Camping in hot weather

[Travelinsarah]

Hi Guys, We are in the market to purchase our first trailer but first we are going to rent a few see what works for us. We are going to Kern River for Labor Day and it's super hot in Sept. We are renting so, do you think we could go in a hybrid or should we go with the bunkhouse? We have a vehicle that can only tow 3500 so we are a bit limited. I found the KZ Spree Escape 196S and the Jayco Feather X17Z. There are going to be 5 us. Me, hubby, 2 year old, 16 year and mother in law. Thanks and happy camping.

[bgum]

It is sure to be hot during the day look for cool thins to do such as swimming or napping. Nights should be bearable. Go and enjoy. Keep your weight and speed down.

[time2roll]

Travelinsarah wrote:
I'm fairly sure you can go the back way to Kern to skip the grapevine - going up the 14. My friend has a cabin there.

If you are worried about the 6% grapevine... you need more truck, less trailer.

[rexlion]

Dry hitch weight listed for a TT is without LP, water, or gear and may not even include battery. Listed dry wt of the KZ is 340, Jayco is 405 if I am seeing it correctly. Is your Sorento hitch weight rating greater than 350 lbs? You may see some serious rear end sag. But I suppose if you drive slowly for the relatively short trip, it should not tear the hitch receiver off. Might have to actually load nore weight to the rear, not the front! I think I would go with the shorter Jayco for better handling and nighttime ventilation, and put the stuff near the back to lighten the hitch. No water in any tank ahead of the axle for travel.

[aguablanco]

Travelinsarah wrote:
O.k. Sound Guy - I'm not an idiot. We are taking two cars. I will for sure abide by my towing capacity - would you like to see the worksheet? These are single axel rigs under 3000 lbs dry.

FYI we also have the SX which is a V6 engine not the V4.

http://www.keepyourdaydream.com/payload/

I hate to be the one to point this out, however, you leave me no choice. You joined 2 days ago, have never towed a travel trailer, are using a small vehicle to now do so and then you crack wise with people trying to help you, at your request. Do you see how this could be, or become, an issue?
RichH

[profdant139]

Sarah, that is probably a good idea to go the long way!

[Tyler0215]

On an unrelated issue, you state the vehicle is a lease. Are you violating the terms of your lease by towing? Better check.

[Travelinsarah]

I'm fairly sure you can go the back way to Kern to skip the grapevine - going up the 14. My friend has a cabin there.

[SoundGuy]

Travelinsarah wrote:
O.k. Sound Guy - I'm not an idiot. We are taking two cars. I will for sure abide by my towing capacity - would you like to see the worksheet? These are single axel rigs under 3000 lbs dry.

Actually neither trailer will weigh this little ... yes, their advertised brochure weight is under 3000 lbs but you can bet the actual stickered weight as these trailers left the factory equipped as they were are both well in excess of that. My own 19' trailer as it left the factory was 280 lbs heavier than it's brochure UVW. But hey, you obviously know better so good luck with it. 😉

[time2roll]

For best results I recommend keeping the trailer GVWR at or below the tow rating. Enjoy the rental but consider this before you purchase.
Forget dry weight, shipping weight etc. unless you plan to distribute new trailers for a living.

Get the bunks.

[ford_truck_guy]

without getting into the can I tow it debate.. MY OPINION is you would be better off with the KZ..

the GVW is the same... the empty weight is 90# less.. the hitch weight is 65# less..

AND for me the MOST IMPORTANT feature that is different is that the KZ has a hard wall slide out... where the Jayco has 2 fold outs with canvas.... I THINK the KZ would be easier to keep cool with no canvas on each end.

AGAIN... JUST MY OPINION

[Travelinsarah]

Thank you so much for your very educational post. I will make sure to have sway control. The hybrid is a shorter rig and might easier for a first timer like us. I was just worried about the heat. We are only going for 4 days so we don't need to pack much. My husband is an amazing driver and will downshift for sure. Thing is we have this car for another 2 1/2 years (its a lease) so no getting a bigger one until then. I think the hybrid might be the best bet for a first time travel trailer from what people are posting.

[profdant139]

Sarah, welcome to the forums! Please be assured that not everyone who posts here is grumpy -- some of us try to be as helpful as possible. Don't be discouraged!

Having said that, you really are pushing the limits of what you can tow safely with that vehicle. Most folks like to build in a big cushion of safety. The issue is not towing on flat ground. It is going uphill and (more crucially) downhill.

Coming from LA to the Kern, you will have to deal with the Grapevine. Up the hill northbound, you will be in the truck lane. Just be patient, and watch your engine temp.

Coming down the hill northbound is a little trickier. You will definitely want to downshift to save your brakes from overheating. That particular stretch of road is tricky because we tend to go faster than the trucks and slower than the cars, yet there are only three lanes on that downgrade.

On level ground in the San Joaquin Valley, keep your speed in the high 50s.

Will this rental come equipped with any sort of sway control? If not, be sure to load the trailer heavily in front of the axle -- inadequate tongue weight can cause sway, which can get very dangerous very fast.

Once you decide to buy a trailer, you may want to look at a beefier tow vehicle. I tow a small (2000 pound) trailer with a Tacoma, supposedly rated at 6000 pounds. It is sufficient.

Don't be discouraged by all of the technical stuff connected with towing and trailering. Yes, there is a steep learning curve. But it is incredibly fun, and great for folks with kids. We did not discover camping till our kids were grown, unfortunately. And living in California means that although the traffic is bad, there are lots and lots of places to go, all year round. Check out our blog posts (see link in my signature) for a taste of what is available to you!

Unless I am mistaken, I think it cools down on the Kern after sunset. So although you will need the a/c for the baby's afternoon nap, you might not need it at night. Hybrids have much better ventilation than hard-sided trailers (like mine), which is both a plus and a minus.

Hang in there, and have fun!

[ricks99]

I don't think the heat will be an issue. I've camped at the NC beaches (Emerald Isle and Carolina Beach) in June and Aug. Daytime temps in the 90s. Our HTT's AC was fine. In fact, the TT next door was envious that I could open my bunk ends and take advantage of the ocean breeze more easily than he was.

Space-wise, the HTT is a clear winner: 2 queens without sacrificing floor space

[Travelinsarah]

O.k. Sound Guy - I'm not an idiot. We are taking two cars. I will for sure abide by my towing capacity - would you like to see the worksheet? These are single axel rigs under 3000 lbs dry.

FYI we also have the SX which is a V6 engine not the V4.

http://www.keepyourdaydream.com/payload/

[jbjuices]

We had a Hybrid and did not like it; for more reasons than the heat. It was a little warmer in the beds, but my big issue was the leaking that occurred at when closed up. Had to take it back 3x to have seals replaced and finally got rid of it. I admit, it does give you more room, but that's the only advantage that I can think of.