|
10-14-2014, 09:29 PM
|
#1
|
Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ontario
Posts: 304
|
Ending our first year camping.
It was an overwhelming success, we spent 27 nights in the trailer from May to August. We traveled to 3 states and one province towing just over 2000km. The plan was to stay close to home no more than 4hrs of driving and to go for 3-4 days at a time. It worked perfectly we never arrived home tired from the drive and my company didn't go off the rails while I was away.
We had two issues which is pretty good in my opinion for a first year.
Issue 1: My Avalanche just wasn't up to the task of pulling the trailer up long grades on a 90 degree day, the $1300 repair bill I got the week after we returned from Watkins Glen proved that. It was replaced by "big truck" was my 2 year old call it.
Issue 2: upon returning from a trip to Lake Chapman in PA I noticed the corner of our skylight sticking up from the roof. There was only a single screw holding the corner down and it had pulled free. 3 more screws and some self leveling fixed that problem.
Best Money Spent: it's a tie between the new truck and the anderson levellers.
Biggest waste of $: LED bulbs, I've tried three different sets of bulbs and the light is always seems to be too focused rather than warming a large area.
We made so many great memories this year, it's sad that we didn't get to use it at all this fall but my company has never been so busy and we welcomed a baby boy to the family a few weeks ago so our free time is somewhat limited.
2015 is coming together nicely now, we are back to Jellystone WNY in May, Watkins Glen the end of June and then just today I booked 7 days at Castaways in Ocean City MD for mid July our first beach vacation.
As for the 5er we borrowed for a weekend it was amazing, just not us. I felt guilty pulling into the site and it seemed like people were reluctant to talk to us. It was just too flashy for us at the moment, but probably perfect in a few more years.
__________________
2014.5 Sunset Trail ST290QB
2011 F350 KR 6.7 CC SRW
|
|
|
10-14-2014, 09:50 PM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 5,728
|
Great year end wrap-up. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Time to start planing for next year. Have a good off season.
__________________
Mark & Susan
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
EAGLE HT FIFTH WHEEL | 30.5CKTS - '13 Ford F150 SCREW - PullRite Superslide - Roadmaster Active Suspension
Member - "Northeast Adventures RV Rally Group" & "Mason-Dixon Bunch"
|
|
|
10-15-2014, 04:38 AM
|
#3
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2,774
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coopers_dad
2015 is coming together nicely now, we are back to Jellystone WNY in May, Watkins Glen the end of June and then just today I booked 7 days at Castaways in Ocean City MD for mid July our first beach vacation.
|
Dad
Watkins Glen KOA, been there twice very nice campground. You will also like Castaways. Both campgrounds are very nice and I would recomend them to any one who would ask about them...
When in Ocean City (Castaways) ask about the "park & ride" it will save you a lot of aggravation...
__________________
Rosie & Tommy
Coatesville Pa.
2017 Ford F350 Lariat Power Stoke DW
2022 Alliance Avenue 32RLS
In God We Trust
A proud member of the one percent...Semper Fi
|
|
|
10-15-2014, 06:51 AM
|
#4
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 581
|
Sounds like you had a great year. We only spent maybe 10 or 12 nights in ours this summer. I didn't get it back from the storm repairs until late May, and it has been a busy summer with work. We just got back from a nice long weekend in the mountains, though, and I hope to go out at least twice more before I winterize it. Congrats on the new young 'un!
__________________
Mike in Tennessee
2007 Cruiser 30QB
2008 Ford F250 Lariat 4x4 6.4 Powerstroke
Valley 16K slider
Ride-Rite air bags
|
|
|
10-15-2014, 09:55 AM
|
#5
|
Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 130
|
It's always satisfying to read about someone else enjoying the lifestyle as much as we do!
__________________
2015 Sunset Trail Reserve ST33BD
2014 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4X4
|
|
|
10-15-2014, 04:43 PM
|
#6
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: , RI
Posts: 1,164
|
Excellent year many great memories for you folks.
We had a wonderful travel year. Cross country and back 3 months focusing on National Parks. We then setteled in Vermont for the month of Sept. This is a beautuful country and those of us who travel and camp have an inside track to enjoy it.
Our rig has been super and now has over 20,000 travel miles. We are just beginning the Journey!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love hearing about how we all enjoy RV camping and all it has to offer.
Go Well All!
__________________
Al Laura (Lily & Breeze Portie Girls)
2011 F250 6.7 PS Tuxedo Black 4x4
11 305SKP- TPMS- RideRite air bags
Reese 16K Slider Wet Bolts
|
|
|
10-15-2014, 05:37 PM
|
#7
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Winchester, ON
Posts: 1,177
|
Congrats on the new addition! You are creating memories for the little ones that they will cherish the rest of their lives. Our daughter so fondly remembered our camping outings when she was little that she now owns a fifth wheel and takes her girls camping. Sometimes we even go together - Grandpa & Grandma with their trailer and Mommy with her trailer.
As retired folks we now get to do a lot more camping. We actually spend about 50% of our time in the trailer, we even live in it for 3 - 4 months in Florida in the winter.
There's no like like it! The best part of traveling with an RV is that no matter where you are located, you're home.
__________________
2012 Cruiser Sahara 330SS
2015 F250 Super Duty diesel
|
|
|
10-16-2014, 04:27 PM
|
#8
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 660
|
Glad you guys had a fun and safe camping season. We also hope to go a couple more times this fall and congrats on the new addition to the family.
__________________
Chris & Karen- Heyworth, Illinois
2009 CF32BL pulled by a 2011 RAM 2500 CTD 4x4
PullRite Superglide 18K hitch
2015stats:
Nights: 28
Miles: 3245
|
|
|
10-16-2014, 06:34 PM
|
#9
|
Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ontario
Posts: 304
|
Thanks everyone, just got 3 jugs of winter antifreeze for Saturday so the season is over for us. Still we had so many great adventures, more than enough to keep us excited and planning for next year. I bought my daughter a US east coast road map so we can plan our routes together. It's her job to make sure the trailer is still behind us and now she will be able to follow on the map. ��
__________________
2014.5 Sunset Trail ST290QB
2011 F350 KR 6.7 CC SRW
|
|
|
10-17-2014, 08:33 AM
|
#10
|
Seasonal Camper
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ohio
Posts: 255
|
Thanks for sharing. I love reading this type of reports. Good or bad.
__________________
Gary & Angela - Kilo & Sierra (K9s) Southwest Ohio
2000 GMC Sierra - 2014 Z1 ZT211RD
2015 - 28 Nights - 2248.4 miles.
2014 - 47 Nights - 1445.8 miles.
2013 - 44 Nights - 2154.8 miles.
|
|
|
10-18-2014, 11:34 AM
|
#11
|
Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: NW Illinois
Posts: 163
|
Its over
I like the OPs post. We are done and winterized it was sad.
It was our first year and we camped in 4 different states and probably spent about 30 days in our camper. Our biggest hiccups were newbie items - frozen water line, running out of propane, etc.
I have never towed before and would say I am very comfortable backing now. Towing was hair raising the first time, now it is fine.
Best money spent - The trailer, have had a lot of good family fun. The next would be a folding bike.
Biggest manufacture issue was the black tank flush hose was kinked, a $1 plastic elbow fixed it.
Biggest waste - I bought a portable campfire to use with propane. Have had a fire everywhere we went with real wood.
LED- I would recommend these upgrades. The power draw is reduced enough to keep the power invertor fan off unlike when I used regular bulbs. But the toughest is to find the correct type. I bought some that were too low, but they are perfect for the bunk and bed night lights. I did find some much brighter and perfect for my use, will need to get some more. (thanks to other posters on here)
Overall I am very happy with the trailer in its design and manufacture. There were many little things the dealer never pointed out that I later found. These were all good things and very beneficial.
I cannot wait until next year.
__________________
2014 ST270BH
2015 Ram 1500 V8
|
|
|
10-19-2014, 05:36 AM
|
#12
|
Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 183
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robb
It's always satisfying to read about someone else enjoying the lifestyle as much as we do!
|
This sums it up well.
__________________
Ted
2013 Sunset Trail 31BH
|
|
|
10-21-2014, 08:21 AM
|
#13
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: VA
Posts: 1,723
|
Just finished my first year with a trip to Talladega. Winterized it as we packed up to leave for home. Took it out on 5 trips for 24 nights in 3 states. Towed it 2,426 miles.
__________________
2013 Silverado 2500HD LTZ CC 6.6L Duramax Diesel
2023 Rockwood 2445WS
Buster, miniature Dachshund
2024: 2 trips, 26 nights in 8 states, 4801 miles
2023: 9 trips, 48 nights in 12 states, 2 provinces, 8120 miles
2019: 7 trips, 43 nights in 6 states, 3904 miles
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|