nephi007 wrote:
Howdy. Here is what I've learned from this site to get with our next travel trailer purchase..Solera slide out topper...water pressure regulator.. Barker or Atwood electric jack..azdel construction material.. lippert axles good..drexel axles are bad..geared corners for the slide and not cable or hydraulic..many outlets..maxi tires..surge protector..sloped roof for runoff..30% off MSRP..diamond plate rock protector..EZ lubes.. By the way we are looking at the Passport 252BH for now. so far that's it..anything else?
Think you pretty well covered it except did you mean Dexter axles, and why are they bad or worse than anyone else's? A lot of them on the road............Tires? they'll only be load rated for what's necessary to move the whole package down the road....and from that notorious Far Eastern Country :B. Any slide room has potential for drive problems; any operator type is powered by an electric motor to move the actuators, cables, gear rack, pump fluid through lines etc. Hydraulic is just potentially messy in the event of a failure.
Main function of the 'crown' roof that is now popular is increased interior headroom, not exterior water shed. It can leak the same as a roof with less 'pitch'. And you still have that long, long seam around the perimeter of the trailer where roof membrane meets wall. I'd be more concerned with how well the manufacturer sealed the seams and penetrations. EZ lube axles do not eliminate the need for annual bearing inspection. Says so right in Dexter's service manual. Many owners of TT's with EZ Lube axles (a Dexter product BTW) that post here don't ever add grease through the zerks; they simply perform and old fashioned repack and seal replacement.
30% off the elusive MSRP is good if you get it. Make your best offer and walk if you're not agreeable. Happy hunting.