rustyshakelford
Well-known member
I will try and give everyone a play by play for our trip to Elkhart, IN to pick up our Cyclone 3010 that came off the assembly line two weeks ago! If anyone gets offended by my observations, I apologize in advance, these are just our adventures and thoughts.
The trip started on Sunday Feb 27. I got off work at 0700 and had only got about 3.5 hrs of sleep thanks to people using the 911 option on their phone.
Sunday 0830
On the road, two days prior I had rented a u-haul car hauler to take with us for the rhino that will be going in the garage of our 3010. Everything was full of fuel so off we go.
We drive straight thru the night and arrive at Blythville, IL to get fuel. We had just driven thru one of the worst rain and wind storms. It was about 28 degrees with 40 mph winds. Started the pump to fill up the aux fuel tank and after about 15 mins we were up to 5 gallons. That wouldnt work so I went to inquire what was going on. They informed me that it was probably vapor locked and said to go to the truck lane. I prepaid $200 and started to fill. The nozzle was a little to big to go in the hole and leave enough space for escaping air. (at this point, I was wearing crocs, shorts and a long sleve t-shirt....very cold) made a heck of a mess with diesel going everywhere. Truck bed has a great rust protector currently until I can get wild with the degreaser. Finally got everything filled and got back on the road. Wanted brakes checked for adjustment. Told I need to pull it 250 miles first. Dont like that either.
Mon 0630/0730 Eastern Time
Arrived at RV wholesalers/Great Lakes RV service center where the trailer is. Got 5 mins of sleep in additon to the 1.5 I got on the drive up here while the wife was driving.
Mon 0815 ET
Got to go in and see the trailer for the first time. Immediately noticed the rhino would not fit as it was. The braces for the beds in the garage were to wide. I had already removed the roof to help with height. Width was the problem. Unloaded rhino and pulled around to the garage to measure. We were all ready to start cutting the bracket when my wife said we should just try it first. Well of course she was right for once! I was able to back in and we just had to grind about 1.5"s off the front pieces. Took this time to go get coffee while they were finishing up. Also ate at cockadoodles...very very good.
Mon 1000 ET
Disclaimer--I am very happy with JD and Don at RV Wholesalers overall in the end...
Started our walk thru. I was prepared with my binder that had a 15 page PDI. I was told that he was just going to show me how to use everything. He had already completed a PDI prior to our arrival. I did not like this. We started on the outside and went thru everything. He didnt think I needed to see the roof, I did anyways. Moved inside, nothing real big. We were going to stay in the trailer that night at their lot to check it out before leaving for St. Louis on Tues.
We wanted to fill all the tanks with water and check for leaks and proper operation. Was told that it was already winterized (got the feeling that he didnt want to mess with it) I Didnt care that it was winterized. Told tech "we need to see this stuff work for ourselves. Nothing against you but were leaving for a 1600 miles drive home and want confirmation everything is ok" Also let him know that we were staying in it and would need water to shower with etc.
Checked fuel tank levels. 1/3 full. Remember prior to buying that supposedly it was supposed to come with full tanks of propane and thought gas. Apparently not. I had to stop and add 40 gallons of gas. (Added 18 gal aux tank too)
Mon 1300 ET
Went to Great Lakes to check on paper work. Got directions to a mexican food place. Schedules a plant tour at 1500 ET. Found restaurant called Hacienda. It was ok. Dont get the quesadillas. Leaves alot to desire. DW got the chimichangas. Very good. Waiter named Thomas recognized we were not from around there. (still in crocs and shorts--20's still) Thomas was funny. He could have been Lafayette's twin from "True Blood" on HBO.
Mad dash to service center for directions to plant.
1445 ET
Leave for plant. Have map. Looks professional but not the traditional style I am used to. Very confused. Very lost. Last resort, use Iphone--Stupid Iphone. Enter Heartland address.
1510 ET
Arrive at HL main office. Sit and chat with Ray and Deb. Very nice, shouldve called but were completely wiped out. Told to go to another office. Thats where Mike Aplin would be.
1515 ET
Arrived at new place. Still wrong place. Given correct place. Looked at hand written map from earlier. Now makes since.
1525 ET
Arrive at plant. Guard was zero help. Didnt know anything about Mr. Aplin. Called boss. Sent to office 300 yards away. Right place. Mike was ready to go.
1530 ET
Start tour. Everyone was gone for the day. Nice and quiet. Say the process. Very informative. Good stop
1615 ET
Left to go back to Great Lakes to sign papers.
1700 ET
Go to trailer. Take much needed shower and make bed.
1900 ET
Grab a quick bit. Fizolis Italian. Shouldve gone somewhere better. Stopped at grocery store to get food for the drive.
2200 ET
Sleep overcomes us
Tuesday 0730 ET
Wake wife up. Shes crabby. Its early and no coffee. Let dog out. He wipes out on ice. I laugh. He is confused. Good start to day
Tues 0830 ET
Find Don. Have him fix a couple small items.
1000 ET
Hook up and pull to the gate. One tire looks low. Get JD to fill it up. Was at 50 psi. Should be at 110. They check the rest. At 80, fill to the right pressure. First time to see the exterior and notice several scratches in the front cap. JD calls the body shop guy. Unhook.
1230 ET
Trailer is done. We hook and leave.
1300 ET
Southbend IN. Truck goes crazy. Lose trailer brakes, ABS and traction control. Exit and look for a Chevy dealer. Find one. Completely opposite from where we were. They are swamped. Check fuses. No go. Get Colt out to pee. Service manager likes him. Gets a tech. Find problem. Wire shorted out when it got to close to exhaust. (gooseneck installer mistake) Andy at Gates Chevrolet took care of it. Ate lunch. On the road again.
1500 CT
I hate Indiana's Roads. 80/90 Toll road runied my day. We got turned around. Signs are not helpful or are missing. Giant pot holes. Felt the trailer was getting destroyed. I hate Indiana's Roads. We will probably never come back until they are fixed.
1630 CT traveled 10 miles towards goal in an hour. Irrate. Get fuel
2130 CT
Arrive at destination in St. Louis. Eat and visit until 0400.
Wed 0730 CT
Wake up, let dog out. Wake wife up, not happy again. Still no coffee.
Do the visiting thing, eat breakfast, get on the road. Still felt cheated on the nearly empty fuel tank. Fill up gas tank for genny and fuel station $130. Next destination is Fairfield Bay, AR. 7 hr drive
2100 CT
Arrive at destination. While driving, stopped for 50 gallons of fuel and 4 tubs of Braums Ice cream. Worth the stop.
Observations from drive. I-44 is a pretty drive. Huge Hills. Worked truck hard. Turned off for Branson. Still big Hills. Followed iphone. Big mistake. Took 110 to hwy 16. 20 degree grades.
Buying banks speed brake.
Knuckles white. Im tired. Brakes are hot. DW nervous. Very bad route. Shouldve planned better. lesson learned.
Thats where were at so far. Parked at Golden Pond RV. Very pretty area and nearly empty. Quiet. Visiting with Dad and family. Planning on taking the rhino out riding. Airbags on their way.
More to come. Love the trailer. Getting everything figured out. Were going to love this.
Leaving service center.
Brett
The trip started on Sunday Feb 27. I got off work at 0700 and had only got about 3.5 hrs of sleep thanks to people using the 911 option on their phone.
Sunday 0830
On the road, two days prior I had rented a u-haul car hauler to take with us for the rhino that will be going in the garage of our 3010. Everything was full of fuel so off we go.
We drive straight thru the night and arrive at Blythville, IL to get fuel. We had just driven thru one of the worst rain and wind storms. It was about 28 degrees with 40 mph winds. Started the pump to fill up the aux fuel tank and after about 15 mins we were up to 5 gallons. That wouldnt work so I went to inquire what was going on. They informed me that it was probably vapor locked and said to go to the truck lane. I prepaid $200 and started to fill. The nozzle was a little to big to go in the hole and leave enough space for escaping air. (at this point, I was wearing crocs, shorts and a long sleve t-shirt....very cold) made a heck of a mess with diesel going everywhere. Truck bed has a great rust protector currently until I can get wild with the degreaser. Finally got everything filled and got back on the road. Wanted brakes checked for adjustment. Told I need to pull it 250 miles first. Dont like that either.
Mon 0630/0730 Eastern Time
Arrived at RV wholesalers/Great Lakes RV service center where the trailer is. Got 5 mins of sleep in additon to the 1.5 I got on the drive up here while the wife was driving.
Mon 0815 ET
Got to go in and see the trailer for the first time. Immediately noticed the rhino would not fit as it was. The braces for the beds in the garage were to wide. I had already removed the roof to help with height. Width was the problem. Unloaded rhino and pulled around to the garage to measure. We were all ready to start cutting the bracket when my wife said we should just try it first. Well of course she was right for once! I was able to back in and we just had to grind about 1.5"s off the front pieces. Took this time to go get coffee while they were finishing up. Also ate at cockadoodles...very very good.
Mon 1000 ET
Disclaimer--I am very happy with JD and Don at RV Wholesalers overall in the end...
Started our walk thru. I was prepared with my binder that had a 15 page PDI. I was told that he was just going to show me how to use everything. He had already completed a PDI prior to our arrival. I did not like this. We started on the outside and went thru everything. He didnt think I needed to see the roof, I did anyways. Moved inside, nothing real big. We were going to stay in the trailer that night at their lot to check it out before leaving for St. Louis on Tues.
We wanted to fill all the tanks with water and check for leaks and proper operation. Was told that it was already winterized (got the feeling that he didnt want to mess with it) I Didnt care that it was winterized. Told tech "we need to see this stuff work for ourselves. Nothing against you but were leaving for a 1600 miles drive home and want confirmation everything is ok" Also let him know that we were staying in it and would need water to shower with etc.
Checked fuel tank levels. 1/3 full. Remember prior to buying that supposedly it was supposed to come with full tanks of propane and thought gas. Apparently not. I had to stop and add 40 gallons of gas. (Added 18 gal aux tank too)
Mon 1300 ET
Went to Great Lakes to check on paper work. Got directions to a mexican food place. Schedules a plant tour at 1500 ET. Found restaurant called Hacienda. It was ok. Dont get the quesadillas. Leaves alot to desire. DW got the chimichangas. Very good. Waiter named Thomas recognized we were not from around there. (still in crocs and shorts--20's still) Thomas was funny. He could have been Lafayette's twin from "True Blood" on HBO.
Mad dash to service center for directions to plant.
1445 ET
Leave for plant. Have map. Looks professional but not the traditional style I am used to. Very confused. Very lost. Last resort, use Iphone--Stupid Iphone. Enter Heartland address.
1510 ET
Arrive at HL main office. Sit and chat with Ray and Deb. Very nice, shouldve called but were completely wiped out. Told to go to another office. Thats where Mike Aplin would be.
1515 ET
Arrived at new place. Still wrong place. Given correct place. Looked at hand written map from earlier. Now makes since.
1525 ET
Arrive at plant. Guard was zero help. Didnt know anything about Mr. Aplin. Called boss. Sent to office 300 yards away. Right place. Mike was ready to go.
1530 ET
Start tour. Everyone was gone for the day. Nice and quiet. Say the process. Very informative. Good stop
1615 ET
Left to go back to Great Lakes to sign papers.
1700 ET
Go to trailer. Take much needed shower and make bed.
1900 ET
Grab a quick bit. Fizolis Italian. Shouldve gone somewhere better. Stopped at grocery store to get food for the drive.
2200 ET
Sleep overcomes us
Tuesday 0730 ET
Wake wife up. Shes crabby. Its early and no coffee. Let dog out. He wipes out on ice. I laugh. He is confused. Good start to day
Tues 0830 ET
Find Don. Have him fix a couple small items.
1000 ET
Hook up and pull to the gate. One tire looks low. Get JD to fill it up. Was at 50 psi. Should be at 110. They check the rest. At 80, fill to the right pressure. First time to see the exterior and notice several scratches in the front cap. JD calls the body shop guy. Unhook.
1230 ET
Trailer is done. We hook and leave.
1300 ET
Southbend IN. Truck goes crazy. Lose trailer brakes, ABS and traction control. Exit and look for a Chevy dealer. Find one. Completely opposite from where we were. They are swamped. Check fuses. No go. Get Colt out to pee. Service manager likes him. Gets a tech. Find problem. Wire shorted out when it got to close to exhaust. (gooseneck installer mistake) Andy at Gates Chevrolet took care of it. Ate lunch. On the road again.
1500 CT
I hate Indiana's Roads. 80/90 Toll road runied my day. We got turned around. Signs are not helpful or are missing. Giant pot holes. Felt the trailer was getting destroyed. I hate Indiana's Roads. We will probably never come back until they are fixed.
1630 CT traveled 10 miles towards goal in an hour. Irrate. Get fuel
2130 CT
Arrive at destination in St. Louis. Eat and visit until 0400.
Wed 0730 CT
Wake up, let dog out. Wake wife up, not happy again. Still no coffee.
Do the visiting thing, eat breakfast, get on the road. Still felt cheated on the nearly empty fuel tank. Fill up gas tank for genny and fuel station $130. Next destination is Fairfield Bay, AR. 7 hr drive
2100 CT
Arrive at destination. While driving, stopped for 50 gallons of fuel and 4 tubs of Braums Ice cream. Worth the stop.
Observations from drive. I-44 is a pretty drive. Huge Hills. Worked truck hard. Turned off for Branson. Still big Hills. Followed iphone. Big mistake. Took 110 to hwy 16. 20 degree grades.
Buying banks speed brake.
Knuckles white. Im tired. Brakes are hot. DW nervous. Very bad route. Shouldve planned better. lesson learned.
Thats where were at so far. Parked at Golden Pond RV. Very pretty area and nearly empty. Quiet. Visiting with Dad and family. Planning on taking the rhino out riding. Airbags on their way.
More to come. Love the trailer. Getting everything figured out. Were going to love this.
Leaving service center.
Brett
