A Sincere Thank You

[BandJCarm]

Not sure I'll have time tomorrow, so allow me to enter this tonight. Long, so just ignore this if you're busy! LOL But I gotta thank folks.

We leave Tuesday morning for first real camping trip in the new 5'er, pulled with the new TV. To say this has been a long ordeal does not do it justice.

We are not long term campers. 4 years ago we jumped into it with a used Popup that I found locally from an individual. It was ok, we enjoyed it, but we're getting old (I'll somehow be 68 in 2 weeks, unsure how that occurred) and it was just too much work. So we traded it in on a 2013 Grey Wolf 26DBH.

Again, that was great. But "we" bought that bunk bed layout thinking grandkids would be involved. Well, they are 900 miles apart in 3 directions and when we go there, we have a bed! And we sacrificed living area for the 2 of us.

So last August, almost a year ago, we started researching Fifth Wheels. We had made one 'mistake' in size and layout, and weren't going to make another. We looked online at about 23,083,034 fifth wheels. We read every article we could find, and went to similar User's Groups Websites to this one for each one. We narrowed it down and decided Cedar Creek, either Hathaway or Silverback, was the best quality with the layouts we wanted.

That led us to Couch's in Hamilton,OH. They just kept coming up with best price. We emailed, and got immediate responses. Then we went to a STL Cardinal game and just drove up there to see them. Met Brannon, and he spent the next 8 months answering every one of our crazy questions.

Meanwhile, I had a Chevy 2500 Diesel. I had it in my head it would pull anything in North America. WRONGAMUNDO. What folks here make fun of, the "Weight Police", actually finally convinced me that Payload is the initial obstacle to overcome with a Fifth Wheel, and until that is overcome the rest of those capacity numbers are meaningless. I spent a week ticked off............and then realized they were right and if I wanted a big fiver, I'd have to move up. I did.........with a heck of a deal.

And we squeezed pennies and finally ordered the Hathaway 36CKTS. It came in May 9, and DW has spent every waking hour packing every single item of our belongings into every nook and cranny of this. The capacity is about 3,100 lbs, and I'm sure she has put in about 12,000 lbs so far. She still has tomorrow to go (and I've only added a FEW lbs myself!).

I have had questions here nonstop......about air bags, and EMS systems, and tires, and a/c units, and where to stay, and how to back (I've backed boat and ATV trailers all my life), insurance, water, inverters, converters, diverters, proverters, and preverters. LOL I have learned so much, and still have things on my list, like awning poles, and autoformers, and .....well, you get the picture.

EVERY question has been answered by someone with knowledge and compassion for a dummy! I will miss some, but JohnF, Wmtire, Asquared, Flybob, Herk, and literally dozens of others, have graciously guided me.

I say all that for one reason. LOTS of newbies showing up. Good (except we need more campgrounds!!). Ask questions, and pay it forward......help those who ask with stuff YOU know about. And stick around.

My attempts at humor have rubbed a few the wrong way. I apologize. But that's just my nature. Have fun, lighten up, don't let anything 'offend' you ever, and smile.

Leave Tuesday morning early for Nashville to pick up 7 y/o grandson (that we don't get to see often), and going to Lake Greenwood State Park, SC, on Wednesday........will camp with oldest daughter and oldest grandson also. 10 days. Just hope the refrigerator and the a/c unit(s) work......the rest is just a thing! Hope the air bags smooth out the ride, and that my backup camera magically starts working (doubtful).

Can't wait to meet up with folks here, at Rallies, in Goshen, or along the trail. I still think we need a 'bumper sticker' with our FROG name/number!

Thank all of you again.

Bill and Jeannie

[crunchman12001]

Congrats on your new 5th wheel, enjoy the trip with your family.

[Iwannacamp]

Sounds like wonderful memories in the making.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[raforan]

I am a newbie as well. Spent the weekend in frontier town in Ocean City Maryland, and I did not want to leave. If I could camp full time I would be on the road seeing the states. That being said I am a talker, talk to everyone about everything just who I am, but I pull information on questions I have from people all over the place. If my wife finds me missing at the site it’s due to asking a random neighbor a question about something that eats at me while I try to sleep about what I can do to my TT or who to pack 70lbs of stuff into a 5lbs area so my four boys can have a life I didn’t have and how to be safe doing it. I was always taught the only dumb question is the question not asked. So thank you for your questions because it has brought me knowledge and thank you to those to respond for their experience and knowledge. because I may not know everything but I’m going to try and learn as much as possible and teach my boys as much as possible so when its their turn to take the wheel they are safer and more prepared then the fly by your seat hold on that I was in my younger years. Good luck and happy trails

[dblr]

BandJCarm, very well put now just sit back and enjoy the trip. When you get to Goshen look me up but I bet we meet first when you arrive in the infield to park as that is where I will be working, parking all the Cedar Creeks. Safe travels and looking forward to meeting

[LittlePM]

BandJCarm Congratulations on the RV, I guess you will need to change your picture now. Have a safe trip, enjoy your time and

[youroo]

BJC,use 1 of those days at Lake Greenwood SP with the GK to Visit "96 National Park" with them! It is the 100 th Centennial of the NPS also,they will thank you later in life,and it is FREE! Another Great part of the USA! Youroo!!

[Santabobswife]

Have a great time. I too lurk a lot and have learned so very much.

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by youroo

BJC,use 1 of those days at Lake Greenwood SP with the GK to Visit "96 National Park" with them! It is the 100 th Centennial of the NPS also,they will thank you later in life,and it is FREE! Another Great part of the USA! Youroo!!

Never heard of it till now!

What a place. Thanks!!!! Will check that out!

and.........the picture should be correct........has new truck and camper, right?

[youroo]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Never heard of it till now!

What a place. Thanks!!!! Will check that out!

and.........the picture should be correct........has new truck and camper, right?

I can't tell by the Pic. if the Truck & Trailer are New,please send Titles so we can verify! Youroo!!

[BandJCarm]

Rots of Ruck.

Read the post where it took me an Act of Congress to get the temporary title.

It'll be a long time before I see that title again! LOL

[keith52]

Have a safe trip and enjoy the new 36CKTS. I know we sure are!!! Love the floorplan

[pt1655]

Hello and welcome from northern Arizona! Congrats on the new rig! Happy Camping!

[asquared]

I hope the setup brings you many happy memories.

As for your forum name, many have stickers made. Everybody customizes color and name to what they want but most get it from makestickers.com. A thread with ideas is here. I did mine without my forum name and in green and white. You can see my design here. All sorts of variations available.

[packrat48]

Congtats on new rig Hope you enjoy Glad you did research for right combination I am trying to convince my niece that her Ram 1500 with 1100 pound payload will not tow 5thw toy hauler

[BandJCarm]

Made it to Nashville Jellystone (50% Passport Discount) for one night. Grandson on way here, will go with us to South Carolina tomorrow.

Only made one mistake unhooking that I won't admit to here. Lol

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

We looked online at about 23,083,034 fifth wheels.

Is that ALL? I think you probably missed a few,

[Dbt803]

Congratulations and safe travels!