Operation: Retrieve “Side Effect”

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by diannelgraham

Wow!! I'm sorry you had such an horrible bunch of Washington state drivers great you to our beautiful state Most of us are respectful and non aggressive and don't pass on the right...hummm maybe they where all trying to get to a Seahawks game
Ok just kidding but I've lived here all my life and I'm kinda disagreeing with your option...just saying

Once we got to Seattle and northward we really got to see the Washington I’ve known and loved for decades. I90 seems to bring out the worst in people.

I forgot who wrote it but I’ve covered North America for 35+ years and have driven in NYC, LA, Chicago and Atlanta quite often and actually enjoy hardcore traffic. My Washington state I90 experience was something much different. I was quite extreme.

[WillyB]

An overnight at Three Island State Park in Glenn’s Ferry, ID. The park and sites are nice and level.

[Fender]

How are you liking the new trailer??

[WillyB]

Lovin’ our 21C. Everything works as planned with only one issue so far. One of the screws that holds the piston in the upper door over the stove came out. No biggie. I’ll fix it when we get home.

Last night, Thursday, we camped at Antelope Island State Park outside of Salt Lake City. A very cool place right on the Great Salt Lake. Lots of buffalo at this park.

Today they are having their annual buffalo drive. We had no idea this was going on. We were fortunate to get a site without a reservation.

[Chasing Trials]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

Regarding windshields, I drove a variety of vehicles for 47 years before I ever had a windshield crack or get badly chipped by road debris. Maybe I was just lucky. In 2012, my first F-150’s windshield got hit by a pebble and developed a star. Safelite repaired it, but there was a huge blemish. When I purchased my second F-150, an 2015 model, its windshield took a strike and it developed a crack requiring replacement. So 47 years with no glass problems and then 2 damaged windshields in 3 years? When I related my past experiences to the manager at Safelite, he told me that the auto manufacturers, in order to save weight to meet EPA fuel mileage requirements had all started making window glass with thinner laminations, and that it is the outer lamination that cracks when hit by flying debris. I DON’T KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE, I’M NOT A GLASS EXPERT. But my third F-150, a 2020, suffered the same fate, and my spouse’s 2018 Honda CR-V recently visited Safelite for a necessary repair. Florida law requires the insurance companies to replace or repair damaged windshields without a deductible fee. But numerous trips for repairing auto glass are a PITA. I have empathy for anyone who has to deal with windshield damage. From my point of view, broken/damaged windshields have become an “automotive pandemic.”

Interesting. I've been lucky, Have had 2 cracks only in last 7 yrs too. Happened within 2 weeks of each other on HOT HOT sunny weather & both had the Metallic sun guards up? But, both cracks were low & or outside drivers side. In a state, you can leave them then, so did. Were work trucks. Still driving the 2012 Taco with it, has never changed.

[Mucram]

Welcome Willy to my hood!

[WillyB]

Spent last night at a BLM spot outside of Rawlins, WY. Teton Reservoir Recreation Area.

Up high in the foothills at the snow line.

Saw the best sunset ever.

[Iowa Dave]

We’re camping vicariously through you. We’ve stayed in that country several rimes but not on the BLM ground. You’ll be down to the flatland, we’ll leave a light on for you
Iowa Dave

[brroberts]

Nice, I haven’t been able to play in WY in several years. Lots of beautiful country in the mountains of WY.

[WillyB]

Last night and tonight at my daughter’s house on the mean streets of Cheyenne, WY.

Good camping spot with clean hot showers, laundry and all the food you can eat.

[MVA]

I have been watching your posted travels and campsites. What are you using (beyond your daughter's home) to research campgrounds?

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by MVA

I have been watching your posted travels and campsites. What are you using (beyond your daughter's home) to research campgrounds?

Before this trip I searched around a bunch on Google Maps just searching "camping" in the area I was considering.

It worked fairly well. That's how I found Big Pine Campground ($15/Night) while looking around the Ellensburg, WA area, Union Creek Campground around Baker City (No Charge plus only ones there), Three Island Ferry State Parkaround Mountain Home ($36) and Antelope Island State Park around Salt Lake City ($30). I used www.freecampsites.net to find Teton Reservoir BLM outside Rawlins, WY.

Tuesday night, thru free campsites were are staying at McCook, NE city park. It has electric, toilets and showers (closed for winter).

Searching is a bit tedious to say the least.

[YakRV]

The RV Life Trip Wizard website (app too maybe?) is what we’ve been using for trip planning. It’s a little wonky to work with until you get the hang of it, but once you get it down it makes searching for campsites (and other things like gas stations, restaurants, and stores) much easier.

We were given a free subscription through this forum, but I don’t remember how that came about. Maybe someone wiser (with a better memory) can help with that.

While we’re talking about trip planning, the Campnab app has been one of the most valuable tools we’ve used. When the campground you want is fully booked, it alerts you to any cancellations so you can jump on it. We’ve used it for National and state parks, and it’s saved us several times this year. It’s not free but we’ll worth it, for us anyway.

Happy camping!

[WillyB]

Free camping Tuesday at Harrer Park in McCook, NE.

Free electric (15, 30. & 50 amp), free dump station, water and six paved sites.

Nice town with a big Walmart about 3 miles away.

[WillyB]

Potentially our last camping spot on this adventure. There is still a chance for one more night but we’re leaning towards driving home today.

This is Tuttle Creek Cove Recreation Area in Manhattan, KS. It’s a Corp of Engineers area. Very nice and there is only one other camper on the other side of the campground.

[cpaharley2008]

That spot looks like it would be nice for the Mississippi River Rally to be held there, right on the river....

[brroberts]

Tuttle Creek is fairly close to us. It’s usually nice, but can get crazy at times. There is a September fiberglass rally there of basically Casita’s.

[WillyB]

Well, our adventure to retrieve "Side Effect" has come to an end. 10 nights in 7 states and traveled through 11 states. Almost 5000 miles total.

2016 F150 4x4 3.5 EB: 20.2 MPG to Sumas without towing and running 75 MPH for a couple of days. 12.6 MPG average from Sumas to Home towing Side Effect. Enjoyed 14.9 MPG with a great tailwind through Wyoming one day and 9.6 MPG into a strong wind another. The last 2 days we had the pleasure of 25-30 MPH gusting with perpendicular to use. Fun Stuff!

We really have enjoyed everything about our new Escape and have ZERO complaints!!!! We've tried everything without issue. The only thing we had was a loose screw on one overhead door and I fixed it with a few pieces of toothpick.

Can't wait until our next adventure.

[YakRV]

Congrats on the maiden voyage, WillyB! Glad to hear your 21C performed well for you. Here’s hoping for many, many more adventures. Happy Camping!


P.S. How did it tow with those crosswinds? I think I mentioned on here before that we actually got smacked with 50+mph crosswinds on our trip home!!! We got pushed sideways a bit, but the F-150 and trailer moved as a single unit with no sway. Just a brief, “whoa, what was that?!!,” and we were right back on track.

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by YakRV

Congrats on the maiden voyage, WillyB! Glad to hear your 21C performed well for you. Here’s hoping for many, many more adventures. Happy Camping!


P.S. How did it tow with those crosswinds? I think I mentioned on here before that we actually got smacked with 50+mph crosswinds on our trip home!!! We got pushed sideways a bit, but the F-150 and trailer moved as a single unit with no sway. Just a brief, “whoa, what was that?!!,” and we were right back on track.

Our crosswind experience sounds like yours.

All in all our F150 3.5 EB with the E2 Fastway hitch performed flawlessly.