nrvale0

There are a couple of Transit specs which come in at just a little bit above the 80% safety margin for a wet EII and, by all accounts of the folks with whom I've spoken, they are under-rated for towing but the Transit no-go's for me have been: 1. At full tow weight there's very GCVW little left over for payload even with a cargo and, well, motorcycles + trailer will happen for me. Not often but it will happen. 2. I don't trust a twin-turbo anything for longevity so the EB is out and the 3.2L Powerstroke is a real oddball. I don't think its used by any other domestic Ford. Plus it has all of the usual concerns with "modern" diesels. The Express 35000 makes a lot of sense for me. I have a lot of experience with 5.3L Express (6.0L is same engine with different bore and stroke) and the extended doesn't the huge overhang of the E-350 extended. But I also sort of have a crush on the 7.3L E-series. ;) Maybe at some point I'll pick one up as backed for the 3500. ;) Glad to hear you're happy with your 2500. Very similar platform underneath.

Last week I was a short commuter flight away from picking up a well-customized 7.3L Powerstroke extended passenger E-350. The seller pulled out on me when I mentioned quickly taking it to a shop I know in SoCal (15 minutes away) to have them spend an hour going through the suspension and power train. Guess I dodged a bullet on that one. That spec for an E-350 is really hard to come by and I don't yet trust the Transits (I trust Sprinters even less) so its looking like I'm probably going to pick up a 6.0L gasser Express 3500 extended passenger. I have 3 lined up locally and cash-in-hand so that's looking like that will happen this week/next week. Yes, these are unusual choices for TV. I have unusual list of requirements. It's a long story but it'll make sense if you see me at a rally. ;) As to UT, I was in Moab a few months ago and have a buddy who lives in Park City. So, yes, I'll be spending a fair amount of time in UT. For this first x-country trip its enough to see South Rim and easier parts of UT. It's a long day's drive back to the area from SCZ when the TN fam is not in tow and I'm in full "expedition" mode. As to bikes, I'll be moving, at various times, a number of Yamaha dirt bikes and/or a Tiger 800XC.

Hello, everyone. My name is Nathan. I live near Santa Cruz, CA and my Elite II pick up date is end of April. I'll be doing the inaugural trip from TN back West at the end of May in a wagon train with relatives who also have a travel trailer. We have to make a stop near Austin, TX and then beyond Austin our plan is simply "Roswell, Grand Canyon, and all points Utah." Could be as much as 2 months. Once out West again I'll be full-timing it up and down the coast depending on where the best motorcycling happens to be for the season. This trip will not only be my first with the trailer it will be the first time I've ventured beyond hitchiking, backpacking, and traveling by motorcyle into the world of RVing. So while much of this will be new to me the level of comfort will also be quite new. No more sleeping in the saddle or being stuck outside in the weather. ;) I'm an admitted over-prepare-er as Phil @ Oliver can probably attest to given the number of emails he's had to handle from me in the last few months. ;) Beyond just introducing myself, I also have a question for y'all: What do you wish you had known about RVing and Olivers before you set out for the first time? I've read through the forum archives here (and elsewhere) and one of the things I've built into the plan is to live out of the trailer near the Oliver factory for a bit as a smoketest. Better to get to know the trailer and shake things out while nearby than to uncover a surprise for the first time in, say, Roswell, NM. ;) Looking forward to seeing what advice y'all might have and maybe seeing some folks at one of the rallies. :D