Coachman Apex 288BH

Knminton wrote:
Just looked at the label. Our payload is 1588. Family of 7 + dogs weigh in at about 700 (mostly youngsters). With 250 in gas, that leaves us with 638 for tongue weight. That may be getting to tight for this TT.

A k2500 sub/ Yukon class has 2400 pound payload, full 3/4 truck running gear and brakes.

A 1500 sub/ Yukon xl had 1500 pound payload, 20 inch rims, air over coils rear suspension. I often find 1500 subs siblings of grand caravans that are designed better at daycares than performing as tow vehicles


A 1500 sub can tow however you can't fill every seat and expect the same

SoundGuy wrote:

Knminton wrote:
Just looked at the label. Our payload is 1588. Family of 7 + dogs weigh in at about 700 (mostly youngsters). With 250 in gas, that leaves us with 638 for tongue weight. That may be getting to tight for this TT.

Most manufacturers spec the base weight of a vehicle including a full tank of gas. Forget that silly payload sticker, to really understand what you're dealing with go weigh your truck with a full tank of gas and preferably including any hitch equipment you use, especially the WD head, even the spring bars. If you don't yet have this equipment allow 100 lbs as an average and add that later to the weigh scale slip ... if you're in the truck at the time subtract your weight from the scale reading, then you'll have your particular truck's actual base weight as it sits there ready to be hitched to a trailer. Subtract that number from it's GVWR and the difference will be it's real world payload capacity - i.e. how much to have to work with to accommodate the additional weight of all people and all cargo you may add plus any tongue weight transferred to the truck from the trailer. Don't do this, just go by the stickers and your own rough calculations (as you're now doing) and you'll only be guessing.

Thank you! Will do just that.

Knminton wrote:
Just looked at the label. Our payload is 1588. Family of 7 + dogs weigh in at about 700 (mostly youngsters). With 250 in gas, that leaves us with 638 for tongue weight. That may be getting to tight for this TT.

Most manufacturers spec the base weight of a vehicle including a full tank of gas. Forget that silly payload sticker, to really understand what you're dealing with go weigh your truck with a full tank of gas and preferably including any hitch equipment you use, especially the WD head, even the spring bars. If you don't yet have this equipment allow 100 lbs as an average and add that later to the weigh scale slip ... if you're in the truck at the time subtract your weight from the scale reading, then you'll have your particular truck's actual base weight as it sits there ready to be hitched to a trailer. Subtract that number from it's GVWR and the difference will be it's real world payload capacity - i.e. how much to have to work with to accommodate the additional weight of all people and all cargo you may add plus any tongue weight transferred to the truck from the trailer. Don't do this, just go by the stickers and your own rough calculations (as you're now doing) and you'll only be guessing.

Just looked at the label. Our payload is 1588. Family of 7 + dogs weigh in at about 700 (mostly youngsters). With 250 in gas, that leaves us with 638 for tongue weight. That may be getting to tight for this TT.

I don't have the HD trailering package; however, we have the HD oil cooler and external tranny cooler. The only thing we lack is integrated brake controller (big deal), 3.42's (we have 3.08's - such a tall first gear on the 6L80 - is this that big of a deal?), and 2-speed transfer case. It's downrated to 6,000 from 8,000. That seems a bit extreme, so I think I could get away with 6500 as equipped.

You all are speaking to my heart with the talk of product quality. I am a Director of Quality in a manufacturing company it drives me crazy reading about the service necessary even in the top brands.

We have the Apex 279RLSS. Not a bunkhouse. Dry weight of 5400 lbs, est 6400 lbs loaded. It's only two of us and 3 small dogs. If your YXL has the HD tow package it will tow. I tow with a Yukon Denali 6.2l and HD tow package rated to tow 7900 lbs. Of primary concern is your payload...check yellow sticker on you door frame. My payload is about 1370 lbs. I pull the 3rd row seating and travel light. I Tow in the NC mountains with no problem. The longer wheelbase on the YXL is a plus.

We love the Apex and had two minor warranty issues which dealer fixed quickly. Quality is good. Our third TT in 12 years. You don't get automotive quality in rv's. They are mostly hand built...very little automation to ensure process repeatability controlling quality. Guy has a bad day...its shows up in the product!

Knminton wrote:
What are the thoughts on Coachman's quality? I saw someone posted a review site at some point, but I cannot find it now.

While reviews may make for interesting reading I'm not sure they really mean much as most recreational vehicles are still built to a relatively low standard of quality overall as the industry hasn't progressed anywhere near as far as the auto industry has over the last 30 yrs. For 3 seasons now we've owned a 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express, built in the same facility as the Coachmen Apex, and while we haven't had any particularly major issues with the unit it's certainly no better or worse than any previous trailers we've owned. Obviously every manufacturer will rave that theirs are the latest and greatest but when it comes down to it most are pretty average and if you're lucky you'll have no more than relatively minor issues to deal with, regardless of the make or model you purchase.