Buying a camper...got some questions...

[JudyJB]

We would like to travel more yes. Back when we had our old one i didnt fully trust my truck to go more then a couple hours.

Not full hookup needed but i do like having atleast juice so i can run the AC at night lol. I dont really care about sewer or water as i can just dump at a dump station (i got a trucker app that shows truck stops and stuff with rv dump stations) and as far as water we really only use the camper system for showers.

Before the only places we went were state parks. We dont have kids (just dogs) so kid type actvities arent a big deal. Personally i just like to sit outside under the awning and relax. The wife likes to walk around and hike a bit.

Thanks for the responses. You pretty much like what I like. Here are some suggestions in Michigan for places I like and return to:

• Aune Osborne is a city campground in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. It is directly on the St. Mary's River about a mile east of the locks, and is a great place to watch ships coming out of or going into the locks. They are close to shore as the enter or exit the narrower part of the river just east of the campground. It is a basic place with water and electric. Dump station and laundry available. Make your reservation early as it gets full fast! https://www.saultcity.com/parksrec/page/aune-osborn-campground
• I also like Hartwick Pines State Park near Gaylord. It has both full and partial hookup sites that are large and well-spread apart. You can visit the pines while you are there, and even go canoeing on one of the many rivers nearby.
• Wilderness State Park west of Mackinaw City is also very nice, especially since the lower campgrounds have all been redone. Good views of the lake on the lower sites, but make your reservation, like right now, or earlier!!!

When I visit Detroit, I usually stay at Sterling SP near Monroe, but it can be horribly busy with families during the summer and weekends, but I strongly recommend it in spring and fall.

If you like bike riding, in Ohio, I really like Maumee Bay SP. The park is large and along Lake Erie, but unfortunately the campground requires a substantial walk to get to beach. Very nice campsites, some with full hookups, anyway. Sites are large and have greenery separating them. It is a bird watchers paradise in spring and fall.

 

[dzg]

Thanks for the responses. You pretty much like what I like. Here are some suggestions in Michigan for places I like and return to:

• Aune Osborne is a city campground in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. It is directly on the St. Mary's River about a mile east of the locks, and is a great place to watch ships coming out of or going into the locks. They are close to shore as the enter or exit the narrower part of the river just east of the campground. It is a basic place with water and electric. Dump station and laundry available. Make your reservation early as it gets full fast! https://www.saultcity.com/parksrec/page/aune-osborn-campground
• I also like Hartwick Pines State Park near Gaylord. It has both full and partial hookup sites that are large and well-spread apart. You can visit the pines while you are there, and even go canoeing on one of the many rivers nearby.
• Wilderness State Park west of Mackinaw City is also very nice, especially since the lower campgrounds have all been redone. Good views of the lake on the lower sites, but make your reservation, like right now, or earlier!!!

When I visit Detroit, I usually stay at Sterling SP near Monroe, but it can be horribly busy with families during the summer and weekends, but I strongly recommend it in spring and fall.

If you like bike riding, in Ohio, I really like Maumee Bay SP. The park is large and along Lake Erie, but unfortunately the campground requires a substantial walk to get to beach. Very nice campsites, some with full hookups, anyway. Sites are large and have greenery separating them. It is a bird watchers paradise in spring and fall.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Maumee bay is roughly an hour from me. Ive actually been there before years ago. I forgot they had campgrounds.


I looked into harwick pines in the past. Its definantly on the list this time.

The other ones i hadnt heard of but will look into. Thank you

 

[Bearcatrp]

Best to stay away from camping world. Since you have owned a RV before, you should know the drill. Hook up the water and propane to test the water heater. Turn on everything. Open every door/drawer. Turn on the AC. Don’t blame you for not wanting a diesel. Am an ex truck driver. As much as I wanted a diesel, the cost of owning one vs a gas truck was a bit of a difference. Enjoy my gas 6.4 with a 8 speed transmission. Does the job. I may not be as fast as diesel trucks going up a hill but I still get there. Not in any hurry when pulling my 11000 lb fifth wheel. Good luck on your search.

 

[dzg]

Best to stay away from camping world. Since you have owned a RV before, you should know the drill. Hook up the water and propane to test the water heater. Turn on everything. Open every door/drawer. Turn on the AC. Don’t blame you for not wanting a diesel. Am an ex truck driver. As much as I wanted a diesel, the cost of owning one vs a gas truck was a bit of a difference. Enjoy my gas 6.4 with a 8 speed transmission. Does the job. I may not be as fast as diesel trucks going up a hill but I still get there. Not in any hurry when pulling my 11000 lb fifth wheel. Good luck on your search.

Yeah i heard alot of the same rhetoric back when i bought my 97 in 2013 to tow my old camper. "why didnt you get a powerstroke?" Lol.

I understand the appeal for sure. But ive always towed stuff with big gassers. The stoutest truck i ever had (in my opinion anyways) was a 78 F350 dually. Ugly as **** but had a warmed up 400 with a 4 speed and a 4.30 rear. Was a former dump truck i put a flatbed on. Wasnt a freeway truck for sure but for what i mostly did at the time (hauling scrap, cars, tractors, etc) it did amazing for the under 50 mi trips i usually made. Never gave me a lick of issue ever....and god was it fun empty when you dumped the clutch in 2nd, popped off the secondaries and lit all 4 the back tires up. (i was 19 lol)

6mpg got old though.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Yeah i heard alot of the same rhetoric back when i bought my 97 in 2013 to tow my old camper. "why didnt you get a powerstroke?" Lol.

Medium duty diesels have lost a lot of their appeal since they now need high maintenance smog controls. It's the whole reason Ford came out with their 7.3L "Godzilla" gas engine for their medium duty trucks.

A gallon of diesel contains about 20% more energy than a gallon of gasoline so there will always be a fuel economy hit when switching from diesel to gas. But the cost is largely offset by not needing DEF, exhaust filter regens and other maintenance on the diesel engine.

 

[KnightEagle]

I run with a 3500 has a 305 horsepower, 610 lb.-ft. 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine; models with the turbo diesel get a six-speed automatic. And only problem was the alternator. Along with the curse of batteries going flat. My fix was a dash mount solar panel that trickle charges back through the lighter. So I feel its better than power stroke.

 

[dzg]

Medium duty diesels have lost a lot of their appeal since they now need high maintenance smog controls. It's the whole reason Ford came out with their 7.3L "Godzilla" gas engine for their medium duty trucks.

A gallon of diesel contains about 20% more energy than a gallon of gasoline so there will always be a fuel economy hit when switching from diesel to gas. But the cost is largely offset by not needing DEF, exhaust filter regens and other maintenance on the diesel engine.

I wanted a godzilla superduty bad when i bought my 6.2. But the 10sp trans made me nervous and everything that wasnt a beat to **** fleetish truck was to expensive. Lol.


Im pretty sure ill be more then happy with my 6.2. I havent put a load on it yet but i never really had any complaints with anything i did with my old 460 truck. Except the reliabilty of it...seemed everytime i turned around it needed something moderate to major. Which is a big reason i just didnt want to trust it to go far with a big camper with the wife and dogs anymore.


Everyone says the 6.2 will outtow a 460. By the numbers it should...but we shall see.