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Now that we've reached our mid-70s, we've downsized from a 42' Cardinal fifth wheel to this 32' Cruiser Aire, pulled by a 2022 F-250 (SRW). Amazingly we get about 14 mpg towing this trailer (compared to 8-9 mpg with our Cardinal). It's just the two of us and we have plenty of room - and it's a lot easier to maneuver into and around small RV sites/parks.We are thankful we're still healthy enough and mobile enough to be able to get out and about and continue RVing.
The new Paradigm landed at the dealer in DE yesterday, they were already well into their PDI when we stopped down to see it and drop off the 50 amp EMS for them to install. We are heading out on Wednesday for a week with the current Jayco TT, it will be our last of many, many trips together. Once we get home we will go down and and have our “education class” on the new fiver and then do our own PDI and if everything checks out OK we will swap trailers the following day. Then the fun begins getting the new one loaded up and figuring out where everything will go.
Its kind of amazing how the dates involved with this fiver have meshed with us, it started construction on our 30th anniversary, finished its build on my birthday and arrived at the dealer on my wife’s birthday.
Just got back from our first trip out with the new Paradigm 385FL, everything worked as designed with just a water leak from the shower that will need to be corrected by the dealer, only leaks when water is directed near the front of the sliding glass shower doors so we were still able to use it with the shower head directed away from that area. Otherwise everything was great and we tested all of the systems. Made some notes for small mods we want to do before our planned long trip in the Fall. Found that we could run one AC steady for about 4 hours off the battery bank in 95* mid-day heat, so hopefully with it cycling on/off on a cooler overnight it will go 7 hours or so when dry camping for a comfortable nights sleep.
I’m struggling a little bit with backing this rig up compared to the old TT, I could back the bumper pull up into almost any spot without issues but the learning curve on the fiver seems steep for me at this point. When we brought it home from the dealer I had to start over on my driveway back in about a dozen times before squeezing it in, today I stopped at the local mall and did a bit of practicing then once home we got it in the driveway on the second attempt. My driveway is 12’ wide at a 90* angle off our 24’ wide street, I can only make the approach from one direction as a utility pole is in the way from the other way. It’s a challenge but hopefully I will quickly get comfortable with the new this new setup.
I don't think we've ever come home without a list, is that even possible?
Shoot... We keep two notebooks in our "junk drawer" and every trip we have at least a couple things on the list. For example, the trip we just returned from had "replace awning light bulb" where one of the bulbs on the string of lights burnt out. Along with a few other things on the list. This makes it so easy to just grab that page and bring it in when unpacking from the trip. Then, as the next few days go by, we can knock things off the list and be ready to roll (so to speak) when the next trip is coming up.
If we didn't make a list, we would have to deal with "things to do" that we forgot about each time we returned home.
Shoot... We keep two notebooks in our "junk drawer" and every trip we have at least a couple things on the list. For example, the trip we just returned from had "replace awning light bulb" where one of the bulbs on the string of lights burnt out. Along with a few other things on the list. This makes it so easy to just grab that page and bring it in when unpacking from the trip. Then, as the next few days go by, we can knock things off the list and be ready to roll (so to speak) when the next trip is coming up.
If we didn't make a list, we would have to deal with "things to do" that we forgot about each time we returned home.
The amount of lists I have going on my google keep app is horrifying. At least technology helps me combat my terrible short term memory.
Our rig. Love it and the truck handles it quite well. Afr25 yrs in truck campers this thing feels like a palace. IVe not figured out the pivot point when backing it in yet,so that is still a bit of a struggle.
After 35 years towing bumper pull TH/TTs, enclosed haulers, boats and utility trailers I’m also struggling a bit getting used to backing our new fiver up, there is a learning curve with that new pivot point.
After 35 years towing bumper pull TH/TTs, enclosed haulers, boats and utility trailers I’m also struggling a bit getting used to backing our new fiver up, there is a learning curve with that new pivot point.
You really need to go to otter lake in Marshalls Creek, We try at least once a year, usually after labor day.
After 35 years towing bumper pull TH/TTs, enclosed haulers, boats and utility trailers I’m also struggling a bit getting used to backing our new fiver up, there is a learning curve with that new pivot point.
But - when you learn...I think it's far easier than backing a bumper-pull. After years of having fifth wheels and learning that backing procedure, we switched to a Class A motorhome for a couple of years. That drove me crazy, because everything was totally backwards from backing with a trailer/fifth wheel. We're back to a fifth wheel now and my backing confidence level is far higher than with the Class A.
You really need to go to otter lake in Marshalls Creek, We try at least once a year, usually after labor day.
We have been to OtterLake about a dozen times Scott. The camping crew (met them all starting at the same FTE get together where we met in Gettysburg) that we hang with does a big football and food long weekend there every year in October, unfortunately we won’t be joining them this year as we will be traveling with some other camping friends on a long trip out to California.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
