Would you believe that there are people who will not go camping because they think there will not be any good coffee? Mostly it's the kind of people that can't open their eyes until they smell that hot cup of java. Well, if you are one of them, you are in luck! You can choose from a few coffee makers that are very nicely fit to take with you on a camping trip. But there is only one that truly fits the bill as a coffee maker and a travel mug, and it's called a Travel Press.

BruTrek OVRLANDR: https://amzn.to/3UqVMRM
BruTrek: Double Shot: https://amzn.to/3fwLpgx

It's not your old faithful, the percolator.

When people think of making coffee while camping, some will instantly remember a percolator on a campfire. While Grandpa will argue it's still the only way to go, he couldn't be more wrong!

Just press your coffee down.

Another way (a better way) of making coffee while camping is by using a coffee press, more commonly known as a French Press. The Press works very simply, and all you have to do is place coarse coffee grounds and hot water within a container (steel or class) and allow it to steep for four minutes. After this time, you will press down on a plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee. This is filterless coffee brewing, and many coffee experts prefer this method because it leaves the essential oils of the coffee beans within the final brew for a better taste and flavor.

However, we can consider ourselves lucky over Grandpa's generations that technology has given us even a better way to press coffee. One such Press is made by BruTek. It works well, and the process is the same as with a French Press brewer. Moreover, when you are ready to drink, instead of pouring yourself a cup, drink from the Double-walled Press! It works great for any time use, whether you are camping, traveling, at home, on the road, or in your office. It also works great for those who love to travel. Even if you are not really into coffee and prefer tea, the travel press also works great.

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Are you tired of summer days where you have to bear the sweltering heat of the summer sun? Once summer says hello to us, we may yet again face the consequences of the terrible heat that it brings us, and some find this annoying heat unbearable. One of your choices is to satisfy yourself with a portable air conditioner.

A portable air conditioner, as its name indicates, is a particular type of air conditioner which is easy to move from location to location. As it is portable, it can be used anywhere you need fresh cool air, like tents, camps, RV, and even in a boat or vehicle. When it is hot, this small air conditioner gives a bit of relief by providing fresh cool air.

Portable tent air conditioners are relatively easy to install and carry from one place to another. Moreover, unlike regular air conditioners, they can run on battery power, so there is no need to plug into an electric socket. That is why they are being used in camping and tents. Depending upon the features, size, and capacity, their price may vary from a few hundred to thousands.

Unlike the other types that just stay fixed in a window, a portable air conditioner can be moved to different places in your RV, tent, or office whenever you feel like it. When the compressor is running, it compresses the refrigerant gas from a low to a high pressure. The high-pressure gas is cooled, turning it into a liquid, and then it is brought to the condenser. This process creates heat that needs to be removed from the area you are trying to cool. This is why home AC Compressors are outside. For portable air conditioners, we need to direct the heat out of the space using a discharge hose. This hose must be put outside the window or through a wall, whichever works best for you. Window kits may be available, depending on the portable air conditioner type you want.

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Watch thieves steal my RV trailer
from Extra Space Storage in Texas

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On March 4th, 2021 my RV Trailer was STOLEN from Extra Space Storage in Fort Worth Texas! Right under the cameras, in a protected lot even though I had a Tongue Lock on it! This video is a short snippet from a more in-depth video I am almost finished with. But with all the repost of RVs begin stolen, I thought it extremely important to at least show people how my TT was stolen so that you can learn from what I learned!

Ft. Knox Locks Curt Style Bumper Pull Lock W/Cobra-Sidewinder Puck Lock
https://amzn.to/3nkwK8W

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Outdoorsman Lab's new Premium Sleeping Pad is even cozier than before and offers you complete comfort without the heavy bulkiness. It's also the ultimate in regulating temperature, whether you're hiking snowy trails or enjoying the annual family summer camping trip.

Sleeping Pad: https://amzn.to/3GrhKO4
OMEALS Hashbrowns: https://amzn.to/2ZoDwSh

It's generous in size - tall sleepers and those who like to stretch out alike are sure to love our 76" long, 26" wide sleeping pad. And with ultra-easy pump-bag-inflating technology, it's easy to enjoy by anyone at any time. You might even find yourself using it at home - in your yard, on your patio, or for kids' sleepovers.

When out camping, there is a choice one must make between taking a foam or an air pad for comfortable sleep outdoors. A sleeping pad's primary function is to provide both cushioning and insulation. Cushioning for your back support and insulating your body from cold surfaces allows you to sleep more comfortably and at ease. The question remains as to which one is better; a foam pad or an air pad.

Laying on the cold, hard ground can be pretty uncomfortable for many campers, especially those that already suffer from back conditions. Thankfully, camping sleeping pads were invented to allow those enjoying the great outdoors to be able to get a good night's sleep!

OMEALS Hashbrowns Potatoes with Bacon, Onions, and Peppers. Smoked bacon, skillet-tossed potatoes, and sauteed bell peppers and onions make for a delicious, easy meal. Premium flavor that is sure to be a hit for the family every time, anywhere!

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One of my favorite local rides from Colorado Springs. Not wanting to bore everyone with an hour and a half of the slow 2,000-foot climb - I just pointed out some of the highlights on the way up. I started up In Stratton Open Space, heading up parts of Gold Camp Road to the Buckhorn Trail and down Captain Jack's Trail including the Chutes, and back to Gold Camp and Stratton.

Here is the route. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/13968916

Boralias Echo Fat Bike, Hugo 52 Rims & Surly 29 x 3" Dirt Wizard Tires

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I was going to tell you how awesome this Portable Grill is, but that's evident in the video. So, instead, I am going to give you some awesome tips are grilling with Charcoal n the LifeDoo Floy!

The first Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vpOeTQgMxw
Version II on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3v1jbxu

Every Pitmaster knows the secret to a great grilled dish is the charcoal. Cooking with charcoal produces a very different result from cooking with propane. One of the most significant differences in the taste, as meats cooked on charcoal absorb many extra flavors that you don't get with propane.

Most ordinary grillers never take the time to experiment with charcoal, which is a real shame since that is the one thing that can turn a good dish into a great one when grilling. To learn how to cook the best recipes with charcoal, consider these tips:

- Use hardwood over briquettes. Hardwood is easier to control, offers a higher heat, and gives your meat more flavor.

- Use woods chips for both aroma and flavor. Simply adding a handful of soaked hickory, cherry, or oak wood chips to your charcoal can make a big difference in how flavorful your meat will become

- Distribute burning coals evenly across the bottom of your grill. Direct heat is essential to the cooking process, so avoid uneven coals.

- Cook over ashen coals only. Trying to grill meat over live coals that feature a flame will end in disaster. This will cook the outside of the meat too quickly, leaving the inside undone. You know you're ready when you can't see any flame and all of the coals are glowing red. If you start cooking too soon, your food will have a robust smoky taste which is usually undesirable.

- Before you put the meat on your portable charcoal grill, cut a bit of fat off and run it along the grill lines. This is the equivalent of adding some oil and will allow your meat to sear very quickly, locking in the flavor and juices.

- To get the best-tasting steak, quickly sear the first side, flip once, and then allow it to cook, and then flip only once more. A steak should be turned no more than twice to keep in the best flavor.

By starting with these basics, you are well on your way to cooking the best recipes with charcoal. Of course, a little experimenting with marinades, meats, wood chips, and cooking times will only enhance your results, making you a true Grillmaster. Wonderful recipes have been discovered by experimenting. You can fine-tune even a simple recipe just by experimenting with it.

Great recipes, like great inventions, happen only with a lot of experiments. It would help if you never were afraid to experiment in cooking. Trying new methods, using fresh ingredients, increasing or reducing cooking time are some approaches to experimentation in cooking food.

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In this video, I cover how to upgrade the existing Charger/Converter in my trailer so that I can properly use and take full advantage of Lithium Batteries.

Timestamps:
Warning: 00:30
Intro: 00:50
Prep: 02:25
Remove Old: 05:40
Install New: 10:35
Fix Broken Braker: 21:15
Install Fuses: 22:05
Testing: 23:15

I bought my Forest River IBEX 23RLDS under the impression that it a was Lithium Ready travel trailer. While the solar was ready, the onboard charger was not.

The Power Distribution Center in my IBEX was a WF-8955PEC and is NOT Lithium Battery Compatible. The WF-8955PEC's charging system is designed explicitly for lead-acid (Flooded/AGM) batteries. The WF-8955LiS is the model that was supposed to be installed for the IBEX to be "Lithium Ready."

The WF-8955LiS has a switch option, allowing one to change charging modes between lead-acid and lithium batteries by simply sliding a switch in one direction or the other.

WF-8955LiS on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gceevA

The short version (confirmed by Forest River's Engineer as I understand them):
1. The PEC will not fully charge Lithium batteries; he stated "95% or so." We all know that a Lead-Acid algorithm will only get the LiPo to 70-80% in most cases.
2. The PEC is not going to properly Float the battery (as stated, "it's close").
3. The PEC will not output the required 14.6v for "Fast Bulk" charging of Lithium. The Lead-Acid algorithm does not have a Fast Charge state.
4. Improperly charging a lithium battery will severely shorten its lifespan.
5. Lithium Battery warranties don't cover improper charging. Many specifically state that a "Lithium Charger must be used."

The PEC is designed and sold as a Lead-Acid Charger, and by that definition alone, disqualifies the PEC as a Lithium Ready Charger and disqualifies the IBEX 23RLDS as a Lithium Ready Travel Trailer. While the PEC may safely "charge" Lithium batteries (somewhat), as stated on WFCO's website, the PEC is not designed for Lithium Charging and by Forest River's own engineer's statements, does present quite a few shortcomings for Lithium use.

The Nuts & Bolts:

A 12v lithium LiFePO4 battery fully charged to 100% will hold voltage around 13.3-13.4v. A lead-acid battery will be around 12.6-12.7v. A lithium battery at 20% capacity will hold voltage around 13V; lead-acid will be around 11.8v at the same capacity.

A Lithium LiFePO4 charger is a voltage-limiting device that has similarities to the lead-acid system. The differences with Li-ion relate to the higher voltage per cell, tighter voltage tolerances, and the absence of trickle or float charge at full charge. While lead-acid offers some flexibility in terms of voltage cut-off, manufacturers of LiFePO4 cells are stringent on the correct setting because Li-ion cannot accept overcharge.

Lithium chargers are based on a CV/CC (constant voltage/constant current) charge algorithm. The charger limits the amount of current to a pre-set level until the battery reaches a pre-set voltage level. The current then reduces as the battery becomes fully charged. This system allows fast charging without the risk of over-charging and is required for all Li-ion batteries.

Most, if not all, lead-acid chargers have an equalization mode. On most chargers, this mode is automatic and can't be turned off. Lithium batteries do not require any form of equalization. Applying an equalization charge of 15v+ to a lithium battery will damage the cells beyond repair.

The other function that lead-acid chargers have is a "return to bulk" voltage. A 100% full lead-acid battery's voltage is approx 12.7v. Once the charger is in Float mode, it will maintain the battery at a pre-set voltage (normally between 13.3-13.8v subject to the battery type) and supports any loads running at the time. If the loads increase past the charger's maximum output in Float, then the battery voltage will start to reduce. Once the voltage reaches the "return to bulk" voltage, the charger will begin a new charge cycle and re-charge the battery at Bulk Voltage rates.

The "return to bulk" voltage setting in lead-acid chargers is normally 12.5-12.7v. This voltage for a lithium battery is way too low. At this voltage, the lithium battery will have been depleted to approx 10-15% state of charge. Lithium charge algorithms will normally set a return to Bulk voltage of 13.1-13.2V. Just another reason that a standard lead-acid charger doesn't work for lithium batteries.

Most lead-acid chargers "ping" the battery on startup to determine the voltage/resistance of the battery. Based on return information, the charger then determines what charge phase to start in. Because Lithium will hold voltage above 13+v, these lead-acid chargers will see this as a nearly full battery and enter into a Float stage and bypass the charge stage altogether.

Disclaimer: Everything in this video and description is my own interpretations and opinions based on the information I have gathered online, through email, and by phone.

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Escape the bustle of the city and get back to nature just an hour north of the DFW Metroplex. Come play at Ray Roberts Lake State Park for the day or the weekend!

Lake Ray Roberts is a beautiful lake destination located between Sanger, Texas, and Pilot Point Texas, about 10 miles north of Denton. If you are looking for a way to escape to a place where you can enjoy nature, then this is a great location! Only about an hour's drive from Dallas, it is the perfect spot for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

There are two main campgrounds on Lake Ray Roberts: Isle Du Bois and Johnson Branch units. The campsites are perfect for a small weekend vacation, or they can also be used for single-day gatherings as well. There are smaller campsites for a group of friends or family, or you can schedule one of the larger sites for a big group event like a family reunion or company party. You can book meeting rooms at the Lantana Resort, or choose an outdoor location in one of the four picnic pavilions that offer a beautiful view of the lake.

If you love the outdoors, you will love Lake Ray Roberts. Enjoy! Life is better on the water.

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