SoundGuy wrote:
rbpru wrote:
I always suggest renting a TT the size you want and try before you buy.
Seems the OP is ahead of you, saying in his opening post - "So, I will be testing this a bit in renting a Jayco Jay Flight 23MBH which I believe would be my limit in terms of length at just over 27'. I will be taking a trip to Yellowstone and Jackson ..." 'though I doubt dragging a trailer this large to an RV parking lot like Fishing Bridge is going to tell him much. ;)
My test plan...
Night 1: Put it on the TV, get a feel for the size and weight by driving both highway and a quick dry camp on an FS road in Alpine. Also quickly get a feel for the Equalizer, but also if air bags are in my future...
Night 2-5: Stay at Fishing Bridge as a "hotel". Yes, I know it is packed like sardines and a formal site with asphalt pads and I will "try" not to let the site influence my test. What I am looking for here is to "tell me" what the full hookup experience is like including dump stations, etc. Also, this is sleeping only as I will rarely be here, and one night I won't stay there per a walk in camp.
Night 6: I have a reservation at Colter Bay; again with full hookups to go through setup again in a formal site. Similar to Fishing bridge, this gives me a feel for navigation of the TT around and into spots. This also allows me to park the TT, and do some scouting between Togwotee and the Jackson area for sites in the national forest I have used before. If I find them still usable , and I am comfortable with navigation, I will move there. If they are not available, I am sure I will find something.
Nights 7-10: Unknown, but it will be dry camping per above with the worst case scenario hitting one of the local campgrounds like Gros Ventre. That would help on just the power side, but also using all water tanks off grid.
My testing includes towing and camping. On the towing side, I know I am well within my limits in terms of tow weight, payload, etc. Remember, I have a ski boat that is just under the weight of this TT, and have my smaller popup as well, so this is not my first rodeo. The test in towing means how the weight /size feels on paved and gravel roads, agility, etc. In that regard, I only have 10 days, but in that time, I will either get a "what was I thinking?", or identify potential issues that I have and have not considered. Either way, any test is going to be better than buying off the lot as many do. I think this is where you get the TT's sitting without being used as people really never had experience in camping, let alone with a large TT that has limitations. While I am not new to camping, or self contained campers, this opens the door to using more campgrounds than I am used to, which really was the original question since most reviews complained about less than parking lot conditions. So, if that is what this is all about, I will learn that quickly as well. Not for me...
Thank you all for your helpful responses.
