A Weekend Escape to Palo Duro Canyon with the Sierra 3800RK

Nothing tests your truck, your trailer, and your patience quite like hauling three dogs across Texas in the middle of summer. But when the road ends at Palo Duro Canyon, every mile is worth it The drive from Dallas to Canyon, TX took us about six hours in the old 6.0L Ford. The dogs alternated between snoozing on the backseat and sticking their noses out the cracked windows. My girlfriend navigated, while I kept a close eye on EGTs and transmission temps — a ritual anyone towing with a 6.0 Powerstroke knows well. Arriving at the park, we snagged a spacious pull-through site with hookups. Setting up was easy thanks to the Sierra’s auto-leveling system. Once the slides were out, it felt like home again — full kitchen in the back, dogs sprawled on the living room rug, girlfriend whipping up fajitas on the gas stove. The highlight? Hiking the Lighthouse Trail at sunset. The pups trotted along, tails wagging, as the sky turned every shade of orange and red. That night, we sat outside under the awning with a couple cold drinks, listening to coyotes in the distance. Trips like this remind me why we chose the full-time RV life: freedom, family, and the road under our wheels.