B+ motorhomes

[Daniel_C_]

I just bought a Trail Lite B+ 211s with 8.1 Chevy
engine. This is my fifth motorhome (others range
from an old 20' Vagabond, and three Winnegagos, from 19 to 32'. This vehicle is fantastic. I am
using it as a mobile office (and sneaking in a fun
journey from time to time). It gets about 9.5mpg
and I believe I could pull a bus behind it if I wanted! I paid low $40's which is about what I had expected to pay for a five or six year old Chinook with a nicer interior, but fewer features
(slide). I am delighted thus far.

[Gene_in_NE]

backwoodsman - Did go to the website you mentioned and found a couple new forum names of Trail-Lite B+ owners. I had some time to waste the other day and assembled a list of 38 different contributors to this forum and the one mentioned by you.

Have not heard from several for quite some time. Guess that means "no complaints or questions" that have not already been discussed. Or...the owners have gotten tired, or everyone is out enjoying their unit.

I like to think that we are all out enjoying. We certainly have enjoyed ours the last 8,000 miles.

Gene
Trail-Lite 211S w/5.7 Chevy

[backwoodsman]

JAJM, Try the forum on r-vision camping. This is a forum for Trail~Lite Trailers & Motorhomes. There are several B+ owners posting there. www.r-visioncamping.org/

[JAGM]

Thought other Trail-Lite owners would like to know: We just returned from a long trip to the Canadian Maritime provinces. We had about 10 couples ask us about our MH, how we liked it, etc. Some were people moving up and some were people with a huge MH, wanting to downsize. We even had one person offer to buy it. Some people were Canadian, but many were from the states. People with other Trail-Lites liked our layout and full bathroom with the little tub. Anyway, we felt very good about the resale possibilities. We drove 5000 miles, had a great trip, and the Trail-Lite performed like a dream. We really do love this vehicle. Judy Mully, 2003 B+ Trail-Lite, Ford V-10, model 225.

[Gene_in_NE]

WAGM - Thanks for the information. Well, I tried to get a couple of the electric drain valves from CW - hoping they were still on sale. They told me that they no longer offer them in the catalog. Connected me to parts and the gentlemen there told me he can still get them, but they have gone up in price to $109+ each cause they now have a red light on the switch to let you know the valve is open. Measured my existing valves and found one to be 2" from the gray water tank and 3" from the black water tank. The 2" would require some adapter kit. Really did not need the light to tell me I had just opened the valve - did not plan on leaving it open for an extended time. It would have saved me from going outdoors to activate the valve when connected with full hookups. Unless I hear of a better deal, I don't feel like paying close to $250 for something that I'll not use that much.

Gene
2002 Trail Lite 211S w/5.7 Chevy

[TonyTiger]

OK, you know that the 2003 235S and most other B+ models have only a VHS Video Cassette Player. Circuit City had a non progressive scan DVD player for sale for $39. It is a slimline only 13 1/2 inches wide and less deep than the existing VHS player. I was able to mount it over the VHS player and under the switcher box. I replaced the RF cables with a longer set and used a modulator to convert the L and R audio and the video RCA connectors to an RF cable that could be used as the Aux input to the TV.

[WAGM]

Hey Gene, I got them at CW on sale for $35.98, about half price!! Called Drain Master, someone on the forum or irv2 said they were a piece of junk but as you read the installation was junk. They have a 3 year warranty.
See yall in the funnies, Warren

[Gene_in_NE]

WAGM - I like your idea. What brand or where did you buy your electric dump valves? Have been looking for some on the internet to order and could not find anything. It sounds like a good idea when camped with full hookups to be able to fill the black water tank and then hit the switch to dump versus going outside and trying to get to the manual valve.

Gene
2002 Trail-Lite 211S w/5.7 Chevy

[WAGM]

This past week we updated our dumping situation by adding two electric dump valves to go with the macerator pump, NOW dumping will be a breeze. Eventually plan on mounting the pump to the valve so all that will have to be done is screw on the 3/4 inch hose and push a botton. Yhooweeee:R

See yall in the funnies, Warren

[wacushing]

To All
There is a forum at http://www.r-visioncamping.org which is not limited to Good Sam people, but does strictly relate to R-vision people. They must just be starting and are desperate for some good Motorized RV input. They have mostly trailer related info, which is very good, if you are that type user. With all the info necessary to keep Trail Lites in shape thought people here could help. There is an inquiry there now for some tips on the 235S, we have a 211S so do not feel qualified to respond, anyone interested go for it! Thanks!

[Luap]

Problem Solved for now. I bought a EZ sewer hose carrier (64") and attached it to the rear bumper with bungee cords. It holds the hose and fittings. Can't wait to get on thr road. Off to a slow start this rear. Usually have spent at least one weekend away by now, but we have been moving into a new house which has taken up most of our time.
Thanks for the responses....Hope you all have a safe and happy camping season.

Paul & Gail
2004 Trail-lite 213 Chevy 6.0

[Marcellissimo]

Indeed, this mini-built-in-storage-tube for our sewer hose is not the idea of a Trait-Lite genius who has camped a lot!!! I measured it : it is exactly 1 foot long ! They could at least have added a foot : there was space for that.
To correct this stupidity, I cut the end of the foot-long tube, bought myself at Home Depot a 6 foot-long flexible aluminum tube (4 inch type) used for the standard clothes dryers. I slipped it gently over the midget tube, taped it firmly and had the rest of the tube make a natural curve towards and along the B+ chassis. Before fixing the whole thing and in order to close the new tube, I taped also the short vinyl piece (previously cut) at the end of the aluminum tube. Last precaution, I punctured the tube a few times to allow the inevitable water to leak out but I am not sure this is necessary. The addition holds now solidly in place with a few plastic attachments and can now receive a 20 foot hose sold at Wal-Mart... instead of the 6 foot one my dealer had equipped our rig (model 251) with!
And it has worked well since then.

[AggieDad]

Howdy Gene!

Thanks for the link. I took a look at the photos. Very interesting!

[Gene_in_NE]

Luap and AggieDad - Check the website "Click Here" where Gary Swanson posted his modifications on 09/23/03 in this forum. Pictures 2 and 5 show how he installed another storage location for his sewer hose. Works for the 211S, don't know if the space is there for the other models.

Gene
2002 Trail-Lite 211S w/5.7 Chevy

[AggieDad]

Howdy!

You are right. The only hose that fits in that silly short tube is a 10' very thin (really cheap junk) hose.

We keep our hose (complete with end fittings) coiled in a 5 gallon plastic pail. With the lid snapped on securely, it makes for a nice mess-free storage container.

Over on the R-Vision Owners Website there is an article by someone who mounted a storage tube under the bed with an access door in the outside wall. It looks really slick, and I am considering this mod for my rig.

I hope this helps.

[Luap]

We have had our motorhome for almost a year and love it. One little problem. Where do you store a sewer hose longer than the midget they provide. The built-in storage tube can not handle anything longer. Thought about a plastic storage tube (64") which handles hose and fittings, but the only place to mount it is on the bumper. Any suggestions??????????

Paul & Gail
2004 Trail-lite 213 chevy.