After triggering the external water heater and internal pump, I bathe expeditiously – 30 gallons of fresh water goes quick if you dawdle. Though I’ve done little more physical activity today than work a steering wheel and pedals, my wife contends that I need a shower. Following a few rounds of stories and s’mores, we bid our goodnights and head back to the camper. With only the dim glow of Las Vegas to diminish our spectacle, we can trace dozens of constellations and pick out Venus twinkling amidst smaller lights. Night has fallen in earnest now as the stars pop into view one by one. It’s no coincidence we didn’t choose an adventure with narrow, tree-lined trails – I’d rather not mar any portion of this killer wrap. Outside the truck, I tighten each of the four posts and pause to admire the sea-to-mountains graphic adorning the side of the rig. The camper support beams creak in protest, but hold the structure in place. With a calculated line, I let the biting edges of the tires claw up rocks and ease down them. Here, more than ever, I’m wary of a misstep that could overturn the rig. Eventually, though, the dream drive ends and a rock-strewn hill emerges.īack in 4WD Lo, I lock the rear differential and proceed cautiously. The ride is now even more plush and I secretly (because my wife is starting to feel nauseous) wish we could motor on like this forever. The torquey diesel ploughs through the golden sea, drifting in and out of tracks left by predecessors. The dirt powders, then becomes sand as we enter low dunes. The next minute, the audience is gone and I’m picking off bits of plant life from the truck.Īfter lunch, we continue into the desert. For a moment, I’m Evel Knievel pulling off a crazy jump as the bystanders celebrate my success (really, it’s more like a few brief claps and mumbled congratulations). A small crowd has gathered on the other side to see if the big girl can float. Steadily, the Altimeter plods along while churning a modest wake. I switch to 4WD Lo, turn off traction control, and creep into the pond. That’s not to say I can hit autopilot completely – strong winds catch the side of the camper like a sail and would move us beyond our lane if not for attentive counter-steer. Our Rhodesian Ridgeback doesn’t seem to mind his own spacious digs in the second row, either. While streaming music through a Bang & Olufsen sound system, my wife and I indulge in a butt and back massage via heated leather seats. Without the stress of piloting a roller coaster, it’s easier to enjoy the F-350 Platinum’s amenities. Credit for control goes to an Icon Stage 5 Vehicle Dynamics suspension, Hellwig sway bars, and Hellwig air springs in the rear. That’s no small feat, given the rig’s vaulted center of gravity and weight-adding features like a Warn Ascent bumper and winch. Save for extended braking distances from an extra few thousand pounds of payload and mild hum from its 37-inch Maxxis tires, the Altimeter drives as smoothly on pavement as a standard F-350. It takes all of five seconds behind the wheel of the Altimeter to realize this is not some thrown-together effort.
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