I had the Backpack sitting on a utility trailer out of the truck for a while now but yesterday I backed it in the garage and set the jacks down and pulled the trailer out from under the camper and then lowered it down to where the black / gray cleanout was just off the concrete floor.

It's still on shore power but I will cut the power and remove the battery cables for the winter sleep. I winterized it but I didn't have to, the garage is heated.

My previous camper, a Lance hardside was way too tall to get inside the garage. The Backpack SS1500 fits nicely, I knew it would, one reason it was either a Palomino or an Alaskan. The Palomino won out, both in initial cost and proximity to the factory. I'm 2 hours maximum from the builder. Makes it nice for parts and assistance.

Year around outside storage is very hard on any camper. I plan on leaving it inside until late next spring.

Going to do some over winter mods. All LED lights on the outside, markers, tail and stop and porch light will all be LED (the interior lights came LED from the factory), 2 knee wall access doors (went to the factory) and had them sell me 2 interior cabinet doors that match the cabinetry plus they sheared 2 matching sheets of exterior aluminum textured skin material I will bond to the doors so when I cut the openings and install the doors, the backsides will match the exterior textured aluminum skin of the unit. Palomino even gave me correct matching hardware for each door...

Going to add a second deep cycle battery (have a place under the dinette seat) and a 200 watt Renology solar panel setup with a charge controller.

A reverse switch on the Fantastic Fan and a bigger, quieter and better 12 volt Shur-Flow water pump. The one that came with the unit, I can pee harder and at my age (67) that ain't saying much.

I've already added a Carefree Campout Bag Awning to the OEM awning rail and I have the wood to build my bed access ladder.

I sorely need the knee wall access doors. I always utilized the space between the camper knee wall and the truck bed sides for my tools, chainsaw, portable winch and extra fuel with the Lance so this year was an exercise in creative packing. The access doors will eliminate that issue.

Truck wise, I'm moving my spare to the front of the truck from under the back. Adding a Class 5 receiver hitch to the front to accept a Curt tire carrier (and my portable winch if necessary). New Warn premium lock out hubs, new radiator hoses, upper and lower, a new serpentine belt and a new belt tensioner.

More than once, I've used the front tow hooks with the Lewis Winch and a snatch block but wished I had a frame mount receiver up front that I could pin the winch too directly. I will have that by spring. The receiver hitch will be a custom weldment in as much as my front suspension is completely reworked so the OEM spring hangers and frame ends aren't there anymore.

I have a fun (busy) winter coming...after hunting season of course.

If I could only post some pictures, it's a pretty neat rig for an old man like me...

Sounds like you stay well prepared for outings. I must admit, storing any of my toys for winter is a foreign concept to me. I guess living in California has some advantages. My neighbor just finished construction of a 2000 square foot free standing garage for his toys. He was the immediate envy of every guy in the tract, myself included. Maybe some day I can build a huge man cave for toys and if that ever happens I am sure I will be out there tweaking and fussing over them like you probably do.

I just got mine installed back on my truck this week. Most of my use is in fall & early spring so I've been cleaning it up for the past couple of months. Getting ready for deer hunting now, & I may do a week or two of fall crappie fishing with my brother at a local lake. Wife & I will also do a few weeks in March or April next year crappie fishing. The Sun-Lite camper is our 'base camp' for these activities. The self contained toilet & the furnace make it nice when we hafta spend time inside. A small 'ceramic cube' electric heater is nice when we camp where we have electric hook-ups. Finally got my new avatar up (couldn't get it to load from my computer so I had to 'host' it somewhere else) but figured I'd post a pic of the rig. Still needs washing oun the outside but it's pretty nice inside...

I'd sure like to know how to post a picture...or 5 or so. Just won't let me....

Nice outfit. I just got back from hunting a few hours ago but I motel it. Zip. Too warm yet. Saw 2 nice does out of range (was bow hunting but I'll be gun hunting in 2 weeks...

I am not sure where you guys hunt but I just returned from Bend, Oregon 1 week ago and saw three nice thick bucks in the beds of pick up trucks. While my wife and I were away from the main hwys I had to slow way down numerous times on small service roads because of 2 to 5 deer groupings next to the road. We did not see any bucks though, except for those three in trucks. Good luck this season.

I also couldn't 'upload' pix from my computer to the forum (couldn't even change my avatar, had to use an off-site host for my pix). I use photobucket to host my pix, then copy & paste the pic URL to my posts in the forum to add pix to my posts. We hunt whitetails in SW Arkansas. Modern gun season opens Nov 10 & I plan to be there barring some disaster. Missed last year 'cause of ill health & family problems. We have a small family/friends club & camp 'bout 90miles from home. Usually spend a few days there 'til near T'giving. May hafta cut it short again this year, wife has eye surgery this Wed. Supposed to be minor but depends on how she heals up. When you get to our age (late 70s, early 80s) doesn't take a lot to upset the best laid plans...