wibigfoot
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Re: Taking out a wall~ and putting up a room divider~
GWolfe wrote: When I wanted to remove part of the upper bunk in my Clipper I contacted Coachmen and explained what I wanted to do, they were very helpful and told me what I could and couldn't cut into. Maybe if you find a floor plan you like you could contact the manufacturer and see what changes you could make. I would agree with this. My wife and I are looking for a trailer without the floor to ceiling wardrobes by the bed. We don't want to feel like we are sleeping in a box. A number of mfg we were looking at used those cabinets as part of the structure of the trailer and therefore we couldn't omit them. I'm not saying a wall can't be removed. I would just check with the mfg first.468Views0likes0CommentsRe: Lippert Frame? - Coachmen Apex
JBarca wrote: wibigfoot wrote: Through reading a number of topics here I find more people not a fan of Lippert frames than those that are. We narrowed down the RV to a Coachmen Apex and the sales rep stated they use a Lippert frame on them. All that's going through my head is to stay away from them but I have no reason to why other then what people say here. So run away or don't worry about it? I do not know your Apex model, if you can post some pics of the spring hanger arrangement and the frame construction we can see if you have the problem frames. I myself have a Lippert frame who built them to Sunline specs. I know the good and bad about it. I corrected the bad myself and now have no worries. I know we throw out the "I beam" term but I'll tell you, the RV I shape is nothing like a true ANSI I beam. The RV I shape has very little support of the flanges on the ends of the web. A true I beam has structure to strengthen the flange to the web. That said, if they made a camper out of true I beam the weight is considerable. So, extra reinforcement is needed to keep the spring hanger from twisting the lower flange from fatigue and cracking the frame over time. Those with heavier campers have it worse as the same thin spring hangers are used on a 5,000# GVWR camper as on a 10,000# camper. (my case) It's the turns of tandem wheels that play havoc on twisting the hangers. Need to know more about what you have to help better John John - At this point we have not purchased a trailer. We are still in the shopping stage. The trailers we have it narrowed down to is the Apex 239RBS, the Jayco Jay Flight 23RB and a slim chance on the Arctic Fox 22G. The Apex 239RBS has the floor plan we like so it's at the top of the list. My dealer doesn't stock this model so it's buying sight unseen and factory order. The same would be true with the Jayco. For the Arctic Fox the closest dealer is 7 hrs away and they don't stock the 22G. For those reasons my buying is limited to online photos and videos.1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Lippert Frame? - Coachmen Apex
myredracer wrote: wibigfoot wrote: wow thanks everyone for the feedback. I know Jayco brags about their frames and was surprised to learn their frames were Lippert as well. I didn't know that. It turns out Apex frames are designed for each unit. They are not stacked and built to Apex specs. I guess there is no getting away from Lippert since most mfg use them. Lippert is not used on all Jayco TTs. Jay Feather and Whitehawk models have a Norco frame that Jayco calls Nextgen and it's made by BAL/Norco not Lippert. Jayco info. here. This is what is basically the BAL Ultraframe and it has no welding on it whatsoever and uses huck bolts to fasten pieces together. It's a very interesting looking frame. Thanks for pointing that out. Now that you have I do recall reading that. I'm sure you know how it is that you look at so many models you start to forget things from model to model.1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Lippert Frame? - Coachmen Apex
wincrasher65 wrote: Don't worry, with a Coachman Apex, the frame will be the least of your troubles. LOL. Can you please explain the reason to why you state that? First hand experience or just what you have read on them? I have found very few threads about problems with the Apex units and in another post here a number of owners jumped in and said they really liked them.1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Lippert Frame? - Coachmen Apex
wow thanks everyone for the feedback. I know Jayco brags about their frames and was surprised to learn their frames were Lippert as well. I didn't know that. It turns out Apex frames are designed for each unit. They are not stacked and built to Apex specs. I guess there is no getting away from Lippert since most mfg use them.1.3KViews0likes0CommentsLippert Frame? - Coachmen Apex
Through reading a number of topics here I find more people not a fan of Lippert frames than those that are. We narrowed down the RV to a Coachmen Apex and the sales rep stated they use a Lippert frame on them. All that's going through my head is to stay away from them but I have no reason to why other then what people say here. So run away or don't worry about it?13KViews0likes28CommentsRe: Coachmen Apex vs Jayco Jay Flight
I knew there was something else we didn't like on the WhiteHawk 24rbs is that Jayco puts the refrigerator on the curb side so it really makes the living space feel very small since it's right by the entrance door. While the Apex has the refrigerator on the curb side it's on the back half of the RV and I think with the longer slide makes it feel more open. The other option is the Arctic Fox 22G but there is no couch in that unit. To go larger with that brand my truck couldn't handle it.609Views0likes0CommentsRe: Coachmen Apex vs Jayco Jay Flight
spoon059 wrote: My suggestion is to go to an RV show or a dealer that has both and look closely at BOTH at the same time and make a decision. I've gone to multiple RV shows and compared all the brands and came to the conclusion that the Jayco was the best value for my money. I looked at the Coachman's and I just didn't like them as much. You can upgrade your latches on the Jayco to slam latches, you can get fiberglass siding on the Jayco for about $1300. At the end of the day, you need to find what YOU like and enjoy the camper from there! Another option is the Jayco White Hawk 24RBS. That has a large bathroom, decent size bedroom and a small slideout for the couch. It comes standard with slam latches and fiberglass siding. Its likely a little more expensive than the JayFlight, but still less expensive than the Coachman. I just sold my 98 Nash 22H that had a VERY similar floorplan to the 23RB. I LOVED the layout of that camper! One word of wisdom about the composite walls... They are still sitting on a wood floor. If you have a leak, it won't damage the wall per se, but that water will just keep falling down and rot out the floor and cause structural issues there. I can't find any mention of the roof construction on the Apex, but I assume that is wood too. We have looked at both and only downside that we found on the Coachmen is the lighter color woodwork. The other part we don't care for is the entry door by the toilet. Not sure who would leave that open when using the room! As for the whitehawk 24rbs we have looked at it but don't like the split cushion on the dinette and the fact the entry door only opens 90 degrees. It won't go flush against the wall. Also it appears that the Jayco is no longer making this model per their website it's now only dealer stock and my dealer doesn't stock that model. You are correct you can upgrade to the fiberglass sides on the Jay Flight but it doesn't have the wrap around front cap that I like. My dealer doesn't stock either model of the 23RB or the Apex. We found a 23RB at another dealer and the Apex appears to be a 5 hr drive one way to another dealer.588Views0likes0CommentsCoachmen Apex vs Jayco Jay Flight
We are looking at 2 trailers. Either a Coachmen Apex 249RBS or a Jayco Jay Flight 23RB. I know about Jayco but know little about Coachmen and the Apex line. I'm looking for a well built trailer. The Apex has a lot more to offer over the Jayco as far as slam latch doors, full fiberglass front end but will it hold up? I know an RV takes maintenance etc but I don't want to buy a can of worms. The other concern is the Apex still has the dark brown end cap that so many MFG have seen fade. I'm told this one is spray painted though and the color isn't molded into the fiberglass so it won't fade like the others. Is there truth to this? Cost the Apex is about $7k more then the Jayco.8.1KViews0likes7CommentsRe: Lightening tongue weight
MargaretB wrote: Actually, we're not undertrucked. Our TV is quite capable of hauling our TT. And as long as it's just the two of us, the payload capacity works. But if we want to take our kayaks, or anyone else, we're not sure we have enough payload. Reading what you wrote your tow vehicle isn't quite capable and you are under trucked if simply adding 2 kayaks or another person brings you over weight. That means you are within a hundred or two hundred pounds of maxing out your tow vehicle. I'm not saying you need a 1 ton dually but I think you need to look at the numbers and realize your tow vehicle isn't as good as you think it is. As others have said reducing weight from your tongue isn't a good idea and will lead to safety issues. Trust me when I say I'm speaking from experience.270Views0likes0Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Mar 03, 202544,026 Posts
