RE: how many would buy a HTT with or without slide?
We did, slide for sure. I noticed there are a lot that doesn't have one. Just wondering why? lighter for towing, cost, personal reasons? Curiosity that is all.
We chose the ROO 233 (no slide). I calculated that with our V6 4Runner, we could pull a hybrid with a slide (21SS or 23B style if my memory serves) with 2 beds, or the 233 with 3 beds.
So I guess our choice was a weight/# of bed issue.
I believe we chose wisely, we had 3 great seasons of camping in our 7-1/2 ft wide - no slide hybrid.
A slide (even a small one) truly makes a difference inside. Although we were pretty narrow in the 233, we had little regrets with our purchase. We vacationed two summers for 10 days each in Myrtle Beach, and we were only cramped during thunderstorms.
The number one reason I upgraded to a 5'er was not the narrow width. It was not having to setup the 3 tent ends. More room inside, more storage, etc. were numbers 2 . . .
Personal reasons? Here are some personal reasons that I can think of. "I don't like having that extra space." or, (and I've actually heard this one) "What do you need a slide for? It's just something else to break." :R
RE: hydrolic leak
I went out to our new 08 Cedar Creek and guess what, a puddle of fluid on the front jack stand, cant see where the leak is coming from.. Must be the same thing you all are having problems with... can someone post the lippert phone number and contact person you spoke with? When you dealt with Camping World, did they replace it and charge Lippert, or did you pay and get refunded by Lippert?
Thanks
Mike
Just looked at mine. Same thing 'cept on both landing gear bases. After breakfast, I'll get out there & see what I can see.
RE: New MaxAir cover...YES or NO?
Anyone bought one of these new ones? Any way the water 'can' get in from the sides when traveling down the road? AND does the vent cover rattle at all if you leave it open when traveling?
Rock
I can't see the new style any more prone to leak than the originals. The theory & mounting is basically unchanged.
I just installed the new style. I had the original Maxxair's on my old ROO (traded in).
As you probably read, it has the swing brackets built in. I had to purchase the brackets separately on the original Maxx's.
The actual or perceived differences I noticed were:
The new style are slightly wider, with 3 angles of vent instead of 1.
The gauge of the plastic seems thinner on the new style, like more bendable, if there is such a description. (Or, it could have been my imagination).
I've only taken one trip with the new RV & vent covers, I can't really tell any functional difference.
MHO,
C
RE: Towing Question on ROO 233
Okay great points taken. I came to the right place. Decided to let RVwholesalers put both the Prodigy Brake and Equalizer hitch on. Now just cant wait to pick the camper up and head out camping. Thanks for replying everyone.
Excellent choices IMHO!
ps. wish I had your tow vehicle when I was pulling my Roo 233.
Installing the roof vent covers is an easy job and you need to get up on the roof anyway. . . .
Amen. Extremely easy to install.
O.T. I just had to buy/install new vent covers on my new rv. The latest Maxxair (called Maxxair II) have the swing brackets already built in. Wish they would invent something like that for the Fan Mate version.
Chris
RE: another one going to the Dark Side
Only complaint we have had is from a couple that has camped with us before in the htt. They felt that they didn't have the privacy in the tt that they did in the htt. No spare bedroom so they had to use the table.
On that note, when we would camp with our rv'er friends, their children often chose to sleep in our tiny Roo 233!
My camper was the smallest of the group of (1) 37' 5'er, (1) 35' class C, & (1) 34' TT.
The kids claimed that they had more room and privacy in the Roo's "bedrooms".
When my children would complain (not often) that our Roo was too small, I would remind them that none of their friends had their own queen size bed. :W
Chris
RE: another one going to the Dark Side
. . . So I guess we'll be posting over in TTs now, mostly - but I check this forum frequently. (And will still be looking at those HTT pic's!) :)
The HTT experience will make you return here forever. (and ever, and ever, and ever . . .) ;)
Especially for those of us whose first RVs were HTTs.
Good luck & happy camping.
Chris
RE: Towing Saturday without sway control.
Update:
The job is done. What I ended up doing was:
Put a standard w.c. hitch and hooked the ROO to the ball. The back-to-front level bubble on the ROO was level (I didn't like that so much), so I unhooked and changed shanks.
Hooked up again. This time the ROO was slightly nose down. Then I added water to the fresh tank (located in front of the trailer) to add weight to the nose of the ROO.
Took off and kept an eye on the mirrors for the trip. 25 miles to the dealer and it pulled very straight. Only one tractor trailer passed me, but it didn't move the trailer.
Thanks for all the replies & the suggestions.
Chris
ps. Pulling a 33' (outside length) fiver home, and backing it into my narrow driveway was a whole new chapter.
RE: Forestriver Testing Facility
ChrisAC,Congratulations on the Wildcat and safe travels! We love ours.
The RV industry certainly is hit or miss as far as quality is concerned.Probably has a lot to do with the seasonal nature of the product and the hiring of temporary unskilled labor when they ramp up production.
Thank You,
Chris
RE: Forestriver Testing Facility
I just traded an 05 Cedar Creek on a bigger Cardinal bunkhouse which is on order. I had one problem with my Cedar Creek and it was taken care of immediately under warranty in one day. I am satisfied with them, maybe I just got lucky. We will see.
It seems to me, it's a hit or miss proposition. Before PDI of the ROO, I was hoping that the folks at the factory were having a "good" day when they built ours. Everything was great, and for 3 seasons, zero problems.
Now here I am again. Buying another Forest River prod. PDI on new Wildcat is tomorrow. Same apprehension. I have the Tom Boles PDI checklist. Fingers crossed.:p
Chris
RE: Equal-i-zer Hitch - Your Experiences With
Well it sure is easier with an electric tongue jack, I'll grant him that. That is true on ALL WD hitches I've ever seen. I love our Equal-i-zer. . . .
I always meant to do that but never got around to it. Hand cranking just wasn't so difficult to make me think "I want an electric jack NOW!" ;)
Chris
RE: Equal-i-zer Hitch - Your Experiences With
John,
Another strong vote for the Equal-i-zer.
If you are a newbie, consider this.
I was a newbie, read the posts here while searching for the perfect floor plan for about 10 months and decided:
I want an Equal-i-zer & Prodigy. I wasn't sure why, I really didn't understand the basics of WD/Sway, but most folks here highly recommended the combo.
I purchased RV & hitch (including installation) from dealer. The dealer did not carry the Equal-i-zer brand but I insisted.
He said o.k. and purchased it for my rig. Finally the job was done.
Then the fun part. Trying to unhook the camper from the tow vehicle that first time. It took my father in-law & myself 40 minutes to figure how to unhook the damn thing! Yes, the first time, it took two of us to muscle those bars off. (we didn't have the vehicle lifted high enough to release the tension from the bars).
The second time was much easier, and by the third time, yep, it's a 3 minute job by myself. Like jeremys posted above, it truly is VERY simple to operate.
It took 3 or 4 camping trips for me to realize how good the sway control worked. The ride was extremely straight. And I never felt what everyone warned about with tractor trailers whizzing by you.
I was towing close to 4700 pounds with a V6 4Runner so I needed serious weight distribution too. And I got it with this hitch.
With your tow vehicle, I think weight distribution will still be required (but to a lesser degree), but the sway control is a MUST in my opinion.
I could install one myself NOW, the instructions are pretty clear, but I would've been too unsure when I was just starting.
Regards,
Chris
RE: Towing Saturday without sway control.
Now hold on a second here....
Sure, the truck will handle it, but will the trailer?
This is not so much about weight, but SWAY. Have you ever towed the ROO without sway control? . . .
Right! I know weight / w.d. is not my concern. It's the possibility of sway. I've only ever towed the ROO with the Equil-i-zer/Prodigy and our V6 4Runner. (worked extremely well b.t.w.) I have no experience other than jockeying without that setup.
So, since Saturday is my final tow of the ROO for trade-in, I wanted to avoid:
(1) use the 4Runner - take ROO to dealer.
(2) Drive 4Runner home empty.
(3) Drive back to dealer with new Chevy tow vehicle.
(4) PDI & Tow new 5er home.
Of course most importantly, flipping the ROO on the way to the dealer would be a little more inconvenient (not to mention instantly decreasing the trade in value to zilch).
Thanks for taking the time.
Chris
RE: Famly Search ~ 1st Fifth Wheel
Our first fifth wheel is on order!! WE also wanted extra room to accomodate kids and friends.... We are getting a Forest River Wildcat 30 loft. . . .
. . . We can't wait!!!
I hear you. Placed my order for the LOFT on Feb 22. Unit arrived at dealer Apr 5. Picking it up Saturday. (also "can't wait!!!")
RE: Towing Saturday without sway control.
Thanks for the replies folks! It makes me more comfortable.
Last trip for the ROO is to the knackers (I mean dealer) sigh!
Just make sure the trailer is not too "nose high". That causes it to "walk" left to right and can cause a severe sway.
Gotcha, hopefully the tongue weight will help some (but I'll definitely measure & eyeball)
Chris
RE: Tow Vehicle
Well,
Towed the ROO 233 for three seasons with an '04 4Runner V6 4.0L 4WD.
I am the worrying type, so I was always white knuckled & spent by the time I got to a campground.
However, with good sway control & weight distribution, you should do well on the flats and well enough on the mild hills (as we did in MD, WV & PA).
Always remember that you may have to stop the rig quickly, so leave extra room in front of you while driving.
I swear by the Equal-i-zer brand. It's not the best sway control that money can buy, but for me it sure was solid. I never had a problem when the semis were flying past me.
O.T. Last summer while driving to Myrtle Beach, my wife drove for a couple of hours to give me a break. I thought cool, I can relax for a while. I happened to glance at the speedometer and saw 78mph. White knuckles again for me & no relax time (did I mention I worry alot?) ;)
Good Luck,
Chris
Towing Saturday without sway control.
Hello,
We're trading in our ROO 233 hybrid (24ft. 3700lbs.) on Saturday & leaving with a Wildcat 30LOFT fifth wheel.
Here is my question.
I have a new tow vehicle for the new 5'er. (sig. below). I am going to use this vehicle to tow the ROO back to the dealer (45 miles).
But the Equalizer hitch I have is setup and aligned for our old T.V. (Toyota 4Runner), hitch receiver is about 2 inches lower on the Toyota.
Do you think I'll have much trouble towing the ROO with a standard W.C. hitch I have? Or would you recommend that I connect the Equal-i-zer & bars to see if the bars would not be too loose?
I assume if the bars are too loose, the weight distribution & sway control features are nullified.
Thanks for any info,
Chris
RE: Thought I was having a great day!!!
I see over 340 viewed my post, just want to thank all of the 320 that didn't post an comment for not laughing at me in writing :)
No laughing, I'm just reading (hoping) to learn.
C
RE: Do you pull the WDH when you disconnect?
When we had our TT I would latch the ball into the hitch and lock it there. I just took my chances with the bars and laid them across the "A" frame between the propane tanks and the trailer. Never had a problem. Banged into it a lot less than when I would leave it on the back of the tow vehicle.
Definitely not the most secure way, since if stolen, you're stuck at a CG for awhile, but I do it exactly the same as you. Once I get home, the Equalizer goes into the front storage of the Roo. The bars go into my basement.
