Barefoot in the Wild

 Trip #2 was a great success.  My major goals were to see if my lithium battery / Jackery Explorer / plug-in battery monitor system was sufficient to power the camper (and accoutrements) for five days, and to see if I could stretch the fresh water tank (and the cassette toilet) for the same duration.  Check, on all counts =) The Barefoot is indeed Boondockable!!

Oh and I also had a goal of completing a draft of the Discussion and Conclusions section of this monster paper I'm writing.  Check!  My work-from-home station was quite adequate, thank you....  complete with Roxy and Sagan the Lab Assistants 😍

Highlight of the weekend: cool ocean breeze coming through the windows while sleeping, and a Labrador under each arm.  😍 

First, update on the battery situation.  The plug-in Innova monitor, according to reviews, tracks with multimeter data - so, imo, fair game.  Yes, it's plugged into the 9V receptacle, so it reads voltage *after* it has been distributed thru the fridge, etc - therefore it provides a "low end" estimate.  Hey, better that than a false sense of security with a false-positive high end estimate!  So maybe this will suffice, rather than installing a shunt / bluetooth?  I printed a SOC charge for lithium and taped it to the wall for quick reference.  Knowing that Battleborn states their batteries can be drained to a low SOC without impact on battery life / # of cycles, I did allow the battery to drain to 12.8 (17.8%) at the lowest, then plugged the camper into the Jackery portable via a 15-30A adapter.  Easy peasy.  So the "timing" question will be balancing charging up the Jackery in daylight, with maintaining enough SOC in the camper.  

Loving the Jackery setup.  It was supereasy.  I should mention that recharging the camper only drew the Jackery down to about 45%, which was easy to replenish during daylight hours.  So there's some wiggle room here.  My major power draw was the fridge - I only turned the water pump on while using it, and ran the vent fan occasionally.  I'm a little nervous about running both the fridge and the vent fan overnight, since I'm not starting with 100% charge (see next paragraph) but I'm fairly confident that I can solve that hypothetical problem next.

One thing that needs improvement in my system is being able to fully charge the lithium - plugged into 15A shore power at my house, the monitor is not showing above 13.6.  I *think* the WFCO automatically re-set to lithium?  Gonna dig under the bench today to look for the blue-red light combo that confirms that. Alternatively I do actually want to set up the 100w panels to directly charge the battery.  My understanding at this point is that I will need a solar controller to modulate that input.  I really wish NuCamp had made the rig "solar ready," and that's an improvement I will recommend.  The Victron MPPT 75/15 would be sufficient for my needs, the awesome folks at NuCamp confirmed this for me: "the listed capacity of the 75/15 is 220W, which should be fine for (2) 100 w panels:) " So the question would be WHERE to put it.  Do I dig around in the inputs to the WFCO?  Or do I splice that in-line to the 8mm to SAE converter for the solar port?  I kind of like the setup I found on the interwebs (see photo).  TBC....

So have I mentioned how much I love being able to take a hot shower?  Yeah, "Navy shower," but whatever, that's fine.  Hot water, and that feeling of "clean" going to bed - HUGE upgrade to my camping experience.  I've been a camper for 33 years - my first backpacking trip, I was 17.  Yes, I absolutely know how to "rough it," and I've been known to cowboy-camp (including on a sandstone mesa in Moab, in case you were curious - the stars were aaaaahmaaaaaaazing) Yet, I'm turning 50 this year.  And life is about experiences..... creating GOOD ones, to be specific!  I want to be outside, in the fresh air and sunshine, creating adventures.  *And* i like creature comforts.  So, what's the word that folks use.... "Glamping."  I'm in 😁

The cassette toilet....  Still some work to do there.  Apparently the RV Digest stuff I poured in, well, let's just say it did not fully digest.  Was not able to fully empty the cartridge, so I packed it back in and headed home - today I'll try the "empty in the toilet" method (haha, yes, I have a strong stomach) From what I've read, one of the "issues" folks have with RV toilets is odor.  Well, if "things" are not being properly emptied, yeah that would create an "odor!" Again, TBC...

Still not entirely pleased with the ceiling fan I received with the camper (first photo, transparent blue shroud)  The more I think about this, the more it does not sit well with me:  The unit I toured at the Boston RV show had an upgraded vent fan, with a remote control.  I remember this well, since that was the final factor that sold me on the Barefoot.  (I even have video, and may have found the actual fan that was installed! https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Vents-and-Fans/Fantastic-Vent/FV807350.html Very similar, and comes with a remote.  See second photo - compare the knobs used to raise the cover) The second photo, at the RV show, is clearly not the same unit as the first photo.  "One of these things, is not like the other!...." Look at the center hub, and the dial used control speed, as well.  Am I wrong to expect that the floor model should be the same as what you receive, unless otherwise specified?  Because if not, wouldn't that be.... false advertising?  Writing a letter today to Pete's RV and Nucamp to request a solution to this problem.  Because, frankly, I really wanted the remote control and fan upgrade, that's what I was sold on and that's what I expected to receive.  It was a LOT quieter than the fan I received - and to have a remote control, clutch, really.

Again, TBC......  let's see if Pete's and Nucamp will make this right.  (I have my bets on Pete's having installed the fan for the RV show, but I could be wrong - either way, it's misrepresentation)  

Oh and here's my mileage (big grin) up to Maine from Nashua:  Fully loaded trailer, probably averaging 60mph, some stop-and-go.  Very happy with this!  Confirmed, this is better mileage than I got with my T@g.  The Audi Q5 pulls the Barefoot SO easily.  Only the tiniest little bit of sway when being passed (closely, cough cough) by an 18 wheeler - self-corrected quickly.  This suggests that a sway bar was not requisite for my specific setup - yay, because of the failure at attempted installation!  Also fair warning, the electric brakes on the Barefoot are very strong (and that's a good thing!) I have to dial the gain way down so that the trailer brakes are not pulling the Audi to a stop in traffic - and I dial it down to 0.5 when parking or reversing.  I imagine these strong trailer brakes will save wear and tear on my expensive Audi brakes, which clearly I like!  

Lastly, just because she's pretty.  More glamour photos (and dog photos!!) over on the Insta:  https://www.instagram.com/phosphorescentspirit/ This is such an efficient and complete little camper.  I'd go so far as to say it's a great "girl" camper, because it's small and manageable..... but I don't want to pigeonhole the Barefoot into a target market ;)  

 

Love it! And a few things to tweak...

First and foremost, the DOGS love it 😍  I could simply stop there, because that's the bottom line =) They made themselves right at home and started the serious business of napping right away.  

And I definitely love it.  Coffee in the morning inside the camper?  Check!  Breakfast?  Check!  Comfy and cozy to keep writing on my paper?  Supercheck!!  Cooldown with the AC in the afternoon when Sagan thought it was too warm for his taste?  Done!

There's a learning curve every time you get a new toy, and this is no exception - which is not a complaint, I love learning and solving puzzles!  Some were puzzles I anticipated, some... not so much.

Examples?  First, from prepping for my first weekend trip:  

Filling with water was straightforward....  well, once i realized I needed to turn the toggle on the Nautilus haha.  Different than the T@g, that was just hose in receptacle and go.  I added water to the cassette toilet and practiced how to dump that - figured I should try that BEFORE it was "show time!" - then put a little Unique RV Digest-It (didn't measure, just used "a little" - this is made for big black tanks) plus water and put the cassette back in its holder.  

Battery: I took the suggestion of a Nucamp Forum moderator and purchased the Innova 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor - I had installed a Victron 712
shunt in the T@g, but by its nature this shunt has a small but (in the long term) impactful parasitic draw that was compensated for by the solar on the T@g but would not be with the Barefoot....  Mark suggested this as a simple alternative.  Plugged it into the 12V receptacle and the lead-acid measured..... fairly unhappy after the drive home from the dealership.  Keep in mind the fridge is on when the battery switch is on, so you're pulling juice from the car while driving.  I'm not 100% convinced that my wiring harness is correct, so, meh, that's a "me" problem....  The plan was to replace the lead-acid with my Battleborn once at the campsite.

Upon checking "all of the other things" prior to departure, I discovered that the grey water cap had a broken tooth.  Should be easy to replace.... but I should not have received a very expensive piece of equipment with ANYTHING broken, imho.  Oh and also the door had clearly been repaired somehow.  Not sure what happened here, but this is what I got:

Next order of business:  getting underway!  

Not very different from the T@g - hook up, chains, safety, make sure stabilizers are retracted, battery switch on (the switch is on the inside under one of the benches, not the most convenient ever), windows locked, door locked, propane off.  Lights, check.  When I was coming home from the dealership with a completely empty trailer at 55mph, I was getting 25-27 mpg 😊 which is... unreal for towing a trailer!  The aerodynamic profile (from the front) would be expected to improve mileage, and I think that's what's happening.  While the T@g was wider than the Audi, this Barefoot is right in line and that likely makes a difference in drag as well.  In other words, the Audi and the Barefoot are well-matched 😎  From the side, the trailer sits a little high and reminded me a bit of my 1988 Isuzu Trooper 😜 meaning, it was a little squirrely in the weird winds that day.  No worries, just keep it at 55.  (Note:  The dealership suggested a sway bar, which I had arranged to have installed when I picked up the trailer - but the model they had did not fit on the tongue of the trailer, due to a lip on the storage box on the front - interesting engineering problem - but I don't think it will be a bit deal, keep reading...) 

The Barefoot handles better fully loaded.  Much less squirrely.  I ended up getting 23 mpg, averaging 60, on the way from Nashua to Gorham (140 miles, mostly highway) - I'm not complaining.  Note:  the brakes on the Barefoot are pretty strong.  I had to turn my gain down to 2 of 10 so that the trailer was not pulling on the Audi as we came to a stop!  I think that will be good in the long run, less wear and tear on the expensive Audi brakes.

And we're here!  Setting up camp: 

Yay!!  First drive up north was a great success!  Next step was stabilization.  It's a good thing I have previous experience, this is a little subject the techs at Pete's RV really should tell new owners about, because physics:  First step is getting the camper fairly level with the tongue crank, then stabilizers are for fine tuning only.  If you do it backwards (stabilizers first) you can put too much pressure on the rear stabilizers (when you crank the tongue up), which I presume are pretty strong, but no sense pushing that.  Leveling was a little tricky, and turns out to be very important for the drain in the shower!  I was a little off on one corner, and water pooled in the wet-bath after a shower in that same corner.

Battery:  Again, the lead acid got sapped while driving, as measured by the little plug in meter.  BUT the next order of business was to jettison that one anyways, because I had purchased a Battleborn last year (and that does NOT go with the T@g when sold!) Conveniently, the custom battery box in the Barefoot *PERFECTLY* accommodates a 100ah Battleborn.  LOL.  It's like it was designed to do so?  As such, the process of installing the Battleborn was WAY easier than it had been in the T@g (where I had to swap out a group 24 box for a group 27, and reconfigure the tongue box to preserve space, drilling holes in the bottom, then finding a way to secure and lock the Battleborn....) 

And magically, the battery monitor read "happy" again!  Of note:  the swap was done at about 5pm, and the battery was still not dead after 18 hours of running the fridge.  Close, but not dead!  The tech at Pete's had told me I needed to run down the battery so that the controller (?) thingy would auto-detect the lithium, so that's what I did.  So, well over 12 hours for the fridge on a lithium is OK in my book.  That experiment will continue - I have two backups, a Jackery 100 ah and two 100W solar panels, that I have not deployed yet.  my hope is that I can boondock while using the fridge, with a boost of solar.  At this point I am pretty satisfied that the plug-in battery monitor will suffice, when used with the state of charge chart for Battleborn lithium that I found on the interwebs.

Next was my big disappointment.

When my friend and I went to the Boston RV show to see the Barefoot "in person" in January to confirm that this was what I really wanted to do, one of the deciding points was that the unit on display had the upgraded vent fan with 12 speeds and a remote.  I was enamored 😁 at its quiet operation and the ability to actually have the fan on "low," because the lowest speed for the vent fan in the T@g sounded a bit like an airplane taking off?  So, whilst setting up camp, I went looking around Eggy for the vent remote.  Nowhere to be found.  Hm......  Then I looked up at the fan and connected 2+2=4, noting that the installed fan only had three speeds.  I was so very disappointed - for the price of the unit, and for having SEEN THIS AS A COMPONENT IN PERSON at the RV show, I felt deceived.  And since I have invested so much into Eggy, I don't have the cash to upgrade - not that I should have to, imo.  What you see on floor should be what you get unless otherwise specifically stated, just sayin'!  I am not sure whether this was a Nucamp problem or a Pete's problem.  My suspicion is the latter.  

But.... The Alde System ROCKS 😍

Holy crap.  Love it.  Warm air on my toes.  Hot water.  Quiet operation.  I had done a good bit of scoping this out on various Nucamp forums, so I was able to stumble through how to start it up, and eyeball how to switch from shore power to propane.  It was warm this weekend, so I didn't use it all that much - but this is likely to become my favorite feature.  I'm also enamored of the fact that it draws so little from the battery!!

Water.....  It helps to set the Nautilus system toggles correctly.

This is going to take some re-training on my part!  I was getting air and bubbles out of the faucets, and I knew the pump was on because I could hear it.  Then, lightbulb: hey Amy did you check the green and blue toggles?  Haha well let's just say that was an easy solution.  

The Bathroom:  Small but just enough for me!

I'm 5'7" and 140.  I can barely stand up in the bath, but that's not really what is intended is my guess - It's meant to be functional, and it is.  I decided to use a little plastic bin with a silicone-seal lid for my TP, since I'm not planning to fish TP out of the cassette - the bin fits well right next to the toilet.  I might swap out the shower head, we'll see.  One of the things I most appreciate is actually the mirror... where I live, in New England, is "tick central" so daily (or twice daily) tick checks are requisite.  This was just not feasible in the T@g.  MUCH easier in the Barefoot, along with use of a second plug-in mirror that easily fits in the storage behind the toilet!  Indoor plumbing is what I had decided to gift myself for turning 50, and yep, I was VERY happy with that in the middle of the night - no more exiting the warm cabin into the cold forest to find a tree and hope a bear doesn't catch me with my pants down!!  😆

And, coffee.

Excellent kitchen setup.  Simple, efficient.  One note, though, is that the smoke detector (upper left in photo) is above the stove, less than 4 feet distance.  Haha that ain't great when one cooks with cast iron...  Perhaps the smoke detector would be better situated at the other end of the cabin, in future models?  On the other hand, having the bathroom sink in arms' reach of the kitchen area ended up being very convenient for rinsing off silverware and dishes as I go, to minimize mess! 

I did encounter one problem as I used the sink for the first time:  All of a sudden there was significant water on the floor 😞 I noted it was not *increasing* so I figured it wasn't a leak in a supply line, which logically left the drain line.  Thankfully I am medium "handy" with plumbing, so I was able to logic-out the problem.  I removed the kitchen drawer and felt under the sink - sure enough, wet - and tested each connection - sure enough, not completely screwed tight - and fixed the problem quickly.  Not, however, without getting water on the back of the fridge - which hopefully will not cause any long term problem.  IMO this is a quality control problem that REALLY should have been caught by Pete's RV prior to delivery.  I can imagine some other folks might not have such a calm response to discovering a plumbing leak in their brand-new and very expensive RV, 200 miles away from help.

Comfy cabin.

I'm super-impressed.  This is a far more functional cabin space than the T@g.  The T@g has all sorts of corners and angles to bump your head on and stick into your back as you're trying to find a comfy spot to recline.  The Barefoot's cabin is open and airy, with great views out the windows, and PLENTY of space for me and my two medium sized Labradors (for reference, they were in the MIDDLE of the bed in this photo / half of the bed was completely empty!).  Sleeping was good - but for the next trip, I am likely to put in a wool mattress topper (the dinette cushions were a bit firm) and just leave the table at home.  

Side note:  You can clearly see the stars through the lightly tinted windows, at night.  LOVE!!!!!!!!

Pack it up and head home....

Pretty straightforward.  Hook up, retract stabilizers.  Turn off propane.  Power off Alde, unplug from shore power; no need to unplug from water since I had forgotten a hose to connect in the first place lol.  Add that to the list of things to tweak!  Visiting the RV dump station was easier than I had feared.  Unfortunately I have yet to purchase a grey tank effluent hose, so I drove home with the grey tank 1/3 full until I can empty it today.  NBD.  The cassette toilet was actually very easy to empty.  Note: bring disposable gloves, and beware the water pressure as you rinse out the cassette, because...... splashbacks.  ugh.  Lesson learned.  I got 22.1 mpg on the way home, averaging 60.  (Have to control that lead foot of mine.)

Overall:  9 out of 10!!!!

I am SUPERPLEASED with this little rig and looking forward to lots of adventures.  I have reservations for oceanfront camping over Memorial Day weekend and I'm already looking forward to it.  Yes, it's "eye catching" and gets a lot of questions - which can be a little overwhelming tbh - but that's not at all what's important to me.  Function first.  And this is one well-designed, efficient, compact, but full-featured little rig.  

Check in after the next weekend for an update if you'd like 😊   Or pop by my "simplified version" at Insta, I recently set it up for Barefoot-only purposes:  https://www.instagram.com/phosphorescentspirit/

The Barefoot Chronicles Returns...... because my Barefoot found ME!

 The universe is funny sometimes.  What appears to be a coincidence.... Well, it's all in how you choose to interpret it ;)

It's amazing that I was able to recover this blot, fifteen years later.  Wow, a lot has happened. My last post was part II boards - that was an ETERNITY ago.  Since that time, I worked hard and sailed through part 3, part 4, and later PT boards - got a license and practiced in Georgia for a year to see where things went with my then-boyfriend Mike (didn't work out), working with Dr. Eric Richards at Healthsprout, after losing my beloved MoosePup, then Bill the Cat.  Came to be dog-mom to Isabella Morgan, my beautiful blondie lab (who I suddenly lost in 2016 to unexplained kidney failure).  Meandered my way up the Eastern Seaboard in April 2010 driving a 18 foot Budget truck towing my Xterra on a dolly behind me - did I mention I had never towed anything in my life?  Was graciously offered the opportunity to live in Darcy's parents unrenovated house in Groton MA while I started Path of Life, after I arrived in NH with $5000 to my name and promptly signed that away towards first/last/security deposit on my office space for Path of Life.  Worked my ass off getting the practice off the ground, making lots of mistakes but somehow building a solid foundation.  Moved into my townhouse a year later (Mom Darcy was graceful about it, but pretty much kicked me out?  With good reason.  We all know I'm impossible.) and here I sit, in 2023, with a successful practice, financially stable, author of four new papers and a fifth in progress, national and international speaker, mom to two wonderful labs, still single (after a heart-shattering end to an engagement that never should have been), at odds (Ha. No. More like exiled) with the majority of those I used to hold dear because of different views on medical freedom and science, a "health-hiccup" survivor who will from here maintain a laser focus on promoting and maintaining health and adaptability, and........ as of yesterday, owner of, ta-da, A BAREFOOT CAMPER.

How did that happen?  Well, mid 2020 (during that pandemic thing) I decided to purchase a small teardrop travel trailer to drive to Arizona to visit my parents for Christmas.  Hey, why not?  I mean, people do this...  it's just something new to learn, right?  On a related note, you're really not supposed to do 80 towing a trailer, even in your BMW X3 "can do it," and backing up a small trailer is truly an art form 😆 I've really enjoyed the Nucamp T@gXL, it was a perfect started trailer and such a wonderful space for me and the pups, I mean, it's a king-sized bed on wheels with locking doors and kitchen out back!!  I've learned a lot about trailers, and discovered that it's the perfect amenity for outdoor-loving, adventure-seeking me who would pretty much always rather be in the woods.  So sometime this fall, a Facebook ad popped up in my feed and stopped me dead in my tracks, laser attention......  Nucamp was releasing a new trailer, THE BAREFOOT.  And it is ADORABLE!!!  (lol absolutely masterful marketing..... just look at the photo, beckoning to me) 

Justification: there's this thing called indoor plumbing.  And I'm turning 50 this year.  There's something poetic about gifting myself indoor plumbing as I hit the half-century mark.  I didn't want one of those big, bulky trailers and I also don't want a burly pickup truck with a tow capacity appropriate for one of those.  I don't personally love the layout of most other small travel trailers, including the T@b series by Nucamp.  But this one........  open layout, windows, tall ceiling, small enough for my AudiQ5 to tow.....  it's like it was made for me and the dogs. 

And so yesterday, after about six months of waiting, researching, thinking, exploring options, arranging, anticipating, and a very interesting financial shell-game (because I have not yet successfully sold my wonderful T@gXL!), I completed a purchase and sale agreement and wired an insane amount of money to the dealership for the privilege of Barefoot ownership.  Indeed, since it was only announced in December and has only been in production for a few months of 2023, I have one of the first models of this lovely creature.  I have yet to take delivery, because I need to go to the DMV this morning and do the plates-registration thing, and arrange for a walk-through with the dealership....  but I should have it by next weekend.  Which, ever so conveniently, is when one of my favorite NH campgrounds opens for the summer - Dolly Copp!  

Why?  Because life is short.  If there's one thing this last year has clarified, OK these last three years, hmmmm last six or seven.... it's that life can change on a dime, so you'd best invest in the here and now and create experiences and memories that can float you through the hard stuff.

And quite frankly, my track record at that is pretty good.

Stay tuned.....