Steve & Deb's Cross-Country Adventure

[Steve]

Hi gang!

I've been very much missing-in-action around here for the past several months. It has been a crazy summer! Our youngest daughter graduated high school this spring, and we had a graduation party at our home, so lots of prep for that. Our eldest daughter got married on August 22 (Deb's and my 34th anniversary) so LOTS of stuff getting ready for that. We just had a surprise 60th birthday party for my wife yesterday, and this coming Friday, we are leaving Ohio for Seattle to take the youngest daughter to college. Whew!

We will be driving straight through to Seattle, but after getting her settled, we will be taking a long, meandering exploration home, visiting out of the way places, and big national parks during the off season. We plan to take two weeks to two months getting home, with no particular plan or schedule.

I've created some anonymous social media accounts to keep friends and family up to date on what we are doing, and sharing some of the sights. If you want to follow along on our trip, follow or like one (or all) of these accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExploringTheUSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/exploringtheusa
Instagram: https://instagram.com/explore_the_usa/

(Please do not reference any of my other online identities, or link to anything that might identify me or my location closer than northern Ohio.)

I'll check in from time to time,
Steve

[WCDev]

Very nice!   

Be sure to send a postcard

[awilltx]

Fun! Love stuff like this. I will follow you on twitter.


Alan @eastdallaswx

[elagache]

Dear Steve, Stu, Alan, and WeatherCat world explorers,

Well, I'm not much of a Twitter user, but I'll go ahead and follow as well.    . . . Although, this project looks poorly planned from the start.  A 2008 Subaru Outback?  That's just way too immature a vehicle for this sort of expedition!

Also, you've still forgotten da' trailer!! . . .

Sorry Stu, I meant da' caravan! . . . . 

Cheers, Edouard 

[Steve]

Well, Edouard, the 1958 MGA could make the trip, but we sure couldn't take the three of us, her dorm stuff and clothes, and our supplies for our return exploring. And poorly planned?!?!? That's the whole idea!

We have looked at campers, but the Outback can only haul 2700 pounds. We've looked at Land Rover LR4 (Discovery 4 for you, Stu) which can haul 7700 pounds. But the expenses this summer have been beyond our retirement funds, so a new car and camper are out of the question for a while.

I post on Instagram, and that automatically gets sent to Twitter and Facebook. So Twitter posts might not contain the complete text due to the 140 character limit.

[elagache]

Howdy Steve and WeatherCat adventurers,

Well, as long as I'm having a little fun!

Well, Edouard, the 1958 MGA could make the trip, but we sure couldn't take the three of us, her dorm stuff and clothes, and our supplies for our return exploring. And poorly planned?!?!? That's the whole idea!

  . . . . That's your fault for picking the wrong classic to keep! . . . 

We have looked at campers, but the Outback can only haul 2700 pounds.

That's no excuse!  You should have looked into a teardrop trailer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teardrop_trailer

These little trailers are definitely making a comeback:

http://www.teardrops.net/teardroptrailerparts.html

You can buy kits or there are now a bunch of manufacturers.  The only surprise is that they unexpectedly expensive.  These trailers have two major downsides.  1.) no bathroom and 2.) the galley is outside.

It isn't a bad arrangement if you plan to go in campgrounds with public restrooms and can be confident of no rain.  This was my first scheme for a travel trailer before I decided to aim higher.

We've looked at Land Rover LR4 (Discovery 4 for you, Stu) which can haul 7700 pounds. But the expenses this summer have been beyond our retirement funds, so a new car and camper are out of the question for a while.

  . . . . Don't you get it, you want seasoned equipment - not that new untrustworthy stuff! . . . 

I post on Instagram, and that automatically gets sent to Twitter and Facebook. So Twitter posts might not contain the complete text due to the 140 character limit.

  . . . . I sure am glad that social media is "improving" with new technology . . . 

Seriously, enjoy your adventure . . . assuming you don't blind yourself with that LED array!

Cheers, Edouard

[Steve]

You should have looked into a teardrop trailer

We have, and four years ago, we went to a local Tiny Trailer gathering, and visited local builder Little Guy Trailers http://www.golittleguy.com

In the end, we figured if we're getting a trailer, we want to have a loo and kitchen inside. When one of us needs to get up more than once during the night, a trip to the public facilities is no longer enjoyable, else we'd still be tent camping.

[Blicj11]

Hey have fun Steve. Sounds like a blast.

[elagache]

Dear Steve, Blick, and WeatherCat roadtrip adventurers,

In the end, we figured if we're getting a trailer, we want to have a loo and kitchen inside. When one of us needs to get up more than once during the night, a trip to the public facilities is no longer enjoyable, else we'd still be tent camping.

Yup, that's why I started looking into something a little bit bigger and since my wagon is 50 years old, the idea of getting a trailer that old became appealing.

I suppose you have had a look at the T@b trailers:

http://www.tab-rv.com/

They are now made by Little Guy.  These trailers are really close to being practical.  When they first came out they had a slightly larger model that looked practical.  For me they look too modern.  Here is a another small trailer maker that's big enough to include the kitchen and "jon":

http://casitatraveltrailers.com/

Here is another concept in ultra-small trailers:

http://happiercamper.com/

Or if you decide you want to finally get yourself a suitably "mature" tow vehicle, you could get in touch with Flyte Camp:

http://www.flytecamp.com/

Or if that's too rich for your blood, you can at least watch "Flippin' RVs" on TV and just daydream a little! 

http://www.greatamericancountry.com/shows/flippin-rvs

Last time I checked, daydreaming was still free!! 

Cheers, Edouard

[Steve]

We kinda liked this one (click the east side of the map, then 220RBI
http://www.keystonerv.com/bullet/

It is designed for two people to travel comfortably, rather than the norm of seeing how many beds you can squeeze into a trailer.

(BTW, @blicj11, I started downloading iOS 9 for iPad and iPhone at 10:03 PDT. )

[elagache]

Dear Steve and WeatherCat RV "state of mind" types . . . . .

We kinda liked this one (click the east side of the map, then 220RBI
http://www.keystonerv.com/bullet/

It is designed for two people to travel comfortably, rather than the norm of seeing how many beds you can squeeze into a trailer.

We are of a like mind.  I would really like a comfortable trailer designed for two.  Alas, that trailer behind my trusty wagon would look . . . . . tacky to point of contact cement! 

Interesting though that this trailer is significantly heavier than the roughly equivalent Airstream designs of 1964.  The 24 foot Tradewind twin weighs only 3500 lbs. empty:

http://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/archive/17a5d9a494b1fea1.pdf

While the bullet weighs 4600 lbs.  Even the 26 Tradewind of 1964 weighs under 4000 lbs:

http://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/archive/0c213efecd6aed04.pdf

I guess it shows the real advantages that come with using aircraft-grade aluminum in the construction - even fiberglass is heavier.  Alas, there is a real price bump to get a real Airstream today.  Any trailer of this size is starting to be a lot for my trusty wagon to pull since she weighs only about 4000 lbs.  At least any twin-axle trailer could be fitted with modern disc brakes and that would help.

Here are the original 1964 floorplans:

http://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/archive/6bcfcc03ed50f15e.pdf

Now if I could make a working time machine, go back to 1964, pay with today's dollars and bring my travel trailer back - I could make a killing!! 

(BTW, @blicj11, I started downloading iOS 9 for iPad and iPhone at 10:03 PDT. )

  . . . . Why - am I not surprised!!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[Blicj11]

(BTW, @blicj11, I started downloading iOS 9 for iPad and iPhone at 10:03 PDT. )

Ha ha ha! You are still the man! I knew you wouldn't let a little thing like a road trip keep you way from the cutting edge of Apple technology. It's been 5 hours now and I hope you beat the rush so that your download has now completed. I think I will wait until midnight and let it run all night.

[Steve]

No problem at all. It downloaded quickly, and the install on both was flawless. Gotta explore later, but to busy getting stuff ready now.

[Blicj11]

No problem at all. It downloaded quickly, and the install on both was flawless. Gotta explore later, but to busy getting stuff ready now.

Let us know if you experience extended battery life on this version. I am interested in the power management improvements.

Pack first, test later (but earlier than you depart).

[Steve]

Oh, don't get me wrong, Edouard. I'd love to have an old Airstream. But they've gained the attention of the trend-setters and hipsters today, and have skyrocketed on price. As a kid, I spent most summers traveling the eastern US in an Avion trailer with my grandparent, and cherish those memories.

(Avion were the non-polished competition for Airstream. The General Manager for Airstream lived across the road from my parents, so there was always the latest and greatest parked there. The Airstream factory was only 18 miles from where I grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio.