Getting Ready For Long Haul.....

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   Well the first really nice (no wind) 50+ degree day and I thought now was a good time to go "try out" all the new toys I have collected for the winter. We are preparing for our 4,250 miles from from New Hampshire to New Mexico in under a month. We are very excited (and nervous) as this is the longest trip I have ever taken. I have flown to Miss. but that was in a plane and required no thought or planning. 

Our dealer, Traffords RV of Conway, NH put our trailer up for the season on their large storage lot above the sales lot. They returned it to it's spot after changing the axles out this past week (looks great, no more odd angles to the tires!!!) 

I brought along some of my new toys:

Champion 4K Genny

Porter Cable pancake 6 gal air compressor

Two BAL chock locks

60" alum. bunk ladder with docking station

Multi-tip interchangable drive set

Garmin 255W GPS

The camper was sitting proud ontop of the lot in a row of Carriages (talk about $$$$) and I re-installed the deep cycle battery. I fired up the genny (2nd pull after sitting for a month) and connected the camper. I put out the slides and all was well. From inside the Champion is a mere hummmmmmmm and it ran everything well.

I tried installing the bunk ladder but the dealerships supplier sent the wrong one, instead of the docking station it was the plain-Jane "hook" and it didn't work. No harm no foul, the dealership re-ordered the correct one for us.

The BAL locks fit nicely and the included racheting drive is nice. I really think these work great - as I snooped around the camper the kids used the bunk room to give them a good try out!!!!!! They jumped around and all seemed secure and stable. I would like to install a front jack stab. system eventually to take care of the side to side rocking that occurs.

I didn't get to try the new drive as it was going to be used to install previously mentioned bunk ladder!!!!!

I found nothing out of the ordinary in the camper, although the wild swings in temp's have put some condensation on the roof vent covers, so I partially opened the roof vents to help the camper "breathe" a bit more. No sign of Mickey (or Minney) mouse which is always good news. No obvious leaks, cracks, damage or otherwise unwanted winter issues we can have up here. (knocking heavily on wood!!!!!)

Any advice any of you fine folks can offer for us prior to our trip would be graciously accepted as we "think" we have everything. The Garmin got us to the dealership and I loved the accuracy and "spoken" street names and directions.

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mwebber78 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 1383	Post Options Post Reply Quote mwebber78 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Getting Ready For Long Haul..... Posted: 15 Mar 2009 at 7:45pm
	Well the first really nice (no wind) 50+ degree day and I thought now was a good time to go "try out" all the new toys I have collected for the winter. We are preparing for our 4,250 miles from from New Hampshire to New Mexico in under a month. We are very excited (and nervous) as this is the longest trip I have ever taken. I have flown to Miss. but that was in a plane and required no thought or planning. Our dealer, Traffords RV of Conway, NH put our trailer up for the season on their large storage lot above the sales lot. They returned it to it's spot after changing the axles out this past week (looks great, no more odd angles to the tires!!!) I brought along some of my new toys: Champion 4K Genny Porter Cable pancake 6 gal air compressor Two BAL chock locks 60" alum. bunk ladder with docking station Multi-tip interchangable drive set Garmin 255W GPS The camper was sitting proud ontop of the lot in a row of Carriages (talk about $$$$) and I re-installed the deep cycle battery. I fired up the genny (2nd pull after sitting for a month) and connected the camper. I put out the slides and all was well. From inside the Champion is a mere hummmmmmmm and it ran everything well. I tried installing the bunk ladder but the dealerships supplier sent the wrong one, instead of the docking station it was the plain-Jane "hook" and it didn't work. No harm no foul, the dealership re-ordered the correct one for us. The BAL locks fit nicely and the included racheting drive is nice. I really think these work great - as I snooped around the camper the kids used the bunk room to give them a good try out!!!!!! They jumped around and all seemed secure and stable. I would like to install a front jack stab. system eventually to take care of the side to side rocking that occurs. I didn't get to try the new drive as it was going to be used to install previously mentioned bunk ladder!!!!! I found nothing out of the ordinary in the camper, although the wild swings in temp's have put some condensation on the roof vent covers, so I partially opened the roof vents to help the camper "breathe" a bit more. No sign of Mickey (or Minney) mouse which is always good news. No obvious leaks, cracks, damage or otherwise unwanted winter issues we can have up here. (knocking heavily on wood!!!!!) Any advice any of you fine folks can offer for us prior to our trip would be graciously accepted as we "think" we have everything. The Garmin got us to the dealership and I loved the accuracy and "spoken" street names and directions.
	Mike 2013 Jayco Eagle 334RBTS Crossroads Forum Lurker

cruzr4-2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Family Vacation Camper Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Location: Ridgefield, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 162	Post Options Post Reply Quote cruzr4-2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Mar 2009 at 8:08pm
	Sounds like a great trip. We took a nice long trip last summer to your fine state, then south to Va. and back west to Wa. State with our Cruiser and Garmin. Both worked great. The trip was completely trouble free. The Garmin was a great help for us. Take your time, 300-400 mi. max. per day and enjoy. Dennis
	Dennis & Sharon 2005 F250 Power Stroke Crew Cab 2006 Cruiser CF29RE

mwebber78 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 1383	Post Options Post Reply Quote mwebber78 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Mar 2009 at 8:11pm
	Well thank you for visiting. We do love hosting people in this state and sharing our coastline!! Thanks for the encouragement and come back to visit soon!
	Mike 2013 Jayco Eagle 334RBTS Crossroads Forum Lurker

cruzr4-2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Family Vacation Camper Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Location: Ridgefield, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 162	Post Options Post Reply Quote cruzr4-2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Mar 2009 at 8:25pm
	As far as the garmin, we found our way through larger cities by programing a town or land mark further down the road. Jill, the voice on ours, would tell us which way the next exit or ramp was in plenty of time to change lanes if needed and we could even locate some camp grounds on our route. We were very glad we had it. We visited Bangor, Bahaba, Camden. and of course Acadia Nat Park and we did sample lobster rolls. Dennis
	Dennis & Sharon 2005 F250 Power Stroke Crew Cab 2006 Cruiser CF29RE

mwebber78 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 1383	Post Options Post Reply Quote mwebber78 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Mar 2009 at 9:05pm
	I'm trying to figure out how to load POI's using the POI loader. You can upload a KOA and truck stop list. I haven't had any good success getting this to work yet.
	Mike 2013 Jayco Eagle 334RBTS Crossroads Forum Lurker

mbinohio Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Location: Amherst, Ohio Status: Offline Points: 644	Post Options Post Reply Quote mbinohio Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 4:39am
	to help with your moisture problem what i do is to leave the vent in the bathroom open, our vents are all covered the vent in the bathroom has not been closed since I bought the camper it stays open all year in all kinds of weather, including all winter, and I live in a snow belt area right off Lake Erie, we have never had any condsation problems and I have never had any snow or rain inside, it keeps the air moving and eliminated the problem, just make sure you prop your stool room door open, it will end your problem...
	2006 Paradise Pointe 35SL 2004 Ford F-350 CC dually 4X4

mwebber78 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 1383	Post Options Post Reply Quote mwebber78 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 5:46am
	Thanks, it's now open. Hopefully it will help with the wild temp. swings!! :)
	Mike 2013 Jayco Eagle 334RBTS Crossroads Forum Lurker

cwit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Status: Offline Points: 1901	Post Options Post Reply Quote cwit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 6:12am
	Hi Mike the Garmin is the best envestment you can make for traveling ,your going to like it we use our tom tom on every trip. Have a safe trip, believe your garmin and see you this fall.


csham Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Location: Near Pittsburgh Status: Offline Points: 667	Post Options Post Reply Quote csham Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 7:28am
	Mike, Make sure you set the Garmin to Truck Routing. This will help to avoid areas not truck, or in our case RV, friendly. Have a great trip.
	Chris & Ruth Samantha (8/97), Tara (6/03), Erica (1/07) 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 2007 Sunset Trail ST30BH

Old Farmer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Full Time Camper Joined: 26 Dec 2007 Location: WI. Status: Offline Points: 2300	Post Options Post Reply Quote Old Farmer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 11:20am
	Sounds like a wonderful trip! Take your time and enjoy whats on the way. After all, that's part of the trip too. The previous stated mileage per day was pretty right on.
	08 CF26RK 2013 Ford f150 Eco Boost Reese Select 16K