MaxTrax Camper Mount - March 2017

Click on a photo to view a larger version.

Introduction

I thought MaxTrax would be a potentially useful recovery device for my camper. They are very versatile and easy for one person to deploy. Storing them on the roof would not necessarily be convenient when I needed them, and mounting might be problematic. Hanging them above the cab might work if I didn't already use that space for spare gasoline storage and a portable solar panel. I didn't want to mount them on the side of the camper lest they catch on a branch or someting. Consequently, mounting on the rear seemed the logical place. But how?

I initially thought I'd attach a mount on the rear wall, but I got zero help from the camper manufacturer as to where the frame members could be located. I didn't want to try to use a sheet metal screw on the siding as that didn't seem secure. I could run a bolt all the way through to the inside and use a plate, but that would require removing my compressor refrigerator - too much work. I thought about some sort of bracket attached to the jack brackets, but that had problems, too.

I finally got the idea to mount a board to the siding using strong double-sided tape. I'd then use a strap to hold the MaxTrax against the board. OK, but how would I hold the bottom? I thought some sort of "stirrup" might work, but how to make one? I did what I often do when trying to come up with a design - I wandered around the home improvement store looking at brackets, handles, metal shapes, fasteners, etc. hoping for inspiration. When I spotted the flat shelf support brackets, it all came together.

When mounted, the MaxTrax completely block the access door to the propane bottles. This is not a major problem as I'm too lazy to shut the propane bottle valve each morning while traveling and open it each night as I set up. If you are more safety conscious, it is not difficult to undo the strap and lift the ramps out to access the door (even with the security cable attached.)

MaxTrax on the back of my FWC Fleet. Details of top and bottom, inset.

The mount was designed and constructed in March 2017. This post was written June 2017

Design and Construction

The backboard holds the strap and keeps the ramps from rubbing on the siding. It is 13.25" in length, just wider than the width of the MaxTrax, which are 33cm wide (12.9"). Initially, I cut the board a bit longer, but when I tested before mounting, there was too much leeway with the strap. The shorter board keeps the strap taut. I chose 4" for the height of the board because the aluminum siding on my camper has 1" wide raised plateaus separated by 2" valleys. I could affix 1" wide tape at the top and bottom and there would be a 2" space between the plateaus to run a strap behind.

Backboard with strap in "city" configuration.

Backboard with strap open and ready for the MaxTrax.

I added a radius in the middle of each end where the strap would wrap around from the back to minimize the chance an edge would abrade the strap. I sanded and painted with an exterior latex primer. I then painted all sides with a semi-gloss white latex exterior house paint, with the exception of where I would be affixing the tape. I gave it a second coat and let it dry well.

The left end of the backboard. You can see the area where I added a radius to protect the strap.

The right end of the backboard.

I used 3M Extreme Mounting™ tape as I wasn’t really aware of the VHB alternative at the time. The EM tape bonds almost as well, and since it’s sold as a consumer product it is more readily available and much less expensive. I cut strips of tape to be slightly less than the length the board, one along the top, one along the bottom, on the back. This length is plenty strong. (On a later project, I used strips of VHB tape to bond my custom made solar panel brackets to the camper roof as those brackets were much smaller and needed a stronger bond.)

I actually did a test of the bonding first. I used a 1" length of the EM tape to attach a 1x2" pine board to a piece of bare aluminum. The next day I tried to pull them appart and was unable to do so, even pulling as hard as I could (I did not twist, as there would be no twisting force in my application.) Excellent!

I lightly sanded the area where I would apply the tape on the board and cleaned it with rubbing alcohol. I also used alcohol to clean the camper siding. I attached the tape to the board, pressing hard. Then pulled off the backing and pressed it onto the siding in a position I'd already measured. I left room between the board and lip of the door jam to provide room for the strap. I pressed hard. The tape bonds quickly, but did not put any strain on it until it fully cured.

These are the velcro straps I used: AIRNIX 4 Pack (40" x 1.5") $9.99 on Amazon as of this date. I'd used this style of strap before. The buckle allows it to be drawn taut and the strength of the hooks and loops is significant when the pull is longitudinal.

In case you’re curious, the little multi-colored cord you can see in some of the photos was added as a safety strap. When I first mounted the backboard with the 3M Extreme Mounting tape I was concerned it might not hold on rough roads, so added the cord, which is attached to the door stop/latch, to catch the ramps if the tape came loose. After the White Rim Trail and my last trip, I don’t think that board will ever come loose.

Assembled bottom bracket.

The bottom bracket is comprised of two 8” zinc-plated steel corner braces that I got at the home improvement store. I put them together to make a square ‘C’ shape with a 10.25” opening where the ramp goes. I had intended to spot weld them together, but my neighbor with the welder was out of town when I needed him (and the holes didn’t line up, so I couldn't bolt them together), so I just bound them with gaffer tape, which seems to work great. I then used lag screws to mount the bracket to the board that runs along the back bottom of the camper. Only one set of holes lined up with the camper board, so added a second screw on each side, outside the brace, with a washer. Seems strong enough, and I don't think there is any flex; I may weld it later... or not.

Oblique view of the underside of the bracket and lag screws holding it to wood camper frame.

Here is a quick and dirty composite showing two corner braces before being slid together to shape the bracket. The perspective is off as I just mirrored one product image downloaded off the web:

The ends slide together, one over the other, in the direction of the arrows, to form the '[' shape

The bottom spacer board has two functions. It’s about as thick as the backboard so holds the ramp off the siding. The back of the MaxTrax has spikes (similar to those on top) that you don’t want rubbing on the siding. I insert one end of the MaxTrax ramp with the top tilted out, then slide the spacer in place, then tilt the ramp upright, and strap the top to the backboard. That locks the ramp into the bottom bracket as the last row of spikes on the end of the MaxTrax would catch the bracket before it could jump out even if the velcro strap was loose. Difficult to describe, but if you look at the inset image at the top of this post showing the bottom of the ramp in the bracket, you can see the row of spikes above the bracket, sort of see the row of spikes below the bracket, and you can see the spacer holding the ramp against the bracket between those rows.

Bottom spacer with grooves that fit the lip of the MaxTrax.

The bottom spacer was initially a little too think, and consequently put too much stress on the bracket when I strapped the top in place. Rather than use a thiner board I used a Dremel tool to carve grooves in the spacer. The lip of the ramp fits into these grooves. This provides the proper spacing between the ramp and camper siding and the grooves also keep the spacer board from working its way out due to vibration. I primed and painted the board, as I did the backboard.

When on the road with the MaxTrax, I use a bicycle security cable to lock them to the truck frame. I take them off when I'm not traveling rather than risk someone cutting the cable and liberating them.

I hope my mount will help you figure out a way to mount yours. If you have questions, either leave a comment, or email me at the address at the top of the page.

Camper Steps Modification

Camper Steps modified to swing up for trail clearance and to carry shovel or Hi-Lift jack.

I didn't want to carry a step ladder to enter or exit my slide-in camper as it was one more thing to carry, plus it seemed to me steps sitting on the ground could be unstable when set on uneven ground.

Modified steps up in travel, high clearance position on my Tacoma with FWC Fleet camper.

I bought these Brophy trailer hitch mounted steps from eTrailer.com. Note: a hitch pin is not included with the steps. They mount securely, are the perfect height for climbing into and out of the camper. I can stand on the steps and lean way into the camper to fetch something and I never have to worry about the steps shifting out from under me. They are always in the same place with respect to the door, so never have to fish with my foot to find the step, my leg remembers where they are. (I did shim the channel with electrical tape to minimize rattles, or you could use an anti-rattle pin.)

There were only a couple of issues with the hitch mounted steps as purchased. 

• They stick out pretty far for use in the city - I worried a car would clip them in a parking lot or someone would accidentally ram their shin into the edge (especially as that someone could be me.)
• When off-highway and navigating the ups-and-downs of a rough road, the lower step is vulnerable to dragging. I had to take the steps off in a couple of places on the Great Western Trail in Arizona for clearance and later bent the bar when the step dragged while on an old mining road in Colorado.
• It would also be handy if I could mount a shovel or Hi-Lift jack to the channel under the top step as that would be both out of the way and easy to get to from the back of the truck.

Seemed to me the steps would be perfect if the bottom step could rotate up and out of the way by way of a hinge located about where the square channel was attached to the step mounting bar.

Trucks Unique in Albuquerque had installed my air-bags and I knew they built lots of custom bumpers, beds, hitches, and truck accessories. I talked to one of the welders there and showed him my, by then, bent camper steps. I explained I wanted the bottom step to swing up, yet still be solid enough that my 250+ pounds would be supported easily and without any wobble or shimmy. I also asked for a mounting bar to be welded below the bottom step to hold a shovel with Quick Fist Clamps™ and I wanted him to drill the mounting holes so they would line up with the holes in the main bar of a Hi-Lift jack.

I had a couple of ideas about a hinge, but the welder came up with the actual implementation. The modification cost more than the steps, but it is absolutely solid and does exactly what I wanted. Those folks with the skills and tools could do this modification themselves.

I had the mod done the middle of last summer - I'm slow creating this post - and the steps have performed perfectly for many camping trips and thousands of miles since then. I'm extremely happy with these modified steps.

Notes:

In the photos below you will also notice a cable lock that threads through the safety ring below the hitch, the shovel handle, and the steps. No, it won't stop anyone determined to steal the shovel or steps, but hopefully will discourage an impromptu theft.

Also, there is a removable, captive pin shown in the photos by the hinge. The welder added a small tab to the bar holding the bottom step - you can see it just peeking out in the detail view of the step down. One removes the pin, swings the step up, then slides the pin back into the holes and the tab, and this holds the bottom step in the up, stowed, position. The pin does not hold the step in the down position; the step is free to swing up should I encounter an unexpected obstacle while the step is down as I usually leave the step down while traveling as it is easier to get to the fridge for snacks that way. I keep the pin in the hinge while the step is down simply so it won't get lost.

I also added strips of reflective tape to improve visibility of the steps both on the road and while parked. The white strips on the edge of the bottom step are great while camping as even star light is bright enough to show me where to step even when there are no other lights.

If you have any questions, email or leave a comment.

Steps before modification - single piece bar mounts steps to square channel.
That channel has three sets of holes so you can adjust the distance between steps and bumper.

Modified steps - bar was cut and custom hinge welded on to allow bottom step to swing up.

Side view showing hinge and mount for shovel or Hi-Lift jack.

Detail view of hinge in down position - removable pin is not holding step down, just being stored.

Detail view of hinge in up position - now pin inserts through tab welded to bottom bar to hold steps up.

2014 Update: I've started using a locking, anti-rattle hitch pin now, instead of the cable lock. The anti-rattle feature makes for rock-solid mounting, too. Note, if you have a late model Toyota you may need to buy the extra long pin model as the outside dimension of the Toyota receiver is wider than standard.

This is the high-quality item I bought from eTrailer.com:

SHP2040-XL

XL Anti-Rattle Trailer Hitch Receiver Lock for 2-1/2" Hitches - 3-1/2" Span

Overland Expo 2013 - Classes, Cool Trucks, and Camping

This was my first Overland Expo. In fact I'd never even heard of it, or overlanding, until sometime last December when I was reading truck-camper forums and thinking about the pop-up camper that I had not yet even ordered. The Expo was being held at the Mormon Lake Rodeo Grounds not too far south of Flagstaff, AZ in the middle of the Coconino National Forest. You could buy a single-day ticket which would allow you to view the exhibits, open demos, and try the driving course, or buy a three-day pass which would also allow you to attend as many of the classes as you wished (some specialized training and certifications were also offered, as separate cost items.)

What is overlanding? Wikipedia states, "Overlanding is the self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations where the journey is the principal goal. Typically, but not exclusively, accommodated by mechanized off-road capable transport (from bicycles to trucks) where the principal form of lodging is camping; often lasting for extended lengths of time (months to years) and spanning international boundaries."

For me overlanding means visiting natural wonders and seeing & photographing amazing landscapes and wildlife while camping along the way. It means being off the beaten track, finding the backroads that allow a sense of wonder for nature. My interest is in traveling in the US, especially the southwest, but there are overland adventures on every continent and folks who dedicate their time and resources to exploring the world.

Overland Expo promised a window into a realm with which I was unfamiliar, yet very curious in learning about. Visit the link to learn about the wide variety of subjects offered, as my focus and this post will be only about a small part of what was available.

A big attraction was also the overland driving course on which one could drive under the instruction of an experienced Land Rover driver. As I hadn't been behind the wheel of a 4x4 since high school, getting a refresher and instruction on doing it right seemed like a great plan. For more information on the driving course and photos, visit my blog post on the subject.

Attendees were invited to come on Thursday afternoon to check-in and find a camping spot in order to be ready the next day to dive into the Expo experience itself. I knew beforehand that camping would just be a bunch of folks haphazardly setting up in a big open field. I didn't realize how lumpy that field would be - it was hard to drive across and even harder to walk across to get to the main Expo grounds, but camping was included in the 3-day package and a good way to make new friends. I found a good spot on the edge of the campgrounds, next to the fence, figuring that would keep a vista clear.

Looks like the three of us are all alone, but that is just an illusion. This first morning there were lots of folks, but that is nothing compared to how full the area was by the time I returned at the end of the day. I would not have been able to get this view Monday evening due to many more campers being in the area. 

Day One, Friday

After attending a Welcome Ceremony, I made my way to my first class, How to Weld in the Field. Years ago I'd seen a couple of engineers weld an accelerator cable back together in the wilds of the Sierra Nevada, so was interested in how it should be done. Amazing how "easy" it was to strike an arc for welding and how much practice would be required to lay down a smooth bead.

After initially demonstrating the power of three batteries in series, the instructor shows that 24volts can also be effective in drawing a bead and welding two pieces of metal together.

The exhibition area was on the way to the overland driving course, where I drove a fancy Range Rover. See the separate post on the driving course.

Here are some of the cool trucks I saw that morning:

This customized vintage rig was for sale.

More military surplus trucks outfitted for overlanding.

When I was wandering through Flagstaff trying to find the road to the Expo, I spotted this safari-decorated truck on the road I was following; I was comforted that I was indeed on the right path.
I later learned the truck is a Unimog, made by Mercedes-Benz.

Another Unimog, sporting a pop-up camping top. Note also, the spare tire storage & lifting device behind the cab.

After lunch I attended the class, Recovery without a Winch, taught by two seasoned Land Rover Drivers. Very informative! For those who don't know "recovery" refers to the techniques to extricate a vehicle stuck in mud, sand, water, rocks, etc. This class introduced us to recovery tools such as specialized straps so one vehicle can pull another out of trouble.

Straps, ropes, chains, and jacks, oh, my!

My next class was Basic Navigation and Compass Skills which I found to be very interesting. I know how to use a GPS device, but never navigated using a compass and maps. The instructor was an experienced Search & Rescue volunteer for the county. He had a baseplate compasses, sample maps and hand-outs for all the students to practice with. The wind was blowing hard making it difficult to hold the maps flat and I neglected to get a photo of the class.

There were so many new campers in the camping area that I almost couldn't find my way back to my truck - could have used some of those new navigation skills, here. Fortunately, there was a ham radio operator with a tall mast that made a good landmark.

A couple of spaces down was another Tacoma with a self-contained Fleet on it, owned by an interesting fellow named Roy who was from Canada. We exchanged tips and ideas about our campers. We ran into each other later that evening at the Happy Hour and exchanged other stories. (Hey, Roy, did you make it home safe?)

Day Two, Saturday

My first class on Saturday was Conservation Driving taught by Jonathan Hanson, co-owner of the Expo, owner of the famous JATAC (Just Another Tacoma And Camper), and all around nice guy. This was held off-site and we were to bring our own vehicles, so I packed up tight and left my campsite.

Turns out the driving portion of the class had to be cancelled due to a large tree that had fallen across the appointed course. Nonetheless, Jonathan demonstrated the affects of 2 wheel drive versus 4 wheel drive versus front & rear differential lockers, which was interesting new info to me presented in an organized and understandable manner. Seems I failed to get a photo.

Since I was all packed up, I decided this was the time to try my hand at the overland course in my rig. See the separate post.

I attended the one hour Recovery with a Winch demonstration before lunch. It was excellent. Taught by two Land Rover drivers who not only covered the subject well, but also instilled a real sense of the hazards in winching and the necessary steps to take to stay safe.

Left: showing how to keep tension on the cable while paying it out, without load, to keep the cable dressed.
Right: showing how to use a snatch-block (pulley) to double the winch capacity.

After lunch attended the 2 hour Recover with a Winch Class which wasn't as well organized, but they did have time to set up an actual winch task (though for safety sake, with all us standing around, they didn't put full tension on the winch cable.)

Left: the "winch master" giving the signal to reel in the winch cable.
Right: manning the winch vehicle & running the engine to keep from discharging the battery.

As the camp had been a bit noisy the night before, with people socializing and a few dogs barking, I decided I'd camp in the National Forest that night. There are many nearby forest service roads leading into the hills with a number of dispersed campsites available.

The Expo site is surrounded by the Coconino National Forest. Here is the site I found.

Day Three, Sunday

Sunday started with an Exhibitor Walk-about with the exhibitors serving food and treats for attendees. I missed most of this as I was relaxing in my camp off-site. But did get there in time to talk with Terry at the FWC exhibit area about my camper.

The first class of the day was Wilderness Bail-out Bags (or survival bags. What you need to survive in an emergency, or be more comfortable in a tight situation.) It was taught by Andrew Moore, the same excellent instructor as presented the compass and navigation class. Very interesting and I took notes.

The pink backpack is a bag Andrew made up for his young daughter to keep with her.

Bush Mechanics: 4WD Vehicle Maintenance was the next class I'd signed up for. Wasn't exactly what I was expecting as it didn't actually cover maintenance, but rather Land Rover driver Fred Monsees told stories of how he had patched together various vehicles that broke on the road or trail, then explained how that might apply to our vehicles. Much more entertaining than changing oil. No photo.

Fred is a genuine character, a very helpful and nice guy who has obviously had years and years of off-road and overland experience. He was also my instructor the first day on the driving course and had encouraged me to try it in my Tacoma.

Here is a photo of a couple of Mercedes-Benz trucks that I thought were interesting. As one walked among the exhibitors or to classes, there were always interesting things to see. I didn't photograph even a small fraction of all the cool things and pretty much neglected all the more common vehicles, such as campers, expedition tents & trailers, and vehicle & camping accessories.

On the truck on the right they were using "unleveling blocks" at the corners to show how the truck will articulate with the terrain.

After lunch was Solar Essentials 101. It was presented by a fellow from SolarFilms, Inc. which is the only thin-film, amorphous silicon solar-panel manufacturer in the U.S. He discussed the various types of solar panels used in mobile applications, their pros and cons. He attempted to keep it technology- and company-neutral, but it was clear he thought the advantages of thin-film trumped the others. He provided a comprehensive hand-out on the various technologies covering efficiency, thermal losses, etc., so we can evaluate our own applications. No photo.

The last class of the event was Advanced Tire Repair. Another excellent, fun, and very interesting class. Earlier this year, as I was waiting for my camper to be manufactured and delivered, I purchased a good tire repair kit, but had never seen one used in person. Plugging a hole, repairing a sidewall, and removing & mounting a tire in the field were demonstrated.

Using a Hi-Lift jack to break the bead on a tire.

A delicious BBQ dinner was served in the big tent behind the main lodge as the Expo finale. I had the sirloin steak, baked potato with sour cream, corn on the cob, beans, salad, sourdough roll, cookies and iced tea. Enjoyed visiting with new friends made at the event.

I've no photos of the BBQ so will end with one of a Camel Trophy Land Rover to honor all the great Land Rover drivers, many of whom had, in the past, participated in Camel Trophy events. They did a fantastic job both on the driving course and also as skilled instructors in the vehicle classes!

And what do Land Rover drivers always advise? 

Drive "as slow as possible and as fast as necessary."

Excellent advice which served me well in days to come. Stay tuned to this blog for those adventures.

Yes, that is a roof mounted tent. Many expedition vehicles (even small ones such as Jeeps and Toyota FJs) had roof-mounted, clam-shell or pop-up tents mounted.

The Overland Expo was a great experience; fun and very informative, filled to bursting with people eager to learn or to teach. If you've never been and have even a small interest in this type of adventure, then you owe it to yourself to go next year!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Overland Expo 2013 - Overland Driving Course Photo Gallery

I attended this year's Overland Expo at Mormon Lake just south of Flagstaff. The event was held May 17 - 19th and included exhibits, demonstrations, classes and the Overland Driving Course. The Driving Course was sponsored and set-up by Land Rover. Anyone attending the expo could drive the course either in their own vehicle or one furnished by Land Rover. In both cases an experienced Land Rover Driver would sit in the front passenger seat and provide instruction, tips and techniques.

Note: this post only covers the Overland Driving Course. My next post will be my main report on the Expo.

I went through the course the first time on Friday driving a super-fancy Range Rover with computerized controls that handled everything to do with controlling the engine and suspension. It was fun, but more like a theme-park ride. I kept asking about how my Tacoma would do on those same course features and the instructor kept encouraging me to bring in my Tacoma and camper and try it for myself. He said they would pick a route and lines appropriate for my vehicle.

After some thought I decided to take advantage of this opportunity. How else would I learn so much about the 4WD performance of my rig in such a safe environment where a super experienced instructor would make sure nothing "bad" happened. I drove the course in my truck on Saturday.

Below are general photos of the course. I end with two photos of my vehicle stopped on the course in the section which would lift one wheel of a Land Rover in the air and thus required differential lockers. My stock Tacoma does not have lockers, though they could be added after-market if I wish. The instructor guided me from outside the truck and eased me as far as we were both comfortable going and where the truck was losing traction. He had me exit the cab and take a look saying I could probably get though if it were absolutely "necessary," but recommended I back up and take the bypass for this section. Whew!

I was amazed at how well the stock Tacoma and camper did on the course as we went though most of the rest of the features including the steep climbs, dips, and cambers. The instructor commented several times at how great the stock limited-slip differential performed. A wonderful experience and I came away with new ideas on how to drive in these situations and what the truck, even laden with the camper, could do.

The Overland Driving Course at Overland Expo 2013.

I was able to go this far, but then stopped at the next "bump."

Another truck and camper at full tilt.

Three hills; three Land Rovers.

Another truck and camper climbs a small hill.

A little log bridge to add some flavor.

This is the section that requires differential lockers, as you can easily see.

My Tacoma and camper at its limit.

Other side of my Tacoma and camper at its limit.

Driving the course was a great, fun experience and I encourage everyone who attends the Overland Expo to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity!

The Inside Story

Welcome, come inside my new camper.

It is a 2013 Fleet model, manufactured by Four Wheel Campers of California specifically to fit small/mid-size pickups, such as my Toyota Tacoma. You will see many of the options I ordered in these photos. If you have questions, leave a comment here or on the forum where you found this link.

Please watch your step... or rather my new hitch-mounted steps.
There is a yellow "porch" light and hand grip to the right of the door. The door has the screen door option installed.
There is a window in the door, but I've let the curtain down here.

Now for interior views:

Front left (driver's side) showing the over-cab bed in its stowed position and black roof-lifting panel.
Optional red LED ceiling lights - a star photographer's dream and convenient at bed-time, too.

Front right of the camper. The 4 windows in the pop-up fabric were closed in these photos to control the light.

Let's look at the bed with the platform slide out and extra bed cushions in place: 

The wide-angle lens distorts the perspective. The bed is longer along the axis of the truck bed.
Compare this photo to the similar view, above, and you can see the difference.

Here is the Galley:

Stainless steel sink with running water and two-burner propane stove with splatter guard.

Cabinet: two full-depth drawers and doors to three storage areas. Positive latches on doors & drawers.
Controls (top down): furnace thermostat, 12vdc outlets, water & battery monitor, and 120vac outlets.
120vac is live only when camper is plugged into "shore" power.
Shore power circuit breakers & fuses behind lower left door; more storage behind right door.

Looking to the left side, you can see the forced-air propane furnace and side floodlights switch.

Compressor refrigerator runs from 12vdc or 120vac.
Below fridge are floor light switches and carbon monoxide detector.

Fridge interior showing shelves, storage, and even a freezing compartment.

Seating, more storage and another bed:

Door, mirror on panel that supports roof, and smoke detector on ceiling.
Also the ceiling vent and bi-directional fan.

Back passenger-side showing "roll over" couch with small storage cabinet above it.

Looking down at the roll over couch. There are four storage areas under the seat that I forgot to photograph.
Lifting the seat cushions: on the left (front) is the battery compartment with 2 sealed "house" batteries & the truck battery isolator, then two general purpose storage areas. (Please ignore my leg in upper left.)
The porta-potty slides out of the way under the right (back) end of the couch.

Here the couch backrest has been rolled over to form another bed which runs the full length of the camper.
View of  the side window (with emergency exit) and fire extinguisher. The table pedestal normally clamps where I've left my little broom. The table would be set up in the aisle, but I'll likely just use a tray when eating inside.

Another look to the rear, as we prepare to exit.

 Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed the tour. 

Side view of the steel camper steps made by Brophy. I got them from eTrailer.com and they work great!