Well, here we go!!

Last night we moved the 5th wheel to the new property and slept there for the first time. A month ago we closed on 5 acres. We bought a 5th wheel and did some fixing up on it. Got more fixing to do, but we are moved finally! It's feels darn good to be starting this adventure on land that, Lord willing, we will own outright someday.
Pics attached.
1. My bride "Hip Hip Hurray!!"
2. My mom and the kids giving thanks for their supper.
3. Two oldest bedded down for the night.
4. 1983 K10 squatting with the oversized load.
5. Chaos waiting to be organized.

that poor truck was probably gasping for air.. LOL.

That truck has a 1994 12 valve cummins in it. Much better than the old 350 that bit the dust.

wow,,, now that's an engine find.

Took me a year to finish, but it's definitely worth it. Still was a load for the ole girl.

probably wishing you had methanol injection about halfway through the trip.

Fantastic Todd; color me jealous.

Was wishing for any kind of injection! Fortunately I only had 8-9 miles to go.

Congratulations!

I started (or started over, actually) much the same way with a pickup, travel trailer, and a few acres, only I was single at the time. Spent a weekend with a chainsaw just to get a spot to park it and a road in. 12 years later, one paycheck at a time, I put together a shop and a 2700 s.f., two story house, never borrowed a cent. The only one we're beholden to is the tax man. It's a long, hard road but you seem to have the vision, patience, and dedication to make a fine homestead for your family, and your children will have a place to play and grow that they can call "home".

Cool mod to the truck, too. Packing it all under the hood with an engine-driven fan is a real problem, most use a purpose-made radiator with pusher fans, but that precludes air conditioning or a turbo intercooler, which precludes a 24-valve without extensive mods. I have an '83 C-20 sitting on a '76 K-10 4" lifted chassis with a fuel-injected 350, SM-465, custom divorced NP-203 case, and 6-bolt semi-floating 14-bolt rear end. Those trucks will haul and drag stuff that none of the later-model 1/2-tons will touch. Seen a lot of 2000+ y.m. C and K 1500s with the flimsy sheet metal frames broken in two just above the rear axle, and also broken behind the rear spring mounts from even a tiny bit too much tongue weight.

Sounds like an adventure Todd, your young, now is the time to do it.

Much admire your ambition Todd. If my memory of fifth wheels is holding, Hitchhiker made a better than average fifth wheel.
Don't have my fifth wheel anymore, but the hitch is still mounted in the bed of my early model Cummins 24 valve, Ram pickup.

Looking forward to seeing your progress on your homestead.

Even if the property the 5th wheel is on has no other advantages. Close by hunting fishing hiking spots. Just getting away from the dayly grind for a weekend. Is worth the effort you put in to it.

Kids look thrilled!

Looks like a hell of an adventure.

Area looks great, where is the 5 acres at? Is that WA?

Good times!

Wife and get all our deep communicating done over breakfast,then head in two,180 degree apart directions for the day.Yesterday a.m. we were reliving,"days of plastic".For almost a solid decade you couldn't see the floor in our gorgeous front living room.It was covered with 4 of our own boys and a few "strays" ,blankety blank...gauldang toys.A well graded base of enough Legos to fill a cpl full size trashcans.Then all the stuff that I'd build them....real wood.Then the vehicles.Big wheels,battery motorized monster trucks,etc,etc.....hard to get traction on them Legos when trying to drive up the slide I built them?

But wifey and I wouldn't trade that crap all over for anything! Love those youngins Todd(I know you do),they grow up fast.

"But I only had two cups"...... of,might as well be jet fuel coffee.I'm not finishing one these days.She brought this "cup" home a cpl months ago.

Ian
That's a great way to do it, debt free. We were committed to that at one point, but this property came up, and since it's in a HOA, one of the rules is we can only live in a camper on the property for 2 years. So we have to be in our house by that time. I have the feeling they would grant a grace period, its pretty much all easygoing folks.

To the Chummins mod, I left the stock fan behind and put pusher fans on the intercooler. Using the stock Chevy radiator. Only had it start to warm up once, that was pulling a long grade with the 5th wheel when I brought it home. I agree, these square body's are heavier built. I've pulled orchard tractors and skid steers with it in the past(which is why I had to upgrade the rear springs. Had a couple broken leaves.)

Kevin
We are 1-2 hours from the Cascades. It's a beautiful corner of Gods (sometimes) green earth.

Rick, we are north of Zillah about 3 miles.

Great story about the Legos! Our kids have the large Legos now, love them. I have all my old normal size ones packed away for a year or two more. My wife and I are determined to make this(camper) a fun home for them, and for ourselves. Neat quote she showed me the other day: "A crowded camper is better than an empty castle."

Your just a short drive up the interstate from Glen Fryxell then. He's in Kennewick, WA. I love the Pacific Northwest, for many years it was my intention to retire in SW Oregon but politics and taxes changed all that.

I knew Glen was somewhere in the PNW, but did not know he was so close! I do enjoy his articles.