Picture of your Interstate

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by Free Pony

85MH325,
Yay! You have the same year and model I'm going to look at on Monday! But yours has bot of the fold down sofas to make the queen bed! Mine was somehow converted to two chairs and a table on the curbside. I hope I can find a replacement sofa! Yours is beautiful!

Hey, congrats! If you're looking at a 2004, there are some things you should know... first and foremost is that there's a smog system recall called the "T-21" recall. If that coach has had it, make sure it was done properly. In the 2004 coaches, it can cause a number of problems, and the only fix is for the instrument cluster to be replaced. And there are no more instrument clusters. If it HASN'T had it, and you're in CA, you may need to get a waiver for it so you can get it registered without the smog recall being performed. IF it has had the recall done, and odd things are happening... like random battery failures and constant EGR valve cycling... walk away as it can't be fixed without a new IC.

I got mine from a dealership near Atlanta on consignment... REALLY cheap. It needed some significant work and repairs to the coach systems make it usable, but the previous owner spent a fortune in repairs in the mechanicals in the months before he sold it. It was leaking like a sieve from all of the roof seams... and continued to leak even after the dealership "repaired" it to the tune of $600 paid by the P.O. It is now dry and happy... but it took a lot of work. It was literally "rode hard and put away wet," apparently for a long time before I got it.

Next... these came in four floorplans... you have the "side dinette" version. Mine is a "front sleeper" version. There was also a "rear sleeper" version with a mid-kitchen and bath, and the beds in the rear against the doors. And last there was a rear couch version. I tell you that because a) if not having the large bed is a deal breaker for you, the majority of the '03-'07 coaches on the T1N chassis are "front sleepers" and with a little patience you'll likely find one in nice condition for reasonable money.

The '04-06 T1N Sprinters with the OM-647 are, IMO, the best Sprinters "out there." They're not, of course, without their issues, but with care, they're half-million mile drivetrains, and have none of the particulate filter, DEF, or sensor issues that the new ones have. They also still have off-the shelf, simple, owner-repairable RV systems rather than the hugely complex things that the later Airstreams have.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Roger

[InterBlog]

This is how we strengthen our immune systems in Houston - we go playing in flood waters contaminated with dog poop and every conceivable subtropical pathogen.



This is my modular kayak, the one that breaks down into two halves so that I can transport it in the Interstate. I had a good paddle on our local streets for about 40 minutes.

This rain event had me concerned... according to the local gauges, it was less than 3 inches, but it came down incredibly fast. This was the outcome. The water made it up to the Interstate's front wheels.

[rowiebowie]

Too bad you couldn't catch your reflection in your Interstate.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

Too bad you couldn't catch your reflection in your Interstate.

Oh, that's cool!! Thanks!

[Seavalley18]

Social Distancing .... GA Veterans SP

[Jacklas]

Photo taken recently.

[InterBlog]

Hi, Jacklas! Welcome to Air Forums! Hope you had a good trip to Houston.

If you ever wish to take the scenic route from Houston to your home in Mississippi, a one-hour-longer alternate route would take you through Deep East Texas and past Texas Airstream Harbor, which is an Airstream-exclusive park on Lake Sam Rayburn.

Here's a photo of one of our honored guests from last week (some friends of ours). This is a first-generation Interstate which was built on a T1N Sprinter rather than the newer NCV3 Sprinter that you have. This is a nice pull-through guest spot which looks directly onto the lake. Great view out the back and side windows.

[TayaraTravel]

Texas White House parking lot at LBJ National Historical Park.

[Rig Rat]

Attach]370062[/attach]

[Mcrid]

Piney Point Corps Campground. Good thing the weather was nice as the Campground lost power at about bed time.

[Pahaska]

I just spent a couple of nights at Cedar Breaks COE park at Lake Georgetown. The last time I camped there was about 30 years ago. The biggest change was that the trees were providing shade on sites that were in full sun when I camped there.

It was a great bargain for $26 for a W/E site for 2 nights with my Golden Age card. I had a great site with good shade most of the day and a great view of the lake most of the time when the sites across from me were vacant. All sites have a shade structure with a picnic table.

[GETRIDAONE]

Originally Posted by Seavalley18

Social Distancing .... GA Veterans SP

We just returned from this state park yesterday. The back of area #3 looks like where you were. It only had the host and three other campers. The lakefront spots were pretty full and a lot of activity. It was nice except for the gnats were really bad.

[rowiebowie]

This past Tuesday & Wednesday (6/16-6/17) at Goliad State Historical Park, Goliad TX. Site #7, Karankawa Loop. The least shady full hookup site in the park. But it was a spur of the moment get-away so you take what you can get. Other "Reseverved" sites around us were empty when we arrived and when we left the next day. Something infuriating that we encounter often at State & National Parks.

We toured the Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga which is in the park as well as the nearby La Bahia mission (privately run) near the Fannin memorial. A monument to the Texicans who died at the hands of Santa Ana's troops just after the fall of the Alamo. Very historical area.

Weather was warn but not too hot (just lucky that day), no bugs, and plenty of Redbirds (Cardinals) to watch. It's a thing there.

[wachuko]

Manatee Springs... we had to get away for at least the weekend... headed out Friday and came back Sunday morning...







Would have preferred a site with more trees and the AI facing the other way... but it was fine for being the first time there. Now we know what sites are nicer.





Now back in our cave... this is the only way we know of keeping track of the days, but looks like we need to stop because everything looks blurry...

[5280BDocker]

First outing ever in an RV!

Great evening after fishing for brook trout at Homestake Creek, CO.

Looking for more memories..


Randy

[Pez Vela]

Land Yacht

[carpenc]

Finally on road after almost a year of “quarantine “ thanks to a variety of medical issues & COVID. Feels great to be out of Florida and in New Jersey. Ha! I’m sure that sounds backwards to some but I have a deep love for the Delaware River. It’s a beauty and one of the largest dam-free rivers in America. I have my own little plot of land on it.

[Rig Rat]

[QUOTE=wachuko;2374356]Manatee Springs... we had to get away for at least the weekend... headed out Friday and came back Sunday morning...


Would have preferred a site with more trees and the AI facing the other way... but it was fine for being the first time there. Now we know what sites are nicer.



[IMG]https://www.airforums.com/forums/attachment.php?

We stayed at Manatee Springs SP starting on March 15 in a shady site #51. Nice SP & site but we picked ticks off us for 2 days and left early!

[5280BDocker]

We set off on our first road trip in our new To us AI

Colorado to Maine.

Fantastic stop at the Point Labadie Brewery just outside Saint Louis and an amazing stay in the middle of the vines at Humming Bird Hill Winery in the Hudson Valley. Thank you Kim for hosting us.

Finally, home in Maine. The AI work incredibly well. Except for some user errors, all is well. The battery and solar upgrades will be welcomed. To much management for my taste but we will remedy this in August.

Looking to hanging out for the rest of the summer in the Belgrade lakes. Maybe a side trip to Acadia. Take care all and a happy Fourth to all.

Randy

[Pahaska]

I just returned from a couple of nights at Lost Maples State Natural Area, which is near Vanderpool in the Texas Hill Country. Just driving there was a feat. I took TX 16 south from Kerrville and hit the hardest bunch of highway I have ever driven in the AI. Tight curves and steep hills for miles. I came back along the Guadalupe River. Crossed the river about a dozen times. While that was less hilly, it was another arm wrestling stretch of curves. Three hours each way from west of Austin.

Lost Maples is the remains of a maple forest that once covered that part of Texas. The weather changed and the forest disappeared, leaving a green oasis that is spectacular in the fall with reds and yellows.

Small campground between the tiny Sabinal River and a small mountain. No internet and absolutely no phone signal without climbing to the highest mountain in the park. About 5 degrees cooler than the Austin area and a lot cooler at night.

I had hoped to see the comet with no light pollution. Alas, while there were only some scattered fair weather cumulus in the daytime. A high cloud deck moved in every night.

Nothing better than sausage, pancakes, and coffee on a cool morning!

There was another AI in the park, a 2018 GT, just like mine. An older gentleman by himself. The only person I was near while I was there.