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jefe here. I’m trying a new tack with my trip reports. This one has so many images I’ll keep it on my dropbox as a download. Why? This report may offend some greenie folks so it is only going to a few trusted friends. Here’s the link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o07pi1b311kjb1o/ARBORGEDDON%20a%20trip%20report.pages?dl=0
I hope you like it.
jefe2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.
Dan, I faced this decision about a year ago when we bought a new Northstar Laredo camper. Jeanie no longer wants to drive the 6-speed manual. So I started to look around for another truck with an outomatic. I don’t have enough time left to drive the life out of another diesel so we looked at the new Ford gas 7.3 V-8 with the new auto trans. Seems there is an oiling or oil pump issue and at the time Ford took it off-line.
To your point, I would always get the most heavy duty package available from what ever manufacturer you choose, most of it concerning the drivetrain and engine reliability. From my perspective, factory installed parts have fewer woes than aftermarket parts in terms of reliability.
Remember, you can never have too much truck for a camper.
It’s really a toss up as to which way to go, leaning toward buying the factory best as a start.
Our 505 pound feet TQ, 2nd generation Cummins is marginal when towing or with a heavy camper, and you must use all the gears, but it just keeps on going. Having less power is a plus in my book as it puts less strain on the drivetrain under grueling conditions and things are less likely to break.
Did you read the trip report?
regards, as always, jefe2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.
A couple folks had a hard time loading this report. If you have a slow internet, it may take a while to load. You must download the piece first and open it from your download folder. It’s almost 3 megs. After thinking about the possibility of offending someone, I retract my sensitivity idea since the country is near revolution anyway and there would be no one left to offend.
jefe2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.
IRT “Arborgeddon”. Holy smokes. Jeanie must have one hell of a sense of humor! And TBH, I didn’t see anything that could be considered ‘offensive’, even for greenies. Unless you’re talking about the pounding the little tents took from the wind? We’ve seen that more than once, ourselves. (The worst was at Providence Mountains State Park, in the campground. Got so bad every last tent camper was gone well before morning.)
Enjoyed reading your trip report very much! Thanks for posting – we’ll look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
Bryan & Susan
PS: Downloaded to my desktop and opened in the LibreOffice Text Document app. No problems at all.
Yep, reading all that I can and appreciate your advice. I’m not new to camping or going off road. Just new to truck campers. One more year to retirement and then I’m gone so looking to outfit in the coming months. This fake pandemic is slowing my search a bit but will hopefully will be up and running soon.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tkp708800cdi04j/ARBORGEDDON%20a%20trip%20report.pdf?dl=0
Is a newer dropbox link in pdf, not in Mac’s ‘Pages’ format. This should help you that have a PC.
Sorry to put you all through the format trouble.
jefe2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.
Jeff I love to read your trip report but it won’t download, it not a matter of computer power or internet speed (FOIS) on my part.
Jeff — greatly enjoyed the story. Your “challenges” were almost identical to my recent experiences on the RimRocker Trail in Utah. Lots of scratches (and one large dent) from branches that were unavoidable in a full size truck/camper combo, and a major tire sidewall failure. Changing that tire on a 5% grade on a road covered with rocks wasn’t fun but it’s the price one pays for doing what we do.
Hope to see you again at the Rally in January.
Cheers
Kevin
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