Making a B+ or C Class more capable.

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For camping On The Far Side of Beyond with an RV ... equipment reliability via K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) is priority number 2. Personal health and rescue capability is probably priority number 1.

Yep KISS is the plan. We have a friend of my Mother in Law that comes to visit each summer. THey have a $100k plus RV that has all kinds of cool features and all kinds of problems, including an Pop out that would not go back in. They had to call someone from far away to come out and repair it as they were stuck in place until it was retracted.

 

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Our new adventure into Class C has arrived. I flew to Huntsvill AL after having the vehicle inspected by the local Ford Dealer.

I have possible pre-existing conditions so was nervous flying during a pandemic. I shaved for the first time in months, and geared up for pandemic travel. I arrived got a rental car, went shopping at Walmart buying parts, then went shopping at other big city places in the morning. Then I went and inspected the systems and learned about the "van". Everything worked so we proceed to the bank and I withdrew the largest I have ever spent on anything, handed the guy a large stack of cash then had the paperwork notarized.

After dropping off my rental car and the previous owner at his new home and one more stop at Walmart to add the things missing from my inventory earlier in the day. I left Huntsville Al at 4pm, driving back to Jackson Wy.

At 22.5 feet it is less than a foot longer than my truck and it is still easy to drive and park almost anywhere. I drove very hard with a few stops for supplies. I had only been to a big city once since February so stopped at a place for RV supplies, Costco and when passing through Kansas City figured I needed some BBQ and Chinese Groceries.

Some highlights of the road trip. First stop for food I almost altered the van's height. Without the AC, it would be a lot easier to put a kayak on top, but ripping it off in a drive through is not the way I want to go about it. I was literally a few feet and a bit of sleep deprivation from making it happen that way.

Visiting Arthur Bryant's for Kansas City BBQ. I bought around $40 worth. I wanted some to eat now while hot and take some home to the wife. We are big foodies and she is a trained chef. We had recently discovered burnt ends and I brought home some from the inventor's restaurant. I will be finishing the last of the BBQ tonight. Unless you are a vegan you owe it to yourself to try burnt ends.

On the last morning in Nebraska after a full night of sleep which is rare for me. It was very cold out. My attempts to winterize came too late. Not all the tanks were full but the facilities were all closed and when I tested the valves they were all frozen, so was I, I did not have the clothes for single-digit temps and 25 mph winds. I did manage to drain the water tank and because I managed to find the right part I was able to pressurize the system and pump out all the lines. I hope the tanks are not busted in the spring but there is so little 'water' in both gray and black I am hopeful.

 

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The next day temps were fluctuating between 4 and 14. My rearview mirror is useless as there is almost no back window, but it does tell me my heading and outside temperature. I learned two things. Nebraska uses dirt to 'salt' the roads and Alabama installed windshield cleaning fluid freezes in Nebraska winter temps. This is one of my scariest moments in recent history. Each truck that went by would spray a snowy/muddy mist upon my windshield. Any attempts to spray it would remind me AL fluids freeze in Nebraska temps. Gas stations or towns are many 10s of miles in between and reststops and turns offs are even fewer. As visibility slowly decreased as I went I was weighing options: Go slower to decrease the number of semis passing me and spraying a muddy mist on my window or go faster and increase the likelihood of slamming into something or sliding off the road. There had been plenty or reminders of what happens to reckless drivers on Hwy 80 as every 40 mile or so there was a semi often in the snowy center divider, some on their side. At some point short of the Wyoming border there was the last town. I pulled over on the ramp and took out a pack of handy wipes and cleaned my window. I considered going to the gas station there but there is nothing I could do about the likely frozen contents of my wiper fluid reservoir and the gas was cheaper and there were more station and services to choose from. The next 8 miles became very scary also. I was alternating between looking out the smeared part of the window and the top where the wipers were not reaching and while not smeared provided a different look at the road ahead. I could see the semis and the road but felt if an asphalt colored car was driving slowly in my lane I would probably plow into it.

On my stop in Pine Bluff Wy, I cleaned the windows, fueled up and bought some winter windshield cleaning fluid. I poured a cup or two into the reservoir. That was all she could hold, I was guessing the rest of the reservoir was a solid blue ice cube. The back of my mind was trying to source a replacement when it thaws and starts leaking in the spring. At least this replacement would be cheaper and easier to source than gray and black water tanks. My entry into Wyoming saw my trading the issue of muddy spray for the bane of Southern Wyoming. I-80 through the state is often closed due to wind and snow drifts. I got to see this first hand. The speed signs on I-80 are electronic and depending on the wind and snow conditions there the speed varied from 45 to 75. I did not want to push it as I don't like to drive the final section at night as hitting a deer, is a very real possibility.

 

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After Cheyenne the blowing snow was really bad even there was no fresh snow to be had. The speed limit was 45 and almost every vehicle on the road were semis. With crosswinds in the 40s it was sketchy. I can't imagine what it would be like if it was snowing but I know this section is often closed for days at a time. I made it through a rough section with big winds pushing me around and needed to take a nap.

The last 3 hours were on smaller highways. It had warmed up to the low 20s and the windshield cleaner was spraying at that temps so maybe the freezing only occurred in the thin lines or at the jets. I sprayed as often as I could to remove the bad washer fluid to make room for the winterized one. I managed to get half way home on the smaller highway in the daylight, duuring that time I had 2 close calls with deer. I was tempted to stop in Pinedale Wyoming as it got dark but wanted to get home and so instead slowd down, figuring hitting a deer at 55 is better than 70 and maybe I can stop or slow in time to avoid a Deer-RV collision.

I did not see any more deer after dark, does not mean they weren't there, I just did not see the near misses in the dark. I arrived home 52 hours later. It snowed the last hour of the drive and a little every days since. Since i don't plan on skiing this winter we are cleaning the interior and planning a trip South right after the new year.

I can't believe they let people dressed like this on an airplane.


My first stop on the road where I almost shortened the rig by 10 inches


BBQ stop


The view out the window before it got bad


Our new ride in its new snowy home.

 

[BritKLR]

Arthur Bryants BBQ, 18th and Brooklyn, KCMO....Mmmm.....look at you, parked out front so your stuff don't get snatched! Well done and cool rig!

 

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Arthur Bryants BBQ, 18th and Brooklyn, KCMO....Mmmm.....look at you, parked out front so your stuff don't get snatched! Well done and cool rig!

I tried to order for curbside delivery. I was told "ain't nobody in line, just come on in."

Are you telling me it was not a good neighborhood?

 

[BritKLR]

I tried to order for curbside delivery. I was told "ain't nobody in line, just come on in."

Are you telling me it was not a good neighborhood?

Love that place. One of the few places I miss in KC now that we live in Colorado. Bad neighbor? Nah, only on days that end in "y".

 

[jkam]

Some of the best food I've ever had has been in some really crappy neighborhoods.

 

[86scotty]

Congrats Photobug. Just now catching up on your adventure. Going across the US via 80 is no party in winter and the wind blows year round. Also, the truckers drive like idiots. Luckily going to Jackson you didn't have to hit the worst part over towards SLC.

I lifted and mildly modified a 2005 Itasca Cambria a few years ago but not sure if I ever posted (or even took) pics. I added blocks and possibly changed the rear leafs to bring the rear up and put Toyo Open Country A/T's on it, 235/85 maybe? They are a good big taller and a good fit for MH's that need all the lift help you can give them on a budget.

Do you know Ron at Ron's Towing in Jackson? If not, drop by and introduce yourself. Tell him you know Eric from the forums. He's a great guy, always fooling around with cool vans, motorhomes, etc. He offered me cash for my Itasca on one of my trips through there and I probably should've taken it. On the back of Ron's T-shirts is the quote "Better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me." Truer words were never spoken for anyone in Jackson, WY.

 

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Do you know Ron at Ron's Towing in Jackson? If not, drop by and introduce yourself.

I do not know Ron but needed him in the past. When I first moved back to Jackson in 2017. I showed up to a storage unit to unload a trailer and the truck would not start again. I needed towed to the dealer for some very expensive repairs and called Ron's. His shop is right next door to my neighborhood. I see his cool vehicles out front when I head south from my home. When the pandemic is over or I get a vaccine I will go by and say hi, I could use a local who knows his way around an RV.

My plan is to drive the tread off my current tires before upgrading. I am currently cleaning and outfitting the rig to take a trip probably right after New Year. Then is spring do a western loop. The work you did on the Cambria, block, leafs, etc, did you do the work yourself?

 

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Love that place. One of the few places I miss in KC now that we live in Colorado. Bad neighbor? Nah, only on days that end in "y".

It was some good stuff. The funny part was I picked it randomly. My primary goal was to get back home before another storm hit. But I had a few stops scouted along the way and improvised. I stopped at Northern Tool in KC then looked for some BBQ along my route. Turns out I got the burnt ends right from the source.

 

[86scotty]

My plan is to drive the tread off my current tires before upgrading. I am currently cleaning and outfitting the rig to take a trip probably right after New Year. Then is spring do a western loop. The work you did on the Cambria, block, leafs, etc, did you do the work yourself?

Yes but I didn't document it very well and it's been a few years. I looked for some pics and info yesterday on my computer and couldn't find anything.

 

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Yes but I didn't document it very well and it's been a few years. I looked for some pics and info yesterday on my computer and couldn't find anything.

I am sure I can figure it out. I usually do most of the work on all my vehicles, houses, boats etc. It is the heavy lifting of a large vehicle, the forces involved, etc that intimidate me. I had my front end done on my truck and had a shade tree mechanic come to my house to do it. I was tempted to do it myself but since it was getting cold and I was trying to get it done while trying to finish parts of my home and then get myself to Mexico in the vehicle. I had him do the work. What would have likely taken me a week or more was done in less than a day. When I watched him with his torch and sledge hammer getting the ball joints apart I was glad I did not try to take it on myself. Just watching it made my back hurt for a few days after.

I just need to know what is DIY able and what I should get a guy with more tools than I got to help with. If it is DIY able I am sure the folks here will help me through it when the time comes.

 

[BritKLR]

It was some good stuff. The funny part was I picked it randomly. My primary goal was to get back home before another storm hit. But I had a few stops scouted along the way and improvised. I stopped at Northern Tool in KC then looked for some BBQ along my route. Turns out I got the burnt ends right from the source.

Kansas City has some incredible BBQ places and events. Arthur Bryants is definitely one of the best. Good choice!.....Its funny, here in colorado we have friends that have $10,000 road or mountain bikes......In KC, I had friends that had $10,000 BBQ grills......it's a thang....

 

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Kansas City has some incredible BBQ places and events. Arthur Bryants is definitely one of the best. Good choice!.....Its funny, here in colorado we have friends that have $10,000 road or mountain bikes......In KC, I had friends that had $10,000 BBQ grills......it's a thang....

My favorite in ski resorts is the $10,000 bike on the roof a $1000 car.