Maiden Voyage.
We are home. 2500 miles for the maiden voyage of our new RVH (rolling vacation home)
We bought a Columbus Compass 298RLC
We also bought a 2018 F350 Diesel 4x4 extended cab long box to pull it with.
This truck performed perfectly. I have been towing travel trailers since 1993, so I have some experience. This beast is longer(37ft.), heavier(13klbs gvw) and taller(13 ft) than anything I have ever towed before. We got 11.7 mpg (diesel). I used more DEF in the last month (7.5 gls) than ever before in such a short time. The first 500 miles were rough, then the suspension was broke in and the ride was comfortable as long as the road surface was good. Braking and steering were great. Acceleration was better than I expected. Backing, I need to learn to slow down and wait for the trailer to start to turn before I crank on the steering wheel any more.
I65 from Gary Indiana to gulf of Mexico sucks. It is rough broken and in general, in a very bad state of repair.. Kentucky was a big exception to that. I65 in Kentucky was 3 lanes and in great shape. The traffic in Nashville was horrible and Birmingham the road surface was a disaster.
Only two problems with the camper.
1. the big screen tv no longer works. it is dead. Dealer said take a picture of the tv so they can order us a new one.
2. After about 30gls of water through the fresh water tank it is still rusty. I plan on filling the fresh water tank 2 times (140 gl total and running that through the pump before I say anything to the dealer. There is a water filter that I will replace also. When the camper is hooked to a city water source there is no rust.
I have the Pilot/Flying J rv card which made fueling easy. Their diesel price was generally higher than any one else, but I always knew there would be room for me at the pumps and in the lot.
Without the camper I filled up at the cheapest price I could find.
Over all the trip was a success.
**** I am tired. Looking forward to a good night sleep at home tonight.
We bought a Columbus Compass 298RLC
We also bought a 2018 F350 Diesel 4x4 extended cab long box to pull it with.
This truck performed perfectly. I have been towing travel trailers since 1993, so I have some experience. This beast is longer(37ft.), heavier(13klbs gvw) and taller(13 ft) than anything I have ever towed before. We got 11.7 mpg (diesel). I used more DEF in the last month (7.5 gls) than ever before in such a short time. The first 500 miles were rough, then the suspension was broke in and the ride was comfortable as long as the road surface was good. Braking and steering were great. Acceleration was better than I expected. Backing, I need to learn to slow down and wait for the trailer to start to turn before I crank on the steering wheel any more.
I65 from Gary Indiana to gulf of Mexico sucks. It is rough broken and in general, in a very bad state of repair.. Kentucky was a big exception to that. I65 in Kentucky was 3 lanes and in great shape. The traffic in Nashville was horrible and Birmingham the road surface was a disaster.
Only two problems with the camper.
1. the big screen tv no longer works. it is dead. Dealer said take a picture of the tv so they can order us a new one.
2. After about 30gls of water through the fresh water tank it is still rusty. I plan on filling the fresh water tank 2 times (140 gl total and running that through the pump before I say anything to the dealer. There is a water filter that I will replace also. When the camper is hooked to a city water source there is no rust.
I have the Pilot/Flying J rv card which made fueling easy. Their diesel price was generally higher than any one else, but I always knew there would be room for me at the pumps and in the lot.
Without the camper I filled up at the cheapest price I could find.
Over all the trip was a success.
**** I am tired. Looking forward to a good night sleep at home tonight.
