Just got back last night (Monday) from our first trip with our first TT - left last Wednesday morning. Here's a picture of the rig sitting at a rest area (63 feet nose to tail and went across the scales at 15460 lbs). Drove down to Pigeon Forge, TN from MI for a get together with the SETDR (7 of us from the GLTDR and 10 from the SETDR). Drove a total of 1323 miles and averaged 11.9 mpg for the whole trip (best was 12.54 through Ohio on the freeway). What a GREAT trip! Pulling the hills (Jellico) was a blast with the cruise control set at 65 pulling a max of 28 psi of boost at 1100 degrees EGT, then using the exhaust brake on the way down - rarely had to use the truck or trailer brakes. I never had to slow down on the entire trip, and didn't have any sway problems at all - very easy cruising (except in the construction zones, those lanes sure are NARROW). Going up Jellico on the way there 4 or 5 truckers were talking about me - "a little Dodge just blew past me like I was standing still and he's longer than I am" and "he just passed me and the Cummins is hummin!". My daughter was asleep in the back seat so I couldn't respond but I was grinning ear to ear! I can get REALLY used to this style of camping (upgraded to the TT from a 10x10 dome tent)! With the advice I got from here and other websites on the TT and what to bring, etc, everything went smooth as silk. The only thing we forgot to bring was the FRS radios to use in backing the rig up - but didn't have any problems using hand signals. I combined several checklists together and made up a custom one for us. We will be rearranging things in the trailer slightly based on our experience this time. Can't wait to go out again!! See you at a campsite soon!
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-Steve St.Laurent - President of the
Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4.10 LSD, TST Powermax3, 275hp RV injectors, Joe Donnelly modifed Sachs Clutch, SS ladder bars, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)
'93 Fireside 35' TT
[This message has been edited by Steve St.Laurent (edited 05-01-2001).]
Maiden voyage of the La Casa Del St.Laurent!
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