Emma's daddy
Washington
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Joined: 04/21/2012
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My wife and I are really excited about getting our first TT. We have a 4 year old little girl and a 7 month old little man and 2 big labs. We are looking seriously at a keystone Cougar 30BHSWE. The floor plan is perfect now and in the future. We think it is exactly what we want. I'm not sure about the size because i have never had a TT before. We live in sw Washington and plan to use it in Washington and oregon. I'm not sure exactly where we will go, but I would do a little bit of everything. I don't want something too big that limits where we can go and how often we use....but I think any smaller will be tight. I don't want to be confined to just RV parks even though that's probably where we will spend some time. I want to be able to go to parks, the woods and the coast. I would like to know if this is a good fit for this. We looked at a 26BHSWE and we think it's too small, but we can make it work if it means we get to use it a whole lot more. Please give me your opinions. Also we have a 2011 ford f150 4x4 crew with the 5.0 and 3.73 rear end. It is rated to tow 9300.
* This post was
edited 04/21/12 11:26pm by Emma's daddy *
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EarthboundTC
Auburn Washington
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Joined: 08/07/2009
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Sean. Once you get your trailer. Go to Grayland beach state park near Westport. If you like the ocean you will enjoy this park. It is set up really nice.
Oh and as to trailers also think about living here in the NW ans when you may go camping. We have camped in December and it snowed but we had a four season trailer and where very warm.
Good luck on your trailer shopping!
TC
2011 Ford F150 FX4,3.5 V6 EcoBoost. Max Tow package. towing a 2011 Earthbound Morrison
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Smax
Rochester, NY
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This is probably one of the most frequent questions here. I recommend doing searches with keywords related to how much can I tow.
I think one of the biggest surprises people have when they first start towing is how much the "tow rating" is relative to the comfort of your experience. This is often brushed over by salespeople. "Sure it can handle it". I think those stickers should have smiley faces.
Towing at 25% 
Towing at 50% 
Towing at 75% 
Towing at 100% 
Most will agree to the simple statement that as weight increases, your towing enjoyment (and safety) decreases.
As you approach the upper end of the "GCWR" you and your truck will be struggling.
It's all about the numbers.
Max
2010 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison Crew
25' Sunnybrook
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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I would add that you need to take a long hard look at ALL of the tow rating limits of the truck and attempt to estimate if the proposed tow vehicle will indeed be able to handle the load. The "tow rating alone" means nothing when everything else is not considered. Things like tongue weight, GCWR, RAWR, and the trucks payload are all important considerations. Also the model you are considering is marketed as a lightweight model (if I am viewing them correctly) and the TT's GVWR supports that. However it appears that Keystone has acheived that GVWR by simply derating the standard model. If you look at the fictional "dry weight" it is fairly high (higher than my full weight 10k GVWR model) and the actual weight will be more. The "lightweight" is acheived by cutting the carrying capacity of the trailer and quite severely (capacity you will need). The end result is an artificially deflated GVWR for the TT and the illusion that any 1/2 ton vehicle can easily pull it. The carrying capacity of this TT will actually be less, much less than 1294lbs and that is not much carrying capacity!! Most campers easily stuff 1500lbs in a TT and more in 5th wheels. Filling all the holding tanks ALONE on this trailer will put you over the GVWR of the TT, that is without putting one thing in it!! Research these issues carefully as you make your choices and good hunting.
Link to TT specs:
http://www.keystone-cougar.com/index.php........page=floorplans&coast=west&model=30BHSWE
* This post was
edited 04/22/12 07:06am by fla-gypsy *
09 SuperDuty Crew Cab 6.8L/4.10(The Black Pearl)
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The Cracker Cabana)
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retired4fun2002
Ellenton, FL
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Joined: 07/22/2003
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You will love your choice. Don't let the Salesman influence your choice...if their lips move they are lying!!! There are hundreds of horror stories about the first buy nightmare - don't make yours that way.....read, research and read some more. Enjoy, safe travels.
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doxiluvr
Tucson-AZ
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Joined: 11/03/2006
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I think you will be able to tow the Cougar as GVW comes to about 8200. It might be a strain in the mountains, but if you take it easy and not overload it, you should be okay. GVW on the Cougar is 8200 according to the Keystone website. I like the little slide out in the bunk room and the dogs can fit nicely on the floor there with the kids. Whatever you get, enjoy it and make some good memories. If you plan on doing the state campgrounds, call ahead and make sure they have spots that trailer can fit into or pull into.
2006 Keystone Sprinter 300fkms
2007 Silverado 2500 Duramax Diesel 6.6 - Allison 1000 6 spd. auto. tran.
1 high school sweetheart hubby - 1 longhaired mini-dachshund, Hannah
4 grown kids, 6 grandkids
1 2007 Yamaha v-Star 1300
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anaro
Mebane, NC
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I think the 26BHSWE is going to be a better fit for your TV and your travel plans (after seeing your national park post). Realize that this trailer is listed as almost 29' (not sure if that is bumper to ball or box length only). You are asking about shorter trailers for national parks in your other posts. After reading that, I think the 33' trailer is gonna be too long for this and a bit much for your TV.
2009 Ford F250 Lariat Crew Cab 6.4L diesel 4WD
2011 Crossroads Zinger ZT26BL
Reese Dual Cam
4 nights camped in 2013!
21 nights camped in 2012!
27 nights camped in 2011!
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path1
seattle
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Joined: 04/19/2012
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Size is very important. And buying is a hole set of compromises. To get too out of the way places, don't bring along a big Rv. Like inside space don't get a small RV. We settled for a 22 ft trailer but that was 38 feet overall with pick up. Then several years later got large 5th wheel. And couple years ago a very small class C, which is our "get away" RV, but after 3 days it really gets to small.
(To cheap to buy new)
1990 37 ft 5th wheel that hasn't moved since 1996 (our best home)
1997 33 ft trailer (winter home in much warmer climate)
2005 25 ft M/H (our "stand up B" for traveling)
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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Joined: 03/23/2004
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Welcome to the forum.
Length shouldn`t be an issue, either for towing or going to a campground. as for towing it....what is the dry weight of the trailer, there is a sticker in one of the cabinets. add 1500lbs to that number and that should get you pretty close to your ready to travel weight. make sure you have everything setup properly. you should have a toungue weight that is 13% of the ready to travel weight. I would also recomend a Reese Straight Line (Dual Cam) WD hitch and a prodigy brake controller, unless you have a factory installed brake controller?
Have fun!
Wife Kim 
Son Brandon 11yrs
Daughter Marissa 10yrs
Dog Shadow 
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear 5Star tuner Y-pipe mod Hellwig sway bar
Reese HP dualcam Prodigy brake controller
A bad day of camping is
better than a good day at work!
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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fla-gypsy wrote:I would add that you need to take a long hard look at ALL of the tow rating limits of the truck and attempt to estimate if the proposed tow vehicle will indeed be able to handle the load. The "tow rating alone" means nothing when everything else is not considered. Things like tongue weight, GCWR, RAWR, and the trucks payload are all important considerations. Also the model you are considering is marketed as a lightweight model (if I am viewing them correctly) and the TT's GVWR supports that. However it appears that Keystone has acheived that GVWR by simply derating the standard model. If you look at the fictional "dry weight" it is fairly high (higher than my full weight 10k GVWR model) and the actual weight will be more. The "lightweight" is acheived by cutting the carrying capacity of the trailer and quite severely (capacity you will need). The end result is an artificially deflated GVWR for the TT and the illusion that any 1/2 ton vehicle can easily pull it. The carrying capacity of this TT will actually be less, much less than 1294lbs and that is not much carrying capacity!! Most campers easily stuff 1500lbs in a TT and more in 5th wheels. Filling all the holding tanks ALONE on this trailer will put you over the GVWR of the TT, that is without putting one thing in it!! Research these issues carefully as you make your choices and good hunting.
Link to TT specs:
http://www.keystone-cougar.com/index.php........page=floorplans&coast=west&model=30BHSWE
IMO some excellent points and that cargo capacity is fairly low for a family of 4 and pets. My 31' trailer with a GVWR of 7500 has a cargo capacity in excess of 2200lbs and we use all of it, but I don't pack lightly.
Personally with your TV and family I would be looking for something with at least 2,000lbs cargo capacity and a GVWR of around 7500lbs. Assuming you have a non HD vehicle pay close attention to the dry tongue wt. since that can be an issue for some 1/2T based trucks.
Larry
* This post was
edited 04/23/12 05:58am by LarryJM *
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
ALL TRAILER MODS>>ETERNABOND INSTALL>>RAINKAP INSTALL
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