Rafael wiped his hands on a red shop rag, held a wheel bearing up to the light in his Westchester driveway and said, "This one's tired. This one's okay." Then he handed the tired one to Nico, who has not put it down since.
That was Sunday, the last day of a week that turned our 2009 pop-up from a camper in someone else's driveway into something I'd trust on the road to the Everglades. Here's every fix, in order, with what it cost.
The week, day by day
Monday, Feb 2. Tax collector for sales tax, title, registration and a plate: $531, which I wrote about last week. On the way home I bought a new deep-cycle battery for the camper, $129. The old one couldn't hold a charge overnight, and the sellers had said so up front.
Wednesday, Feb 4. U-Haul installed a hitch receiver and trailer wiring on the Pilot: $642. A ball mount and 2-inch ball added $38. That evening we drove to Homestead, hooked up, and I towed the camper home for the first time, about 25 miles in the right lane with my hands at ten and two. Dana followed in her Corolla to watch the camper's lights, and by agreement she texted me nothing.
Thursday, Feb 5. Two new trailer tires, mounted: $236. The old ones were about eight years old by their date codes, with fine cracks in the sidewalls. The tread still looked good, which is exactly how old tires fool people.
During the week. The small stuff for actually camping with it: Camco leveling blocks, wheel chocks, a water pressure regulator, a drinking water hose and a dogbone adapter so the camper's 30-amp cord can plug into a regular outlet at home, $96 for all of it. Canvas cleaner, seam sealer and repair tape for the pinholes, $41. Maya and I spent an evening in the side yard dabbing sealer on seams with a foam brush while Dana read the instructions out loud.
Saturday, Feb 7. The propane tank. Ours was stamped 2009, past its requalification date, so instead of trying to refill it I swapped it at a Home Depot exchange cage for a current one: $24. Later that day, at Walmart, I bought a Blackstone tabletop griddle for $149, which I'm not counting here. That's a cooking purchase, and it'll get its own post once it has earned one.
Sunday, Feb 8. At 7 a.m., before anyone else was around, I took the camper to an empty Tropical Park lot for practice: wide turns, backing between two cones Nico set out and parking more or less straight. Then a few minutes over to Rafael's house in Westchester for the bearings.
Rafael and the bearings
I'm not a mechanic, and this isn't a how-to. Here's what I watched.
Rafael jacked up one side, pulled the wheel and the hub and cleaned out the old grease, which was dark and gritty on the left side and just old on the right. He looked over every part, found one bearing on the left with wear he didn't like and replaced both bearings on that side. New grease seals on both wheels, fresh grease packed in by hand, new cotter pins, and everything back together. Parts came to $48. Labor was free and came with a running commentary on how nobody maintains their trailers.
Nico handed him rags. Maya wrote down every step in her journal, including "Abuelo says don't over-tighten." Marisol brought out café in little cups. It took about three hours and was the most relaxed part of the week.
The setup total
- Tax collector (sales tax $398, title and plate $133): $531
- U-Haul hitch receiver and wiring: $642
- Ball mount and 2-inch ball: $38
- Two new trailer tires: $236
- Wheel bearing parts: $48
- New deep-cycle battery: $129
- Propane tank exchange: $24
- Blocks, chocks, regulator, hose and dogbone: $96
- Canvas cleaner, sealer and repair tape: $41
Setup total: $1,785. Before we bought, I guessed about $1,000. I was off by $785. The hitch and the tax explain most of it. I had never priced a hitch, and I'd forgotten the tax existed.
Camp math, before a single night in it: $5,800 for the camper plus $1,785 to make it road-ready is $7,585. That number will look better with every trip. Right now it just looks big.
Insurance and roadside are sorted too, and I'll write those up later this week. On Saturday we tow to Long Pine Key for Presidents' Day weekend, no hookups, two nights. Nico asked if the old bearing could come. It can. It's in the glove box now, next to the trip log and the jump starter.
