Picking Up the Phoenix Pop Up Part II
So to continue the adventure, we packed up all of the recommended items for our trip from San Antonio to Denver for the big day! As suggested, we had bedding, cooking items, towels, dishes, etc. I tried very hard to keep it to a minimum, as I knew space would be limited. In my continued research, I also looked for lighter items; e.g. cookware, plates, etc. We bought the hose and special toilette paper needed for the commode.
As promised, Rob and Cari had the camper "camping ready." Water tank and propane tanks were filled.
Unlike Texas, it was bitterly cold in Colorado in March (ok, we are coming from Texas, but mid-20s…to us, we might as well be in Antarctica). Of course, the roads were grimy from the snow, so I made sure I washed the truck before our arrival…
We got to the shop, which was thankfully heated, and had a quick class covering the happy jacks, various tanks, and going over all of our selections. Rob and Cari suggested video taping it with our phone, but I relied on good ole notes. The class was quick--and it was our first camper, but fortunately, I felt comfortable because my father (an RVer) and had received timely responses to my emails from Rob and Cari.
While there, we got to see the famous Bronco Bronco Camper that they had been working on. [No doubt, they spent a lot of extra time on every detail of this rig…maybe to the detriment of ours to some degree.]
We were invited into the camper before loading. Of course, it was on the happy jacks--and was up in the air quite a bit. The wobbliness scared me and here I made a mental note that we would never likely camp in it without it being on the truck. It was also at this point that we realized that our cabinet color selection was not honored. Rather, it was done in a very light color--which I would generally describe as the cheaper looking cabinetry seen on most low end camper trailers. Likewise, this is when we found out that they ran out of the Kokopelli fabric and three of the cushions and the shower liner were done in a plain black fabric. [I will explain the issue with the cushions and shower liner in another post.]
Both Cari and Rob apologized for their oversight, but it did not seem like issue could be corrected at this point.
Next, they loaded the camper on the truck. Here I realized that my plan to quickly load/unload the camper was no longer viable. Literally, the gap between the front happy jacks and the bed of my truck is no more than an inch on either side. Still, Rob backed it in like a professional, and his helpers had it wench down to the bed in no time.
If you're wondering how it attaches to the bed, Tacoma has four D-rings in the corners. Rob uses ratchet-type tie downs, accessible from the storage cabinets to the bed. The passenger side is very easy to reach; the driver's side requires a little bit of contortionism and the ability to know what you're doing without actually seeing the assembly. I have finally learned how to do this, but it was a little intimidating at first.
It was as they were loading the camper that I also noticed that the paints of the camper and the truck did not match. While it's not a huge difference, this issue came up later as I needed to match paint. Adding to that, I believe this feature cost us an extra $1500. Given today's advances in car paint, it shouldn't have been hard to match. I will save this for another discussion though.
We were then given a stack of warranty books, took the obligatory photo outside the shop and we were on our way.
Since the weather had turned cold, our plans on camping in the mountains were curtailed. We instead chose to "ride out the storm" by camping in my father's driveway for a few nights as we figured out what worked, what we still needed, etc… Plus, he offered free electricity!
Mind you, it was still in the mid-20s. I didn't worry though because I had read the reviews about the arctic liner that was a standard option for the Phoenix and was expected to hold in even colder temps. We turned on the heater, and while it didn't blast us with heat, it was certainly a comfortable sleeping temperature in the mid-60s. Our CO2 sensor kept going off…so that concerned us. I would later learn from Cari and Rob that many of these were defective. They offered to reimburse us if we bought a new one; but urged us to seek replacement from the manufacturer first.
This is when we started going through the stack of warranty paperwork. A lot of it didn't make sense, and it seemed like a lot was missing. In the end, we still don't have a CO2 device like the one they installed, and opted to get one that goes closer to the tank that is specifically designed for RV use. [Camping World about $25.] I would later retry the CO2 device in the warmer temps…only to have it sound off because it was too hot. You ask--why would you keep using it? Well, there's now a useless and ugly bracket there. If removed, I would have to look at the holes in the wall.
Next, because the weather was still inclement, I relied on the upgraded rain censor fantastic fan. This cost me an extra $250. This information was also absent from the stack of warranty paperwork. In short, the fan was not closing when it was raining. I would later email Rob and Cari and ask about this--hoping they knew how it was supposed to work and what was wrong. My response: "We just install them." I was a little put off by this, and then started the tedious process of trying to get it fixed locally in Texas. The first issue was that, due to the lack of paperwork, I could not verify the exact model. I had also not registered the item… Rob and Cari intervened with the manufacturer…and they ultimately sent me some new parts, but I am sad to say that the damn thing still does not work when it rains. I tried taking it to a local RV dealer for repair, but because of the modifications made to the fan to get it to fit--they refused to work on it. Advice here: just stick to the basic fan…
You will find that the fan is an important part of the camper unit. Despite being a pop up, it is very airtight. Consequently, when cold--and running the heater--condensation is created. When hot--and running the AC--condensation is created. The only mechanism to limit the condensation is the fan (and hopefully a dry climate). I will discuss this issue in a separate posting…as it is a recurring problem.
In the end, we survived the first week in the camper and planned to use it regularly. So far (nine months), we have--using it almost every weekend and taking three relatively long road trips. Our trips have included weather in the 100s and our most recent one where it was in the low teens with ice/sleet. So far, I have used the AC more than the heat. In fact, I've only used the heater on the initial trip. During the last trip, the thermocoupler would not keep the unit lit. I am working on researching that to see how to replace it. In the interim, I've used an electric heater--which in all honesty--worked better than the propane heater (especially since you have to keep the vent open).
Things I would change or recommend being different:
1. Eliminate the propane heater. While I would like to keep it as a back up, it is not a great model. I found new ones on Amazon for about $20. The thermocoupler is double that…
2. In addition to a water holding tank, see if it's an option to have a "fed water line." 20 gallons seems like a lot, but it generally lasts us a mere three days (and that's without showers). I also had to devise a mechanism to keep the water flap closed… The cover used, like the electrical outlet cover, does not snap in place and stay closed especially when driving. Bottom line, I didn't want bugs or debris in my water...
3. Eliminate or move the outdoor shower. Currently, ours is under our AC unit--right by the back door. The water pressure is non existent (and it does not heat), and the location makes it useless. Imagine hosing yourself off at the beach by your backdoor…only to walk through the puddle to get it to the camper. If possible, I would move it closer to the propane tank on the driver's side… not sure where they would have put it given the limited space though.
4. Larger sized AC. In fact, this is going to be our next project. While the AC does an admirable job, it does not work sufficiently in our Texas 100 degree weather. There are similar sized units available with greater output. The major issue I see is the way it is rigged…as you can imagine, Rob had to be very creative to attached this to the unit. Because the bed is on the opposite end of the camper from the AC, I would have preferred a ceiling mounted unit.
5. Eliminate the roof rack. First, I thought this would have been a Thule or Yakima for the cost of this accessory. It is currently listed at $169. In reality, this is a rack that consists of 1" square tubing that runs across the top of the camper. Like many, I saw the Thule/Yakima boxes on the top of the campers and thought that it looked great. The problem is that only the Summit Thule box used the U-brackets--and the Summit is no longer made. I did find a used one, but in reality, you can't put much on the roof without first unloading everything (the sliding lift system is nice, but any added weight isn't helpful). I also thought about adding a cargo rack--but it is too big and would not allow me to open the much need vent!
6. I would have stuck with the basic fantastic fan… I feel like I wasted $250 on the wasted rain feature. I would have also like to have a fan over the commode--rather than just a vent.
7. I would still like to have had the darker interior wood. The light wood just looks cheap.
8. I am working on getting the cushions and shower curtain recovered. The black shower curtain shows signs of condensation. Water stains on black = white. The black cushions with three dogs is also a nightmare. As a side note, I absolutely LOVE the leather and cork flooring.
9. The commode is an absolute must. Easy to use, empty, etc. The shower--well, we still haven't used it yet and not sure we ever will. We are both short, but am not sure how useful this feature is… Like the outdoor shower, little water pressure. The water heater is a must, and works wonderfully in the sink. On a side note, most campgrounds have good showers.
10. Placement of the outdoor plugs. Rob did add covers, but what wasn't checked out before we left the shop was the whether or not the covers would open. You guessed it, because of the placement they didn't open. I've since replaced and it works fine.
11. Awning is a keeper and worth every penny. Easy to use.
12. Haven't had a real need for the ladder. I like having there…an expensive towel holder and it works as a handle to get in/out of the camper. If looking to save money, the ladder cost $129. I would add it again.
13. Larger fridge. Not sure what the small fridge size was…but ours is still small. I love the fridge, but wish it could have been a slight bit bigger. We have resorted to using two Yetis in addition to the fridge.
14. Table top. With the US map, this cost us an extra $100. We haven't used it once and it sits in the garage. There simply is not enough room. Instead, I would have preferred a solid bench. The little cushions slip, so three square cushions would have been the best option.
15. 300 Watt Inverter. We've only camped a handful of times where electricity has not been available. Can't say this is a much needed feature…and much cheaper if you buy it on your own.
16. Custom paint. I'm torn here. If it were a good paint job, I would say absolutely yes. Problem is, it is not. I have several "white" areas around the windows, door, etc. where they just missed painting the area. Like I stated before, I asked for touch up paint. The paint didn't match the camper, and the camper's paint didn't match the truck. Not sure where the disconnect occurred, but you might be better off asking a professional to do this job.
I will add some other posts on specifics… I think in another few months we will have this down to an art and completely set where we want it to be for our longer road trips.
