RE: Grandfather Campground, Boone NC
We stayed in Mountain Stream RV Park this summer and loved it. Great river front sites, spotless campground and bathhouse.
Not a bad drive to Grandfather Mountain (speically given the great views on the Blue Ridge Parkway). From this campground we also visited Linville Falls, Linville Caverns, Little Switzerland, the Apple Orchard, etc.
www.mountainstreamrvpark.com
RE: First time buyer...like the 23' Bunkhouse Model
That's a great floorplan. At some point, R-Vision (Trail Cruiser brand) also made a 23BH. Saw a 2007 in RvTrader.com or Rvtraderonline.com
Good luck.
RE: Bradenton/Sarasot Campground?
Hello.
Here are some that I've heard of:
Sun 'N' Fun in Sarasota - www.sunnfunfl.com
Holiday Cove in Bradenton - www.holidaycoverv.com
Turtle Beach Campground in Siesta Key - owned by the county, right on the water towards the south end of the island. Have never stayed but it looks kind of tight for large rigs. Very pretty beach but without the sugary white sand of Crescent Beach.
Winter Quarters Manatee RV Resort located in Bradenton. This is an Encore resort, there is another Encore called Royal Coachman a bit farther south in Nokomis.
RE: Blue ridge parkway?
We are driving a portion of the BRP on the way from Orlando to Washington DC and NYC this summer. We plan on spending about 5 days in the area from Asheville to around Natural Bridge, VA. It takes me longer with a 10 and 6-year old that will not tolerate more than a few hours of driving at a time.
This is a great site from a n Rvr that did the entire route. She has a mile by mile report, plus sites and campgrounds along the way. It proved invaluable for my planning.
Malias Miles Blue Ridge Parkway Plan
The rest of her site, www.maliasmiles.com is very comprehensive with other destinations as well.
Best of luck. Sounds like a great trip.
RE: World's Fastest Tow Vehicle?
Great rig. Absolutely love it!!!!!
You may want to check with Andy Thompson, the owner of CanAm Rv, regarding a stronger hitch receiver if your toungue weight gets a bit too high. He sets up Dodge Chargers with custom receivers to tow Airstreams.
http://www.can-am-rv.com/
Happy travels!!!
RE: post pictures of your HTT
Second attempt. Pics from pit stop during maiden trip to Sugarloaf Key, Florida. March 2008.
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/13258/2650469510103485973S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/26902/2307285840103485973S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/41898/2385483970103485973S600x600Q85.jpg
Lion Country Safari KOA - Palm Beach, FL
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/34361/2200441010103485973S600x600Q85.jpg
RE: Toyota highlander towing?
I towed a pop-up with a 2002 Highlander V-6 and it did very well. I now tow a small hybrid right at the limit. It does OK with brake controller, sway control and WDH. It does have to work when going uphill or in stiff winds, but not overly so. Since you're towing a pop-up, those issues will not apply to you since air resistance is not such a problem with the pop-up.
My highway MPG was pretty good towing the pop-up (over 17 if I remeber correctly), but drops dramatically when towing the hybrid (between 10 to 13 depending on conditions).
I would recommend a good brake controller and a light-weight WDH, since it seems that's a pretty heavy pop-up. Keeping the car level makes a difference. Otherwise, you will not be disappointed unless you expect 0-60 in 6 seconds.
RE: highlander hybrid towing jayco 17c
Tow a larger/heavier unit with a 02 Highlander 3.0 V6. Does fine. Rides level with a properly adjusted WDH ans sway control. It merges into the highway and will maintain 60 mph just fine unless the wind is blowing, then I slow down to 55.
Several points to keep in mind for this vehicle:
- gas mileage for the gas-only suffers big time, I get between 11 and 13 MPG. Dont know for the Hybrid, but there is an Highlander Hybrid owner pulling a 3,500# Bambi on the Airstream forum getting better MPG, probably due to more aerodynamic trailer and the electric motor.
- you must use WDH, so make sure you get the hitch receiver rated for WDH, there are only two available online, one rated for 4,000# and the other for 5,000#. I got the higher rated one.
- can only speculate your Highlander will do much better do to the higher torque/HP from the electric/gas combo.
RE: Tow Hybrid with TV at 3500lb capacity questions
You went thru the trouble of changing vehicles. Why skimp on the weight dristributing hitch and brake controller? It's not overkill regardless of what that mechanic says. The Trail Blazer has a very soft suspension and will squat even with a modest tongue weight. The WDH (Equalizer or another god brand) will help balance the TV and improve handling and safety.
BTW - plan on spending a LOT of money outfitting your new trailer (think of all things you need/want - It's like outfitting a small apartment - TV, pots, pans, kitchen tools, cutlery, silverware, plates, bowls, linens, tool box, wheel chocks, bike rack, grill, lights, chairs, tables, hoses, extension cables, fuses, elec adapters, etc, etc, etc)
RE: Tow Hybrid with TV at 3500lb capacity questions
And one more thing, make sure your hitch receiver is rated for WDH, as some are not. Try to get a receiver rated for more than you plan to tow. The highest rated receiver I found for the Equinox on etrailer.com was 4,000 lbs with weight dist. The other receivers listed were rated for 3,500 lbs are NOT rated for WDH.
RE: Tow Hybrid with TV at 3500lb capacity questions
I tow a C21RBH with a 2002 Toyota Highlander V-6. The trailer weight is over the stated towing capacity, but I'm within GCWR and both GAWR. Get passed by the 1-tons all the time, but have towed nearly 2,000 miles with no problems. Head winds make me slow down to 55 mph, steep grades are OK but speed drops unless I'm willing to "punch it", which I'm not. Towed in caravans with full size SUV's and kept up with them fine. They were all surprised how well the TV did, considering the strong crosswinds that day. I have a carefully set up WDH, sway control, brake controller, tranny cooler, etc. (Guess the question is - who's safer - my level set-up or the idiot with the Tahoe that's scraping its rear bumper pulling a 30 footer but it's within tow weight rating).
If possible, get your WDH and sway (you will need it anyway), and arrange for a test tow (proper set up is paramount - read all the instructions and insist that the dealer follows them). I found that at lower speeds, towing the hybrid is not much different than the heavy pop-up we had. At higher speeds it's a whole different game though. The trailer itself makes the biggest difference however. A properly designed trailer, with lower center of gravity, decent suspension (torsion instead of springs) and proper toungue weight is what you must focus on. Some of the trailers you mention are also narrower, which is an addedd benefit as well. Also, I recently saw a line called the X-Finder which looks very interesting for folks looking for small campers.
RE: RVision Trail Cruiser vs Forest River Surveyor, etc..
We recently enjoyed the maiden voyage in our 2008 C21RBH and are generally pleased. For 2008, the tub does have a skylight, which increases the headroom, and the room around the toilet is OK considering the size of this unit. Getting out of bed is easier if the table is moved to the side as much as possible. There is some hassle in this but I'm still young and does not bother me yet. My daughters LOVE the bunks in the back.
We like that it can easily be used "turtled", and storage capacity is pretty good under the dinette and rear bed. Tows pretty well (level and stable) with our smaller TV but we used WDH, sway control, brake controller, and we travel with the tanks empty and are not pack rats. Also, easy to get into small sites given length.
If you're used to side slide outs, couches and gadgetry, etc - this is not the unit for you. If you're upgrading from a pop-up (like us) or like to keep things small and simple, then you'll love it.
If you don't mind going a 2 or 3 feet longer, both Starcraft and Aerolite Cub (23QH I believe its called) make a double bunk unit with pop-out beds in the front and back, plus a side-slide out, which looks like a very tempting upgrade from the C21RBH.
Maiden voyage - two problems/questions
Just returned from our maiden voyage with our 2008 Trail Cuiser C21RBH (Hybrid with one tent end) down to South Florida and the Keys. Two items of concern:
1st question/issue:
A/C - the factory installed Carrier unit worked great all week and kept camper cool despite the warm temperatures and the tent-end being "deployed" all week. However, after 5 days of constant running, we packed up to leave to another campground located about 200 miles away. After several hours of driving over very bumpy US 1, we get to the new campground to find water leaking from the inside A/C cover. I took the cover off, lots of water cascaded off, and dried off the whole mess. The unit worked fine but there is some water leaking from it again today when we got home.
I'm no expert but it seems the normal condensation that normally would drip over the roof and down the side, did not drain completely and the movement during the long drive caused the accumulated water to spill over to the inside.
Any of you have experienced this before? What's the fix? It does not seem normal to have to remove the inside A/C cover every time we arrive to a destination.
2nd question/issue:
The toilet!!! Despite using Odorloss, the bathroom smelled pretty bad every time we turned on the Fantastic fan. The source of the smell turned out to be an air draft coming from a small opening at floor level around the middle of the back of the toilet. It's tight back there and I can't see the opening without removing the toilet (will try using a mirror tomorrow to peek back there). Any thoughts on this?
I want to have as much potential info on these issues before calling the dealer.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards, DJ
Maiden voyage - two problems/questions
Just returned from our maiden voyage with our 2008 Trail Cuiser C21RBH (Hybrid with one tent end) down to South Florida and the Keys. Two items of concern:
1st question/issue:
A/C - the factory installed Carrier unit worked great all week and kept camper cool despite the warm temperatures and the tent-end being "deployed" all week. However, after 5 days of constant running, we packed up to leave to another campground located about 200 miles away. After several hours of driving over very bumpy US 1, we get to the new campground to find water leaking from the inside A/C cover. I took the cover off, lots of water cascaded off, and dried off the whole mess. The unit worked fine but there is some water leaking from it again today when we got home.
I'm no expert but it seems the normal condensation that normally would drip over the roof and down the side, did not drain completely and the movement during the long drive caused the accumulated water to spill over to the inside.
Any of you have experienced this before? What's the fix? It does not seem normal to have to remove the inside A/C cover every time we arrive to a destination.
2nd question/issue:
The toilet!!! Despite using Odorloss, the bathroom smelled pretty bad every time we turned on the Fantastic fan. The source of the smell turned out to be an air draft coming from a small opening at floor level around the middle of the back of the toilet. It's tight back there and I can't see the opening without removing the toilet (will try using a mirror tomorrow to peek back there). Any thoughts on this?
I want to have as much potential info on these issues before calling the dealer.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards, DJ
New TC C21RBH and some questions
Just took delivery of a 2008 Trail Cruiser C21RBH over the weekend. Upgraded from an old Coleman pop-up. We are very excited and are going on a 8-day trip down to the FL Keys on Friday. Our first of the season since we were without camper for while (sold the old pop-up very quickly a while back). Gripes with the new camper are few - front storage under U-dinnette is large but access doors on the outside are tiny (the door on the left is literally more like a mailbox opening), overall storage is not great but to be expected on a small trailer and the cover over the propane tanks looks neat but it's a pain. Splurged on an electric tongue jack and LOVE it.
PDI went smoothly with a few minor items (unit did not had a ladder even though we ordered it, bathroom furnace air register is not blowing air since duct was left disconnected). Bought from RWV and they were good to do business with, and straight forward pricing. Can't beat it.
Main question to the group is regarding attaching anchors and screws to the walls. What do you recommend?
I was able to locate "stubs" on the inside wall where I plan to install a towel rack. Are these studs wood or metal?
Also, the TV shelf is such that the TV bracket will have to be attached to the inside of the exterior wall and I can't detect any studs there. I read somewhere that screw-in anchors are sufficient on these kind of walls.
Any thoughts? The inside of that exterior wall does not seem sturdy at all, plus is not very thick either and I'm afraid of puncturing the outside fiberglass. The only place where it's visible is behind the refrigerator grill and it looks like 1.5" of foam covered with some kind of very thin wall board.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards, DJ.
RE: Thinking about another big adventure.. advice??
Hope you get some good suggestions. I'm planning a similar trip from Florida this summer. Drive/camp the Blue Ridge Pwy, visit DC, make it as far north as Maine if possible. Four weeks time frame.
Come on folks, favorite campgrounds and sights along that route????
Best regards, DJ
RE: Worst Experience At a Dealership
Not sure about the law in my state. Don't care.
I read any contract very carefully before signing and paying any money. Recently purchased a new trailer, contract was very explicit about having 3 days to cancel with full refund. After that the deposit is non-refundable. Also requested dealer add clause making purchase subject to final inspection and deposit being refundable if financing is not available when the trailer is finally delivered a couple of months after contract execution (even though the loan was approved).
RE: Best route to the keys
In '92 (a week before Andrew!!) we drove down the Gulf of Mexico route to the Keys. Very scenic. You can stop off at lots of towns along the way & they ALL have public beaches & showers. Stop for a little sun, rinse off, & be on your way!! Also you go through the Everglades. You will also be able to see alligators in the drainage ditches on the sides of the road. Anytime you see a car stopped at the side of the road & people looking out, you can bet there's an alligator there! You can throw them marshmallows and they will gobble them up. The kids loves that. (BTW, I learned this from some native Floridians on that trip!)
Feeding wild alligators is illegal and dangerous, as aligators associate humans with food.
RE: Florida Keys
Check Blue Water Key RV Resort. Very close to Key West, waterfront sites with docks. Have not stayed here but reviews are very
positive, both in this forum and in the other review sites. Not sure why there are two websites.
www.bluewaterkey.net
www.bluewaterkey.com
