Return To The Scene Of The Heat

When we last visited Pinesburg, it was the hottest weekend of 2019, and it pretty much spelled the end of our 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. Sure, it still ran, and I could still get it to move the trailer. But, it was not happy. And, it became less than reliable. So, I purchased the new Tacoma.

The trip out was completely uneventful. The new truck easily maintained highway speeds, and after checking in, we were escorted to our space on the creek — not the same spot as last time, but waterfront nevertheless.

Of course, the landing was not “perfect.” For some reason, the trailer is stuck to the hitchball, and that bugger just won’t let go! It’s the same hitchball as I was using before, and it all worked fine a couple weeks ago when I did the test of the brake controller. Of course, I had to get disconnected to pull out the bunk on one end, so I eventually decided to pull the pin on the receiver, and pull the drop bar out. It’s dangling from the tongue of the trailer, and the adventure when we leave tomorrow will be to get things lined up properly to reconnect. Ugh.

In the meantime, we’ve been having a nice time watching the creek go by.

Even more exciting: I was finally able to get the wood we bought here on our last trip to burn (though not without the help of a “modern convenience” fire starter. I think it’s one of the best campfires I’ve ever started!

 

With the fire going, Donna got down to the serious business of roasting marshmallows.

Ready For The Road!

After a year of sitting due to COVID and the response of the aging Dodge Caravan to our last advnenture, I went out and bought a proper tow vehicle. We suppose that, were the van newer and in better overall shape, it would be okay to tow our current trailer. But, really, that van is 21 years old now, and the rear suspension and the transmission are nearly shot. So, here's the new rig on its maiden tow this morning, as I went out to get the brake controller set up.

Next on the agenda, opening the trailer up for the first time to make sure that we've had no unwanted guests over the winter, and to get everything aired out, cleaned up, and ready for the season. We're looking forward to our first trip, later this month!

By the way, this is also a story in why it's best to support your local RV store. We had ordered a brake controller from Amazon, and Amazon managed to screw up the shipping, to the point that we don't know if it will ever arrive. It certainly wasn't going to arrive when promised, despite ordering well in advance of my intended installation yesterday. I also knew that going from the van to the truck was going to require either a new drop bar, or reversing the one that we already had (it was being used as a lift on the van). Beckley's RV not only had a brake controller and adapter cable in stock, but they were also able to get the drop bar set up for us while we waited. Their service department is booked out until June at this point, but the delivery shop was able to slip the job in -- including re-welding the plate and ball for the sway bar.