The Nomadic Life

[froze]

Diesel and Gas are about the same price now. I paid $3.36 a gallon for midgrade unleaded today. Diesel was $3.58. I get 22 mpg without a trailer in my 2020 diesel F-250 and 12ish with just under 10,000 pounds of travel trailer. My wife gets similar mileage with her diesel 2500 while towing her gooseneck horse trailer with about 4,000 pounds of horses and gear, plus the trailer's weight. If we didn't have horses and a travel trailer, there'd be no need for a diesel pickup. Both trucks have completely stock tuning and emissions. We spend the summers in Wyoming, towing everything north from Arizona while avoiding interstates as much as possible. Oil changes are more, but I get mine done at the Ford dealer which typically has a "Works" coupon for $99. I get two oil changes yearly, with fuel filters (2) every other oil change. My wife's truck has almost 300K miles, and mine is approaching 100K. Will a gas truck go 300K miles?

My wife is an equestrian, and we travel to events all over Arizona, Wyoming, and Montana. You don't see any gas trucks at those events.

Not where I live, we're still on winter additive for diesel and it now costs almost a dollar more, not including the cost of DEF.

And yes, a gasoline truck will go 300,000 miles and more if maintained. I have a Toyota Tundra with a 5.7 and they are known to go well over 300,000 miles; American-made 3/4 and 1-ton trucks are known to go over 300,000 miles, they're lighter 1/2 ton trucks are junk. I get 20 to 21 mpg with my truck, and about 12 with a 7,500 pound trailer, but it weighs more because it's loaded, but not sure how much that is. Your Ford has a 10,000-mile interval for oil changes, but my Tundra manual says 5,000 miles, my dealer says 7,500 with synthetic, and the dealer said as long as I don't use E85 fuel I can go to 7,500, but there's a oil service light that will come on when it detects the oil needs to be changed soon, but your truck holds 13 quarts of oil, mine holds 8. My truck is bone stock too, though I am considering putting in a freer-flowing exhaust system when mine needs replacing. I forgot, my truck is a 4x4 supposedly those get a bit worse mpg than 2x4s, and I have a double cab with a long bed, not sure if that matters.

[bigbill]

Not where I live, we're still on winter additive for diesel and it now costs almost a dollar more, not including the cost of DEF.

And yes, a gasoline truck will go 300,000 miles and more if maintained. I have a Toyota Tundra with a 5.7 and they are known to go well over 300,000 miles; American-made 3/4 and 1-ton trucks are known to go over 300,000 miles, they're lighter 1/2 ton trucks are junk. I get 20 to 21 mpg with my truck, and about 12 with a 7,500 pound trailer, but it weighs more because it's loaded, but not sure how much that is. Your Ford has a 10,000-mile interval for oil changes, but my Tundra manual says 5,000 miles, my dealer says 7,500 with synthetic, and the dealer said as long as I don't use E85 fuel I can go to 7,500, but there's a oil service light that will come on when it detects the oil needs to be changed soon, but your truck holds 13 quarts of oil, mine holds 8. My truck is bone stock too, though I am considering putting in a freer-flowing exhaust system when mine needs replacing. I forgot, my truck is a 4x4 supposedly those get a bit worse mpg than 2x4s, and I have a double cab with a long bed, not sure if that matters.

DEF is a gallon for every 900 miles without a trailer and 400-500 miles per gallon with a trailer. The low DEF light comes on at 500 miles to empty. I spend about $60 a year on DEF. Oil changes are every 7500 miles per the manual, 5,000 if my truck was in AZ in the summer, but we're in Wyoming from May to September and miss the heat. My trailer is just under 10,000 pounds. I'm glad you're happy with your gas truck, and it sounds like it fits your needs; I like my diesel F-250, which is also 4X4, but it's an XLT work truck with cloth bench seats, four doors, and a short bed. The only thing special is the upgraded entertainment system. I also like the 34-gallon fuel tank. My wife's 2007 Chevy 2500 has an 18-gallon tank, so when we caravan both trucks with the travel and horse trailers to Wyoming, I fuel up every other stop.

[Too Tall]

Tastes great less filling. OMG ;)

[bigbill]

Heading to San Diego shortly on our first travel trailer trip of the year. The freshwater system is filled, flushed, and vented. The tires were at 70#, I pulled out the compressor and put them all back at 80#. One of the two propane bottles is empty, but the other one is full. The empty bottle was the one we used all last year.

[Clyde]

Trailer tire psi, correct?

[Too Tall]

Propane lasts forever. Similar here Big Bill.

Well, if anyone is interested we are selling our 2019 Airstream Flying Cloud 26 RBT (rear bedroom) also know as a "26 U". The trailer is in excellent shape with new tires and loads of upgrades. No leaks, no problems!!! PM me with your offer yo.

*If* we can find a buyer for our 2019 we have a possible deal on a slightly longer Airstream so help a brother out and buy our trailer.

Willing to deliver and teach you all the basics within a days driving distance.

[bigbill]

Trailer tire psi, correct?

Yup trailer tires at 80 per the sidewall. The new tires I bought last year were the same Goodyears as OEM. My truck is 65F/70R.

[bigbill]

All good on the trip. I even backed the trailer into the backyard on one try. We ran the A/C, television, water heater on gas and electric, and this morning before we left, I dumped and flushed the tanks. The black tank took a while to get clear. It was last flushed out in September at the KOA in Grand Junction. I think we're good for a May trip to Wyoming.

Speaking of Wyoming, we are considering moving there next summer. This part of AZ is just a wasteland of off-gridders and squatters on public lands. I love my teaching gig and my students, but I could do the same in Wyoming. We plan on leaving Wyoming in the winter from December to the beginning of March.

[froze]

Heading to San Diego shortly on our first travel trailer trip of the year. The freshwater system is filled, flushed, and vented. The tires were at 70#, I pulled out the compressor and put them all back at 80#. One of the two propane bottles is empty, but the other one is full. The empty bottle was the one we used all last year.

80 psi? Are you absolutely sure your trailer says to use 80psi? Not talking about what the tires say, I'm talking about what the trailer recommends. The largest 16,000-pound trailers made only recommend 65 psi with special tires, most trailer tires are rated for 50 psi max. and most trailers recommend 45 to 55. 70 to 80 psi seems way too much, no trailer tire made allows for that much psi, nor is there any trailer that recommends that much in their owner manuals, if that psi you're using is not recommended by the trailer, it will cause more sway, less braking capability, faster tire wear, and the potential for a tire blowout. Don't take the word of some trailer repair place either, you should have a placard located inside near the entrance door frame, or inside a cabinet door that tells you how much PSI to use, as will the owner's manual.

[bigbill]

80 psi? Are you absolutely sure your trailer says to use 80psi? Not talking about what the tires say, I'm talking about what the trailer recommends. The largest 16,000-pound trailers made only recommend 65 psi with special tires, most trailer tires are rated for 50 psi max. and most trailers recommend 45 to 55. 70 to 80 psi seems way too much, no trailer tire made allows for that much psi, nor is there any trailer that recommends that much in their owner manuals, if that psi you're using is not recommended by the trailer, it will cause more sway, less braking capability, faster tire wear, and the potential for a tire blowout. Don't take the word of some trailer repair place either, you should have a placard located inside near the entrance door frame, or inside a cabinet door that tells you how much PSI to use, as will the owner's manual.

I have had this trailer for a couple of years. I know where the tire pressure sticker is located on the trailer and it says 80 psi and the tires (Goodyear) say 80 psi. You are incorrect to say no trailer manufacturer recommends that much pressure because Jayco does. We drove to and from San Diego, mostly on I-8 which had high crosswinds and had no sway. 9,300 pounds of trailer and 7500 pounds of truck.

[Clyde]

Visited the Davidson River Campground for a couple nights, did a little mtb. Thurs was the easy Cove Trail to Black Mtn, Fri was more extensive involving Clawhammer, Black Mtn, to Avery Creek. Almost 4 hours on the bike, and 4K elevation. This is the missus checking signal at 3600' top of the Claw, which is granny or the 2nd biggest cog for us. 1:15 mins of that. Whew. I got a little stomach bug Fri pm so we bailed Sat am back home. Feeling better today and did a couple laps of Pleasant Ridge.
IMG_3098 by Clyde the Pointer, on Flickr
IMG_3099 by Clyde the Pointer, on Flickr
IMG_3100 by Clyde the Pointer, on Flickr

[bigbill]

I like the "checking a signal" shot. When we camp at Medicine Lodge Creek in Wyoming, I ride my mountain bike up a big hill to get a signal.

[Clyde]

Tsali : nectar single track
Stupid campground 45 mins away but had hook ups. Will return, maybe for my retirement party in Oct.
https://flic.kr/p/2pN8SUN
https://flic.kr/p/2pN8SY5
https://flic.kr/p/2pN6xAT
https://flic.kr/p/2pN7Fqq

[bigbill]

We're two weeks from leaving for Wyoming. My truck has new batteries that I installed, new fuel filters, oil and filter that I let the dealer do, and tire rotation. The trailer is ready, the only thing left other than packing is to dump some fresh water, I travel with 1/3 tank. I'll leave a day before my wife and drive to Moab, about 8 hours. While my wife and her dad are driving up with the horse trailer, I'll ride at Moab. We'll stay at the country fairgrounds which has power, water, and stalls for the horses. We'll head to Cheyenne the next day and stop at the fairgrounds and visit family in Loveland, CO. Then onward to Worland where we'll do some mowing and electrical checks before parking the trailer on our property. Our water comes from a frost free faucet, the lines to the septic were empty, as long as nothing made a home in the 100 amp panel, I'll turn on the power.

[Too Tall]

Safe Travels my friend. We all dig hearing what you are up to.

LOL The moving and encampment details read like a book ;) I've been at our Va spot for a week preparing for guests and shareholders. FWIIW For the past few years I've been working to get the forest, meadows and trails more organized. Removing invasives, planting warm meadow slopes, trail building etc. etc. etc. This is hard and satisfying work, but you know that.

[bigbill]

When we arrive in Wyoming, we rent a skid steer for the weekend. We get the mower, bucket, and auger attachments. I need to put up two more gates which involves 8" posts, and a fence line with 5" posts and 3" cross rails. We have a big pile of 3" posts that are 16' long. I have to buy the larger posts, but I'll cut the 16' posts for rails. I have the gates, but I'm modifying one opening to 16' with a 12' and 4' gate. The 4' is to move horses and allow me to ride out on my bike without messing with a big gate. We are house shopping this summer and when we relocate, I'll put a 200A box on the property with additional RV outlets. The lower terrace on our property has jumps and obstacles for equestrian events. People can bring their trailers and park on the upper terrace and have power, water, and a dump station. In 2022, the cabling I ran from the pole is 4/0 so as long as I have 180 amps or less potential loading, it will be good to go. I'm thinking 5, 30 amp outlets and a duplex GFCI outlet off a 20 amp breaker.

I'm looking forward to the drive. Going through Monument Valley never gets old.

[Too Tall]

Bill, I'm observing that many of the modern trailers are 50 amp. They are fine with 30 for the most part however it is a consideration. Similar here we provide 20 amp GFCI...which go bad on the regular.

[bigbill]

Most of the midsize horse trailers with living quarters are still 30 amp. One of the behemoth triple axle trailers probably won't make it up the driveway without high centering. It's Wyoming, and the nights are still in the low 50s, even in July. I can run my trailer with the AC running off a 20 amp outlet, but trying to use the microwave simultaneously will trip the breaker. The problem with 50A is only having three off my 200A feed. I carry a 50/30 adapter and have used it a few times when the park's 30 amp outlet looked sketchy. Last summer, my 30 amp plug partially melted because of a high-resistance connection. I amazed my wife by having a new one in my box-o-parts and replaced it in about 30 minutes. I also had to replace my trailer plug last summer after I bent a tulip clip. I carry two new spares because the horse trailer uses the same plug.

I will pull out the generator, put a little Seafoam in the gas, and run it dry on Saturday. I'll change the oil, put new gas in it, and test it out. I'm taking the pancake compressor if I need to inflate a tire, seat a tubeless tire, or blow out the bug light.

[Too Tall]

I've replaced too many 30 amp outlets because park guests fail to maintain their trailer cords. All they need to do is apply some dielectric snot which every camper has or (better) anti-corrosive goop like electrical contact grease (pick your poision).

Replacing my trailer 6-way is on the short list. Prior owner did a hack job leaving the wires partially exposed. Boo.

On a lighter note I just got the invite for a three week Caravan that will explore remote Canadian Rockies. The first stop is the Calgary Stampede, hello Chuck Wagon races :) Will have to gear up as this new trailer does not have solar panels.

[SlowPokePete]

Tell us more about the new trailer.

And the tow vehicle...still got the Tundra?

SPP