New Grey Wolf 28 owner from western pa

prof_fate · 01-20-2011, 11:59 AM

Just bought a new 2011 Cherokee Grey Wolf 28BH last weekend and are moving up from a small, vintage pop up (1966 Apache Raven).

This is a huge move of course and we're quite looking forward to May when we can begin using our new home away from home.

MtnGuy · 01-20-2011, 12:03 PM

Even though I know you have already done some posts here.........

to the forum !!!

Big Dawg · 01-20-2011, 01:05 PM

We just purchased the Gray Wolf 28BH also. It is being stored at the dealer until camping season in April. We started tent camping, then pop-up, and then a 19' hybrid. Let me know at the year progresses, what you think?

prof_fate · 01-20-2011, 01:27 PM

We take title on saturday and our kids have yet to see it - we bought it the Pittsburgh RV show, it was on display.
We have to get a tow vehicle now.

Ours has a counter with stools by the door - I don't really see that floorplan on the FR site or brochure but that was one of the key features - too many models had zero counter space for meal prep or even piling up dirty dishes.

I read a thread here surveying owners on the happiness/satisfaction with their campers and the list of poor assembly quality issues was striking - I'm hoping we don't have to deal with too many - at least I'm aware to check everything before turning on the water.

We went from tent (before kids) to me wanting a bed off the ground so we got the Raven - it was garage kept and fully stocked from an old couple that were well, beyond retiring I guess you'd say. Best $400 we'd ever spent. Now with our kids (william age 10, evelyn age 7) and our collie we need more space - and I"m not getting any younger so I want less setup time and less issues with rain (drying out, packing up wet, etc). Having a bathroom that isn't a 200 yard march away at 3 am will be oh so wonderful too!

I'm guessing we'll pick ours up in mid-april unless the weather breaks sooner. They'll deliver to us for free so even if we're not tow-ready by then we'll get to go over it thouroughly in the back yard and 'move in' and see what we need/don't need.

With a new camper I hesitate to move over the old second hand coffee pot and toaster from the old one.

parkman · 01-20-2011, 02:50 PM

I have a Cherokee Grey Wolf 25RB and have to say....I love it. I moved from a popup also. The difference is amazing. It's great to have restroom, running water and storage. You'll notice a huge difference when it rains or the wind blows!
Yes, there are better quality campers out there, but I have had very few issues with mine. Everything works fine and it does what I want it to do. Personally, I'll look at those better quality campers when I retire. For now, I love my Grey Wolf.

prof_fate · 01-20-2011, 03:44 PM

Our thought was a good used one (whatever that might be) or a cheaper new one - if we manage to use it 30 days a year and keep it 10 years that's only 6 months of day in day out real use - IMO it should look and function nearly as good then as it does now if the water stays out and our dog behaves himself.
We know in 10 years our kids will be grown and our needs will change - I'm pushing for a bus conversion - perhaps even stripping our trailer for the parts. (I'm assuming here I won't have $150-400k to buy a bus with of course)

BigRed · 01-20-2011, 04:58 PM

You need a Ford 2011 F-250 Crew-Cab,longbed.6.2-(V8). Thought I would help you spend your money! and you like Ford's so................

prof_fate · 01-20-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed

You need a Ford 2011 F-250 Crew-Cab,longbed.6.2-(V8). Thought I would help you spend your money! and you like Ford's so................

more likely an expedition or excursion. a pickup won't work unless you want to pay for a third vehicle we only use on occassion, buy my biz or adopt our kids.

A 4 door long bed might work until we actually have to drive it. a friend has a chevy version of it and another friend has a supercab 8' f250 HD - it rides like it has no suspension, is too long to park anywhere I'd need to go for work -the chevy rides better but is longer yet. Where is it written the tow vehicle needs to be as long as the thing it's towing?

All you folks with these beastly TVs - do you have a 'daily driver' too or what? Seriously - we spend $300-400 a month on gas - replacing my vehicle (the one least driven) with a beast that gets 10mpg will cost us $150 a month more in gas. Getting just a tow vehicle is an option, but just as costly, if not more so. And that's assuming gas prices don't hit $4.50 a gallon as everyone predicts later this year. Is camping only for the rich and environmentally cruel?

LadyWindrider · 01-20-2011, 10:54 PM

The only thing that makes camping cheaper these days is the fact that you can carry and prepare food, and not have to eat out. Some campground fees are higher than motel fees. The only other advantage, if you plan on traveling, id you aren't quite living out of a suitcase, but then again you are, just a big heavy one. And I haev to ask, what is environmentally cruel about camping?, or are you referring to the tow vehicle? Campers take less water, less electricity, than a motel room. Preparing your own meals, is environmentally efficient over a restaurant. I don't think you want to start an "environmentally friendly" thread on here. It is way more than the vehicle you drive.

MtnGuy · 01-21-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prof_fate

All you folks with these beastly TVs - do you have a 'daily driver' too or what?

Good question here. I am fortunate to have 3 vehicles between the missus and I. She drives an 2004 Accord (4 cylinder, 5 speed) back and forth to work, and we use that as much as possible. We sometimes take that on trips, but the limited cargo area, and uncomfortable seats limits us there. Everyday driving results in 33 mpg, trips in the 37 to 38 mpg range, and I once got 40 mpg on a trip.

98 Jeep Wrangler....my everyday drive. 4 cylinder, 5 speed, and for the life of me can't squeeze much more than 23 mpg out of that puppy......20 mpg is the average. But it is fun to drive, and it will zip in and out of parking spaces making it a great grocery getter.

2006 F150: Tow vehicle, lumber fetcher, mulch getter, furniture mover, garbage truck, etc. I don't drive that as much as the others which reflects in the odometer....27k miles. 10,400 miles of that have been towing a camper. With twice the motor of the Jeep (2.5 vs. 5.4 L), automatic, AC, more power accessories, and heavier, it doesn't get a lot worse mileage than the older Jeep. 20 mpg average on a trip, 17 mpg around town, 11 mpg towing the camper.

An extra vehicle will cost with initial purchase price, insurance, and property taxes. I have not included gas, tires, maintenance, because you will driving your other vehicles less, which would decrease those costs on those.....ought to be close to wash, but it never seems to work out that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prof_fate

Seriously - we spend $300-400 a month on gas - replacing my vehicle (the one least driven) with a beast that gets 10mpg will cost us $150 a month more in gas.

Why don't you think a new tow vehicle will just get 10 mpg ?? Towing, yes. Conservative use without a camper behind, it should do a lot better.

I am not saying that everyone should have get a dedicated tow vehicle.....it just doesn't make sense for most people. Just throwing out some options here.

prof_fate · 01-21-2011, 09:23 AM

Well, MPG is based on EPA estimates and my experience with their numbers and my vehicles.
The 6.0L gm v8 in a suburban is listed at 10/16mpg city/hwy. I can't see that getting 18 or 20 overall in daily driving. Call me a skeptic if you wish. The smaller motor does 1 or 2 mpg better but according to chevy's own specs the GCWR of the 1/2 ton is too little, if such numbers are to be believed and the 3/4 ton only comes with the bigger motor.

the expedition with a 5.4 is listed at 14/20 I think - so that /might/ get 16 or 17. Since I lean toward fords I'm gonna start my search on these first and see where it leads.

I had a jeep comanche for 11 years (17mpg overall avg, stock truck) a wrangler (305 chevy v8, 32" tires, 3" lift, 4:10 gears) and it got 11-13 most of the time.) It was fun but it was our 'spare' vehicle just like a dedicated tow vehicle might be. granted this was not a stock vehicle but it was the least reliable thing I've owned for a very long time (114k on it). Sitting does a vehicle a big disservice.

If we had a spare 15g's laying around I guess I might not be concerned with what to get or what it costs to use. But the $150 a month I spend on gas is money I can't spend on something else. I don't know about you or others here but when gas went to $4.20 a gallon in 2007 (or 8?) we stayed home a lot more, ate more spaghetti, listed to the kids whine a lot more. It's one thing when gas prices spike - you don't have control over that, but when it comes to what you drive you do have some input over it.

I think my issues (i'm not in denial, right?) are I like efficiency, I like being thrifty, I hate waste (be that food or money or fuel), I prefer a small vehicle over a big one and we had planned to get a 21' hybrid this year, not a 28' TT. The price was the same, the weight diff was only 800 lbs more and we liked the TT 10 times better - we'll use it more and be happier when we do use it. Seemed like a good idea - and still does. We just weren't prepared for needing a full size tow vehicle (an explorer was the plan for the hybrid and initial research shows it should pull the TT as well...more thorough research says a bigger vehicle is indeed a better choice.).

I had pickups for 15+ years and know the plus/minus of them. If you have multiple kids, their friends, pets, etc - or have ever lived with a 3 row seating vehicle - you can't go back to less. Our minivan is in the shop for an axle recall and our rental/loaner is an edge - there have been a few times we've had to take 2 vehicles when having the van meant only 1 would have been needed. IMO an ineffecient waste and it bugs me. YMMV of course.

prof_fate · 03-19-2011, 11:58 AM

Update:
Picked up a one owner, well used (and loved) Ford Expedition this past week and just finished ordering a reese wd/cam hitch and prodigy 2 brake controller.

$5100 for the truck and hitch bits isn't too terrible i suppose. Opted for a 'cheap' truck as a third vehicle (add annual cost for insurance, plates, inspection is around $200) over replacing one of our day to day vehicles. Expeditions are alot pricier than Explorers and there are lot fewer of them out there.

What's really whacked is this 'full size suv' that get 11.8 mpg (according to it's own computer) is smaller inside than our 'mini van' ( interior length is 9" less than the van and it's shorter inside, only 2" wider at the back cargo area) that gets 18.4 mpg.

Only a couple of more weeks and we'll have our new baby home and we'll get to break 'er in!

kalik282 · 03-19-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prof_fate

Update:
Picked up a one owner, well used (and loved) Ford Expedition this past week and just finished ordering a reese wd/cam hitch and prodigy 2 brake controller.

$5100 for the truck and hitch bits isn't too terrible i suppose. Opted for a 'cheap' truck as a third vehicle (add annual cost for insurance, plates, inspection is around $200) over replacing one of our day to day vehicles. Expeditions are alot pricier than Explorers and there are lot fewer of them out there.

What's really whacked is this 'full size suv' that get 11.8 mpg (according to it's own computer) is smaller inside than our 'mini van' ( interior length is 9" less than the van and it's shorter inside, only 2" wider at the back cargo area) that gets 18.4 mpg.

Only a couple of more weeks and we'll have our new baby home and we'll get to break 'er in!

Congratulations on the new-to-you TV!

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