Pan America... Why? Why not?

[m.hony]

What happens when you get to 88 mph?
I haven't toured as much on a motorcycle as you guys, but I have done a little touring.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe in 2005
Great Lakes in 2006
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge in 2007
Other than that just Saturday or Sunday afternoon rides, commuting to work, and riding to the dealer for service every 5,000 miles. The nearest dealer is 2 hours away.

[m.hony]

Got married December 20, 2007-
Wife don't ride-

[Zackybilly1]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Got married December 20, 2007-
Wife don't ride-

Well, at least you didn't have to opt for the vinyl siding instead of a motorcycle! But mathematically speaking, maybe you already had the '06 Road King before you heard wedding bells?

I tried marriage once....or was it three times? My first one said," it's either me or the bikes". Last I heard, she's living in Colorado these days.

Z

[m.hony]

That is correct.
I had the bike before I had the wife.
The chrome stopped then.
She rode while we were courting, but hasn't been on that bike since we tied the knot.
I did put a Bluetooth stereo system on it recently, though.

[Zackybilly1]

Originally Posted by m.hony

The chrome stopped then.

....and the aluminum started?

Z

[m.hony]

Kinda sorta.
We had an sob first, which she liked better-
If I can't have an Airstream, I don't want a trailer.
Maybe eventually she will see the light, just like I think she sees the light about how much more dependable and reliable my old Nissan Pathfinder is than her old Ford Taurus was (or wasn't).
Maybe she gets it, but won't admit it because she enjoys sending me on guilt trips about getting rid of "her" trailer that had more room and more storage, but also went back to the dealer every week for something broken- sometimes 2-3 times for the same problem-
"Her" trailer didn't tow as smoothly and cost me 2 more mpg's.
"Her" trailer wasn't as shiny and purty, neither.

[m.hony]

I know that she knows (that I know that she knows) that we have a beautiful trailer.
She's always inviting people in for a tour!

[Zackybilly1]

Originally Posted by Zackybilly1

We are having a "ride to eat" weekend gathering in Central Arkansas in two weeks.

Z

Had about 90 show up from all around the country...good people, good times, good riding.









A pic of the late night crew who were sowing their oats....and barley.


Z

[Zackybilly1]

Shake down run last weekend to Natchez State Park...







Heading back out again this morning.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

Z

[Msmoto]

I still drool over these.... almost bought one before I went to an SOB for the past four years. Too bad they no longer make this model.

[cwf]

Man, I wish they would bring this model back.. then again, maybe that would be a bad thing...

;0

[Ag&Au]

I'm not manly enough for a big motorcycle, but I could find enough human powered toys to fill the the back of one of those.

Ken

[Zackybilly1]

Just looking at these pics makes my blood pressure go down.













Less than desirable camping slot (Clarkco State Park, Quitman, MS)...sometimes you don't know if you don't go.



Awning was out of the question...was happy just to be able to open the door. Hookups on the wrong side to boot.





Threading the needle getting in and getting out...




Counting down to the next adventure.

Z

[PaulnGina]

Thanks for the pics. That's a beautiful AS. (The bike, too!!)

[m.hony]

If you ever make it to Grenada, go to the COE campground, North Abutment. Hugh White State Park is the camping ghetto. Access is tight, the pads are not level, many of the electrical and water connections don't work, and it takes 2 hoses and an extension cord to get hooked up. We love George Payne Cossar State Park at Oakland, MS, but access is tight and the pads are not level.

[Zackybilly1]

M.Hony,

Whether I like it or not, I'm a creature of habit. When I find parks (and slots) I like, I tend to gravitate back to the places I liked when doing a weekend trip. Now with the Pan America, I've been shopping more for pull-thru slots. Not totally necessary as some slots, you still have access to rolling stock in the back but the ones that don't, I can unload a bike before backing in. If I can find a pull-thru, that is my preference. On the trip to Natchez SP, the slot worked out perfect. The pad was level but the drive beyond the pad (where the truck was sitting) was slightly down hill. Once spotted up, the WD bars were relaxed due to the angle...and with the bike, I had no reason to unhook from the truck or touch the hitch. Natchez has quite a few good eating joints (I'm always in quest of bad food...hadn't found any yet but still looking) so I just rode the bike to them and local historic sites. And if that wasn't good enough, it is one of the few slots there where you can hit a satellite signal as I like to keep up with what's flying apart like a $2 suitcase in Washington. Also, as luck would have it, cell service is spotty so most communication is done by texting where the "caller" has to get straight to the point.





Ghetto campground? Maybe some 22" rims with rubber-band profile tires on our trailers with those whirly-bird spinners in the middle, BIG sub-woofer(s), gold-plated "grills" for our trucks. I may need to practice shooting my "nine" sideways a little while before sailing up in there.

Z

[Jim Foster]

I still think it would be nice to make a "Living Room" out of the rear space in a Pam Am, big TV, nice sound system etc. You would have a nice rear-facing patio.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Zackybilly1]

Originally Posted by Jim Foster

I still think it would be nice to make a "Living Room" out of the rear space in a Pam Am, big TV, nice sound system etc. You would have a nice rear-facing patio.

Jim,

I refer to it as and use it as my "back porch". I do have a flat-screen (1 of 3) in there and the sound (tuner, iPod, DVD or TV) is through the stereo system which is on a selector switch. After I unload the bikes, I set chairs up back there. With the rear cargo door open with bug screen down, the floor vent open, the roof vent and Fantastic vent open, both side windows open, it's got good ventilation and a decent view. I've rigged up a 3000 btu radiant heater in the back (below the grill...has cover on it) for those cooler evenings and a 6000 btu stashed for the sure enough cold nights. I also have an 11' telescopic pole I can rig up from front to rear to hang damp towels, swimming trunks, etc. when it's rainy outdoors or when I'm going off and leaving the trailer on the bike for hours. Other than sleeping, I think I probably spend more time in the back than I do the front. I like the durability of the garage area...when set up, I use the back door more than the side door as I don't have to be too concerned about tracking dirt, leaves or pine straw in (on feet or wheels)...and I have a leaf blower if I do.



If not hauling a big bike, I still have adequate room to use the back. If hauling a big one (1,800cc...900+lbs), I position it in the center of the garage to help balance the load which cuts into my lounging space.










Short of throwing an inflatable mattress down for a buddy, I don't ever see it being too cushy in the back. I'm not really a La-Z-Boy type and am happy enough just getting off my feet and in a chair. I'm only 5'4" and 127 lbs., so I'm quite happy in the ZipDee chairs where a bigger fellow might not be.

It's the Thanksgiving season and I have a lot to be thankful for. This week, I tuned in on being thankful ProPride provides such a nice hitch to allow me to enjoy two pucker-free camping trips in one week towing the heaviest of Airstreams made (with cargo). I am also thankful to Chevrolet and their DuraMax/Allison offering which allowed me to average 13.2 mpg on 700+ miles of towing in the past week at a more than respectable pace. I don't worry about the mule (or it's harness), I just load the wagon. I'm thinking my next mod will be an auxiliary fuel tank for my truck.

Z

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by Zackybilly1

M.Hony,

Whether I like it or not, I'm a creature of habit. When I find parks (and slots) I like, I tend to gravitate back to the places I liked when doing a weekend trip. Now with the Pan America, I've been shopping more for pull-thru slots. Not totally necessary as some slots, you still have access to rolling stock in the back but the ones that don't, I can unload a bike before backing in. If I can find a pull-thru, that is my preference. On the trip to Natchez SP, the slot worked out perfect. The pad was level but the drive beyond the pad (where the truck was sitting) was slightly down hill. Once spotted up, the WD bars were relaxed due to the angle...and with the bike, I had no reason to unhook from the truck or touch the hitch. Natchez has quite a few good eating joints (I'm always in quest of bad food...hadn't found any yet but still looking) so I just rode the bike to them and local historic sites. And if that wasn't good enough, it is one of the few slots there where you can hit a satellite signal as I like to keep up with what's flying apart like a $2 suitcase in Washington. Also, as luck would have it, cell service is spotty so most communication is done by texting where the "caller" has to get straight to the point.





Ghetto campground? Maybe some 22" rims with rubber-band profile tires on our trailers with those whirly-bird spinners in the middle, BIG sub-woofer(s), gold-plated "grills" for our trucks. I may need to practice shooting my "nine" sideways a little while before sailing up in there.

Z

Yeah, main! Put some twinkies on dat Errscream crailah thang! Git dem hydraulics an' hit dem switches! Crailah ridin' dubs. Dat's whassup.

[m.hony]

I go back to good campgrounds repeatedly. We stayed on #32 North Abutment 14 times and some other spots at North Abutment a half a dozen other times. We like 21 Yocona Ridge at George Payne Cossar even though it is angled the wrong way and we have to drive around a one way loop backwards. We like 24 Yocona Ridge even though the 50 amp receptacle is upside down-
I fully get the creature of habit thing. If it ain't broke...