Currently we have a 2014 Rockwood 8311SS and we're considering trading in for a 2018 Highland Ridge Open Range Roamer RT328BHS. We love the large couch, island, residential fridge, bunk house with bathroom, and king bed. I just don't know a lot about this brand, so asking everyone to provide any feedback. Also, how are residential refridgerators? do the ice makers work well? Should I put out additional $$'s on a back up camera? We're towing this trailer with a Ford Excursion V10. Trailer weighs 9800 lbs and my Ford tows 11,000 lbs. Don't think we'll put over 1000 lbs on the trailer, but thoughts are welcome.

My survey of Open Range was short. My son found a 2013 at dealer near Houston who said it was inspected and ready to go. All except for that black mold we found in the front wall in one of the bedroom cabinets. For some strange reason and always finding junk there previously I then went to PPL and noticed the same model OR with damage in the same area but worse. I looked closely at it and it just opened up to a grapefruit sized hole with heavy mold in the wall. I then visited Mich for a while and looked at rigs at CW and spotted a 2015 OR FW with the bottom of the slide rotted out. Doesn't mean all OR are like that. Resi frig is great, I have 1000 watts of solar and resi believes in taking a lot of it.

Are you aware, your max towing capacity is going down, as is your available payload, while you are loading people, pets and cargo into the tow vehicle, and your weight distributing hitch takes away about 100 lbs?Average load (dishes, bedding, camp chairs and gear, BBQ, pots and pans, groceries, and water) is 800 - 1000 lbs.While your tow capacity is creeping down towards 10,000 lbs, the trailer will be creeping up towards 11,000.You'll be on the edge, if not over weight.

So what happens if I would creep over the weight a little? Has anyone creeped over a bit? Just curious if I would still be okay or if I should walk away from this deal. I have the largest SUV on the market and don't want to go away from something that gives me this much room.

What you need to do is look at the sticker by the drivers door and find your payload capacity.gross vehicle weight minus curb weight equals payload.Now add the weight of all passengers and gear you plan to place in vehicle plus 15% 0f trailer weight (Hitch weight or tongue weight)MY guess is you are WAY over.NB:I looked up the specs and supposedly your truck weighs about 6800 if 4x2 more if 4x4with a gvwr of 8600. That gives you a payload of 1800 lbs. The trailer hitch weight is about 1400 lbs leaving 400 lbs for you, wife, pets, tools and whatever else you plan to carry in the excursion.https://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/2004-2/2004-ford-excursion-specifications/

You will be well over your weight rating and not by just a little. Being within a thousand pounds with a dry RV is begging for failure. This is a mistake we only make once in life. Mine was many years ago so I speak from experience.Here's a little secret I learned.. A TT can weigh more than it's dry weight even when it's still dry and empty.The reason is because the "dry weight" does not always include the toungue weight.My TT's GVWR is 10,400# and the weight on the axles is 9300# (nearly 1500# more than is advertised...) Great eh? I have 1100# of capacity!That doesn't count the 1400# the tongue weighs!! (which btw is almost 500# more than it supposed to weigh.)So my trailer actually weighs 10,700# or 500# over it's stated GVWR and that's the real load on the truck.Long story short, I can guaranty you will be over by at least 1000# and maybe much more.

Advise on Purchasing a TT | Good Sam Community

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azrving
Explorer
Aug 22, 2017
My survey of Open Range was short. My son found a 2013 at dealer near Houston who said it was inspected and ready to go. All except for that black mold we found in the front wall in one of the bedroom cabinets. For some strange reason and always finding junk there previously I then went to PPL and noticed the same model OR with damage in the same area but worse. I looked closely at it and it just opened up to a grapefruit sized hole with heavy mold in the wall.

I then visited Mich for a while and looked at rigs at CW and spotted a 2015 OR FW with the bottom of the slide rotted out. Doesn't mean all OR are like that. Resi frig is great, I have 1000 watts of solar and resi believes in taking a lot of it.

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Advise on Purchasing a TT

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