The adventure begins

[SheketEchad]

Wow, you've done a lot in a very short time. Nice set up as well. Happy trails to GA, thankfully you weren't on the road THIS week! Look forward to reading your Captain's Logs.

[highdesertranger]

nice review I liked it.

couple of things I want to point out,

if you have a positraction/limited slip/a locker or any other type of traction device on your axle, running 2 different size tires will destroy the axle.

I guess it's ok where you are at but out here in the west you are not allowed to dump your cassette into pit toilets and potta potties. something to keep in mind.

highdesertranger

[cherterr]

Nice thread!

[MG1912]

nice review I liked it.

couple of things I want to point out,

if you have a positraction/limited slip/a locker or any other type of traction device on your axle, running 2 different size tires will destroy the axle.

I guess it's ok where you are at but out here in the west you are not allowed to dump your cassette into pit toilets and potta potties. something to keep in mind.

highdesertranger

Many thanks! I do indeed have the 10.5" Sterling 3L rear axle 3.73 limited slip. The truck camper folks gave me the same info, and we decided we would only put the spare on the front axle (and only in an absolute emergency).

Thanks for the heads-up about proper cassette toilet disposal in the West. I'll remember it!

[MG1912]

Here is an extreme example of how high the step-up into the camper can be. This was the most level location I could find on the pictured field, where I stayed for two days, on top of a hill that dropped off precipitously at the back of the camper. Most locations won't be this bad, but it does illustrate the height. I may soon be looking into an after-market step solution.



In other news, I finally weighed my rig at a CAT scale today, with all of my gear in the truck and camper, a full fresh water tank (40 gallons), a full tank of diesel, and a full cassette toilet reservoir. Front axle is at 4,920 lbs. Rear axle is at 6,760 lbs. That is below my GAWR for each axle (5,000 lbs. and 7,000 lbs. respectively), so that is a huge relief. I'm slightly over the door jamb sticker GVWR, but that was calculated for the weaker, stock 275/70R18 tires. I currently have 295/70R18 tires rated at 4,000 lbs. each. My truck has the Sterling 10.5" axle rated at 9,500 lbs., so I believe I should be fine with the current configuration of the truck and suspension.

[SheketEchad]

You're going to need a grappling hook for that first step! And don't forget at night 0_0

[MG1912]

I’ve now been living in the camper for 2 ½ weeks. I have never owned an RV before, never had a truck, and never lived in a vehicle before. It has been a learning process. I’m glad I’ve taken a few weeks to stay close to family and the camper dealership as I ease into this new lifestyle. Everything is new to me. Yesterday, one of my propane tanks ran out of LP. I’ve never had to deal with propane tanks before. I had done a lot of research ahead of time and knew the solution was to switch the regulator over to the other tank, but I didn’t know how to actually do that. I had to Google it and then, hesitantly, do it. Last night, my batteries dipped to 12.5 volts, and the ZAMP charge controller told me the batteries were half-full. This is the first time I’ve run my batteries down to 50%. I had never plugged a 30 amp RV to a house before, so that was a learning experience. Thankfully, I had a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter. And today, I emptied my Thetford cassette in a public bathroom for the first time. I walked into a Rite-Aid and just asked the manager if she didn’t mind, and then I wheeled my Thetford cassette into the men’s room.

Before I got my truck in July, I had never even changed a tire before. Since then, I’ve jacked the truck up and taken all of the tires on and off several times -- when we installed the shocks, upper StableLoads, and mud guards. I’ve had to learn how 4x4 works and when to use it because I’ve actually needed it a few times in hilly and muddy terrain here in rural New England. I got a truck tire pressure gauge that goes to 100 PSI and a VIAIR air compressor, which I had to learn how to use this morning for the first time in order to bring my rear tires up to 80 PSI. It took me 15 minutes because the first thing I had to do was unpack the VIAIR air compressor…. and stare at the unassembled parts I didn’t know anything about.

My cousin, the mechanic, laughed at me when I proudly showed him my recovery strap this morning, a behemoth 33,000 lbs. rated strap. He asked me how I was going to use it. Well… I hadn’t figured that part out yet. He had laughed because he knew I didn’t have any D-rings or chains, and he knew the giant strap eyes wouldn’t loop through my truck’s tow hooks. What is a D-ring? Okay, more learning in order. So I spent a good portion of the morning today learning about my truck, hitch ratings, Grade 80 vs. 100 chain, etc., and spending time chatting with my cousin. I’ve now got a chain sling, web shackles, and recovery hitch receiver on order.

In short, this new lifestyle has entailed a lot of learning. The camper is working out great. I still need to replace the wobbly dinette table and replace some of the cabinet pistons, and a few other things. I need to gain more skills and get a few more pieces of gear.

[SheketEchad]

It is both a humbling and an exhilarating experience, to change lifestyles. Heck to do anything out of our normal comfort zones. Kudos to you on both your teachable attitude and your spirit of adventure.

I had no idea they'd let you empty a black tank in a restroom! Makes sense though

Fair winds and following seas, as you carry on.

[MG1912]

Many thanks, SE.  I just read your initial post, the one where Bob says he started cheaprvliving because of you!  Very cool.  I appreciate your kind words.

Yes, the cassette is technically my rig's black tank, but it's pretty inoffensive looking.    You can wheel it around, and it just kind of looks like a weird suitcase or something.  The cool thing about it is that you can dump the cassette in public toilets (although apparently not in pit toilets or port-a-potties in the West, according to HDR).  It still can't be dumped on the ground, as it is raw toilet waste and chemicals.  However, by dumping the cassette in toilets and the gray water tank in nature (I am using only Dr. Bronner's biodegradable soap), I will never have to stop at an RV dump station.

(image belongs to coastalmotorhomes.co.nz)

[SheketEchad]

Many thanks, SE.  I just read your initial post, the one where Bob says he started cheaprvliving because of you!  Very cool.  I appreciate your kind words.

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Hmmm, I think you must have me confused with some other stellar person, because Bob and the forum were around a very long time before I ever showed up here, lol!  And I think it was his ex wife that started this path to freedom for him unbeknownst to him at the time. But thanks for associating me with great company   (I had to go back and read my 7 year old first post to make sure I did not have an alternate universe going on somewhere!)

I burst into here in 2012 with all kinds of plans after my husband died,and I lost my job, had a rig lined up, and...well, then life dreams got derailed by actual life.  I've just stopped caring for a grandchild for 3.5 years and now am happily back playing with my dreams again.

That little thing looks very innocuous, no wonder they were accommodating. I'll be going the wonderful 5 gal compost route initially methinks.

(This post was last modified: 09-16-2019, 11:23 AM by SheketEchad.)