First time pulling 500 miles

[GalsofEscape]

I suspected as much, but thanks for the confirmation. Toll Booth Worker is one job that did not survive the Pandemic.

nope - did not survive here in Md, but Md was headed that way before the Pandemic. It just put the final nail in it.

 

[BillOh]

Have a great time!

I didn't see anybody else mention this, but when you stop for gas (or to rest) be sure to check the temperature of your hubs. You may need to let them cool down some. Also check your tire pressure before you set out on your trip.

Again, have a wonderful time!

Somehow I missed this post till now, This will help me make sure I take at least 20 minute breaks when I do this.

 

[Hilldweller]

Have a good trip. I have quite a few friends that live up in that area. If you had had a planning thread back in February I would have suggested Pohick Bay for camping rather than the KOA. Jot it down for next time; the wildlife viewing spectacular.

 

[BillOh]

Have a good trip. I have quite a few friends that live up in that area. If you had had a planning thread back in February I would have suggested Pohick Bay for camping rather than the KOA. Jot it down for next time; the wildlife viewing spectacular.

Thanks, I'll remember that, Son in law paid for and picked the sites, i'm just brining the camper.

 

[BillOh]

We made it.

 

[BillOh]

I did have a few various screws in the camper work loose after the long drive! Day 2 and my first visit into downtown DC since 1976

 

[hoistbypetard]

I did have a few various screws in the camper work loose after the long drive! Day 2 and my first visit into downtown DC since 1976

Where did the screws work loose? We took an 1800 mile round trip to break in our new 1940LTD last month, and the main thing I noticed was around the tracks the door goes into on the ceiling. I feel like I may have some more places to check, though.

Enjoy your trip! I find towing my smaller PUP around here to be a bit of a white knuckle experience. You've been given good bridge advice.

On the way back, if you can spare the time and fees, adding an overnight stop in WV might break things up nicely for you, and spots should be easy to come by. It'll keep you well clear of the PA turnpike, too.

 

[BillOh]

Where did the screws work loose? We took an 1800 mile round trip to break in our new 1940LTD last month, and the main thing I noticed was around the tracks the door goes into on the ceiling. I feel like I may have some more places to check, though.

Enjoy your trip! I find towing my smaller PUP around here to be a bit of a white knuckle experience. You've been given good bridge advice.

On the way back, if you can spare the time and fees, adding an overnight stop in WV might break things up nicely for you, and spots should be easy to come by. It'll keep you well clear of the PA turnpike, too.

Thanks for that. Coming back on a Saturday I will leave a unplanned stop on the table. If we hadn't already done so last year we might have thought about stopping at the Flight 93 memorial. Back into DC today, off to Delaware tomorrow. Oh, yea, the screws, one was the access panel that covers the backside of the outdoor kitchen. They used a very sturdy hose on that sink and when you retract the kitchen, the hose presses on that panel and its too stiff to try and remove. The other screw was the lid over the toilet that folds up when you toilet and it allows you counter space when it down, the arm there lost two screws.

 

[vagov]

Yea the PA Turnpike. Sucks

 

[BillOh]

Thanks for that. Coming back on a Saturday I will leave a unplanned stop on the table. If we hadn't already done so last year we might have thought about stopping at the Flight 93 memorial. Back into DC today, off to Delaware tomorrow. Oh, yea, the screws, one was the access panel that covers the backside of the outdoor kitchen. They used a very sturdy hose on that sink and when you retract the kitchen, the hose presses on that panel and its too stiff to try and remove. The other screw was the lid over the toilet that folds up when you toilet and it allows you counter space when it down, the arm there lost two screws.

 

[BillOh]

At Rehoboth, Found out why pressure regulators are needed. Campground is only 10% occupied mid week, Very high water pressure caused a leak at the water filter.

 

[Hilldweller]

At Rehoboth, Found out why pressure regulators are needed. Campground is only 10% occupied mid week, Very high water pressure caused a leak at the water filter.

Thanks for the reminder. Over time the regulators get fouled with hard water and gunk and stop being reliable. I needed to order a spare for the kit for when mine fails (again).

 

[davido]

I just got back from a 300 mile tow. It's a little tiring, but not a big deal.

• Tires must be in good condition and within their acceptable age range.
• Bearings must be inspected and packed annually.
• Coupler must be in good condition.
• Tow must be level. Get the right ball mount height.
• If you detect any lift in the front-end, or significant squat in the back, add a weight distribution hitch.
• If you've ever detected any sway, add a sway control bar, or make sure sway control is built into the WD hitch.
• Even if you've never detected too much squat, or front-end lift, or sway, consider a WD hitch and sway control.
• Don't overpack.
• Get the tow vehicle serviced, with fresh oil, good transmission fluid, and so on.

You will be staying at two campgrounds in a week's time, so that means you're doing two set-ups and two tear- downs. You will appreciate simplified, streamlined setup. Don't bring extra stoves, grills, canopies, gadgets... ok, you're bringing a drone. But just remember, everything you set up takes some time. Everything you take down takes even longer because you have to fold and pack it. Keep it as simple as possible. For longer trips where you're not moving between sites, it's ok to have more gadgets. But for this trip try to keep it to a minimum.

Keep the speed down. Leave earlier, drive slower. Stop every 2h.

 

[Patrick w]

I suspected as much, but thanks for the confirmation. Toll Booth Worker is one job that did not survive the Pandemic.

oh that was planned phased out a long time before the pandemic even arrived. Basically any job that could be automated will be automated. Mcdonalds ordering, for example.

 

[Steveo4090]

While I'm looking forward to it, my wife's dream is finally being realized. She talked me into buying a pop up when our grandkids got of age, and we nearly drowned in a sudden downpour while tent camping. We got 3 years out of the old 2003 Coachman popup, but I wouldn't trust it more than a short distance from home. We finally upgraded last year and my wife insisted we get something that sleeps 6 hoping to take both our grandkids and their parents. I was skeptical if my son in law would go, or my daughter for that matter. I guess they are impressed enough with our new pop up and my daughter came up with the idea of going to Washington DC. The trip will be special for her, she has had two failed attempts to go to Washington DC. At her highschool they send the seniors to DC for a few days each year. Her turn was 9/12/2001. That trip was canceled, so in the spring of 20 they planned a family trip, then the pandemic happened.

Her and her husband decided we would do this. He is paying for 6 days at 2 campgrounds and I just have to have the camper there. I'm sure we will be supplying a lot of food and other parts of the trip, but he made the campground reservations. We made the plans in February and we are at the mercy of my son in law's work schedule. He couldn't get Saturday off, so our travel day and arrival day is the Sunday before Memorial day. I was surprised we were able to get a reservation for a Sunday arrival on the holiday weekend, but we did it at the Capitol KOA in Maryland. We will spend 3 days there where we booked a few sight seeing trips.

Wednesday morning, we will take off with the camper and head to Rehoboth Bay in Delaware (looking for my MAGA hat) (Kidding, I usually try to keep politics out of things.) They wanted their kids to see the ocean for the first time. 3 days there! It will be everyone's first trip to Delaware, except mine, Its already a state I checked off the list, but I can add it to my signature here. Then the following Saturday morning, I'll be making a 519 trip home, my longest day pulling the camper. Frequently my wife and I switch off on driving when we make longer trips like the 1000 miles to Florida, but she is afraid to pull the camper. I may see if I can get her to give me a short, maybe 100 mile break somewhere between rest stops.

I'll be taking my drone with me and shooting some campground video, so watch for that. For you drone haters (like the cell phone haters of the 90s) don't worry, I fly responsibly and at reasonable times, so I don't bother people, except those looking for something to be upset about. I'll post some pics that week and am looking forward to seeing how we do with 6 people for a week.

I know this is probably late, but most of No. Va, Southern MD, and all of DC is a no drone fly zone...ask me how I know lol.

 

[hoistbypetard]

I know this is probably late, but most of No. Va, Southern MD, and all of DC is a no drone fly zone...ask me how I know lol.

An acquaintance of mine purchased a DJI model that was nearly $2000. He had to drive 30 miles west to find a spot where it would even take off... the larger and more sophisticated drones check their GPS sensors and refuse to fly in these no fly zones.

IIRC Bethany forbids drones in the town limits, including on the beach, but I don't think Rehoboth restricts them at all.

 

[Steveo4090]

There's a couple tiny parks scattered around the DC area you can fly drones at, but only a couple...and they're tiny...and pointless.

 

[BillOh]

The six of us had a great week between Capital area KOA and Sun Source Rehoboth. The 545 mile return trip wasn't too bad in good weather, gas milage dropped to around 12mpg through the hills of WV and MD. I got my wife thinking of trying to drive with the trailer in tow soon

 

[BillOh]

so - are you going across the Bay Bridge when you head over to Delaware??

just take it easy and stay to the right - the far left lane can get shuttled over to the west bound span - i do not like towing a camper in the lane going east when all the other lanes are going west.....and the toll will be based on number of axles..

That did turn out to be good advice! It was quite scenic, but a little foggy, thought I saw a Nimitz class carrier in the bay, but it was just a big cargo ship heading in a direction that looked like it was a carrier

 

[BillOh]

I agree. Also to add, to if at all possible try and cross after morning rush hour but before afternoon rush hour. That bridge gets majorly congested and I've seen lots of accidents too. I was stuck for three hours on that dang bridge once.

We did manage to hit it at a good time both ways! Thanks again.