More observations, new Montana 5er
Maybe continuing from the previous post with some slightly different thoughts? .... Previous post, click here.
So, traveling 133 miles from near Anderson, Indiana to General Butler State Park in Kentucky, my fuel mileage (diesel) dropped to an average of 9.7 mph. Whereas my previous Outback TT rang in at 11.5. Looks like about 3000 pounds and a higher front cap makes a difference.
About the tow ... very nice with the 5er. But still, the tow with my TT was flawless also.
Backing up into a camp site!
First attempt with the 5er! FAIL! Uggg. I misjudged the distance.
I pulled out completely and started all over. Second time, got it right in, VERY, VERY, VERY slowly. Glad it was early Friday afternoon and virtually no one at the campground to witness my maiden (true) back-up adventure. I suppose, it can only get better now.
About the camper. Well, after calling my dealer several times and asking if he could give me any tips on why the water pump was pulsating ever 1 to 2 minutes, I tore the front pass through garage all apart tracking down water lines looking for leaks. Finally I figured it out. The valve for the fresh water fill needs to be put back to the "Normal" position after filling. After doing that, it never pulsated again! Problem solved.
Leveling was pretty good this time. I still don't understand or have the entire sequence down, but at least I did get the auto level system to finally do it's thing! Success!
Found out having larger water tanks and holding tanks is really sweet! Using our water conservation efforts like we always did the Outback TT (with smaller tanks), I dumped the black and grey tanks Saturday evening. My blue tote holds only so much (32 gallons), but considering we had about 5 days worth of bathroom use in the tanks, it didn't fill the tote for both black and grey. This makes me realize we can comfortably make it through a 3 day weekend without having to worry about dumping using that blue tote.
We love that back door! It's great!
Got the 50 amp Progressive power surge-guard plugged in. Discovered it has a couple minute delay before engating power to the camper. Tried running both air conditioners at once for a while. Worked sweet!
Been running the heat pump, as nights have been cooling way down here. Heat pump roasted us out. It seems its a bit slow to warm up the inside, but it kind of creeps up and then all of a sudden you realize you are roasting hot. Nice feature, not having to use propane for a primary heat source for the furnace any more.
Looks like I'm finally off the hook! You know? That old debate that's been going on for years and years? When on the road? Refrigerator "on" with gas? yes, no? Well, we have the household refrigerator now, all 120 volt electric runs on an inverter off the battery. This is a whole new world for us with an all electric 120 volt house style refrigerator. But oh my goodness is the space nice!
Also having difficulty locating where we shoved all our "junk" from the old camper. We were at a State Park last week-end, decided on a Saturday to get the new camper, met with the dealer, worked out the deal and left the deposit. Returned to the camp ground, pulled out on Sunday and started unloading the old camper. Everything went in the garage. Tuesday we took delivery of the new camper, and still had to work a 40 hour work week schedule.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we did drive way camps to get familiar with the new camper, and to repack all the junk. Stuff just got shoved in anywhere, and Friday Morning we headed for Kentucky. So, it's now been about 3 days of asking each other... Where is THIS? Where is THAT? and we go to look and can't find it! Still can't find the remote to our portable DVD player, tape, ink pens, and writing paper! DUH! In time, it will unearth.
Another new element we have to deal with we did not experience with the Outback is clothes hanging in the closet. The closet runs along the back wall of the camper. I'm sure, lots of bounce there. When we got to the campsite, all the hanging clothes were down. Hangers jumped off the bar.
A trip to WalMart, just up the road from where we are at, and we bought new hangers, all metal. Not wire, and I was able to rebend the hooks on each one so they are much tighter when hanging on the bar, and have a deeper hook now. Anyway, trip home will tell if they work better or not. For $12 it wasn't a bad investment.
Had to get some baby protection hooks for the cabinet doors that are adjacent the slides. We found out the hard way, the cabinet doors pop open and get caught in the slides when extracting. So, WalMart to the rescue and we won't have that problem ever again!
Well, comparing the old Outback TT to the new Montana 5er, I am finally inclined to admit and send an apology to all former 5er owners my skepticism about 5ers. Well, one thing I was absolutely correct about though ... STEPS! From the outside ground to the upstairs living room, it's 8 steps! I suppose as long as my artificial metal knee hangs in there, the steps won't be a problem.
Heading home Monday, looking forward to an interesting tow again.
And oh, buy the way... I had the wife drive - tow - about half way here so she'd have the first hand experience right out of the gate too. She did marvelous!
The back door from the inside:
So, traveling 133 miles from near Anderson, Indiana to General Butler State Park in Kentucky, my fuel mileage (diesel) dropped to an average of 9.7 mph. Whereas my previous Outback TT rang in at 11.5. Looks like about 3000 pounds and a higher front cap makes a difference.
About the tow ... very nice with the 5er. But still, the tow with my TT was flawless also.
Backing up into a camp site!
First attempt with the 5er! FAIL! Uggg. I misjudged the distance.
I pulled out completely and started all over. Second time, got it right in, VERY, VERY, VERY slowly. Glad it was early Friday afternoon and virtually no one at the campground to witness my maiden (true) back-up adventure. I suppose, it can only get better now.
About the camper. Well, after calling my dealer several times and asking if he could give me any tips on why the water pump was pulsating ever 1 to 2 minutes, I tore the front pass through garage all apart tracking down water lines looking for leaks. Finally I figured it out. The valve for the fresh water fill needs to be put back to the "Normal" position after filling. After doing that, it never pulsated again! Problem solved.
Leveling was pretty good this time. I still don't understand or have the entire sequence down, but at least I did get the auto level system to finally do it's thing! Success!
Found out having larger water tanks and holding tanks is really sweet! Using our water conservation efforts like we always did the Outback TT (with smaller tanks), I dumped the black and grey tanks Saturday evening. My blue tote holds only so much (32 gallons), but considering we had about 5 days worth of bathroom use in the tanks, it didn't fill the tote for both black and grey. This makes me realize we can comfortably make it through a 3 day weekend without having to worry about dumping using that blue tote.
We love that back door! It's great!
Got the 50 amp Progressive power surge-guard plugged in. Discovered it has a couple minute delay before engating power to the camper. Tried running both air conditioners at once for a while. Worked sweet!
Been running the heat pump, as nights have been cooling way down here. Heat pump roasted us out. It seems its a bit slow to warm up the inside, but it kind of creeps up and then all of a sudden you realize you are roasting hot. Nice feature, not having to use propane for a primary heat source for the furnace any more.
Looks like I'm finally off the hook! You know? That old debate that's been going on for years and years? When on the road? Refrigerator "on" with gas? yes, no? Well, we have the household refrigerator now, all 120 volt electric runs on an inverter off the battery. This is a whole new world for us with an all electric 120 volt house style refrigerator. But oh my goodness is the space nice!
Also having difficulty locating where we shoved all our "junk" from the old camper. We were at a State Park last week-end, decided on a Saturday to get the new camper, met with the dealer, worked out the deal and left the deposit. Returned to the camp ground, pulled out on Sunday and started unloading the old camper. Everything went in the garage. Tuesday we took delivery of the new camper, and still had to work a 40 hour work week schedule.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we did drive way camps to get familiar with the new camper, and to repack all the junk. Stuff just got shoved in anywhere, and Friday Morning we headed for Kentucky. So, it's now been about 3 days of asking each other... Where is THIS? Where is THAT? and we go to look and can't find it! Still can't find the remote to our portable DVD player, tape, ink pens, and writing paper! DUH! In time, it will unearth.
Another new element we have to deal with we did not experience with the Outback is clothes hanging in the closet. The closet runs along the back wall of the camper. I'm sure, lots of bounce there. When we got to the campsite, all the hanging clothes were down. Hangers jumped off the bar.
A trip to WalMart, just up the road from where we are at, and we bought new hangers, all metal. Not wire, and I was able to rebend the hooks on each one so they are much tighter when hanging on the bar, and have a deeper hook now. Anyway, trip home will tell if they work better or not. For $12 it wasn't a bad investment.
Had to get some baby protection hooks for the cabinet doors that are adjacent the slides. We found out the hard way, the cabinet doors pop open and get caught in the slides when extracting. So, WalMart to the rescue and we won't have that problem ever again!
Well, comparing the old Outback TT to the new Montana 5er, I am finally inclined to admit and send an apology to all former 5er owners my skepticism about 5ers. Well, one thing I was absolutely correct about though ... STEPS! From the outside ground to the upstairs living room, it's 8 steps! I suppose as long as my artificial metal knee hangs in there, the steps won't be a problem.
Heading home Monday, looking forward to an interesting tow again.
And oh, buy the way... I had the wife drive - tow - about half way here so she'd have the first hand experience right out of the gate too. She did marvelous!
The back door from the inside:
