I would keep searching and look at every single possiblity before making a decision. Looking at just 2 wouldn't cut it for me. Even though we are looking to up grade to a Jayco Designer fifth wheel one day, the J-feathers just .... well I won't say anything but I would never buy one.
JJ & Sandie
Li'l Jack, Pickles & Bunny the chihuahuas...Chewy, poodle 6/15/95-7/4/08 We will always love you Chooch.
2003 Chevy 2500HD,LT,CC,SB,4x4,Duramax/Allison
2007 Starcraft Homestead 262RKS
you wont be unhappy with the keystone I am on my 3rd and no problems to date. You get a lot of bang for your buck with them. Your truck will pull that camper with no problem at all, I had the older 01 f-150 with the old 2 valve 5.4L and my trailer was heavier than yours and it pulled it fine.
2006 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD crew cab 8.1 with 6 speed allison
2007 Keystone Laredo 32rs
Myself, Darling wife Lisa
Laura 16,Sara 13
2 Jack Russell's
Jack & Rusty
Did you look at the JayFeather EXP series? They have some rear slide models also. The 218 you were looking at has a very unique floorplan. Good luck in whatever you choose!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Hornet28BHDS wrote: Did you look at the JayFeather EXP series? They have some rear slide models also. The 218 you were looking at has a very unique floorplan. Good luck in whatever you choose!
Funny you should bring that one up. That is one that I was looking for to compare to the Keystone model, as they are identical floorplans. Nash and Fleetwood also have that same identical floor plan, too.
But we did sign the papers this afternoon on the Keystone TT. We won't be picking it up for a few days, as they are going to be detailing it out. Then we go in for the brake hookups on the truck and orientation session on the TT, and will be bringing it all home.
I have to admit, in the back of my mind, I still find myself hoping that I made the right decision. But, to be honest, I think we did, and that we will be happy with it. Thanks again to all for the feedback and suggestions. This is a pretty awesome bunch of folks here and I'm glad I joined up. I just hope I can be as helpful, I'll sure give it my best shot whenever I can.
Thanks again,
Slo
* This post was
edited 05/17/08 09:50pm by slowryde45 *
Thanks. Well we got the trailer home in one piece. I was a bit nervous towing it through town traffic, but managed to get through with no hits, runs, or errors. They installed a Reese/Draw-Tite Pro Series WD hitch, with a Tekonsha Voyager brake controller. First lesson learned....have them itemize everything they are doing to the TT before signing for delivery. When we first went in and agreed on a price, I had the Camping World catalog opened up to the page with hitches, and pointed out the Straight Line Hitch with dual cams. That was what was implied that we would be getting. Also, I asked about the brake control, and mentioned the Prodigy by name. Well...what we got didn't really match up to what all was implied. But to add salt to the wound, I priced the components right from their catalog including install, and it came no where near the $994 we were charged. It was more like $320 off, in THEIR favor of course!!! We went back to the dealership this afternoon to return a hitch lock that didn't fit the hitch, and asked about the charges. Now, this dealership is part of the Camping World network, and the Feather Lite 185QB trailer that we bought, was made for Camping World by Keystone. So, the hitch and brake were installed by Camping World techs, who supposedly are also the dealership techs. But there in lied the difference in price. According to the sales manager, the hitch and brake were installed by Camping World techs, who are also dealership techs, but charged by dealership labor rates, as opposed to the stated install fee in the Camping World catalog? I can't wait until we have a real problem.
Our PDI was scheduled for 1:30 on Saturday, we got there at 12:30 to let them start on hooking up the brake controller on my truck. We didn't get the PDI started until almost 2:45! Then by the time they got the truck all hitched up, the shop closed, so any questions would have to wait until this Tuesday. But we went through the PDI, found a few things that need attention, in addition to the things we found the first time through (that were never fixed either), so we have to schedule an appointment to get them fixed. All in all, it wasn't the most pleasant of afternoons or experiences. Were we expecting too much after signing away $18,000??
I do have a question for the more experienced folks (hint - everyone on here) - with the WD hitch we have, my TV is a Ford F150 Supercrew cab 4x4 with the 5.4L engine and tow package and 17" wheels. The Freedom Lite 185QB is 3950 dry. He did fill the freshwater tank to show how everything worked. So when I was towing it home, it still had a full tank. On the road, it felt like we were in a row boat going through swells (up and down, not some much side to side). I read somewhere else, someone describing it as "porpoising"? That and at times the front end felt very light. Is something just out of adjustment (WD)? Or do I need heavier shocks or air bags? I can't be over the limits of my truck can I?
It sounds to me like the weight isn't properly distributed but you can't judge how it is going to pull until you have it loaded like you were going on a trip. The full water tank (if its partially filled the water sloshing around can also contribute to what you describe) would throw the "balance" off since no other gear is in the TT.
Agree with the above. The trailer is empty - it will tow much different when loaded up with all your gear. You will then need to readjust the WD hitch with the loaded trailer. Ours towed horrible empty - lots of bouncing. Make sure you load it up with stuff that you take it to a weight station. Once you get the weight of the fully loaded TT ready to camp, you will want to have your tongue weight at 13% of that total.
When re-setting your WD hitch you want to get as much "equal" squat on the front and rear as you can. You won't get them completely equal but you can get close. AT THE VERY LEAST your front end should measure the same after hitching up as before but preferable 1/4 to 1/2" drop on the front and 1/2 - 1" drop on the rear.
Okay, that's what I thought might be causing it. Now, next question, with the Pro Series WD hitch, how do you adjust them? Right now, everything seems to be pretty equal in height. Maybe I just need to pack all our stuff in the TT to see if that makes a difference. And here all the time I was wondering if we were over our weight limit, it turns out we are too light?
Sorry for the newbie questions, but there were no instructions with them. At least with the Strait Line hitch, it is just a matter of moving the chains, right? I guess I can wait until I bring it back to the dealership for all the fixes they will be doing. After reading up on the issues with the Voyager controller, I guess I will be upgrading to the Prodigy, too.
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