Classic Motor home get together

[SpiceStream]

Originally Posted by Grosspoluter

I really really really REALLY want to go to this. BUT I’m just not comfortable with a 500 mile one-way trip in my airstream the way it is now. I’ve said before my comfort zone is about 100 150 miles away from where I live in Chicago but I’m thinking maybe me or my wife and I might take a trip out there and our car to visit you guys
I would love to meet all of you
Really would like to see your rigs, pick your brains, get the insight, ideas, and opinions of other like minded people
CLKIESER if your going, I’d still be willing to “chase” you up there

Grosspoluter,

We will be buzzing right through Chicago if you want to caravan, let me know.

Curt

[mayco]

Originally Posted by Grosspoluter

I really really really REALLY want to go to this. BUT I’m just not comfortable with a 500 mile one-way trip in my airstream the way it is now. I’ve said before my comfort zone is about 100 150 miles away from where I live in Chicago but I’m thinking maybe me or my wife and I might take a trip out there and our car to visit you guys
I would love to meet all of you
Really would like to see your rigs, pick your brains, get the insight, ideas, and opinions of other like minded people
CLKIESER if your going, I’d still be willing to “chase” you up there

What is your biggest concern right now in driving the rig up to MI? Just curious.
I was the same way when I first got my 310TD.

If we were headed straight up to the get together from Champaign I would have suggested that we meet up near Chicago and caravan the rest of the way. But we are going to meander a bit and probably make a stop or two on the way up.

Mike

[SpiceStream]

Originally Posted by mayco

What is your biggest concern right now in driving the rig up to MI? Just curious.
I was the same way when I first got my 310TD.

If we were headed straight up to the get together from Champaign I would have suggested that we meet up near Chicago and caravan the rest of the way. But we are going to meander a bit and probably make a stop or two on the way up.

Mike

We would love to hook up with both of you and make a true spectacle of it.

Mike,
Do you know if you have any pictures of your rear shocks?
I did not look too close to see if I have any of the mounting apparatus, but I could always fabricate that.
I was under Sylvia over the weekend, and I have none.

Thanks again,
Curt

[Grosspoluter]

Ok so my biggest concern...
2 years ago on a Wisconsin trip my 345 threw a belt and overheated and since then oil pressure isn’t what it used to be (but still with in the 10psi per 1000rpm range) the tow bill was $1500, I was pretty much broke for the rest of the year[emoji37]
Never quite figured out why the belt failed, it was a new belt (I’m afraid maybe my belts / Pulleys are not perfectly lined up)
Concern 2: my tag axel wheels have a negative camber to them, it used to be WAY worse, about a 4° negative camber and the top of the tire used to rub the frame rail I have since worked on them and got it down to a 1° negative camber tires no longer rub and I feel I can still make it better if I work on it in the next few weeks
IF I were still interested in caravaning up there when are you guys going to be coming through Chicagoland?

[mayco]

Originally Posted by Grosspoluter

Ok so my biggest concern...
2 years ago on a Wisconsin trip my 345 threw a belt and overheated and since then oil pressure isn’t what it used to be (but still with in the 10psi per 1000rpm range) the tow bill was $1500, I was pretty much broke for the rest of the year[emoji37]
Never quite figured out why the belt failed, it was a new belt (I’m afraid maybe my belts / Pulleys are not perfectly lined up)
Concern 2: my tag axel wheels have a negative camber to them, it used to be WAY worse, about a 4° negative camber and the top of the tire used to rub the frame rail I have since worked on them and got it down to a 1° negative camber tires no longer rub and I feel I can still make it better if I work on it in the next few weeks
IF I were still interested in caravaning up there when are you guys going to be coming through Chicagoland?

We aren't real sure what our schedule or route is going to be going up. But I think we are going to make 2-3 stops along the way just messing around. Check out some new parks probably in Wisconsin.

Hey Curt, do you have any recommendations on state parks up your way?

[Kota]

Don’t know the price but there is a car ferry from Manitowoc to Ludington.

http://www.ssbadger.com/

[Grosspoluter]

Yeah, I’m not sure what the prices are but I actually looked into that
because the ferry docks at Ludington And Ludington is only about 50 miles from the campground
I believe it was six dollars a foot for RVs and they had some kind of special for passengers I think it was 110 for round-trip

[bobmiller1]

That was a problem I had when I bought the 370LE, when they replaced the engine in Florida, they put the brackets that hold the air pumps and alternator on reversed ......explains why I blew an alternator belt off every 200 miles on the way back home when I bought it ! The negative camber issue is most likely due to a tow job where the front end was lifted higher than it should have been forcing to much weight in the tag axle...,,easy to remedy by a frame shop. Regards,Bob

[Magnet18]

We are interested in bringing the 310 up to this! Can't make the whole thing, but we should be able to drive up Friday afternoon, we're only a couple hours away. Would love to see some more rigs!

[Dingo Girl]

Originally Posted by Grosspoluter

Yeah, I’m not sure what the prices are but I actually looked into that
because the ferry docks at Ludington And Ludington is only about 50 miles from the campground
I believe it was six dollars a foot for RVs and they had some kind of special for passengers I think it was 110 for round-trip

More like 75 miles.
The boat from Muskegon MI to Milwaukee is 2 hours faster.
LakeExpress.

[SpiceStream]

Originally Posted by mayco

We aren't real sure what our schedule or route is going to be going up. But I think we are going to make 2-3 stops along the way just messing around. Check out some new parks probably in Wisconsin.

Hey Curt, do you have any recommendations on state parks up your way?

Mike,
It depends upon your intended route and schedule.
One option would be, Harrington Beach State Park, Kohler-Andre State park, SS Badger Across the pond.
https://www.ssbadger.com/schedule-fares/
I just checked the rates and for the 5 of us and the 310, it would be $947.70 round trip, half that one way.

My personal advice would be to run North over Lake Michigan along Lake Superior over the Mackinac Bridge hug the shores of Lake Michigan down to the GTG.
This is one of the most incredible rides in the country, it is never super busy up there but at this time it will be really slow. I would recommend running Lake Superior as much as possible while in the UP, this stretch is absolutely incredible. Mackinac Island is an interesting place to blow a day. no cars allowed on the Island so rent a horse or bike and rip around, there is a fort with a nice bar overlooking the island and lake, it is an interesting place once you get out of the downtown fudge shop district. There are also fantastic parks all the way along Lake Michigan on the East side of Lake Michigan. I would say this will add at least a week or two to your trip depending upon how much you linger, but I do not think you would be disappointed. Parks/towns I would hit for sure are Pictured Rocks, Grand Marais, Whitefish Point, Soo Locks are interesting if you are into Locks, Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Hope that helps.
Curt

[mayco]

GREAT information Curt. We are still deciding if we want to go up and over or take the east side of the lake. It will be fun either way. Lynn grew up vacationing in Wisconsin but Ive only been up that way a couple times. Her grandparents had rental cabins up in Fish Creek I think. Really looking forward to the trip.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by Grosspoluter

Ok so my biggest concern...
2 years ago on a Wisconsin trip my 345 threw a belt and overheated and since then oil pressure isn’t what it used to be (but still with in the 10psi per 1000rpm range) the tow bill was $1500, I was pretty much broke for the rest of the year[emoji37]
Never quite figured out why the belt failed, it was a new belt (I’m afraid maybe my belts / Pulleys are not perfectly lined up)

I had the same problem with flat belt. First thing I dd after I bought 'Silver Bullet' was all new belts. It kept throwing it off the alternator. And like you said, got one on 'just right' and it stayed on.
Jump forward to when I rebuilt the 454. Deleted the smog pumps and could not keep the flat belt on. Go about 18 miles and the belt came off and was trashed. Couldn't see it to see the pulley alignment. Had to take the grille, radiator,..... out and then could see how cocked the alternator pulley was. Went to a junk yard and found a pre-smog pump alternator bracket. Took it to the desk and, "$45" Told him I could get a brand new chrome plated one of $15. Left him with his $45 bracket and bought one from 'Summit Racing' for $17.
Problem solved.

[Rollingrivet]

Originally Posted by mayco

GREAT information Curt. We are still deciding if we want to go up and over or take the east side of the lake. It will be fun either way. Lynn grew up vacationing in Wisconsin but Ive only been up that way a couple times. Her grandparents had rental cabins up in Fish Creek I think. Really looking forward to the trip.

If you can't make that trip your welcome come join our 76 Argosy June 21-23 for our Rollingrivet Rally in Door County.
At Countryside Motel and RV sites

[SpiceStream]

Originally Posted by mayco

GREAT information Curt. We are still deciding if we want to go up and over or take the east side of the lake. It will be fun either way. Lynn grew up vacationing in Wisconsin but Ive only been up that way a couple times. Her grandparents had rental cabins up in Fish Creek I think. Really looking forward to the trip.

Mike,

Good news...you don't have to decide, run West on the Way Up and East on the way down or Vice Versa... you guys are Free to roam. If you scroll down a post or two, there is an interesting story. The people that own the Countryside Motel and RV sites in Sturgeon Bay, WI turned up when I was working roadside on Sylvia's broken Axle a couple years back LOL I do not think they thought I would get her back on the road :-)...Sturgeon Bay is the Start of Door County which is where Lynn's Grandparents had there cottages...small world!!! you could definitely tie Door County into the West Loop Route but you will have to leave soon if you want to properly cover all this ground.

See you soon,

Curt

[bobmiller1]

Dave, this is the route I have picked out......see any problems with it ???

[mayco]

Talked it over with the boss today and we are going to head up along the east coast. Looks like there are several interesting state parks all along the coast. Now we just need to figure out which ones we want to hit. A whole bunch of choices. I think we will make our first stop at Indiana Dunes, Ive heard good things about that park.

[Kota]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

Dave, this is the route I have picked out......see any problems with it ???Attachment 306401

Canada route looks good. Cleveland is a demolition derby on 90. I’d avoid that.



A return route north across the bridge and back through Canada would be really nice

[Isuzusweet]

Just one problem....the Canadian government is thinking of instituting a reciprocal tariff on U.S aluminum coming into Canada of 30% (it's an exchange thing). The tax on Bob's 370 could be substantial.

When the boss gets back from Arizona, and I have had a chance to settle into my new job, we will make a decision as to wether we're coming or not; hopeful.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[pamplin85]

I may be posting in the wrong area but I received an email from someone starting an airstream slide out owners club. Apparently they are a rare a trailer and I'm wanting to learn more about what I have and how to go about possibly letting it go to a good home.

Thanks in advance.