Maiden voyage for SOB--> WITH PICS

ihsolutions · 04-05-2010, 09:52 PM

Well, we're at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon,OH for our first trip out with the Heartland. So far, so good! It was 80 degrees today and there were people in the water in lake erie. The water is MUCH warmer than you would expect.

There are only about five
campers in the whole place and we have got a premium site. Having a great time with the kids and the new rig. Hope all the rest of you make it out soon!

**JohnB** · 04-05-2010, 10:13 PM

Good luck Jeff

We have camped there 2 times and both where great.

Enjoy and take pics....

John

nasa42a · 04-06-2010, 11:10 AM

Jeff.....

Great news for the new beginning! Hope your weather holds.

Frank

**clueless campers** · 04-06-2010, 01:34 PM

Jeff and family,

Maumee Bay is where we usually go for a quick weekend getaway. We've been on site 149 several times. The deer will bed down in the brush just 10 feet behind you. It is a very nice campground with good size sites.

They were supposed to repave the roads last fall. I hope they didn't just spray tar on them like East Harbor did last spring.

There is a big kite festival the middle of July at the other end of the park (by the lake) that the kids would probably like if you get the chance to return. There are huge kites shaped like animals, Mr. Peanut and other cartoon characters. Some are so big they have to be flown on one inch ropes because kite string would snap. Some people fly stunt kites and at night they put colored lights on the kites and strings.

Hope you were able to make the trip to the zoo. I bet the baby polar bear is adorable.

Glad the weather is good so you can enjoy your first outing. There were high winds, rain (and a tornado warning in the next county) the first time we camped. We have had some really nice weather around here the past week, although it was rather windy when we were at the cottages at Maumee Bay this past Sunday for Easter.

Enjoy your first and all future outings in your new fifth wheel.

ihsolutions · 04-07-2010, 03:11 PM

We just got back from Maumee Bay. What incredible weather we had and a wonderful trip. Yesterday was mid-80's at the zoo. Monday was 80 also. Just bizarre weather for early April. Anyhow, here are some pics:

The entire campground including camping pads has been completely repaved. The areas between the sites has new grass, it would seem:

A typical campsite. Not really any bad ones in the whole place as far as I can tell:

We had one of the cul-de-sac sites (#235) which had a huge pie shaped yard, that you can't really see from the picture. Most of these lots have more space than the ones on the main row:

My kids had a blast playing with this old drinking fountain. They kept spitting out the water, saying it tasted horrible. Must be Lake Erie water!

And of course I can't resist posting a picture of my kids....

delcon88 · 04-13-2010, 04:53 PM

Jeff,
how did that monster tow

Truck do ok

driver do ok

That is a nice looking rig

Honda03842 · 04-13-2010, 05:14 PM

Nice looking rig, better looking kids.

ihsolutions · 04-13-2010, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the compliments (rig and kids!)

Though the pin weight is the same as my Sunline, it definitely sags more on the rear of the truck. Also, when on rough roads it bounces the truck around a lot more. I installed Firestone Ride-rite airbags today. We'll see how that improves it.

I hit the scales with a FULL load of people, firewood, and gear in the trailer.

Here's the truck only:

Here's the whole rig:

Pin weight = 2500 including a fully loaded basement. Puts me about ~500lbs over my GVWR. Taking out the firewood and mounting bikes on the rear, I'll probably by about 200lbs over GVWR going forward. Still under GCVWR, RAWR, FAWR though by quite a bit.

Jeff

**PTHutch** · 04-13-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihsolutions

... Though the pin weight is the same as my Sunline, it definitely sags more on the rear of the truck. ...

Hi Jeff,

I have a friend with a similar truck as your (2006 GMC 2500 HD D/A) and pulls a large Silverback FW. He also experienced some rear end sagging when he got his TT. He added an extra leaf spring in his TV's back end that took care of his sag.

Hope this helps some.
Hutch.

Oh, by the way - thanks for sharing the pictures of your new FW and kids.
The FW and kids are gorgeous.