Dealing with the Dealer

[kwatson51]

I forgot to ask Keith how your trip to Yellowstone went. We are planning to go there too when we get our PU. First stop will be at Garner State Park as I hear it is very nice and near to San Antonio. If things go well we will then make our way through TX, NM, CO, and into Wyoming to Yellowstone. Then back down to UT and AZ where friends we used to work with are now living and then back to TX. Not sure where our stops will be yet. Maybe KOA's... any recommendations on camp areas such as KOA's or State Parks?

Carlton

Carlton,
Since you should have your pup by now, I don't know if you are still reading this thread. But I'll answer anyway.
The trip to Yellowstone was awesome! We take pleasure in sharing great things like that with our daughter (now grown ) and her friends. We camped near the south entrance at a place called Flagg Ranch. At that time, it was nice and convenient to the areas we wanted to go. We did stay at a few KOAs, but probably wouldn't again....it depends. Since we're in a pup, we like to have shady sites.

The is a very nice KOA north of Durango (CO)...right on the river. If you like hearing the river put you to sleep at night, that one would be worth considering. There is a campground near Santa Fe, NM that was horrible. Don't remember the name or if it is still there. Don't think it was a KOA.

Garner State Park is great (as well as Lost Maples in the Fall). Went to GSP when we lived in Del Rio. Inks Lake SP near Austin along with McKinney Falls SP and Bastrop SP are all worth spending some time at when you want to stay close to home.

Screen room: have one, never been used...although we would use it in Texas.
We're goin' up to Leadville in a couple of weeks. Maybe we'll use it there.
Hope y'all have fun in that new pup! Got to get back to my smoker...doin' a brisket and some ribs for the 4th.

[Carlton]

Thanks for the update and great info on your trip to Yellowstone. I am going to write down the names of the good places you mentioned to see if we can possibly see them too.

Last Friday we got our PU from the dealer and during the demo it rained and has rained every day since...! I had to take the camper back to have the AC installed correctly this time! They took the easy way and removed my vent fan out and installed the AC in the 14" opening which is just right for the AC. Unfortunately the place they installed it has no roof support and after speaking to the regional Starcraft representative, they told me and faxed a diagram exactly where the AC should be (in middle of the PU). Anyway we will be going to pick it up again tomorrow and hope for the best. I also noticed the water pump is VERY loud when engaged. I hope they can fix that too as it should not make that much noise (I hope). From all that and some other personal issues, our trip is slightly delayed to Yellowstone. We hope to depart later this month or early August. Weather is really strange in a lot of places and I hope it settles down before we leave.

We decided not to go with the screen room right away and will be investing in deet sprays and see what happenes. I hear the screen rooms are quite heavy, is yours?

PS: I will also have to purchase some towing mirrors as on the way back to the dealer and while passing through a local town, a police car came screaming up on my left side with siren going and lights flashing. I began to pull over when the police car pulled along side of me and yelled our "Pull that thing over! Come to find out he was tailing me for a few blocks and had lights on and was trying to get me to pull over. I did not see a thing! He was kind and did not cite me for the speeding 40 something in a 30mph zone. I want to keep on his good side, so mirrors and speed limits will be on my high list.

Carlton and Robin (newly retired)
02 Dakota
07 Starcraft Centennial 3608