Well we arrived back home yesterday after our 1,460 total mile trip to NS,,was my first trip with the 04' F-350, V-10, 6-speed drw 4:30 LS,, what an awsome combo this setup is,,the F-350 was loaded down, with 1- Honda TRX 300 4x4, 2 -SDG mini bikes, tools, 2- 5 gallon gas cans,suitcases,chairs, helmets, etc (all in the bed under the cap) then I hithched up to a 23' Sunline camper, had to be around 6k lbs not sure of its weight.

Now my 2 sons rode with me, my sister and family behind us ( their 23' camper), figured I would travel about 65 mph, man was I wrong,, .

This truck loved it, at 75, to 80 mph could not beleive it, or how well it handled the load, I really was looking for a fellow RV puller to run with, (preferable a diesel didnt care Ford, GM. Dodge) but never found one willing to or able to keep up with me, .

I did meet up with 2 fellow campers It was on RTE 9 in Maine, now if anyone here at FTE nows of RTE 9, (please chime in ) it goes from Bangor , to Calias and is like 90 miles long, has truck lanes to pass often and some pretty awsome hills. The first was a Ford van pulling a similar camper to mine, and he was holding us up, so I grabbed 3rd gear on a hill and ( he was in the slow lane) and lit that V-10,, toasted him, that was easy,, 20 miles up the road my co-riders needed a pit stop, so we pulled over, to stretch our legs and whatever else about 5 mins later that van goes by,haa its a Powerstroke ,, , I am like wow ,,OK,,so we get done and leave again,, 5 mins later I am passing the van again,,lol never saw him after that.

The 2nd was a new Dodge cummins 2500 had a fith wheel setup ,,,camper was probobly heavier then mine, but my truck was loaded to the brim under the cap, now on RTE 9, there is a fire tower, and it is like on the Highest mountain, (makes sense), this is the general area I met the Dodge, big hill, long passing lane, like 4 cars between me and the Dodge , hes in the slow lane, I pull up behind him, cars go by him I had plenty of time dropped to 3rd gear tromped on it, and smoked him, as I go by I see the cummins emblem, and 2500,,my son says it an older gentlmen driving,,so who knows realy if he had his foot in it, all I know is that those are some big hills and most people got the foot in it to make them. It was great to see what the V-10 can do under fire, now I did'nt care about fuel mileage, my bro-inlaw was buying, so I was hauling the freight,,up and back I got between 8.7 and 9.7 mpg, and thats calculated by miles driven and gallons to fill it, the highest RPM I saw was 4600 in 3rd gear doing about 75 mph cresting a hill, all and all the V10 is an awsome motor, and with the 6-speed and 4:30 gears it is rather lethal too ! I wish I was able to meet a diesel that was willing to play just to see the difference,,ummm maybe I did, but did'nt realize it, be cause not one RV, camper, or comprable pulling vehicle passed me, just a few cars, on hills thats it,,,, , well sorry for the long post, but I've been gone for 10 days and I missed the FTE posts and gang.

later,,,,,,,,,,,Mark

 

Glad to hear all went well!! welcome back..

 

Nova Scotia is a pretty cool place.

How come you didn't take the ferry that leaves from Portland, ME? We always took the ferry but I always wanted to drive...

 

Leave the fairies alone. They have enough to worry about with CWB and Yeti lurking...but anyway welcome back and glad to see a gasser towing with the big boys.

 

Thanks guys,,Naa fairys aint for me,, ,,LOL,,I never did the ferry trip, takes to long I heard ,besides it would still be a 200 mile drive to my uncles place after the ferry landed, and the Trans-Canada Highway is one nice road, there are a few bumps, but mostly 110 KPH, or about 70 mph, but was mainly doing 75 to 82 mph.

Later,,,,,,,,Mark