You're towing WHAT? (Take 2)

I thought I'd seen it all when I saw the 3500 being toaded.  The other day I found a guy with a class A bus (another Prevost) towing a nice Class B Airstream as his toad.  I chatted with him a little, not realizing that he was towing that as his "around-town" car, and it was just the two of them on a nice jaunt from 'home to the coast for a few weeks'.  Maybe they like to take vacations at campgrounds where the bus won't fit and want to be prepared for anything? 

It was a pretty interesting sight to see it drive away.  Maybe I'll wind up being surprised a lot along this journey.

A different kind of "Hauler Bed"

There are a lot of setups that can be used to tow around an RV full-time.  Once you full-time, the practicality of a regular pickup bed becomes, well,  less practical - ease of access becomes "I wish I could lock it all up and not have to reach over the sides for everything." The ability to haul 4 x 8 foot sheets of plywood becomes "When will I ever need to do that?"  People who drive things around for a living very rarely have standard pickup beds.  They usually have one of two things:  Hauler beds, or Flat beds.  Each has their own purpose.

Flat Bed (c) DewEze

Flat beds are great for farm work and the like. You can stack anything on them as wide as the truck.  You can get them dirty as can be and it doesn't matter.  They give tremendous access to everything about a truck with minimal fuss.  In fact, you never worry about scratching, denting, or bending them because that's what they are built for.

Typical Hauler Bed - there are dozens
of variations (c) Alum-tite

Hauler beds are great for people that drive all the time.  A large, flat area for piling up various goods - should you need to - but with no high sides so getting that cargo is easy.  More importantly, a large, flat, well-armored, minimally-worrysome area to bump/break/catch/tear at the trailer.  Protected corners on the back, cut at 30 degree angles, so that backing a trailer or making a tight-turn is not a troubling experience.  Lockable (usually) compartments so that you have a place to not worry about your chains/tools/stuff while you go in for dinner.  A headache rack across the back to protect the driver in case of a sudden stop with something loose, and above all, they are usually made of steel so that if you bump something into it is simply dimples rather than becomes an unsightly and expensive repair to the flimsy sheet metal of pickup beds.

Both types usually have mounting areas for towing systems.  Goosenecks and Fifth-Wheel hitches, class IV or V receiver hitches and easy clearances are the norm.  Personally, I have a Hauler bed on my truck because it is what I wanted.  Sure, lots of folks run pickup-beds, but I liked ease of use of the hauler bed.  I could have gone for a flat-bed, and almost did at one point, but the look of the hauler bed, and what it is designed to be, appealed to me.

Why I wrote so much about this - I just don't know.  I guess I felt like I needed to give a little background on some of this stuff.  I probably won't be doing that in the future - it is very time consuming... :)

ANYHOW - to the point of this post.  I am always on the lookout for how other folks 'do it'.  Yesterday in the campground I saw something new and wanted to keep record of it. I think this setup accomplishes a lot with the layout.  So much so that I might consider having something similar built if I ever end up with a new truck and we're still doing this.  I think I'd probably put rails down the sides so that I could tie things to the back behind the cab, but it is a good start.

I like the openness of the layout.  I like the open space, the amount of storage, and the fact that (it looks like) there is a hidden fuel cell in that section above the covered fifth-wheel hitch.  The Freighliner it is attached to is clearly older, but the design could be adapted to any size one-ton DRW (or bigger).  I just wanted to make note of this, and post something...  Mission accomplished.

The Cool: Not really that much that's 'cool' perse, but just something that I liked in layout and design.  The amount of storage is pretty cool.

The Interesting: If I'd had more time to go into history I'd think there would be a lot of 'interesting' there.  As it is, this is interesting to me because I get to stay on the lookout for things out there that work well.  Might not be interesting to some of you, but it is to me.

The EarthRoamer (and they seem to mean it)

This blog is about cool and interesting things I've seen while on my travels.  I don't tend to do a lot of research on the items I blog about because I think they speak for themselves, for the most part.  However, I occasionally run across something that requires me to take a deeper look - usually because it piques my interest.

The "Earth Roamer" is one of those "Piquey" things.  I found this on a drive through Saratoga, California - we'd just decided to go for a typical 'Sunday Drive' and when I passed the street this was parked on, I had to quickly whip around and take a closer look, and some pictures. 

This Rig is amazing from the outside, and after reading more about it I want to pack everything into it and run away to WHEREVER I want to go.  There has only been one more-rugged vehicle I've read about being produced (though I am sure there are many other custom Rigs that are amazing in their own right), and while I'll never see one (my understanding is that only two were produced for some very wealthy Mongolian hunters) this Roamer would do just about everything I'd ever need it to do.  There is something to be said for: "Go there...?  Not only can I get there, I can stay three-weeks, stay warm, fed, and sleep in my king bed while I do it..."

Promo shot (c) EarthRoamer
(XV-JP, Jeep frame)

The company seems to produce a couple of lines of Rigs.  One based on an F550, and the other on a Jeep Wrangler/Rubicon frame.  Either way, reading the way the company speaks, they certainly know how to give you bang for your 6-figure buck.

EarthRoamer Xpedition Vehicles are designed to travel to four-wheel drive accessible, remote locations and provide a comfortable year-round camping experience without dependence on external power or utility hook ups.

The best one-word description of an EarthRoamer Xpedition Vehicle is freedom. EarthRoamer XVs give you the freedom to travel confidently and comfortably anywhere you want, whenever you want, without concern for the weather or season. It's the freedom to head out on a trail in the middle of Baja to a pristine secluded beach. It's the freedom to camp safely with all the comforts of home high in the mountains - in the middle of winter!

You can see a lot more about the setup here.  Overall, it seems like an incredibly well thought-out, awesome Rig.  Maybe someday, when I don't need space for 5 and can roam the back-country, this will be the Rig I look to.  Here is a link to all the specs for the 550 model (XV-LT)

Promo shot (c) EarthRoamer (Interior, 550 XV-LT)

BTW - I found a link to a story someone wrote on Amazon - take a look: Broomfield's EarthRoamer goes where RVs can't.(Attitude at Altitude)(xpedition vehicles): An article from: ColoradoBiz

Promo shot (c) EarthRoamer (Yahoo...!)

The Cool: Seriously, have you read this post?  The entire thing is cool.

The Interesting:  Having seen this one on an off-chance drive-by, I thought it was interesting to find out that there are so many specialty manufacturers out there.  Besides - it was parked out on the street - would you park your Lamborghini out on the street (which likely costs less, by the way)? By the way - anyone notice the F550 with a single rear wheel?

The Alfa Fifth Wheel front end-cap. Interesting Design.

ALFA Fifth Wheel with a front cap shade.

The park in Portland has been very interesting in terms of this blog.  This park is more than 400 spaces and is situated in a city large enough to get a lot of pass-through traffic.  There are people who live here year-round, and many in our section that stay for just one night.  I get to see a lot of Rigs.

While biking through the park when we first got here, I saw a couple Alfa Trailers (there are many), and some that had propped open front ends.  There are quite a number of Alfa's running around these parts, both Trailers and Motorhomes.  Even though they went out of business in 2008, it is clear that a lot of people still love their Alfa See-Ya's.

Picture of the bedroom, the black
windows are the ones seen under
 the cap.  The closet is in the
R/S slideout.

The thing that I found interesting about them was their front nose-cone design.  I haven't done any research into the design itself, but I have to think it was inspired by all those older travel trailers that have the front lid over the windows to the front.  I rode around the park tonight and counted dozens of that type of travel trailer.  Alfa just seems to have taken it further, on a bigger Rig and a grander scale.  As you can see from the photos in the post, the entire front cap pivots up, revealing large, shaded bedroom windows.  Maybe because I have a trailer with a differently-designed nose I find them fun and different.  Someday I'll have to run into one of the Alfa owners and ask them about what they think of that design, and how well it really works.

Some background (from an Alfa brochure):

ALFA, (A Loving Family Affair) was founded in 1973 by Johnnie Crean, with the help of his father John Crean, the founder of Fleetwood Enterprises. Since 1973, Johnnie built over 20,000 RV’s.  Apparently, what he learned from his apprenticeship with his father suited him very well. I guess that it didn’t hurt that he’d grown up around RV’s, as did his father before him. We design and build RV’s according to a lifetime of experience, so that your family will have a lifetime of precious memories.
Timeline:

• Sept. 1993 ALFA introduced the first "SEE YA" model 5th wheel.
• 2001: Motor homes given the 'SEE YA' name
• May 2004 all ALFA RV's became the 'SEE YA' models.
• April 30, 2008: Alfa Leisure, Inc. closed it's doors.

Front Cap Closed.  The struts run along the bottom edge,
back to the bulkhead.

Another Alfa with that front shade.

Side view of the same Rig.

The Cool: I hadn't seen anything like this before, and I really like the idea of having a simple-to-setup, hard-coated shade for my bedroom windows.  It is different than anyone else out there (I'm sure a patent), and I like the uniqueness of it.

The Interesting:  Since Alfa is out of business, why didn't anyone come in and buy up the patent?  Again, without speaking to an Alfa owner (and I'll update this all when I do), I don't know how well it works, but since the two fulltimers here both have them open all the time, I have to think they work at least reasonably well.

You're towing WHAT?

Captured from my door as they pulled in.
  I told my wife, "I have GOT to get a picture of this..."

The word 'befuddled' comes to mind when I think of our stop in Grant's Pass.  One afternoon early in our stopover there I looked outside to see a very nice Rig pull in, which is standard fare at many of the parks we stay at, but behind it... is that?... No, it can't be.... It IS!  The guy was toading a nearly-new 3500 Chevy.

I've seen some interesting toads - I love some of the little ones - and I tend to notice when they are 'different'. I'll have pictures of one in a later post where they guy was toading a half-ton commercial truck with a rack for his boat on its trailer (pretty cool idea). But towing a 3500 here seemed like an interesting choice, and again, something I'd never seen. Now, granted he has his bright yellow Harley-Davidson in there, which is why he needed the 3500 - for the payload - right?

They were in for a group meeting of some club and I saw them, and several other guys and their toys, around town the next few days wearing their yellow shirts for the club and driving their perfectly detailed 60's muscle cars or their over-the-top motorcycles.  Clearly, these folks were in town to have fun and they have the cash to do it up right.  The truck did have a set of street slicks and 24-inch chrome rims to complete the look, and did therefore qualify as a "toy".

Here is the Rig after getting set up.  They sure ran all over town.

The Cool: I mean, how cool is that? I'm not sure if its a good solution to a plaguing problem (too many things, not enough space) or if it's just Go BIG or Go Home, because he can, but you have to admit, it is cool.

The Interesting: I wonder what kind of milage he gets with the entire outfit, and if that bus even notices the difference between towing that, or a Smart Car...

A deck on an RV?

Here in the park (Portland, OR) this week I ran into something that isn't usually seen, except on a sticks and bricks house. Open Range RV has created a fiver with a patio/deck (patent pending) and it's really a pretty amazing idea.  The Rig we saw was in their 'Rolling Thunder' line, which is a Toy Hauler, but from their promotional photos it looks to me like they are offering the deck kit on their smaller trailers as well.

From what I can tell in a quick glance, the patio is a kit that breaks down into smaller pieces, and is stored in the belly of the trailer.  When attached to the sides of the trailer so there is a sturdy railing all the way around.  It also looks like they have some adjustability under the decking for an uneven site.  And, from the promo photo (below), it looks like the (electric?) awning will cover the entire patio.

I think that to use the deck, they would want to be somewhere for awhile as I can't see taking that down and putting it up four-times-a-week being any fun.  Also, when the deck isn't attached I'd think there would be a little bit of a danger since someone could forget it wasn't attached and in the dark attempt to walk out the sliding door.

Promotional Photo (c) OpenRangeRV.com

Some people, I'm sure, won't understand the need for something like a deck since you could just walk out your RV, but for travelers with small children it would be great because you could let the kids out on the deck and not have to worry about them wandering, or traffic.  I also think that it would have great use for hadicapped RVers, and would allow them to get outside more easily and help those with mobility problems not have to go down and up steps to be outside.  I'd think this setup to be used by more of a 'seasonal' type camper, or maybe a sand rail/dirt bike hauler where campsites aren't traditional in setup.  There are some parks we've been in where there is no way this would fit, but I suppose if you had this type of Rig, you just wouldn't stay in those parks.

The Cool: A patio/deck on your RV?  How cool would that be?  The only one cooler that I've seen was the Veranda Motorhome in which you pushed a button and the entire slide out of the RV drops down into a deck.  If I find pictures of that, then I'll post it here in the future.

The Interesting: I like that someone is doing this, but if they patent it will it make them the only company that can offer it?  If their trailer designs don't fit your needs, then it is an option that is off the table, unless they license it (which I hope they will).  It could be a huge selling point for them, or just a really great idea that becomes a novelty for the RVing community because they sit on it.  I'm interested to see where it goes from here.

You can see the one of the doors for the toy hauler section to the left of the patio.

Never had that happen before...

I've read a lot of blogs.  I like to look around and see various viewpoints on this type of lifestyle.  To me it is an interesting way to get perspective on a variety of matters in a short amount of time.  While we were traveling through Eugene, I wondered if we might have time for a factory tour.  Our tours in Elkhart did not go well (one factory was unexpectedly closed on our last day and before that we were left waiting for an hour in the lobby for a "stop by anytime" tour--so we left) and I thought it'd be a great place to see some RV's being built.  So, knowing that Oregon is home to a few well-respected builders, I did a search, and while there are several options for tours in the area - none fit our schedule, so we didn't go...  But that's not the important part of this story.

While rooting around the Internet looking for tours I happened to run across the blog of someone who had built a Country Coach (their second) in 2008 and it was quite an interesting read.  I enjoyed seeing their pics, and watching the RV go through the various stages from frame to final paint and the fit-and-finish.  Well documented, and even through the shutdown at the factory over the factory's bankruptcy, you could feel their sheer enthusiasm for what they were creating.  They call it Magna Peregrinus, or "Great Wanderer".  The blog was, and is, a fun read.

Link to the build of the Rig: http://www.rvgoddess.com/POSTCARDS/MAGNA/Magna_Peregrinus_Construction.aspx
Link to the finished product: http://www.rvgoddess.com/POSTCARDS/MAGNA/Magna_Peregrinus.aspx

Imagine my surprise when, as I'm driving through an RV park "to check out the chain it belongs to" and I run into that very same RV!  They weren't home, and I would have felt a little awkward stopping the car and running over to knock on the door.

However, it was a very cool experience to have seen something like that first-hand.  I can tell you this - MP is a really nice Rig.

The Cool: Seeing something you've read about. It's kind of a little celebrity-star-struck in a way, but interesting nonetheless. I've never had it where I read about a Rig and then saw it. I've seen rigs and THEN checked out the website, but never the other way.

The Interesting: The Rig is quite lovely and the paintjob is clearly first-rate.  Reading the information about the construction of the Rig amazed me at what goes into those top-of-the-line units.

Welcome...

I came up with an idea this week that we've seen some pretty cool stuff on the road this last year, and while it doesn't fit on our blog (rvfor5.com), I wanted to archive it somewhere.

I think it really got put into my head when I saw a little Scamp 5th Wheel (no pics) in Eugene, OR, because it was just not anything I'd seen before, and we've been to a lot of parks. I read a lot of blogs, wander the web a lot and have found some really amazing RV finds, but I wanted to catalog the things that have stopped me in my tracks and have either made me take notice, or have (even better) made me grab a camera. I truly believe there are some cool and interesting RVs out there. Posts may not be about one RV, but about some aspect/creation/modification that I think is cool in some way.

In the next few days I'm going to begin posting about some of my finds. Some posts will just be pictures, some will have information, some may have complete backstories... regardless of how much info is out there, I'm hoping it will be fun.

I look forward to your comments and criticisms. However - it's my blog, they are my pics, and this is my journey - so let's just have fun here, ok?