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Grand Master · 08-14-2010, 02:26 PM

We have just returned home after 135 days and 18,618 miles.

We left Indiana in late March to attend the St. Augustine Rally. Had a great time and then went on to the Follow Me to Paradise Rally in Key West. From there we headed across the Southern USA and up the West Coast to Vancouver, BC. We had no time schedule other than we had 3 months to get to Vancouver by July 9th. We then boarded a ship for an Alaskan cruise thru the inside passage, and traveled Alaska for an additional 10 days. We traveled about 100 miles North of the arctic Circle while in Alaska. So.... on this trip we were at the Southernmost point of the USA and crossed the Arctic Circle in one trip. We had one other goal. Since we were married my wife and I had been to every State in the Union except Alaska and Idaho. So, after returning from Alaska we headed for Idaho.

I thought I would provide some details about our trailer and tow vehicle, because I believe both have been thoroughly tested on this trip.

We towed our 1963 Trade Wind (24') with a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.0L diesel. We averaged 17.11 mpg on this trip. I am very pleased with the mileage, especially since much of our trip was in mountainous terrain with steep grades. The engine never worked hard even on long steep grades. I never lost speed on uphill grades and the RPM's never exceeded 2500.

I have an Equal-i-zer hitch with 600 lb. bars. We experienced severe cross winds on three different occasions on our trip (once in New Mexico they closed the highway because of the severe winds) yet I never experienced any sway.

I know there has been much discussion about TVs and hitches, and my Jeep with an Equal-i-zer is considered inadequate by many, but my experience proved them both to be up to the task.

I'll end this segment with a couple of pictures from the St. Augustine and Key West Rallies.

Albatrill · 08-14-2010, 03:38 PM

Sounds fun... your AS is 24' and single axle, its good to hear that combo worked so well for you! I guess 24' is about as long as the single axle trailers get?

What was the total weight of the AS when it was being pulled?

Grand Master · 08-14-2010, 04:29 PM

Loaded for a four month trip we were about 500 lbs heavier than normal.

Total weight for this trip was 5,080 lbs. However, about 600 lbs. was on the hitch, making the axle weight about 4500 lbs. BTW... I have a new 5000 lb. Henschen axle.

345bill · 08-14-2010, 04:46 PM

That does sound like fun, glad you enjoyed it. An Alaska cruise is on our bucket list. Like your set-up also.

cruiser54 · 08-14-2010, 05:03 PM

My Cruiser has 25/26' and is probably the longest AS with 1 axle. Airstream4u in Hamburg has advised me against inserting double axles. Better maneuver and if I think there of our narrow street curves.....
Greetings from Switzerland
Werner

Aage · 08-14-2010, 05:04 PM

Grand Master,

Congratulations on your wonderful marvellous trip! It certainly sounds like you made it the "trip of a lifetime"!

Just one question: WHERE ARE THE PHOTOS!?!?

**Stefrobrts** · 08-14-2010, 05:11 PM

What an awesome trip! I hope you can find some time to tell us some of the pitfalls, things you learned along the way that those of us who haven't done a long trip yet may not have thought about. I'm looking forward to the days when we can sneak away for some long adventures!

Gene · 08-14-2010, 05:28 PM

Quite a trip. Did you take the Alaska state ferry from Vancouver to Haines or Skagway? Did you visit Juneau and the other cities and towns along the way? Did you go as far as Coldfoot? We stayed several days at the Marion Creek CG 5 miles north of Coldfoot about 2 months ago. Did you return on the Alaska Hwy? Maybe we saw you on the way.

Gene

**Kevin245** · 08-14-2010, 05:37 PM

What a trip and travel route, perhaps you can share some more of your individual adventures that happened along the way. Sounds like a trip of a lifetime.

Kevin