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Monday, September 1, 2014

Old to New

We took the "old rig" to Dixie RV in Hammond LA on Thursday to trade in for our new one.  They have RV pads on their lot, for new owner orientation and to swap out the contents.  




The new one is a 2015 Allegro Open Road, by Tiffin.  It is model 32ca, 34 feet, on a 22,000 lb. Ford F-53 chassis. 12"10"" high.  

The Ford V-10 gas engine is the same one as on the Isata, but there have been improvements in transmission, gear ratios, etc. in 7 years.

We stayed Friday night in it at the dealer, and Saturday night 30 miles down I-10 at a KOA in Baton Rouge.  I wanted to get some highway time and have down time fully checking things out.  All worked.  Nothing needed to be adjusted.  Amazing.  We then left Sunday morning and drove the 300 miles home to Houston.  Very heavy rain Saturday and Sunday so we have determined nothing leaks.  

Pilot and CoPilot did just fine on the interstate.  It was a good test for breaking us all in.  I thought it rode and handled as well as the Isata, but is quite different to maneuver of course. 




It requires some careful planning for gas stops to be able to get in and out of the pumps.  We towed the Honda both ways.. no difference there.   It has an 80 gal. gas tank so has a range of 500-600 miles... I don't know about gas mileage yet, but will be happy with 7 or above towing. I am expecting a worst case of 6.5.   The Isata got 8.5 with the Honda and 9.5-10 without. 
 

There are more pictures HERE  if you want a brief slide show contrasting "the Coffee Bean" with "the Coffee Plantation House."   

It sure felt like a house for the first several hours of drive time... and, as I was backing it into the driveway for the first time at home.)  It has a rear view, and left and right side cameras which help a lot.. for lane changes as well as backing into our driveway.

Pictures of the inside on the next blog post.

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