A Dragon a Kitten and our first trip home.

[AStreamNerds]

Welcome to the Airstream family!

[tevake]

Getting the storage plan fingered out seems an ongoing process.
Perhaps a little easier in a motorhome, as you are in the space. And get clear immediate feedback when you have exceeded the performance limits of the overhead doors, or in my case it's some of the drawers that open first. As well as the shower door that will swing open to let me know to ease up a bit.
It does surprise me that in high end R Vs the door and drawer hardware is so lacking.

Ms Tara, you mentioned your Dad's crafting, any chance you can share some pics of his work? Many interesting mineral and gemstone crafts done in the southwest.
Also my Jan trip planning includes a stop in to Quartzite to check out the gems and minerals, do you know the best time in Jan to see that part of the event?

It does sound like you and your dad have created a nice place for Kitten there at home.

Cheers Richard

[MsTara]

Dad is a craftsman in multiple types of crafts. His current passion is woodworking. We are currently in discussions on redoing the table in Kitten with a real wood with a carving in the center and a cover over it. I will share pictures as we move through it.

Quartzsite is very interesting this year as the last week is the start of the Tuscon Gem and Mineral show. So, this year January 9th - 20th is best for the rock show portion. However, the RV show doesn't start till the 21st and from my understanding most of the Rock vendors will be setting up at Tuscon.

Tuscon Gem and Mineral show starts on January 23rd.

I am not sure if I will be doing Quartzsite with the limited times and may just focus on Tuscon.

Originally Posted by tevake

Ms Tara, you mentioned your Dad's crafting, any chance you can share some pics of his work? Many interesting mineral and gemstone crafts done in the southwest.
Also my Jan trip planning includes a stop in to Quartzite to check out the gems and minerals, do you know the best time in Jan to see that part of the event?

It does sound like you and your dad have created a nice place for Kitten there at home.

Cheers Richard

[PKI]

Storage?

One of the nice things about most areas is that folks need to eat and therefore you can find a market on a regular basis. Therefore, with a few exceptions there is no need to stock up. It's those few exceptions that cause the problem.

Clothes can be troublesome too. Formal to casual, warm to cold, old to new, clean presentable to dusty/dirty/work all can be a challenge depending on your lifestyle.

So, the storage gets beat with a plan. Plan to restock, plan to do laundry, plan to make do, plan to buy it if you need it rather than carry it in case you need it. The plan does not work for all. The coach is supposed to be comfortable and that adds requirements that are special. But it is a really big suit case and is better than hauling them into a motel each night.

One last thought. A place for everything and everything in it's place. We just are still looking for the places. We have the everything. I'm convinced that a storage specialist could make a good business with AS storage solutions. Storage boxes custom fit to AS furniture, a book, classes at Rally venues, coach modifications, and consulting with AS corporate.

Good luck with making Kitten yours. Pat

[MsTara]

Thanks Pat, good reminder.

Things are slowly coming together. Right now I am fighting with where to put a Zero Gravity Chair. It looks like my idea of NOT using the trunk of the Tow Vehicle is going to fail. All for the need of a comfy chair.

MsTara

Originally Posted by PKI

Storage?

One of the nice things about most areas is that folks need to eat and therefore you can find a market on a regular basis. Therefore, with a few exceptions there is no need to stock up. It's those few exceptions that cause the problem.

Clothes can be troublesome too. Formal to casual, warm to cold, old to new, clean presentable to dusty/dirty/work all can be a challenge depending on your lifestyle.

So, the storage gets beat with a plan. Plan to restock, plan to do laundry, plan to make do, plan to buy it if you need it rather than carry it in case you need it. The plan does not work for all. The coach is supposed to be comfortable and that adds requirements that are special. But it is a really big suit case and is better than hauling them into a motel each night.

One last thought. A place for everything and everything in it's place. We just are still looking for the places. We have the everything. I'm convinced that a storage specialist could make a good business with AS storage solutions. Storage boxes custom fit to AS furniture, a book, classes at Rally venues, coach modifications, and consulting with AS corporate.

Good luck with making Kitten yours. Pat

[westcoastas]

Congratulations MsTara on getting official! That sense of impending adventure is priceless.

I agree with slowmover on the storage placement while traveling and the experience of gradually losing carry ons. I'm thinking you won't need too many changes of clothes for appearance sake - everybody will be too busy admiring Dragon & Kitten.

Have fun!

Jeff

[PKI]

There is no substitute for a comfy place to sit/lay ..... There are a variety of alternatives and some take much less space than others. Step one - use what you have. Store it in the middle of the bed, wrapped in a blanket. When you travel, no one is sleeping. When you stop, it's easy to move outside where you will likely want to sit.

That just leaves over night security for your valued chair. The back of Dragon might be a solution. A nice cable would work too.

Some light reading for your spare time. Start with post 545, but lots of folks have good info that may help. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f483...ng-120940.html

Travel safe. Pat

[MsTara]

Thanks Pat. I am using several items from the Class A and am trying to be "smart" about what to take and not to take. I started with all safety items and work tools.

I like your idea for the chair. I am not so worried about it being stolen (if someone needs it more than I that they have to steal then go right ahead). I just don't want it to get wet. So many times I camp during monsoon season here in AZ.

Thanks for the thread link. More reading!

Originally Posted by PKI

There is no substitute for a comfy place to sit/lay ..... There are a variety of alternatives and some take much less space than others. Step one - use what you have. Store it in the middle of the bed, wrapped in a blanket. When you travel, no one is sleeping. When you stop, it's easy to move outside where you will likely want to sit.

That just leaves over night security for your valued chair. The back of Dragon might be a solution. A nice cable would work too.

Some light reading for your spare time. Start with post 545, but lots of folks have good info that may help. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f483...ng-120940.html

Travel safe. Pat

[TBRich]

Hey Tara... jumping into the discussing mid-stream... Welcome!

We also have a Bambi...19'. One of the things that we had to deal with is our outside chairs...there is not usually room in the bed of the truck ('16 Tacoma) because we have a tonneau cover (which was not an accident...we wanted to limit our load, and the best way to do that is to NOT have a camper shell on the truck). We also do not like our chairs to get wet. So we made big bags from heavy vinyl... if weather looks iffy we bag them and either put them upside down (so the bag opening is on the bottom) so rain can't get in, or put them in the back seat of the truck. When we travel we put the bagged chairs on their side and slide them under the dinette. When we set up camp they come out. We also carry a small microwave with us that stays outside...we have a venial "cozy" that lips down over the microwave to keep it out of the weather.

Speaking of bags, we have made smaller bags from remnants to store our small appliances in ... teapot, toaster, coffee pot, etc... Having them in bags helps us organize them and also pads them to cut down on rattling/banging around in transit.

We use SnapWare for food storage in the fridge and cabinets...they are airtight and they stack easily to make the most of the stage space...

[MsTara]

Awesome ideas about outside and having them in airtight bags while I am at the location! LOVE IT!

Looking into Snapware and I am going to take your idea about remanent custom bags for the cupboards. Things are getting stored in their okay. Still don't know where the food will go. Clothes and water is a bit easier. The hampers on the side of the bed in the 16' looks like a good clothes storage and I always carry gallon water (I have a thing about drinking faucet water at my house, isn't happening in Kitten) and the bottom of the closets look good for that.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Originally Posted by TBRich

Hey Tara... jumping into the discussing mid-stream... Welcome!

We also have a Bambi...19'. One of the things that we had to deal with is our outside chairs...there is not usually room in the bed of the truck ('16 Tacoma) because we have a tonneau cover (which was not an accident...we wanted to limit our load, and the best way to do that is to NOT have a camper shell on the truck). We also do not like our chairs to get wet. So we made big bags from heavy vinyl... if weather looks iffy we bag them and either put them upside down (so the bag opening is on the bottom) so rain can't get in, or put them in the back seat of the truck. When we travel we put the bagged chairs on their side and slide them under the dinette. When we set up camp they come out. We also carry a small microwave with us that stays outside...we have a venial "cozy" that lips down over the microwave to keep it out of the weather.

Speaking of bags, we have made smaller bags from remnants to store our small appliances in ... teapot, toaster, coffee pot, etc... Having them in bags helps us organize them and also pads them to cut down on rattling/banging around in transit.

We use SnapWare for food storage in the fridge and cabinets...they are airtight and they stack easily to make the most of the stage space...