Head West not so young Man

[wngsprd]

thanks. I threw my back out yesterday. I now have a back brace on, plus a soft collar, a right wrist band and a left arm band. /QUOTE]

Sorry to hear of this. Hope today's final (and long) drive doesn't make you feel worse. I know getting home (and back on your L5740) will make you feel better.

 

[daugen]

home safe and sound. When i find the camera I'll check for pics.
yeah, the lawn needs mowing. The lawn service cuts it much higher than I do, might go for a little runaround on the mower.
although after getting up at 4am and leaving at 6:30am, ready for a nap... yes hitting DC Beltway traffic, got home in 5 1/2 hours when normally it would take 4.
95 isn't in much better shape than the Pa turnpike, and good lord did they charge me on tolls, 26, plus 7 plus 6 just to get to above Philadelphia from below DC.

 

[terryknight]

Glad to hear you made it home safe, sorry about the way it happened.

95 is no good and it's expensive. It's cheaper and not much longer to run up the shore.

 

[daugen]

Glad to hear you made it home safe, sorry about the way it happened.

95 is no good and it's expensive. It's cheaper and not much longer to run up the shore.

boy, agreed. I was coming from the West so I gave this way a try. From the South I absolutely would have, and visited my friend in Delaware on the way up.
if traffic is your thing, just visit DC anytime... what pics I could get are going over the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, as i could not go through either of the two tunnels with propane tanks larger than 10 gallons aboard.

and what a nice surprise and perhaps some consolation to getting home early that the azaleas are in full bloom, the ants are on the peonies, and others are blooming. I missed all the bulbs but now it's time for me to get to work in this garden. And plan for my next trip...

tonight, after making a fresh pot of coffee, I am tackling a huge container of one month's mail. And then make a list for the grocery store tomorrow.
and you know what, the floors in this house are perfectly level! Imagine that...

 

[Green Power]

Daugen- Dorry to hear about your bad experience with Winnebago. Glad you made it home safe. ill be watching for part two.

 

[daugen]

Daugen- Dorry to hear about your bad experience with Winnebago. Glad you made it home safe. ill be watching for part two.

all's well that ends well and I'm doing fine, happy to be home, but then one usually is.

If I or the dealer had reached the "right person" the first time, what a different story I could have told. The truth speaks for itself.
I didn't pitch a hissy fit at the dealer, i could have, but they were too nice to do that to for sure. But by emailing the top guy at Winnebago, or most companies, from my experience, something usually happens. My email to the head of Winnebago told him that his company's reputation was not doing well here and that was not my intention but I referenced this thread. Bingo. Boing boing boing. Action.
My only final issue is whether all the needed parts actually do show up to the dealer in the next few days as promised. They will need to order a windshield for me also.

couple of thoughts

a big thumbs up for Ingles Supermarkets. I went in one for the first time in a suburb East of Asheville, NC and boy
was I impressed. Big place, wide aisles, nicely arranged displays. And their store brand was excellent. Lastly, it seemed less expensive than home here in
PA. Maybe ten or fifteen percent less. I was sure impressed.

A big thumbs down for DC Beltway drivers. Truly insane people racing in and out of lanes, driving very quickly, easily twenty plus over the limit in heavy traffic.
Fast movers, in their own self estimation, and they would like you to get out of their way. Further South, folks simply did not drive that fast, almost anywhere I went. Now I'm sure around Atlanta or other urban areas you might get the traffic weavers, but at least two cars I saw today looked like they were doing this just for entertainment once the traffic opened up from the construction and congestion jams.

Partial thumbs up for professional truckers. Most stayed way back and many were enjoyable to watch, as they went by, since I was usually slower. But it sure looks like the texting/phone stuff is getting out of hand there too because I saw a lot of tail wagging and line crossing from truckers clearly not being driven by someone paying attention to their driving. And not wind either, I think it's talking or texting on the phone.

lastly, I sure liked being called "hun" by the waitresses down South. Just the way I remembered it, and it's nice to see some traditions that have not yet expired.
Just seems plain friendly to me, and genuine.

 

[Larro Darro]

Drew, there is no place like home. Glad you got back in one piece.

I went up to Great Lakes when I was in the Navy, and as a southern boy, I was used to everyone being nice to you. In the south, even people that don't like you are rarely rude. Boy was I in for some culture shock. It didn't help that I was a sailor. I saw a sign in one man's yard that said, 'dogs and sailors, keep off the grass.' As I later learned from exposure to many, many sailors, he probably was just trying to save his lawn.

Anyway, take it easy for a few days, then get you some seat time.

Larro

 

[daugen]

about to put my back brace back on and finish unloading the rv. got most out yesterday, what a chore...Street level is down almost a flight from the front door, then much of it goes upstairs or downstairs. So boy am I getting some exercise. Which is good, still have a few hushpuppies stuck to my sides...

forgot to post this, lugging done, I am a sweat ball but happy the stuff is out. Boy that rv should scoot right along on Monday when it goes back to the dealer.

Have an appt with the dealer sales mgr on Friday about selling the rv and buying a fifth wheel. He will be in a rush, I am in none, same old same old.
Interesting that he said his biggest month was December. Christmas bonuses buying rvs? I would never have guessed that. Families with kids in school leave in late June for their rv holidays so like houses I think my timing is fine.

 

[caver]

Possibly last years models being discounted to make room for next years. I bought my last new TT in December.

 

[MacLawn]

I've seen a few truckers texting while driving! Them boys need to be fired.

Amen to Ingles! Don't have one near me, but love that store! Also Publix!

Well daug, it is good to be home. But, we do miss ye travels.

 

[ultrarunner]

Back just in time for Spring...

 

[daugen]

Back just in time for Spring...

and in time to plant tomatoes and maybe a potato or two.
for every lost opportunity, there is one gained.

taking my last ride with the motorhome today, I hope anyway assuming they sell it. I've been looking forward to this ride, for many reasons..., but no weight in the rv, no tow vehicle, should be an easy drive. I drop it off at Service, walk over to Sales and sign the consigment forms (10% commission: ) and then an old friend will pick me up and we'll grab lunch somewhere. He promised to bring his Porsche Turbo to pick me up, that will be a first for me...

I have some interesting video to look at, finally downloaded the videos from the gopro camera. It wasn't set up right, seems it only went off like a russian accident cam, so every time I banged into a highway bridge bump it shook the rv enough to set off the camera. There is 11 gig of video, and boy I'm zooming along at about triple speed it looks like. May be a while before I can get through them all, but I had to laugh. In the first two, there were both a John Deere dealership and a Kubota one that I passed. The video is pretty high quality. If I find something interesting, I'll post it to YouTube once I figure out how to do that. With FIOS uploading files takes almost no time, so now that I'm not working off wifi, I can play with this.

 

[Pixguy]

So you've decided to go the 5'er route with a diesel PU?

 

[daugen]

So you've decided to go the 5'er route with a diesel PU?

yes. I need a ride that is easier on my body, conventional pickup seating and steering will be much easier on me.
and I missed my dishwasher and washer dryer, so I'm going this route. And may use it as a home if I buy land in NC and build a house.
Excel Limited - Excel RVs
I think the 36GKE with the home style shower. The layout I want is the one with the twin recliners facing the fireplace and the big screen tv.

I had to chuckle, lavish luxury says the marketing, but it's not. All these things feel a bit tinny; at least this one is built relatively more heavily and is guaranteed to be well insulated enough to ten below zero. The weight comes in using solid composite countertops, heavier wood framing, etc. Which is why I realized I not only needed a diesel truck but certainly a dually to pull over 9 tons. I was going to trade my well loved but little used suburban in on a p/u anyway so this all works out.

Not sure when the dealer is going to get another unit in, the last one sold the day I was there. Will find that out today I hope.

 

[wotalota]

Can you test drive or rent something similar before committing? This RV selection business seems to be full of compromises. Two different usages scenarios, one for flexible exploring and the other a temporary home site that would be resold when no longer needed. The big 5th. wheeler looks great for being parked somewhere with all its sliders out and plumbed in for comfortable living. It seems like a lot to be pulling around for touring with overnight stops and spending many days on the road. What about the structural integrity of so many cutouts in the frame should it take a bump?

 

[Depmandog]

Can you test drive or rent something similar before committing? This RV selection business seems to be full of compromises. Two different usages scenarios, one for flexible exploring and the other a temporary home site that would be resold when no longer needed. The big 5th. wheeler looks great for being parked somewhere with all its sliders out and plumbed in for comfortable living. It seems like a lot to be pulling around for touring with overnight stops and spending many days on the road. What about the structural integrity of so many cutouts in the frame should it take a bump?

My thoughts exactly. A 36' 18,000 pounds (plus gear) trailer with a diesel dually isn't exactly a easy relaxing drive. I would hate to see you disappointed with choice number two.

Since it's you by yourself, I would opt for light and nimble....but that's why there are hundreds of choices....we all be different.

 

[daugen]

good points guys, and yes, it's all about compromise.
I thought about getting an 8-9000 pound trailer and just pulling it behind the suburban, but a 26-28 footer does not give me the room I need.
Pretty disappointing trip to the dealer this morning, though the ride was fine. apparently these trailers are special order only, no one stocks them, and the nearest stock unit is in Michigan. Oh, and I can also drive/fly to the factory in Kansas. Well that certainly isn't convenient but I may make a road trip out of it and head out that way.

Might need to look around at other models at this point. Like going to a car dealership and there are cars, no trucks, and trucks are only special order. Huh?
They have 200K motorhomes in the lot, but they won't buy one of these on spec. Don't know how they sell much that way.

 

[KubotainNH]

I've been following this thread for a bit. All I can say is wow to that camper. I like the look of the fireplace but it says electric, I was hoping propane. That is one big unit to haul around. Like the others, I'd hate to see you have buyers remorse.

Geez, central vac, a basement (eh?) and a class 3 hitch to pull something on the back? Good luck with this, I do enjoy this thread.

 

[Depmandog]

Drew

Another custom 5th wheel manufacturer is New Horizons out of Junction City Kansas. They do not have a dealer network, rather are a total custom shop. They do have a series of "ambassadors" listed in their website - owners who have agreed to discuss / allow touring of their units.

One such ambassador has their own website (perhaps they all have - didn't check). I found it compelling reading as they have chronicled their upgrades throughout the years with both RV and their choice of towing vehicle (from F-450 to semi). It sounds like they take their ambassador status seriously, and are continually working with the factory suggesting changes to the list of standard equipment. Their website is: Jack and Danielle Mayer

The company website is: New Horizons RV | Luxury Full Time RV & Custom Fifth Wheels

If nothing else, Junction City KS is on the way to the Excel plant in Smith Center. If you are serious about a road trip, this would appear to be must stop. They have a few used Horizon units - might be an option....if one is keeping tabs on the checkbook register.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've rented large Class C motor homes back when it was about a $100 a day... really enjoyed exploring Western States...

Brother had a Alfa Gold 5th wheel for years... it was his home and had all the comforts of home except for a reduced size tub... he saved a ton of money with it and got a good price when it came time to sell.

It was a monster behind his Ford Pickup... good thing he had 4wd because on several occasions he needed low range!