New Purchase

We spent most of the summer looking for just the right travel trailer to purchase for our family. After combing thru many many different kind of RV's.......we decided upon this one: Open Range Roamer RT303BHS. Here is fun 360 view of one on their website: 360 VIEW and their website: Open Range

Lots of fun RV to look at on their site.

Here is the decal on the window of our coach. It's just a decal-you can see outside(it's a window)but you can't see in(unless lights on at night). Pretty cool! We ended up liking Open Range/just cuz their coaches seem so upscale without the upscale price tag. The decor was right up my ally. This model was the compromise we had been looking for in a Travel Trailer. We had to go with a TT instead of getting a Fifth Wheel(which we would of liked). Our truck we just got wasn't able to pull a fifth wheel. It was only rated to pull certain weight. We only have a half ton truck/and to pull a 5th wheel You have to have a big 3/4 truck with heavy duty engine. This TT works for us/for the weight but still is 33ft long/for space. It's pretty long..........yikes! something we will have to get use to. We were looking at various bunk style RV's. This one seem to have what we needed for space and yet have plenty of sleeping space/and lounge space.



See how super LONG this camper is/blocks our whole driveway up/we will be putting in a new garage for it as soon as we can. Straight back from where it is parked in this photo will be putting up another garage just to fit the RV. Have to knock down some trees but it should work(space wise). We can't keep it parked in this spot. The neighbors will have a fit-LOL-and we have to get into our other garage.
This area was what sold us on this model. We looked at many bunkhouse style RV's and this was the ONLY ONE we saw that had swivel rockers and a couch/dinette area along with being a bunkhouse style. Very rare...cuz the bunk space takes up alot of the room in the RV. We looked at many nice bunkhouse area RV's but the one thing they lacked was space in the RV/especially in the master bedroom area. We didn't need that much bunks(since we only have one child). Most had 3 or 4 bunks. This one had one bunk and a jiffy couch that folds down to a futon type bed. Works for us!!! Aaron still has room for guests and the lounge space in the front also turns into sleeping space(dinette, and couch). The couch has a full size air bed. Pretty cozy! So this coach sleeps 7 or 8 people.
I love this space.......the little lamp and table/and swivel rockers.

A nice size table(fits 3 really well) and it's a good place to eat Mac-n-cheese.
The cushions can be made into a bed/and also have storage underneath the cushions for things. This is a U shaped dinette area.
The kitchen where I had to compromise the most. I wasn't thrilled with the amount of space the kitchen had for storage. It's a nice looking kitchen but it didn't have a full size pantry on my wish list. It does have one of those pull out pantry good for small things. The counter space wasn't the best either. I have some solutions in mind tho. I think it will be just fine. As long as I add a wheeled cart/for extra storage. Their is room in this RV for a extra kitchen cart(under the TV area). Really tho, there wasn't too many kitchens in RV that are roomy(LOL). There is only so much room right?


The bedroom was one of the biggest reason we decided upon the 303. The space was so nice/most of the master bedrooms we previously seen-were no joke-Doug's feet would of hit the wall. It was so cluster phobic bedrooms. This one has decent room space and the double doors entry/makes it feel like a suite. Lots of storage-full size closet and some shirt closets and the entire beds lifts up on gas shocks for storage underneath the bed. It's easy to lift up and it stays lifted til you push it down. Nice!!!
I bought some linens for the beds........couldn't resist getting some cozy linens right away. This is my kind of camping!!!!! The mattress that the RV had was AWFUL. So instead of spending alot/on a new one/we just added a 2 inch foam pad/with a 2 inch pillow/fluffy topper. Did the trick/very comfy now.

Here is Aaron's spot. Pretty nice spot for him. He has his bunk. The bunk flips up so you can use the jiffy couch for extra seating in the coach(when not using the bunk). The jiffy couch folds down as a futon style bed if need more sleeping space. I ended up getting Aaron some bedding too/Bobby Jack. I thought the monkey was cute!!! Apparently bobby jack is more for girls but I like this green/blue bedding/and it looks more boyish to me. Aaron also has his own TV space and closet and cubby's(I didn't get a pix of that but it's on the 360 view).

Of course, the potty room. It's the bare basics! We won't be spending too much time in this space. Hopefully, the state parks will have nice baths and we won't have to use our ummmm......toilet room too much. Ha! It's small but what isn't in a RV? I like that it had a porcelain potty tho/that is nice. No plastic potty!

We can't wait to get out and camp now. Not much camping season left but our RV is 4 season. Meaning we can go /in pretty cold weather.

So far the only thing we did was camping in the yard. Doug had to fix all that wasn't right with it at first. Like the sound system was wired wrong. We have TV but it wasn't in the RV when I took the pixs. We will not store it in the RV/when not in use. Same for all the valuables. They remove easy and set up easy enough. Will use them in our home while were not camping. The camper had a surround sound system/that is pretty cool for watching Movies and music. Once Doug fixed it that is. LOL!
Open Range Forum Gallery(see if you can spot our RV):

Gallery

Camping Photos

Just some more extra photos of our camping on The Northshore. Enjoy and TFL!

Northshore Camping Trip

Aaron's first official camping trip we decided should be on the Minnesota's beautiful Northshore. We booked a spot at Temperance River....one of Minnesota's State Parks. I love this state park. Brings back so many memories as a child we visited the northshore. This is one of those places that I hope will remain a tradition in our family to visit time and time again.

Of course, the biggest reason to visit and why it is my favorite place ..........is Lake Superior. Such a wonderful work of nature. Love , love that lake. The landscape of the Superior's northshore is just the best. We may not have the ocean but this is definitely the next best thing. The land is so beautiful up that way too. Just wonderful nature everywhere. The hiking trails are some of the best in Minnesota. We did some casual hiking since we had a little guy and the dog with us. Mostly at our camp area and some small hiking trails down to the lake.


Here is the Temperance river that runs into Lake Superior. One of many wild streams that run their way into the great lake.

The pixs below is a view of our campsite area and this was the view toward the lake at our camp site area.


This would be our tent......Doug & Aaron & Muffin standing in front of our tent

The inside of our tent with our new cots(see previous post)we bought at Cabela's. Muffin hanging out on my cot. She really knows how to make life awful for everyone when she's not happy. LOL! I think next time we will leave her with my MIL ....she was so very naughty during our camping out. She's not much of a outdoor dog. She had to be next to me at all times too. If she wasn't she would cry and whine the whole time. She is high maintenance doggie.~ha! At one point.......we left her in the tent while we had a bon fire. She hates smoke and thought she would like it better in the tent. Well, that wasn't a good idea....instead of only whining the whole time she also decided to pee on the bed inside the tent. Naughty Shih Tzu!!! She has vengeful tendencies. Ha! What a brat! I was just happy it was Doug's cot and not mine. LOL, LOL, LOL! Yeah, next time she stays HOME!

It gets super cold by the lake......good thing I remembered to bring lots of layering clothing. At night it really was cold. In the 30's the first night. Not to worry we brought our tent heater with and it really made our tent toasty warm. Love that heater! Along with our new cots and the heater........camping was really comfortable this time around. Aaron liked his cot too.

We set up our screen gazebo tent too. I love our screen tent......to picnic with ......makes life alot easier without dealing with the bugs. Although, we did have a family of Chipmunks running around....and they loved our screen tent too. Funny story: I bought some yummy pastries and were in a paper bag. A wind gust must of sent them flying on the ground. The chippie family thought that was a great time......I found the bag....with a hole in it and a big hole in the pastry. Guess they got a yummy treat! Aaron got a chance to learn about the chipmunks. It was all good! He first called them a mouse. We explained to him they were chipmunks and called them chippies. So the entire rest of the time he was obsessed with finding the chippie family. So cute!

We had some good dinners in our picnic set up. The first night we did the "camping thing" and ate hot dogs on the grill. Doug bought this table grill that works great for camping. We were running out of daylight by the time we set up our tents and needed to eat fast. So this grill heats up so fast and we had instant hot dog supper. Now for the rest of our camping eats..........well we were such lame campers. We ate like kings and queens of the campground. Ok, the next pix below will explain that statement better.
Here we are: not only is Temperance River our favorite area but it's near our favorite place of all time. Tofte, MN ......and the Coho Cafe. It's our favorite places to eat on the northshore. It's part of Bluefin Bay Resort and they have a little cafe. I think we ordered our Breakfast, lunch, Dinner the whole time we camped. The Coho has the best pastries, pizza and sandwiches. Let's just say we indulged while we were up that way. Why not? we never get that way too often and might as well have fun. Right? Needless to say I need a diet now after all those eats.

We did some casual hiking in our camp area and their was so many of these cute butterflies all over the place. Here is one on a dandelion.

Here is a pix of Aaron and I on one of the trails that goes down to the lake.

Here is Doug and Aaron down at the lake at the bottom of the trail. A great place to stop and take photo. Love this pix!

Mommy and Aaron pix.................next to our gazebo tent. I got my camping hat on & so does Aaron.

On our way back home.....we stopped in Duluth, Minnesota by Canal Park. It was such a beautiful day and we left so early we had time to run around and check out the boats and the lift bridge by the waterfront.

When we got to the lift bridge.....the sail boat was going thru...and Aaron absolutely had a great time watching the bridge lift. IT makes a loud ring when it's about to lift.

Aaron runs around the house now.....saying, "ring, ring, ring" and pretends the bridge is lifting. Kids have such fun imaginations!

A pix below of Aaron and Doug in front of the lift bridge as the sail boat passes by.

Did you notice my banner? Well, here is the pix I had to make my recent banner. Love the pix of the lighthouse at Canal Park. Thought it looked Cheery for a summer photo banner.

Just another photo by the lift bridge this time it's Muffin the "Cheery Shih Tzu" with me.