Devils River State Natural Area TX

[JWL]

We finally made it to Devils River, it was a spur of the moment thing. They had an opening at the site we wanted so we went. It’s usually booked as there are only 7 sites, all are primitive. There is about 29 miles of gravel into the park and the roads are actually rougher in the park. All of that does a good job of keeping the riff raff down. Plus the mile walk from a locked gate down to the river is not for the faint of heart. I also have to say that it is the cleanest park, no make that anywhere, that we have ever stayed! It is kind of a mini Big Bend. And it is only open on weekends.
Part of the spontaneity was due to my newly rigged AC setup for the Hawk Shell and wanted to give it a test. And we did, the days were upper 90’s and nights finally dropped to upper 70’s. The AC was a life saver! We found out talking to the ranger that we and another camper on the upper end were the only ones left in the park.
Sorry for the rotated pics. Can someone tell me how to fix that?

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks for the trip.
How did you run the AC?
Did you use a generator?
Frank

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Sounds like a great trip into an interesting area.

In the Member Support forum there are pinned threads on photo orientation. Give me a PM if you need help.

 

[ski3pin]

Spur of the moment trips are great! Thanks for introducing us to this area.

 

[Jack]

How did you run the AC?

I've looked far and wide for an AC solution. Indeed, how did you do it?

 

[JWL]

I've looked far and wide for an AC solution. Indeed, how did you do it?

Thanks for the trip.
How did you run the AC?
Did you use a generator?
Frank

I’ve been thinking about doing doing this since I got my camper 2 years ago. I got the small driver side window just for doing it but decided with the bed pulled out all the cold air would be down there with the dog. (Not that he would mind) So I put it in the back of the larger passenger side window. I cut a 1\4” piece of plywood to fit the opening then cut an opening the size oh the AC where I wanted it to go. To hold it in place I dug some cheesy cord cleats from some blinds or something out of my junk drawer, bent one end down on each to lock the board in place. I removed two of the screws from the curtain track and screwed the cleats in with those and the same with the curtain tie on the side. I spray painted everything black just to mask it all.
with the AC out I can still use and operate the window and the screen with the board in place. I just open those and slide the AC out, which is strapped down on the bench for transport. I run an extension cord down the side of the truck and into the camper through the turnbuckle door. I cut a heavy piece of foam slightly larger than the door opening, put a slit in it for the extension cord and press that into the door opening to keep bugs out and to insulate.
To run the AC? If there is shore power naturally just plug the cord in, I can run it with my Bluetti EB70s but only for about 3 hours by itself, I hoping if I can increase my solar it might keep up with it. But that is another challenge. So I had to succumb to the hated generator. I dislike them as much as anyone, especially after camping in a NM State Park with a trailer running theirs all night literally right out our back door! So I searched and finally found ALP Propane powered 1000W generator. It is quiet (ish) 50 some decibels and I don’t have to carry extra gas or worry about spilling or smelling gas in the camper or truck. I can use the 10lb tanks from the camper (or you can use a 1lb tank. I left the tank in the compartment and just hooked the tank up with a splitter so I could still use my stove outside and run the AC. My wife said with the AC on you couldn’t even hear the generator outside. I got from 3 PM to 2 AM for 2 nights on one tank plus cooking. I did check with the Ranger checking in and he said I was far enough away at my campsite that the generator would not be a problem as long as it wasn’t a horribly loud one.

 

[JWL]

Sounds like a great trip into an interesting area.

In the Member Support forum there are pinned threads on photo orientation. Give me a PM if you need help.

Thanks! It worked on my last post so I tried to edit and modify the original but no dice. Sorry Y’all.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks! It worked on my last post so I tried to edit and modify the original but no dice. Sorry Y’all.

Your may need to delete the pix from your first post, save and add again after editing the photos on your mobile device.

 

[JWL]

Your may need to delete the pix from your first post, save and add again after editing the photos on your mobile device.

Thanks! Got it this time.
Maybe I should write this down.