in the PTV and hook into it with the camper’s big wire
Thanks
Hi, Todd,
Welcome! Thank you for reading my blog.
Yes, I have an inverter in the PTV. A wire runs to the rear where there is a plug (the kind that breaks-away). While on the road the BLT is plugged into it, of course. And when unhitched, it is plugged in also, bringing charge to my house battery. (I had an extension cord made for it so I have flexibility how I park the PTV at camp.) A small inverter (DC to AC, 400 watts continuous, 900 watts peak) plugs into the 12volt outlets inside the BLT from which I run my laptop, small fan, radio, lights (LED), chargers, etc. The house battery also runs the electronic board for the fridge and the Fantastic Fan in the ceiling.
For anyone reading this– There is info on my solar panel and all on a page accessed from the header.
Housing the two AGM batteries in the PTV was one of my better decisions, although I can’t claim it as my idea. 🙂
What a nice post. That does look like a great campground – and plenty of socializing for the crew. I’m flat on my back with a pinched nerve or something in my hip (maybe I have Bridget’s issue). I think it’s from sitting so long during our travels the last week or so, although I do walk and ride bike. Well, who knows. It will work it’s way out.
I have the utmost confidence that you will figure something out on your drawer situation. Don’t know if setting them on the floor face to face in your knee area while you travel would work. They may be too heavy to move or too wide to fit. – Just in case you didn’t have enough rice in the bag…. LOL.
Hi, Applegirl NY,
Flat on your back? Aw, not good. I’m sorry to hear that.
Your hip pain does sound similar to what Bridget experienced. She yelped after lying in one position for a long time.
I hope you feel better soon. There’s probably a lot of things you’d rather be doing now that you’re home again. 🙂
Sue,
Once more unto the breach with a suggestion for retaining your cabinets.drawers. I think Mick’nTN was on to something.
I will not post the web page address that I found because there are probably a lot of suppliers but do a search for “Shippers Product/ Dunnage Bags”. This could be the cleanest not intrusive solution – then again maybe not.
This is an idea I haven’t heard before! Definitely thinking “outside the box,” Ed. I need an air chamber about 12 feet by 6 feet. It certainly wouldn’t add much weight!
How about a few air mattresses from Wakmart with a 12 volt tiny air pump? We use a Walmart air bed/mattress in our van. Pump is only about 4 by 6 inches and has 12v plug. Air mattresses ( we happen to use twin size) can be completely sucked down by reversing pump so they take up some space but not much. Using multiples so you can adjust to size needed.
I have an air mattress and an air pump, although the pump has not been charged in a couple of years.
https://www.vat19.com/item/gigantic-beach-ball
Mick, I was waiting for you to solve the storage drawer problem, come on now…..
I yearn to travel so much and then I get second thoughts. Reading your blog and seeing your photos of the area entice me to wander to places I’ve never been. I get second thoughts, mainly, because of not being around my family, who all live in the area. I am still gearing up my trailer and truck to take off someday to explore various places that I only see through photos. Then, again, I’m also nervous about retiring from my job of almost 29 years and being on a limited income or less of one. lol I believe everything will come together when it’s suppose to. Just as, when we’re having health issues, we’ll eventually get better if we all believe in what we want to attain in this life. My Dad, who is 87 yo, sometimes talks like he doesn’t want to continue on because of his health issues and I talk to him as though it’s another day that we can talk and share our life together. Thank you for sharing everybody.
Hi, Cheryl O.,
If you have the longevity gene of your father, you probably have many years ahead of you. You want to be around your family and you also “yearn to travel.” You can have both! Going from Puget Sound, there’s a heckuva lot of wonderful places within a three-day drive. If you’re away from your family and you find that you want to be with them, hit the road for Puget Sound! 🙂
Whatever you choose to do with the time you have left on this earth, I wish you contentment and good health. Thanks for sharing, Cheryl.
Thank you. Btw…the Idaho Benchmark map is mine. That’s a 3 day-er. 🙂
Great! Thank you.
hi Cheryl, i wanted to encourage you to do some 3 day trips like Sue suggested. and maybe you can take some of your family with you on these jaunts. my 4 year-old grandson loves to camp with us and it gives his parents a break too. i love teaching about nature and he loves to hear stories around the fire.
we go over to the Coast or up the McKenzie River for a two night trip and it works out very well. we hava a very small vintage trailer which holds the 3 of us comfortably.
about retirement, you will know when the right time is. and even then there might be some second guessing about if you made the right decision. you can use Sue as a role model and read about her beginning of her new life after retirement. my husband retired last July and one month later told me that he made the right decision. he is doing some part-time work in the same field but really likes the freedom he now has to be able to say yes or no when he wants.
we have always lived very frugally (on purpose) so retiring on a limited budget can work. (especially if you have No Debt.) Sue is working on her finance recaps and you can learn a lot about how she stretched her money by reading her early posts.
fears come up and it is our job to “look them in the face them and maintain a calm spirit” (Marcus Aurelious.) sorry for the spelling error…..
i am happy that your Dad to share your dreams with. keep us posted on your explorations.
Thanks for the support, Bess. I work at Boeing and they are offering an incentive to retire right now and since I’ve been here over 28 years, I took it. I’ll know more this month. I, also, need to get my house situated (renting or selling) it. But, I believe something will transpire that will work out for my retirement to live frugally.
I’ve been to the McKenzie river area and of course the Oregon coast….love them both. My Dad lives in Eugene and I’d like to visit him more and explore Oregon, too.
Thanks for the positive quote.
Sue,
I just went into Amazon and cancelled the battery and all the items pertaining to it.
I left the other few things that I need but are not spendy. I waited and waited.
Finally, a little ding accompanied the email from Amazon to say part of my order was cancelled per my request. They cancelled all the things I DID NOT cancel but are shipping the battery and its things.
At any rate, I had everthing in my cart early this AM after I had my coffee. I clicked on the Shop at Amazon up top of your open page just under the header. Then I had to sign in to Amazon to access the things in my cart. I had not left your site. I clicked place the order when I was all done. I can’t see why it didn’t go through as being from your site. I will wait a few hours and reorder that stuff that got cancelled and make sure it is through your site though it won’t amount to much.
I did have a difficult time every time I tried to place that order before and after I accessed your site. Amazon kept crashing out on me. I’m using an iPAD but never had that kind of trouble before. Do let me know if you see the battery and things. I’ll let you know when I reorder the other things later today.
A.
I’ll check throughout the day, Anne. I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I don’t know if it’s Amazon or the Ipad. Another reader had trouble commenting while using an Ipad.
No, Sue.
I’m very sorry for all this. I did finally get the battery cancelled and the other things ordered. I’m hoping you will see an order for Apple cables for iPAD, 2 books by author Orczy, Uni-ball gel pens and a zinc battery terminal kit.
Late tonight, I will reorder the battery and accessories and pray it goes through for you. Also, to do a comment on your blog, an email address is required. Are you able to see it? If so, you are more than welcome to use that for further chat about whether or not my orders are being credited to you. I sure hope so.
I wouldn’t even know what these things are, much less have need of them if not for you and your blog and all the bloggerinos who comment here and most importantly of all – Mick in Tn – to help me with all this.
A.
I see a 6-ft. Apple cable for IPad so far. Chances are that’s your order. None of the other items yet. The cancelling and reordering may slow their appearance.
I wouldn’t email you on this matter because it triggers the Amazon robot to think we have a personal relationship and we’re trying to manipulate the program. In fact, this discussion worries me, even though we are NOT manipulating the system. I may delete our comments when this is resolved.
Don’t feel badly. It’s to your credit that you tried hard for my benefit and it may work in the end! 🙂
I use my iPad for commenting, Amazon orders, the whole shebang. No problems.
Thanks, Ginger.
Dana n I also use our iPads for all that,no problems. Tho Dana doesn’t comment, he’s the shopper in our family.
I think that Applegirl is onto something easy to try. Try putting them on the floor, in the area between the two fiberglass bulkheads. Hopefully they will fit, and then you only have to worry about the drawers opening. If they are pushed all the way aft, a small tension road placed parallel to the floor between the bulkheads would keep them from sliding open ( and forward ) if you hit the brakes.
On the other hand, they may be too big to fit on the floor…..I seem to recall you put the others on the floor, so you may have already tried this. (At least it is a cheap idea, with no holes drilled in the fiberglass.)
At any rate, I’m glad that you have found a new campsite where you have internet connection…looking forward to hearing about it… The doggies are cute as usual, and always LOVE photos of golden retrievers!
Putting the cabinets on the floor idea has been mentioned and I replied that they are too heavy. I’d have a tough time putting them back, too. I also replied to the tension rod idea. Thanks, anyway.
Here’s an idea that is a joint venture from the retired carpenter who now spends his time doing handyman work and small remodels and his retired facilities manager wife:
1. I looked at the drawer units on the Walmart website and see that you do have side panels. You first need to gang the units together by using commerical grade or heavy duty Velcro or whatever they call it these days. My guess is maybe 9 6″ pieces; 3 verticals spaced across the top, 3 verticals in the center and 3 verticals on the lower part.
2. Now that the units are ganged together, purchase two pieces of real wood strips (can be a plain moulding) that measures approximately 1/4″- 1/2″ thick by 1-1/2″ to 2″ wide and the length will equal the length of the ganged shelf units. About 56 1/4″ long? You will also need some screws to connect one wood strip to the top and one to the bottom. We like these http://www.amazon.com/Faspac-Ftpb125rwh-Round-Washer-Screws/dp/B0076L8TQI
3. You will need some additional shorter screws. Description coming…
4. Drapery hooks can be placed onto the walls at your connection points. I would probably place upper and lower on the back at each end. You could go with three for more strength and add a couple to the middle but you’d have to test what is needed. Another possibility that I thought of is that you can purchase pipe hanger strap (metal tape with holes in it) for a more rigid connection because you may want to keep your unit a small distance away from the window and curtains http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=pipe+hanger+tape (I installed a shelf in my microwave compartment and the strapping works great! I purchased a prefinished shelf in the wall shelf department and used four pieces of strapping screwed into the shelf and connected it the wood trim on the interior side of the compartment and it hasn’t moved an inch!)
5. You can probably bend the strapping or drapery hook, or both to provide a sturdy connection. Be creative with the way you add your drapery hooks. They can be sideways, upside down, etc. You want them to pull against the drawer unit.
6. To keep the drawers closed, I would run one or two strips of shock cord. They come in an array of beautiful colors (that will match your decor) and lengths with various connections. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HAMHU9A/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687542&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001P6CO6Q&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=129V4SAMEH51QMB9Z6RW
Too bad I’m not closer to where you are. I’d drive out and help you with this and bring along my really cool small DeWalt drill that fits a woman’s hand perfectly and it would be done in no time.
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCD710S2-12-Volt-8-Inch-Driver/dp/B0043XX87W/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1457908353&sr=1-1&keywords=12v+dewalt+drill
Hope this helps and ramps up the idea machine in your head!
Always wishing you the best,
Chris B
PS Clete saw your new crib design and he loves it! I was surprised that he even noticed the beautiful colors and even the colander! You are styling!
Good golly!!!! Oh, my, this is incredible! I’ve only skimmed your instructions because I’m working on a blog post and Reggie is wanting me to take him outside again. I’ll take a close look at it later and respond. Wow!
🙂
Okay, I read the first part. Question: How do I gang together the three units? They are tight together, side-by-side and tight against the refrigerator wall. On the other end (back of BLT) there is space. However, because of the curve in the wall, the back corner of the cabinet is tight against the wall at that curve. If there were room for the velcro to be squeezed between the cabinets (which there isn’t), how do I get the velcro in between the cabinets? I could remove one cabinet and velcro the other two together, but how do I velcro the third cabinet when I have to jam it into place with no side-to-side wiggle room?
I have more questions but I’ll stop with these for now.
Sue, I got so caught in the falling drawers I forgot to comment on the blog. The camp is very nice and I love the sunset photo and the . The meeting of the 2 Crews was great. Micky’s Goldens are beautiful. Reggie’s antics and Bridget’s evil eye are funny, as usual.
Hope you find a solution to the drawer situation as they really look like a nice sturdy set.
Thank you, Barbara. Yes, Micky’s Goldens are beautiful dogs with the wonderful temperament of the breed. It made me more aware of what a pair of weird dogs I have. Ha!
Hi gang. I’m in my whiny state. Food here is awful. I just want to be home and do my own food. I want to feel well, not have a racing heart and feel dizzy and nauseated all the time. Sick ofthrowing up. Sick of being sick. I apologize for unloading my whine here.
No apologies necessary. What you describe is not fun!
Actually I think whining about hospital food is one of the prerequisites before they will let you leave. So glad to hear you getting spunky again. Give em’ hell girl.
Think about this:
Now that I found another photo that shows that each drawer is a unit of its own, and that the side of each unit is not a solid panel, let’s explore another way. Are the drawers sturdy enough so that when they fell over, they didn’t fall apart other than the drawers dumping out? Can you easily pull out a drawer while leaving the unit intact? If so, perhaps you could remove a drawer and bolt together the units (rather than velcro and add the wood strip in the back) I can’t find anything that shows how the unit is built but we are thinking that maybe bolting and then drilling a hole in the back and fishing a piece of wire through that you can connect onto a drapery hook in a few places. That way, you could install them one by one beginning at the microwave cabinet by drilling a hole and using a nut and bolt to gang them together. Does that sound doable? We are doing this blindly so bear with us.
I don’t know how the above post ended up here. Sorry!
This is sounding doable.
About the strength of the drawers. They slide out very easily and can be removed. When they fell over in transit, one of them lost its front panel. It was no problem popping it back into place.
It’s dark now and the crew is asleep, so I’ll wait until tomorrow to pull out the drawers and see if the units can be bolted together. Bolting the frames together is a better idea than velcro as it won’t add any more thickness from side to side.
I’m surprised you mention drapery hooks. Wouldn’t the weight of these cabinets with drawers full (including some books!) pull those drapery hooks out? The only resistance is an inch or two of a metal pin behind carpet. Your thoughts?
We figured that you didn’t want to be drilling through your “shell” or any other interior fiberglass. Drapery hooks are pretty strong in numbers, especially if you keep the heavy stuff in the bottom drawers and the lighter weight stuff in the top drawers, the weight in the bottom will help. I have some of the long pin drapery hooks that are 2-1/4″ long on the side that you stick into the carpet. They are pretty hard to bend. Also, running a roll of the non-skid stuff that is used for drawer/shelf liners to help keep the bases from sliding around and/or use a flat piece of velcro on the bench seat and bottom of the end units with a folded folded piece connecting the two together. I wouldn’t use a flimsy wire to connect to the drapery hooks because you want something that would maintain space between the sidewall and the back of the drawer units. These trailers bounce around allot more than we can imagine. My microwave cabinet door kept popping open until we added the shock kit so I had to run a piece of velcro across the front to keep the door closed while traveling.
If anybody else has ideas, please join in! Brainstorming is good!
Fooey, heck, darn Desert Ginger!!!! Sorry to hear that you are still feeling so crappy 🙁 Hopefully the Docs will figure out how to make you be able to run in a marathon soon! Hang in there sweetie.
DesertGinger – I was thinking about you all night. I hope that you are having a better day today. 🙂 I know that it’s hard, especially when you can’t see the end of feeling so lousy, but I’m sure that you will get there. We are all rooting for you!
Chris B
PS I didn’t mean to hijack your post. I was reading and looking at photos between two separate windows of rvsue’s posts and somehow posted in the wrong place.
Sue,
Enjoyed the post. My wife and I are starting our full time RV living in July this year. Hope to see you are the road. Our blog is LivinginBeauty.net.
Welcome to the world of RV living and blogging about it!
Your name serves as a link to your blog. Good luck!
Sue, here’s something I spied at a fiberglass rally a few years ago to keep drawers from sliding out and likewise holding a couple of little plastic dressers from moving forward when sitting on a bench, such as yours. The owner of the Scamp, male, swore it worked to perfection. Simple if it appeals to you.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the names of these relatively inexpensive pieces so I have to rely on some quickie “somewhat like these” photos from Amazon to show you. I apologize for putting in these links.
You need 3 poles. Like these but no need to be telescoping. Just need to be skinny and strong/unbendable.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Z10D16?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Then you need 6 of these. But NOT really these. You want the little thing on side that has a name in the world of hardware – the little half-circle gizmo.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDN7OQ0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
You screw (or maybe that super strong VBA tape would work to hold them) those little black half circle gizmos onto the bench front … an inch or so above the floor, the other closer to the top of the bench to maximize pole stability. You do this three times (6 gizmos total) lining up directly in front of the center of the drawers. Stick the poles through the gizmos, making sure pole reaches to top of drawers. The poles are easy in/out once your little land yacht is docked at boondocks. I suspect the poles would fit nicely behind the cabinets in that dead space. Since you have no lateral movement of your cabinets, you shouldn’t have to do anything else.
Anyway, just a suggestion. 🙂
Sharon
Thank you, Sharon, for taking the time and energy to post an explanation of this guy’s method of securing cabinets. Nice of you! I will surely read and study it several times to see if it will work for me. Right now I’m mentally drained from blog writing. I’ll give it a fresh read in the morning.
You bet. One thing to keep in mind is when you lift the poles out or stick them in, they must be able to clear the ceiling. Maybe that’s why this guy had two-piece poles that screwed into each other.
Too cool you running into Micky like that. I know how much it must have meant to her. She has mentioned you on her blog more than once.
Also so funny that you brought up the “bag o’ rice” cure above. That was going to be my suggestion. I’m sure you will figure out something that works so I’ll not add to the suggestion list. Take care.
Damn it I can’t help myself.
They make little “child proof” hooks and catches that go on drawers to keep toddlers from going where they shouldn’t. Maybe something like that might keep the drawers from coming open and throwing everything off balance.
Ok, done now. Good luck.
Actually that would be a great solution to the sliding drawers if there were a way to attach the child proof catches, other than sticky backing. Thanks, Rick.
Oh! Footman loops! Did you know those are used on horse carts? They are attached lengthwise along the shafts and the straps that come from the britchin wrap the shaft and pass through the footman loops. The britchin is the strap that goes behind the horse’s hips, and when the horse slows down or go downhill the britchin tightens against the horse’ rump letting their weight and strength slow down the cart. By putting the strap through the footman loop, the wrap around the shaft doesn’t slip…it is a really cool way of braking! It is only used for carts, vehicles with two wheels, as generally larger four wheel vehicles have actual brakes….
It is amazing what wonderful partners well trained harness horses are. My Meg will sit back on the britchen without me telling her to, when she realizes we are going downhill and she needs to control the froward movement with her big ole butt. She keeps the speed consistent all on her own.
Your driving lesson of the day!
Thanks for the lesson. I enjoy watching draft horse events. We used to have Draft Horse Extravaganza as its own event here in Monroe WA. Now it’s part of the fair and for some reason we don’t go every year any more. I miss it.
Our first experience dumping our new RV was at Holt Shell Station in Gila Bend – we stayed at the RV park there for one night – probably a place we will remember forever 🙂 Picacho Peak is a beautiful park, glad you were able to grab a nice spot for AC and a hot shower!
We have drawers in one of our closets and they are held in place by 3M VHB tape (buy at Amazon). The same tape that holds our solar panels down at 65mph.
About $25 for a roll. I made brackets from aluminum stock (Home Depot). VHB tape holds well to both aluminum and to fiberglass. So far they haven’t budged.
Nor have the solar panels. 🙂
WDR