Conch Fritter - On the Road, 2,800+ miles so far!

[daveesl77]

Edit/Update - it has now been 2,000+ miles and we are heading back to Florida. Conch Fritter has been a dream! I'll post photos this weekend.

We left Florida Saturday morning about 0630 heading north to GA for the first night. Luckily about 250 miles into the trip I stopped for gas. I'd been stopping every 75-100 miles to check the wheels and stuff, but on this last stop I noticed the curb side wheel covered in black stuff. I then saw all of the wheel studs were loose. Jacked it up, pulled the hub because I could not remove the lug nuts. Luck still shining, drove the truck to the next exit while two nice young guys selling watermelons agreed to watch the trailer. Found both a tire shop and Tractor Supply. The tire shop spent a good 20 minutes grinding off the wobbly studs and releasing the tire from the hub. Looks like the HF hub had failed and was disintegrating. Tractor Supply had an exact match to replace. Saved the old hub, remains of the studs and the wheel to bring back to HF when I return. Got it all put back together and took off again.

Spent 2 nights on Lake Hartwell (GA/SC) line and loved it. Next stop was Sherando Lake in VA for an over night. Got to Long Island on Tuesday afternoon. No other problems.

1,380 miles so far. 3 nights camping with electric/water hookups - cost was $41 total. Gas mileage on the F150, running at a fairly constant 65 (which is actually about 10 mph faster than I normally go) and all on interstates (which I hate) was almost 16 mpg. My normal is 17-18, so this isn't shabby. Now at step daughter's place and enjoying the wonderful, cool weather! Grandson graduates on Saturday then we will probably start back about mid week.

Conch Fritter is doing very, very well. Inverter/Fridge has been amazing! Only problem was finding the best spot to keep it from getting too cold! Wiley Windows and door seals are perfect. Hit some serious storms on the road and not a drop of water intrusion. I'll try to get the photos we took so far.

Oh, and yes it is just about impossible to get out of a campground. Spent an hour at Sherando doing tours and discussions on the camper. Lots of folks looking and talking at gas stations and many, many waves on the road. Looks like the kids really like it! The swingout galley works fantastic! AC had to be cycled way, way down when stopped.

dave, Regina, Max Beagle and Conch Fritter!

[bc toys]

good that you are having a good time and enjoy your time with the family and have a safe trip back home

[noseoil]

Dave, glad you caught the hub & bearing problem in time, good job watching things on the road. Did you repack the HF bearings when you put it together initially? I've seen where the stuff they pack them in is just used for rust prevention not lube, so just curious about that one.

Please post some pictures of something green & cool. The heat here is oppressive now! tim

[daveesl77]

On the wheel bearing/hub issue. It wasn't the bearings. I always repack mine and on inspection the bearings are still fine. In this instance it was the studs began to fail and looks like the hub material (the cast iron) was a bad cast. I kept all the parts and will be bringing back to HF. The outer area of the hub had begun to disintegrate, which created a wheel wobble, which then put more stress on the studs, which caused more disintegration. It was really weird and I am so glad I caught it. Never had anything like that happen before. HF trailers just lost a bunch of happy points for me and I'll replace both hubs when I return and maybe the entire axle.

dave

[Olddog1]

I've enjoyed following your build and noticed that you were going to be heading out soon. We just returned from a quick run from Florida to northern Virginia to pick up the granddaughter. We left out on the 22nd and returned on the 26th. We were probably just miles apart when you were in Virginia. While driving the interstates I thought that wouldn't it be neat to see the Conch Fritter on the road. Safe travels.

[lrrowe]

We left Florida Saturday morning about 0630 heading north to GA for the first night. Luckily about 250 miles into the trip I stopped for gas. I'd been stopping every 75-100 miles to check the wheels and stuff, but on this last stop I noticed the curb side wheel covered in black stuff. I then saw all of the wheel studs were loose. Jacked it up, pulled the hub because I could not remove the lug nuts. Luck still shining, drove the truck to the next exit while two nice young guys selling watermelons agreed to watch the trailer. Found both a tire shop and Tractor Supply. The tire shop spent a good 20 minutes grinding off the wobbly studs and releasing the tire from the hub. Looks like the HF hub had failed and was disintegrating. Tractor Supply had an exact match to replace. Saved the old hub, remains of the studs and the wheel to bring back to HF when I return. Got it all put back together and took off again.

Spent 2 nights on Lake Hartwell (GA/SC) line and loved it. Next stop was Sherando Lake in VA for an over night. Got to Long Island on Tuesday afternoon. No other problems.

1,380 miles so far. 3 nights camping with electric/water hookups - cost was $41 total. Gas mileage on the F150, running at a fairly constant 65 (which is actually about 10 mph faster than I normally go) and all on interstates (which I hate) was almost 16 mpg. My normal is 17-18, so this isn't shabby. Now at step daughter's place and enjoying the wonderful, cool weather! Grandson graduates on Saturday then we will probably start back about mid week.

Conch Fritter is doing very, very well. Inverter/Fridge has been amazing! Only problem was finding the best spot to keep it from getting too cold! Wiley Windows and door seals are perfect. Hit some serious storms on the road and not a drop of water intrusion. I'll try to get the photos we took so far.

Oh, and yes it is just about impossible to get out of a campground. Spent an hour at Sherando doing tours and discussions on the camper. Lots of folks looking and talking at gas stations and many, many waves on the road. Looks like the kids really like it! The swingout galley works fantastic! AC had to be cycled way, way down when stopped.

dave, Regina, Max Beagle and Conch Fritter!

Dave,
Before I retired and moved 2 hrs south of Sherando, I lived within 5 miles of where you camped. Where did you stay, at the private campground or the State run one? I do miss that countryside.

[daveesl77]

We stayed at the National Forest one. I try to never stay at private ones and far prefer Federal sites. Like today, we are at Lake Hartwell, Georgia. Corps of Engineers. Waterfront, electric, water, huge sites. I have the disability pass, so my cost is $12 per night for everything, but normal price would be $24

Oh, and we've now done 2,000+ miles and other than the initial hub problem, Conch Fritter is simply wonderful!!! For some reason my laptop isn't wanting to read my camera card, so I'll have to wait until this weekend to post pics.

I cannot keep track of the sheer number of people that wave at us, take photos on the road or just want to talk at gas stations.

dave

[Vedette]

So cool to hear you are enjoying your first trip out with your teardrop!
Hope you can make it up to the PNW some day??
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[daveesl77]

Well, 14 days and 2,800 miles later, Conch Fritter made it home just fine. Last 2 days in Georgia were heavy rain and wind, not a drop or leak!

So, by itself my 2004 F150 would get between 17-18 mpg at 60-65mph. During this trip, fully loaded, at 65-70 we got just under 16mpg. 60-65 mileage went to about 16 and today on a 450 mile run, at 55mph on side roads, we went up to 16.5 mpg. Very happy with the results.

It tows like a dream. It is really comfortable. There are a number of things I will do to make it work even better, but this seems to be a real winnner!

Photos to come

dave