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Forum
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RE: Axel "Flip" and handling
Hijack!
I can see there being little difference in handling, but has anyone noticed if the trailer is more prone to sway and movement when parked? The stab jacks will have to be extended farther which reduces their stability and occupants moving around will be using a longer lever.
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Volkov
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02/25/10 06:29pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: shower
We just use regular products and putting them in a bucket in the tub is part of the pre-departure routine along with other BR items. We use the same bucket when going to the campground shower. For the folks that use the dispensers they do look very sano, but what do you do when winterizing? Take the unit out of the trailer and store indoors?
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Volkov
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11/04/09 09:29pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: slide out not working
Just read that Lip sheet. Hope the newbie RV techs don't follow it to the letter: it never mentions retightening the bolts:S
Still, a great find and it will let me do it. I'm pretty sure I'll remember to retorque them.
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Volkov
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10/15/09 12:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Solar Panels on RVs?
Depends on what you're looking for. If you like to boondock for prolonged periods and don't like generators, then great. If you want to run the AC all day, then look for another solution unless you are willing to shell out for a very complex system. We almost always stay at government campsites without hook-ups, and can run off our 2 batteries for a week without trouble using a single panel on the roof. Keep in mind, we are naturally stingy from years of running one battery in our vintage Airstream. We started to get low at 10 days this Summer, and are considering a second panel to the one we already have. With a panel front and back on the trailer it is easier to always have one out of shade.
If you aren't running AC or electric appliances, I'd rather schlep a portable Solar panel on a stand than schlep a genny and gasoline. We have two dogs and 4 kids; a portable panel would be in serious danger if always positioned for maximum exposure on the ground in our case. If you plan on using power as if you are at home, plug in or get a generator.
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Volkov
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10/15/09 10:56am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: What do YOU take out for winter storage?
Food, toiletries, anything that has batteries comes out. Basically everything else stays. We have "camper clothes" and the bedding which stays but usually in plastic storage bags.
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Volkov
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10/10/09 12:14am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: POLL....Fiberglass delamination
Yes. Campground and even on a dealer's lot. My wife still preferred the look and we liked some of the upper scale amenities they came with, but in the end other factors made us buy Aluminum. Of course, that gets water penetration and damage too, it's just that it can be less obvious at first.
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Volkov
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10/10/09 12:08am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Hitch ball position
When I increased the ball tilt towards the trailer on my Reese, it became much easier to unhitch. It had actually been rather fiddly when level.
For clarification I added ball tilt to allow more links under tension.
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Volkov
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08/06/09 01:24pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Hard side rear slide sleeping area
Everyone has their own reasons for choices, but I'd be more concerned about the entry/exit of a rear slide bed if I'd had back surgery. There are many lightweight units with living slide that would give you a nice walk around bed and plenty of head-room to get in and out easily in whatever manner keeps you comfortable. A slide bed, even a king is more limited in options depending on your mobility and comfort. They often have bigger BR too which I would consider a plus for someone with a bad back. Something along these lines, but there are many others similar.
http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&unittype=&page=floorviewertt&model=2607SS&choice=rk&nav=rec&name=209&series=7WideTT
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Volkov
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07/23/09 07:25pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Is Forest River Wildwood (Salem) really that bad?
As far as entry and mid line trailers go, the Wildwoods are as good as, if not better than, the others.(don't get an LE or LA though!)
There is another option?!? :h IN the NW anyway, they offer 2 lines: LE or LA that's it.
I know there are lots of Jayco fans on this board, and seems that they are good about honouring their warranties, but I too was disappointed by the fit and finish during two seperate shopping tours 3 years apart. Like the OP, we are in Canada, and I sometimes wonder if the B level product gets sent up here. Every trailer we went in had finish issues or something hanging loose. The booth construction looked second rate with plastic trim which they simply bent around the corners etc. Every expanding booth we saw (an idea we love BTW)was already scraping the top trim of the seat which pulled out. It just felt cheap overall. To make matters worse, Jaycos are relatively more expensive up here compared to other brands so you are paying about the same or more for them than a Keystone Cougar for example.
I can relate to the OP because the Wildwood LA we considered had better fit than the Jaycos. Now, as many will point out, there may be significant quality differences in construction you don't see and many have a great deal of trust in their Jaycos. Many positive opinions from this board was what made us look at Jayco a second time but it turned out the same. We just couldn't make the leap of faith. My opinion was always that if you are sloppy with the things I can see, how sloppy were you with the things you know would be hidden?
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Volkov
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07/22/09 11:53am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Breakaway cable routing
My 2 cents is that I have reset my emergency brake to activate before the chains are fully taut. Activating the trailer brakes can't cause a fishtail, it's exactly what cures it, so that defence is irrelevant. I routinely use just the trailer brakes intermittently on a long gradual downhill, and it doesn't cause any loss of control whatsoever. I want the brakes to activate and let me know that my hitch has failed before seeing my trailer veer into the ditch (which has actually happened to friends of mine) or worse, come to a stop in the oncoming lane. I am not reassured that your trailer will come to a stop in my lane as I drive towards you at 60 mph after it breaks free. If my brake activates before the chains are put to the test, I am keeping others safe. If your hitch fails and you are lucky enough to realize it and apply the brakes, you will simply have a loosely connected vehicle smash into the back of your TV. That collision is much more likely to cause fishtailing or loss of control than applying the trailer brakes ever could. Thinking otherwise is ignoring physics and force vectors.
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Volkov
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07/21/09 09:48pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: New Here & A Few Questions
From your description, I would also recommend that you stay with the van. They do make good tow vehicles. 5'ers are out given you can't get 7 in a PU. Looking forward, MH's rarely offer much space for 7 and the usual rule is that the bigger the unit, the fewer it sleeps! Plus you would probably want the second vehicle anyway given what you've said. I've never seen a van being dolly towed, although I have seen a Hummer.
The towing capacity of the TV will keep you from the big units, but there should be a few options in a smaller size which sleep 7. Things will certainly be tight, but other accessories can help there. One suggestion,get yourselves a screen tent or quick set gazebo. Teach the kids to set this up over the picnic table when you set camp. Now you have a dining room which frees up lots of space in the trailer. It's not like you can seat 7 at a TT dinette anyway.
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Volkov
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07/16/09 01:38pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: towing doubles
If it is illegal where you are doing it, you almost certainly will be denied coverage. If it is legal(and you need to check each state specifically), then you need to contact them for an opinion in writing and ask for reference to a specific clause of your policy if they say this would not be covered. This is not a situation where begging forgiveness is better than asking permission.
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Volkov
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07/16/09 12:02pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Wind Deflectors (animation)
Animation is very cool, but I doubt there would be much impact on sway if you aren't seeing a MPG gain. I would upgrade the sway control for such a long trailer and an SUV.
I have always wondered why there weren't bigger cone or skirts products out there for the top of SUVs or PUs to improve fuel efficiency like the big rigs use.
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Volkov
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07/14/09 12:07pm |
Towing
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RE: My drain tube from water tank is full of mold?
If you have concerns re. water purity, don't brush your teeth with it, use your bottled water. Flushing and washing yourself or your dishes (as long as they are dried properly) is fine with stale water. Even without swallowing, you are exposing yourself to all sorts of bacteria with brushing.
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Volkov
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07/14/09 11:48am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Refridgerator Question
I think it is very useful that many people chime in on a question like this where the OP has been told two opposite things. If only one person posts with an opinion, that doesn't help much unless it's a Mod or someone I have come to trust. If I read a thread where 10 out of 10 agree with option 2 then I'm quite confident that is right. If 6 say option 1 and four option 2 then I have some more researching to do. So please everyone, keep posting even if it is just to agree and lend weight of numbers to the answer. If you are being helpful, don't be bullied into silence or fear that your answer doesn't fit someone's idea of how this board should function.
BTW, cool thing about the fin movement- I didn't know that. We were lucky, there was a sticker on our fridge telling us which way was which.
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Volkov
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07/14/09 11:23am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: First time Family going to Colorado- is my rig sitting ok?
The front end is lifting quite a bit. That will make the front end and the steering light. Add to it the lack of sway control on what looks to be a 1/2 ton, and I'd be nervous for a towing newbie which I am assuming (possibly incorrectly) that you are. I'd rent the bigger truck and swallow the added cost for this trip if I were you. If you want to run the set-up, go find a high speed winding road nearby and see how it feels. If you get the sense the trailer is pushing the truck in corners, go bigger for certain.
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Volkov
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06/27/09 04:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: TT water tank is full of water should i empty for road trip?
Ditto. If I'm boondocking I make sure our tanks are filled at home and put up with the extra tongue weight, which isn't really a bad thing. Otherwise, I keep about 1/4 tank for various needs at all times. Saving 400# will improve mileage by a small amount and that adds up over long term/long distance. We always drink filtered water we keep in a large refillable dispenser. With a rental trailer, I would completely flush the lines before use - and consider using filtered for brushing teeth because you never know how well things are maintained by unseen others.
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Volkov
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06/27/09 04:49pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Type of Truck for six??
As has been said, it's your choice of compromise. If you don't mind getting cosy as the kids get bigger and really need cargo space, the truck will work. I was leaning toward a truck initially but my wife refused for safety reasons. Most don't offer shoulder belts and headrests for all 6 passengers and that's a big deal for her.
We went with a 3/4 ton Suburban and it makes a much better family vehicle when not towing IMHO. On winter trips our luggage or dogs aren't outside and we are able to carry all the gear for 6 in our TT when towing (those rear cargo doors and flip up bunks are very handy to make a bike garage) so we don't need a truck bed. Plus, it's nice to have the space for a friend or grandparent to come along. 3 years ago I would have dismissed that argument, but our boys' best friend (we refer to him as our 4th son because he spends so much time at our house) has already come camping with us this season and our youngest is now complaining that she wants a turn to bring a friend. A crew cab makes a guest impossible for a family of 6.
Passenger van or Excursion are options too, but used Excursions are in demand and not cheap, plus the rear seats don't get headrests. Sure are great tow vehicles though.
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Volkov
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06/16/09 07:36pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Boondocking in a TT
If you are looking for boondocking and full time capacity, toy haulers may be worth a look. You don't have to put ATVs or motorcycles in the garage area, it has many uses - especially if full-timing. Plus these typically come equipped with large tanks and built in generators. They are more expensive than the run of the mill TT, but much less than a MH, plus they tend to be made for a bit more abuse.
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Volkov
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06/16/09 12:05pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Bigger Waste Tanks
Are you planning to buy a new tow vehicle? If not, forget you have to forget the Jayco. I upgraded from the 1500 Suburban to a 2500 with the 8.1L and although we looked at the 324bhs it was pushing the tow limits of our vehicle . Things will be worse for you with 2 extra passengers (we have all the rest covered) and clearly beyond the limits of the k1500 in every score - payload capacity, rear axle max, and towing max.
On a different note, hats off to you for getting 8 in a 2505. We thought we were impressive getting 6 into a 68 Airstream that came with twin beds, a 28 gallon FW tank (iirc) and zero grey tank capacity! We were always hauling new fresh water when dry camping.
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Volkov
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06/15/09 09:04pm |
Travel Trailers
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