We're back from Chilliwack

Loren & Cathy · 09-22-2015, 09:59 PM

We got back from picking up the new trailer late Sunday and had a picture perfect trip. Our orientation was late morning of Sept. 10 and after picking up the trailer in Sumas, we headed to Bayview park to camp next to Charlie and Lucy. They cooked dinner for us and thank goodness as we didn't get a chance to get any supplies and only had snacks with us. It was them to the rescue again as the end blew off of the hose that ETI supplied and Charlie had a spare. A great couple who will be out on the road for a while yet. On second thought, they are having such a great time they may never go home.

Manfred, who set up the trailer hitch and set the brake gain did such a good job that in braking you could not tell you had anything behind you. The trailer followed like your shadow and never bucked or swayed in the heavy cross winds that we went through in Nevada.

The only problems with the trailer were a minor leak at the water pump and with the fine threaded collar at the electrical connection. I only got it threaded on once as it will cross thread. No big deal.

Our final night was in Wakeeney, Kansas and our trailer looked like a shoe box next to the big diesel pushers and those huge fifth wheel trailers. The guy with a large fifth wheeler behind us put out four slide outs and had lights on the front end that lit up the place like a night construction zone.

I was disappointed in the gas mileage towing as I barely managed to get just shy of 14 out of the tow. Running alone or towing, my gas mileage is better in the hills than on the flat. I guess the downhill more than makes up for the uphill. Has anyone else noticed this?

I will post the Escape sightings and the big fight at the DMV on other threads. Again, we were very pleased the way the trailer turned out and could not have done it without the help of everyone on this forum. Thanks again. Loren

float5 · 09-22-2015, 10:09 PM

Loren,
Good you made it back with no big problems. Wonder if you have a plate yet?!

By the way, when we camped in Kansas, they wanted a Social Security number. Would not give it. Think we're banned from KS campgrounds! Or something like that! LOL

BCnomad · 09-22-2015, 10:58 PM

Glad it worked out great for you both. My mileage is in that ballpark too.

Loren & Cathy · 09-22-2015, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

Loren,
Good you made it back with no big problems. Wonder if you have a plate yet?!

By the way, when we camped in Kansas, they wanted a Social Security number. Would not give it. Think we're banned from KS campgrounds! Or something like that! LOL

Wanting your SS number is a new one on me. Was this a state park or private campground? The lady we dealt with at the Wakeeney, KS KOA was as pleasant as an old sow that had just had one of her piglets stepped on. Loren

captmath · 09-23-2015, 07:08 AM

The lady we dealt with at the Wakeeney, KS KOA was as pleasant as an old sow that had just had one of her piglets stepped on. Loren

The lady who checked us in and made the morning pancakes in August had some serious memory problems. Wonder if the same person?

EDarby · 09-23-2015, 08:03 AM

Congrtatulations Loren and Cathy! Sounds like an awesome start (well, except for the DMV!).

Rossue · 09-23-2015, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren & Cathy

Wanting your SS number is a new one on me. Was this a state park or private campground? The lady we dealt with at the Wakeeney, KS KOA was as pleasant as an old sow that had just had one of her piglets stepped on. Loren

A new one for us was having both our driver's license scanned at Ridgeway SP south of Montrose, CO. Very nice park though & I guess it made me feel safer. We asked if we could drive through first, and they said they would have to charge a day-use fee (thus scanning no doubt) which would be credited should we decide to camp.

Our mileage is similar with 5.3/3:42 engine/rear end- 13.4 mpg on last 4K miles, which is typical.

Loren & Cathy · 09-23-2015, 05:54 PM

Another little update about the return trip from Chilliwack. The sticker for the torque of the lug nuts on the aluminum rims says 90 to 95 ft.lbs so I set the wrench to 95 and some of them did move a hair all three times. I will go over them one more time before I leave for Iowa this weekend, though unfortunately it is to the farm instead of the Mississippi rally. Loren

huskersteffy · 09-23-2015, 06:48 PM

Quote:

I will post the Escape sightings and the big fight at the DMV on other threads.

Will be interested on how your visit to the DMV goes. I called ours today to see what I need to do. Yikes! Said I had to go through customs in Omaha as well has having the rig inspected.

Loren & Cathy · 09-23-2015, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskersteffy

Will be interested on how your visit to the DMV goes. I called ours today to see what I need to do. Yikes! Said I had to go through customs in Omaha as well has having the rig inspected.

Customs in Omaha? Our driver gave us the entry summary that was stamped "RELEASED Sept 10, 2015, US CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION, SUMAS WA." He said they know him so well that they just stamp it and wave him through. Sounds like it could get ugly. Check the thread, Help/Ideas Wanted for Snag w/... These DMV people are getting worse than a severe case of hemorrhoids. Loren

float5 · 09-23-2015, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren & Cathy

Wanting your SS number is a new one on me. Was this a state park or private campground? The lady we dealt with at the Wakeeney, KS KOA was as pleasant as an old sow that had just had one of her piglets stepped on. Loren

Yes, state. They said the reason was that they were after guys who owed money such as child support. But they said those guys simply come into the campground in the evening to avoid giving that info when the kiosk has no one there. They self register. So it doesn't work anyway.

Fox hunt · 09-24-2015, 02:47 AM

I agree I would never give my social security number to a camp ground

Iowa Dave · 09-24-2015, 08:13 AM

Having endured credit card fraud twice, once for plane tickets to Turkey, I am real careful,with the numbers. As far as Social Security numbers, I used to be real confrontational asking immediately why they were needed. This just puts them on alert. So now I give them my first five numbers and Rita's last four. Makes it a worthless series of numbers and given with confidence and without hesitation they never know the difference. Lots better than my old line, "You don't know and you don't need to know." Works for me.
Dave

Dave Walter · 09-24-2015, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

I agree I would never give my social security number to a camp ground

Just provide a fake SIN with the correct number of digits in it. The only way they would know if it was incorrect was if you used a number such as 0000000001.

Iowa Dave · 09-24-2015, 08:31 AM

When I worked for the city, we used to have to call in for a purchase order number. Could not get one on a Saturday. I had to buy a 100 amp fuse for a pool on a Saturday. So I gave the girl behind the counter a number that matched the date and she wrote it on the ticket. As she handed me the ticket to sign she said. "Oh look, the p.o. Number is the same as the date. As I signed the ticket I said, " bet that doesn't happen very often" And I was gone, fuse in hand. Hey it was for the kids.
Dave

EDarby · 09-24-2015, 09:14 AM

Good one!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

As she handed me the ticket to sign she said. "Oh look, the p.o. Number is the same as the date. As I signed the ticket I said, " bet that doesn't happen very often" And I was gone, fuse in hand. Hey it was for the kids.
Dave

escape artist · 09-24-2015, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

When I worked for the city, we used to have to call in for a purchase order number. Could not get one on a Saturday. I had to buy a 100 amp fuse for a pool on a Saturday. So I gave the girl behind the counter a number that matched the date and she wrote it on the ticket. As she handed me the ticket to sign she said. "Oh look, the p.o. Number is the same as the date. As I signed the ticket I said, " bet that doesn't happen very often" And I was gone, fuse in hand. Hey it was for the kids.
Dave

Hi: Iowa Dave... In the business we used to call 'em "Box car numbers"!!! " You can observe a lot by watching". Yogi Berra... Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Iowa Dave · 09-24-2015, 06:03 PM

Rest in Peace , Yogi, You were an inspiration to a lot of us, Americans and Canadians alike. When I see a fork in the road I stop and pick it up,
Might need it for a potluck.
Dave

**rbryan4** · 09-24-2015, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Rest in Peace , Yogi, You were an inspiration to a lot of us, Americans and Canadians alike. When I see a fork in the road I stop and pick it up,
Might need it for a potluck.
Dave

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

"I never said most of the things I said."

"Baseball is 90 percent mental, and the other half is physical."

Indeed, Rest in Peace Yogi.

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