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Gettin' Ready; photo of the rig
Topic Started: May 7 2005, 07:35 PM (347 Views)
Lon Frank
Member
We've had a succession of RV's through the past 30 years or so. I started with a little VW in college, worked our way through a pop-up camper, tongue pull, then motorhomes of all classes, finally peaking out with a Foretravel Unihome 36 diesel pusher. The two Foretravels we've had were incredible rigs which spoiled us terribly, but since we use our RV for traveling and seldom stay two nights in one spot, we just didn't need such a big rig, or the expense. I downsized to a wonderful Holiday Rambler 25 footer, but still pulled a toad, and still needed lots of gas.

Then, about two years ago, I started to downsize in earnest, first getting a class B, which simply did not fit my 6'2" frame, then finally I found a little Toyota with a fiberglass Sunrader body. It's a 1988, but had been garaged and very well kept. We took it to Seattle last summer, including the Colorado Rockies and the canyon lands of southern Utah. It has the little 4 cyl engine, which struggled with the steep grades, but all in all, it's simply the most fun rig I've ever had. Absolutely no worries, and as much as 17 MPG to boot! The fiberglass coach is every bit as well made as the high-dollar Foretravel, and I can afford to buy tires if I need to. I can stand up in the shower, and stretch out in the bed, and turn the thing around in less than 10 acres.

Anyway, I don't know where we'll be going this summer, perhaps Big Bend, perhaps the Smokies. I just thought I'd post a photo, in case any of the forum members should happen to see us, and might come over for a chat and coffee. I up-dated the appearance, removing the original stripes and putting on the custom design of waves and palm trees, which should be one-of-a-kind. So, if you see us, come on over, (and bring cake).

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DylansMom
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
Lon, with the palm tree graphic, you should be headin to Mexico! LOL

Is that your reflection in the window??? :floorrollin: :floorrollin:
Greg, Dylan & Jasper too!
2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here

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Lon Frank
Member
Yeah, at first I thought it as a very little (and very handsome) man looking out of the camper, but it's just my reflection. And we live in Texas, so it's just about like being in Mexico, except the tacos cost more.

I've never been to Maine; do you think the little Toyo could make it?
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DylansMom
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
Oh, heck ya! If you can get around the Rockies, I think you can get around just fine in Maine! :floorrollin: :floorrollin:

It is a handsome rig AND reflection! :drool: :drool:
Greg, Dylan & Jasper too!
2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here

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Lon Frank
Member
OK, Jackie, you talked me into it. Just where do you recommend we go in Maine? I would love to take a schooner cruise, and Kit can eat his weight in crawfish, so lobster should be a good substitute. Would I have to learn to talk "down east"? I learned Canadian last year for the trip over to Vancouver Is., so I can probably handle it, but maybe I had better get started, ayah?
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DylansMom
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
If you want to see the ocean part of Maine, I would recommend Bar Harbor or Boothbay Harbor. Both very lovely. If you want the mountain parts, I would recommend Moosehead Lake area or Mount Katahdin, where the Appalachian Trail ends.

Lots of lobstah available just about anywhere!!!! I would recommend buying live lobstah and steaming it yourself.....lot more bang for the buck! :yes:



Greg, Dylan & Jasper too!
2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here

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Lon Frank
Member
Uh oh, I can see that this is not going to be easy! Lobstah for dinnah? Steam it myself - I'm afraid you're overestimating my culinary skills. Does it come in a can, you know, like kippers? I manage cans pretty well. And crackers, uh, crackahs, with hot sauce.

Actually, I have always dreamed of visiting Maine. Once, I took the little VW camper up to New England for a month, and the neatest place I ever went was Nantucket Island. Also, the museum at Mystic Seaport, and just about all of the coastal areas. I think Maine may just be on this summer's menu after all. Thanks for the great links!
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DylansMom
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
Lon, its a piece of cake!!!! er...lobstah!

Just take a large pot, with enough water to boil about 15 minutes without going dry. Add a can of your favorite beer if you like, toss those puppies in and steam them about 15 minutes or so. They will turn bright red when done. Literally, if you can boil water, you can steam a lobstah! :floorrollin:

Melt a bit of buttah and you are good to go!

Just a lot cheaper doing it yourself than paying for it at a restaurant. But either way is good! :floorrollin: :floorrollin:
Greg, Dylan & Jasper too!
2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here

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Little Kopit
newfoundland
Lon,

Lobster is one of the easier ones. You just need a nice tall pot with a good lid.

I've gotten so I like to dip the 'meat' in sour cream rather than butter.


:P
Lynne
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TexasShadow
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Jane
that's a nice paint job on your rv, Lon.
if you haven't been up to ft. davis and the star party at mcdonald observatory, be sure to do that, and take along a bucket of feed corn for all the deer in the state park.
Posted Image "A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking."
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Lon Frank
Member
Hmmm, let's see. Beer (got that!), pot, water, beer, puppies, butter, sour cream, more beer. When do you put in the Tony Chachere's? You do use Tony's don't ya? Why else have all the beer?

Shadow, I love Ft. Davis, but always camp over at Balmorhea Springs. (dang, that water's cold!) I've never been to the star party, I'm afraid. I'm not much for celebrities, but would probably go, if Dolly Parton or Wayne Toups were gonna be there.
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Trailblazer
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Hi Lon! We just got back from Oklahoma. I remember seeing your RV before...when you were asking about colors of the stripes and trees? You had different color schemes, trying to decide which one you liked best. I like the colors just the way they are!

If I saw your RV I would honk and honk and frantically wave, until I got your attention. You'll know us...we have red solar panels on top of our van. I'm so tired I can't think straight, but wanted to say hi, and that I like your RV. Did you know Richard and I do custom painting on RV's? :rolleyes: So, if you see an alligator or pelican or coyote on the side of your RV in your photo...you'll know who did it!
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Poddy Dodger
Member
G'day Lon, Like your RV, I've had about six (lost count !) Toyotas in the last coupla decades and never had any serious problems and believe me we've done a lotta hard miles.
PS to Trailblazer, Will you paint a couple of red kangaroos on the side of my van just like Qantas has ??
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Lon Frank
Member
Dodger, I gotta tell you, I just really like this little RV! It's a little short on headroom, and at 6'2", I hit my head on the air conditioner pretty often, but it just seems, well, carefree. With the big rigs I've had, I never felt qute carefree, even though I never had serious problems with them either. It was just in the back of my mind all the time, that if anything at all should happen, say to the Cat diesel, the trip would be over! I don'l know, this little Toyo just put the fun back in camping for me, and I found that to be more important than a walk-around queen, two TV's, or a shower big enough for three close friends.

I also like the idea of the custom paint. I would never have done that to one of the high-dollar rigs. I think the roos would be a great idea as well! I've been wanting to put some little bird decals on the back, kinda like the way folks used to put the states they've been to. Maybe that will be a good job for Blazer and company! (but no coyotes or alligators for me, down here on the gulf coast - I'm afraid that'd look like a road-kill menu) :)
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Heathertee
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Heather-Central Connecticut
Quote:
 
I've been wanting to put some little bird decals on the back


Lon, you mean one for each bird on your life list?? Wow! If you grouped them by color, in a wave pattern, wouldn't it be spectacular!
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