Our date of departure looms and the last of the preparations are being completed. Grilling and cooking meals is one of my favorite camping activities and there will not be an opportunity on this trip. In fact, going there we have to keep the Coachman Mirada as clean as possible because we are trading it in. Coming back, we won't have a fully stocked galley in the Seneca. So we will settle for homemade dinners we heat in the microwave and Cracker Barrel. My wife and I really like Cracker Barrel and we will stop for dinner when we can.
We depart tomorrow for our long journey to Des Moines. I will try to add to this thread from the road.
Well we made it to Waukee, IA. I have to say this was the most amazing drive I have ever taken. We saw incredibly beautiful and inspiring landscapes from the expansive vista of our Coachman Mirada. I slept well on the road even with the heat. We just fired up the generator and cranked up the A/C.
If you are considering doing the same thing, here are my suggestions for you. First, thoroughly clean your RV inside and out before you leave. When you get to Des Moines you will be exhausted after your long drive and cleaning will be the last thing you want to do. Second, move out of your RV before you leave home. Third, do the drive in the middle of summer. Every major interstate highway passes through an area of the country where the weather is very capricious during the spring, fall and winter seasons. However, if you are not under time constraints and you can accommodate weather delays, then by all means make your trip any time of the year. Every season has its visual rewards.
Wow! That was easy. We rolled up to the Des Moines RV service station and about 2 hours later we drove away in a brand new 2009 Jayco Seneca HD 34SS.
This coach is really nice. If you are still shopping for an RV and haven't looked at the Seneca yet, you might be well rewarded for taking a look.
I'll upload some pictures later but right now all the cabinets and drawers are open as we figure out where to put everything. Basically the place is mess.
However, I will preview what you will see. A sharp and classy interior that rivals the nicest hotel rooms in Vegas. Lots of conveniences that blend gracefully into the decor. The generator is very quiet even though it is under the bedroom. The sound of air rushing through the vents from the A/C easily drowns out the generator. The bathroom fan is super quiet and will clear the air, if you know what I mean, before all the paperwork is done. The foot lever is very sanitary. How come household toilets aren't built the same way?
Well, I've got to get back to unpacking and moving into my new home.
We have been following your saga for sometime now and are reliving our wait before picking up our Seneca 34SS last September. Please keep up the wonderful posts and most of all, ENJOY!
Paul & Linda
2007 Jayco Seneca HD 34SS Duramax
2005 Saturn VUE
"Monty", "Maggie" & "Murphy" the mighty Shih Tzus
FMCA #F375077
We had a restful evening after getting all of our stuff put away. The heat here in Des Moines is oppressive. According to the news, there is a heat wave throughout the heartland and the South. We are getting ready to hit the road for our long drive back home. We hope to make to Denver by tonight.
Well, have a great trip. I will be watching this thread.
We have been planning to buy a motorhome since march of this year but we have not been succesfull finding what we want.
My wife wants a Tripl E Regency. Can't find any in the dealers lots.
We might have to start looking at used ones with low mileage.
We had an amazing drive home. With the thunderheads brooding overhead the drive through Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona was absolutely breathtaking. It was on this journey that I realized what RVing is really all about. Sometimes the road is the destination.
Now I will cover a sobering aspect of the RV Direct transaction. Keep in mind that most states will want to inspect your new RV before issuing you the plates, tags and registration. The state of Iowa will grant you a three day transit permit, which should be ample to time to drive to a motor vehicle field office in your state. If you are going to plan any side trips, make sure it is after you have acquired your plates, tags and registration.
Let me mention a bit about the handling of my Seneca. The steering wheel is out of alignment with the front axle. However, it tracks straight. I drove over a lot of different road surfaces: smooth, clean, and straight (thank you, Nebraska); rough and wild (hey, Las Vegas, NV, how about putting some of those winning chips down on I-15?); and hilly as in the Divide through Colorado. In all of the conditions my Seneca handled very well. I drove a 2002 Coachman Mirada for 6 years and there is no comparison. The Seneca drives like a 1974 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. It is strong and responsive when driven at or below 65 MPH. Again, in comparison to the Mirada, passing trucks did not disturb the tracking of the coach. Once in a while, a strong gust would push the coach and make it wallow or sway from side to side.
I'll mention a little about boondocking along the Divide on I-80 through the Rockies. Plan your passage through this stretch very carefully. There are not very many rest stops and most of them are bunched up on the south end of the Divide. However, these rest stops are absolutely gorgeous, and I would willingly pay to stay there. Most are next to the Colorado River and are nestled in a red rock canyon. Take my word for it; avoid driving the Divide on a rainy night like I did. I was tired and the hilly terrain made even daylight driving hard work.
On to the class C vs. class A debate. Having driven a low end class A, I can say that the class C has its advantages. In particular, there are more doors to get in and out of the coach. When I get to a fueling station, I can jump out on my side of the coach. Also, my daughter is looking forward to hanging out in the cab over.
So finally, we got home today at about 13:30 PDT. We were tired but ecstatic and very pleased with our decision to buy the RV from RV Direct even though it meant driving 1800 miles. The coach is loaded with options like a 5:1 surround sound system, LP accessory nozzle, exterior lights, storage under the master bed, and residential decor. I should also mention that I averaged 11.5 MPG. I averaged the same on my Mirada going there but it weighed about 14,500 lbs. My Seneca weighs more, though I don't know exactly how much. Now that I have it packed, I'm going to take it to a certified Cat weigh station to find out just how much it weighs.
Finally, I am so happy that so many of you enjoyed this posting. I hope this will inspire others to do the same because we only get to do this once or twice in a lifetime. If you are still looking for a RV, my advice is select one like it was your home. Take your time; nothing about RVing is done in a rush.
I will be posting a link to the photos of my new coach in separate thread.
* This post was
edited 08/07/08 10:28pm by BitWriter *
BitWriter wrote: The steering wheel is out of alignment with the front axle. However, it tracks straight.
Nice write up on your trip.
My steering wheel was also not centered but it was super easy to fix. In the engine compartment you can disconnect the steering shaft and slide it up out of the coupling and rotate it to make it be in the correct position. This takes about 2 minutes to get it straight.
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