Added air bags...
Today was my first opportunity to try out the new air bags I had installed a couple of weeks ago. I bought the Air Lift Load Lifter 5000 Ultimate system {$270 for the bags and $269 for the install}. ...
Forum Discussion
Just returned from our 5 day 4 night adventure to Flagsatff/Pine Grove CG for some serious motorcycle and camping fun. The air bags were an overwhelming success. With just 50 psi the rear of the coach does not drop at all when I hook up my single axle cargo trailer {1,360#} even when I add my 862# Indian Springfield motorcylce to the trailer.
The ride is as smooth and stable as ever with passing trucks having little to no effect. I checked the pressure when I got home an it was down to 45 after 5 days so I bled it down to 15 and put the trailer to bed.
After our Grand Canyon South Rim Adventure on Monday we headed to Sedona on Tuesday morning. The new asphalt from I-17 to the bottom of Oak Creek Canyon was awesome and after passing the only car on the road we were able to briskly ride the canyon all the way to Sedona withnout seeing another southbound vehicle. My bride described it as the ultimate bike ride we have ever taken and when I suggested repeating it the next day she said no. She wanted to remember the perfect ride knowing we could never get it that right again.
After a great breakfast that the HP Cafe in Sedona {reputed to be the oldest restaurant in Sedona} we rode south to and through Cottonwood and up {and I do mean "UP"} to Jerome. From Jerome 89A quickly becomes one of the finest motorcycle roads in America... not for the feint of heart or any RV combo more than 50' {that is the law and very good one}.
We dropped down to the Prescott Valley and headed north through Chino and the Chino Valley up to I-40 at Ash Fork before returning east through Williams and back to Flagstaff. "Altitudes" Bar and Grill served up amazing half pound burgers with all the trimmings before riding back to our camp at Pine Grove.
Wednesday morning we took lake Mary Road south from Pine Grove 36 miles to highway 87. Turning left and heading north to Winslow I finally got to check this stretch out and found it to be fine for bikes or RV's of just about any size. At Winslow we turned west for Flagstaff on I-40 once again and found the best BBQ in Flagstaff at a hole in the wall... "Satchmo's" which we highly recommend.
We hit the weather perfectly with not a drop of rain the whole week. Last year at this time we were entertained by daily, violent Monsoon thunder storms but this trip temps in the mid 70's with lows in the mid 50's proved delighful. Took the scenic route home down Lake Mary Road to 87, south to and through Strawberry and Pine and ultimately into Payson. Continuing south on 87 we routed east on 188 along the western shore of Lake Roosevelt coming out at Globe.
Highway 77 saw us all the way home through Winkleman,Mamouth and Oracle and our dirveway is one mile east of 77 on the north side of Catalina.
We drove 460 miles roundtrip from home to Pine Grove and rode the bike another 620 miles exploring some of the finest roads Arizona {or anywhere else for that matter} has to offer. The air bags were the final touch to the new cargo trailer equation and all is good!
:B
The ride is as smooth and stable as ever with passing trucks having little to no effect. I checked the pressure when I got home an it was down to 45 after 5 days so I bled it down to 15 and put the trailer to bed.
After our Grand Canyon South Rim Adventure on Monday we headed to Sedona on Tuesday morning. The new asphalt from I-17 to the bottom of Oak Creek Canyon was awesome and after passing the only car on the road we were able to briskly ride the canyon all the way to Sedona withnout seeing another southbound vehicle. My bride described it as the ultimate bike ride we have ever taken and when I suggested repeating it the next day she said no. She wanted to remember the perfect ride knowing we could never get it that right again.
After a great breakfast that the HP Cafe in Sedona {reputed to be the oldest restaurant in Sedona} we rode south to and through Cottonwood and up {and I do mean "UP"} to Jerome. From Jerome 89A quickly becomes one of the finest motorcycle roads in America... not for the feint of heart or any RV combo more than 50' {that is the law and very good one}.
We dropped down to the Prescott Valley and headed north through Chino and the Chino Valley up to I-40 at Ash Fork before returning east through Williams and back to Flagstaff. "Altitudes" Bar and Grill served up amazing half pound burgers with all the trimmings before riding back to our camp at Pine Grove.
Wednesday morning we took lake Mary Road south from Pine Grove 36 miles to highway 87. Turning left and heading north to Winslow I finally got to check this stretch out and found it to be fine for bikes or RV's of just about any size. At Winslow we turned west for Flagstaff on I-40 once again and found the best BBQ in Flagstaff at a hole in the wall... "Satchmo's" which we highly recommend.
We hit the weather perfectly with not a drop of rain the whole week. Last year at this time we were entertained by daily, violent Monsoon thunder storms but this trip temps in the mid 70's with lows in the mid 50's proved delighful. Took the scenic route home down Lake Mary Road to 87, south to and through Strawberry and Pine and ultimately into Payson. Continuing south on 87 we routed east on 188 along the western shore of Lake Roosevelt coming out at Globe.
Highway 77 saw us all the way home through Winkleman,Mamouth and Oracle and our dirveway is one mile east of 77 on the north side of Catalina.
We drove 460 miles roundtrip from home to Pine Grove and rode the bike another 620 miles exploring some of the finest roads Arizona {or anywhere else for that matter} has to offer. The air bags were the final touch to the new cargo trailer equation and all is good!
:B
