The Automotive Thread

[jeb6294]

Well, we officially went camper shopping on Saturday.  When we first started checking out some of the floorplans, the logical choice was something with a bunkhouse and room for 2 adults and anywhere from 1 to 4 kids depending on the weekend.  To get enough room, they were getting big enough that we were into 5th wheel territory.  At one point, the wife started talking about a toy hauler.  There are always lots of golf carts running around and the thought of being able to load up the motorcycle sounded good.

There's a dealer about 10 minutes from our house, Holman RV, so we ran out there. They had probably 20-25 toy haulers lined up that we could look at.  We only made it through about half of them, but there was one that stuck out as a clear front runner.  It's got a 12' garage, the ramp turns into an elevated and covered deck and there's another elevated deck that drops down on the side.  In the garage there are couches on both walls that fold down to make a queen size bed, there's another queen size bunk that drops down from the ceiling, there's a "3-season wall" to close up the back, a 30" TV, it's got it's own separate HVAC, a half-bathroom and a roll of carpet to put down once the toys are unloaded so what you end up with is a nice big separate bunkhouse for the kids.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

So many words on that diagram that are the complete opposite of camping....Theatre, loft, patio, ent. center, shower, dresser. 

That thing is nicer than most hotel rooms...

 

[MA_PE]

yeah that's pretty cool.  What's the total length ~48ft so as a 5th wheel you're adding ~40ft+ to the vehicle?

 

[jeb6294]

Most of the ones we've been looking at are ~40-43ft.  Never towed a fifth wheel before, but during the course of our research a big 5th wheel is actually easier to tow than a mid-30ft travel trailer.  When the lady asked what I was driving, I told her it's a Ford Ranger but it should be okay because it's got the V-6.  I don't think she was amused.

We looked at another one we both liked last night.  Place had a different one with a side patio that we initially went to look at but didn't like as much as the one above...the patio wasn't nearly as big.  While we were there we saw another one we liked without a side patio that'll go on the short list if we decide we don't need/want the side patio.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

Based on the comments I've seen from my neighbors with campers, they have 2 relatively big complaints:

1) Storage is a bitch. They pay anywhere from $50-$200 per month just for a place to park it (HOA doesn't allow campers on the property unless parked inside the garage). Costs of storage spaces all depend on the size and whether it's a "back-in" or "pull-through" space.

2) They feel obligated to use it every weekend. Because they cost so much, it's like committing to only one vacation that you have to use all the time to justify the costs.  If you love "camping" all the time it's great, but if you only like going out a couple times a year, you're almost better off renting.

One of the couples in the neighborhood almost ended up in a divorce over their camper because she got tired of feeling like they had to camp all the time and hated that they spent so much money on it.  He loved it, but he made his wife handle all the "trip prep" and cleanup because he had to deal with the setup, tear down, and storage. 

The ones who seem to enjoy theirs more are the ones who have smaller campers. They are just looking for a roof over their heads when out and instead focus more of their money on the destination and activities.

 

[Supe]

Based on the comments I've seen from my neighbors with campers, they have 2 relatively big complaints:

1) Storage is a bitch. They pay anywhere from $50-$200 per month just for a place to park it (HOA doesn't allow campers on the property unless parked inside the garage). Costs of storage spaces all depend on the size and whether it's a "back-in" or "pull-through" space.

2) They feel obligated to use it every weekend. Because they cost so much, it's like committing to only one vacation that you have to use all the time to justify the costs.  If you love "camping" all the time it's great, but if you only like going out a couple times a year, you're almost better off renting.

One of the couples in the neighborhood almost ended up in a divorce over their camper because she got tired of feeling like they had to camp all the time and hated that they spent so much money on it.  He loved it, but he made his wife handle all the "trip prep" and cleanup because he had to deal with the setup, tear down, and storage. 

The ones who seem to enjoy theirs more are the ones who have smaller campers. They are just looking for a roof over their heads when out and instead focus more of their money on the destination and activities.

Sounds like friends of ours.  They bought a decent mid-sized camper, along with a new Ram pickup and a fifth wheel to pull it about 2 years ago.  They post everything they do on Facebook, and have maybe used it twice.  

 

[jeb6294]

The new Mrs-6294 is the one who started all this so there won't be any arguments from her.  There's a big campground just north of Dayton that her family goes to every year.  Last year when we went up, we actually took the golf cart around to check out some of the permanent sites, i.e. campers or 5th wheels on concrete pads with hard utility connections, that were for sale up there.  That would actually be a cheaper way to go but both of us said the same thing...if we had a place up there, we would feel obligated to go up there all the time and we've already found a few other places we'd like to check out.

Storage will be a PITA for a little while, but we already asked mom how she'd feel about a concrete pad in the back part of the yard with a driveway off the side street next to her house and she was fine with it.  One house a couple doors down already has a place to keep their camper out back so any permitting, if there is any out where she is, shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Supe]

Tomorrow morning I head south to Alabama for the first TT event of the 2016 season, as I begin my ITS championship defense.  Really looking forward to seeing what the new suspension setup will do, but will be both pissed and mortified if I can't top my times from last year.  

Hoping my chest decides to be cooperative as well.  

My boss/teammate can't make this event, so I'm flying solo until I get down to Buford, GA, where I'll caravan the rest of the way with another racing buddy.  Goal is to make it to the other side of Atlanta before we hit the shit show that is Friday rush hour traffic, so I'll be hitting the road at roughly 6AM EST.  

Fingers crossed that both me and the car make it there and back in one piece.  Brakes on the truck took a dump, but thankfully the place down the street was able to do them today, so I should be ready to go.  Also need to take a trip to my buddy's place who offered to mount and balance the new race tires for me.  

 

[mudpuppy]

Where in Bama is your race?

 

[Supe]

Munford - Talladega Grand Prix Raceway

 

[mudpuppy]

Talladega?!  Shake N Bake!

 

[Supe]

 

[MetsFan]

I want to ride in a ring taxi...

 

[MA_PE]

Talladega?!  Shake N Bake!

yes.  he just said that!

you got to shake it before you bake it.

 

[Supe]

The good news is that the car performed awesome, took 4 seconds off my best time from last year, and the new suspension works killer.

The bad part is that the new suspension works so well in the corners, that it starved the bearings of oil, and half my motor decided to make an abrupt exit out the bottom of the car coming out of turn 1 onto the straight.  Thankfully I have already located a replacement engine that I'll be picking up in about two weeks and dropping in after swapping the rod bearings out for safe measure.  

 

[Road Guy]

damn, hope you have some sponsors to help offset that!

on a related note I saw GNR there in 1991.

 

[Supe]

Nope, no sponsor dollars.  Fortunately, the replacement motor is only $650, and the new parts another hundred or so.  Could have been a LOT worse.  As my buddy put it, "you take this a lot better than most sports car racers, but that's because you're a drag racer who is out ten grand when you blow up a motor, not a few hundred bucks!"

 

[Supe]

Guess that's just more tax return money that's being directed away from the wedding...

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

The good news is that the car performed awesome, took 4 seconds off my best time from last year, and the new suspension works killer.

The bad part is that the new suspension works so well in the corners, that it starved the bearings of oil, and half my motor decided to make an abrupt exit out the bottom of the car coming out of turn 1 onto the straight.  Thankfully I have already located a replacement engine that I'll be picking up in about two weeks and dropping in after swapping the rod bearings out for safe measure.  

There are several guys in the Camaro world who change out oil pumps for this very reason.

 

[Supe]

I'm curious to see which cylinder failed.  On 944 motors, it tends to be the #2 rod, since it shares its oiling with the balance shaft.  But based on where the gaping hole is in my motor, I suspect it's the #4 cylinder.  They gave me a chunk of the rod they found as a memento, and it's so black and blue that it's pretty obvious the bearing turned in the bore.