Specularius 102 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Take one over sized truck camper, four people, two dogs, confine them together for 9 days and what do you get? A LOT of Grief, a lot of FUN, Some Beautiful sites, some damage, short tempers, and overall a momentous trip. This trip was two years in the planning. It was supposed to take place last summer but just at the start of Summer dear daughter messed up her knee requiring surgery and 6 months of physical therapy. I am glad to report that other than the scars, she is in great health now. I want to stress that I may be stretching the truth on the planning part. There was zero planning other than the fact that we were going to Yellowstone. We loaded up the truck camper (affectionately called the TIN CAN by Shardi) and headed out on the 4th of July. We drove to Childress, Tx that day and spent the night in Wal-Mart parking lot. It even has signs posted for all RV's to park in a certain area of the parking lot. The 5th we made it to Cheyenne, WY and spent the night at the KOA there. By noon on the 6th, We made it to the south entrance to Yellowstone. I had hopes of getting a camp site at one of the first come first serve campgrounds but the sign at the South entrance had all campgrounds posted as FULL. This started the first of many disagreements. I was not concerned but other members of the family were. We wound up in West Yellowstone, MT at the KOA. First night problem solved. That afternoon a rain shower moved through and left us with this beautiful site. That night using the WiFi at the KOA, I made reservations for the next two nights inside the park. That worked to quell the growing anger in the TIN CAN for a couple of days. The next morning we made our way to the park and had the complete fortune to witness a very rare event. We got to see the Morning Geyser and Fountain Geyser erupt at the same time. From here we made our way to Grand Prismatic Pool. Then it was on the a place that was the inspiration for a place dear to many Fiends.Old Faithful Lodge! On our way to our first night of camping INSIDE the park, We encountered one of several Yellowstone Traffic Jams. We sat for close to an hour to find this: Walking down the center line of the highway. They passed right by us. We finally made it to our campsite. The next morning we made our way over to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Shardi was sporting her Fiends gear! Around this time is when the first disaster struck. We made it to our campsite at Canyon Campground and I start setting up the camper. I get the truck all leveled up and got put the side slide out but all I get is a grinding noise. I think the truck is not level so off the blocks I go and try again to get even more level. Still grinding. So I start taking off the access panel to see what is going on with the slide motor. First site is the housing for the gear drive is cracked. Well shoot. So I take out a wrench and start to manually move the slide out. We need a place to sleep for the night and I had it there so all I needed was a little manual work to be able to use it. Well the first pull to move the slide out dislodges the motor and BANG, right on the fender making a dent and scratching the paint. I was very upset at this point and things got very quiet at our campsite for a couple of hours. Here is a couple of pictures of the drive motor and gear housing. So after a nice cold beer and a few hours relaxing around the camp fire that night we started the next day with a new outlook. I manually moved the slide in and we took off for more site seeing. Some family members wanted to head home but I refused. I said we traveled this far not to allow something like this to put an end to the trip. Well the trip almost ended shortly after that anyway.... But fortunately, it didn't. A word of Advice for everyone. When there is no motor on the slide mechanism, there is NO Brake to hold the slide in the closed position. It is not a good feeling to look in the mirror and see the slide sticking out with traffic coming at you. about this time someone points... BEAR!!!! So while everyone else in the family is enjoying watching the BEAR, I worked on the slide to lock it into position. From here we made our way to the north entrance and the Arch. Next we see Mountain Goats. I guess you need help with this one. Try this: They are hard to see!!! From here we made our way back to a campsite for the night. The next morning we headed out of Yellowstone and over to South Dakota. First Stop was Crazy Horse Monument. Here is where our second disaster struck. This one really got my nerves boiling. It was hot and I was hungry. I start making a sandwich in the TIN CAN and the counter extension decided to collapse and dump my sandwich on the floor along with a can of Dr. Pepper that acted like a grenade going off spitting soft drink all over the inside of the truck camper. I was very upset and this upset the rest of the family. After calming down we made the drive over to Mt. Rushmore. We left there and made our way back home via the KOA at Cheyenne and the Wal-Mart at Childress. Total trip was 9 days and 3981 miles. Now to see if I can find the parts to repair the TIN CAN and then decide on weather or not to keep it or sell it. Hope you enjoyed this short but long distance trip report. BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LORNADUCK 261 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 YEA I am the first one in!!!!! Can't wait to read more, knew you had some trouble due to a text from Shardi, but what memories you have made. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Great job! A double rainbow! What does it mean? Sorry about the slide and the dropped sandwich. But, at least you weren't bored. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Wow. You had your fill of issues! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magnoliafig 51 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 He left out ALOT of cuss words. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Judy in Texas 150 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 There is so much to see in Yellowstone and it's also a place you have to be careful. When we were there we saw people taking off on foot across a field so they could see the (elk? buffalo?) up close. There were also people stepping off the board walks onto unstable surfaces in an attempt to get the perfect picture. Good way to fall through and get seriously burned or worse.One of the neatest things we saw was the head of the buffalo herd stepping into the middle of the road and staring down the cars until every last member of his herd crossed the road safely. He then ambled off with the herd. Sorry to hear you had issues with he camper; but, it also sounds like you made lots of memories. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Sounds like the makings of a sequel....RV 2. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magnoliafig 51 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Judy, we only saw a couple idiots. The strongly suggested distance from non-predators (bear) was 25 yrds. By far and large most stood at 75 yrs or more. I was surprised. This was my fifth, Jody's third and Abi's second trip. It was very nice, we enjoyed it greatly but I have discovered the lack of planning pushes my anxiety issues. Camper issues stresses my husband. In hindsight the first trips are always bumpy. I learned what storage we had and how to maximize it after Stone Mountain. Jody has learned to upgrade his parts kit with a few additional items. He had basic tools but we just haven't tricked out this truck camper like our fifth wheel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ftwildernessguy 778 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 I love Yellowstone. It is my dream to make a camping trip out there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magnoliafig 51 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 There is nothing else like it in the entire world. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Beautiful pictures!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Beautiful pictures. So sorry to hear about your problems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nicki aka Rebelstand 272 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Jody,Shawn can feel your camper pain. Our months in the west were plagued with plumbing problems. Shardi,I knew by the tone of Shawn's voice In the morning if the floor was flooded.... The curse words that followed confirmed it. However I see that you were blessed with rainbows too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 I am thinking I would be stressing and cussing if that happened to us. Level headed and even keel does not describe what happens when those kind of issues come up. Sorry about the short trip. Hope the next one is better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
4mickey2 41 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 There is so much to see in Yellowstone and it's also a place you have to be careful. When we were there we saw people taking off on foot across a field so they could see the (elk? buffalo?) up close. There were also people stepping off the board walks onto unstable surfaces in an attempt to get the perfect picture. Good way to fall through and get seriously burned or worse.One of the neatest things we saw was the head of the buffalo herd stepping into the middle of the road and staring down the cars until every last member of his herd crossed the road safely. He then ambled off with the herd.Sorry to hear you had issues with he camper; but, it also sounds like you made lots of memories. if you go there around labor day you will see the elk moving their herds. they also go out into the road and let the others get across. but, what was neat with them is that they go back around the herd to make sure they are all across. it is really neat to see and the bugling is so cool to fall asleep to. love the tr and very sorry about all your troubles. it happens to the best of us. glad you stuck it out and dealt with it as best you could. yellowstone is just one of the many national parks we are able to enjoy and everyone should take the time to visit them. great tr! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 WHOA! Double Rainbow! Double Rainbow! That is an awesome TR! The pictures are gorgeous so it must have been a sight to see in person! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Sorry, but that double rainbow photo made me look at this video again. I haven't watched it in a while. Over 37 million views on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI Crazy! TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 All the way! Whoa! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 What does it mean? http://youtu.be/ZfYBsuBzulE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magnoliafig 51 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Our double rainbow was "all the way too", solid from one point, up through the sky and back down again. I've seen double rainbows before but I had never seen an unbroken rainbow. It was impossible to get in one shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caveat lector 181 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Nice pics and I like the conciseness (not sure that's a word) of your report.I hate traffic. Somehow, I think that having it caused by some large wildlife, would be pretty cool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kampfirekim 260 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 A one installment TR!? Wow! Great job! Sorry about the camper woes but glad you still had a great time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specularius 102 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 YEA I am the first one in!!!!! Can't wait to read more, knew you had some trouble due to a text from Shardi, but what memories you have made.Sorry, this is all to report. Great job! A double rainbow! What does it mean? Sorry about the slide and the dropped sandwich. But, at least you weren't bored. TCDDouble Bow was COOL. Wow. You had your fill of issues!And then some! He left out ALOT of cuss words. Shush!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specularius 102 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Sorry to hear you had issues with he camper; but, it also sounds like you made lots of memories. Thanks and I would leave tomorrow to do it again if I could and I could talk the family into it. Sounds like the makings of a sequel....RV 2. Thankfully there were ZERO Black tank issues!!!!! I love Yellowstone. It is my dream to make a camping trip out there.You have to go!!!!! Just Do It! There is nothing else like it in the entire world.Exactly! Beautiful pictures!!!!! Beautiful pictures. So sorry to hear about your problems.It is too easy to take Beautiful pictures when you are taking them of Mother Natures Pallet! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specularius 102 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Jody,Shawn can feel your camper pain. Our months in the west were plagued with plumbing problems.Shardi,I knew by the tone of Shawn's voice In the morning if the floor was flooded.... The curse words that followed confirmed it.However I see that you were blessed with rainbows too!More Grand and Beautiful in person! I am thinking I would be stressing and cussing if that happened to us. Level headed and even keel does not describe what happens when those kind of issues come up. Sorry about the short trip. Hope the next one is better.It wasn't too short, it was about all we could endure. It is a lot of walking to see the sites at Yellowstone. if you go there around labor day you will see the elk moving their herds. they also go out into the road and let the others get across. but, what was neat with them is that they go back around the herd to make sure they are all across. it is really neat to see and the bugling is so cool to fall asleep to. love the tr and very sorry about all your troubles. it happens to the best of us. glad you stuck it out and dealt with it as best you could. yellowstone is just one of the many national parks we are able to enjoy and everyone should take the time to visit them. great tr!I agree, everyone should be fortunate enough to visit at least once in a lifetime! WHOA! Double Rainbow! Double Rainbow! That is an awesome TR! The pictures are gorgeous so it must have been a sight to see in person!You owe it to yourself and your family to go at least once. If you ever do go though, be prepared to return. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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