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Forum
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RE: So we picked up our TT tonight.
I had to take my TT back to the dealer to exchange my wdh bars. During the course of working on my trailer, I struck up a conversation with the Service Mgr. He told me that the owner had actually received complaints as to the lenght of the PDI. He said that some people were in a hurry to leqve with the RV, and others had previous RV ownership and did not want or welcome a lenghty disortation on the basic systems. Maybe the dealerships should inquire with the buyers as to how much experience they have with RVs and how much help or assistance they may need. If they need extensive explanation and assistance, then schedule the PDI for a mutual time when someone can work with the buyers till they finally grasp the operation of the RV systems. Some folks will require much more explanation than others. I certainly would not want my PDI to last a minute over a half hour. Others will need the best part of a day till they grasp all the systems.
I owned three cabover campers prior to my first TT. My PDI walk through lasted all of ten minutes and I was more than happy. I don't expect a dealership to teach me about RVing, just the basics of the unit and how things work. I would not have been happy to be subject to a lengthly discord on basic RV stuff. However, for the OP, I suspect longer would have been better and maybe letting the dealership know that more time will be needed and that picking up the trailer earlier in the day might have been better. Unfortunatly, there are two sides to most story's and we have the one side of a disappointed customer. I suspect the manager of the dealership could ask the customers to bring the unit back and then start the whole process over and take all the time necessary to accommodate the customer. That is what I would do if the manager. Customer service is everything these days.
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jmtandem
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06/19/13 09:06am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: So we picked up our TT tonight.
Nice way to start out on a supposedly fun RV owning experience, huh? I would let the manager of the dealership know how you feel. Somewhere in the transaction you paid for that walk through and you should get what you expect and paid for.
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jmtandem
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06/19/13 08:16am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Harley on a 5er
If you are sold on a fifth wheel this option won't work; but, if all options are on the table you can get a nice TT and carry the Harley in the back of a pickup using a Rampage Lift or similar easy loading mechanism. I would rather have a $30K motorcycle in the bed of my truck where it is realtively safe or inside a trailer/hauler.
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jmtandem
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06/19/13 08:10am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Trip to California wine country
The wine country and the Pacific ocean north of San Francisco is very close to each other. Also, travel north a few miles and see the giant redwoods. If you are traveling from Florida the very few extra miles to see the ocean and the redwoods will be well worth the extra time. On your way stop for a day or two at Lake Tahoe.
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jmtandem
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06/19/13 08:05am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Trip Report: a man, his dog, fly rod and TC in the Sierras
Been to Lake Alpine many times and my in-laws used to camp at Beaver Creek about every time they had a chance; several times a year. We were with them often. I think that is a great area and good memories. Beaver Creek changed quite a bit where we camped after the New Years flood of '97. Your trip report has inspired me to take a day drive and check it out again. We used to camp at the Lousiana Pacific camp at Beaver Creek that was almost eliminated by the flood. Went back after the flood and almost did not recognize it.
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jmtandem
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06/18/13 08:32am |
Truck Campers
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RE: looking for a new one
You're correct. From the looks of it, the last model was made in 2008.
I have always liked Arctic Fox products. Not saying you are wrong but I think the 2011 brochure still shows the 26Z as a current model trailer as I have that brochure laying around somewhere. So, my guess is they were made at least through 2011. I have been debating purchasing a 30U for some time. I really like it except the weight.
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jmtandem
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06/17/13 09:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: looking for a new one
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I don't remember seeing any bunk model in the Arctic Fox line.
The Arctic Fox model 26Z is or at least was a bunk model. I am not sure if that model carried forward into 2013 but it certainly was made for several years and is a bunk model.
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jmtandem
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06/17/13 09:44pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: looking for a new one
What are some of the top brands out there now?
Airstream and Northwood Arctic Fox
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jmtandem
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06/17/13 09:21pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: TC vs Pull Behind...????
I've had my pop-up truck camper a few months now. Only had the opportunity to use it three times.
So far, I'm not sure I made the right decision....I'm thinking I might be better off with a Toy Hauler or simple travel trailer
Pros:
Cheap...I paid $1500!(Palomino Bronco 1200)
No registration.
Truck drives like it isn't there.
I can tow a boat or a Motorcycle trailer
Cons:
I hate taking it on and off the truck. The truck is high and it freaks me out. My last TC, 1985, was on a much lower 2WD truck
Once on site, can't go anywhere unless you remove it, or take it with you. Everyone needs to go in the later.
Small
A real pain lowering and tucking in the top.
Travel Trailer / Toy Hauler
Pros:
Lots of room compared to TC
A Toy Hauler would allow taking a motorcycle and lots of room to work on stuff (Hunting, Competitive Target Shooting, Fishing)
Easy to pack up and take off
No unloading!
Cons:
Haven't found a reasonable TH or TT under $8K (used)
Need to register it.
Can't get into tight places (Hunting) like a Pop-Up TC
Has anyone else faced this delema........??
I have had both, three cabovers and one tow behind. This is how I look at this issue.
Off road travel the nod definately goes to the truck camper. Mostly on pavement travel the tow behind is sure nice for size and comfort in camp.
Travel where you keep moving each day or so the truck camper is better; travel where you go to the lake for a week the trailer is much more comfortable and makes a better base camp especially if you want to use the truck to run errands or travel to other places during the day.
Registration is an issue for tow behinds; so is the need for a stout truck for most truck campers. Towing a trailer including most light toyhaulers is usually pretty doable for most trucks, SUVs, and vans. A truck is not necessary for most trailers.
It all depends on what you like to do and how much effort it is to load and unload the camper. Most trailers can be hitched or unhitched in a minute or two.
I would think that for off road use the pop up you have will work just fine; for most on road cabover truck camping get a hard side with slides and all the amenities like A/C generator, microwave, etc and you will be more comfortable. If the issue is whether you are going to tow a trailer behind the truck and camper or use a toyhauler, then it becomes more of a toss up between a smallish toy hauler or a big truck camper and a 16-18 foot enclosed trailer.
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jmtandem
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06/17/13 05:38pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: How to estimate returning 50% load without scales
I don't recall using the word "thousands" or "1000's" in any post. You seem to have me confused with someone else. Might want to use the quote thing rather than putting words in people's mouths. Unsanitary at best.
You are correct. My bad! It was another poster that used the term 'thousands'.
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jmtandem
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06/17/13 08:40am |
Towing
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RE: Sonora Pass
You are correct. California SR 88 is a much better RV road for getting to where you want to go than SR 108.
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 10:59pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: SF Bay Area to Bridgeport, CA
Hwy 4 to Markleville to 89 (Monitor Pass) to 395
This road is more suited to motorcycle traffic then RV's. It is very steep, narrow and windy between Lake Alpine and about 10 miles south of Markleeville. I would go SR 88 and then US 395. Both SR 88 and US 395 are very doable in any RV.
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 10:54pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: How to estimate returning 50% load without scales
I looked at a lot of setups this weekend while camping up on Lake Michigan. If you saw some of them you would not worry too much about yours. The "experts" on here may preach for a perfection, where every pound must be accounted for, but that is not always real world. I am not saying that a bad setup is okay, but that an okay setup is most common.
In your earlier post you referenced the thousands of hitches dealers set up and now you note from your campground experiences that many are not perfect, but just OK. Your comments and actual field observations are not a statement of confidence about dealers doing a good job setting up trailer hitches.
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 10:36pm |
Towing
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RE: 10000 harbor freight hitch up to par???
Yes that's trailer weight.I am going to the scales tonight to get exact tongue weight.can I just buy heavier load bars?
It depends on the hitch head and if it will accommodate stronger spring bars. Some hitches, like the Equalizer, often requires a totally new hitch as the head is sized for the bars. You will need substantial bars for whatever hitch you are using.
Why do you feel you need air bags? Unless you plan to carry an elephant in the back of the truck also, you should be able to accommodate the hitch weight with your trucks payload. Most three quarter ton trucks have a payload of around 2800 pounds. At 1800 pounds hitch weight, you still will have something like 1000 pounds for people, dogs, firewood, kayaks, bicycles, supplies, etc. before going over gross.
As I indicated earlier, haulers are hitch heavy empty. Load the hauler with your toys and then weigh it and the tongue and take it from there. Each pound put behind the axles helps with the weight and balance calculations of the hauler and can lighten the tongue weight. Fill the water tank when you go to the scales as water is 8.3 pounds per gallon and most haulers carry 100 or more gallons.
There is a little mystery here. I went to the National RV specification webpages and the Blazen 28 foot toy hauler is actually 31 feet long and supposedly weighs around 7600 pounds dry. If you are not hauling anything in yours why does yours weigh 12,000 pounds empty?
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 10:24pm |
Towing
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RE: Unsafe at any speed....
Here's some background. Bought the RV new in 2006. It's a 294RLS Cougar tow behind 30'. The factory tires were TOWMAX ST, 225/75R15. The factory tires lasted for three years, then I changed out the four road tires for four Hercules tires of the same size.
I hope you have good luck with your Maxxis. I, so far, have had a good experience with Tow Max tires. Marathons that came with the trailer were another story.
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 05:44pm |
Towing
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RE: Heed help from RV expert ASAP
someone who is somewhat of a rv expert give me their opinion
You don't need an expert for this. Pass on it as fast as you can.
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 11:58am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How to estimate returning 50% load without scales
Maybe I'm just worrying too much about getting it from the dealer to my house to the scales - It's not going to be that long a distance, probably 40 miles all up.
We can over think and over worry about stuff. Just go get it and if you think you are competent in setting it correctly, do it. Most folks just let the dealer do it and that is that. And then they complain about it.
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 11:48am |
Towing
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RE: 10000 harbor freight hitch up to par???
the tongue weight is close to 12ooo from the weights at odot
This cannot possibly be your tongue weight!!!! It must be your trailer weight and if the trailer is 12,000 pounds and you are using 13 percent for the tongue then your tongue weight would be around 1560 pounds. If this is correct you do not have enough hitch and perhaps not enough receiver either.
And if you are close to 12,000 empty as you indicated then you most likely will be over 13,000 loaded and ready for camping and that would be a tongue weight of around 1700 pounds.
And since it is a toyhauler you will likely add more like 2000 pounds of stuff and toys and water as haulers typically carry lots of water and that will equate to a tongue weight of 1800 pounds. You may be getting marginal with your truck to tow this toyhauler as it probably has a gross weight of 14,000 or more pounds. One very important rule of thumb is to never use dry or empty weights for any towing considerations. Use gross trailer weight and make your calculations about the hitch, receiver and truck based on that. If you find you are a little under gross then you have a small safety margin.
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jmtandem
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06/16/13 08:18am |
Towing
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RE: CA. Hwy 12?
Heading from Lodi, CA. to Fairfield, CA. in a couple of days. Want to know if this stretch of road (HWY 12) is a good (safe) route with 28' trailer in tow. Thanks for your advice.
I have traveled this route many times, some with a larger trailer than yours. Might be a little windy at times. No big deal. Very doable.
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jmtandem
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06/15/13 05:39pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: How to estimate returning 50% load without scales
Think of the 1,000s of hitches installed at dealers; do they run the rig down to the scales?
How many are properly set up? Very few in my assessment.
How many are set up at the dealers with the trailer ready for camping with stuff and water, etc. and the tow vehicle also loaded as it would be for camping? Probably of those thousands set up by the dealer only a very few are properly set up for towing loaded and ready for camping. And not going to the scales only adds to the inaccuracy of the set up.
As I read this thread, I guess I am in a class by myself here. You are renting a trailer to see if you like that type of RV and the dealer will set the hitch for you. If you have a wonderful towing experience you might purchase a trailer and if you do not enjoy the experience and driving the tow vehicle is not comfortable you might opt for another type of RV, or none at all. So, to me getting the hitch 'just right' is way more important than just getting it 'in the ballpark'. If the dealer wants to sell trailers it is in their interest to be sure the hitch is set right and if that takes a trip to the scales with your tow vehicle loaded and the trailer full of water and stuff, so be it. If you come back from towing unhappy you are not likely to be a future buyer or renter of a TT.
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jmtandem
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06/15/13 05:32pm |
Towing
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