I've posted bits and pieces of our new trailer acquisition saga over the past few months, which included buying too much trailer for our Nissan Armada (turns out "tow capacity" is a meaningless marketing term :-)), then subsequently trading said Armada in for an F350 diesel.
Well, the time finally arrived for our first real trip of the season...a 5 day excursion at Lake Tahoe! My parents live about an hour from there, so they met us at the campground with their tent trailer. What a great trip we had! Between the towing power and payload of the truck, and the outstanding performance of the ProPride hitch system, the towing experience was an absolute pleasure. We got some major cross winds in a couple locations, not to mention all of the big-rig passes, and not even the slightest hint of sway. Night and day difference from towing our old 27' TT with the Armada and Pro Series WD hitch.
Picking the trailer up from the shop...the fridge wasn't working on AC power, so it was in for the formality of diagnosing a failed controller card. Warranty replacement on its way.
Leaving the fog belt for sunnier skies!
First potty break...San Luis Reservoir
All set up after a short 8 hour drive up the hill...good thing we left at 5am!
Beer-thirty!
Not hating this view
Everyone slept great in the new trailer
Looking up to the Flume Trail high above Lake Tahoe
Grandma and DS2 at Sand Harbor
What an incredible day at Sand Harbor
Papa and DD are best buds
Checking out the campground pool, and flight testing the new water wings ๐
Really impressed with the new setup...it suits us perfectly!
A little street hockey to get the day started
The smoke from the nearby Markleeville fire started entering the Tahoe Valley
Wait! I just want to ride you!!
A Tahoe Lobster!
Our last night in camp...it sure was a great time!
All packed up and ready to hit the high gears! I'm really glad I went with the long bed; the extra room for nonsense outweighs the turn radius woes.
This view of Lover's Leap means our Tahoe fun is over ๐
At 62' long, finding a parking spot can be a challenge
It was a scorcher coming through Sacramento...we left Tahoe in the mid-70's, and it was 59 degrees by the time we got back to Monterey, 300 miles later. You have to love the California Micro-climates! This photo does not do justice to the amount of pollen on the dash.
The dry and scenic Central Valley
My lovely co-pilot
The last big climb of the drive home: Pacheco Pass. I was able to maintain 70 up the hill, no problem.
Back in town after a 9.5 hour drive home, and everyone was still in good spirits! Mission: accomplished.
Well, the time finally arrived for our first real trip of the season...a 5 day excursion at Lake Tahoe! My parents live about an hour from there, so they met us at the campground with their tent trailer. What a great trip we had! Between the towing power and payload of the truck, and the outstanding performance of the ProPride hitch system, the towing experience was an absolute pleasure. We got some major cross winds in a couple locations, not to mention all of the big-rig passes, and not even the slightest hint of sway. Night and day difference from towing our old 27' TT with the Armada and Pro Series WD hitch.
Picking the trailer up from the shop...the fridge wasn't working on AC power, so it was in for the formality of diagnosing a failed controller card. Warranty replacement on its way.
Leaving the fog belt for sunnier skies!
First potty break...San Luis Reservoir
All set up after a short 8 hour drive up the hill...good thing we left at 5am!
Beer-thirty!
Not hating this view
Everyone slept great in the new trailer
Looking up to the Flume Trail high above Lake Tahoe
Grandma and DS2 at Sand Harbor
What an incredible day at Sand Harbor
Papa and DD are best buds
Checking out the campground pool, and flight testing the new water wings ๐
Really impressed with the new setup...it suits us perfectly!
A little street hockey to get the day started
The smoke from the nearby Markleeville fire started entering the Tahoe Valley
Wait! I just want to ride you!!
A Tahoe Lobster!
Our last night in camp...it sure was a great time!
All packed up and ready to hit the high gears! I'm really glad I went with the long bed; the extra room for nonsense outweighs the turn radius woes.
This view of Lover's Leap means our Tahoe fun is over ๐
At 62' long, finding a parking spot can be a challenge
It was a scorcher coming through Sacramento...we left Tahoe in the mid-70's, and it was 59 degrees by the time we got back to Monterey, 300 miles later. You have to love the California Micro-climates! This photo does not do justice to the amount of pollen on the dash.
The dry and scenic Central Valley
My lovely co-pilot
The last big climb of the drive home: Pacheco Pass. I was able to maintain 70 up the hill, no problem.
Back in town after a 9.5 hour drive home, and everyone was still in good spirits! Mission: accomplished.
legolas wrote:
Dude, did you really try to tow that monster with an Armada?
Hey, I was within all of my weights...as long as the tanks were bone dry and there was nothing in the trailer, and no passengers in the TV ๐
I towed it as far as the scales, which were about 15 miles away, then to the storage lot on the way back home.
