Trip Recap-Gaffney, South Carolina

The 1st official trip of 2019 took us to Gaffney, SC. Please understand that the Gaffney, SC is not a tourist draw in and of itself.  Our purpose of heading to Gaffney was 1-Head to Camp Freightliner 2-Get regularly scheduled maintenance done on  Ferocious but Fabulous and 3-Visit with friends from Maryland who relocated to the area.

Trip Recap

920- Total Miles Traveled

109 Gallons of Diesel Fuel Purchased

2.98-Average Cost Per Gallon 

The journey from our home to Gaffney, SC took almost 10-hours with stops to fuel up and a yummy lunch at the Ballast Point  Brewery in Daleville, VA. Unfortunately since I was driving I was unable to enjoy any of their tasty beers.

Most of the drive was on major interstates with a few minor detours due to construction. Once you got into the Carolina’s. In most cases you can tell that you have crossed into a new state because of the Welcome To <<X>> State Sign. When traveling from Virginia to North Carolina and into South Carolina you call tell that you have crossed into a new state because the roads go from OK (Virginia)  to BAD (North Carolina)  to TIME FOR A NEW ALIGNMENT (South Carolina)

Accommodations

Our 1st night we spent the night at the Freightliner Custom Chasis Service Center which offered a 50 amp hook up, and the ability to dump your tanks or take on water, if needed. The price was right (free) and the location was perfect (next to the service center)

Our 2nd, 3rd & 4th nights were spent at KOA in Gaffney, SC.  The owner of the KOA is someone who is actively investing in and trying to make his/her park better is AWESOME in my book.The original part of the park features full hook up sights with fire rings and easy in and out access. The owner of this park just built nice and level pull though sites on a concrete pad with a generously sized patio.

The bathrooms were very clean and well maintained!

If I were in the area again I would definitely stay.

Service at the Freightliner Custom Chassis Center (103 Campus Drive Gaffney, SC)

Before we started on our FULL year of adventures I wanted to get the next regularly scheduled service completed so I scheduled my 48-month service at the same time that I was attending Camp Freightliner.

I had very little expectations of the service work with the exception that it was done on time and came in at or under budget.

We checked in the next morning and the service writer went through every line item of what I needed to have completed. After she took my keys she explained that I tech would pull me out of class and go over everything with me at my coach (talk about customer service). When I met the tech he explained EVERYTHING that he was going to do from top to bottom and he explained everything in an easy to understand manner.

If time and schedules permit I would gladly return to the Freightliner Custom Chassis Service Center to have my yearly maintenance completed.

Ferocious but Fabulous is the one farthest away in the air

What Is There To Do In Gaffney

• Walk around downtown. (Don’t expect a lot…but it is a good way to get steps)
• Visit the Peachoid

• Take a Freightliner Factory Tour
• You Tube Video of the FCC RV Tour
• Drive To Spartanburg or Greenville

My biggest piece of advice is to kick back relax and enjoy all that the area has to offer.

Cheers

Tawnya & Eric Go To Camp

On Thursday  February 28th & Friday March 1st Tawnya and I attended Camp Freightliner. 

I have read other blogs/reviews about the class and decided that it would be a good investment in time and money. We purchased Ferocious but Fabulous in August of 2017 and I started looking at the class details and found that it was sold out through the rest of the year. I started looking again in May of 2018 and found that all of the 2018 dates were sold out. On the day that they released the 2019 schedule (mid to late October) I got up at midnight..12:01 am to be exact to register. We were able to get in to one of the 1st classes of 2019 that will be held at their Gaffney, SC facility.

Preface

Freightliner is the chasis manufacturer that 

• Builds the frame
• Purchases and installs an engine from a 3rd party. 
• Purchases and instals the wheels/brakes..from 3rd parties
• Sells the incomplete vehicle to a motorhome manufacturers who then install the home portion of the motor home.

Topics Covered in Camp Freightliner

I won’t go into great detail because I am far from an expert even though I am 1000x more knowledgeable after the class.

• Engine Information-This is SUPER important because it is the foundation of EVERYTHING (maintenance, operation..etc)
• Fuel Filter/Fuel Water Separator 
• The Air System (Compressor, Brakes, Air Bags, Leveling)
• ABS (Anti Lock Break System)
• Suspension
• What is located where on my chassis
• Weight Distribution
• Proper Tire Inflation based upon 4-Corner Weights
• Transmission operation (Now I know what the MODE button is for)
• Proper maintenance and service intervals
• Many more topics. Plus anything and everything that you would ever want to know about the foundation of your motor home that is built on a Freightliner chassis
• All of the information Mike covered was also given to us in a book and a thumb drive, customized to our unit. 

Recommendations 

1-Schedule your yearly service at the Frieghtliner Oasis Service Center. The technicians are all factory trained and the labor rates are cheaper than in Virginia. Also get your 4-corner weights done...this will allow you to know exactly what your tire pressure should be set at.

2-Arrive the night before and stay in their RV parking lot (50amp service at each site, water and sewer available)

3-Know your RV (spec's , engine..etc)

4-Formulate your questions and wait to ask them when Mike Cody (the instructor) is on that topic. It helps to avoid the tangents and side bar conversations

5-Listen, absorb and participate-- You will be provided with  a wealth of knowledge that will make you better RV owners.

If you have any specific questions feel free to respond via the comment box below.

#etctacampingadventures2019
#rvlife