Life on the road - 2011 HR Endeavor 43 DFT

[DHart]

Just a few snaps... we've been full timing it for about two and a half months. And every day we practically have to pinch ourselves to remind us that this life and this amazing coach are real and not a wonderful dream.

Monaco has done a wonderful job with the current Diplomat/Endeavor twins... they are a heck of a lot of coach for a surprisingly moderate amount of money.

We've been cruising the country from Washington State through Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, tonight in Big Spring, TX. Thinking we want to get to the Florida Keys in the next month or two, then meander back to Washington State in the summer.



Upgraded to a 46" Sony 3D Bravia and a 36" Classic Flame electric fireplace.


Typical evening hangin' out, Fox on the tv, dinner on the stove... wife loves the sofa, I love the recliner...






We RVers are sure blessed with a wonderful lifestyle, aren't we!

More info on our new coach here:

Our new 2011 HR Endeavor 43DFT

[Diplomat Don]

Glad you're enjoying the coach. I love your coach colors!

[Perry White]

Smart dog. Watching Fox News.

[Steve N Sal]

Glad you guys are enjoying yourselves and the coach as well. Enjoy Life you Living The Dream!

[DHart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perry White Smart dog. Watching Fox News.

Yep... We raised him with good conservative values! . He watches Fox every night!

[nutensteve]

Looks like you are enjoying life !! Good for you. That is a beautiful coach.

[BudtheDiplomat]

DHart;

In another thread, someone mentioned that there were no longer any RV manufacturers who were using 3 point hydraulic leveling, that it was a short lived trial and when the chassis construction improved, all of the manufacturers went to 4 leveling jacks.

Does your coach have hydraulic jacks or air leveling. If hydraulic, do you have 3 or 4 point leveling.

Bud

[DHart]

Bud... our coach has air leveling while driving and 3-point hydraulic jacks while parked. We've found the 3-point system to work well. I understand it puts less stress, due to coach twisting, on the one piece windshield by having a single center jack up front. We have no complaints with the 3-point design.

[BudtheDiplomat]

Thanks DHart,
I thought the writer might not have the best information about Monacos. I like the 3 jack system. The front is very powerful and can actually lift the coach off the ground.
I've begun to level in manual mode so that I can keep it a little closer to the ground. Automatic mode seems to lift it pretty far.
Your coach looks terrific and makes me jealous!

[DHart]

Hey Bud... seeing that you're from Houston and your toad is a Z-71 (Chevy pickup?) I thought I'd ask you this.

We're considering trading our 2011 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (only 3000 miles on it) for a 2012 Avalanche LTZ 4x4 so as to gain more enclosed out-of-sight storage area. I want to store my bike, camp chairs, and such in the enclosed bed of the Avalanche as I don't want the bike hanging off of a rack. And we just like the idea of having an Avalanche since it is somewhat SUV-ish and somewhat Truck-ish, without being quite either.



We're on the road from the Pacific NW and presently in Wichita Falls, TX and will take three or four weeks traveling through Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, S. Padre island, then to your Houston - before heading toward Florida.

I'm thinking we should shop for the Avalanche in Houston and have the BLue Ox baseplate, brake light wiring, and SMI AirForceOne braking system installed on the Avalanche in the Houston area. Do you think Houston would be a good place to find an Avalanche and have the work done for 4-down towing?

[BudtheDiplomat]

I can really feel the weight on acceleration, but my mileage and stopping distance both improved. I got the M&G Engineering brake system. It is truly a no-brainer for hookup. The BlueOx Adventa LX will pull 10,000lbs and absolutely will not bind.

I had a Cadillac Escalade EXT (couldn't tow it tho) and really loved it. The back is waterproof and you can put about 20 - 4x8 sheets of drywall and still close the tailgate. - personal experience.

The back seat really sits upright so for a long trip it is uncomfortable for a passenger.

I wish I had gotten a 4x4 Avalanche instead of the Z-71, but needed a truck for business purposes.

[BudtheDiplomat]

When you get to Houston, definitely give us a call. We'll treat you to some of the area's finest restaurants, our treat.

People speak very well of the SMI, and PPL in Houston sells and installs it. There are several nice RV parks in and around our area.

We live about halfway between Houston and Galveston down I-45, which gives us all the great things of both cities.

I just got a little knee surgery today - just an Arthroscopy, menisectomy and shaving of the articular surfaces, but should be back in shape in no time. The doc said there was too much damage to fix it all, and that I will need a Knee replacement (again, no big deal). My knees are toast from jumping out of airplanes for about 20 years, but I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.

Seriously tho, call. PM me for my cell. My wife is the sane one between the two of us.

[BudtheDiplomat]

And I'm laughing out loud, cause I was thinking of getting a Rubicon 4 door (keeping my Chevy, of course) to tow because of the weight difference

[DHart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudtheDiplomat And I'm laughing out loud, cause I was thinking of getting a Rubicon 4 door (keeping my Chevy, of course) to tow because of the weight difference

Bud.... that's funny! Actually, I LOVE the Jeep and don't want to let it go! I'd like to keep it because it's so fun and being a brand new model, has all the creature comforts and rides great. Thing is, I want to get my bike out of the basement (consumes about 1/4 of my basement storage capacity!) and was thinking I could stash the bike, folding chairs, and a few misc items in the bed of the Avalanche where it would be out of sight and out of mind. And honestly, I just have a major itch for an Avalanche!

Glad to hear that Houston has some quality RV service providers. I'll send you a PM.