Hello, my name is Doug and I have a problem...

[Doug33]

Yesterday my wife and I were returning from a trip to New England. When we got to the NJ Turnpike, I saw what looked like a TT up ahead of us about a quarter mile. Knowing that TTs are pretty rare on the roadway here during the winter, I immediately wanted to check out the situation. I tried catching up but we were in a construction zone and traffic was really bad. After about 10 minutes I was able to get up on the left side of the TT, and discovered it was the same Keystone Bullet series as my TT. As we were aside the Bullet, my wife and I were debating whether it was bigger or smaller than our TT. Based on the position of the windows and the slide out, I thought it was basically the same floorplan. Since it was a white color, I already knew that the Bullet was probably a 2012 model, since the Bullet changed to beige color in 2013.

Soon after we first evaluated the TT, the left lane slowed way down so the TT got quite a bit of distance on us. I had to catch back up to the TT, but this time on the right side so I could check out the exact model. Due to the congestion on the highway, it took me another 10 minutes to catchup, and move over two lanes. And to my delight, it turned out the Bullet was the exact same model as ours 281BHS!

I was still left wondering why the TT was being towed and where. There was only one person in the TV, which was a Chevy Silverado 2500. So I ruled out a couple or family traveling south for the winter. I knew the TV was not from NJ, because it did not have a front plate, but I was not able to check the plate on the back of the TT. Perhaps it was just being transported somewhere.

Anyway - this obsession with TTs made the trip go by a lot faster. LOL

[Doug33]

I obviously needed a checklist during this process, because I forgot to obtain some of the information listed in this thread. In my defense, if there is one, this encounter took place after I had been driving for the past 6 hours through 6 states, so I may have been slightly road-weary at that point. 🙂

[CavemanCharlie]

sbowman871 wrote:
That's why we go through these exercises. To help train the novice eye on proper TT "rubber necking" here are some basics:

WD set up- bars parallel to frame or non-existent?
TT nose up or down?
Temporary tag on the back? Could be owner, could be transport.
TV- was there a placard on the door? Yes= transport. No= possible new owner.
Final clue:

Temporary tag on the back.
No WD system of any kind between TV And TT.
Numbers scribbled on frame or bumper of TT with wax pencil.
TT nice and clean, TV dirty.
TT nose up or down, doesn't matter.
Transporter sign on TV door.
F250/ 2500 or larger TV.

If it's most of the above, it's a new unit going to a dealership or customer. Follow the rig to final destination. If I missed anything, please chime in.

Brand name, model, and approximant length, so that you can post it on here and I can look it up and add it to my favorites list if I like it.

[sbowman871]

That's why we go through these exercises. To help train the novice eye on proper TT "rubber necking" here are some basics:

WD set up- bars parallel to frame or non-existent?
TT nose up or down?
Temporary tag on the back? Could be owner, could be transport.
TV- was there a placard on the door? Yes= transport. No= possible new owner.
Final clue:

Temporary tag on the back.
No WD system of any kind between TV And TT.
Numbers scribbled on frame or bumper of TT with wax pencil.
TT nice and clean, TV dirty.
TT nose up or down, doesn't matter.
Transporter sign on TV door.
F250/ 2500 or larger TV.

If it's most of the above, it's a new unit going to a dealership or customer. Follow the rig to final destination. If I missed anything, please chime in.

[bfast54]

Ok.....not being critical here......But.....you cought up to it 2 times,one on right,one on left.....and you DID NOT SEE the PLATE ON THE BACK ..:E...to determine if it might be transported...............In addition to the Attraction to Campers......Might I suggest...EYE EXAM.........L.O.L.....:W

[Francesca_Knowl]

TheBigdog wrote:
Did it have Chinese made tires?

:B

[TheBigdog]

Did it have Chinese made tires?

[Doug33]

I was trying not to speed - therefore the frustration with catching up to the TT to get information!

[ford_truck_guy]

In Maryland on 95 , they have cameras in the work zones to take your picture if speeding... You have no idea until a few weeks later when the fine shows up in the mail...

[NJRVer]

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Boy howdy, In MN fines are double in a work zone and the speed limit is at the most 55. So you were going 20 over the limit. Just off the top of my head I think that would be about a 300 dollar ticket here.

It is posted the same here.
But the reality is it takes doing something really stupid in addition to the speeding for them to ticket you as long as traffic is moving smoothly.
They are interested in keeping the flow going.

[CavemanCharlie]

Boy howdy, In MN fines are double in a work zone and the speed limit is at the most 55. So you were going 20 over the limit. Just off the top of my head I think that would be about a 300 dollar ticket here.

[Doug33]

NJRVer wrote:

Doug33 wrote:

sbowman871 wrote:
What did the WD hitch look like? Were the bars running parrellel to the frame or were they angled toward or away from the TT frame? Was the TT traveling nose down or up? Details man, we need details! Off season camping blues setting in. Be strong, think happy thoughts for spring. Maybe a 12 step camping blues program is in order. Or.......move south.

I'm embarrassed to think I did not get these details. Then again, I was too busy trying to negotiate between three lanes of traffic going 75 MPH through a work zone, kind of like playing the game of Frogger with tractor trailers. :E

I guess I'll have to work on my RV sleuth skills!:B

Hmmm, 75mph in the work zone! Well it is the NJTP so that is pretty normal. That wouldn't be the zone from Exit 8 down through Exit 6 would it?
It's all about the law of averages, 75mph now to make up when the Turnpike turns into a 10 mile parking lot further down the road.

Yup - that's exactly where the construction site was. Hopefully by the end of the year they will have that widening program completed. I can't complain, since my engineering firm did some of the work there....

[NJRVer]

Doug33 wrote:

sbowman871 wrote:
What did the WD hitch look like? Were the bars running parrellel to the frame or were they angled toward or away from the TT frame? Was the TT traveling nose down or up? Details man, we need details! Off season camping blues setting in. Be strong, think happy thoughts for spring. Maybe a 12 step camping blues program is in order. Or.......move south.

I'm embarrassed to think I did not get these details. Then again, I was too busy trying to negotiate between three lanes of traffic going 75 MPH through a work zone, kind of like playing the game of Frogger with tractor trailers. :E

I guess I'll have to work on my RV sleuth skills!:B

Hmmm, 75mph in the work zone! Well it is the NJTP so that is pretty normal. That wouldn't be the zone from Exit 8 down through Exit 6 would it?
It's all about the law of averages, 75mph now to make up when the Turnpike turns into a 10 mile parking lot further down the road.

[Doug33]

sbowman871 wrote:
What did the WD hitch look like? Were the bars running parrellel to the frame or were they angled toward or away from the TT frame? Was the TT traveling nose down or up? Details man, we need details! Off season camping blues setting in. Be strong, think happy thoughts for spring. Maybe a 12 step camping blues program is in order. Or.......move south.

I'm embarrassed to think I did not get these details. Then again, I was too busy trying to negotiate between three lanes of traffic going 75 MPH through a work zone, kind of like playing the game of Frogger with tractor trailers. :E

I guess I'll have to work on my RV sleuth skills!:B

[CavemanCharlie]

LynnandCarol wrote:

jjjandrbaker wrote:
You know, before I got my little camper trailer, I never even noticed them. Now my eyes are drawn to every one I see. I always wonder what they are like on the inside. Sometimes, I even look them up on the internet when I can to see more about them. I totally understand your problem, Doug33. You are not alone!

Ha ha ha I thought I was the only one who did that. Too funny.

I have a whole folder in my favorites dedicated to TT I saw somewhere and then looked up on the internet.