Any Mountaineer 347THT Owners?

Seems reasonable and well thought out. We only use the 347 to transport the bike about a third of the time. We take our bicycles and canoe in the back on other occasions. Having the garage and large scale storage has worked out well for us although if you don't really "need" that space something shorter/lighter with a couple of rocker recliners and a picture window might be nice too.

All the best as you start your next chapter.

Hey Bob (navspecwarops),
Short story on selling the 347. Retirement has been delayed with the economy and after 49 years of riding/250K miles in the last 25, I felt the need to give it up. My ability to ride and be safe were becoming challenged more than I was comfortable with. So, we will continue to enjoy the RV lifestyle in short bursts. If I sell the 347, we will buy something that will accomodate our lifestyle.
Thanks for your concern. Time marches on. We have been and continue to be truely blessed. Sometimes the best laid plans just don't work out.
Enjoy,
Darrell

Haven't seen anything in awhile so I thought I'd post a question to the masses. There are two gray tanks on this rig. Does anyone know exactly how the supposed 93 gallons of capacity are divied up between the two tanks? I would presume the galley tank is smaller but I can't seem to find the exact numbers.

Answering my own question. According to Keystone they are both 46.5 gallon tanks. Equal size. Considering how much more water gets used with the shower versus the kitchen sink, that seems a bit short-sighted but at least I know now!

D&M - What happened?? :?

Hey Bulldog,
No we haven't ft with the unit but that was the purpose of buying it and had things worked out differently, we would be ft next year. Unfortunately, we must sell our 2011 347THT.....that's another story.
We have pulled it with a 2010 F350 LB, crew, dually, V-10 gas. We are very pleased with the handling and control with this setup with one exception. If I were keeping it, I would change out the Pin Box with a Demco Glide Ride. The only complaint we have with the ride is the bucking with bridge approaches and other road surface irregularities and pin slap when stopping and starting (the later easily controlled by smoother operation and taking more time).
Our travels have not been as extensive as others on here, but a couple times a year we were able to live in her 2 weeks at a time--TX, CO, KS, MO AR. It truely fit us to a "T". The garage, once we arrived at our destination, was easily converted to the "mancave" so we could watch TV, work with the laptop, or sit and look through the screened tail cover at the mountains.....or whatever landscape we had.
Our Heritage rolled up and down the ramp and worked great once we figured out a good safe technique...as has been mentioned...backing down in gear, using the clutch and front brake in unison so both feet are on the floor/ground. We also at times repositioned the nose/rear of the trailer for loading, giving less angle to work with.
The only addition after we took delivery was to add a heat vent for the garage off the furnace........perfect.
If any of you hear of someone interested in a 2011 347THT, I would appreciate it if you would guide them this way.
Good luck and have fun,

Hi Mike, We purchased our 2011 347THT back in Oct 2911 and went full time in July 2012. We left CA and are now SD residents (SD has no state income taxes and are very friendly towards FT RVers) Stopped by the Sturgis Rally for 10 days and lots of Riding our HD Ultra Glide. We are here at Key West Naval Base RV Campground. I'm retired Air Force, so am able to stay here. Prior to hitting the road we put in A Splendide Washer/Dryer combo, Wingard Slimline Satellite dish and all new cable for 4 TVs, 5.5 cummins Onan LP Gen., had motorcycle chock installed to frame in rear room. Since this is our home we wanted to be able to live full time in it. My wife really likes the washer/ dryer. We did learn that the the Splendide washer/dryer (vented) does need to be cleaned every month by running a special wash cycle. We called the company up when we got a fault code and the e-mailed us the special wash cycle that you run three times . Unit gets clogged up and then gets a fault code and shuts down. After running the clean cycle we have had no problems. We did have to have our ramp replaced. It was a little after warranty, but u notified Keystone prior warranty ending, so they provided new Ramp and 3 hours labor. I had to pay for two hours labor. The old ramp had a joint cone apart and the ramp had some bow in it. It looks like new door is built more sturdy. I was at a Camping world recently and pulled up right next to a new 347THT. I think they are a foot longer and I know the door us wider by at least 8 inches to a foot. I like our RV, because our back room is build for an office with TV desk and drawer space and also space for files. The newer ones have bunks back there instead. I wonder if the office is an option. I have already gone over the way I get the HD in and out in another post. Remember, use the clutch and front brake and lay some none skid strips on the floor. I'm at the point now that I'm comfortable driving the bike up and coasting it down. I went to Harbor Freight and purchased a couple of ramps that I put down, so my feet are never off the ground when I come down and I pur one on my left side when I drive it up. I bought a winch and tried to use it, but did not work, because I did not have a good mount for the winch. I've talked to several people and the last bid u got was insane. So, until I can find a good way to mount the winch I'll just ride it up and rude it down. My turbo diesel 6.6 2500 (4x4)pulls it great. I installed Air Ride Air Bags with remote. That really helps. We have lived in our RV now over a year. We lived in it for six months prior to hitting the road. We have learned a lot. One thing I've learned us to make sure you have a checklist for set up and take down. Also, in the kitchen make SURE the drawers are closed in the lurched. We dang neared door a drawer apart when we slid the kitchen slider out. Also , clear off the area by the slider or it will end up getting stuck in the space between drawers and slider . Feel free to E-Mail me.

Hey there bulldog. Not a full-timer, but had ours for a while and have spent months at a time in ours. The 347THT is one of the lightest toyhauler 5ers out there that I know of. We tow with a 2002 F250, with the 7.3, SRW 4WD and the trailer package, with Firestone ride-rite air bags. Have a DP Tuner with 60 hp tow, 40 hp tow, and a decel tune, which really helps going down big grades. Added a bigger trans cooler too.

We towed to Oregon, Washington, Alaska and back from MI and to FL 3 winters now. We've had no problems whatsoever, even up and down 10 to 13 percent grades on some back roads north of Whistler, BC. I would consider the truck we have, with all the extras listed, to be the minimum. A DRW F350 or comparable other brand would be about perfect, but no way am I going to spend the money they want for a new one these days. I wouldn't own a DRW anyway as we use the truck for around town, etc.

Thinking about this rig as a full time RV. Of all the other full timers out there, do you have any regrets with this unit ?? What is everyone towing them with. I can see some of the rigs in your signatures, but not all. And if you have a SRW is it enough. What is the minimum truck to tow this rig, and what is the most ideal ?? Chime in please.........

Mike

As you've probably read, I've already had my rear door replaced under warranty. It's a slight redesign with a different seal for the door as well. The top board on my ramp split down the middle. It appears to be one solid piece now. We have about 11K miles on our trailer now and no rust or issues with the rear hinges. I'd get in sooner rather than later. Anyone with a decent service department who sells Keystone should be able to get you going. HOWEVER, it took almost three weeks to get the new door made, shipped, and installed.

A question for the masses. Any thoughts on trailer covers? Camping World had been running this sale on the Tyvek models. It just appears to us that installing and removing would be huge undertaking on something this tall.

New Subject: I am having problems with the Ramp. Here are the problems I have:

1. When the ramp is closed rainwater leaks in the upper right side of the ramp. I can see daylight coming through for about 18 inches. the seal looks fine, so it must be that either the ramp does not fit or the ramp is not cut right.

Note: I had a roll of that window shade material from Camping world, and put the rolled up plastic in the opening and that has stopped the water from coming in and forming a puddle on the floor.

2. I have a soft spot in my ramp, right where the tires go up on my HD Electra Glide. I suspect the underlying board is cracked.

3. Today, right after I loaded up my bike I discovered that the bottom left joint of the top ramp, that connects the frame to the wood had come apart and the wood was about one inch out of the bottom frame of the top part of the ramp. I dont think it was like that when I drove the bike up it, I think it separated when I was walking down the ramp. Anyway, this could have been very bad. I do keep stacked wood underneath the ramp, so that might have saved the day?

4. The door mount bolts at the bottom are all rusting very bad.

I called Keystone last month about the weak spot, rusting bolts and the leak. I told them I was full time and was in route to southern FL and did not think I could get it serviced before the end of Oct (when my warrantee expires), they said they would write it down in computer. Not sure if this means I'm ok. Anyway, I will stop at a camping world soon and see what needs to be done.

I have taken the bike up and down the ramp maybe 15 times.

For those of you who are wondering what is the best angle for the ramp, here is what works for me.

I take two measurements: I measure the top ramp door right between those to large bolds. From that edge of the door to the ground needs to be 24 inches, or lower, and then I take another measure of the lower rampt between the two bolts and that must be 14 inhces or lower from the ground.

With that angle I drive right up and stop , a couple feet from my chaulk. I have my wife place a board under my rear tire them my wife tells me if I need to turn a little left or right and then I drive right into the chaulk. This system has been working good for me. Coming back down I use front brake and also the clutch. I also bought a couple of ramps at Harbor Freight and use them at the bottom to help me stand on something other than air. I really like having those ramps to stand on at the bottom. Works good for me.

We are now full time and have been since July 1 and loving it. Got side tracked in Omhas when my mother-in-law had Heart Attack and needed triple by-pass surgery. Was a real blessing that we were in the area and was apple to be with her until she was back home and was back on her feet.

Jim

Wow.........not overkill if it accomplishes what you want. We're still carrying our own water for drinking/cooking.
Enjoy,
Darrell