New 5th Wheel - Tempy?

On our drive to Chipley yesterday as we discussed our impending new to us 5th wheel purchase, I asked Bruce if he had any suggestions for a name for our new toy.  He immediately answered, in all seriousness, "Temporary" - and since I really couldn't argue at this point (not really knowing how long she might be with us) she will be known as Tempy. Now on to the ever unfolding saga ......

This is a "before" picture of Tempy behind The Truck (just the back, I know). As I am sure we have all noticed, she does not sit level when hooked to The Truck. As a  result the first thing we did after arriving home was to jump into the HHR and rush to the trailer store to get new bearings for the wheels and new spring perches. Yeah I know, you are thinking spring perches?  Well apparently the springs on this trailer are attached to "perches" (think bird perch, something they sit on or hang from) on the bottom side of the axle and we (the Royal we), of course, want them to be on the top of the axle, thus allowing the trailer body to sit higher above the wheels which  I am assured will help with that whole level thing.  Also, apparently as a side effect of this raising of the body (I know you believe it was not by design right?), there will be more clearance for, dare I say it, larger new tires?  Ha!!

But enough of this leveling with new spring perches already.  What about the inside.  Here are some quick pics.  There is a compact kitchen with mucho storage, and as I indicated yesterday, a small table and chairs.  The living area includes a jack knife couch (you know, one that makes into a bed by lifting the front and pulling up and forward and supposedly sleeps 2 adults) and a swivel rocking chair, both covered in a nice relaxing beige/blue upholstery.  If you look through the doorway of picture on the right, you can see the small dressing area that leads to the bedroom..  Yes, I know can only see the floor of the area before the step to the bedroom so use your imagination.



The bedroom itself has of course, a bed, (with a really crappy mattress right now but I intend to remedy that immediately) and space on both sides of the bed (OK, not really space but a small walk way the width of that tiny wardrobe you see on the right side of the picture) where we can get to the little (didn't I already say they were tiny) wardrobes on either side.  We can also use that walk way to possibly make the bed , if we hold our stomachs in and don't breath and I can get Bruce to help (again the Royal we). The tiny bath has a shower big enough for either of us (but not both at the same time) to actually turn around and there is room for your legs if you want to close the door when using the toilet (a must of course).  All in all, a nice, compact, well laid out Alaska adventure home for 2 people, or 2 people and a small animal menagerie.



I leave you with this last picture of  Tempy (I know, you are thinking this can't go on much longer, can it?) unhooked and waiting for her big day tomorrow (remember, axles, spring perches, bearings, etc.). Maybe we will have an "after" picture by tomorrow, but doubtful, because she also has to be fitted with a 5th wheel to gooseneck adapter on her hitch. More on that as it occurs,  Remember, we are nothing, if not creative, in our endeavors.  Later all.......................

The Grand Adventure - In the Beginning.....

We have decided to drive to Alaska - next year.  I know this is early to start my blog, but we are not taking The Beast: so there will be lots of "getting ready" for this trip, including purchasing a new RV.  We have decided to get a new to us 5th wheel and pull it with The Truck as we already own this vehicle.)  The Truck is a 2006 Diesel GMC 1 ton dually crew cab - so we are still talking comfort here.  But why go to Alaska with a different RV?  Well, we are kind of protective of The Beast and suspect that more can go wrong with it on this type of trip than a 5th wheel with no slides and much smaller tires.  Just fixing a blow-out on The Beast is a major hit to the pocket book, let alone finding a place to carry its 22.5 " spare and then getting it put on if needed,  but a 15 or 16 inch light truck tire is easier to carry, easier to find if you need more than one and much more affordable. Then there is the ground clearance.  We know there will be gravel to deal with, pot holes and road construction and the 5th wheel we are buying has an ultralight aluminum frame with aluminum siding, not fiberglass while The Beast has a fiberglass body that I would rather protect for several years to come. There are other reasons, not the least of which is that we have a lot of money invested in The Beast and for a minimum of money we can take the 5th wheel and as Bruce says, beat the heck out of The Truck instead and then sell the 5th wheel are recoup some of our money.

So what is this new RV we are getting. She is a 27' Sunnybrook 5th Wheel, with a full kitchen including a table and 2 chairs, bath with shower, separate bedroom, couch and chair, microwave, cabinets galore, limited outside storage (no that does NOT make Bruce happy) and ONLY weighs 5000 lbs.  Yes, quite a difference from the 22,000+ of  The Beast - in fact not much more than our normal tow vehicle, the HHR. Should pull easily and still give us all the space we need (we hope) for the full menagerie (yes both cats and the dog will be joining us) and both of us to be comfortable. We pick her up Thursday morning in Chipley and drive home, hopefully with no problems.  Then the "outfitting" begins.  Some minor work to the ride height (at least that is what Bruce keeps telling me) and new tires first thing.  Then our first test camp, we hope, right after the 4th of July.  There will still be some Beast trips before we leave too and I will include them as we go through the next months, so stay tuned for the ongoing saga as we begin the process of getting ready for The Grand Adventure.