rhetthughes
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Re: Good glue to withstand heat and weight?
Thank you all for the advice! I’ve started by calling Dometic. They want me to send pictures to see if it is an issue on their end or the camper manufacturer (basically said that the panels are often installed at the rv factory to match the decor, and not something that dometic does. So could definitely be a faulty installation at the rv factory.806Views0likes0CommentsRe: Good glue to withstand heat and weight?
BurbMan wrote: There is supposed to be a trim piece ob the bottom of the door that holds the panel in place. I would call Dometic and see if you can fix the problem right before you glue it in there permanently....because you know that once you do that you'll need to take that panel out.... It does have the trim piece. And it appears to be intact - all the little tab pieces are there and not broken off. It just won’t hold that panel. But that’s a good idea. I’ll call them and see if they have heard of this and if a new trim piece on the bottom would fix it.805Views0likes0CommentsGood glue to withstand heat and weight?
Hello everyone! I’m having an issue where the front panel of my dometic fridge keeps sliding down. It’s no harm to anything other than one extra layer of insulation. I tried some heavy duty double sided tape that is supposed to hold 20 lbs per whatever small square strip of it. Didn’t work. Figured the 5 pieces I used was not enough so doubled the amount. Just picked up my rv from storage and it had slid again (this was after several camping trips with additional tape. So I’m guessing I need to find some kind of glue that will withstand summer heat in South Carolina and apply a generous amount to the back and to the sides where the panel inserts into the plastic side frames of the door of the fridge. Any suggestions on a glue that will work to hold that front panel in place? Thanks!2.7KViews0likes17CommentsRe: Advice on floor plan
amxpress wrote: We looked at the Palomino Columbus 377MB as we liked the separate room for the kids, as well as having a full size living area. The bunk area at the top of the stairs is good for smaller kids, though it would be an ideal storage area, too. The 30”x60” walk in shower is awesome. It’s 42’ long. Will be hard to find a short fiver with your requirements. That Columbus 377 is the one that got me interested in the midbunk floorplans. I would prefer the 378 only because they switch the recliners and entertainment center from one side to the other so you get an outdoor kitchen (and the outdoor kitchen is another thing...not sure I want to give that up). I found the Montana to be nice too, but my gut tells me that Montana is more likely to give me trouble than Columbus based on what I've read from owners on a couple of facebook groups I belong to (one for Columbus owners and one for Montana owners).423Views0likes0CommentsRe: Advice on floor plan
Merrykalia wrote: We have had: 1. 35' travel trailer bunkhouse. 2. 38' front bunkhouse fifth wheel 3. 42'11" Sandpiper 372LOK (midbunk fifth wheel with a loft) We have 3 kids, a grown son and 2 daughters, aged 14 and 11. Son does his own thing, so he is no longer a consideration. We are both now retired and we camp host at least 2 months (May and August) and we travel at least 3-4 weeks during June and July. The TT was great for weekend trips, but the bunk room was too small when we started camp hosting, so we traded up to the front bunkhouse so the kids would have some place to sit other than laying on their bed in their room. We really missed being able to all 4 sit and watch a movie when it was raining or sit around and talk. The mid-bunk allows the kids to have their own "room" and the older one sleeps there and the younger sleeps in the loft area. This accommodates differing sleep patterns (younger one is a morning person, teen is NOT)! We have had this RV for a year - purchased in June of last year and we wouldn't trade it for anything. We have camped in several SC parks and always put in 40 feet, because most of them won't let you enter anything bigger. It has NEVER been a problem....YET! Yes, it's big, but we both drive it - we both park it - we both back it up, etc. This is the direction I've been leaning (midbunk model), but the 42 feet just seemed a bit over the top. Was hoping to stay at 40 or under, so I appreciate the words about parking it and about taking it to SC state parks.423Views0likes0CommentsRe: Advice on floor plan
Halmfamily wrote: When we first started camping we looked at bunkhouses and like you wanted more living room space. We looked at the front living rooms and the kids actually liked it better. They had bigger beds when couches were folded out and a big tv to watch. The things we didn't like were the lack of basement storage, lack of a view and the couches were 90° to the tv, had to lay on the couch to watch tv comfortably. We traded out to a rear living room model when the oldest quit traveling with us. We are now back to looking at front living room models as my mother may start traveling with us. I like the rear dens as they have good storage and good views but the wife not so much. My advice, make your kids part of the decision, they will be sleeping in the living room. Also, these are heavy units pushing 16000 lbs loaded up ready to roll so make sure you have the proper tow vehicle Good luck with your search. Thank you for these words of wisdom! Good thought about the kids! Of course, the way my kids operate, if the rig has power recliners, they are good with it, so they aren't much help! haha!423Views0likes0CommentsAdvice on floor plan
Hello kind folks! I thought I’d seek the wisdom of anyone who might have some food for thought on this topic. Basic question: any thoughts from people who have owned a rear den, midbunk, and / or front living room floorplan 5th wheel? The details of the question: My wife and I are in the beginning phase of looking for a 5th wheel. Currently have a travel trailer - Palomino Solaire 317BHSK. We have 2 kids. We initially settled on a bunkhouse model because we wanted the kids to have their own space. The more we camp, the more we wished we had a nice size living room to enjoy campsites a view from the inside as much as we can enjoy them from the outside, as well as be able to gather as a family to watch a movie on a crappy day, etc etc. I like each of these floorplans for different reasons, so thought I’d seek the experience of members of this forum to see what words of wisdom y’all can impart. Has anyone owned 2 or all of the above floor plans at one point or another in their camping? Any thoughts about these floor plans with having kids? I recognize that the midbunk gives the kids their own space and the living room, but it is also more than 40 feet long. Montana has a front living room model that is just under 40 feet. Seems that once you get above 40 feet it can really limit the available campsites, especially in state parks here in South Carolina. I don’t know. Seems like every pro has a con as a wrestle back and forth in my head. Any input would be greatly appreciated.2.1KViews0likes10CommentsRe: Appropriate pin weight when buying 5th wheel?
Thank y’all for the suggestions here and words of wisdom. I will take it loaded out to the scales sometime and check that out. I imagine like was posted by Edd505, I don’t think I’ll be putting much in the bed other than the hitch. I’ll tell you why I even asked what is “safe” or “comfortable” to tow 1) I don’t know how fifth wheel trailers pull since I’ve never done it. And 2) I base all my towing experience on pulling an 8000 lb travel trailer (loaded) with a 2014 F150 with max towing specs, etc. Hitch weight and trailer weight were well under the trucks capabilities. We now have a 350 because I was tired of white knuckling down the highway. Have pulled our camper with the 350 it is like I don’t even have a trailer behind me. So my thinking was, if I get too close to the trucks limits, I might start having those white knuckling adventures again. Has anyone noticed that with their 350 or 3500? Maybe went from a 10,000 lb 5th wheel with a 2000 lb pin weight to a much bigger fifth wheel and higher pin weight? Any white knuckle adventures that might give me reason to reconsider getting near the upper limits of what the truck can do? Bottom line is I just would prefer not to be in the same boat as I am now. I’ve heard that 5th wheels tow much better than a travel trailer so perhaps my question is way off base as I am comparing apples (5th wheels) to oranges (travel trailers).923Views0likes0CommentsAppropriate pin weight when buying 5th wheel?
I am starting to think about fifth wheels for our next camper. We have a 2016 F350 with the 6.7 powerstroke. It’s a shortbed too. The cargo weight is 3470. And the max towing capacity with a 5th wheel is 16,000 lbs. The total weight of our family is about 430 lbs. I’m curious what you experienced 5th wheel campers would consider to be the safe pin weight limit for us given our truck’s specs. I’m not looking for what the max COULD be, but rather if anyone else has a truck like ours and can share their experiences of what they feel comfortable pulling. I’m curious if there is a point with the pin weight that will effect the driving performance too much? For example, I love a particular 5th wheel that has a 2600 lb dry hitch weight. I feel uneasy about being that close to the roughly 3000 lb cargo weight I have leftover after subtracting the weight of the family. So any advice here would be much appreciated. Should I be sticking with a pin weight closer to 2000 lbs? At any rate, this will really help me narrow my search on what I should be looking for in a camper. Thanks kindly!2.9KViews0likes14Comments
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