RE: Combining Camping with your other Hobbies....
Thanks, Phil. Yes, you can “camp” anywhere you want on the National Grasslands. Pick a beautiful lake in a huge valley and it’s all yours. I put “camp” in quotes, because I don’t really camp – just take my “home” where I want it to be. Obviously, there are issues with taking a big DP way back rough goat trails, and I avoid that – tow a Jeep and have a canoe to provide true back country access.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/6thDay-2008-Jeepontheprairie.jpg
Another issue is hot exhaust pipes on dry prairie grasses. A fire out there would be a terrible thing – just requires some common sense.
In terms of guns, you see a 20 bore Famars Excalibur roundbody droplock, Sabatti engraving, set up as a game gun with 30” solid rib bbls, minimalist Prince of Wales grip, six pounds even weight, etc. This is my primary upland gun.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/6thDay-2008-Famars20Gauge.jpg
You also see a 12 bore Famars pinless sidelock, 30” bbls choked loose and tight, Sabatti engraving - another game gun at 6½ pounds. I use this mostly when I need a lot of reach for late season phez, for shooting back-up and the like. Had to give it a short outing on the prairie grouse, though.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/8thDay-2008-Famars12bore.jpg
Finally, you see a 20 bore Filli. Bertuzzi hammergun, 28” bbls, choked loose and tight, another game gun at a flat six pounds; Manrico Torcoli engraving. I grew up with an old hammergun, so use this gun now and then to remind me how it used to be.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/7thDay-2008-BertuzziHammergun.jpg
RE: Combining Camping with your other Hobbies....
Bird hunting with my dogs in remote places all over the country.
We just got back from a month chasing prairie grouse (Sharptails and Greater Prairie Chickens) on the high plains.
Sunrise on the Missouri River where we were camped for a while::
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/6thDay-2008-SunriseOverTheMissouri.jpg
Each of these valleys were big enough to hide Manhattan with lots of room to spare:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/9thDay-2008-BigValley.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/10thDay-2008-Lasthuntinbigvalley.jpg
The dogs and I hunted/explored magnificent wilderness places far from any other humans:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/4thDay-2008-MaggieatWorkUnderBigSki.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/1srDay-2008-ChaseonPoint.jpg
We covered quite a few hard miles for every point on these skittish wild birds::
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/2ndDay-2008-ChaseonPoint.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/4thDay-2008-ClassicPointbyMaggie.jpg
My beloved dogs really like to retrieve:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/10thDay-2008-Chaseretrieve-3.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/910hDay-2008-FinalRetreiveonlasthun.jpg
Beautiful, hard-earned wild birds:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/10thDay-2008-Excaliburwithtwochi-1.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/8thDay-2008-Twochickensandasharp-2.jpg
The country has its beauty
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/7thDay-2008-Lotsofpretty.jpg
And its dangers in addition to just the remoteness:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/7thDay-2008-PrairieRattler.jpg
Each night, we’d cook the day’s kill over an open cottonwood fire (firewood is hard to come by and cottonwood is better than “buffalo chips”) while enjoying an adult beverage, look at the stars, listen to the total lack of man made sounds, and then retreat to the comfort of the big MH to rest up to do it all again the next day:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/Trip-2008-FellasleepduringPalin-Bid.jpg
RE: Seperate Diesel and Gas Class A Forums?
When I moved up to a diesel from a gasser, I found that I had already accumulated a decent amount of knowledge about diesel MH issues just from my reading here. If there were separate forums, I would not have had that experience.
RE: Need to know
I don’t “camp”. We live way back in the sticks in the middle of our own land, so if I want to “get away from it all” or get “back to nature”, I just go home.
I use my rig as a second home that allows me to “live” in complete comfort wherever I want to be – mostly for upland bird hunting and guiding. We are on the road right now to spend a month in the Dakotas. I will also telecommute from the MH when we are out.
Also, the MH is the only way my handicapped wife can travel.
RE: What do u do?
To pay my bills, I’m a lawyer specializing in complex mergers and acquisitions. Since doing deal work requires several other legal specialties (real estate, labor and employment, finance and banking, commercial litigation, etc), I have gradually built what is one of the larger commercial law firms in the area.
I work part-time as an upland bird hunting guide. That is the main reason I have the MH. The dogs and I are on the road now (we are sitting out the remnants of Hurricane Ike tonight – amazing wind!) heading for the Dakotas for a month. With the backing of my firm and modern technology, I can do deals from pretty much anywhere, so I keep up with my regular work even when I am out in the field.
Could retire anytime, but I come and go as I please and I love both of my jobs for different reasons. One is intellectually challenging; the other is physically challenging – both are exciting.
Here are the dogs at “work” pointing a bird for a Gun:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2007%20Hunting/BryansHunt1-4-06-Atwodawgpoint.jpg
RE: Average Speed on the Highway
I drive 55 and I'll bet I well see you at every red light up ahead.
No you won’t, Captain. When I’m out in the MH, 95% of my miles are driven on the interstate – often with no turns for 800 or 1,200 miles - certainly no red lights. An extra 10 or 15 mph makes a huge difference in time on the road. A 1,500 mile trip at 50 mph will take 30 hours; at 55 mph it will take over 27 hours. The same trip will take about 23 hours at 65 mph; and a bit over 21 hours at 70 mph. On that trip, I might burn 167 gallons of fuel at a low speed or 187 gallons at a higher speed – 20 gallons more. At, say, $4.25/gallon for diesel fuel, that’s a romping $85 of additional cost to save somewhere between four and nine hours on the road.
On longer trips it makes an even bigger difference.
Worth every penny to me, but obviously different people have different priorities.
What do you do that gets you the much money an hour? I own a purely commercial law firm I started years ago – my lawyers do anything that has to do with business: banking; real estate; M&A and tax; management side labor; commercial litigation, intellectual property; etc. My personal practice is nearly all complex merger and acquisition legal work – if you can make people into multi-millionaires, they are willing to pay you quite well. One good thing about this work is that, with the backing given by my firm and modern communication technology, I can do a good bit of what I do from nearly anywhere - and that allows me to do my other job.
My other job (and the reaosn I have the MH) is working as an upland bird hunting guide. The pay is a little less than being a deal lawyer :) , but it keeps the Old Man and his dogs in decent shape and we love introducing new people, especially young people, to my lifelong passion.
Good luck on your fast life It’s worked for me for 62 years so far. Wouldn’t have it any other way. I learned long ago and far away (when I fully expected I’d never see another sunrise), that every minute we are fortunate enough to be here is precious and I try to make the most of each and every one. I know most people prefer a more laid-back approach to life and that’s fine, too – there is room for all types of folks. One of my kids is laid-back and one is like me - she's a deal lawyer/bird hunter, too.
Where I have a problem is when one type of person seeks vilify those who are different or tries to impose his/her lifestyle on another. There seem to be some people on this BB who like to drive slowly and smell the roses as they go through life with no particular urgency to do anything. I have no problem with that, but they often seem to have a problem with those who live and move at a different pace. Something very wrong with that.
RE: Average Speed on the Highway
When I'm driving my Class A, I’m usually going far (minimum 1,500 miles in one direction) and I usually have limited time. Further, I bill at $325/hour when I’m working and, given that I could work 24/7 if I choose to do so, I have that same number as a lost opportunity cost whenever I am not working. Thus, trading substantial additional travel time at, say, 50 or 55 mph, for one or two better mpg makes utterly no economic (or other sense) for me.
My coach is powerful and fast and has good brakes (as MH’s go) and there is no limit as to how fast I can tow my toad.
For all of those reasons, I move along as fast as I deem prudent and safe under the conditions – generally 65-70 mph. When I’m driving my regular pick-up truck and especially when I’m driving my quick two-seater, I also tend to have a very heavy foot. I know some people don’t like that – but there it is. I drive like I live life generally – at full speed.
RE: Question for RV'ers
We backpacked in the US and Europe; and then when we had kids we family tent camped. We eventually got a small TT, then a nice Airstream TT, then a Class C and when the kids were grown got our first Class A. We now have a 39’ Class A diesel pusher. Never had a pop-up.
One reason tent campers, pop-up campers, etc are outside more is that those can be cramped and rather uncomfortable - not desirable to be inside – you tend to be inside only to change, sleep, etc – and you tend to be outside the rest of the time. In a more elaborate units, being inside is a real option – it’s roomy and comfortable.
Another reason folks in the more elaborate units tend to spend more time inside, just as people do at home is that they ARE “home” and they are not “camping”. We live deep in the woods, in the middle of our own land, so we don’t need to “camp” or go any where to “get away from it all”; to “enjoy nature”; or to “be outdoors”. We are not “camping” when we are out in our Class A. We are at home - it just happens that the physical location of home is wherever we are the moment. We are also traveling for a reason – for example, I might be bird hunting or guiding for upland hunters for a month. Even though I might be afield all day with the dogs, I must telecommute and work at night – don’t want to and don’t have time to sit around outside and chat with a bunch of strangers. As I said, we are “home” with all that means, including working.
Finally, folks in the more elaborate units often live in them for extended periods (some full time, of course). When you are traveling for extended periods, as opposed to overnight or a weekend, there is no rush to be outside.
Pluses and minuses of mid-ship TV and side hall??
I recently acquired a new Class A that has a mid-ship TV and side hall floor plan. These are generic internet pics, but it looks exactly like this:
http://www.rvt.com/photos2/3748712/CHANBLADE_3748712_6.jpg
http://www.rvt.com/photos2/3971270/_3971270_5.jpg
This is a new set-up for us. Obviously, the side hall disappears when the full-length curb-side slide is in and one must go through the bathroom to get to the bedroom from the front of the MH. I really like it so far, but haven’t taken any long trips yet. We will be leaving in about two weeks for a month-long western bird hunting trip.
I like the fact that the sort of “S” shaped floor plan feels more residential and less like living inside a submarine than our former split-bath type floor plan. I like the fact that the interior front of the MH is clean and does not have a TV hanging down to block the view, bump my head, etc; the fact that the TV is at a comfortable, natural height with all of the electronics in a place my wife can easily reach them; and the fact that there are now two focal centers – the huge glass areas in the front of the MH and the interior (TV, etc). The mid-ship TV is a flat screen so it takes up very little depth or usable space.
I like the big bathroom that the side hall design allows, plus the fact that it is not a rear bath, so it is accessible from either the bedroom area of the living room. My wife is handicapped and sleeps a lot – I sleep little, so this is important to us.
I don’t like the fact that you can’t see the TV when the small street side slide is closed – my wife is a big TV watcher. We’ve had an in-motion satellite in each of our Class A’s, so she has something to do while I am doing my marathon driving sessions. She must ride in the bedroom to watch the in-motion TV in this MH. I also don’t like that I can’t get to the pantry in the hall or the hall closet when the slide is closed.
Just curious (not sure why because I already own the thing) how others who have similar floor plans like them (or not)? Pluses and minuses?
RE: How Many nights or weekends............
It is way too much trouble to go for a weekend in our rig. Plus, we don’t have our rig to “camp” - i.e. to hang out at campgrounds to get away from it all. We live deep in the woods in the middle of our own land, so we “get away from it all” every day. Frankly, I hate campgrounds with all of the crowds, rules Nazi’s, chatty busybodies, hassles with the dogs, etc, etc.
We have the rig to “live” on site when upland bird hunting in remote places and to allow my handicapped wife (who cannot travel otherwise) to visit those of our kids who live out of state. When we take the rig out, we are usually gone for a month or so. We do that two or three times per year, depending on work pressures (I manage my business by telecommuting when we are traveling). So, I’d say about 60 to 90 days/year of “camping”. I’m hoping in another year or so to up that to four trips per year and/or extend the length of the trips. Eventually, I’d like to spend about six months/year in the MH.
RE: Driving and RV
Great post! My first Class A drive was from rural PA where we live to Atlanta to visit our daughter and her family. Six or eight lanes of fast, heavy traffic in each direction, cattle chutes, etc. ACK! Trial by fire!! By the time we got back home (without a scratch, I must brag), I had driven about 1,500 miles and felt both comfortable and competent.
Ever since that first terrible white-knuckle drive, I LOVE driving my big Class A MH as much as I enjoy ripping around the windy mountain roads around here in my fast two-seater. It’s a very different experience, to be sure, but great fun. In fact, I like the driving as much as any part of a trip.
You’ll get there, too.
2002 Winnie Adventurer - Osmotic Blisters - HELP!!??
I took our 2002 Winnebago Adventurer in for its annual inspection and maintenance before our usual western bird hunting trips commence. I noticed that there was blistering on the outside walls over and below the driver’s side front window and passenger side front window and I asked them to check that along with a few other very minor items (this MH has been good for us).
I was told: There is no leak. This is a defect in manufacturing of the walls that came from a particular supplier (Crane Products?) which Winnebago used for about one year in the ‘02/’03 timeframe. The walls were made with moisture trapped in them and the cycles of heat and freezing to which they are subjected in northern climes resulted in this blistering. Once osmotic blistering starts, it can’t be stopped and will eventually lead to a complete breakdown of the fiberglass. The only “fix” is to replace both entire sidewalls in the motorhome, which will cost about $15K and take 6+ months to achieve. ACK! Neither Winnebago nor the supplier will do anything about this. ACK again!!
They know I have been looking at a 2008 39’ Journey DP. Their advice (surprise, surprise) is that I trade the Adventurer (at a greatly reduced value, of course) on the Journey.
Can any of this be true? Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
RE: Anyone ever have a cat that doesn't nuzzle you? Pics incl.
I think cats (and dogs for that matter) are enormously affected by their early experiences. The best cat I’ve ever owned in a lifetime of owning cats came to us from the local shelter at six months old and no one knew her history. She was smart as a whip, loving, fun and a tremendous mouser, to boot.
But, every time I picked up a shotgun (something that happens with frequency in my home as I am an upland bird hunter, bird hunting guide and competitive shooter) this cat would run to hide in utter terror. You wouldn’t see her again for hours. She lived to be 20 years old and still had that fear, even though I had never (and would never) scared her with a gun, she never saw or heard one fired, etc.
The only thing I can figure is that she had some terrible experience with a gun early in her life and that never left her.
I suspect behaviors such as the one being discussed here may have such origins. Also, some cats are very affectionate; others just seem totally aloof and could care less if you live or died; and everything in between.
RE: 2005 Winnebago Adventurer- please adivse on unit
We have an ’02 Winnie Adventurer. It’s not the fanciest rig on the road, but
it suits us perfectly (everything we want and nothing we don’t). It has been totally trouble-free for us. Couldn’t really ask for more.
I’d be very suspicious of the $32K price – seems way too low. However, IF it’s legit and it hasn’t been flooded, isn’t stolen or some such, that’s the deal of a lifetime.
RE: This is so cool
I always take my laptop because I spend some hours each day telecommuting - working and managing my firm. The system I have at work allows me to connect by internet from anywhere and it’s exactly like I’m sitting at my desk. The cell phone allows me to talk to people at work, return calls from clients, etc – the only thing I can’t do is meet with people in person, but I have others to handle that when I am away. I could not take the extended bird hunting/guiding trips I do but for this. Between an aircard and a good WiFi system, I can usually get connected, even in the remote places we favor. If I can’t, I move to a place where I can.
The laptop is good for things besides work, too. For example, downloading, storing and Photoshopping photos each day, getting up to date local weather at any time, managing investments, etc. The uses are unlimited.
I no longer even have a desktop in my home office – I’ve switched to a high-level laptop.
RE: Luxating Patella
My younger dog has dealt with that issue in his left rear leg, which can be problematic in a working dog who will cover 50+ miles of heavy rough cover in a day. The first few times, he would scream and then come up to me on three legs, asking to be "fixed" as if he had hit cactus or something. I'd pop the kneecap back into place and off he'd go as if nothing had happened.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2008%20Hunting/3-15-08-ScratchHunt-Retreive-2.jpg
We went on a careful exercise program in an effort to build strength in the joint without further injury. To make a long story short, the problem was cured and he hasn't had the problem in a couple of years despite running really hard in big country. Don't know if that will work for you, but you might ask about it before you opt for surgery. Good luck!
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202007/ScoutingDay-ChasePointingPhez-9-19-.jpg
RE: Need opinions on Winnabago Adventure 32'
Can’t help you with the chassis – ours is a Ford, but we have a 2002 32” Adventurer with two slides. We tow a Jeep. So far zero problems other than normal maintenance. We really like the floor plan and the amenities – just right for us – not too much and not too little. We felt that we got a lot of value for the cost.
RE: Bread to hunt/kill.
My dogs are serious hunters (together, they probably have 4,000 birds under their collars by now) and, if permitted, they are stone killers in the field on critters to up large fawn size. They can kill a nasty 40 pound raccoon so fast you can’t blink before it’s over. Their prey drive is simply awesome to behold.
That said, they are members of my pack and I am the pack leader – they may not attack other critters without the go-ahead of the pack leader. Nor may they engage in aggressive behavior – like uncontrolled barking at food or anything else without at least the tacit consent of the pack leader. I don’t let them dispatch varmints because their judgment as to what constitutes a varmint is not the best (the “varmint” might be someone’s beloved pet cat for example); and because I don’t want to expose them to any risk.
To my mind, this is a training issue not a “bread” issue.
RE: Why did you purchase a gas Class A?
We bought our 32’ gasser because the floor plan, size and equipment suited us perfectly for what we intended to do pre-retirement. It had all of 4,000 miles on it. We spend perhaps 2-3 months/year “living” in the moho. It is not our home – it is our wings allowing my handicapped wife to visit our kids and their families and to travel; it is our mobile upland hunting lodge; it is our vacation home, etc. I’d rather have my money in my home.
Even though it is a top of the line gasser, it cost way less than a DP, which is a good thing for a rapidly depreciating item that sits most of the time. We could easily afford this coach and we paid cash – buying a diesel would have involved borrowing or liquidating some investments. Maintenance is relatively easy on the Ford V10, too.
My only real complaints are that the ride is rough and loud; and it can’t tow my full-sized crew-cab pick-up, so we had to acquire a Jeep which serves exclusively as a toad. I’d prefer not to own the extra vehicle – I have a truck and a fast two-seater- all I need.
We have been rather surprised to discover that even on extended trips, we were not uncomfortable or anxious to get out of the moho and back home. It certainly isn’t as fancy as the typical luxury DP, but with the upgrades we’ve done to it, it has everything we need – no more than we need and no less – just right. Even if we do retire one day (I will probably never fully retire), we may well keep this moho and deal with the fact that the ride is a bit loud and bumpy rather than liquidate a couple hundred thousand of investments and pour that cash into a quickly depreciating machine. We’ll see.
