New 560 on the way…#1147 coming early May!

J

Justin Campbell

Novice
We are excited to join the Camp-Inn club with a new 560. Had hoped to find a great used one but after no such luck over the past 6 months we pulled the trigger last week and spec’d out a new one. Have everything nailed down except the leather couch color. Waiting on leather samples from Cary to finalize. Reading the forum top to bottom has been super helpful with decisions on everything. Is a great way to pass cold, snowy winter evenings! Can’t wait for our weekly build pictures to start rolling in. In the meantime, we will start shopping for cast iron and all the other fun things to fill it up.

Justin & BriAnne
Lexington, Kentucky
 
I'm so happy for you! How'd you option yours out? The waiting time goes by fast...

You're not too far from me -- Lexington is just close enough to me I've made at least 1 buc-ees run :) I'e got family there too. Make sure you hook up with your Tearjerkers chapter as well, the spring gatherings are already being planned...

This is how you determine a motorcyclist, RVer, Camper -- what a drive from Indianapolis to Lexington "isn't too far"

forum.tearjerkers.net

Chapters - TearJerkers.net

Looking for some friends and events near you? This is the place to be! Scroll to the bottom of this page to explore the chapter map and find a chapter near you. Once you find your chapter, click the'Join' button to keep up with the latest happenings.<br><br><b>QUICK TIP:</b> Find your chapter...
forum.tearjerkers.net forum.tearjerkers.net
 
Thanks Sweeney! We are super excited. I did register on the Tearjerkers website. The Bluegrass Spring camp out is the last weekend of April but Cary is telling me it will likely be early May before the trailer is ready. So will have to plan to catch some later events. But looking forward to it.

As to the trailer build. We checked lots of boxes. Did literally most everything EXCEPT for parking brake, accessibility package, and the stereo system. Figured it’s buy once, cry once for everything else.

As for the things where there was a choice, did mahogany interior, roof rack with ARB awnings and tent rooms on both sides (I inherited a new, unused Paha Que Cottonwood for the Galley so will start with that for now). And got Dometic for the fridge. Lithium plus roof solar for power. Even did the checkers table and the cribbage board!

Should be a good set up for us. Just glad the wait time is fairly short right now! These last few warm days have me ready to get outside.
 
Justin Campbell said:
Thanks Sweeney! We are super excited. I did register on the Tearjerkers website. The Bluegrass Spring camp out is the last weekend of April but Cary is telling me it will likely be early May before the trailer is ready. So will have to plan to catch some later events. But looking forward to it.

As to the trailer build. We checked lots of boxes. Did literally most everything EXCEPT for parking brake, accessibility package, and the stereo system. Figured it’s buy once, cry once for everything else.

As for the things where there was a choice, did mahogany interior, roof rack with ARB awnings and tent rooms on both sides (I inherited a new, unused Paha Que Cottonwood for the Galley so will start with that for now). And got Dometic for the fridge. Lithium plus roof solar for power. Even did the checkers table and the cribbage board!

Should be a good set up for us. Just glad the wait time is fairly short right now! These last few warm days have me ready to get outside.
Click to expand...

I did the same thing, when I got 1036 I was in a strange place financially (I had a major windfall) so I was pretty indiscriminate.

The parking brake and stereo are two I'd miss. First, you can't really retrofit the stereo and its really nice having the ability to watch movies on your laptop with "big speakers" - On rainy days especailly. I went a little crazy and built up a raspberry PI PLEX server that I take with me...in fact, I just uploaded a bunch of new movies to it yesterday. Having somewhere around 407 movies and 30 or so "complete" series of television shows I watch (Breaking Bad, The Sheild, Walking Dead etc) makes dreary days a little easier. But that isn't a campinn accessory, I built that myself.

Now, the parking brake is awesome! OK...you need to chock. Don't do what I do. But often, on flat ground, I often don't. And, on a few of the campsites we visit, they are VERY steep. ON those, I chock AND brake. Nice belt & suspenders. I had my doubts when I ordered mine, but it turns out the parking brake is the one that I like the most.

The ARB sideroom is great too - just don't leave it up in the rain, and if it is rainy, lower at leat 1 leg significantly to keep the water off.

I envy you the cottonwood -- they don't make it any more, and I doubt they ever will --- it is THE best camping tent I've ever used, and I've gone through most of 'em.

Look at the Hoosier chapter, I think we're gathering in the southern Indiana parks near Louisville...we've got a good group.

Lastly, even if you don' have the camper show up anyway --- the potlucks and meet & greets are very open and welcoming, give you a chance to meet your new BFF's.
 
I went back and forth on the parking brakes. I get the utility of them for sure. Just couldn’t decide if they were truly worth the $800 price differential over the standard brakes and chocks. Will keep pondering that one. It isn’t too late to add them I guess.

I’m good without the radio. We typically watch movies on the iPad’s with headphones. Or we have portable JBL speakers that pair and do a pretty good job of creating surround sound. Figured that technology will continue to evolve quickly and so will allow us to be flexible. We also have a flat screen TV that we take with us sometimes to set up under the tent to watch football…tailgate style. I figure I have 30 years of camping left in me so wanted to make this as future proof as possible.

Agree on the ARB. Was really torn on that versus the Bunduawn. I really liked it too. But liked the tent option on the ARB and being able to use the Cottonwood on the galley which wouldn’t work with the Bunduawn. And two ARB’s gives us ultimate flexibility.

Glad to hear on the Cottonwood. I set it up in the yard and it seems like it will work well. And I like the shade of green of the fabric. Can’t wait to try it with the camper.

Definitely plan to check out some of the events. Will watch the Hoosier site as well. I saw Crossroads is on my end of the state this year too.
 
Congrats on the new order!

I’ll say this about the parking break. I hated paying for it. But I’ve had a couple of instances when trying to manually position the trailer in my “space” that I didn’t realize I wasn’t on flat ground. The trailer started getting away from me until I grabbed the parking break. Scared the crap out of me to think what could have been. As it was, it only cost me the price of a new pair of shorts. :eek: Mine has more than paid for itself.
 
JohnC said:
Congrats on the new order!

I’ll say this about the parking break. I hated paying for it. But I’ve had a couple of instances when trying to manually position the trailer in my “space” that I didn’t realize I wasn’t on flat ground. The trailer started getting away from me until I grabbed the parking break. Scared the crap out of me to think what could have been. As it was, it only cost me the price of a new pair of shorts. :eek: Mine has more than paid for itself.
Click to expand...

The opposite happened to me in my 518 --- it DID get away and a brake would have given me that "grab it" that didn't exist.

Fortunately it missed the dog and the tree. This has only happened once, the other site I stayed at was so steep I never disconnected but was fortunately level enough.

Honestly, the brake is my favorite 'nonessential' upgrade -- there's no way I could not have AC for example.

It is one of those things you really dont think you will use until you have it, then quickly realize you can't live without.
 
Got that autobrake already! Cary convinced me of that one. Even though my current truck has the controller built in. Figured it gives vehicle flexibility for the future. Or I have a new red and white Heritage edition Bronco that might make a fun tow vehicle in the summer time.
 
Have you ever seen a comprehensive packing list posted? I have one that I put together for my bikepacking trips. Has everything I can possibly think of and then I just pack what I need for that specific adventure. But ensures I don’t forget anything. Would love to see something similar for teardrop camping. But I’ve not run across anything similar in my forum searching.
 
Justin Campbell said:
Have you ever seen a comprehensive packing list posted? I have one that I put together for my bikepacking trips. Has everything I can possibly think of and then I just pack what I need for that specific adventure. But ensures I don’t forget anything. Would love to see something similar for teardrop camping. But I’ve not run across anything similar in my forum searching.
Click to expand...
Where's the fun in being that organized?

Some day I'll tell you about my trip to the Grand Canyon where I got there with no ID or credit cards (or my senior pass) only about $200 cash. It was winter and I wasn't camping but had a hotel booked. Oh, and I got a flat tire while I was there. Good times! Good times!
 
Sometimes those screw ups create the best adventures! At least the most memorable ones anyway.

I always say I can’t remember all the bicycle rides I’ve done with perfect temps and blue skies. But remember the day at RAGBRAI in 2014 when it was freezing rain in July and the day in Utah when it was 100 degrees climbing big mountains and I thought I was going to die!
 
Nice! A friend of mine pulls a home-made with the bronco, its a great tow platform from all I have heard.

My packing list is easy -- I Hook up the camper and go. I keep mine fully packed 24x7x365. The only thing I need to think about is clothing, and food/beverages. I cheat slightly, in theat my furnace is in my garage and its leaks, this combined with insulated walls and garage door, my garage rarely gets that cold. A few months ago when it was sub-zero, it got down to high 30's low 40's. I don't even have to winterize, though I do need to sanitize my tanks this spring. If you can do it -- I HIGHLY recommend it :D

I have a jeep Cherokee as my fun-tow vehcile, I have a cargo box on the roof, in it I keep 2 camping chairs, a galley tent, a CLAM tent. I add a Grill (weberQ), a Firepit (Solo Ranger), 2 kerosene lanterns, and on rare occasions a porta potty (and supplies)

For me, the trick is being rady to go at a moments notice. I used to have a rigid schedule that made campnig a challenge, especially when its dark early. I've been doing this since 2012, so we've developed what works for us.

What we have on board has grown organically over the years...and I can guarantee you WILL overpack. I now, I have. One recommendation is to put a little piece of tape or post-it on everything you put onboard the first time. THen, when you use it, throw away the post it. After a year --- if anything is still tagged, you proably don't need it.
 
Justin Campbell said:
Sometimes those screw ups create the best adventures! At least the most memorable ones anyway.

I always say I can’t remember all the bicycle rides I’ve done with perfect temps and blue skies. But remember the day at RAGBRAI in 2014 when it was freezing rain in July and the day in Utah when it was 100 degrees climbing big mountains and I thought I was going to die!
Click to expand...
I've done some out of town bike rides in what I call cold weather. Not fun at all. I've also done some century rides with just under 10,000 ft of climb. Still hurts me to think about those rides. LoL!
 
Justin Campbell said:
Got that autobrake already! Cary convinced me of that one. Even though my current truck has the controller built in. Figured it gives vehicle flexibility for the future. Or I have a new red and white Heritage edition Bronco that might make a fun tow vehicle in the summer time.
Click to expand...
The autobrake does have a passive current draw when your teardrop is in storage. I pull the fuse underneath the controller in the galley when in storage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top