Maiden Voyage

[camper rich]

We left Salt Lake City at noon and arrived in Grand Junction, Colo. at 5:30 pm. with no problems. Unfortunately we cannot test any of our water systems due to the freezing weather, but I can tell you we got 12.9 mpg with our new Grandby on our '08 Dodge 2500 SB with 5.7 Hemi engine. The Isotherm 130 kept my beer cold.

We are staying the night at a Day's Inn because my wife doesn't want to sleep in the camper because of the off-gassing caused by it being brand new. She is very sensitive, whereas I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Tomorrow we will drive to Arvada, Colo. where we will pick up our new Ruger Trailer and head back to Salt Lake on Thursday and Friday.

The furnace is great. I'm surprised how little propane it uses and how quiet it is.

I can't wait to do some real camping.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Congrats! That sounds like a great camper, and what sounds like really good mpg!

I'm jealous of that Ruger trailer!

 

[longhorn1]

Congrats. You will enjoy. Take lots of pictures inside and out. jd

Sent from my SM-G900V using Wander The West mobile app

 

[Happyjax]

Congrats! 2nd on the pics. Seems we can never get enough pics!
Happy Holidays

 

[buckland]

Happy Trails to you......

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Adding My Congrats and Happy Holidays too.

 

[CougarCouple]

Congrats CamperRich
I also want to see pictures of the camper when you go camping. Just a couple more weeks for us.
Russ

 

[Rockcod]

Great combo , congratulations! Miles and miles of good times ahead.

 

[Advmoto18]

Please let us know how you like your Ruger trailer!

Thanks for reminding me of Ruger!

I'm now in detailed discussions with Steve via email regarding a custom Ruger trailer build. Plan on picking it up in March or April.

Bill

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Please let us know how you like your Ruger trailer!

I'm in detailed discussions with Steve via email regarding a custom Ruger trailer build. Plan on picking it up in March.

Bill

Both of you gents could add photos, your options, and opinions once you have those Rugers.

 

[Yukon]

Happy Trails. The most important thing is that your beer was cold!

 

[Advmoto18]

Steve, from Ruger, sent me pics of Camper Rich's trailer and rig when they picked up the trailer yesterday! Looks super!

But, I will let Rich post so as not to steal his thunder!

 

[Advmoto18]

I must say, I have communicated with several trailer manufacturers. Yet, communicating with Steve has been a pleasure. Email exchanges read as though his business model is built upon whatever the customer wants, the customer gets. But, as always, the proof is in the pudding...or when I take delivery of the trailer in March/April.

But, so far, I've been very pleasantly surprised/pleased!

 

[camper rich]

We picked up the new Ruger Trailer in Arvada yesterday. Steve really went out of his way to make sure we were happy with it. He met our bid and even threw in a few things I hadn't expected. The build quality is excellent, Steve really wants to make sure things are done right.

Some of the extras I had him do were: a trailing arm suspension; a longer frame to accomodate a tongue box with two Nato gas cans between the tub and the tongue box; two Spectra water cans on the brushguards; a rear swing-away spare tire carrier; as well as adding 12 V electrical to the tongue box, and an 12 V receptical in the tub to run my ARB fridge. It looks pretty impressive with those big 12.50 33 x 15 tires. I guess he has even made them for 35" tires.

We spent the day driving from Arvada, Colo. to Price, Utah where we decided to spend the night in a motel again. The road was getting slushy from about 3" of new snow. The trailer is coated with ice. We'll be home in Salt Lake tomorrow and I'll try to get some photos posted then. I only got 12.3 mpg over the mountains pulling the empty trailer at 60 to 65 mph.

 

[Advmoto18]

We'll be home in Salt Lake tomorrow and I'll try to get some photos posted then.

Steve sent me photos of your rig in his parking lot.

But, I'll let you post the pics of your sweet setup!


"No, can't do that" doesn't seem to be in Steve's vocabulary. It always "yes" or "let me think about how I can do that".

I'll be placing my order next week.

Rich...THANKS for commenting on 12V power to/in the cargo box! I hadn't thought of that option! While I don't have a need for elec power in the box today, who knows about tomorrow!

I'm thinking about drop shipping wheels and tires to Rich. May I ask the load rating of the tires on your trailer? And, why you opted for the 15" wheel over the 16"? Just curious...perhaps I haven't thought of something.

Thanks!

Bill

 

[Wallowa]

We picked up the new Ruger Trailer in Arvada yesterday. Steve really went out of his way to make sure we were happy with it. He met our bid and even threw in a few things I hadn't expected. The build quality is excellent, Steve really wants to make sure things are done right.

Some of the extras I had him do were: a trailing arm suspension; a longer frame to accomodate a tongue box with two Nato gas cans between the tub and the tongue box; two Spectra water cans on the brushguards; a rear swing-away spare tire carrier; as well as adding 12 V electrical to the tongue box, and an 12 V receptical in the tub to run my ARB fridge. It looks pretty impressive with those big 12.50 33 x 15 tires. I guess he has even made them for 35" tires.

We spent the day driving from Arvada, Colo. to Price, Utah where we decided to spend the night in a motel again. The road was getting slushy from about 3" of new snow. The trailer is coated with ice. We'll be home in Salt Lake tomorrow and I'll try to get some photos posted then. I only got 12.3 mpg over the mountains pulling the empty trailer at 60 to 65 mph.

Trailer behind our Hawk has always been on my radar...Ruger Trailer is a quality product at a premium price..

Rich...I will contact Steve but what do you mean by "bid' [He met our bid and even threw in a few things I hadn't expected.]?

My main reason would be to carry my two 17' sea kayaks..which will need a longer tongue on the 6 foot model...also would aim for wheels and tires identical to the Tundra's...just in case they could be an "organ donor" to get the Tundra out of the boonies..

Could you explain the advantage of a "trailing arm" suspension; I am clueless on that.

Thanks,

Phil

 

[Advmoto18]

Could you explain the advantage of a "trailing arm" suspension; I am clueless on that.

Phil

While I can not see Rich's trailer's suspension in the photos Steve sent to me...

A trailing arm suspension (TAS) offers up an independent suspension compared to a solid axle riding on leaf springs. Further, a TAS tends to reduce bounce often associated with solid axle/leaf spring suspensions.

His a picture of a expedition trailer with a trailing arm suspension and air bags.

isi
The independent twin beam trailing arms are clearly visible.

The difference between a trailing v leading arm it the arms relation to the hub.

You will still need coil springs or an air bag system with the L/TAS.

 

[Wallowa]

Phil

While I can not see Rich's trailer's suspension in the photos Steve sent to me...

A trailing arm suspension (TAS) offers up an independent suspension compared to a solid axle riding on leaf springs. Further, a TAS tends to reduce bounce often associated with solid axle/leaf spring suspensions.

His a picture of a expedition trailer with a TAS and air bags.

isi
The independent twin beam trailing arms are clearly visible.

You will still need coil springs or an air bag system with the TAS.

Great photo and explanation; thanks. Do the trailing arms reduce ground clearance vs solid axle/leaf springs?

Phil

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

A little belated but welcome to the group,CamperRich.
Enjoy your new rig as the rest of do ours.
Happy Holidays.
Frank

 

[Advmoto18]

Great photo and explanation; thanks. Do the trailing arms reduce ground clearance vs solid axle/leaf springs?

Phil

Phil..I corrected a error in the sentence above the picture. That is a trailing arm.

Not really. Its a trade off sort of...you still have the trailing arm which can come in contact with obstacles before the wheel has a chance to engage the obstacle. I discussed this with Steve and he felt that given his robust materials, contact is not a big issue as long as you make contact as a very slow speed, which you'd likely be doing in a rock garden anyway.

The clear disadvantage of the solid axle is if you a traveling down a deeply rutted track, the axle might be plowing through the berm between the ruts.

If you are going to speed hundred or thousands of miles pulling your trailer on interstate or paved roads to get to those far away pristine spots (like I do), you might want to consider the TAS as it will provide a softer rider for all you stuff in the trailer.