[A/S] Maiden Voyage

["Maurice Riggins" <maurice.riggins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is all old hat to you guys, but it was pretty exciting for us... 
gotta share it.

The clamp for the brake controller arrived Thursday and I took the 
day off Friday and installed it.  Saturday was the big day... the HOG 
campout at one of the member's farms.  I went over earlier with just 
the truck to scout the ground since we've had a bunch of rain the 
last few days. The big grassy field is slightly sloped and has good 
drainage, so the soil was still firm.  I took the truck out in it and 
the tires didn't dent the ground, but the grass sure was wet and 
slippery.

Back home, I checked all the tire pressures, slipped the drop bar in 
the truck and backed it right into the Hensley, at about a 45 degree 
angle from the trailer, on the first try, with Barbie's guidance!  
Those little FRS radios sure are nice.  I also have a thin coat of 
grease on the bar, so it went into the hitch all the way easily.  

First problem was that when connected to the truck, with the front 
end out on the street putting the drop bar pretty low, I couldn't 
raise the jack stand enough to get the weight off it.  I had to have 
it sitting on a coupla 2 X 12 pieces to get the trailer level on the 
sloped driveway.  So I pulled out the 3 ton floor jack and raised the 
drop bar enough to slip the boards out and get the foot off the 
jackstand.

Pulled out onto the street, it became clear the safety chains weren't 
going to reach with the Hensley.  They'd looked like they might've, 
so I hadn't extended them.  So off to the hardware store for some 
chain extension.  Also checked the brake controller effectiveness 
which seemed to work fine with Jordan's recommended 10.5 amp (3-axle) 
setting.  

I don't think the 1000 lb Draw-Tite bars are quite enough.  I cranked 
the jacks to the first mark, and the trailer nose and truck tail were 
still slightly low.  The rear fenderwell is 3/4" lower than when the 
truck is unloaded, but the front is 1/2" higher.  I tightened the 
jacks to the middle mark but nothing changed after I bounced on the 
hitch to let it resettle... truck was still low in the rear and high 
in the front.  The bars were already pretty bowed, so I didn't 
tighten it beyond that to the last mark.  Will have to see what 
Hensley has to say about that.  Maybe I just need to go ahead and 
crank 'em all the way up (there are 3 holes clear between the upper 
and lower pins on the jacks).

Down at the end of our street, there was no traffic at all on the 
usually busy 4-lane.  Away we go.  Down through the busy mall area to 
get to the interstate.  The Ford travel trailer mirrors seem to do 
the job in the heavy traffic... no visibility problems.  The downward 
sloping entrance ramp really helped get up to speed.  Above 60 mph, 
the rig wasn't perfectly stable... had a little side to side to side 
oscillation going on... so I kept it below that.  Sorta surprised me 
with the Hensley, but I think the front end of the truck is getting a 
bit light and inducing it.

Once off the interstate and on a two-lane, there was about a 100' 
deep dip in the road with a steep hill on the other side.  Right at 
the bottom of the dip, a stopped vehicle was waiting to turn left, so 
I had to stop also.  No problem with the brakes... stopped 
beautifully going downhill.  But that big diesel was sure working 
100% getting the rig back up to 45 mph on the other side!  I can't 
imagine pulling this trailer with anything less.

At the farm, I engaged 4WD before getting into the wet grass.  I got 
into a coupla furrows where the rig didn't want to move after 
stopping, but there was no wheelspin.  Rather than force it with 
heavy throttle, I just got the rig rocking in the furrow with a few 
light touches of the throttle until it had the momentum to roll out. 
We were the first to arrive, so I parked it with a perfect view of 
the soon to come bonfire, got it level and stabilized, and put the 
awnings out.  We started unstowing items inside.

Barbie pulled the Mr. Coffee out of the appliance garage, and I 
said, "We can't use that, we're boondocking."  She replied, "I guess 
I'll have to settle for microwave coffee."  I smiled and said, "Let 
me talk to you about a Honda generator." We both had a good laugh 
about that and just boiled water this morning on the gas stove and 
poured it through the filter holder of the Mr. Coffee into the 
carafe.  Also missed the first part of the Winston Cup race today 
since the TV is 120V only.  Have to do something about that.

Harley owners appreciate the nostalgia of an Airstream and raved 
about the "retro look."  Most knew about WBCCI.  We had about 3 dozen 
want to see the inside.  Saturday was beautiful, clear skies and in 
the high 70's.  One Fantastic vent on low was enough to keep the 
trailer cool with the windows open.  Saturday night was perfect.  A 
million stars in the sky, a huge bonfire, and no wind, so the smoke 
went straight up.  It dropped from about 60 at sunset to 50 
overnight. Although that's great sleeping weather in a tent snuggled 
in a sleeping bag, we really enjoyed the comfort of home with the 
furnace running, and not having to trek across the field in the dark 
to use the bathroom.  My idea of what defines camping has sure 
changed as I got older! LOL!

We left the trailer on the farm today, since we're getting shingles 
delivered roof-top tomorrow and it would be in the way.  So I still 
have yet to try to park over on one side of an 18'X41' driveway from 
a street that isn't much wider.  Can't wait to get it home though!  I 
think next weekend we'll have it out at the WPAFB famcamp.

--
Maurice
WBCCI 5446