Almost time to hit the road!!

[Jim K in PA]

This saturday we leave for our biggest camping expedition to date.  In order, we are going to:

Ypsilanti, MI (staying with family) - 1 night
NW Chicago 'burbs (staying with family) - 1 night
Lake Vermillion SP (SD) - 1 night
Custer SP/Mt. Rushmore (SD) - 2 nights
Devils Tower/Bighorn Mts. (WY) - 1 night
Yellowstone NP (WY) - ~7 nights
Grand Teton NP (WY) - ~4 nights
Then straight run home - ~2 nights

I am getting my solar panel hooked up today, and we'll pack the popup and the TV tomorrow.  We hit the road at 9AM Saturday.  Woohoo!

:-()    :sombraro:

We are also picking up my and my wifes mother at the airport in Rapid City, SD.  They will be camping with us for the Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone portions of the trip, then they fly home from Jackson, WY.  At 66 and 79 years old, we figured they would be happier flying out and back instead of stuck in the Commander.

Wish us luck!  It's snowing in Yellowstone NP this weekend . . . :yikes:

[wavery]

This saturday we leave for our biggest camping expedition to date.  In order, we are going to:

Ypsilanti, MI (staying with family) - 1 night
NW Chicago 'burbs (staying with family) - 1 night
Lake Vermillion SP (SD) - 1 night
Custer SP/Mt. Rushmore (SD) - 2 nights
Devils Tower/Bighorn Mts. (WY) - 1 night
Yellowstone NP (WY) - ~7 nights
Grand Teton NP (WY) - ~4 nights
Then straight run home - ~2 nights

I am getting my solar panel hooked up today, and we'll pack the popup and the TV tomorrow.  We hit the road at 9AM Saturday.  Woohoo!

:-()    :sombraro:

We are also picking up my and my wifes mother at the airport in Rapid City, SD.  They will be camping with us for the Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone portions of the trip, then they fly home from Jackson, WY.  At 66 and 79 years old, we figured they would be happier flying out and back instead of stuck in the Commander.

Wish us luck!  It's snowing in Yellowstone NP this weekend . . . :yikes:

Good luck!!!!!

I hope that you had the wheel bearings packed, the tires are under 4-years old, you have steel valve stems, keep the speed down and check the tire pressure each morning before traveling (with a good gauge).

If those are your original tires, I would encourage you to go to the nearest tire dealer today and buy 3 new tires. It may be the best $200 that you've spent on your PU. I see that your PU is a 2006, those tires could well be 5 or even 6-years-old. Please check the date codes if you haven't replaced those tires.

I would hate to see you have tire problems on a well planned vacation like that. Nothing like a blow-out to screw-up a wonderful vacation. It isn't the blown tire as much as the damage that it can do to the camper. I have read reports of tire tread taking out part of the cabinetry on the inside of the camper. We have far too many reports of that already.

[oreo57]

Sounds like a Great trip, enjoy !!!!

[Jim K in PA]

Thanks Wayne.  Bearing and brake PM was done two weeks ago.  Tire codes are from 2005.  When I had them off to do the bearing and brake work, I closely inspected them and there are no signs of checking or distortion in any of the three.  The camper is stored in a pole barn out of direct sunlight.  I know they are getting up there in age, but at this point I do not think they are at great risk of failure (barring a road hazard).  Tire gauge, tools, etc. will be with us.  Thanks for the pointers.

Good luck!!!!!

I hope that you had the wheel bearings packed, the tires are under 4-years old, you have steel valve stems, keep the speed down and check the tire pressure each morning before traveling (with a good gauge).

If those are your original tires, I would encourage you to go to the nearest tire dealer today and buy 3 new tires. It may be the best $200 that you've spent on your PU. I see that your PU is a 2006, those tires could well be 5 or even 6-years-old. Please check the date codes if you haven't replaced those tires.

I would hate to see you have tire problems on a well planned vacation like that. Nothing like a blow-out to screw-up a wonderful vacation. It isn't the blown tire as much as the damage that it can do to the camper. I have read reports of tire tread taking out part of the cabinetry on the inside of the camper. We have far too many reports of that already.

[wavery]

Thanks Wayne.  Bearing and brake PM was done two weeks ago.  Tire codes are from 2005.  When I had them off to do the bearing and brake work, I closely inspected them and there are no signs of checking or distortion in any of the three.  The camper is stored in a pole barn out of direct sunlight.  I know they are getting up there in age, but at this point I do not think they are at great risk of failure (barring a road hazard).  Tire gauge, tools, etc. will be with us.  Thanks for the pointers.

Jim,

Just be aware that most trailer tire deterioration begins in between the plies of the tire, in places that you can't see. That's why tire manufacturers recommend 6 years max on trailer tires. It is impossible to determine the condition of a trailer tire by visual inspection.

If you are running on the high end of the weight limits, ever driven with low tire pressure or ever driven over 65MPH, the life of the tire is reduced.

Sun rotting is an entirely different issue and effects the tender sidewall of the tire. This is rarely a cause of tire failure.

Just be aware and keep a sharp eye on the tires. If the tire tread does separate, it can do a lot of damage in the blink of an eye.

Being an old-time sailor, I would not make that trip on 5-year-old tires....... Having said that....please prove me wrong .

[Jim K in PA]

Just got back this evening from our trip.  What a fantastic time we had!  Tow vehicle and camper performed flawlessly (even with the "ancient" tires!).  

And the solar panel was the BEST upgrade/investment we have made to the camper.  9 days straight w/o plugging in, and we NEVER wanted for power.  We ran the furnace regularly (night time low 30s in YNP!), lights, cell phone and GPS chargers, including a 150W inverter, and the battery was recharged completely usually within 3 hours of sunrise.  This is with just a single G34 12V battery!  Thanks again to Wavery for the tip on the great solar panel and controller deal on eBay.

I'll post up some pictures in a trip report next week.

[Jim K in PA]

Wow - I stumbled back upon this forum today.  Tried my old log in, and it worked!

I kind  of dropped out of the forum world for a while, not just this one.  

Apparently there was some debacle for the PUT site some years ago?  I wrote some articles for the magazine.  I think.

Anyway, we are camping again, but in a hybrid now.

Cheers, to anyone who may still be lurking here.  @shebantam, @tlhdoc, and others.

[dno]

I don't know if anyone is lurking around. I sold PUX, RVItch, HYX, Trukx and Arveeclub, Long before that happend I had joined Arvee Club to the PUX database so this data was no part of that sale, the data sat in an archive for many years. When I stumbled across the data I put it back up on the PopUp Times site, so it's amazing to me anyone has found it. If anyone is interested feel free to use the site, I put it up because it still has a bunch of useful information.