RE: I have a dream.
Why would you want to buy something else to tow with besides your Dodge diesel? There is a good chance that your diesel will get better fuel mileage vs a smaller vehicle while towing. I would think carefully about that.
What size trailer are you thinking about? I wouldn't go too small. You are going to run into days where you are hanging out in the camper... think about it being comfortable enough for that.
See if you can time visiting New England in the fall. Beautiful hills covered in fall colors, crisp cool nights around a campfire, warm afternoons.
Every state will have things to visit. Heck, part of the fun of your trip will be researching the states. Ask questions here (of course). Figure you can visit at least one "attraction" or "point of interest" in each state. The problem will be figuring out which ones!
You are planning what many (if not most) of us want to do! Good luck and have fun!
(and keep us updated!)
Why not the Cummins powered Dodge? Ohhh... I dunno. Just to be different? It seems like a waste of a big rig to tow something so light and small. I've crossed from Washington to Wisconsin and back with the diesel, loaded to 22,000 truck and trailer before. Didn't enjoy that trip that much. It's not ALL about 'economy' and power, though that's an important factor.
RE: I have a dream.
Sounds like fun, no way you can see the natural sites of every state in that short time though.
Yeah... I know. I say that with a sigh and resignation that although it's true.. I will at least get to see those ones I do see along the way. And, in my opinion, that's worth the trip :)
RE: I have a dream.
Well, no, I'm not an rv designer or builder... It would just be an ultra-light homebuilt. Basically, I am fascinated by the idea of designing and building my own. It would take me a year or so to do it. This is so unusual in construction and design, but so conventional in appearance it would be a story in and of itself.
I got interested in this quite by accident, while I was helping one of my kids out with a school project. Basically, it consists of some specific ply based woods, and building a composite body with wood, foam, fiberglass and some urethane stuff. I've computed out the weight of the materials, and the shell alone is so light that 4 men could pick up the empty trailer (including frame, but not axles) that's 21 feet long, including the tounge.
It's actually the contents, such as appliances and tanks, that make it heavy. I've even done research into aerodynamics and have incorporated some into the overall design to dramatically reduce drag.
My only real concern, is that high winds could overturn it. It might have to be equipped with anchors to prevent that! It will be VERY strong, but not "crash" resistant. Part of the idea and design came from some alternative building designs, and part from old fashioned engineering. And part from "tinkering" :)
RE: Concerns about Chrysler Continuing as a Going Concern
I think the most likely thing will be Fiat buying Chrysler - either outright, or controlling ownership like Daimler had. Heck they already own a huge chunk of the US farm machinery market - Fiat is the primary owners of CASE-IH and New Holland (formerly Ford)
One thing you need to understand... Fiat does own a chunk of the businesses in question, but does NOT "run" them. Rather, Fiat and C-IH and NH share technology and engineering and products, but Fiat stays out of the daily operation of both of those companies.
Fiat has stated repeatedly that they do not want to "run" Chrysler. Nor will they be "Daimler II". Fiat actually wants nothing whatsoever to do with that type of arrangement, having been soured on Daimler's behavior already. Instead, they look at it as more of a partnership, where each concentrates on what it does best, and "borrows" from the other. Fiat has considerable need of what Chrysler has in abundance, and that's good manufacturing and dealerships, and large vehicle technology.
Chrysler could benefit considerably from some initial borrowing of technology, until they can have both the time and money and personell to start designing it all in-house. Daimler robbed Chrysler of many things...from people, to money, to facilities.
At the joining of Daimler and Chrysler, Chrysler had the best engineering and design facilities in the WORLD. Daimler then operated that for the benefit of DCX - Germany, and left the Americans hung out to dry.
Nobody at Chrysler is even the slightest interested in repeating that kind of arrangement. And Fiat's even less interested, having learned successfully how to partnership with actually successful companies. Fiat-Allis and Case-IH taught them how to do that, and if they continue down the pattern demonstrated, Fiat will make minimal to no impact on Chrysler's daily operation, except that they'll likely increase our exports a bit.
Fiat actually wants to build cars HERE, in Chrysler's plants. Not the DCX style of forcing overpriced components into cars to benefit Germany, for sure. Chrysler actually has some very very good facilities for both design and manufacturing, built or rebuilt during the immensely profitable years before DCX.
Fiat is actually quite impressed with Chrysler's capabilities, and Chrysler has done an amazing lot of work towards filling their needs since they got split off from Daimler. Fiat has a track record of successful partnerships, whereas Daimler has a record of "takeover, pillage and burn" in terms of both Chrysler, and Freightliner truck, for instance.
RE: I have a dream.
In no way do we expect to see "all" of anything. And, to "help" remember it, I plan on doing a lot of video and photography and making my own "travelog" about it, an electronic version. Maybe outfit whatever rig we drive with some external video/photoraphy automated and stored onboard in it's own computer...
Just to put it in perspective... to see 22 states, in 100 days, only means 4 days/state. So, we've leaned more towards 120 days, so we can get more like 5 days/state. Now, some places, like Florida, where we own a condo, will likely be nearly untouched during this trip. I am not trying to see all of California either. Some states, one quick glance sees it all - like Kansas :)
What I've been toying with, is making a list of 3-4 things per state...
The motorhome pulling a toad is not very likely to happen. For one, the cost of a MH that can actually DO that is considerable. Even taking an old 70's Dodge and just doing the obligatory drivetrain, suspension, and working bits re-do runs about 6 grand - I won't drive a motorhome without the engine being semi-rebuilt and running EFI and overdrive, for instance, and then chassis upgrades to improve the driving, etc... And we still wouldn't have a very small and light "toad" bought yet. Then again, maybe one of our existing Neons would do...
Whatever we did, we would be keeping it. And no, we're NOT buying anything we can't just pay cash for up front. No more debt... EVER.
I have a dream.
No, this isn't political, or historic, or biographical... It's, just, well...I have a dream. And, I decided to share this a little, in hopes some of you will, say, put your brains in gear and inspire mine. I'm really good at fixing stuff, but I'm not as creative as many. Some say I'd be a good engineer... But all that aside... here it is.
In 2011, my wife and I are going to have our 25th anniversary. By then, our home will be paid for, no credit cards, no car payments, no student loans left, all our kids will be adults and over 18, perhaps not all moved away yet, but here's to hoping, no?
Anyway, we've always wanted to see the country before we get old and fall apart completely (well, I feel old some days), and so here's the idea... We live in Oregon, on the Washington border. So, we routinely see quite a bit of OR and WA, and I've lived in MT, born in ID. But what we want to do is see the lower 48. Well, 48 minus OR and WA and ID and MT would leave us just 44 states to tour.
The idea would be for us to leave sometime the winter - Jan or Feb, and finish up sometime after our anniversary, maybe even summer. An alternative to that would be to split our trip into two "sessions"... a winter session in '11 and a summer session in '12. Either of these is perfectly acceptable to us.
If we did it all in one year, it would be about a 6-7 month long "trip". If we split it into two years, it would be around 3-4 mo each. Now, we're not rich... But very well into "upper middle class" as far as income statistics go. I own my own business, and I can leave it in capable hands (partner is very capable), and my wife is a travel nurse, her "job" prospects are not influenced particularly by a 3 month 'gap'.
Obviously, this would have to be done without massive spending, but not such that we're suffering in any way. Besides, what we're interested in is:
1. Seeing each state.
2. Seeing the natural wonders of each state.
3. Seeing the historic aspects of each state.
4. Seeing "other" things. (For instance, it's ok if I miss the Grand Old Opery, NOT ok to miss the Smithsonian, perfectly fine to skip Hollywood and associated theme Parks, NOT ok to miss Death Valley.)
When I first started thinking about this idea, I was leaning toward a motorhome. I changed my mind about that, and started thinking in terms of a truck and travel trailer. Now, I'm thinking about actually building my own "engineered light and aerodynamic" travel trailer and pulling it with a comfortable car, or minivan, or even light truck, like a Dakota.
The latter strategy is to park the RV somewhere, and do a "hub and spoke" type of travel around it, rather than doing a lot of sequential stopping @ places of interest.
And no, I don't have ANY of these things yet, except a Dodge Diesel pickup.
If this interests you, I've love to know what you'd do...and why.
I engineered 16, 21, and 24 foot travel trailers, all of which weigh less than 2600 lbs, dry. All FSC, all with ample room, A/C and furnace heat, oversize fridge/stove/tanks. If I get started any time this year, no problem in completing whichever I choose.
We've estimated our travel at about 15,000 miles for a 4 month "session".
Now... Inspire me... discourage me... anger me... excite me... I don't care... I'd just love to see your thoughts.
Thanks
RE: Fixing water damage on the old Dodge (pics)
Still at it! I am so impressed! Man, I can't wait to see the results... I wanna see how all this stuff is done...
Selfish motives and all, ya know.
Thanks for sticking with it...and taking pictures...and posting...
We're all just a little in your debt.
RE: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?
Is it just me or did you say 2 different things there?? :B
Why, yes I did. I'm gratified you're sophisticated enough to notice :)
1. Synthetic oils are awesome.
2. Using them in old Mopars, without rebuilding the engine will result in headaches you don't want to deal with. Most synthetics will cause the old seals, which have lived in dino oil for years, to either shrink or swell. In the rare "swell" cases, the seals just plain fall apart and it's c atastrophic failure.
In much of the rest of effects, the seals shrink slightly, become extremely brittle and break.
(i have been through more than one episode of this in my own rigs over the years, call me 'experienced'.)
RE: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?
I've have always been a penzoil man too, but this time I put Vavoline Duro-blend 20-50w synthetic blend. I think I'll going with a pure synthetic next time though...Jerry
Just an FYI to anyone considering using synthetics...
They're great. Unless you have just rebuilt your engine, DO NOT USE SYNTHETICS.
YOu'll eventually spring oil leaks, especially the valve seals, which result in oil consumption, fouled plugs, and smoking when you first start it.
Every known synthetic will cause trouble with the "old" seals, gaskets, and rubber parts.
It's safe and infact, a pretty good thing to do, if you used modern parts and just went through the engine.
RE: Fixing water damage on the old Dodge (pics)
Keep up the good work, guy. It's been a while since I checked in from Eastern Oregon, but I'm impressed.
I dunno just where you are over there, but I had to make a couple trips that way... Bought my son a car...
Anyway... Awesome job...
