3200 mile Run Down to San Antonio & Back

[Warpath-TC]

Well I have finally got myself caught up after a week long trip down to San Antonio. We did the 1600 mile trip down in about 29 hours which I started on Thursday at about 7:30 p.m. and ran until just after midnight, getting caught up in a highway closure in Columbus, Oh which really sucked and cost me about 2 1/2 hours. Put in 14 hours on Friday and pulled in to San Antonio at about 7 p.m. on Saturday after gaining a hour due to the time difference and a quick trip to the Blue Beacon Truck Wash

to get rid of the ton of bugs.

This was the first run with the my 20' trailer which really made running at 75 mph nice. My only incident was my Geo Tracker in the trailer coming loose of the tire straps on the last day of the run down. Even with almost no tongue weight it still did really well. The run home I strapped it down from the chassis and that will be the way I do it from now on. Not sure why I can't get the tire straps to work, but they came off no matter how hard I locked them down.

Ended up getting 10.14 mpg which was a drop off of about 1 mpg from what I had been getting and I think that was from running 75 plus and the trailer.

Ran home in 26 hours in 2 days, which I would not want to do to often. The end of the second day just doesn't come soon enough. Truck ran awesome, with only my Pac Brake sticking a bit on a few small down hills I ran across. I was reading a post on the RV site where a guy ran 2400 miles in a pusher and made 7 stops for fuel. Dang do I love my big tanks! I made 2 and that was only because I wanted to top off before parking it when we got home.

Bill

 

[vapoppa]

bill, even if it is a 'liner it's still a fine lookin' rig-- i'm thinking about a 24' pace for my car and my harley-- did you notice much difference in the way the rig handled? -- in advance, thanks--- mase

 

[Warpath-TC]

Mase -

Ya know when I am running down the road, most truckers think I am a Pete or Kdub. That alone is amazing since they look trucks all day long. I guess because they dont see any dressed up FLD's on the road.

The trailer with the proper tongue weight rode awesome. Actually I was running about 100 gallons of water (which is in the back of the MH) and with the trailer and full fuel tanks this thing rode extra awesome. The proper tongue weight is going to make all of the difference on how the trailer tracks behind you. A little light on the tongue and the trailer will want to sway when changing lanes or making corrections in the steering.

One item you may want to get is one of these --> http://www.powerwheel-usa.com/products/powrhitch.htm

My wife made me stop at a Holiday Inn Express on the way home (dont ask) but I got caught out by pulling in the the parking lot and it dead ending in the back of the hotel. On the way in I had to pull the trailer over a 8" curb and there was no way to reverse over that sucker. So thankfully I had my powerhitch with me, unhooked using my Bigfoot Hydraulic Tongue Jack (this thing is awesome!) -->http://www.rvupgradestore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=22 had the trailer turned around in less than 5 minutes turned the rig around and was back in business.

 

[vapoppa]

bill, simple mindedness, determination, and good looks,, i'm talkin' bout lookin at good things, will in the long run overcome bout anything---- thanks for the reply - have a super weekend-- mase

 

[Weramongo]

I set my Jeep up so I strap it down with the front tow hooks and an aftermarket rear bumper that has shackles on it. Had rear tow hooks in the beginning which worked pretty well too. Any run across I-40 or I-10 is going to require double checking the straps for stretching every stop - it's even bounced enough to slide side to side and wheels chock are useless. Keep it tight though and no problems, actually a little movement has never caused any issues either.

I've got a larger trailer than yours (height not length) and it's FRP with an AC unit under the front cabinets so tongue weight has never been a problem but it's pretty cool to have an RV that can handle whatever tongue weight you care to throw at it

 

[KAYE RIVERCITY]

....Warpath! .....did you get my photos yet?....waitin' for all the laughin' to start....and the chit to hit the fan....geof