flgatorgirl
New Smyrna Beach, FL/ Blue Ridge GA
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We set out on the past holiday weekend for our second trip ever in our Jayco Granite Ridge headed to Gulches Off Road Park in Laurens, SC. for some wheeling in our rock crawler buggy. As our first dry camping experience, it went pretty well once I got over the fear at night of (a) carbon monoxide poisoning, (b) the A/C would freeze up and quit working or, (c) the generator would die. Did learn that the RV heats up pretty fast in the day (90 degree temps outside) without the A/C on all of the time and that the gen is not too bad on gas. Great time at Gulches, awesome wheeling and incredible hospitality. I am proud as a newbie that I thought in advance to close the awning at night before a storm as well as when the fireworks were being shot off.
Now for the challenge part. On the way home Sunday, traffic was a little heavy, but not too crazy as long as I can keep hubby from following TOO CLOSE. Somewhere between Brunswick and Kingsland GA the weather started getting pretty intense. We are native Floridians and used to the sideways rain, etc. It generally takes a hurricane for us to give up and pull over. Well, we came over a bridge and the wind was gusting like crazy pushing everyone around (a car on the other side packed it in), and it was like a hurricane. Wind and rain were unbelievable and as soon as we white knuckled it off the bridge, we pulled over along with everyone else that could find a safe spot. Hubby looks in the side mirror and says, "something is wrong with the trailer". At this point, the RV starts leaking at the antenna crank and rear TV cable coming out of the ceiling. Rain and wind is so crazy, the RV is moving and you can barely hear. He puts on rain gear and goes out into this insanity to see that the tire tread (this was NOT a retread) has separated from the tire and wrapped around the axle and has jacked the fender up. As I am inside blotting leaks and praying, he uses the big floor jack and impact wrench for the rockcrawler and changes the tire in what was reported by the news as 60-70mph wind gusts. Not an ideal situation by a long shot, but he got the job done. Eventually, we get on our way thankful that the tread and fender did not end up in someone's windshield, especially in the storm. (We had literally stopped twenty minutes earlier and none of the tires were hot)
The remaining adventure consisted of two tractor trailers changing lanes on top of each other and almost jackknifing about 8 cars ahead as they put a passenger car in the guardrail, while the Jeep Liberty next to us freaked out, lost control and almost smacked us in the side. We finally made it to the last dump station before home to find that the previous users had left little brown presents scattered all about and then our tanks decided not to empty completely. I guess the tanks were as disgusted with the dump station as we were!
Finally made it home in one piece and will not be discouraged, just looking at it as a learning experience!
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campingrandma
South Carolina
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Joined: 08/03/2007
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That just sounds like a typical day of driving in Georgia to me!
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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"Somewhere between Brunswick and Kingsland GA the weather started getting pretty intense."
Oh the weather started getting rough
The tiny rig was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
Gator Girl would be lost, Gator girl would be lost.....
I suspect you know the tune
Sorry, could not resist
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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jdkd123
Northeast
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Joined: 09/15/2004
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wa8yxm wrote:"Somewhere between Brunswick and Kingsland GA the weather started getting pretty intense."
Oh the weather started getting rough
The tiny rig was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
Gator Girl would be lost, Gator girl would be lost.....
I suspect you know the tune
Sorry, could not resist
JDKD123
2005 Coachmen CONCORD
GO SOX!
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jdkd123
Northeast
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Joined: 09/15/2004
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wa8yxm wrote:"Somewhere between Brunswick and Kingsland GA the weather started getting pretty intense."
Oh the weather started getting rough
The tiny rig was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
Gator Girl would be lost, Gator girl would be lost.....
I suspect you know the tune
Sorry, could not resist
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flgatorgirl
New Smyrna Beach, FL/ Blue Ridge GA
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Joined: 12/09/2007
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"Oh the weather started getting rough
The tiny rig was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
Gator Girl would be lost, Gator girl would be lost....."
ROFL, that's great!!
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Thank You 
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Hiker3
Florida
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Joined: 01/21/2007
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flgatorgirl wrote:Now for the challenge part. On the way home Sunday, traffic was a little heavy, but not too crazy as long as I can keep hubby from following TOO CLOSE. Somewhere between Brunswick and Kingsland GA the weather started getting pretty intense.
We must have been a couple of hours ahead of you on 1-95. Missed that storm! Thankfully.
Sorry about all the trouble though! Hope your next trip is easier (on that highway, that is).
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
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rjstractor
Auburn, WA
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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Glad to hear you made it OK. A word of advice, tread separations on the rear of the large Cs are fairly common (I've had two, one on a nearly new tire). The rear axle is easy to overload, and if the tires are underinflated at all they can delaminate the tread and toss it off.
1998 Gulfstream Ultra B/H Ford E450 V10
2005 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 w/ Maxidump insert
6x12 Interstate enclosed trailer
7x16 Bulldog flatbed hauling a 2006 Kioti CK20 TLB
2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
1998 Saturn SL2 toad
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