Fall TearDown the Adirondacks

[Rick Sheerin]

Dave- How about a Jeep Commander? If I'm not mistaken those are available with a 5.7 Liter V8 (and a HEMI to boot).

[campadk]

Dave- How about a Jeep Commander? If I'm not mistaken those are available with a 5.7 Liter V8 (and a HEMI to boot).

Kate did like the Commander. But again too short on wheelbase. Besides they are new... new is not an option!! Big SUV's are cheap used these days. HEMI's have extra power but aren't they the 'old' technology of yesteryear that got reborn? Pretty heavy on gas too I take it. If I'm wrong.. oh well... I'm not up on the whole hemi-sphere world.

At this point the Yukon looks like our best bet. Decent wheelbase, plenty of torque, has the weight and easier it seems to find with a 3.73 axel instead of the usual 3.42. We have our eye out today for a pretty slick Yukon. Its a 2003 though with 119,000Km. Will have to keep it for a good 4 years to make it worth while. 119,000km aint much now is it? LOL

[anonymous2]

Hi Dave & Kate,

119,000 KM that's about 39,000 KM a year. Converting that to miles,that's still twice the average US drivers annual milage. Sounds way high on miles to me. I would shy away from that high a milage in a GM product. Their later years dependability/quality is what is causing them to loose their market share,and closing in on bankruptcy. Their resale value is the pits too.{that's why the good price} Lower gearing as 3.73 would decrease milage too. My best advice,look at something else,new or used with less milage. Just my 2 cents.

pateardropper

[campadk]

Hi Dave & Kate,

119,000 KM that's about 39,000 KM a year. Converting that to miles,that's still twice the average US drivers annual milage. Sounds way high on miles to me. I would shy away from that high a milage in a GM product. Their later years dependability/quality is what is causing them to loose their market share,and closing in on bankruptcy. Their resale value is the pits too.{that's why the good price} Lower gearing as 3.73 would decrease milage too. My best advice,look at something else,new or used with less milage. Just my 2 cents.

pateardropper

Well we just check out this puppy tonight and its purty nice! Better shape than our 2004, little rust and still has a full warranty to 160,000. The price is right too... heck I'm not going to spend another $25K+ to get the same vehicle new. It's pretty much decked out like like a Denali and that $25K will go a long way towards any maintenance, and the bulk of the depreciation has already ocurred. I agree on the GM automotive side, but GMC trucks have a decent reputation. No reason why we can't drive it past 200,000Km either. By 100,000 I think any bugs are worked out .

This is a GREAT time to buy just about any honkin SUV thanks to higher gas prices. Mind you lately I've been jumping with joy passing the pump with all the price drops.

The 3.73 axel is preferred over the 3.42 because of the weight of the trailer to get the towing power/torque especially in the mountains (not an issue with a light weight teardrop LOL), but airstream are heavy in comparison to other towable trailers of the same length. All my towing research has well pointed to either a Chevy or GMC truck product as the best choice for towing larger loads. (ok maybe a Ford would do, but I aint no fan of Ford for some reason).

39K is higher than average true but I gather much of those are highway miles. Much better than less miles but in the city. We put a lot of miles on our Jeep too, but its got to be over 80% highway.

Comes with 2 sets of tires too.

[Joseph]

No reason why we can't drive it past 200,000Km either. By 100,000 I think any bugs are worked out

That's my thought about Ford trucks - only substitute miles for kilometers. With a 140 mile round trip commute, I need something that will stand up to high mileage.

(ok maybe a Ford would do, but I aint no fan of Ford for some reason).

Can't see why. I used to have an '87 Escort. When I gave it to my nephew, it had 313,000 miles on it. Yes, that's three hundred and thirteen thousand! He put another 60,000 on it before he managed to total it in a flood.

Joseph

[Finntec]

Well it looks like I'll be attending the Tear Down solo too. Deb has to work. We saw a Bambi in Jasper. It looked great. If I ever step up to a big camper, that would be it. See you guys soon. -Ray

[Rick Sheerin]

Ray- To bad Deb can't make it this coming weekend Do you know what site you're on, or are you going to grab one when you arrive?

Steve- Diane was thinking about baking some breakfast treats for the pot-luck brunch. Sound good? I'm assuming this will be Sat. A.M., Right?

[Steve Frederick]

Steve- Diane was thinking about baking some breakfast treats for the pot-luck brunch. Sound good? I'm assuming this will be Sat. A.M., Right?

Yup, Sat AM! See you there!
Anyone else up for the pot-luck brunch?

[TomS]

Yup, Sat AM! See you there!
Anyone else up for the pot-luck brunch?

I'll bite (pun intended). I've been wanting to try out this Mountain Man Breakfast recipie.

Is anyone going to paddle? If so, maybe Ray and I can paddle our tandem canoe. If nobody else is going to paddle, I'll leave the canoe at home.

[campadk]

Glad you can make it Ray! Sorry to hear Deb has to work. Hopefully we'll see her again at the TearUp.

Steve how about we bring Champagne and OJ? What else do you NYers like for breakfast?

Aren't waffles and coffee enough? LOL.. guess we aren't big breakfast eaters. Kate says she'll bring something 'extra special' so no worry.

PS. as of today, we no longer own a vehicle. Nothing to get us down to bear country... no tow machine. We are standed here In Ottawa for the next few days in the rain with no way to get about. Scary!

Maybe on Tuesday we can find a new 'beast'. Actually we have our choice of two. Anyways if all works out, we'll be arriving at Nick's in a stylin Blue Yukon. I think we'll be able to fit the tear in the back if we fold down the seats

Bambi won't be in tow till the end of September.

Since this is a shorter trip, we'll be leaving the canoe at home. Besides I think Kate and Diane plan on buying up all the 'Chotsky' they can find while shopping in Old Forge anyways, and that will eat up substantial play time.

When is everyone arriving? If all goes well we'll be heading down early Friday to arrive in late afternoon, but if the weather is nice we'll be staying over night at Fish Creek on Thursday.

So far the forecast says thundershowers and showers next weekend, but they could be wrong

[Finntec]

Rick,
I was going to get a site when I arrive. If the weekend is going to be very rainy like it is this weekend, I may not attend. (This being the first week of school, I should have much work to do.)

Steve,
If I do go, I'll be in for the pot luch breakfast. I'll have to try out some recipes this week. We usuallly have cereal when we camp. Maybe I can bake something like muffins. Then again I could make some venison breakfast sausage.

Tom,
I'll try canoeing if you bring the canoe.

Dave & Kate,
Debby is disappointed she will miss this gathering, but she is looking forward to the Spring Tearup.

I really miss sleeping/camping in the TD. I am having withdrawals. I told Deb, maybe we should go sleep in the TD some night in the yard. She wasnt happy with the idea. Oh well. I guess I just love the outdoors more than she does. Or its a TD builder thing.

[Steve Frederick]

Dave, Champagne/OJ is good!
We're arriving Friday, late afternoon.

Tom, I'm bringin' my kayak, don't know about Phyll though!

[Rick Sheerin]

Diane and I took Friday off, so we will probably be there around lunchtime. As soon as we drop the dogs off at the kennel we will be hitting the road. We will be celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary(Sept 9th) this weekend so we want to get there as fast as we can. We actually had our first date in Old Forge skiing at McCauly Mtn so we will be very close to the "scene of the crime"

[TomS]

My boss is letting me come in and leave early on Friday. So, I'll loadup Thursday night, and leave directly from my job in downtown Worcester at 2 p.m. According to Mapquest I've got a five-hour drove. With stops for supper, gas and pee breaks, I should arrive at Nick's Lake around 8 p.m.

Dave and Kate have a good point. That mountian man breakfast recipie will feed a small army. If I make it we'll have WAY too much food. So, instead, I'll cook up some bacon and breakfast sausages to go with those waffles.

I still want to make something in the DO's. If everyone wants, I'll make supper for the entire group on Saturday. I get to play with my DO's and everyone else gets a break from cooking. Here are some ideas I have.

1. Pineapple Pork. This was a big hit North meets South in August.

2. Chicken Pot Pie. This is a nice one-pot meal that my family loves.

3. Salmon and Asparagus If I make this for the group, I'll use freah salmon steaks instead of filets and I'll collect $5 per person to cover the cost of the fish. I'll buy the fish in Old Forge Saturday afternoon. I'm assuming here that Old Forge has a decent grocery store.

There are many other recipies I could make. These three are tried and true favorites. If someone wants to bring dessert that would be cool! Please let me know what y'all think so I can pick up ingredients this week.

Also, I'll bring the canoe. I'll bring my double bladed padle just in case I have to paddle it solo.

[Rick Sheerin]

Tom- Diane said she would take care of dessert Sat. eve. Awful generous of you to feed us all on Saturday, it is much appreciated! Knowing the town of Old Forge rather well, I would not count on the local grocer to have salmon, (very small meat dept - fresh fish pretty much non existant) so If I were you I would opt for one of your other selections.