Picking up new TT in 2 Days.

[stahrmcgee]

I have been reading this forum as a lurker, non member for the last 4 years, from when we were shopping for our first camper until now and wanted to write a note to thank you all for the wisdom expressed in the posts.

After I got back from Kuwait in November and before the birth of our third daughter, we traded our beloved Jayco 23B and ordered our new Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8311SS. We are now just a mere 2 days from pick-up and both my DW and I are jumping out of our shoes with excitement to get the new rig. Fingers crossed that the TV will be good with it (Max tow package >11,000 lbs capacity), but if a new TV is necessary, that will be the next adventure.

Is there anyone else out there eagerly awaiting their new camper?

[stahrmcgee]

Spappy wrote:
Congrats!! on trailer, daughter, and coming home! I'm not awaiting a new trailer, but I'm counting the days to my first trip. Enjoy. 🙂
Spap

Thank you, we didn't find out if it would be a boy or a girl, was hoping for a boy, and am very pleased with our happy, healthy and might I say incredibly well behaved (for 4 months) little girl. I also hear there is a special place reserved in Heaven for fathers of 3 girls... 😉

BTW, saw your site and it looks nice. Will your UAV have a permanent space in the camper also?

[stahrmcgee]

kknowlton wrote:
Congrats on your new rig! We just traded our "big rig" (slightly smaller & lighter than your new one) for a smaller camper, and picked up the new one last week. We're both getting pretty antsy waiting to be able to go camping. 🙂

Hope you find your current TV will pull it ok, but if not, have fun with the search for a new one!

Thanks, and congrats on yours also. Is the picture the new one? If so, Very nice!

[Spappy]

Congrats!! on trailer, daughter, and coming home! I'm not awaiting a new trailer, but I'm counting the days to my first trip. Enjoy. 🙂
Spap

[kknowlton]

Congrats on your new rig! We just traded our "big rig" (slightly smaller & lighter than your new one) for a smaller camper, and picked up the new one last week. We're both getting pretty antsy waiting to be able to go camping. 🙂

Hope you find your current TV will pull it ok, but if not, have fun with the search for a new one!

[stahrmcgee]

spud1960 wrote:
I know your excitement, we picked up our new Coleman 297res a few weeks ago and can not wait to go camping!! Our first planned trip is May 2nd!!

Congrats! We have a driveway camp planned for 1st weekend in April and a shakedown cruise set for 2nd weekend of April regardless of weather. We had to skip camping last year as my wife was pregnant and I was out of the country for about 7 months. (no lectures on leaving a pregnant wife)

[stahrmcgee]

handye9 wrote:

stahrmcgee wrote:
Fingers crossed that the TV will be good with it (Max tow package >11,000 lbs capacity), but if a new TV is necessary, that will be the next adventure.

Your weakest point, most likely will be your payload (cargo capacity) of the truck.

Check the sticker on your driver side door post. Some models have as little as 1400 lbs payload.

Whatever it says for cargo capacity or payload, is the weight room you have for everything / everybody you have in or on the truck, plus the weight distributing hitch, and trailer tongue weight.

Your new trailer is over 7000 lbs empty. Loaded for camping, it could weight over 8000, with 950 - 1000 lbs of tongue weight. Then you have to add 100 lbs for the hitch.

Thank you Master Chief, former HM3 here, only 5 yrs active though.

You bring up a good point. It should have a capacity for around 1900 lbs, but I am going to check next time I get in the truck to be sure. Tongue weight is about 650 or so, but still need to factor in other cargo, which I haven't yet.

I didn't have too many worries with the old 23B, but will have to be careful now.

[spud1960]

I know your excitement, we picked up our new Coleman 297res a few weeks ago and can not wait to go camping!! Our first planned trip is May 2nd!!

[handye9]

stahrmcgee wrote:
Fingers crossed that the TV will be good with it (Max tow package >11,000 lbs capacity), but if a new TV is necessary, that will be the next adventure.

Your weakest point, most likely will be your payload (cargo capacity) of the truck.

Check the sticker on your driver side door post. Some models have as little as 1400 lbs payload.

Whatever it says for cargo capacity or payload, is the weight room you have for everything / everybody you have in or on the truck, plus the weight distributing hitch, and trailer tongue weight.

Your new trailer is over 7000 lbs empty. Loaded for camping, it could weight over 8000, with 950 - 1000 lbs of tongue weight. Then you have to add 100 lbs for the hitch.

[GaryWT]

Congrats and enjoy, you should be excited for sure.

[dspencer]

We just picked up our new Gray Wolf 26BH 3 weeks ago. Now if the weather would break enough to take it out on our first trip of the season.

[stahrmcgee]

clubhouse wrote:
Very nice trailer. We too are a family of 5 looked at the 8311SS. Really liked the floor plan of the 8311, but stuck with Jayco and the single slide 29QBH just to keep the length down a bit. Got it in Feb, so I know the excitement you must be feeling.

However ---- Family of 5, 35' TT likely with 1000+ lb TW and 8000+ lbs once loaded being towed by a F150.

Let congratulate you in advance on your new TV :-). I suspect it won't be long before your shopping again 🙂

Well, you could be right, no denying that, in fact, that is how I ended up with the new TV in 2010. Hoping I don't need to trade, but I checked out the trade in value and was pleasantly surprised, so if it becomes necessary, we will make it happen with little problem.

Congrats on your new camper also. We loved the Jayco and our dealer was top notch. We were really close to buying the Jayco Eagle 314BHDS, but went for the Rockwood to try out the competition.

[clubhouse]

Very nice trailer. We too are a family of 5 looked at the 8311SS. Really liked the floor plan of the 8311, but stuck with Jayco and the single slide 29QBH just to keep the length down a bit. Got it in Feb, so I know the excitement you must be feeling.

However ---- Family of 5, 35' TT likely with 1000+ lb TW and 8000+ lbs once loaded being towed by a F150.

Let congratulate you in advance on your new TV :-). I suspect it won't be long before your shopping again 🙂