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Forum
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RE: Backing
I always try to back with the trailer turning into the drivers side so I can see where the rear end is going with the drivers mirror. I pull past 15' or so to start the rear turning into the site/driveway. It also gives me time to decide if I need to put a harder angle on the trailer to cut into a spot.
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mwebber78
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11/27/09 01:56pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Troubles with Bighorn
I feel the urge to post on this subject - not to bash Heartland but to make a few observations about the industry as a whole. Let me preface my comments with my resume - I have worked for the last 14 years as an employee of the largest military jet engine producer in the world and the 3rd largest commercial engine producer in the world. My degree (working hard to finish!) is in Management with a specialty in lean manufacturing and production. We hold all ISO certificates and work vigiriously in adopting lean manufacturing or what most would know as Kaizan, the "Toyota" way.
After visiting first hand a few of the Indiana based RV makers I can report that production inefficiencies and lack of production control (process control) is quite standard in RV production. To be honest, I am amazed that more people aren't having issues and perhaps this speaks to the amazing ability of RV workers to run around with their heads cut-off yet still make a decent product.
The industry deliveres a lot of value for the money. It isn't to much to expect that the prices be where they are today, I think I paid a fair price for my coach given the systems, components, labor and materials.
I am waiting for the day someone joins the RV business from a large aerospace or automotive producer and incorporates Six Sigma, ACE, Lean Manufacturing and statistical process control. There is NO extra cost in creating lean manufacturing; in fact efficiencies pay for themselves ten fold. You can not "inspect" quality into a product - we refer to this in the business as "tailgate" inspection... Tailgate inspection simply allows error's to continue by correcting them after the fact. You must build quality into the process.
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mwebber78
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11/27/09 10:11am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: best TT brands
Happytrails posted the floorplan I was thinking. Sadly, that one has a 74" queen which is a tad short for me. But I changed out the mattress in ours first thing. I went to a closeout place and got a King Koil residential sized queen bed - best $200 I ever spent.
I agree ont he booth dinette - ditch it and order the free standing table/chairs.
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mwebber78
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11/25/09 08:10am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Jayco Mattress
The only way to get what you want is to either go to a mattress shop or have one made. An important note, do NOT test the beds on a box spring. The camper mattress sits on a plywood/chipbord slab. I went to a local mattress retailer, went to the "closeout" section and tested out each on the floor until we found one we liked. We ended up with a King Koil for under $200.
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mwebber78
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11/25/09 06:46am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How much off MSRP?
Wheres the proof fly boy 1? When dealing against local dealers and using the RVDirect price many, many people have saved thousands of dollars. Am I missing something here?
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mwebber78
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11/24/09 06:11pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: best TT brands
If your living in the unit then I would change my recommendations entirely. You need to find a unit that will handle the stress living in a unit can create. I would suggest you find a higher end unit, like a Keystone Montana, Forest River Sandpiper, Jayco Eagle, Sunnybrook, etc. that is for extended use.
While these aren't full-timing units they are as close you'll get on the east coast. If you lived on the west coast then Komfort and Nash/Northwood make full-time travel trailers. On the east coast it seems most full-timing rigs are 5th wheels.
Since your truck sounds up to the task you may want to consider a 5th wheel. Since you mentioned you are tall (I am 6'3" too) I think you may appreciate the full sized queens (not a short queen) and vaulted ceilings of a 5th wheel.
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mwebber78
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11/23/09 03:38pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: best TT brands
How much time do you plan on spending in the camper? I would suggest a rear bedroom front kitchen layout or a rear living setup. That is the ultimate bachelor pad.
Look into the Rockwood Signature Ultralight, Crossroads Cruiser, Jayco Eagle, etc.
I have never owned a Gulfstream but I wasn't impressed with what I've seen. Starcraft was bought out by Jayco and they are selling Jayco clones now.
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mwebber78
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11/23/09 03:06pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Protecting the Diamond Plate
Amazing - no one can ever accuse you of being a fair weather camper!
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mwebber78
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11/22/09 05:16pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: snow load on 5th wheel
Same thing here in New England, the last two years have been very snowy with a high moisture content in the snow. Our stick built home with engineered roofing trusses began making funny noises last year... I removed about 3' of snow from the roof. What I found was 2' of snow and about a foot of ice. As the snow melted it went to the bottom on the pile and re-froze as ice.
I remove snow once it gets over 2' on my camper. If my house was creaking I can only imagine what a real load of snow does to the spring, roof and sidwalls. My house is by far better built then my camper...
Just my opinion but depending on your location and the moisture of level of the snow I would advise removing the snow.
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mwebber78
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11/22/09 11:57am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How much off MSRP?
You don't mention the brand but most can be had for 30% or more off the MSRP total without working to hard. I would accept that or a lower percent off but get hitch and accessories at cost.
I don't give two squirts what the dealer makes - as long as they are competitve in pricing against their peers in the market for the same or similar product.
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mwebber78
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11/22/09 09:12am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Heartland fifth-wheels
GeeksRUs responds to threads that solicite opinions about the general quality of HL products. Considering he is a owner and has had problems I think it benefits any thread to have him give his experience. To me, it balances out the "fluff" responses some people give where they say they NEVER had a problem. That's great for the small percentage of people but most everyone who's owned a RV knows they ALL have issues along the way. So thank you for posting GeeksRUs, you offer the "other" side to the glee-filled responses of those who claim to never have an issue.
As far as owner forums, I think they are incredibly beneficial to owners. First, a company that is in touch enough to sponser a owner's site is a company that is likely listening AND improving their products in response to suggestions/complaints. I belong to the Crossroads website and while management stays out of issues it is clear by constant product improvement that they have their "ears" on. I prefer posting issues about my camper to the owners' forum because of the similarity between the coaches. Not only that but on a large forum like RV.net I find posts can get buried under the same "can I tow this" or "do I buy brand XX or brand XX".
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mwebber78
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11/21/09 06:33am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Heartland fifth-wheels
Your post has me confused, also. How can you spend a fortune on a rig under warranty? I have had a few issues with my Cruiser but I never paid a dime for any of it to be repaired.
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mwebber78
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11/20/09 03:48am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Crack by door
They have covered the fix - stop drill, caulk, forget it for awhile!
:)
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mwebber78
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11/19/09 04:55pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Heartland fifth-wheels
Well, first I would like to welcome you to RV.net - I see you joined today and this is your first post.
Sorry to hear about your Heartland issues, have you tried to contact the manuf. directly and work the issues?
I look forward to your future postings......
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mwebber78
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11/19/09 04:22pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Jacking up a Fifth wheel ??
Interesting, that Lippert link was pretty useless as it doesn't specifically state to place the jack on the frame. It says you need blocks between the frame and jack but it doesn't say "Put jack to frame and jack frame!" In fact, step two has a typo anyways......LOL
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mwebber78
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11/19/09 02:38pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Ever Been Asked to Leave?
You should have told the manager the dog only attacks villiage idiot's.
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mwebber78
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11/19/09 10:12am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Jacking up a Fifth wheel ??
I was instructed by both the dealer and Lippert to jack under the flat part where the U-bolts are behind the wheel hub.
I have never seen anyone use another method. I'm not sure where the mention of lifting the trailer from the actual frame came from, certianly not anyone who looks at the frame...
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mwebber78
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11/19/09 10:05am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Jacking up a Fifth wheel ??
I jacked mine up while attached to the truck so I didn't twist/torque the landing legs. They are flimsy on all brands at best anyways.
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mwebber78
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11/18/09 07:17pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range Fifth Wheel Owners
I think they are really nice campers. They are outside our price range as they break 60K but they are quite elegant and the factory seems very responsive to owners based on this thread.
We picked up ours at 30% off.
We love our 2010 Open Range 385RLS and live full-time in it.
Understood. :)
All camper's in the mid-profile range are in the 30% off territory but have stickers in the mid-to-upper 40's, 60K is a bit steep for me :)
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mwebber78
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11/18/09 01:00pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range Fifth Wheel Owners
I think they are really nice campers. They are outside our price range as they break 60K but they are quite elegant and the factory seems very responsive to owners based on this thread.
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mwebber78
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11/18/09 12:07pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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