Maiden Voyage...finally!
Due to life happening, mostly dealing with the loss of my mom, we've not been able to take out our new KZ Durango 1500 277RLT until this past weekend. Was sort of a last minute suggestion by DW to head up to the Payson AZ area. After calling around, the only place I could find was a small place S of Payson called Oxbow RV Park. Small, older place, but very quiet. Fairly well maintained, though still in need of some TLC. Lots of long-timers parked, but a number of transient spots. We got a back-in spot and I was d@mned glad of having 4wd to get into it as the ground was very dry, hard-packed with a layer of crushed granite on it. Even in 4wd I spun a bit backing up the incline to the near-level spot. Beat up pedestal, but it worked. Only issue we had was with the cable, which the local cable idiot had FUBARed forcing the park's handy-man to hook it up properly. All-in-all, a nice place. Now, for the trailer...
Easy tow up; I think it's a lot more aerodynamic than my old low-pro Komfort. Much less buffeting and mileage was better than expected, despite the nearly 2' higher profile. Maneuvering back into our space didn't require any hard turns and I was even complimented on how easy I backed it in with a "that's not your first rodeo". :B I =did= have to watch my top and had to remind DW to watch, too, since there were some trees overhanging. The 4-point auto-level worked awesome and I can't imagine another rig without it. :B I =do= need to be sure to put some blocks under the rear jacks, though, as they don't have a lot of stroke and it doesn't take a lot of slope to max them out. Saw another rig that had rear jack with =extension= like the front jacks. Way cool and I wish I had them!
No issues with the rig the first night, though DW was pissed at not having cable. Got up the next morning, lazed around for a couple hours, had some cereal, then decided to take a drive and do some shopping at the local WallyWorld and Home Depot for a few odds-n-ends for the FW. Drove up to Pine/Strawberry to look around and have some lunch. Some gorgeous homes down Fossil Creek Rd. and it includes the Strawberry School house, the oldest school building in AZ (1885) and on the National Register. Went back later in the PM, lazed around some more, then headed over to Mazatzal Casino for dinner. Nothing special, just some simple eats and a brewski for me while DW blew $20 on the penny slots. :B Home to some more TV and chips and salsa.
Got up the next morning to NO 12v in the coach. No lights, no fridge, nothing. Checked, and the Interstate battery was dead. We were plugged into the 50a the whole time, so that means that the charger/converter is toast. Oh, the stereo was dead, too, which I knew before we even left home. It =was= working after I'd picked it up and I'd had it working when I'd had the FW at the house to load things up several weeks ago. Ended up having to hook up to the truck and leave it idling for nearly 45 minutes while we got packed up, slides in and jack retracted.
My one paranoia was with the awning as it was a bit breezy. I did put a ratchet strap on the upwind side over night, but took it down and rolled the awning up when we left for the day. Most others had theirs out, but I didn't want to take =any= chances.
When we got home, we got things cleaned up, then I headed right down to Tucson, to the dealer, to have them look at the stereo, converter and a few other things, including where the kitchen slide seems to be hitting the island cabinet doors and scuffing the trim finish on both. 90 miles, one way. NOT a happy camper about this, especially as we already have another trip planned, leaving Aug. 1. The converter is the #1 priority and I'm really hoping they replace the battery, too, as this one was marginal from the get-go, but they refused to give me a fresh battery when I picked it up. (That's a story in itself. :()
Takeaways:
1) We really like this rig.
2) We seriously need to consider adding the 2nd AC, especially if we plan on doing any summer camping at un-shaded or lower elevation sites.
3) Need to get a surge guard.
4) Need to organize the basement a bit better and to add some cargo netting. Containers and "stuff" slide around too much.
5) Need to get the 2nd battery installed, even if it's only a 12v and not the 2 6v GC2's that I =really= want. Can do that later, though I've even thought about just doing 3 12v's. We'll see...
6) I plan on a wet bolt kit at some time, though we just don't tow all that much, so it's not a priority.
That's it until the next trip.
Lyle
Easy tow up; I think it's a lot more aerodynamic than my old low-pro Komfort. Much less buffeting and mileage was better than expected, despite the nearly 2' higher profile. Maneuvering back into our space didn't require any hard turns and I was even complimented on how easy I backed it in with a "that's not your first rodeo". :B I =did= have to watch my top and had to remind DW to watch, too, since there were some trees overhanging. The 4-point auto-level worked awesome and I can't imagine another rig without it. :B I =do= need to be sure to put some blocks under the rear jacks, though, as they don't have a lot of stroke and it doesn't take a lot of slope to max them out. Saw another rig that had rear jack with =extension= like the front jacks. Way cool and I wish I had them!
No issues with the rig the first night, though DW was pissed at not having cable. Got up the next morning, lazed around for a couple hours, had some cereal, then decided to take a drive and do some shopping at the local WallyWorld and Home Depot for a few odds-n-ends for the FW. Drove up to Pine/Strawberry to look around and have some lunch. Some gorgeous homes down Fossil Creek Rd. and it includes the Strawberry School house, the oldest school building in AZ (1885) and on the National Register. Went back later in the PM, lazed around some more, then headed over to Mazatzal Casino for dinner. Nothing special, just some simple eats and a brewski for me while DW blew $20 on the penny slots. :B Home to some more TV and chips and salsa.
Got up the next morning to NO 12v in the coach. No lights, no fridge, nothing. Checked, and the Interstate battery was dead. We were plugged into the 50a the whole time, so that means that the charger/converter is toast. Oh, the stereo was dead, too, which I knew before we even left home. It =was= working after I'd picked it up and I'd had it working when I'd had the FW at the house to load things up several weeks ago. Ended up having to hook up to the truck and leave it idling for nearly 45 minutes while we got packed up, slides in and jack retracted.
My one paranoia was with the awning as it was a bit breezy. I did put a ratchet strap on the upwind side over night, but took it down and rolled the awning up when we left for the day. Most others had theirs out, but I didn't want to take =any= chances.
When we got home, we got things cleaned up, then I headed right down to Tucson, to the dealer, to have them look at the stereo, converter and a few other things, including where the kitchen slide seems to be hitting the island cabinet doors and scuffing the trim finish on both. 90 miles, one way. NOT a happy camper about this, especially as we already have another trip planned, leaving Aug. 1. The converter is the #1 priority and I'm really hoping they replace the battery, too, as this one was marginal from the get-go, but they refused to give me a fresh battery when I picked it up. (That's a story in itself. :()
Takeaways:
1) We really like this rig.
2) We seriously need to consider adding the 2nd AC, especially if we plan on doing any summer camping at un-shaded or lower elevation sites.
3) Need to get a surge guard.
4) Need to organize the basement a bit better and to add some cargo netting. Containers and "stuff" slide around too much.
5) Need to get the 2nd battery installed, even if it's only a 12v and not the 2 6v GC2's that I =really= want. Can do that later, though I've even thought about just doing 3 12v's. We'll see...
6) I plan on a wet bolt kit at some time, though we just don't tow all that much, so it's not a priority.
That's it until the next trip.
Lyle
