The MSTR8 IS a Family Vacation Wagon!

[GoofyTimL]

On June 20, we took the MSRT8 to Chicagoland to see and pickup our son, D-I-L and granddaughter, Alivia, for a weekend trip to Minnesota. It was the first long-distance run for the MSRT8 and I was anxious to see how it performed... and whether we could get everyting in it that would be needed.

So I took out the formed foam thing in the spare tire well (squishible shoe bags, and duffles went down there). I took out the tri-fold floor cover and the plastic basin to give me more depth for luggage storage, etc.

I checked, and was pleased to discover car seat anchors in all three rear seat positions. So here's a couple pictures of the initial "load" for 4 adults and a baby...





I'm also pleased to report that with ALL that stuff and ALL of us (gross weight probably 5500 Lbs or more)... we still registered 22 mpg on the highway over the long distance fill-ups! However, finding preimium gas in small towns across central MN is a bit of a nightmare. Had to put in $10 of 89 at one point just to go a little further....

I honestly doubt we could have packed everything away in the trunk of the Heritage Edition 300C! At least the stroller (and possibly more) would have had to stay home...

I will have to admit that the combination of ride stiffness and the pseude SRT8 seat inserts made the comfort of the trip not quite up to par with the similary designed deep buckets of the H.E. with vented, but not psuede inserts. Got tired but after 3-4 hours of riding, whereas that hardly ever happens in the H.E. even upwards of 6-7 hours.

But overall... MSRT8... hauls stuff and hauls as$ well as anything in relative comfort! Priceless!

[Husker]

and to think I had a small hand (very small) in helping you score this awesome machine! I am glad you are still happy with it. I went to Sioux Falls and back today, less then 400 miles. But man does this 300SRT drive SO much better then my R/T mag did

[Northern Rider]

Not your average station wagon!!!!

Tim, I know what you mean about long distance comfort. I much prefer the seats in my maggie R/T to my CSRT8 for long trips.

[BeanBry]

Nothing like a true "Power Wagon". Hope you had a great trip.

[GoofyTimL]

Originally Posted by Husker

and to think I had a small hand (very small) in helping you score this awesome machine! I am glad you are still happy with it. I went to Sioux Falls and back today, less then 400 miles. But man does this 300SRT drive SO much better then my R/T mag did

Yes you did, and I'm still nominating you for LXOM each month! I don't care how long it takes!

Originally Posted by Northern Rider

Not your average station wagon!!!!

Tim, I know what you mean about long distance comfort. I much prefer the seats in my maggie R/T to my CSRT8 for long trips.

I think it's a function of forward/back distance, lower seat tilt up (for me anyway) and back angle (I like to sit more upright than laid back). Just haven't found the right combo yet because that was the first long trip.

Originally Posted by BeanBry

Nothing like a true "Power Wagon". Hope you had a great trip.

It was indeed a great trip. I'll post a pic or two of Alivia in a minute... working on something else right now.

[bruno]

Great pics, GTL! It brought back memories of our only family vacation to Northern Minnesota in a Ford Station Wagon filled with 6 young kids/2 parents and packed to the gills with luggage, coolers, and brown paper bags filled with changes of clothes! You did a far better job packing it all in. Glad you had a wonderful time with family and that your Maggie held up very well!

bruno

[srt8danno]

Great story and pictures GT! That wagon is no ordinary wagon for sure. Glad you had a nice time and everything fit and was comfortable. Nothing worse than long trips and not being comfortable!

[GoofyTimL]

Ok... now for some dear family pictures from the trip.

Here's Alivia meeting her great-great-grandpa Clarence (my mother's father). He's 98 years old (will be 99 in Dec.)...


And here's the whole group of us, except me...


Here's a picture of Candy's niece from SoCal, Elyse, who has started training there in Chicagoland to be a United Stewardess. She will graduate the first week of August if she can stand the rigors of the VERY STRICT training regime. Who would have thought how much stewardi have to know besides pointing out the exits and running the food/drink cart! LOL


I hate to mention it, but we almost stayed here... we called it "Motel 1" because it sure didn't rate "Motel 6" although there was a light on...


This is the new couple for whom we made the trip exiting the chapel where the ceremony was held at Northwestern College in the Twin Cities. Meet Shauna and Jason Crow...


Shauna is the oldest daughter of my closest cousin, Richard (although we know him by the nickname which gets censored here)... Him and his wife, Linda... parents of the bride.


This is another cousin from that family (the second child), Julie and her new husband, Randy (they were married in Oct.)...


Julie's daughter, Lindsay, and her husband, Steve, are expecting in August. So he had to have to "practice" with a relatively new born.




And these are the grandparents of the bride, my aunt and uncle, Ruth and Wayne Johnson... (my father's sister).


We had a surprise at the wedding. My uncle Bob (grandpa Clarence's middle son after my mother), wasn't in town when we saw grandpa. Turns out he'd been invited to the wedding as escort for one of the other Johnson clan relatives! So we had to take a picture...


All in all, we saw 22 relatives over the course of those few days... making the trip... PRICELESS.

[srt8danno]

Wow GT and to think you were able to get all 22 relatives in that wagon! It really does make it a super wagon!

Nothing better than family time….congratulations!

[BeanBry]

It looks like everyone had a great time, nice to see families getting together, definitely something to be proud of.