kooka7
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Re: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
PAThwacker wrote: I'm sure that you have figured out how mainstream society caters to family of 4. Outside of the norm reguires additional vehicles, tt, larger houses, bigger septics, and the list goes on. We are a large family and LOVE it!! Don't care much for main stream societies perception of what 'they' perceive mainstream to be?? Each to their own. We also put up with stoopid comments from complete strangers too - the classic seems to be 'are they all yours'... personally that is a rude question... and answer = yes, same Hubby too....go figure.... each to their own they eh! cheers, K7417Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
Thsldo wrote: Can I ask why no one has suggested the Shadow Cruiser 280QBS? It is a lot lighter than the other trailers, and has a full bunk house, and out door kitchen? it's too small for us, no compromise on that as we want to fit our 5 kids in the back without having one of them sleep on the dinette/couch... cheers, K7418Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
carringb wrote: kooka7 wrote: I think the van scenario is going to be out given it's not a 4wd, we like to go up to banff area and off the beaten track, so yes... agree... 4wd best option. Factory-approved 4WD can be installed on a "ship-through" basis by either QuadVan or Quigley. Quigely's are the more affordable option,while the QuadVan option drives better on and off-road, and is easier to service because it uses 100% Ford moving parts. Dealers around here keep 4x4 vans in stock. If you want to see what's at the dealer down the road from me, click here and use the BODY menu to filter to "VANS 4x4". Also, here's a nice example of a barely used QuadVan V10 4x4 pop-top for sale Here's more examples: http://www.quadvan.com/product-category/4x4-vans Thanks for that info and links. That pop-top looks fantastic!! I was wondering, do you or anyone know much about this particular passenger van? 2014 GMC Savana 3500 1LS Rear-wheel Drive Passenger Van (altho on the build spec to see the price I selected AWD) I looked on the gm canada site and did a comparison between the likes of the 2014 Ford E-350 Super Duty XL Wagon and the likes of the 014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Standard Roof V6 Sprinter 2500 Wagon 144 in followed by the 2014 Nissan NV Passenger NV3500 HD S V8 3dr Rear-wheel Drive Passenger and I thought that the specs 'on print' looked better than the E350. Interestingly enough, the GMC and the Nissan were the only ones to offer airbags for the passengers other than the front occupants, interestingly enough again, the 2014 ford mentioned above particular Ford has less HP than the GMC.... Is there a huge difference in general between a 2500 and a 3500? cheers, K7417Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
APT wrote: Exactly what Carringb said. There is only one 2007+ 3/4 ton SUV, but the 1000 pound receiver limit means no to that Jayco Eagle 314. There are however other TTs that are closer to 7k dry that would work pretty well with it. Ford discontinued 3/4 ton SUV after 2005. GM after 2013, but it has that recevier limit at 1000 pounds. Please correct me if I am wrong here, with the 1000lbs receiver limit, how does that translate to 'dry hitch weight'. On the Eagle TT the dry hitch weight (lbs) is '903'...? Assuming the TV has a class IV receiver hitch, with a weight distribution hitch wouldn't that increase it over 1000lbs? Seems a bit daft that manufacturers of the larger suv's have ditched the idea of class IV hitches or not being able to upgrade... makes the whole process frustrating... cheers, K7417Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
2112 wrote: Another option may be a 36' or so Class A RV. I say this because if you are buying a new or gently used Super Duty tow vehicle that can seat 7 and a new toy hauler you are in the price range of a well equipped gently used Class A. With a properly configured A you can carry and sleep 7 and it can come with an onboard W/D. There are bunk house floor plans but not very common. Here's one without the W/D Of course it wouldn't become your daily driver. You may get by with a larger C as well. Are you set on a TT or FW? There are other options. With the motorhomes, I'm not sure how all the kids would be seated safely/legally as 3 are in seat belt boosters and the other two are in tethered baby seats and the ones we looked at, had no bunkhouse configurations. We're not ruling out a specific as such, however preference is a TT given TTs seem to have better floor plans to suit us as a large family. If we could transplant the jayco floorplan into a motorhome without breaking the bank that'd be a consideration :-D Cheers, K7417Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
Genblue wrote: We have four kids & a dog. My wife fell in love with the Coachmen Freedom Express Liberty/Maple Leaf edition 312 bunkhouse (similar layout to the Jayco 314). After spending months researching various tow vehicle options (just as you're doing now), we decided the best option for us was a 2005 Ford Excursion diesel. Vans were a close 2nd but in the great white North, we need 4wd and didn't want to spend an additional $10k on adding 4wd to a van. It took us 3 months to find our X but we finally did in Missouri. It was a 16 hour drive each way but it was well worth it (as long as you can live with the extra engine) since it only had 41k on it. The 6.0L diesel engine has it's issues and we're prepared to spend $5-6k to "bulletproof" the engine in the near future. Now we're on the hunt for a new Coachmen 312. The 314 is a nice unit but my wife loved the table in the bunkhouse for the times when the kids will need their own space for games, coloring etc. and the Coachmen is a few thousand cheaper than the Jayco but the Jayco is better insulated and offers the outside kitchen. Good luck as you work through the process. Thanks, that's a great bunkhouse too. The Jayco does have a flip up table also but the dinette in the back is great and more room!. I think I came across this one and showed hubby and he wasn't sold on there being no outdoor kitchen. IMO, is it really that hard to pack an aluminium table, a camp stove and an extra gas bottle... i'm not so fussed about an outdoor kitchen, i'm more thinking a deep freezer in stead of the whole outdoor kitchen LOL! I think the van scenario is going to be out given it's not a 4wd, we like to go up to banff area and off the beaten track, so yes... agree... 4wd best option. I'll need to look into more of the issues surrounding the diesels. I do know that they generally have more on them to go wrong with them and I can do without the headache tbh. thanks, K7417Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
APT wrote: GM 1-ton vans. 2000-2005 Ford Excursion and 2000-2006 GM 3/4 ton SUV (Suburban/Yukon XL) THANK YOU. I will look into those models, is there a reason why the more current ones weren't mentioned? I'm thinking the older ones will be up on the k's... cheers, K7324Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
PAThwacker wrote: Only option for 7 and rear quad bunk tt, plus the other kid on the couch. You need to find spots for 10 towels, multiple extra bedding, and food storage. 100 gallon water, and big honking duramax one ton van. I have a 2 year old and 5 year old camping,and I have gone through 3 sets of sheets in one night. I had actually considered a toy hauler and setting the kids on their own camping stretchers LOL! it's doable and I am more than happy to customise and.... much lighter... but for some reason I have found that the toy haulers are slightly more expensive than a TT?? correct me if I am wrong... I'm hearing you on the wet bed scenario... not sure if they are fully bed time trained, accidents happen, they are kids... I need to consider washing and drying too.... with 5 kids, it's kinda ridiculous so not sure how I will cross that hurdle. I have seen some washer/dryer combos and a mod that someone had done in their TT with a conventional dryer/washer combo, but you need to get the water and the juice (electric) in order to run.... Lots to consider in deed.... hope you got the packing all sorted and you did 't need to throw any punches, it can be frustrating at the best of times trying to get the kids out the door.... let alone packing and organising 'stuff'.... I hear ya! btw - aim is to not have anyone sleeping on the couch/diner Cheers, K7325Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
carringb wrote: How are you going to seat 7 of you in a pickup? well... I thought I could strap hubby to the roof of the dual cab (ROFL - only joking!!) dual cabs only go to 6 - so it ain't gonna happen... rational was two cars, a pickup for the 5th wheel and me travelling with the kids... or a suitable 7 seater (not a pickup) for the TT (an example being the E350 as suggested). I did show hubby the E350 and he died in the proverbial when I mentioned to him a V10 engine.... i'm quite happy to drive it as a daily commute for school/kindy/grocery etc... he is more worried about fuel consumption.... I did mention to him if we went 'new' we could get provisions for a hook up of LPG/propane tank/s (not sure if there'd be a compromise of boot space tho or whether the tank gets installed under chassi side (if that makes sense). I'm assuming it's a duel fuel system so gas on the school/kindy daily commute and petrol/gasoline on the run with the TT.... still convincing LOL! Is there a big differece on the EL model as apposed to the standard length one, and is it better to get the greater axle ration 4.x as apposed to 3.x? we are still researching as there is soooo much to take in.... there are lots of different scenarios but we definitely need a large bunkhouse that can sleep 5 in the back that we don't want to compromise on... we need to ensure that we will have the TT for some time as they grow into their teen+ years (and he wants the outdoor kitchen) The one he had his heart set on is the 2015 Jayco EAGLE 314TSBH (I mentioned in my original post it was 2015, but I think it's a 2014) I then looked at Jayco and they only have 2014 models http://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2014-eagle/314tsbh/ Are there any other 7 seater vehicles other than the E350 that could comfortably tow this along with 7 passengers (not 8) ?? Thanks again...appreciate the help :-D cheers, K7324Views0likes0CommentsRe: Help us choose a TT (5 kids + 2 adlts)! TV - 07 Expy Ltd
Hi all, thanks so much for all the replies, comments, suggestions etc... it's really appreciated. I've gone through the info w/ hubby and I think at this stage it may be better for us given the size family we have to look down the avenue of a 5th wheeler. Hubby didn't want to go down that route and his thought were if we needed to upgrade the car to pull a 38" TT we may as well get a super heavy duty pickup and look at a 5th wheeler. I don't know what the pros/cons are between a 5th wheeler and a a TT... i'm yet to find out research wise... Hybrids are completely out for us as we do like to get out when its cold and possibly snowing and the whole bear factor I am getting use to still LOL!! (In AU the most we had to contend with were brown snakes, redbacks, funnel webs when camping!!) Also, I do like the E350.... i'm yet to show hubby that one so there may still be light at the end of the tunnel w/ a TT.... i\m just not sure whether they come with all the required seating and whether you can get them new or used?? something for me to research.... between that and a pickup. will keep you posted :-D cheers, K7324Views0likes0Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Feb 26, 202544,025 Posts
