Winter Madness "Take Two"... March 16th weekend - Pine Grove, PA KOA

[copcarguy]

Well guys I am sorry I did not ask anyone, but I had to reschedule my reservations this morning at Pine Grove or I would've lost my deposit... So for no particular reason, I picked March 16th weekend. Hopefully PA DOT will have the interstates open by then and we can go. :banghead: I hope this weekend will work for those interested in going. If not, come visit!
 
 
Those attending:
 
copcarguy
andym86
tlhdoc
Cheryl

[tlhdoc]

I am in.  Same plans for meals?  Eating out a lot?

[copcarguy]

LOL, yes Tracy... I need to get my Golden Corral fix. Andy and Helga told me tonight that they plan on coming as well.
 
As a side note, the clocks will have changed a few days before this, so we get an additional hour of sunlight!

[tlhdoc]

LOL, yes Tracy... I need to get my Golden Corral fix. Andy and Helga told me tonight that they plan on coming as well.
 
As a side note, the clocks will have changed a few days before this, so we get an additional hour of sunlight!

It will also be ST. Patrick's Day, so make sure you bring your green.

[copcarguy]

It will also be ST. Patrick's Day, so make sure you bring your green.

I'm Italian though... lol

[tlhdoc]

I'm Italian though... lol

It doesn't matter!

[SheBantam]

I can come up on Saturday, but that Sunday my Grandson is being Baptised and I promised I would be there a few weeks ago.  As of right now I only have one grandchild (that I am sure of), so cannot not miss that.  

I also get to baby sit next weekend. His mommy's BD and they are being taken to Melting Pot by her mom. So I get the Kiddo...so is anyone is this way next Saturday, come on by and see the baby, he is a cutie.

[tlhdoc]

Have fun babysitting.  Take some pictures and post them.

[SheBantam]

Can I cry now??? I know it is Tracy's party...
I just got back from the Ford dealer (the same one who replaced the clutch in the F150 a year and a half ago)...I burnt out the transmission on the Windstar.  Yepper almost gone, towing that little bitty teeny tiny Cabin A with only a fraction of the stuff as I have in my Bantam...He is telling me that I should never have been towing anything around a ton (filled up and with the water heater, fridge, toilet, AC, etc) with the minivan.  So hard lesson learned.  I will be towing with the F150 until I can save enough to buy the new automatic pick'em-up-truck or an 8 cyl Explorer...that will be a while, since what they are offering us for the F150 is only 3 to 4 thougsand (that little jewel has less than 30,000 actual miles on it)...
I HATE backing with that F150.

Raymond said to bring the Windstar home and we will drive it (back and forth to work) until we completely loose the tranny.

Do I hear someone saying something about "why did she not have a tranny cooleR"??? I had bought one and wanted it installed and both Ford service and the U-haul guy who was actually going to install it, told me that there is no place for one.

[tlhdoc]

Paula it isn't my party.  Sorry about your van.  Would it be worth fixing the transmission?  I would get a second opinion from a tranny shop and know go by what the dealer said.

[HersheyGirl]

I agree with Tracy, Paula.  Get a tranny shop opinion, and a price.  I got my moose's tranny fixed by Cottmans tranny shop...it is nation wide, so if I am out some place, I can find one.  Just a thought.

[SheBantam]

Sorry Tracy, thought I had posted on your BD bash thread...that was why I thought I was crashing your party...

We ahve already taken that advice, yesterday afternoon.

Raymond called Benchmark Trans and they said that it is not unusual for the first time transmission fluid is changed that it is burnt and there are flakes in the bottom, especially at 60+thousand.  And it is not unusual for dealers to condemn a tranny

They are recommending that we get a tranny service (which Raymond is having the Ford dealer do since the van is already there) and that we add an additive made for towing. So we will cross our fingers and see.

Raymond is still swearing the transmissions was shifting smoothly. I say NOT.  Raymond was blaming it on something akin to wear in CV joints (or similar type thingee). I do not know. I just know that the Windstar is OK towing the CabinA but is a long way from great.

Benchmark wants about half of what the FOrd dealer wants to rebuild the transmission, and if they ( a transmission place) go to rebuild it, it has to come out anyway, I will have them put in a tranny cooler.  There is a place for it according to the manual Raymond bought, but as Kershner will attest it is labor intensive on the Windstar.  Too much stuff in the way.

[dademt]

Paula, since you are close to me, here is another option, try calling my mechanic- Rocky @ 856-678-2535.  He did the transmission and torque convertor in the suburban 3 years ago and I towed plenty with it after that without any problems.  He also tends to be reasonable with his pricing.  He is located on Hook Rd in Pennsville.

 
Just another option for you.

[tlhdoc]

Scott any chance you guys can make this trip?
 
Jazman where are you? Haven't heard from you in a while.
 
John do you think you can make this March trip?
 
Chip this isn't a holiday weekend?
 
Anyone else want to join us in March. I expect it will not be nearly as cold as it usually is in February.

[SheBantam]

I can make lunch, Saturday, but that is all.  Sunday will be the bapbtism and dinner *they are springing for dinner for everyone, though I told them that Raymond and I would re-imburse them for ours.