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Last Minute Camping in OH this Weekend

jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,394
in Camping & Travel
I am going to put my boondocking to the test this weekend and am going to make a last minute camping trip to the AEP camping area in central Ohio (not far from Cambridge/Zanesville.) Let me know if you want to meet up!

2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • JandJ92010JandJ92010 Member Posts: 304
    Jenn, my wife and I were considering trying one of the AEP camp areas near Belle Valley, west of I-77. There are 5 of them there. Please let us know how you like the one you are going to. Post some pictures if you can. Thank You.
    The HobbiT@B, 2015-L, towed by a2014 RAM C/V
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  • PlaycPlayc Member Posts: 234
    jenn - thanks for posting your plan (hope others will do also).  While we love to join you, we are newbe in Austin/Houston and deem OH will be a challenge.  We do dream to travel along CA PCH from San Diego to San Fran, Yellow stone, and Rocky Mountain in the next 2 years.

    As we are new to RV, this year we plan just camping in TX.  Our next trip plan is 9/22 to Lake Buchana in the Hill country.  Hope you and/or some LGers can be there also.
    2015 S Sofitel, Austin/Houston
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  • PITPATPITPAT Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2015
    I've camped at several of the AEP campgrounds. Loved Centennial and Sawmill.  
    Be advised that cell service is very spotty. I had to get in car and go to higher ground to get a signal....
    so while I was out I drove on up the road to replenish the ice in cooler :)
    Patty
    Pittsburgh, PA
    2015 T@B CS-S Maxx  being towed by Nissan Pathfinder

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  • jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,394
    PITPAT said:
    I've camped at several of the AEP campgrounds. Loved Centennial and Sawmill.  
    Be advised that cell service is very spotty. I had to get in car and go to higher ground to get a signal....
    so while I was out I drove on up the road to replenish the ice in cooler :)
    Thanks, Patti!

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Jenn - Looks like you'll be testing your weBoost - Give us a report.
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  • jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,394
    edited August 2015
    It's humid! Yuck.

    AEP is nice, except for that bugs. Drove to McConellsville in hopes of finding a thermocell.

    Battery setup is beautiful. Very happy. I left my SAE cable that worked with reversed polarity at home so I swapped the quick disconnect cables and wah-la.

    Zero cell sign at my campsite but Weboost is helping as I scout out the area.


    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    I totally agree with "humidity" opinion.
    I've hauled out the generator to run the a/c just because of the humidity.
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  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    Nice campsite, Jennifer. It's s pleasant morning a state to your west. 

    The humidity dropped yesterday, and I'm sitting in the driveway in my T@B with the windows open, drinking a Coke, listening to the birds, wishing I was camping.

    OK, break is over. No one else is going to install the battery cutoff switch, the surge suppressor and the 50 watt solar panel for trickle charging. Get up and get going, Verna!
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Jenn - Did you manage to find a Thermacell? Took me two weeks and every Walmart in my path to finally find one. By the way, it doesn't have any effect on flies. They just gather around and sing NaaaaNaaaaNaNaaaNaaaa just to mock you.
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  • PlaycPlayc Member Posts: 234
    Searched Amazon "Thermacell" ... which one you pro would recommend?  TIA
    2015 S Sofitel, Austin/Houston
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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Here's the one I got -$19 at Walmart...


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  • jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,394
    The little towns did not have a Walmart, so I struck out. I will be ordering one, soon.

    I probably under-utilized the fan and battery. I had plenty of battery at the end of the weekend. I really only used the fridge, on propane, and the pump sparingly, and would occasionally run the fan in the evening. The battery recharged completely on solar yesterday. I am a little confused by the cigarette voltmeter. If I ran the fan, the battery reads would drop Dow to around 12.48 and then jump back up when I tired it off. Other than keep getting up to turn off the fan and check the reading, how can you tell what your real current status is? Not sure if that made sense or not.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    Yes, if you are using something while only using battery power, the voltage will drop, but the voltage will come back up when you stop using the item.

    It happened on the SS and it happens on the T@B. Michigan Mike can give the technical reason for that when he gets back. I just go by what the voltage is when the "stuff" that is going to run all the time is on. I used a battery operated fan a lot in AZ because I knew the Fantastic Fan used too much energy for my solar panel to recharge the battery before sundown. I used the FF sparingly, if at all. 

    Rocky looks happy!  And it looks like you got s good campsite. Have fun. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Jenn - Get a chance to try your cell booster?
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  • jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,394
    Yes. I drove up the hill and had a week 3g service. Couldn't even get a website to load. I used the booster and got a fast enough connection to upload to Instagram. I was using the regular magnetic mount antenna.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Ahhhh - I've yet to hit a long enough stretch to test it. 
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  • gilbutlergilbutler Member Posts: 169
    Jenn, I missed earlier discussions and haven't had luck with searches. Which cell booster did you get, why, and are you satisfied.  Any information would be appreciated.

    Gil
    Gil Butler, Folsom, CA, 2015 T@B M@XX CS - White with Yellow tim
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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    edited August 2015
    I'll interject - We both have the weBoost - think Julie does also. I started a thread for it a couple weeks ago... http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1534/cell-phone-booster#latest
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  • jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,394
    Here are more details on my setup: http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1359/when-you-cant-get-away-from-it-all/p1

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • gilbutlergilbutler Member Posts: 169
    PX and Jenn, Thank you both.  Now, back to topic.
    Gil Butler, Folsom, CA, 2015 T@B M@XX CS - White with Yellow tim
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  • NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Yes sir :-)
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  • PITPATPITPAT Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2015
    Hi Jenn....which of the AEP campgrounds did you use?  What did you think..pros and cons?

     It turned out to be a glorious weekend at Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool, Ohio. Park Ranger said it has been pretty empty all summer up to this past week's long stretch of sunshine.  Friday night people started arriving by droves!

    I definitely recommend sites # 21, 22, and 23. Level, shady & wooded and very deep sites, dropping off to the valley below. Only noise was from coyotes howling back and forth to each other. Only 45 minutes from Pittsburgh.
    Patty
    Pittsburgh, PA
    2015 T@B CS-S Maxx  being towed by Nissan Pathfinder

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  • jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,394
    edited August 2015
    PITPAT said:
    Hi Jenn....which of the AEP campgrounds did you use?  What did you think..pros and cons?

     It turned out to be a glorious weekend at Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool, Ohio. Park Ranger said it has been pretty empty all summer up to this past week's long stretch of sunshine.  Friday night people started arriving by droves!

    I definitely recommend sites # 21, 22, and 23. Level, shady & wooded and very deep sites, dropping off to the valley below. Only noise was from coyotes howling back and forth to each other. Only 45 minutes from Pittsburgh.
    Patti, I took your advice and went to Sawmill and grabbed the second site in the right. There was no one else in the sites around me, so it was dead quiet. Overall, it was a good experience. The bugs were really bad the first night and it was fairly hot and humid, so maybe not the best weekend to boondocks. I will try Beaver Creek some time!

    Pros:
    Tons of sites spread out over numerous campgrounds.
    Free!!
    Quiet. I was told campground "C" was the rowdiest campground and that it is often much busier at most of the campgrounds.
    You could stay for up to 3 months.
    Year-round camping at some campgrounds.
    Friendly campers
    Big sites
    Not many rules, pet friendly
    Water available
    Bathrooms available but I did not use.
    Fairly remote for Ohio
    Gravel roads were in great shape
    Trash cans, picnic tables, fire rings at sites

    Cons:
    Bugs
    Some might consider dry camping a con
    No stores or services close by
    No cell service at Sawmill. Decent 3g close by at the overlook.

    Here is a hyperlapse video of the campground:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CblfJWXWzqc&feature=youtu.be

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    Well, Jenn, I finally looked it up. "AEP" are free campgrounds in Ohio. Cool!  There sure are a lot of them. Indiana has few free campsites. I might have to try those campgrounds on the way to next year's Tearstock. Thanks.
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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  • ChanWChanW Member Posts: 3,161
    Looks like fun Jenn!

    Didn't know about AEP.

    Thanks!
    Chan  -  near Buffalo NY
    2014 S Maxx
    2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah! 

     A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
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