RV’s and Truck Detail

This page is dedicated to our current and past RVs.  Here you will find the modifications, repairs, upgrades, and general information about our rigs.

Let’s start with our current setup. The fifth wheel, Deloris is a 2021 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R. Our previous RV Natasha was a 2017 Highland Ridge Open Range Roamer 347RES. We are towing with Boris, a 2016 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4 Long Box.

RV and Truck Specs

Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R “Deloris”

RV Video Tour

Our GD 310GK-R

I finally got around to filming our Solitude 310GK-R. We have been hard at work over the last few years with upgrades to the OEM package. You will find them all in this video.

 

 

 

 

RV Upgrades Deloris

Our Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R has just arrived and we are hard at work making it feel like home. This rig is 4′ shorter than our Open Range Roamer. That does not seem like much but you find out in a hurry that places you stored this and that is just not the same. The modifications are beginning and of course, the breakdowns or glitches are showing up early. Let’s start running them down. 

Solitude 310
Drawer Dividers
Drawer Dividers
Details

Kitchen Drawer Dividers

Simple and cheap way to get those drawers organized.

Defective Leaf Spring band
Details

Leaf Spring Issue

Let the shakedown of the new rig begin. We have some leaf spring issues right out of the box

Solar Install
Details

Power Upgrade

The first order of business once we had decided on the Solitude 310GK-R was a Power Make Over

SoftStart
Details

SoftStart Install

This proved to be a quick and easy install on our ColemanMach ACs.

MorRyde IS
Details

MorRyde Independent Suspension

We were bound and determined to upgrade our suspension on our new rig. Here is the story

Lube Kit
Details

RV Maintenance Schedule

Here is a quick link and short post regarding my Checklist

Four-Part Series About Buying A New Rig

Here I have detailed our complete start to finish buying decisions and moves we made to bring Natasha 2.0 home.

New RV Search

New RV Search

What are we thinking, it’s a seller’s market out there? You can not find strong inventories of RV’s on any dealers lot. If your looking for a particular rig, size, or brand, good luck. Discounting is at an all-time low, rigs are flying off the lots. Throw in a pandemic and you might as well stay home and enjoy your own rig. The did not deter Ginny or me from heading online to see what we could find. I thought I would chronicle our efforts and walk you through our entire experience.

Highland Ridge Open Range “Natasha”

RV Video Tour

Exterior Walk Around

Interior Walk Around

I hope you enjoy this walk through of Natasha our Open Range Roamer 347RES. We are just opening her up for the 2020 season. 

RV Upgrades Natasha

We have made a number of modifications to the RV as issues arise or creature comforts are needed. In the early stages of owning the RV, I was in a rush to buy items that I thought I would use. After taking a breath and seeing how we would be camping and using the rig our purchases and upgrades had a new focus. Below you will find posts for each of these and more. As new ones come up I will continue to post and review.
Details

Vortex Bathroom Fan

Powerful and easy to install. Perfect upgrade for those OEM fans.
Details

Air Conditioning Silencer

Those Dometic’s are loud. These might be expensive but worth the cost.
Details

TST Tire Monitor

We found out the hard way that this is a must have. We do not regret the purchase.
Details

Magna Shades

Our rig did not come with interior sun shades. Magna Shade is the solution.
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RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn

6.7-Liter I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine
The 2016 Ram 3500 is built for big things. It has a 3.73 rear axle ratio that has a GCWR rating of 27,300 lbs and a maximum 5th wheel trailer rating of 18,660 lbs. There is plenty of pulling power to help us up almost any incline including the mountain ranges of the west. We are currently pulling 14,300 lbs of Roamer.
100% Leather Seating - Driver Side PWR 10-way w/Memory & 6 Way Pass Seat
The reason we landed on a fifth wheel was the comfort that this truck offered us for the long haul. The front seats are heated and ventilated and give a tall guy like me the support I needed. The rear seats recline are heated and fold to expose a flat load floor keeping Zoey very comfortable during a long haul.
Titan 55 gallon fuel tank
The tank features an exclusive low fuel trap design. This TITAN™ tank only hangs approximately 2.5“ lower than the bottom of the stock (OEM) tank. This is one of the best purchases we have made to date. We now have the extra range that will give us the confidence to take those back roads we once avoided due to fueling issues.
B&W Companion Model 3600 Trailer Hitch
Designed to fit the Ram OEM hitch platform, this Companion hitch is known for its effortless installation and removal, thanks to a cam-actuated latching mechanism and simple two-piece design. Other features, like 1″ thick cast-locking jaws, provide a strong connection and a smooth ride. Ratings – 25,000 trailer weight, 6,250 tongue weight.
You might ask, “why the dually”? Your pulling under 15,000 lbs and there are plenty of single axle trucks that will handle the load.
We started our trailering adventures with a gooseneck dual horse trailer and Ford F250 Crew Cab. That was plenty of truck for that trailer and the two horses we would cart around. However, we did notice that during high winds and such it was becoming a white knuckle ride. We did not want that with our RV. The RAM 3500 Dually offers the stability we were looking for. We have encountered some very high winds during spring in Texas and New Mexico.  The truck pulled through with flying colors while we noticed single axles had their hands full.

Our Yearly “Fixes” Blog Post

The repairs, fixes and what I call faux pas (newbie mistakes) can be found below. Each year I start a new list that is a living document and becomes the year-end recap.

2017/18 Repairs, Fixes and Faux pas

2017/18 Repairs, Fixes and Faux pas

2017/18 proved to be years that tried our patients regarding breakdowns and repairs. I was building a very good relationship with my service tech at the dealership.

2016 Repairs,Fixes and Faux pas

2016 Repairs,Fixes and Faux pas

It would be easy to show all the great locations and fun times we have had over the last couple of years. I want to be a bit more transparent about RVing.