Ken, did you review the new Starcraft Launch series yet? I will have them at the Eastern Sports & Outdoor show in a couple weeks if you are interested.
thx
craig
2008 F350 Dually, Lariat, 4X4, CC
2014 Sierra 376BHOK
Wife, son & 2 Brittany Spaniels
kenm09 wrote: On a side note, we got inside a KZ Spree Escape this past week and, for the most part, liked what we saw. Any insight/experiences with KZ?
I don't like to label a brand "junk" based on one thing I see. However, based on what I've seen from one gentleman's experience with a KZ Sportsmen Classic, I'd have to think long & hard on them. However, this thing is their entry level trailer that can be had for $8K, so I'm not sure if this gentleman's issue was a fluke. However, I still wouldn't expect my trailer's aluminum to peel away just by driving home from my 3rd trip in it after buying it new.
I have owned a Sportsmen Classic (16BH) for 1.5 years and have put more than a couple thousand miles on it. That sounds like a fluke that happened to that gentleman.
And the Escape is not aluminum either.
Maggie
Sportsmen Classic 16BH
2002 F150 Supercrew 4.6 L V8
I just purchased a 2013 Layton. It has a Queen Single bed, Dry bath and seating for two. I think it pulls great. But I have a f350 diesel dulley crew cab longbed. It is 2750lbs empty. I did see a model with a smaller bed and bumk beds. 9700 out the door.
Pat in Speedway wrote: Glad you mentioned the Gulf Stream Visa. Since I first saw them a couple of years ago, they've remained probably my favorite mass-produced trailer. Happy to see they came out with that 17RWD as well. They had one at the Louisville show last month. I think that floorplan can be had for somewhere in the mid teens, but it may be a tight fit getting two kids in that dinette when functioning as a bed.
Probably the better Visa floorplan for two kids would be the 19RSD: http://gulfstreamrvtrailers.com/visa/floorplans/19RSD.php
However, it might be a tad heavier than you want to go.
We were actually very close to buying a 19RSD but the weight of it concerned me. The dry weight after the features were installed brought it to 3109#. My concern with the 19 foot visas was not just the UVW, but the GVW. I posted on the gsowners forum about this and have not received much response. We were concerned of the GVW of 3900 when the axle was only rated at 3500. When I called Gulf Stream, they told me the remaining 400 rests on the tongue. Which would be fine in a perfect world, however, the majority of individuals that are going to buy a Visa are going to use a weight distributing hitch, putting up to 200 lbs back on the axle. I then was reading about people having "bent" axles and blowouts, which very well may have resulted from them unknowingly putting too much weight on the axle. SO, after about a month of considering the RSD, we have decided to look for something smaller, and then in about 10 years buy something like the 23BHD.
Any other trailers that you have come across that may not be a big name? I found this Sunset RV company and love the Sunray we test drove.
Yeah, I too backed out of the 19RSD due to this 3500lb axle issue. We we're all set on it and ready to tow with our 09 Ody, but I wasnt convinced the we would not have axle/tire issues and we would ride the vans GCVW very close, fully loaded. So just this week we opted to bump to the 23BHD and buy a new Honda Pilot to pull it.
The wife misses having 4 wheel drive and wants a queen size bed in the trailer, so I'm just giving her what SHE wants! LOL
I really liked the Visa when I first ran across them on the internet. Liked the looks, and liked the one piece roof from bumper to tongue. However, I also didn't like that single axle. If they had put a 2nd axle under the 19erd, I'd have been on it.
RinconVTR wrote:
kenm09 wrote:
Pat in Speedway wrote: Glad you mentioned the Gulf Stream Visa. Since I first saw them a couple of years ago, they've remained probably my favorite mass-produced trailer. Happy to see they came out with that 17RWD as well. They had one at the Louisville show last month. I think that floorplan can be had for somewhere in the mid teens, but it may be a tight fit getting two kids in that dinette when functioning as a bed.
Probably the better Visa floorplan for two kids would be the 19RSD: http://gulfstreamrvtrailers.com/visa/floorplans/19RSD.php
However, it might be a tad heavier than you want to go.
We were actually very close to buying a 19RSD but the weight of it concerned me. The dry weight after the features were installed brought it to 3109#. My concern with the 19 foot visas was not just the UVW, but the GVW. I posted on the gsowners forum about this and have not received much response. We were concerned of the GVW of 3900 when the axle was only rated at 3500. When I called Gulf Stream, they told me the remaining 400 rests on the tongue. Which would be fine in a perfect world, however, the majority of individuals that are going to buy a Visa are going to use a weight distributing hitch, putting up to 200 lbs back on the axle. I then was reading about people having "bent" axles and blowouts, which very well may have resulted from them unknowingly putting too much weight on the axle. SO, after about a month of considering the RSD, we have decided to look for something smaller, and then in about 10 years buy something like the 23BHD.
Any other trailers that you have come across that may not be a big name? I found this Sunset RV company and love the Sunray we test drove.
Yeah, I too backed out of the 19RSD due to this 3500lb axle issue. We we're all set on it and ready to tow with our 09 Ody, but I wasnt convinced the we would not have axle/tire issues and we would ride the vans GCVW very close, fully loaded. So just this week we opted to bump to the 23BHD and buy a new Honda Pilot to pull it.
The wife misses having 4 wheel drive and wants a queen size bed in the trailer, so I'm just giving her what SHE wants! LOL
Erroll, Mary, Duffy the Badger Dog plus "Ollie"
2009 HiLo Towlite 2209T
2005 F150 Supercab 4x4, w/ 5.4L
My wife and I just recently purchased a V Cross Vibe 6504 in AZ. We have only had it out on one trip so far but we were really happy with the trailer. It's our first trailer. We hope to report nice things about our future experiences with the trailer. FYI, we are towing the trailer with a 2012 Toyota Highlander. I would strongly recommend investing in their weight distribution hitch. There is NO way I would tow this trailer without one. Bigger Towing vehicles may not need to take my recommendation though. We have the 5000lb Trailer tow package on our Highlander but the fine print says not to exceed 5000 lbs at 45 mph. ;:0) The Vibe has (so far) proven perfect for us with a 3100 dry weight.
Almot wrote: V-nose sets more restrictions on floor-planning. Less room for the same length, and less efficient use of available room. Don't know how much fuel it would save due to improved aerodynamics compared to a conventional radius front wall, depends on frequency of use, but I bet one can get same or better economy from slower speed and lighter load. Especially the speed - energy required to overcome air resistance goes up as the square of velocity (force of resistance goes up as the cube of velocity).
I look at it like the V-cross trailers add an extra 2 ft. of space which is usually wasted...over the front hitch section...thus an 18 ft comparable trailer gains that extra 2 feet in the nose though the overall length of the trailer from back to the ball is the same. As for lighter load...the weights of the Vibes are so tight that there's very little allowance for any cargo to be carried anyway....(don't know what you'd be able to put in those huge cargo bays....inflatables?...
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