Not one of the kits. It's a 'real' Pete 359 cab and hood on a Chevy C30 chassis with the adapters to run 22.5s. Big block powered. He put it together in his shop.

 

We're talking about upgrading to a Roo 233S hybrid in a couple of years. The wife (and me for that matter) don't want to get away from sleeping under canvas, or the views and airflow you get when you unzip those windows in the bunk ends. We really want a real bathroom and shower or tub not to mention cookies and ice cream! So either a hybrid is the best choice for us.

Believe it or not, but it wasn't actually that cold. Right before sunrise it was probably mid 60s inside, but that poor little furnace sure got a work out (we forgot the ceramic space heater we normally keep in the camper). In the end we blew through a full 20# propane cylinder over the three days.

The beast didn't even notice it back there, heck the only way I knew it was back there was the A/C shroud poking up in the rear view and a little peek of the side marker lights in the mirrors! I had absolutely no issues tackling the grade on US 40 outside of Uniontown. It's a pretty good grade with some tight turns and the Ex took it in stride.

 

Isn't it a pleasure to tow a popup with an X? I certainly miss my popup when the wind picks up and when I pay at the pump.

Glad it was a good experience for you.

When we winter camped in the popup, we learned to:

• Line the bottom of your bunks with some mylar bubblewrap insulation
• Use electric heaters instead of the propose furnace... you'll burn thru the propane very quickly
• Fight the instinct of zipping every window up tight. Make sure open the zippers slightly at the bunk ends, otherwise you wake up with condensation dripping on your face

 

Truth be told I wouldn't mind a hybrid with tent ends if I wasn't such a light sleeper. Those sound like nice perks for sure.

With 4 hard walls all I have to do is put in some earplugs, turn on a fan and I'm pretty good. Except when we are in a campground with train tracks practically going through it like last week. Not so bad except when they blow the horn to say hello as they go by.

 

I liked our hybrid, prowler 723c, except setup and take down. It towed easy with the Excursion. But I would not go back.

 

The way I look at that is, if you want a camper get a camper! I HATED tenting it, but LOVED to camp. So for me a hard wall camper was a no brainier. Don't have to reset it up to dry out if it's put away wet. Plus in some of The weather we get I wouldn't want to chance a hailstorm in a soft side camper.

 

We have a hard wall because I have heard of stories of rips and tears and bugs. I hate bugs! 1 mosquito in the camper and I can't sleep all night. Just keep hearing Bzzzzzz

 

Swapped out the chains on the TT to work with the Hensley. Needed 10ish extra inches and don't like the chain link extenders. Everything else had plenty of length to accommodate though I did re-route the 7 way.

Can't wait to get the TT out but the weather has been terrible. Saturday evening it dropped from the mid fifties to the mid thirties with 40mph winds and snowed.

Will have some pictures of the work my wife has done on the interior in a week or so. She's kicked butt on it.

 

We lucked out when we bought the trailer last year. The PO included a BAL leveler as well as the super high wind version of Pop Up Gizmos, and reflectix for all the windows with the exception of the two side windows in the slide out dinette. Those were definitely a godsend on this trip.

We normally have two space heaters in the Pup, but being the first trip of the season, we forgot them. We we went up to elk country last November, the space heater really helped a lot to keep the furnace from running 24/7.

Personally I'd rather spend the little extra for propane to do these cold(er) weather trips, there's something so idyllic and serene about having a campground virtually all to yourself.

In regards to the condensation issue, we've been really lucky, since the Coleman's of this era used Sunbrella fabric, which is breathable. Even with everything zipped up tight, or at least as tight as a pop up can get, we've had zero issues with condensation.

On a side note, I think I may have figured out the slight bucking I noticed on the trip back. It's not so dependant on rpm but definitely on throttle opening. I need to hookup my scan tool, but I suspect the TPS has a flat spot in it and is dropping off on small throttle openings. Other then the bucking, it's driving great, and if I stay over 1/4 throttle it's not even noticeable.

 

Will be pulling out this Saturday for a quick trip to my grandparent's place in KY. Mom and dad are tired of pulling their 5th wheel down and are building a 12x30 "house" on the property so we will be framing it out this weekend.

Will be my first tow with the Hensley so I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

 

Didn't get to take the TT last weekend. Slept in the back of the Ex since the wife and kids stayed home. However, we did get the TT out this weekend at a local state park. Pulled in to our sit and my EX's smaller brother is sitting in the next spot. Will get some pictures in the am. Hensley worked well on the 5 mile haul ahah.

 

Ha Heavy that thing is even heavier to take off in a gravel parking lot by the wonderful headlights of a 2000 X @ 10 pm surrounded by big rigs giving you the evil eye cause you are taking up 2 parking spaces LOL. Wont be long thou and it will be back 100%

Is you air bags independently controlled or tied together? I had a leak in one of my firestones and replaced with an off brand model. I want to switch to the air lifts with the built in Bump stops but not sure if they are long enough for the recently acquired height diffrence. Oh one day ill get everything done

 

How you like your Propride ? With that hitch on a 2wd, it does not give you much ground clearance does it?

 

I have my bags individually set up with the valves coming out at my license plate, I bought Airlifts 5000 with bump stops and love them. The truck rides stiffer but I an very pleased with them. One of theses days I will do an automatic leveling set up after tow mirrors, after....

 

Clearance is fine, just have to take time to set it up, the main thing is positioning the stinger/ball mount correctly, air bags really help to make sure the tail of the Ex sag is minimal.