Any Mountaineer 347THT Owners?

I have only loaded my bike once into the 347THT at the dealership. It was not hooked up to any tow vehicle and we raised the front end alot, so the rear ramp had an easy slope. I was reading the manual for the 347THT and it says you should leave your tow vehicle hooked up when loading a vehicle into the garage. I was just wondering if people are leaving it unhitched and raising the front up when loading or unloading? I found the front end will really go up alot. The service person was surprised at how far up it would extend. We were thinking maybe it was built to go up higher to give the rear ramp a gentle slope. Is anybody else raising the front end up to make loading and unloading any easier?

Yes Bob, it does look like we got the rig you had been looking at. Gleen from Camper World had mentioned to us when we picked it up that we were lucky as he said another staff member had said that she had been working with someone that was very interested in it. When I read your entry about mot getting the 347THT I wondered if you were the person that had been looking at it. Glad to see it worked out in the end for you. I know we really like our rig and as soon as this house sells we will be making it our home.

Congratulations Jim and Carol! I'm quite familiar with your 347THT as my wife and I took a ride down to Bakersfield last July to take a look at the only one on the west coast. We weren't ready to buy just yet and had heard about some nice improvements on the 2012 model. Gabriela from Camping World called us around Oct 1st saying the unit was still there and they were willing to make us a better offer. We asked about adding a few things and were haggling back and forth for several weeks. We were still trying to decide between ordering a new one and getting that one when she called and said "someone" had put a deposit on it and it looked like it was gone. Well, that helped us make our decision! Of course, my long and sordid tale is documented here. Many moons later and we still don't have a rig to call our own.(sniff-sniff) Actually, we did buy another one on December 22nd with our insurance proceeds and hope to have it in California by Feb 1st. The folks on this site have been very supportive and full of great information. Seems like everyone else is hauling Harleys so I'll remain the oddball of the group. ;^) Welcome aboard.

WOW Jim and Carol.
Great to hear you have a plan and how well it is coming together.
Thank you for your servicer to this great country and congratulations on your upcoming (2nd?) retirement.
Look forward to reading about your progress.
Keep us posted.

Carol and I really lucked out getting our 347THT. We were looking at Toy Haulers in Bakersfield (End of Oct) and was not really happy with what we were seeing when Gleen, our salesman at Camping World, took us to check out one more 5th wheel. We loved the Montana Mountaineer and came back the next the day and signed the paperwork. Waited a week to pick it up with our new Silverado 2500. Towed it over to the Fam Camp at Edwards AFB (I'm Retired USAF) and Carol stayed there for a couple weeks checking everything out. I will be retiring at the end of June and by then our house should be sold, so we look forward to hitting the road. I have read with great interest all the entries about how to secure your bike. We have a 2010 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited. I am going to re-enforce the floor under the rear tire with either wood or I am thinking of going to a shop and having a sheet of diamond plate steel cut for the area under the rear wheel. I know the bike will fit, as I rode it up into the RV prior to purchase. Backing it out was a little scary, as I had some front wheel sliding on floor. I like the tip about leaving it in gear going down--I will make sure I do that the next time I back it down. I also plan on buying some rubber strips (Home Depot)that are about five inches wide and 18 inches or so long with self adhesive backing. I'll buy enough to have a rough surface, so tire will not slip. I like the idea of securing the wheel chock to the fram, so will have that done soon. I think I will buy a winch at Harbor Freight, to assist in backing down and in case I cannot start the bike for some reason, it might come in handy pulling the bike up into the garage. I will have it all set up prior to June 1! As soon as our house sells we are going to be living in the RV at Edwards AFB until June. Gated Community and very secure:)

Wahoo. I like the plan for the adventure and again "CONGRATULATIONS". You have truely done it the right way--------that's why you have settlement in hand.

Mountaineer 347THT 2.0

I had the foresight to put the new trailer on my insurance policy a few days before it was hauled. My insurance company has done a great and sympathetic job in getting this resolved no thanks to the hauler or his insurance. So, with settlement in hand I located another one with our preferred interior in and it's now in process for upgrades, again, at an east coast dealership as I could find none available elsewhere. For those who really want a 2012 347THT and not the new 357, I can tell you there are only about 5-6 more left on dealer lots and nearly all have the Sable decor. I've noted some used ones appearing lately as well. This time we'll turn it into an adventure and go pick it up ourselves then take some time returning to California along a southernly route.

Denoel, just read your last post and thanks for detailing for me. I have been advised Santa is going to be very good to me this year.
For travel, I secure the front of the frame (top of the engine guards) to d-rings. I also run a tiedown from the rear d-rings, through the spokes of the rear tire (on top of a soft pad). I read somewhere that there is a lot of horizontal movement for anything rear of the trailer axles and therefore could cause the rear tire to compromise the integrety of the wood floor. I also use the plywood plate under the rear tire to spread the foot print.
Thanks

Bob and Jeanie,
We are so sorry to hear about this. Keep us posted as things unravel.

Well, so much for all my great investigation and planning. I was just notified the hauler rolled the new trailer and tow rig in the middle of a high wind snow storm outside of Cheyenne, WY. The driver was injured and held overnight in the hospital for observation. They had been in good communication up until last night. Heard nothing today and was getting a bad feeling. Yesterday afternoon I sent the driver a weather forecast for Cheyenne about the storm and he thanked me for the heads up. Yes, their insurance has it covered but who knows when or how this will come out now? We had it all customized and upgraded to our specs plus, as I mentioned, they don't make this floorplan anymore. I really don't why it's so freaking hard sometimes. Incredible.