Long Trip

[rlitchfield]

I am picking up my new Rockwood 1980 today and I'm very excited about it.  Thank you to everyone for the wonderful reading material on this board...it really helped when looking to buy a new popup and what to look for in order be sure we got what we needed.

The primary purpose of this post is to ask for your advice and tips on preparing for a long trip this summer.  We will be camping from Montreal to Calgary which is about 7500km (4700 miles) round trip. A few questions that come to mind are 1) what do we need to do to prepare the trailer from a physical perspective, 2) anything special needed for our TV, and 3) what should we be bringing with us to make the trip as comfortable as possible.

Thank you all in advance...

Robert
DW
DD (4 years old)
Rockwood 1980 (2006) & Jeep Liberty (2005)

[wavery]

I am picking up my new Rockwood 1980 today and I'm very excited about it.  Thank you to everyone for the wonderful reading material on this board...it really helped when looking to buy a new popup and what to look for in order be sure we got what we needed.

The primary purpose of this post is to ask for your advice and tips on preparing for a long trip this summer.  We will be camping from Montreal to Calgary which is about 7500km (4700 miles) round trip. A few questions that come to mind are 1) what do we need to do to prepare the trailer from a physical perspective, 2) anything special needed for our TV, and 3) what should we be bringing with us to make the trip as comfortable as possible.

Thank you all in advance...

Robert
DW
DD (4 years old)
Rockwood 1980 (2006) & Jeep Liberty (2005)

Welcome to PUT!!!

With a new trailer, I would suggest a few "Shake down" camp-outs, to work the bugs out. If it is a used trailer, let us know. There are a few other suggestions that we might make.

Be sure to put a thin layer of grease on the hitch ball. You might want to consider getting a cover for the hitch ball also. We use a tennis ball. :sombraro:


As far as the TV is concerned.........be sure that it has a good sized transmission cooler and be sure to change the trans oil & filter before you go (don't let them do a flush), if the TV has over 20,000 miles on it. Also have the brakes checked.

[AustinBoston]

I agree with wavery on everything (esp. the shakedown trips) except I use wax paper (Cut-Rite brand if that means anything to you in Canada) on the hitch ball.

To that I will add:

Plan on getting your engine oil changed before you leave and about mid-trip.  People on vacation don't think of this, but if towing a trailer is not "severe duty" then nothing is, and you will exceed the manufacturer's oil change interval if you don't change it.

Make sure you have plenty of things for the 4 YO to entertain herself, especially if she is not used to long drives.  Make frequent stops.  A car seat can be mighty uncomfortable after a few hours.

Are you going an all-Canada route?  I ask because Mapquest suggested going through the U.S., entering At Port Huron, Michigan, going through Chicago, then returning to Canada north of Bismarck, North Dakota (3945KM one way).  The Mapquest route looks, um, a bit creative, at least to me.  Yahoo gave a similar map, except it turned sharply north to Winnipeg (4222KM one-way).  Google Maps gave the route that stayed longest in the U.S., never touching Manitoba or Saskatchewan (4011 KM one-way).

While these are all a good deal more than 7500KM round trip, they may be faster (all three map makers tend to bias toward the fastest route).

Austin

[rlitchfield]

Just drove home with the trailer after doing the inspection and getting the instructions on how to put it up. I am still trying to figure out where the setting for the brakes should be.  When I parked it, I smelled a bit of burning brake so I  believe I need to "back off" on the brakes a bit.  It rode well behind the jeep, though when I hit some bad roads (Quebec is full of them), I felt it bounce around.  

BTW...this is a new PUP.  

Thanks for the info on keeping my daughter occupied.  We have been doing long camping trips with her (in a tent) so she is used to the longer trips, and we are getting pretty good at keeping her busy.  

Robert
DW
DD (4 years old)
Rockwood 1980 (2006) & Jeep Liberty (2005)

[tlhdoc]

Hi and Welcome to PUT.
 
I would recommend that you practice setting it up and down a few times.  Make sure you have a lug nut wrench that will fit the lug nuts on your PU and that it will be able to remove the lug nuts for the spare tire (with some trailers you need a deep socket to get the spare tire off).  Does your TV (tow vehicle) have a towing package?  If not did you install a tranny cooler?  For overnight stays don't worry about setting up the awning or other extras.  Just do a basic set up.  Have a great time on the trip.  When are you going?

[outdoors5]

Welcome to PUT!!!

...change the trans oil & filter before you go (don't let them do a flush), if the TV has over 20,000 miles on it...

I will also be making a long trip and I'm not as familiar with car maintenance as I probably should be .  Just wondering why to avoid a Transmission Flush and by this do you mean avoid fully draining your transmission?

[flyfisherman]

I will also be making a long trip and I'm not as familiar with car maintenance as I probably should be .  Just wondering why to avoid a Transmission Flush and by this do you mean avoid fully draining your transmission?

I was wondering the same thing ...

As I understand it, the regular transmission fluid & filter change is where they just dump the tranny fluid and replace with new fluid. However, there's still old  fluid in the tranny's innards that does not drain out; a flush job is where that old fluid is forced out so that totally new fluid can be installed.

I've heard pro & con on the flush job. Mr.Goodwrench (the GM dealer where I bought my GMC Sierra pick'em-up) says it's not necessary, that regular standard tranny maintenace will suffice. On the other hand, have a neighbor who has a regular "car care" center that does minor repairs, oil changes and such, plus has the apparatus for a complete tranny flush, says it's the thing to do. MrGoodwrench wants $99.95 for his tranny service and the neighbor's price for the flush job is $149.95 -


Fly

[ForestCreature]

Hi and Welcome to PUT.
 
 Make sure you have a lug nut wrench that will fit the lug nuts on your PU and that it will be able to remove the lug nuts for the spare tire (with some trailers you need a deep socket to get the spare tire off).  

I'd go one step further and make sure you have a jack that will work with the camper. One that will raise the tires high enough to change them and short enough to get under the trailer.  Many don't think about that and assume their vevicle jack will work.  

Sounds like quite a trip.