Just Back From First Extended Grand Tour Trip

[tlundell]

I am dismayed to see the thread about another poster's cascade of problems with his brand new2015 AI Grand Tour...maybe a Monday morning manufacture? We have been very fortunate with our GT, especially as it performed on our just completed trip from Los Gatos (CA) to Miles City, Montana, and back, in six days. We had a limited window of time for the trip, to visit friends and take in the Bucking Horse Sale and Rodeo, but the big question was how well would Gizmo handle 2,800 miles in four days of driving. We have had it since October and taken about 14 short to medium trips (mostly three-day weekends), to learn all the systems and to get it outfitted with all the gear and provisions we have learned to have handy for all needs. So this was the big one, being out on the wide open spaces of Nevada, Idaho and Montana, and very pleased that both the Sprinter and the Airstream systems performed flawlessly. One addition that has been a terrific boost is my Verizon MiFi hotspot, which keeps the laptop and iPad connected to the internet even in the middle of nowhere, and usable by my wife as we drive. I am still amazed at how easy the vehicle is to drive, and not at all uncomfortable even at 10 or 11 hours on the road. Mileage was okay (about 17 for the trip), but would have been better if I hadn't taken advantage of the 75 and 80 mph speed limits on the open highways of those states. We left the bed made up through the trip, as we knew we would be tired and ready to eat and hit the sack at the end of a long drive, and that worked out really well, for using the under-bed for storage and setting up the table up front for dinner and a bit of TV before bed. We learned a lot about the rhythm of life on the road with this vehicle, and look forward to extending to a bigger trip later this year.

[Brucet45410]

Sounds like a great trip all around! Well done!


2014 Airstream Interstate
Currently a "Weekender" but planning a cross country trip next summer.

[andybree]

tlundell, loved reading about your adventures! We have made cross-country and short trips in Walter, our 2014.5, and put over 11,000 miles on it from September 2014 through April 2015. May has been spent getting ready for our son's wedding, but June will find us back on the road, complete with a new addition to our EXT storage area that we are dying to try out. Happy trails to all!!!