Trailer Trial

 

Over the Fourth of July we spent a week visiting Shawn's parents. As a trial run, we decided to live in the camper the entire time. We brought Percy with us and worked remotely from the trailer for several days. Besides visiting family, our goal for this time was to test out the camper space and plan specifics for the trip.

The trailer is currently not hooked up to any water supply or discharge, so we could not test out the plumbing systems. Fortunately, Shawn's parents' house is a short walk away and there is a portable toilet by the pond during the summer. So, for showering or using the restroom we had nearby access. We just had to leave the trailer. The location does have a power hookup, so we were able to use anything electrical.

In preparation for this trip, we got on the Starlink RV waiting list months ago. It arrived a week before our stay. We set up our Starlink satellite internet for the first time the evening we arrived and worked several full days using it. Both of us connect to remote desktops for our jobs so having solid internet was important. We considered several ways to get the Starlink receiver outside where it can see the sky but still be connected to the router inside by cable. In the end, we decided not to install an exterior cable port or anything along those lines, and instead got weather stripping that we can use in one of the sliding windows. This allows us to run the cable outside while maintaining a good seal (and we can easily take it out when the satellite is not needed).

Percy took a few days to adjust to the new environment, but he settled in after he got used to it. We have more detail on this in a previous post, but this part of the test went quite well. By the time we left he was zooming around and flopping like normal.

The biggest hiccup so far: after one night, we went out and bought a replacement mattress. The previous one was over a decade old and no longer supported any weight comfortably. With a fresh mattress, we slept great the rest of the week. The new mattress is much bulkier, but totally worth it.

We had to close the door to the bedroom to keep Percy off the bed, and even had to add a draft guard to the door so he couldn’t squeeze under it. At home, he has all the space under our bed to himself, including a carboard maze to hide in, but the trailer bed is on a storage platform. Percy was relentless jumping onto the bed and running all over us while we tried to sleep. He even spent the entire first night loafed at our feet! As cute as that is, it’s not a great long-term arrangement. With the door closed, we realized the HVAC vent in the bedroom was not forcing enough air into the room. We’ve ordered an outlet fan to replace the bedroom vent which will force more of the cooled/heated air into the bedroom as needed.

We also discovered that the floor near the bed was wet after a rainstorm, but after investigation this turned out to just be from the "basement" storage exterior door being left unlocked and therefore slightly ajar. Once we securely closed this door, it stayed dry through the next storm. To be safe, we also replaced the weather-stripping on these storage doors to ensure the best seal.

A lot of measuring and storage planning took place. We have already begun planning what clothes, etc., to bring given the space, and have purchased several items sized to fit in specific locations. To optimize our work-from-home space, we cleared out the back of the trailer. This space will perfectly fit a large, 6 ft. folding table so Shawn can use a monitor and spread out while working. We can still store items under this table and Percy will enjoy having something else to hide under. We will also be able to take the table outside on nice days.

Overall, it was a very encouraging test, and we're more excited than ever for the trip.

Meet Percy!

Percy is a 3 lb. Polish rabbit born in August 2019. He stole my heart when I saw him alone in a cage in a small pet store in Boston. The owner of the store put him in my arms. This little, tiny black bun all alone! I couldn’t leave him, so an hour later he was happily hopping around my kitchen in my little studio apartment. Shawn was… open to the idea of a rabbit, but the hour between “I’m thinking of getting a rabbit” to “here’s the rabbit, he’s mine now” really threw him off. Luckily for everyone involved, Shawn and Percy are obsessed with each other. I’m the third wheel now.

 

Percy has E. Cuniculi (from birth) and lost his eye when the infection, starting as a small, white cataract, broke apart, expanded across the eye, and eventually developed an abscess. He had emergency surgery just after Thanksgiving in 2020. He is now a healthy boy and his doctor and the vet techs love him!

Our plan to travel across the US would not be possible if not for Percy’s confidence and overall easy-going demeanor. He has good litter habits, tolerates being held, adapts to new environments in a matter of hours, and just loves being with his humans getting pets. He is generally unfazed by traveling in the car and, as long as he has his pee pad and hay, he’s good to go just about anywhere.

Regardless of how “easy” Percy is as a rabbit (which are notorious for being timid or scared or stressed by travel), we still must prepare for months on the road. Over the 4^th, we took Percy to the trailer with us for our “trial” week. This trailer has been used for several years as a guest space so there were a lot of new smells to explore. It has also sat in the same spot and the tires had deflated, destabilizing the trailer a bit. Percy was not a big fan of how it shifted as Shawn and I moved around. It reminded him of the car and he doesn’t like to eat in the car.

We were concerned when our usually outgoing boy loafed in the corner and refused his favorite treats and fruit. Slowly over the course of a few days, he warmed up to the new space and eventually was sprinting around, binkying, chewing his toys, and flopping under the dining chairs. We were so happy! He also transitioned easily back home and I’m confident that when we return to the trailer he won’t have any issues.

So, that’s the biggest hurdle conquered! We’ll have to be flexible on the road, but we are doing our best to plan ahead. We have several other items to bring on the road to make Percy’s stay the best it can be:

 Automatic feeder: We use an auto feeder for Percy’s pellets which he gets very excited for. We will be bringing it on the road.

      Cardboard tunnel: Like most rabbits, Percy LOVES being in a small, dark area. We’ll be bringing along his favorite box to keep him a happy boy.

      Toys and treats: ALL the toys and treats. So many toys. He’s so spoiled.

      Fresh HAY: Shawn’s parents hay and make small “Percy” bales of 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd cut hay for us. Certified organic and locally grown! It’s incredibly fragrant and Percy goes crazy for it. We’ll keep a bale of 1^st cut and a small amount of 2^nd or 3^rd in the main storage area under the trailer and have a smaller mixed bag in the trailer to put in his litter.

          Smaller litter box: We’ll be downsizing Percy’s litterbox but he’s very good about using it so we are not worried about that change.

·       Bun First Aid Kit: I keep Percy's first aid kit pretty simple. We have Critical Care (for statis), Simethicone (baby gas-x), and Meloxicam (pain meds). I'll be following up with the vet to see if he has any recommendations. 

      Grooming tools: When grooming Percy, Shawn holds and pets him while I Furminate with one hand and vacuum with the other. We try to brush his excess fur right into the vacuum. 

We are really looking forward to exploring the states with Percy! Hopefully, all goes well. He really is such a good bunny and I'm sure we will have fun.

Truck Purchase

With a little over 2 months until we hit the road, we've checked off one of the big-ticket items for the trip: the truck to tow our travel trailer and use as the local vehicle when we're parked. Prior to this we owned a Toyota Corolla and a Subaru Outback, which wouldn't work for this trip. We were already planning to get rid of the Corolla before we began planning the trip (as it's 14 years old) and decided to upgrade from a sedan to a pickup!

With the main reason for this vehicle being the cross country camper trip, a huge factor is the towing capacity. Since our camper weighs 7000 pounds, we need around 10,000 pounds of towing capacity for a safe margin. This ruled out smaller (and cheaper) trucks like a Toyota Tacoma or a Ford Ranger. We had to look at models like the Toyota Tundra or Ford F-150. 

The pandemic makes summer 2022 a tough time to buy a vehicle. We almost put down a deposit on a new truck, but a last minute $5k "market adjustment" was added. And buying new entailed about a 10 week wait from the deposit until delivery of the vehicle. So in the end we purchasing used. Even with the inflated used market, we still managed to save around $20,000 compared to a new model. 

We found a 2018 Toyota Tundra SR5 with the towing package included. This has the towing capacity we need, has a double cab so we do have space for friends, and a standard 6.5 foot bed. The towing package includes the hitch receiver we need to connect to and power the camper, an electronic trailer brake controller, plus a Tow/Haul mode for the transmission (very important!). We did purchase a short limited warranty to cover us through the time period of our trip. We haven't picked one up yet, but we're getting a tonneau cover to add a little extra storage for the trip. More room in the trailer for us!

The freshly acquired Tundra

The freshly acquired Tundra

So far we've only done a few short drives around Boston. Mostly Shawn driving back and forth to the Toyota dealership since they couldn't get anything right, but we've already used it to haul around a few things. It will add a lot of convenience even after our trip.

The next step is to drive on up to Vermont and stay in the trailer over the 4th of July weekend. In the midst of measuring, setting up wifi, and picturing ourselves in the trailer for 4-6 months, we'll be celebrating the holiday with family. This will be the first longer stay for us, so fingers crossed!

Percy checking out the cab

Percy exploring the bed