Saturday, November 3, 2012

DAY ONE UNDER OUR BELTS

Saturday, November 3 – We pulled out of the driveway at first light this morning (7:30 am) heading South. This is our first experience towing a 5th wheel trailer. We've towed utility trailers, travel trailers, and cars behind the motor home, but this is a new experience for us...EXCITING!

Getting out of our skinny driveway onto our skinny neighborhood street was our first challenge. A little “hairy,” but we pulled it off on the first try with no problems and headed down the road.

Our only mishap – or was it just the bone-headed driver – was when we pulled out of the pump area at Flying J. We must have turned too sharp because the emergency break-away cord pulled out and locked the trailer brakes. It was nice that the Ford instrument panel lit up, “wiring fault on trailer.”

wiring fault

After resetting the break-away plug, the instrument panel continued to warn of a wiring problem. After several attempts of unplugging the main plug and re-inserting it with no success (and surprisingly Paul swearing didn't help either), Paul finally shut the truck off, unplugged, and pulled the emergency break-away plug out. After refastening everything, the instrument panel code was cleared, and we continued on our merry way. Guess we learned something new today!

Poor little Bella. It took her several hours before she finally settled down and enjoyed the ride.

Bella

She was so tired after meowing off and on for several hours, she feel asleep in the strangest positions.

Sleeping on Marsha's lap lying against the door.Bella asleep

Bella asleep

We hit rain in Louisville, KY as we neared our destination of Cave City, KY. We are at the Singing Hills RV Park. We've stayed here a total of three times now. It is a Passport America park meaning we paid $16 for a 50-amp full hookup site. The sites are gravel and pretty level. We are only about two miles off I-65. The owners are wonderful people. So helpful and friendly. We are in the same site we were in a year ago. Free WIFI to boot!

Site #42
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Site 42

Looking right.
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Looking left.
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Our backyard where the deer and the chipmunks play.
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As we ate supper, the skies darkened with dangerous looking black clouds. We thought we got out of the rain when we left Ohio.....hummph!

Our reflections of switching from a motor home to a 5th wheel.  Paul feels it is much easier to drive the truck towing a 5th wheel compared to driving a motor home.  He just doesn't have the overwhelming feeling of being so big.  Getting in and out of the gas station was easier and maneuvering in traffic felt more comfortable.  Even pulling into the campground, Paul felt more at ease. 

The gas mileage (diesel fuel actually) was better with the truck and 5th wheel too!  Although, we'll pay more when sightseeing in a big truck compared to the Honda CRV.

It was nice for Marsha to be able to stand up and move around in the motor home.  She'll miss being able to run back to the bathroom, make coffee while going down the road, or dig out her crafting projects without stopping.

Our first reaction is it is easier to set-up and level the motor home – especially since it had an automatic leveling system.  We assume the same will hold true for preparing to pull-out of the campsite in the morning

The 5th wheel feels more "homey" sitting here this evening watching TV.  It's nice not to have the driving compartment in your living room and the big screen TV across the room instead of above the windshield is wonderful. 

All-in-all, we are happy with our switch to a fifth wheel.  The consensus that you can't beat a motor home while moving down the road and you can't beat a 5th wheel when parked may be true.  We certainly felt comfortable driving today and love sitting in our little home on wheels tonight! Well see if we feel the same in the future.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a wonderful day!