Ely, Nevada - Ward Mountain Campground

Xerofall · 06-01-2021, 02:53 PM

First, my new Gladiator towed sooooo much better than my old Wrangler. I barely even knew it was back there.

Anyway, Ely Nevada is about a 5-6 hour trip from my home and we caravanned with my parents, stopping for lunch, gas and bathroom breaks.

Not much in Ely, a few casinos, the train, dispensaries, and a brothel if that's your thing, haha. But the campground was amazing. It was like $8 bucks a night, $4 for my folks. It was clean, well laid out, super clean vault toilets. Like the cleanest I've ever seen. I'm not sure if it's because of the gambling money or weed money, but the roads, campgrounds, everything in Nevada is nice and clean and well maintained.

The first few nights were clear, in fact I was even able to see the Starlink satellite string across the sky. The rest of the days were rainy and overcast.

Here are a few pictures.

profdant139 · 06-03-2021, 05:52 PM

Great trip report – – thanks for posting it!

mjpguy · 06-06-2021, 11:16 AM

Yeah, thanks for the trip report. We're located in So. Utah and have thought about heading up to ELY an check things out.

NorthPuffin · 06-06-2021, 01:13 PM

Looks like all dry lots at Ward Mountain?

And with the water shortage there, how do you carry enough water?

Xerofall · 06-08-2021, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorthPuffin

Looks like all dry lots at Ward Mountain?

And with the water shortage there, how do you carry enough water?

They typically have water there via hand pumps, this year they did not.

I have ten 5-gallon containers I use to get water from town. I brought six of them this trip and filled them up at the Silver Sage gas station. Used four of them to refill the water with a cool battery operated transfer pump.

Here's a picture of a few 5-gallon containers I used while boondocking in Moab earlier this year. With the transfer pump, it only takes maybe 20 minutes to fill the 20-gallon trailer tank. One of the easier tasks to do while setting up.

In the future, I may leave totally empty and fill up once I get where I'm going to save weight while towing.

NorthPuffin · 06-08-2021, 02:04 PM

Beautiful spot. Um, it looks as if someone stole your camper, though...

Anyway, 50 gallons of water is about 415 pounds. I've never bothered to compare mileage running empty (as in no gear or equipment to carry) vs. fully loaded so I'm wondering if changing your weight by 8 or 9% makes any difference.

Back in the leaded gas days, we towed the race car on an open trailer with a C20 crew cab with a 4.10 rear. Bare truck got 10 mpg. We got 10 mpg uphill or down. We got 10 mpg at 50 or 70. We got 10 mpg with the tall shell full of tools and spares on the back and the car on the trailer. And we got 10 mpg with the shell and the trailer empty. I think y'all see where I'm going with this. That bare truck probably weighed about 5,100 lbs. I'm guessing we had 500 pounds of people and a ton of gear and tongue weight and that the trailer, car, tires, and stuff was around 5,000 as well (fortunately the statute of limitations has long since run out).

Back to today. The only time I've towed the Funfinder empty was the trip we picked it up and that turned out to be the worst mileage we've gotten with the rig. I had no weight distribution hitch at the time so it was a little bit twitchy and definitely not riding level, but it sucked more gas than any of the narrower or shorter (meaning not as tall) cargo trailers I've pulled. Anyway, that taught me to be far more concerned with aero than pure weight.

I'm interested in any data that contradicts (or confirms) my guesswork

Xerofall · 06-08-2021, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorthPuffin

Beautiful spot. Um, it looks as if someone stole your camper, though...

APD · 06-21-2021, 08:39 AM

Great pics Jeff! We need to get out that way someday.

Eagle · 06-22-2021, 05:40 AM

What is the hitch weight capacity of the hitch that comes on the Gladiator?

Can't pull much with the Jeep Trail Hawk and never have hooked anything to it.

profdant139 · 06-22-2021, 09:22 AM

Eagle, that's the great thing about 139s -- you can even tow them with a bicycle!

Seriously, when our trailer is on level ground and we are hitching up, we don't back the truck up -- we roll the trailer by hand. No kidding.

Xerofall · 06-22-2021, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle

What is the hitch weight capacity of the hitch that comes on the Gladiator?

Can't pull much with the Jeep Trail Hawk and never have hooked anything to it.

Max tongue 600lbs
Max tow 6000lbs

Eagle · 06-22-2021, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profdant139

Eagle, that's the great thing about 139s -- you can even tow them with a bicycle!

Seriously, when our trailer is on level ground and we are hitching up, we don't back the truck up -- we roll the trailer by hand. No kidding.

When went looking for a toy hauler - looked at a 19' unit as I recall. Anyway had a hard time getting the wife to even go inside it as she is extremely claustrophobic........has to mentally prepare herself just to get in an elevator.

Eagle · 06-22-2021, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerofall

Max tongue 600lbs
Max tow 6000lbs

IIRC, read the max tow on the Trail Hawk 4x4 with V-6 engine is 4,500 lbs. Don't recall max tongue weight. Regardless, really don't plan to tow anything with it and have no adapter to fit the small insert on the factory installed hitch.

I'll use the Ram 2500.

Xerofall · 06-22-2021, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profdant139

...the great thing about 139s -- you can even tow them with a bicycle!

Yeah, this last trip I didn't even feel it like I did with the old Wrangler. I stayed behind my parents because my dad was having issues with his truck, but I could tell I was able to go more if I needed.