Yup, we have our fiver on our campsite. It wasn’t easy, but what do I care? I didn’t do the hard work.
Saturday turned out to be pretty crappy, weather-wise, which meant that both of the other major activities of the day – Jett’s huge yard sale and my softball games – were cancelled. So, with those impediments out of the way, I was able to arrange for an earlier meeting with Bill the Tow Guy. I got to the campground at 10:30am (instead of the previously-arranged 1pm). He didn’t arrive until 11am but that was ok – it gave me a chance to meet the hosts and a few of my new neighbors.
The campground is owned and operated by Les and Nancy. Nancy handles the business side and Les does maintenance, just as Jett and I would split our duties if we take on camp host jobs next year. They assured me that the campsite was ready and waiting. They had recently upgraded the electrical to 50 amps, which turned out to be a good thing as I discovered that our coach had only 50 amp and 20 amp connectors (note to self: get a 30 amp adapter).
Les had just finished his other job (or, as Nancy put it, his “fun job”) the day before. Both would work the campground full-time for the season.
Les, along with site #3 neighbor Ron, admired my truck. I think Les’ exact words were “Now THAT’S a truck!” There were many kudos for the tires, which surprised me. Apparently both the rims and the tires were, in their eyes, special: the rims being a high-quality aluminum and steel pair and the tires being extra wide. I took a look at Les’s dually and, sure enough, my tires were wider than his. Better traction and higher replacement cost, I suppose.
When Bill arrived I immediately grabbed my little bag of goodies (containing, most importantly, the license plate for the fiver and some tools to attach it) and off we went. The trip to Tyngsboro was uneventful, but I learned a lot about Bill, his business and his health. For example: Bill had had 9 heart attacks and a stroke since 1996. My response: “but none today, right?” Always the sympathetic one. I just flashed on a vision of Bill slumped over the wheel and me, in the co-pilot seat, trying desperately to prevent my new pride and joy from being transformed into a ruin. And crushing me in the process.
But Bill had no heart attack on this trip.
His business consisted of leasing travel trailers and hauling them to/from campsites. He and his wife owned 20 trailers which, in his view, was the right number. He said they had had as many as 25 but found that with more than 20 they had to hire help. And no motorhomes. “Too much trouble and too expensive.”
The Open Range was still in Daryl’s driveway when we arrived. Bill immediately backed the truck into position and, on his first try, snagged the fiver’s pin with the hitch with a loud clang. Daryl was impressed. “He’s a pro!”
I immediately attached the plate and then did a quick walk-around to make sure everything was ready to go. Turns out I should have locked the cargo doors as one swung open as we pulled onto the Route 3 expressway. But no big deal. Bill finished hooking up the electrical tow connection and with a handshake to Daryl, off we went.
The return trip, excepting the cargo door, was also uneventful. Bill took the shortest route, up NH 43, which I intended to avoid in September because it is narrow, hilly and has one hairpin turn. But Bill handled it with aplomb. He had to swing wide on the hairpin, but his view is “take the space you need; others will get out of your way.”
I got some good advice on hauling the fiver. On adjusting the electrical brakes, he said that just using the fiver’s brakes should slow the truck, but not stop it. On using the “tow” setting on the gear shift stalk: “I don’t like it and never use it.” On whether I should keep below 65mph: (with a glance at his speedometer) “I am going 67 now.”
The struggle to get the fiver backed into site #7 attracted a cadre of helpers, gawkers and well-wishers. Getting the unit threaded between the trees on the narrow approach was difficult, but the only real problem arose at the top of the hill when the fiver leveled out and the truck was still on the incline. At that point the tail of the truck made contact with the nose stabilizer bars and the truck lost. There was a loud clang as the left top rear edge of the truck slid off the bar, breaking a small piece of plastic off the truck edge in the process. Bill cautiously moved the truck forward, Ron removed the bar, giving the truck a couple of critical inches of room, and Bill tried again. This time the edge of the truck made contact with the underside of the fiver’s nose, but the covering was vinyl and had some give. The journey was completed with no further damage to either vehicle.
Here is a photo of the back-in adventure, with Ron providing direction.
- Backing the Open Range onto the campsite
I spent a couple of hours getting everything hooked up, taking measurements (Jett wants to build a 12×16′ deck, which is entirely feasible – at least until we find out how much it will cost), and figuring out how to hook up the utilities. The electrical connection was a breeze, but the sewer connection was not: Ron had to dig out an extra plastic adapter to make it work. Even then, it wasn’t totally secure. Les says it needs a “donut” – whatever that is. He said he would take care of it for me this week.
I like people who take care of stuff for me.
I gave Ron and his wife Sheena a tour of the unit once I got the slides out. Ron continued to be helpful, showing me where the circuit breakers were located and helping me figure out how to operate the roof vents. Sheena loved the unit (watch out, Ron – you may have an expensive upgrade in your future). I also showed it off to the three tent campers from the site above ours (two women and a man… hmmmm). They also loved it.
Everyone loves it. Including me.
I tried the bed out (which, you would think, I would have done before buying it, but you would be wrong). It was bouncier than I expected. Not air mattress bouncy, but definitely more rubbery than our current mattress. Hopefully we will get use to it, but I am pretty sure that Jett will add an extra layer of foam before we move in.
I also tested the water heater – another thing I should have done before buying – and fortunately it worked.
I was smart enough to shut off the water and the water heater, pull in the awning and lock the doors before I left. I chatted with Nancy for a few moments (the cable will be ready next weekend), then off I went.
A very successful day.
Oh – and I called Jett to tell her that the Eagle has landed.