google.com, pub-1183232341631896, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 We Discover Canada And Beyond: Going Camping With The RV
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19 September 2009

Going Camping With The RV

Campinging with a 5th Wheel.

Last year we rented a small motor home "Itasca Navion". It is a great little class "C" motor home with a slide out. The Navion is built on a Dodge® Sprinter chassis with your choice of a powerful, fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz® turbo-diesel engine or a 3.5L V6 gas Mercedes-Benz engine. A 5-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel ABS disc brakes and independent front suspension work together for exceptional handling and performance.


If you want to look at some pictures from our trip just head over to our Picasa Photo Album.

What is lacks in power it does make up for in comfort. It runs very quiet and as I mentioned handles very well both on gravel roads as well as hard top. It has pretty well everything you can ask for in a small motorhome. AC, entertainment system, generator and more.

There is a bed above the cab that is great for kids, don't think I will try to crawl up there and then fall down in the midle of the night. We had our grand kids with us and it was a great place for them to sleep.

The bathroom is a bit tight but ok (I got big shoulders). The bed in the back is on the small size if you are spoiled with a King size bed.

The "gas milage" or should we call it "diesel milage" was really good at around 15-20 miles to the gallon give or take depending on conditions and road.

Over all, it is a great little unit for 2 people. The base price on this baby is around 90K.

This year we have rented a truck and a fifth wheel trailer.The truck is a 2008 Dodge 3500 4x4 Quad Cab (four door) with a 6.7 liter cummins motor, that has lots of power. The 6.7 liter Cummins diesel with standard exhaust brake capability now has 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque with best-in-class low-end torque; it has a 5/100 limited engine warranty and is the cleanest engine in the Heavy Duty segment. A six-speed automatic with two overdrive gears has better launches and gas mileage, and lets drivers manually choose gears. The trailer is a 24.5 foot Sundance trailer and it follows very nicely behind the truck. Our gas milage so far is around 12 miles per gallon (2 days driving)

From the informationt that I have gathered I understand that The diesel engine can tow 23,000 pounds (gross combined weight). The Cummins is the most powerful diesel engine available in its class. It also has a longer certified engine life than Chevrolet or Ford diesels, with an average major overhaul interval of 350,000 miles and 30-40 percent fewer parts than typical V8 diesels. Starting in 2007, a single 6.7 liter Cummins diesel was available, producing 350 hp.

The truck has no problems what so ever to pull this little trailer. The 6 speed transmission (automatic) is great and the tow brake on the motor is fantastic coming down some of the hills. The truck has some features such as power windows, AC, power driver seat, power sliding rear window. Some features that would have been nice would have been built in GPS (we have our own portable), power driver seat automatic climate control, sunroof.....

I test drove a 2008 Ford Lariat just the other day and I have to say, it was incredible to drive.....

Back to the trailer "Sundance 245 Ultralite" is a nice 24.5 foot trailer and is great for two people. Don't think I would like to be more then two people in it. It has lots of storage, 25,000 BTU furnace, 6 gal DSI Water Heater, Electric slide out, Enclosed underbelly, Black Tank Flush System, Texas size storage doors, XLT Kitchen Package including microwave - Convecion oven, electric front jacks.

It is very easy to set and break up camp, only in matter of minutes and you are set to go on the high way or ready for happy hour.

 Now our trip. We picked up the truck and trailer in Langley at Candan RV. This is our second year renting from them and they are pretty good.

We then drove through Vancouver towards Whistler and then to Pemberton
View Larger Map and then on to Lillooet
View Larger Map where we stayed over night.

It is a great little town with lots of history and the Fraser River goes right along the city limits. We went into the museum, shoped at the Jade shop and picked up a coffee and crossant at the local coffee shop. Lillooet is the starting line of where many places, towns and cities have there name, ie: 100 Mile House, it is 100 miles from Lillooet.

From here we drove towards 100 mile house then on to Lac la Hach
View Larger Map where we are staying at a really nice camp ground called Kookanee Bay Motel and Campgrounds.

More in the next few days if we have internet access..

Hugs and Love,

Anders & Liz

2 comments:

  1. What a great area to travel in, although pulling an unfamiliar 5th wheel through that twisty highway could be a bit nerve wracking. Have a great trip and I look forward to seeing the photos.

    Take care, Len W.

    ReplyDelete
  2. And the adventure continues!!! :)

    ReplyDelete