Newbie intro

[Jim K in PA]

I could not find an intro section of the forum, so I hope this is an appropriate spot.

First - roll call:

Jim K - me!
Jean - DW
Matt - DS (15)
Bill - DS (12)

We live in the heart of the Pocono Mountains in northeastern PA.

On Friday 24 Aug we are picking up our new to us 2006 Viking 2170ST.  We have been tent campers forever, and intend to continue tent camping from time to time. Both our boys are in Boy Scouts, and I tag along on some of the trips as a volunteer leader.  

We got our first taste of PUP camping in July at Camp Jeep.  We borrowed a friends 1997 Dutchmen 1203.  We had such a great time that we started shopping for a nice clean used PUP as soon as we got home.  5 dealers later we found a pristine 1 year old unit that had just been traded in.  We got it for several thousand dollars below book value (after some heavy negotiations).

We are into 4 wheeling - the Tread Lightly kind, not the "let's see how stuck we can get" kind.  When we were shopping for the PUP, I wanted to make sure we got something that we could tow with our 2005 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited (3500# max towing cap, 300# max tongue wt.)  We will also tow it with our 2007 Jeep Commander (yeah, it's got a HEMI).  The PUP has a dry weight of 1986#, with a 2700# max GVWR.

The Viking we picked up has 3-way fridge, 3 burner cooktop, 20k Btu furnace, and A/C (I don't know the Btu rating).  It has a 23 gallon fresh water tank, but it does not have a water heater . . . yet.  We did not want a shower or potti in the camper, and this unit has neither.

I am aware of the lift system recall, and will check into whether or not this has been done after we get it home.  The dealer we purchased it from is not a Viking  dealer.

Anywho, for those that are still reading, THANK YOU for all the information that has been shared here on this forum.  I have spent much time reading posts instead of working over the last several days.  I also want to thank Tim of Natasha's Camping Site for all the information he has gathered and shared on his site.

I hope to keep the dumb questions to a minimum.  I have a couple in me though, I am sure.  

Jim K in PA

[curryp]

Welcome and best of luck in enjoying your PUP. It sounds like your persistence paid off and you got a real nice camper.

[austinado16]

Welcome!  Sounds like a nice PUP and you guys will have fun outfitting it.  Let the gadget buying begin!

[GrizzlyTaco]

Congrats on your new to you PU!! Now it time to start thinking about MODS!!!
Your going to have alot of fun with your PU. Happy camping.....

[CajunCamper]

You talk like a veteran. You probably know more about your pop up than some that have owned theirs for years. I think you and your family are in for years of great camping.

Welcome aboard

CajunCAmper

[harleywolf]

We

[Jim K in PA]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes!  

CajunCamper - Thanks for the compliment.  We are veteran campers, just not veteran pop-up campers.  I like to do my homework before I get in too deep.  I also am no stranger to towing, as I used to haul a road race car from Canada to West Virginia.  Did that for over 20 years.

GrizzlyTaco - I already have a list of mods started, and I don't even have the box in my driveway yet!  Here is a short list:

Add brakes
Add reverse lights
Add a 2nd battery and 2nd propane tank (there will be plenty of dry camping in our PUP)
Add a water heater (mostly for comfort in the colder seasons)
Add an outdoor shower connection
Add a pressure tank
Fabricate a rack for two canoes to ride on top of the PUP (NO hard connections/fasteners - it will be light and removeable)
Eventually I want to swap out the heavy particle board components with plastic and aluminum.  Primarily the galley and dinette seats.

Lift blocks on top of Torflex axle to gain ground clearance
Tire upgrade to gain ground clearance (see a trend here?)

Rick - we are fortunate to have a private OHV park about 90 minutes from our house.  I also live on 10 acres, next to a 70 acre farm, and 3 minutes from State Gamelands.  The Gamelands are technically off limits to OHVs, but there are appropriate times and places to play lightly.  However, you are on the much better side of the country for off-roading.  My Uncle lives in Sedona AZ and he and my Aunt wheel their Rubicon constantly.  

You MUST get to Camp Jeep someday.  It blew us away, exceeding whatever expectations we had.  We will be back.

They had the SRT-8 on display there.  I have not driven one, and I don't want to.  Too tempting (see reference to race cars above).

I love XJs.  We saw an '08 Cherokee pre-production unit on the road to Camp Jeep.

Why do you eschew towing with your 5 speed?  We towed my friends PUP down to VA with my Rubicon, which is a 6 speed.  I do have 4.10 gears, and I was able to tow up hills at 70mph+.  The auto eats up some of your power, and generates lots of heat (I hope you have an external cooler on your trans).  We can camp at our local off road park too, which is why I want to use the Rubi to haul the PUP.

See y'all 'round the boards!

Jim K in PA

[harleywolf]

Well we decided to tow with our 4 speed auto trans Jeep (the

[Jim K in PA]

Well we decided to tow with our 4 speed auto trans Jeep (the

[harleywolf]

Holy crap, and a Pontiac enthusiast too! Aight aight we should talk. I showed my

[Jim K in PA]

Rick,

I am a full size Poncho guy, but if I were ever to own an A body, it would be a '64 Lemans or Tempest with poverty caps, a stroker 400 (462) and a RG 6 speed.  Currie axle out back and a full road race suspension from that place out near you that I cant remember the name of right now.  Most (heck ALL) of my Poncho pals are GTO guys, but I never took a shine to them.  A stock 428HO '67 GP with a 4 spd would easily pace a stock 400 '67 GTO.  Not many people know that (GP had better traction and weight transfer, as well as better power).

BTW, I was born in SoCal.  Santa Ana, to be exact.  Grew up a Jersey boy though.

Let's Go Mets!

Sorry folks, we will now return to your regular scheduled Pop Up Program

Jim K in PA