fpmtngal
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Re: 50 amp to 30 amp & Surge Protector
I stand corrected -the outlets are similar but not the same. I was judging more from the experience of a friend of mine who had an electrician install his 30 amp RV service, and who hooked it up to 240 volts, thereby doing expensive electrical damage to his RV. Another person I know said it was a common error and to make sure I checked mine before plugging my RV into it, which I did and found that it had been installed correctly. In any case, 50 amp is not 240 volt.695Views0likes0CommentsRe: 50 amp to 30 amp & Surge Protector
I've only had trouble with a 30 amp connection once, and was very happy I had the 50 to 30 dog-bone as it was hot and I wanted to run the AC. The EMS-PT30X won't have any issues with it. 240V isn't the same thing as 50 amp. 50 amp is the same 110 (approx.) volt as either your trailer or your house. 240 volts is a higher voltage and one that would damage your trailer regardless of the amperage. The common house-hold 240 volt plug looks the same as the 30 amp plug at a campground, and your power line could plug into it. The main times I hear about problems like this is when an electrician is installing a 30 amp service at your house, and doesn't pay attention to what he is doing so that he hooks it up to 240v (the most common household use for that type of plug). When I had mine put in, I made sure to plug in the Progressive Industries EMS first, just to verify he hooked it up correctly (he had).693Views0likes0CommentsRe: Looking to purchase a travel trailer
I have Good Sam partly because I get discounts at the Flying J for fuel and propane (there's a Flying J close to the house). I've also used it at campgrounds and have been happy with the ones I've stayed at. I also have a KOA card and more than made up for the cost this summer. Some of the places I stayed at were nicer than others, and one KOA which was very clean and well maintained, was older and had sort-of weird hook-ups. They all were fine for short stays, and the one I stayed at in West Glacier (in a deluxe pull through site) was one of the nicest places I stayed at while traveling through the western US and Canada. And I agree about the on-line reservation system - it works very well and is so easy to use. I also have Passport America and recouped the cost of it this summer, though I only used it twice (once was off-season for 5 nights in Moab, a big savings). It has far more restrictions and I found it harder to use places, while Good Sam and KOA were easier. I'm not particularly interested in membership campgrounds like TT, Coast to Coast, etc, though I realize that they are a good fit for some people. I stayed at one Coast to Coast campground in Kelowna, B.C. that was really lovely, sites had lots of room, all paved, 3 swimming pools, a small beach on a lake, along with their own dock, club house, baseball diamond, adult senior center, etc. But I don't need all that stuff, really - just a clean, safe place to stay with working utilities. All of the clubs/memberships can be useful but only if you use them. I joined Good Sam even before I picked up the trailer - I'll probably recoup much of the annual cost just in gas savings at the Flying J because it's so convenient. So that one I'll continue to keep. Until I stayed in Moab at the end of August, I thought that Passport America wasn't worth it for me, and I'm still not sure I'll get it again. I'm hoping to take another long trip this year, so will most likely renew my KOA card. I didn't find getting used to the extra width of the trailer that big of a deal (I was very aware of it/scared about it before I actually towed my trailer). I have to use mirror extenders with my tow vehicle and that keeps me "honest" as far as width. My only other towing experience was with a horse trailer 30 years ago and only vaguely remembered, so I approached towing as a newbie. The big thing I remember from that experience is that you can't use your indoor back-up mirror, frightening for me the first time I tried to use it and all I could see was trailer! It's no problem using your wing mirrors. I have an Anderson hitch and love it - I can carry the hitch head and stow it in the trailer's front storage compartment when I'm not using it, plus there's no bars to keep track of. It's simple to set up and works well for me, I don't have any experience with other WDHs.603Views0likes0CommentsRe: Looking to purchase a travel trailer
The Lance 1685 works well for me as a solo female. It has a lot of storage space - I think I'd run out of weight before I run out of space! It's also easy to tow, it's nicely balanced. And I had my sister with me for 3 weeks this summer while traveling through the Canadian Rockies and it worked out well. I have no trouble getting to the bed or fridge with the slide closed, but it could be a tight fit for some people. If I were to overnight somewhere that I wouldn't put out my slide, I'd have no issue with sleeping on the bed. The access door is in the rear of the trailer so an easy straight shot to the bath for quick breaks anywhere. Good luck with your decision!372Views0likes0CommentsRe: Is this truck and trailer combo safe??
Lula85 wrote: romore wrote: It will work, you will be legal, but the truck is not going to like the Grapevine or Donner Pass with that load. For safety's sake no more than 80% of your towing capacity, in your case 4960 lb, is recommended.However, it's your call. Ah yes, I think I would feel a lot more comfortable at 80%. And we will head through the Grapevine from southern California a couple times a year to go to Kings Canyon, maybe Yosemite. I do figure that on the way there we will have empty water/black tank, which will obviously help with the weight. Fill them up at the closest possible stop before heading down the canyon. So far, this has been the best trailer under 6200 pounds, that still has a 6 cubic ft fridge and decent water tanks at 45/45/45. I have a Grand Cheokee with a V6 and recently tried towing a 1685 from Castaic to Frazier Park. I had it mostly loaded 4100 lbs at the CAT scale. It didn't have any problems. My tongue weight capacity is 620 lbs and that day it was 600 lbs. The 1685 seems to be a nicely balanced trailer and is easier to tow than I had expected. I have more stuff in it at the moment, but it still handled the breezy weather without a problem going across hwy 138 yesterday. California has a 55 speed limit for vehicles towing trailers, and my V6 JGC seems to go along nicely between 55-60. Whether your vehicle came with the factory tow package or not might make a big difference- the JGC would be rated to tow 3500 instead of the 6200 with tow package. I'll probably will know more tomorrow as I'm heading to Death Valley, probably by way of Trona. At the moment I've only driven the Grapevine and the 138.466Views0likes0CommentsRe: Airstream, Winnebago, or another Travel Trailer?
One of the things I figured out these past few months is that there's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to trailers. There's all sorts of variables and what is the best trailer for me might not work for you. I spent two days wandering around the Pomona RV show, looking at trailers. I had already been to a couple of dealers to look at some models I was interested in, but was still rather disorganized (or should I say disoriented) the first day I went. The second day I had a much better idea of where I could see the trailers in my class. I highly recommend doing something like that because I found you can't entirely say "this brand/manufacturer is good but that one is not." I saw 2 different trailers that were made by Coachmen and one was cheaply, poorly made and the other very nice. If the Freedom Express trailers were a bit smaller, I would have had a much harder time trying to decide. My tow vehicle limits the size trailer I can buy, so I wasn't looking at the same trailers you are. I looked at both the Airsteam and the smaller 2 Lance trailers. The 16' Sport Airstream was just too small and cramped for me. The cushions were very nice, the bed comfortable but the galley and bath very tight. The 19' Flying Cloud much nicer, was quite plush, and more room, but I wasn't crazy about the retro styling. And it was a whole lot more expensive than anything else I looked at. I really liked the Lance trailers, the trailers looked well-built and their slide means that there's more room (larger refers too). After looking at them back to back, I couldn't come up with any compelling reason why I would want to spend twice as much for the Airstream, when I had more room and a configuration that suited me better with the Lance. So I ordered the Lance, which is being made for me, with the options I wanted. I'll let you know in a couple of months when I get the trailer whether I made the right decision or not.468Views0likes0CommentsRe: Choosing my first trailer
Thanks for the information, great to know about the slide and I'm now doubly happy that I got the wider 1685. Not only can I reach the bath, I'll be able to access the bed with the slide closed, too. And yes, I was also told by a salesman that it would be OK to just open the slide a short way to access the bathroom.528Views0likes0CommentsRe: Choosing my first trailer
I just ordered the Lance 1685. The final deal-breaker was the 4 season package, I like traveling shoulder seasons. The inaccessible bath without opening the slide a bit was a big concern, too but not entirely a deal breaker. Yesterday was a really useful day for me at the Pomona RV show. I was much more focused thanks to all of your input here and strictly looked at trailers that would more or less work for me. I also had a friend with me who notices fit and finish rather than livability, and that was a big help too. It's easy not to spot rough edges to drawers and cabinets or realize just how heavy a lift-up bed can be without hydraulic lifts. I looked at the Freedom Express and loved it, too, excellent construction. If it had been a foot shorter I would have had a really hard time deciding, but I'm pushing the limits of my parking area with the 21' trailer. Of all the trailers I looked at, the Freedom Express and the Lance were the "class act" trailers, with the Jay Flight next. I wanted to like the Winnebago drop (R Pod look-alike) but it seemed so dark and therefore cramped, even though it's not that much smaller than the smaller Lance. I talked to one of the Lance reps and he said they had to make some compromises to keep the dry weight down on the 1575. The slide is the same size as the slide in their other trailers, but it is narrower. So no room for toilet access without extending the slide some. Also that's why it doesn't have the 4 seasons package. But it sure is a cute, functional trailer otherwise! I had a really tough time deciding between the 2. So now I've got to wait 8-10 weeks (approx) while they make my trailer. It's probably a good thing because all my thoughts have been to buy a trailer that would work for me. Now I need to research/figure out all the little "how-to" stuff that either makes your trip a dream or a nightmare. The dealership will do a complete walk-through (they said to be prepared for several hours) and will also give me a driving lesson. I feel entirely naive, for instance do I need a fire starter to light the oven? I downloaded the owners manual and will spend time reading it. And then there's all the ins and outs of campgrounds - membership or not? The more I lean the more I realize that I still don't know all the questions to ask. So any tips or tricks on my trailer would be gratefully accepted. You've already been a big help so far.528Views0likes0CommentsRe: Choosing my first trailer
The JCG is a 2015 and they now come with an 8 speed tranny and paddle shifters, so I can keep it at a lower gear if need be. I've ruled out anything with canvas, if I felt comfortable camping alone as a solo female under canvas, I would just load up one of the 2 tents stored under the house, check all the camping gear, buy a new air mattress and leave. I realize that the extra security of a trailer is partly illusion, and partly an excuse to have a lot less set-up and more luxury. Beds and baths aren't that big of an issue, I'm 5'1" which is why I would consider the Tab. I thought it would be fine for weekend trips but I had a hard time imagining myself living in it for a month or 2. While I agree that the seating capacity at the dinette isn't a big deal for me, having extra room on the table is. Plus with some pillows the dinette can substitute for a sofa/lounge chair since I'm small. I like the extra feeling of space that the slide and the big window at the rear give you in the Lance. The Winnebago that looks just like the R Pods felt much darker and smaller, though if it really is like the R Pods, the dimensions aren't all that much smaller than the small Lance. I hadn't thought of that when I was looking at them, but now thinking about it, it made a difference in how I felt about the trailers when I first walked into them. Wonder if that will make a difference after I had the trailer for a while?528Views0likes0CommentsRe: Where can I find GCWR?
I thought the GCWR a really useful figure. The owners manual mentions it a couple of times but never tells you what it is. I realize that there are other numbers that are just as important for evaluating whether a TV and trailer can match up. After seeing the Lance 1575, I've taken the 1685 out of consideration. The 1575 is all that I need/want and it's narrower, smaller and not as close to the vehicle's limits. But I still would like to know the GCWR of the JGC, in case it is more limiting than the tongue weight.494Views0likes0Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Apr 19, 201944,027 Posts
