Heading Home
On the road home it wasn't long before Kimi was asleep again. I sighed with relief. There had been no real scrapes or bruises, no meltdowns. We had hiked a little, drank hot chocolate with marshmallows, and never had to use the portable DVD player. In all, a perfect weekend.
The truck and trailer worked well. I calculated the Yukon's overall gas mileage. It penciled out to 12.3 mpg on average. Because I took an impromptu survey of other SUV owners with trailers, I discovered that my rig had managed to burn about one third less fuel than an old-technology V-8 would have consumed. It was significant when taking into account how well the Yukon did without a trailer. The high-quality fit and finish of the GMC gives us hope for the American truck market.
Same goes for the Feather Ex-Port from Jayco. Asked to house only one adult and one kid, the trailer was a condo on wheels. With its expandable sleeping quarters and nicely equipped interior, it could easily support four campers in near-luxury. The trailer's balance between size and amenities makes it a good candidate for long-term ownership and one that would probably be passed from one generation to the next.
Together, the two vehicles created the kind of low-impact, fuel-efficient rig that everyone may soon be hunting for.
"Hybrid" may be the latest catchword in the automotive industry, but as the technology improves, it will undoubtedly become the bridge between the cars my parents drove and the ones my daughter will drive.
As Kimi slept, the Yukon-Ex-Port rolled smoothly along. I kept rhythm with the song "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and glanced at the passing forest, hoping to see more wildlife.
Or, perhaps, a wave from Dad.
Our Favorite Stops
Samoa Cookhouse
908 Vance Ave., Eureka, CA
(707) 442-1659
www.samoacookhouse.net
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Humboldt County, CA
(707) 946-2409
www.humboldtredwoods.org
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Del Norte County, CA
(707) 465-2146
www.stateparks.com/del_norte_coast_redwoods.html
Trees of Mystery
P.O. Box 96
Klamath, CA 95548
(800) 638-3389
www.treesofmystery.net
Jayco Feather Ex-Port 17C SPECIFICATIONS
Online: www.jayco.com
MSRP: $15,171
Sleeping Capacity: 5-6
Unloaded Vvehicle Weight: 2,850 lb
Hitch Weight: 465 lb
Gross Vehicle Weight: 3,500 lb
Cargo Carrying Capacity: 650 lb
Exterior Travel Length: 17 ft 4 in
Exterior Height w/ opt A/C: 115 in
Interior Headroom: 78 in
Interior Height: 106 in
Freshwater Capacity: 30.5 gal (includes water heater)
Gray Wastewater Capacity: 30.5 gal
Toilet/Black-Water Capacity: 22.5 gal
Likes: Expandability of the sleeping areas. Very nicely appointed galley. Ease of towing.
Dislikes: The molded-in shower seat takes up too much room in an already size-deficient shower. The Dinette table was a bit too flimsy and awkward to get around.
GMC Yukon Hybrid SPECIFICATIONS
MSRP: 2WD $50,945, 4WD $53,755
Engine: Vortec 6.0L V-8 with Active Fuel Management and two-mode hybrid propulsion system; 332 hp, 367 lb-ft
Hybrid: Hybrid Propulsion Electric; 300V battery pack
Braking: Four-wheel antilock, four-wheel disc brakes, VAC power with VSES, rated at 7700 lb GVWR
Safety Features: StabiliTrak with Traction Control, stability control with proactive roll avoidance
Comforts: AM/FM stereo with MP3-compatible CD player, DVD-based navigation, hybrid powerflow display, and rearview camera. Driver Information Center with compass and exterior temperature gauge. Heated leather front bucket seats including six-way power driver and passenger seats. Second-row 60/40 split folding bench with leather appointments (three passengers). Third-row 50/50 split bench (three passengers).
Wheels: 18-inch bright aluminum
Towing Capacity: 6,200 lb
Likes: Fit and finish are first-class. Performance is good, even when lugging the extra weight of the hybrid electronics, there was plenty of power and torque.
Dislikes: The price. General Motors needs to produce more Hybrid Yukons to lower the MSRP. But until gas stays over $5 a gallon, it's probably difficult to justify it.