Baby steps

July 05, 2011

Everyday we are in the Coachmen, we are thinking what needs to be done to live in it full-time 24/7. It would be difficult to just take a unit, load it up and pronounce ourselves full-timers waving our banner as we head down the blue roads.
As we have blogged in previous posts, I have been “camping” in some form since I was 5 years old. I lived on the road for 4 months with everything I owned bungeed to my Schwinn with 21 gears including a hyper granny gear that was somewhere around 10:1. Every time I pedaled one full revolution, the wheels turned 10 inches. I worked for almost 18 months to get the Schwinn, the equipment and myself ready for those 4 months 6,000 miles. Now Mary and I are going through the same process preparing the Coachmen for 24/7 living.
Mary was able to sit down and write out a checklist of what has to be done each time we break camp and pack up. We should have that up on our WEBSITE soon. We picked up some nifty Velcro &trade to strap the cabinets shut and keep them from binding in the slide. We have a 4-inch PVC pipe to store the sewer hose in while traveling. We have also realized we will need a 50 amp extension cord for those places we are just a bit too far from the power supply.

We left Brighton this morning around 9:30 A.M. Our first stop was a Sunoco station at exit 37A on US 23. It advertised diesel so we thought it could accommodate our truck and 5er---NOT. The diesel pump was at one side of the islands, the side we had to turn a tight right from the road to get into. Then immediately turn back to the left like an “S” turn. Getting out, we had everyone’s attention as the Dodge passenger side was up over the curb to keep the 5er from taking out the support beam. The 5er roadside was up over the pump island. Between the truck rocking and the 5er bouncing, destruction seemed imminent. But it all came out unscathed and we set off for our next stop.
We pulled into Cabela’s in Dundee, Michigan around 11:00 A.M. It had been a week since we dumped the tanks, and Cabela’s offered free use of their dump station. This is the first time I had been to this side of Cabela’s. They have a nice small lake with geese and small docks (not sure what they are used for as I believe there is NO swimming).

There is also a log cabin (the doors are locked) that adds to that home in the mountains feelings.

They also have dog kennels with a roof so your hounds or other dogs can rest outside while you shop.

After a snack and some water for the hounds, we headed out the back roads towards Adrian, Michigan.

Tim and Mary Johnson

Shipshewana Indiana

Weather, it will be Michigan?

June 22, 2011

Some things never change—particularly when talking about Michigan weather. The week before we arrived, it had been high 90s and sunny. Since the wedding on Saturday, it has been thunderstorms, threat of hail, and tornado watches almost every day here in southeastern Michigan. Currently the worse weather is just north and northeast of us near Flint and Port Huron.
Before we moved to North Carolina from Michigan, it seemed that the sun would come out 3 days and the clouds and rain the other 4 days—and ALWAYS on the weekends. The chores I had planned this trip have been put on hold so long as the weather remains wet.
One of the things we did get to do today was to do a drive through of a local modular development. Mary’s sister had mentioned Sylvan Glenn as a possible residence after Mary’s niece purchased a vintage single wide in the development a few years ago. When Mary hand flown up over Easter break, she had done a preliminary look and talked with the park’s owners. It is really a nice park. It is laid out neatly and is mostly 1960s and 1970s single wide mobile homes. Most are 50 to 70 feet in length. The idea is to restore the vintage trailers with new windows and siding. Some may need interior work. Then you pay 50% lot rent for the first year. Most trailers cost $10,000 to buy and restore. Some are already complete, some sell for $2,000 and need another $6,000-$8,000 in repairs.
We have been looking at different states for a domicile once we leave the confines of out rented house in North Carolina. Most full timers seem to “move” to South Dakota, Texas, or Florida. But the more we look around we wonder why not Michigan? Plates for out 5er seem to cost $75-$125 year depending on which state we settle in. My truck plates will be more than I spend now in North Carolina ($52). In Michigan we can get permanent plates (which we already have paid for in 2009) for $300 and the truck will be around $65. The only real cost will be that no-fault auto insurance that runs about $150 a month just for liability coverage. The trade-off in trailer plates and not paying property tax on a rented lot, might be enough to give Michigan the edge.

Adjusting to the demands of the road

June 18, 2011

We are into our 6th day on the road. Thus far we have been pre-occupied with wedding details and unloading the items we brought to distribute amongst the kids. We haven’t time to really consider how the Coachmen is weathering the trip. This will be the big weekend for the family. The rehearsals were Friday and we all had a great dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Today everyone is hyped and anxious about the wedding. We will be getting ready early this morning to head out to see the girls by 11:30 a.m. The ceremony is set for 2:00 p.m. When there are three sisters involved, and one is the bride, time is of the essence as they say.
I sense tomorrow will be the proverbial day of rest for all of us. We have been in high gear since Monday when we left work to start summer vacation. We will seriously take to our chores list starting Monday as we also reconsider our time line for returning. Our original stay here in the Michigan area has been extended by almost 4 weeks. Because we have family members reading our blog, we cannot reveal the reason for our extended stay, but we are excited to stay for the additional time and wouldn’t miss it for the world!!
Between July 5 and July 15, we may get to see Shipshewana, Indiana area during this trip. My brothers have told us about several RV “junk” yards that deal in almost new parts and furniture. Since we have installed the new floor, we will be looking for a new taupe or beige sofa and possibly a television mount as we look to relocate the TV above the entrance door or the window next to it.
Our plans are to head back east by July 26. We will stop at Gettysburg for a few days then turn south to Richmond / Appomattox to see a few more sites.

Tim and Mary
Brighton, Michigan

Do they make trailer tires anymore?

So the garage in Lillington passed the Dodge upon having the three deficits corrected. Had to pay an additional .85 cents for the "sticker." If it is all electronic, what sticker did I pay for?
While I was waiting for the Dodge to clear the last hurdle before new plates could be purchased, I inquired about tires for the Coachmen Catalina 5er. The guy showed me three options--all were truck tires and one had all-terrain tread. I asked him if the Grabbers all-terrain would make the 5er handle better in snow and mud.
"Probably not." he replied...
"No tire trailers?" I asked again.

"Not that size (245/75/16)." he stated.
"Hmmmmm," I stalled, "Nothing?"

I left for the DMV license plate office wondering how long the all-terrain tread would hold out on the Blue Roads in 90° heat and black-topped two-lanes..

I arrived home and started calling local (within 50 miles of our zip) tire stores. Appearently the guy was right...There are no "trailer" tires to be found in the Sandhills of North Carolina.
Finally I get a hold of this guy named Josh. He starts selling me some Falken and then a set of Cooper H/T--both road tread / all season tires. I try to remind Josh it is a trailer I need tires for and would like trailer tires with highway tread.
Carlisle or Goodyear? 10 ply, specifically for trailer use tires..do you sell this?
He stated they had Carlisle Highway radials for $146.78 and he also sees there are Goodyear Marathons--but only in a 235/80/16 size. Goodyears have the "BEST" insignia and Carlise have "GOOD." For the few dollars difference I go big and ask for the Marathons. Josh sets the phone down and when he returns a few minutes later tells me NO MARATHONS that size in North Carolina and he has to order / ship them from Missouri.
We really would like tires this weekend and have them installed and done so we can get serious about loading the stuff we have pawned off on family up north. Josh tells me the Carlisle tire might be available by Friday--they are shipping in from Hickory, North Carolina. OK...lets go with the Carlisle and plan to do this on Saturday.
So, if FedEx has the tires to Cary by Friday, the Coachmen Catalina will have new treads on Saturday. ACTUAL trailer tires and we will be waiting for June 13 to try the tires out on the highway.
We are still finalizing the route to Michigan, but it looks like this so far:
1. Leave Lillington Monday June, 13 by 5:00 pm
2. Arrive Wytheville, Virginia by 9:00 pm in time for LATE dinner(6/13)
3. Leave Wytheville, Virginia by 5:00 am in time for an EARLY breakfast.
4. Arrive Ripley, West Virginia by 10:00 am for snacks(6/14)
5. Continue to Wooster, Ohio by 1:00 pm and set up camp for lunch(6/14)
6. Leave Wooster, Ohio 6:00 am another EARLY breakfast(6/15)
7. Arrive Brighton, Michigan by 3:00 pm for dinner with FAMILY(6/15)
8. Wedding stuff all day 6/16
9. Final wedding stuff 6/17
10. WEDDING 6/18
11. 4 more weeks left of VACATION!!