Community Forums

normgm · 04-20-2014, 09:55 AM

We purchased our first travel trailer (18' Coleman 2013) in February and have used it a few times already. Bought it and towed it with a 2006 trailblazer and got horrible gas milage so we upgraded to a 2006 GMC 3500 crew cab. Go big or go home!! Already have our 2 week 4200 mile summer trip planned from Jacksinville Florida to Mount Rushmore to Wisconsin to Pigeon Forge to home. Half of trip will be in TT, other half will be at families house. Signed onto forum to keep up to date with new ways to improve our trips, travel trailer care, and socialize with people. I have 19 years of working before I retire so we are working out the kinks now. Already thinking about our next truck and trailer. Any words of wisdom are much appreciated!!!

jenandjon · 04-20-2014, 10:05 AM

Thats a lot of truck of only an 18 ft trailer. You definitely have room to get a bigger tt later. Did you get the duramax in that?

TheArnolds · 04-20-2014, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normgm

We purchased our first travel trailer (18' Coleman 2013) in February and have used it a few times already. Bought it and towed it with a 2006 trailblazer and got horrible gas milage so we upgraded to a 2006 GMC 3500 crew cab. Go big or go home!! Already have our 2 week 4200 mile summer trip planned from Jacksinville Florida to Mount Rushmore to Wisconsin to Pigeon Forge to home. Half of trip will be in TT, other half will be at families house. Signed onto forum to keep up to date with new ways to improve our trips, travel trailer care, and socialize with people. I have 19 years of working before I retire so we are working out the kinks now. Already thinking about our next truck and trailer. Any words of wisdom are much appreciated!!!

**JohnRR** · 04-20-2014, 11:41 AM

You've come to a great place to learn.

bdickson · 04-20-2014, 11:44 AM

MSHappyCampers · 04-20-2014, 12:05 PM

Hi folks! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the bunch!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Hudgens · 04-20-2014, 12:53 PM

Welcome to irv2! It's a great idea to start early to enjoy the great outdoors...why wait until retirement! Glad you're onboard.

normgm · 04-21-2014, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenandjon

Thats a lot of truck of only an 18 ft trailer. You definitely have room to get a bigger tt later. Did you get the duramax in that?

I did get the duramax. I shopped for months and read hundreds of reviews before I made the purchase. I wasn't really looking for the 3500, but I knew I wanted 4x4, diesel, and crew cab. I liked the f250 and 350 interior, but read such bad reviews about the 6.0 and 6.4. I didn't want to risk spending 30k plus on something to break down on a road trip. Don't have time nor money for that magnitude of a repair. My dad hauls freight with this exact truck I purchased except his is DRW. and he has rebuilt his engine, for no reason other than he tinkers... So he is very familiar with it. When I asked him about it, he said it was the best truck he has ever owned and would buy a second one in a heartbeat. So I figured within my budget, if I can get a 3500 over a 2500, why not? I didn't need dually, and found this truck. It's my first diesel and as far as I can tell, will be the only truck I ever own. It's big, fast, mean, and tough. I feel like I'm driving around in a Chuck Norris. I love to drive it and at $4+ a gallon I couldn't care less! I feel like a kid in a candy store and wouldn't sell it for anything. So all in all, I love the truck and it does everything I need it to and we have lots of room to grow. Is it overkill for our TT and my boat? Maybe but I don't care even a little bit.

Steve N Sal · 04-21-2014, 05:15 AM

Howdy and welcome aboard. Sounds like a great trip you have planned. Have a great time and glad you joined us.

jenandjon · 04-21-2014, 05:58 AM

I got my 07 last year Im 40 and I figure I will not need a new one until i retire. You made an excellent choice in a truck.

Medico · 04-21-2014, 06:38 AM

Welcome and glad to meet you!

Chiefbvfd · 04-21-2014, 06:58 AM

Welcome aboard, sounds like a great trip, but 4,200 miles in 2 weeks seems like a lot of driving and not much doing......JMHO...

normgm · 04-21-2014, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefbvfd

Welcome aboard, sounds like a great trip, but 4,200 miles in 2 weeks seems like a lot of driving and not much doing......JMHO...

Yeah, it's the best we could do with the time given. I enjoy road trips and we have three nights in camper before we get there. Only going to drive 7-8 hours each day and made reservations for our stops. Will stop, check out small town, get a local dinner, relax, sleep. Get up early and hit road and repeat. I have made the drive from jacksonville florida to Sioux Falls South Dakota on my own when I was in the navy and it's a beautiful drive. Lots to see along the way. This time I get to make it with my family and share the drive and sights with wife and 7 year old. Agreed the driving time is extensive, but it's more about the experience with us. My parents traveled when we were kids and I want to share that with my daughter. We will be in mt Rushmore for a couple nights and realistically there's not a ton of stuff there to see that would require more time than that. And if there's more, just gives us an excuse to load TT up for another trip at another date!!! Always looking for a reason to load up and haul a$$!!! There's going to be plenty of down time for us at family house. And overall this will be a good trip for us to either add in or cut out driving, stops, potty breaks, gear, and so on and so on. I'll post pictures as the trip progresses. But again, any words of wisdom or recommended stops in the route would be much appreciated. If you get a chance to google jacksonville to mt Rushmore, and you've made the trip on any of those highways through the towns, lemme know so we can see something fun. Worlds biggest ball of yarn? Sign us up!!!

normgm · 04-21-2014, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenandjon

I got my 07 last year Im 40 and I figure I will not need a new one until i retire. You made an excellent choice in a truck.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm not into modifying, but if you've discovered anything useful along the way with the truck to improve handling, performance, fuel economy, towing, feel free to share your experiences, good or bad. I've only had mine for a month now and if my wife would let me, I would camp out in the bed of it every night.