One fine Sunday afternoon, after having lunch, my wife said, "On the way home, why don't we just stop at Camping World and see what they have there............ (you may already see where this is going) So, we did. We spent hours there wandering the lot, avoiding sales people, and being amazed at what was available in campers nowdays.
Digressing for a moment...... Being an old "farm/country boy" camping to me now days was a stay at Motel 6. I've slept on a blanket along a creek, I've endured an old pop-up camper that the bunks would ocassionally fall off during the night. (That will wake you up!) So even remotely wanting a camper was not on my agenda. (silly me)
We left Camping World with a hand full of brochures and a kindling interest building in my wife. i.e. Isn't it time WE started enjoying life while we still can? Serious discussions ensued the following week. My dreams were filled with the "should we" topics. One point of discussion was if we bought a trailer we did have a truck already. We have a 1998 F-150 with a NEW 4.6 v8 engine. Two weeks later we left Camping World with a 260BL Zinger tag-a-long. Completely excited about our new purchase we planned our VIRGIN trip. We would head to Louisville, Ky to visit my kids and Grandchildren. We purchased the "bunk" version just to be able to take Grandkids with us.(We have since learned that that is a mistake) Off we go.......Louisville bound. Now between Roanoke, VA and Louisville, KY lie some fairly significant mountains along I-64 / I-77. Let's just say that my ol' F-150 struggled up these mtns at 20MPH as 18 Wheelers zoomed past us. Time to rethink tow vehicle!
Somewhere in this time warp my wife was deciding that maybe our trailer wasn't what we needed especially if we were ever going to think of living in it fulltime. I don't remember being involved in all these discussions or decisions. (She may have been talking in my bad ear). Anyhow..... we decided to get a new truck. I said...."OK let's drive thru lot "A"(Ford) and see what's there. Then we'll go to Lot "B"(Dodge) and see what's there and then we'll make a decision." I must have been talking to her "bad ear". We made it no further that lot "A", first row! Salesman sold her on the F-150 King Ranch with, as he claimed a 11,300lb. tow capability. (WRONG)
We now had a shiny new truck, leather seats, weather radar, bells and whistles. Now, we had to have a new trailer to go with it....... She started her homework process. While I was at work I would receive texts as to what she was finding. Also to our disbelief we were finding that our shiny new truck would not pull much more than what we currently owned.
We? decided that we wanted a fith wheel but could not pull it with our current truck. We had several discussions with the general Manager at the dealership about how we had been mis informed and product misrepresented by our salesman. We were able to leave the dealership with a new F-250 Super Duty, Lariat, crew cab, 4x4, 6.7 Deisel.
Homework and towing charts in hand, we headed to the RV dealer to see what kind of trade-in we could get on a two month old Zinger trailer. You all know how that went. We took the hit. We did however leave that day the new owners of an Open Range 393RLS, fifth wheel and a shiny new truck to pull it.
Beautiful new fifth wheel, shiny new truck and a happy wife wanting to go camping every week. I keep waiting to come home one day and see a FOR SALE sign in the front yard.
I've got to get that hearing aid! I worry about what else I might have missed.
We look forward to the opportunity to cross paths with some of you!
Blessings
Mike & Angie
DorisandDave said
05:43 PM Sep 6, 2011
Welcome to the forum Mike and welcome to the world of Rving! LOVED your story and look forward to hearing about your travels.
All questions are welcomed and there is a lot of experience here to help you out.
Good luck with that hearing aid thing!
Doris
Workinrvers said
05:47 PM Sep 6, 2011
Mike and Angie,
Welcome! Loved your story, don't feel bad, a lot of us have traded Rv's and trucks, several times! (me included)
Loretta said
07:11 PM Sep 6, 2011
Great story. Welcome. You will find alot of good information here and fun people. Hope to meet you one of these days.
Terry and Jo said
07:15 PM Sep 6, 2011
Mike and Angie,
Welcome to the forums at RV Dreams. There are a lot of knowledgeable folks here willing to answer questions and share tips and ideas.
Sometimes our first lessons are hard to accept. Hopefully, all will work to your advantage in the future.
Terry
Waggin Tails said
07:50 PM Sep 6, 2011
Welcome to the forum. Your story sounds similar to someone I know. Glad things worked out as it did. This is the place to ask lots of questions. There are lots of experienced RV folks here.
NorCal Dan said
11:36 AM Sep 7, 2011
Welcome Mike & Angie...loved the story. RV'ing is a great way to enjoy life.
Ckerr said
11:52 AM Sep 7, 2011
Welcome Mike and Angie. Great story... I passed it to Johnny with a mention he might REALLY want to consider getting his hearing checked so he doesn't miss those important conversations... LOL
Ivey said
07:09 PM Sep 7, 2011
Welcome Mike and Angie
Loved your story. We also "stepped" up from a 150 to 2500 to now a 3500. You will find a wealth of information here along with a spot in a growing family.
Greetings To All,
Here's our little story, boring as it may be.
One fine Sunday afternoon, after having lunch, my wife said, "On the way home, why don't we just stop at Camping World and see what they have there............ (you may already see where this is going) So, we did. We spent hours there wandering the lot, avoiding sales people, and being amazed at what was available in campers nowdays.
Digressing for a moment...... Being an old "farm/country boy" camping to me now days was a stay at Motel 6. I've slept on a blanket along a creek, I've endured an old pop-up camper that the bunks would ocassionally fall off during the night. (That will wake you up!) So even remotely wanting a camper was not on my agenda. (silly me)
We left Camping World with a hand full of brochures and a kindling interest building in my wife. i.e. Isn't it time WE started enjoying life while we still can? Serious discussions ensued the following week. My dreams were filled with the "should we" topics. One point of discussion was if we bought a trailer we did have a truck already. We have a 1998 F-150 with a NEW 4.6 v8 engine. Two weeks later we left Camping World with a 260BL Zinger tag-a-long. Completely excited about our new purchase we planned our VIRGIN trip. We would head to Louisville, Ky to visit my kids and Grandchildren. We purchased the "bunk" version just to be able to take Grandkids with us.(We have since learned that that is a mistake) Off we go.......Louisville bound. Now between Roanoke, VA and Louisville, KY lie some fairly significant mountains along I-64 / I-77. Let's just say that my ol' F-150 struggled up these mtns at 20MPH as 18 Wheelers zoomed past us. Time to rethink tow vehicle!
Somewhere in this time warp my wife was deciding that maybe our trailer wasn't what we needed especially if we were ever going to think of living in it fulltime. I don't remember being involved in all these discussions or decisions. (She may have been talking in my bad ear). Anyhow..... we decided to get a new truck. I said...."OK let's drive thru lot "A"(Ford) and see what's there. Then we'll go to Lot "B"(Dodge) and see what's there and then we'll make a decision." I must have been talking to her "bad ear". We made it no further that lot "A", first row! Salesman sold her on the F-150 King Ranch with, as he claimed a 11,300lb. tow capability. (WRONG)
We now had a shiny new truck, leather seats, weather radar, bells and whistles. Now, we had to have a new trailer to go with it....... She started her homework process. While I was at work I would receive texts as to what she was finding. Also to our disbelief we were finding that our shiny new truck would not pull much more than what we currently owned.
We? decided that we wanted a fith wheel but could not pull it with our current truck. We had several discussions with the general Manager at the dealership about how we had been mis informed and product misrepresented by our salesman. We were able to leave the dealership with a new F-250 Super Duty, Lariat, crew cab, 4x4, 6.7 Deisel.
Homework and towing charts in hand, we headed to the RV dealer to see what kind of trade-in we could get on a two month old Zinger trailer. You all know how that went. We took the hit. We did however leave that day the new owners of an Open Range 393RLS, fifth wheel and a shiny new truck to pull it.
Beautiful new fifth wheel, shiny new truck and a happy wife wanting to go camping every week. I keep waiting to come home one day and see a FOR SALE sign in the front yard.
I've got to get that hearing aid! I worry about what else I might have missed.
We look forward to the opportunity to cross paths with some of you!
Blessings
Mike & Angie
Welcome to the forum Mike and welcome to the world of Rving! LOVED your story and look forward to hearing about your travels.
All questions are welcomed and there is a lot of experience here to help you out.
Good luck with that hearing aid thing!
Doris
Mike and Angie,
Welcome! Loved your story, don't feel bad, a lot of us have traded Rv's and trucks, several times! (me included)
Great story. Welcome. You will find alot of good information here and fun people. Hope to meet you one of these days.
Mike and Angie,
Welcome to the forums at RV Dreams. There are a lot of knowledgeable folks here willing to answer questions and share tips and ideas.
Sometimes our first lessons are hard to accept. Hopefully, all will work to your advantage in the future.
Terry
Loved your story. We also "stepped" up from a 150 to 2500 to now a 3500. You will find a wealth of information here along with a spot in a growing family.
Feel free to stop by often and drop a line.
Vicky and Ira