Staying in a non-LQ trailer...

This may be the most ignorant question, but I’m sure the show secretary is tired of me by now :winkgrin:

I’m heading to Paradise Farm HT at the end of the month and in an effort to keep my weekend cost under $1500 :eek: I was considering staying in my trailer. I’ve never done it before- we have small children, so have always stayed in hotels, but I think I’m heading there solo this time. My husband is planning on driving there for the show day, but I want to stay Sunday/Monday and take lessons.

I have just a Hawk 2H GN trailer with a large dressing room and a 7 way connector that plugs into the truck, but no LQ. The trailer has lights inside of both the horse area and the dressing room, but no outlets. I have an F-350 with an extended bed and a power outlet (like for a phone charger or computer). Paradise Farm offers “primitive on-farm RV hookups.” With an RV hookup, does that mean I can plug the trailer in so that I have lights? Or does that mean outlets to plug other, regular things into? I would love to get an extension cord and have a fan blowing into the trailer, but not sure what all that entails. Sigh. I’m so lost.

I know people stay in their trailers all the time- anyone have any tips?

Primitive and hookup seem contradictory. Primitive usually means no hookups.

I can’t help you on the RV situation but we usually ‘camp out’ for the Great Vista horse trials. I’m probably going to end up sleeping in the back seat of the truck but I usually sleep in a tent there. However, my trainers sleep in the gooseneck. Not sure if you have this capability or if you’re claustrophobic but both of our goosenecks are fairly spacey. In our larger trailer there was a futon mattress at one point (old owners left it) so that’s an option. They usually just bring pillows, sleeping bags and extra blankets for comfort. Even though it’s June when we go it’s fairly cool at night so we aren’t dying of heat.

I’ve seen hammock set ups in the actual trailer and have even seen people sleep on the actual floor of the trailer with a tarp down. To each their own but a hotel is not in my budget - for one night I can live. If we really need a shower there is a camp ground nearby. Just have some water bottles for brushing teeth water just in case there are no true bathrooms :smiley:

Can’t answer your specific question, but most hookups refer to electric for LQ trailers. I imagine you’d just be camping.

I camp in a non-LQ trailer and it’s literally camping. Got my cot, battery-powered lantern, battery-powered fan in the dressing room. The showgrounds I go to have bathrooms (most with showers) but a camping loo could be made too (5 gallon bucket + super heavy duty construction plastic bags + kitty litter).

It usually is pretty comfortable, and I save a lot of commute time as I check my horse frequently, in addition to saving money.

The omnibus states: “Camping: Primitive on farm, limited hook-ups.”

No idea what all that means- I suppose I can email the secretary yet again, ha.

Thanks, riverinthewoods, I was thinking I’d bring an air mattress (with a battery pump) to put in the gooseneck. Or get one of those truck bed tents. I’m just not sure what, electric-wise, I’ll have. As mentioned in the original post, I would love to have a fan (white noise…not really necessary), but that’s really about it. I’d also like to be able to turn on my dressing room light, which is why I asked if the hookup would be something I could plug my trailer into.

I camped in the back of a 6 horse trailer as a groom with my rider for 2 seasons. I loved it. Super easy and we had loads of space - I preferred it to sleeping in a tack room as those make me claustrophobic. We hosed out the horse space (never used shavings) and removed the dividers. We usually just slept in the trailer lot.

We had a big cooler that I filled with ice on Friday. All food was kept in there and stayed cold until Sunday. We kept the cooler inside the trailer with us. I have this grill and cooked all of our meals on it. I bought frozen burgers for Friday night with green beans or asparagus grilled in foil. The burgers thawed in the cooler until I cooked them. Then we did marinated steaks the next night or the competitors party. I made paninis for lunch (usually just lunch meat, chipotle sauce, sweet peppers, spinach, cheese). For breakfast, we did bars or I got precooked eggs in the freezer section and warmed them up in foil along with precooked bacon, cheese and bread for breakfast sandwiches. I always had antibacterial hand wipes around for hand washing. We have an electric kettle that we plugged in in the barn for instant coffee or tea in the mornings. We ate on one of these tables which I loved with camp chairs.

We slept on a tall queen blow up mattress. Blew it up in the barn or at a friend’s camp spot and carried it to the trailer if there weren’t plugs nearby. You could easily get an adapter to blow it up with a plug in the truck with it running.

To shower, I hosed myself off in the wash rack in my sports bra and underwear late at night or filled bucket and dumped it on me with a solo cup behind the trailer. I got one of the solar shower bags, but the water pressure was so low that it took to long and I went back to the bucket method. I am too lazy to heat it, so I just left it out all day in the sun to take the edge off. Brushed teeth and washed face with water bottles. We always purchased gallon jugs to drink out of so we used those - at least 5 per event.

We lit the whole back of our trailer with two strands of battery operated twinkle lights. We could easily read with just these and never used the trailer lights. Phones were charged in the barn.

We never used a fan. I am sure you could easily get a battery operated one. This one on Amazon looks interesting and cheap.

Once you have a process it is super easy. Our owners usually cleaned the trailer out for us (about 20 minutes) while we dealt with the horses and then my rider did the set up in about 15 minutes after she was done riding.

Thanks, Kelo! That’s what I wasn’t sure about- how do LQ trailers plug into hookups vs regular trailers? I really just want my dressing room light! The closest hotel is 15 minutes away- I really don’t want to drive there 1st thing each morning just to feed if my ride times aren’t until later. Plus it be peace of mind for me to be near P since I don’t know anyone else going to that show.

Thanks for all the suggestions CMIYC! Those are fantastic.

Check out Goal Zero for all your power needs. You could easily set up camp in a your Non LQ trailer.

Primitive is not hooked up to anything. You can run 12 volt things and your lights/roof fan off your truck but don’t plug a bunch of stuff in unless you want to jump it. You should try running off battery powered things as much as possibly but you should be fine over night to charge phones and run a roof fan (but not AC)

Electric hook up is an extension cord running into your trailer. If you have electric outlets you just plug the trailer in (there should be a hatch on the outside with an extension cord) then plug in to the outlets inside the trailer.

If you don’t have outlets in your trailer you can still run an extension cord from the hook up then a surge protector. The best way is to have an RV hatch and cover cut in the side or you can run it in through a window without a screen on it.

We have a weekender gooseneck and I actually prefer to set up my camp cot in the back. There are some very nice fold-up cots that are comfortable mine are from our early yrs of doing the state fair every yr. probably 18 yrs old and look like new. http://earthproductsstore.com/jamboree-military-style-aluminum-camping-cot-w-free-side-storage-bag-system-and-pillow?gclid=CjwKEAjw6sC5BRCogcaY_dKZ2nESJABsZihxOlhxj-atKz1AutWEkg_PoiN2X-fHnFzZOHdAecY9ExoC_frw_wcB

A marine battery (rechargeable) can be strapped to a small shelf attached to the underside of the GN of your trailer. It is just what you need to power lights, a coffee maker etc. maybe more; an electric griddle or a small microwave. http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/040564-blains-farm-and-fleet-marine-rv-battery.html?feedsource=3&gclid=CjwKEAjw6sC5BRCogcaY_dKZ2nESJABsZihxDxZbO79F1gIZZzCNF2NXwthnGeMzWkRn5PV49UYD2hoCBKDw_wcB

This could get you through many cost saver weekends!

Look into these if no showers: actionwipes.com

[QUOTE=Stormers85;8655653]
Thanks, Kelo! That’s what I wasn’t sure about- how do LQ trailers plug into hookups vs regular trailers? [/QUOTE]

My friend’s LQ has an actual special heavy-duty extension cord that plugs in to power all that. Not the same plug that connects the trailer to truck for lights.

You can get a battery-powered fan and lantern for less than $50 at a camping supply place. :slight_smile: Mine are still going strong after about 5 yrs of periodic use.

Get some kind of mattress for the GN or clean out the back of the trailer and have a cot. I think you should visit a camping store where you could obtain a lantern and other nifty camping things. You might want to review what has been posted on endurance and trail riding because those folks camp all the time. Have lots of fun. Just think how much you will be able to sleep in!!! :slight_smile:

These are all fantastic suggestions! I think I’ll be heading to a camping store this week. Things certainly have changed since I did the horse show camping as a teen.

[QUOTE=Stormers85;8655730]
These are all fantastic suggestions! I think I’ll be heading to a camping store this week. Things certainly have changed since I did the horse show camping as a teen.[/QUOTE]

If there is any chance that the weather will be chilly, an air mattress in the gooseneck is a bad idea unless it is insulated underneath. Cots are also bad ideas for the same reason. I’ve done both and regretted it. You’d be much better off in chilly weather with a foam pad underneath your bedding. In warm or hot weather, the extra air circulation can be a good thing. With a camp stove, a honey bucket, and an LED high lumen battery powered light, you should be just fine.

I’ve always yearned for one of the Schneider on demand water heater setups for my horses. It could also be used as a human shower if you can get access to a hose and a water supply.

Look at llbean.com and you will get ideas. I love the inflatable mattresses that come with a rechargeable battery operated pump. Make sure the mattress is not too high for your gooseneck, particularly when you have a sleeping bag. The air mattress itself won’t hold your body heat, so you will need the sleeping bag. A comfortable chair is also important. My daughter uses a solar heated shower bag for warm showers. She has a camping stove and a solar powered refrigerator. Her small gooseneck with a dressing room is a good place to camp.

I have camped in my trailer many times and also camp in “real life” and do a fair bit of car camping.

If you’re willing to make an up-front investment, then you can have a perfectly fine time.

When not backpacking (and therefore, weight is not a problem) this camp mattress is the ultimate. It’s like sleeping on a super nice memory foam bed. They also make a couple size one if you want more room that is just slightly smaller than a queen.

http://www.summithut.com/hiking-camping/hiking-camping-categories/sleeping-pads/mega-mat-10-1.html

I have a freestanding tent that I often pitch inside the trailer just so that I have places to hang things/the tent power system and I have the option of sleeping outside the trailer if it’s hot. Since it doesn’t need stakes, I can pitch it in the trailer and then hook up the tent equipment. Mine has LED lighting, a fan system, and a doohickey to hang an ipad so I can watch tv :slight_smile: This is my tent. Not cheap, but we use it for a lot of things. It fits inside the trailer easily (mine is 7’ wide) we just got it so I’ve only tried that once.

https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/krumholtzul2mtnglo2016

I don’t really do stoves when I’m at horse shows, but I have a nice woodburning camp stove that also has a USB port on it to charge phones and things. It also has a grill attachment. Since it runs on wood I can just bring sticks or pellets to run it off and not need to deal with cylinders.

http://www.amazon.com/BioLite-BL-CSA-Wood-Burning-Campstove/dp/B00BQHET9O/ref=sr_1_28?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1462832818&sr=1-28&keywords=camp+stove

I also have the kettle attachment and I bring lots of water for the horse, so I can also use that to add some very hot water to cold water to make warm water to wipe down with.

I have an RTIC cooler that can retain ice for several days, so no worries keeping things cold.

It’s kind of fun. I like having all my own stuff with me and not having to travel to the hotel.

I sleep in my 2 horse gooseneck at most shows I go to. I have a full sized memory foam mattress in the gooseneck. It’s very comfortable…feels like sleeping in a nest. I use a head lamp for light as I don’t have anything to hook up. I also usually bring my lap top (12 hr battery life, charge at stabling during the day), so I can kill time and watch some old TV shows I have on my computer.

One thing, even when it’s jacket-waiving temps during the day, it seems to always be fairly chilly over night. So I keep a set of sheets, a light weight blanket, and a camping sleeping bag, just in case for layering. (I blanket myself much like I blanket my horse, it seems.)

I bring lots of power bars/granola bars/stuff that doesn’t need to be refrigerated to snack on.

ETA: Dry shampoo is your friend if you’ll be there multiple days!

It’s totally doable! DC and I shared her trailer a few years ago. Mattress in the gooseneck, made a bed for the dog on the floor of the tack room. We had a couple of canopies, one with drop down walls that was supposed to be our changing room. We had a “sun shower” that was handy the day we remembered to set it up. We had chairs and snacks and were really pretty comfy. The toughest part was the trek to the porta potties in the dark, and that weekend had very cool nights.

Just like regular camping, you have to be willing to rough it and get stinky. The sun shower was a nice way to freshen up, and I have a pixie cut that is pretty easy and looks better dirty. But fun and doable if you’re ok with that. You can get pretty fancy by adding grills and what not (we were always so tired by the end of the day that that would have been a waste).

We were also really jealous of our neighbors who had hammocks. If I ever set my little rig up for camping, it’ll be with a hammock!