The Nomadic Life

[PaMtbRider]

It's been a week since we got back home from our Colorado trip. Things went amazingly well. The weather was near perfect with most of the daytime highs in the low 80's. We did see a few nights with the overnight lows dipping into the 30's. The only weather that impacted our trip was returning home during the hurricane. We stayed an extra night in Missouri to avoid driving into the storm. Our last day was about 500 miles in a steady rain. That had the side benefit of washing off the majority of bugs and grime that had collected on the front of the truck and trailer. I'll work on getting both properly cleaned this weekend.

The truck did a great job. I never lacked for power, brakes or suspension. Total trip mileage was 6200. It didn't use a drop of oil and averaged 10.5 mpg. I probably could have done better with the mpg by slowing down. Most of. the interstate miles were at 75mph.

A couple of the trip highlights were, renting a Jeep Wrangler and doing some trails near Ouray, Durango to Silverton steam train ride, being woke up by an elk at 2 am bugling outside the trailer door, all the diverse landscapes from canyons, gorges, deserts, and mountains.

I'm still sorting through all the pictures. I will post a few when I get it all figured out.

IMG_0378.jpg

[Too Tall]

Kudos to Dan and Rox.

[froze]

My travel trailer is getting a new fresh water tank later this month. It leaked and I used JB Water Weld to get the leak to a dribble while in Wyoming. I have a warranty which should cover all this. A new 81 gallon tank is around $500 and I'd imagine at least that much in labor. I also cut away the black corrugated material to get to the leak and I'll need all that replaced as well. I used 8" wide tape to cover the holes to get home and protect everything else.

My next chore is to learn how to adjust the slides so they are completely flush when they're in. Right now, the door side slide has a gap. I also plan on replacing the plastic wheel flares that have warped. They're not expensive.

In other news, my wife's Chevy 2500 was getting random check engine lights and maintenance warnings saying the DPF was clogged. She was losing power a few times on the way home from Wyoming. The truck has 270,000 miles and the local diesel guys that we trust says it needs a new turbo and DPF. The particulate filter is the most expensive part but an OEM Garrett turbo isn't far behind. It will be around $10K in repairs and compression checks show the motor is still good. We thought about getting another used truck, but we know the history of this one, so we're throwing money at it. The shop is also servicing the front and rear differentials, with the rear getting the cover removed and the housing wiped out, and the transmission is getting a cover off, new filter service. My F-250 is doing great, I had the transmission, transfer case, and differentials serviced.

After we move to Wyoming next spring, we will downsize our travel trailer and get a fifth wheel, 30' or less. Too many times I've been unable to get a spot in an RV camp because our trailer is 33", especially out west. Since we won't be living in it for months, I want a small toy hauler for my bikes and my wife's art stuff.

Did you say you have a 81 gallon water tank for a 5th wheel travel trailer? I've never seen water tanks in any size trailer or motorhome larger than 48 gallons.

[bigbill]

Did you say you have a 81 gallon water tank for a 5th wheel travel trailer? I've never seen water tanks in any size trailer or motorhome larger than 48 gallons.

My bumper pull Jayco has an 81 gallon tank. The system capacity is 84 gallons but I assume they're adding the volume of the water heater and piping. Looking back, I regret replying to you. I had forgot about your insistence that 80# tire pressure is incorrect despite what the trailer manufacturer specifies and other discussions. My trailer has an 81 gallon tank, full stop, no discussion.

[froze]

My bumper pull Jayco has an 81 gallon tank. The system capacity is 84 gallons but I assume they're adding the volume of the water heater and piping. Looking back, I regret replying to you. I had forgot about your insistence that 80# tire pressure is incorrect despite what the trailer manufacturer specifies and other discussions. My trailer has an 81 gallon tank, full stop, no discussion.

There is no need to be rude, is there? I asked a question, that's all it was, I had no reason this time to dispute you, I even said I haven't seen 84 gallon tanks, didn't say there is no such thing. So glad you won't respond because there's no need to carry on with your rudeness, so I end it with this post, if you wish to return being rude again.

[Too Tall]

Both of you drop and give me 20.
In daylight this will never happen 'cause we are superior.
-J

[bigbill]

I know we've gone back and forth about pickup trucks for tow vehicles, so I have a confession. When we were driving to town on Friday, the low DEF light came on, meaning I had 500 miles of DEF remaining. I decided to use the box that was in the trailer cargo hold all summer. Saturday morning, all fat dumb and happy, I put a gallon in my fuel tank before I realized what I was doing. I stopped, felt like throwing up, and tried to stay rational, even though I wanted to beat my own ass. I popped the hood and pulled the fuse for the lift pump to keep my stupidity in the tank. Yesterday morning, I had it towed to a mechanic in town that I trust. Since I never ran the engine or pumped any fuel, they just have to drop and clean the tank. I might end up with a new lift pump if there is any crystallization, but that's still better than a $14k fuel system. I'll get it back tomorrow.

Before we head into a DEF tangent, I love my diesel truck. It's heavy, efficient, and great at engine braking. This will only cost me a few hundred dollars unless I need a pump, but that can be paid for by my extended warranty. FWIW, there were 30 gallons of diesel in the tank, so I was never going to fix this in the driveway.

[Too Tall]

That bites the big one buddy. We have all been there. This makes me recall handing my fancy chainsaw to a repair shop because I just could not figure out why my otherwise reliable saw would not start.

Got a call it was ready so I ask "what was the problem and thank you".

I put bar oil in the fuel tank,

Yup

[AngryScientist]

Manufacturers of such things should go to better lengths to make them more idiot proof. A DEF nozzle of any sort should not fit into a fuel filler hole and vise versa.

One of my internet time suck's is following Dave's Auto. Cool shop that does a ton of HD truck work. Seems modern diesel fueling systems are just problematic. Here's one of his vids

P.S. - Sorry for your troubles Bill, but you caught it in time, could have been a bunch worse!

[Too Tall]

I'm not knocking diesels, they are right for hauling heavy and with continuous use. What they are NOT for are folks who want a big bad truck to pull their 8,000lbs (I'm being generous) camper 4 times a year and leave it sit in the driveway for the remainder. Multiple times I've see these trucks towed out of the campground with fuel system issues.

In 99% of these use cases I speak of a HD gas truck would be MUCH more appropriate.

geeze

PS Bill I'm not talking about you I'm talking you up.

On another subject, I finally got a chance to dry camp for four nights. This gave me a solid chance to test a new to me ecoflow river pro battery, 100 watt solar panel. Absolute smashing success, the battery recharged each day and never went below 50% while powering the Starlink 12v and charging cell phones and ipads. As long as there is sun, this is a heck of a robust setup.

[AngryScientist]

As long as there is sun, this is a heck of a robust setup.

Next Stop: Slab City.

[bigbill]

Manufacturers of such things should go to better lengths to make them more idiot proof. A DEF nozzle of any sort should not fit into a fuel filler hole and vise versa.

One of my internet time suck's is following Dave's Auto. Cool shop that does a ton of HD truck work. Seems modern diesel fueling systems are just problematic. Here's one of his vids

P.S. - Sorry for your troubles Bill, but you caught it in time, could have been a bunch worse!

I immediately recognized my stupidity. It ended up being $900 because I wanted both fuel filters replaced and the system flushed from the engine back to the lift pump just in case some DEF got past the lift pump. Before I added this DEF, I had last filled at the Cenex Coop in Worland, Wyoming, which has a DEF pump next to the fuel pump at the pull-throughs. Without a trailer, I get about 1000 miles per gallon of DEF, about 400 with. I will put a CP4 disaster kit in my truck over the winter. It's an easy install, nothing to cut. My wife's 2500 is in the shop getting a new turbo, EGR, and diesel particulate filter, around $10K. We were getting constant check engine lights for a clogged DPF, vane position on the turbo, and other various heat related due to the EGR. It has around 275K miles. We should get to 500K now. When we get to Wyoming next spring, the shell will come off my truck and it will become the tow vehicle for the big horse trailer while her truck will see travel trailer and daily ranch duty. One day when her truck finally dies, we'll replace it with a gasser after we downsize the trailer. I fully agree with TT, a big diesel is overkill for <8K trailer. I'd still want a 3/4 ton for the weight and braking, but Ford has a 6.8 and 7.3 that are well reviewed.

Around here in NW Arizona, I see many duallies with lift kits and oversized tires. I don't know how they tow or even if they do. I've seen on pulling a fifth wheel travel trailer which was angled up and not distributing the trailer weight on all four trailer tires. You don't really see that in Wyoming, duallies are for pulling big trailers and are best left stock. Neither my truck or my wife's will roll coal.

[Too Tall]

Speaking of dualies. One of the more interesting uses of a dualie was a sports camp client who trained hunting dogs. He had a massive stainless steel holding thing in the bed that was home to 10 (?) dogs. He had modified a dualie by removing one wheelset and wheel flairs. That's my recollection from 15 yrs. ago??? He claimed it was the best rig for his needs. Nuts I say.

Yeah the new Tremor Fords are getting rave reviews online and from my buddies.

[bigbill]

My trailer extended warranty will pay for my new fresh water tank. Just a $100 deductible. We're looking at getting rid of the travel trailer before we make the final move to Wyoming and getting a smaller (<30') model which will better fit our needs. I'll likely go full on with solar panels and bigger batteries so we can stay 3-4 days at a time in Bighorn National Forest and become fly fishing idols.

[Too Tall]

Jinx. I just had two solar panels installed and planning on two battleborn batteries. The 180 watts of panel are enough to keep the batteries in decent shape most of the time. We have similar goals, boondock for up to 4 nights than find hook up sites. My next challenge is installing a DC DC charger in the Tundra without blowing it up.

[bigbill]

I'm looking at 300W worth of panels and two 100Ah Battleborn batteries. Some of the remote NF campgrounds have potable and vault toilets. I figure gray water will be the limiter. I have a 4Kw generator and my goal is to not need it. I expect to use my generator next spring to power up tools and a compressor to build fences and a small barn.

[AngryScientist]

Jinx. I just had two solar panels installed .

Where did you mount the panes to the AS? It's rounded streamlined shape don't seem to lend well to flat panels?

My guess is a small foldable set of panels would be ideal so one could move them around the site depending on where the sun is.

I have a small set on my microcamper and they never do full capacity because I always want to park it in the shade.

[bigbill]

I plan on using folding panels and set them up for the best exposure so the trailer can go in the shade. I can get some cables to make the shortest route from the panels to the trailer to minimize I2R losses. Most of our camping will be in the Bighorns at 8K+ feet of elevation, so the nights will be cool.

[PaMtbRider]

They make brackets to mount rigid, flat panels on an Airstream roof. You can also get flexible panels that are glued directly to the curved roof. We have 200 watts of rigid panels on our roof. Portable panels are also popular, but that is one more thing to carry.

[Too Tall]

What Dan said. Ours are mounted on the front and are the rigid panels.