Adding my name (offically). Chris C. is here

Why can't I just introduce myself? No, I have to give you my life story. Well, this forum is more like a 'club' or dare I say a 'family'?

Although I don't say much, I have been reading the various forums several years. Can I call folks like (not trying to name everyone here) oldelmer1, pickle, maxtor, scottz, shooter the Giants?

The time you folks spend here helping members, or just shooting the breeze, is amazing to me. Jeez, it took me an hour just to write this post.

O.K. readers, if you are in a hurry, you can stop reading here, the rest is pretty much my drivel. :roll:

"Let's be campers! Let's be campers!"

That's what my wife said out of the blue in the summer of 2004. "OK, What does that really mean?" I asked. She replied, "We'll buy a popup camper. We could pull it with my brand new 4 Runner."

When the fall RV show in Timonium, MD arrived, we spent the entire 1st weekend looking at travel trailers (not popups). "You see, these are much roomier", said my wife. Debbie said her 4Runner manual says towing capacity 7500 lbs.(asterisk) So, we were eying 25ft + trailers.

Uh, no. The asterisk was for the V8 engine. Our V6 was rated at only 5000 lbs. (Undo our brain images everything we liked.) So we spent the next weekend at the show looking at smaller trailers and led us to the hybrids. The best match for our 2 daughters, 2 labs, and us, without having to buy another tow vehicle. (I drive a Town Car, I wasn't going to trade it in!)

I still wasn't comfortable, so we did not buy anything at the show. We spent the fall & winter reading rv.net, visiting mfg. websites, agonizing over floor plans etc.

The next show was in Feb 2005 and I was ready to buy. We chose the ROO 233 hybrid and that was it. Took delivery in April, our first trip to Hershey, PA was in June and we were "campers".

My wife was thrilled, and I admit, after the first season (6 trips), I was pretty hooked too.

After 3 seasons, (although still hooked), I decided 2 hour setups, putting out 3 tent ends, often in the dark was enough for my fading eyesight & aging muscles.

A fifth wheel? Why not? I've been looking (on paper) at the floorplans. My only limit besides money, was a 35ft. driveway. We visited the Dulles, VA show & the Timonium show and walked in most of the shorter 5'ers from Keystone (Copper Canyon, Cougar, & Montana) Pilgrim, Heartland, Jayco, Forest River, et al.

I believed the best choice for the family was the Wildcat 32QBBS. (without the 2nd bath option, without the power awning). But there was a new design parked alongside called the 30LOFT. The kids went kinda crazy on this one.

I tried to explain that the QBBS actually has more sleeping room for friends, and you don't have to climb down a ladder if you have to use the bathroom at night. And for the grownups, our bedroom is roomier with the slide in the back. My daughter countered that the LOFT had more PLAY area in the rear.

My wife then reminded me, "Chris, the LOFT does have the single room bathroom that you prefer."

O.K. the LOFT it is! Ordered it minus power awning, dealer installed traditional A&E of same length. Found a used Chevy with only 50k miles on it.

Took delivery in early April, drove home, took two hours to get it in my narrow driveway. Later I had found that I picked up a nail in the tire . . . wait, this is not a problem thread . . . skip it.

Last weekend we took our first trip in the 'cat to Frontiertown in O.C. Both Debbie & my faces hurt from the wide grins we had while setting up. All the extra room in the living area is heaven to us. And for me, towing was a joy. Averaged 14 mpg (computer) on the flat trip.

Anyway, I'll probably stay here more often than the old forum (I did read your post from yesterday, Tom - & thanks). Can I be in the 'club'? I'll donate my limited knowledge more often, but the Giants will always rule.

Happy Camping,

Chris

Thank you Chris & . Glad to have you on board. Can't wait to hear from your camping adventures especially if they are anything like your write up above - great story by the way.

Welcome aboard chris.,

We had been tent camping for years/ hiking etc.... Then my mom bought a motorhome. We used that a lot also. Me and my little girl went to an RV dealer to buy a part for my moms Motorhome and while we were there we just happened to walk into a Used Wildcat 32Qbbs that was sitting on their lot. After we picked up our jaws off the floor I started the hunt for our very own Wildcat. Got one and the rest is history...........

Hi Chris,
And to THIS forum also

You can call any of us anything you like. Most have our first names listed in our signatures. You'll find this is a great bunch on guys and girls and we all love to hear and share stories. AND WE LOVE PICTURES TOO!!!!

So post away. And if you need more info about your super slide leak, just ask.

ChrisAC wrote: (I drive a Town Car, I wasn't going to trade it in!) Chris

The Lincoln probably has more towing capacity than the 4Runner.

Welcome to the forum and glad you took the time to introduce yourself. We look forward to all of your suggestions and adventures.

Did the Chevy replace the 4Runner?

scottz wrote:
Did the Chevy replace the 4Runner?

No, the '04 4Runner, still with only 45k on it, is also my wife's daily driver. She's a nurse at University Hosp. in downtown Baltimore. Only +- 15 mi. round trip for her.

The Chevy is for two things. Towing, and making loud noise going down the road. Tim says that this new Binford diesel engine provides absolutely "More Power"

The Town Car, (my daily driver to DC - 90 miles round trip), is not going to last much longer. I'm up to 186k but it's paid for. When it dies, I won't afford Wildcat pmt., Chevy truck pmt., and another fine vehicle. This is my third T.C., but my choice was simple. Buy a Wildcat & a diesel truck.

I'll have to make another decision down the road. Like, a used Hyundai maybe? That's ok by me.

oldelmer1 wrote:Hi Chris,
So post away. And if you need more info about your super slide leak, just ask.

Thanks, Tom, I will. I closed the slides for testing tonight & tomorrow for rain expected. Just want to rule out the slides in / standing still scenario since I didn't get a chance to work on it today.

PICTURES, yes working on it. I have to take a worthy shot! (Or perhaps I have to travel to a worthy place)

Phillip's picture above looks great!

You need to look through Scottz pic's in his photo gallery,

If you haven't found that yet, look up top just under the home page pic and click on gallery. Scott has one with a huge water fall behind it that is the all time best shot in my opion of a wildcat at home............

Chris,
You have a flair for the narrative! Keep up writing.
Our story is similar: we got the bug at the Timonium fair too.