johntinacamping
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Joined 15 years ago
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Re: How many people have cameras on trailer
I do have a camera that I self-installed and it is a very valuable and useful safety item. It's on any time I am towing. I know some of the folks here say "check your mirrors", which I do constantly. But here is a fact for you: some of the idiots on the road behind you do 2 things (1) drive like they're hitched to your rear bumper so you can't always see them in your mirrors (2) they drive up on you so fast they're in your blind spot between the time you check your mirrors and begin changing lanes. I'd rather be safe. It's also a lot of help when backing into a campsite. BTW, I spent around $75 on my camera system. YouTube video where I got the idea (but my install is a lot cleaner): Inexpensive travel trailer camera470Views0likes0CommentsRe: Slide vs no slide
It's amazing to read some of these comments. Good and bad. Here's how simple it is for us: It's only my wife and I and we are in our mid 40's. We started in 2010 with a 14 foot trailer with no slides and the dinette folded down to make the bed. A couple of years later we moved up to a 19 foot trailer with no slides but it had rear bunks. We occasionally had a niece and nephew who would go with us. In 2015 we moved up to a 28 foot trailer with an island sink and opposing slides. One slide contains the fridge and microwave, the other is the dinette and couch. When it is opened up, it has SPACE - WE LOVE IT. No more turning to walk past each other. We use our trailer for traveling, like a mobile condo or cabin. We have all the comforts of home and can pull that traveling home to the mountains, the lake, the beach and anywhere in between. We will never have another trailer without slides. We want to be comfortable when we travel. There are more advantages to having slides than disadvantages, in my opinion.427Views0likes0CommentsRe: Back up camera
Is it helpful to have one? Yes. Is $649 a ripoff? Yes again. I installed one on my travel trailer for $50. Take a look at this video for the install I did, but mine is permanently attached to the outside rear of the camper, at the crest of the roof: DIY Travel Trailer Rear View Camera211Views0likes0CommentsRe: Heartland Mallard M27
We have a 2015 M28 and love it. Mallards are identical to the Wilderness line made by Heartland. Mallards are simply branded for Camping World. All the comments like "built very cheaply" are laughable. Our unit is built as well any other travel trailer in mass production. Find the floor plan you like and go from there. If you want a trailer that isn't "slapped together", look at an Oliver built in TN, Bigfoot brand, Casita or something along those lines. Otherwise, people simply don't know what they're talking about. Some aren't satisfied if they don't have solid surface countertops, "upgraded fixtures", stainless steel appliances, etc. All that cr^p is cosmetic; nothing more than eye candy. The guts of the trailers are all the same, with the exception of the aluminum wall framing on some. Sometimes it is useless to ask advice on this forum because all you get are dismissive shallow comments that are based purely on opinions over cosmetic differences.341Views0likes0CommentsRe: anyone towing with a Grand Cherokee Diesel?
We tow a 28 foot Heartland Mallard M28 with a 2011 Grand Cherokee HEMI v8. The trailer is 6,500 to 7,000 pounds loaded for camping (5,900 dry on the manufacturer's sticker). And we purchased the best hitch on the market, the ProPride 3p, which eliminates sway. We made a 1,000 mile round trip this summer down to the beach and back. And we make a lot of trips within 100 miles of home throughout the year. We're very satisfied with our setup.453Views0likes0CommentsRe: Let's create "National Let 'Em Move Over" day -- but how?
There are a lot of people who simply can't stand to be behind another vehicle. It's made obvious when they blow past you, then slow down in front of you. Then they are most likely also in the group of people who refuse to use cruise control and maintain a constant speed. If you take a long trip you will likely pass the same stupid driver a dozen times or more. It can be frustrating, but my first priority is the safety of my wife and I and then keeping our rig intact. You pretty much just have to drink a constant cup of patience when towing a trailer. There are jerk drivers everywhere and it seems everyone else is constantly "in their way".286Views0likes0CommentsRe: Best weight distributing hitch with a sway control
ProPride 3P is the best hitch on the market today. I will never tow with anything else. Why "control" sway when you can eliminate it! And for those who say it's way too expensive but you spent mega bucks on your tow vehicle and trailer - you need to hire a lawyer and sue your brain for non-support. Then get your priorities straight :-)219Views0likes0CommentsRe: backup camera
This is a video I stumbled upon some time back and I made this exact installation on our trailer. The one thing I did different was to mount the camera to the top edge at the back of our trailer and tilt it where I can see the spare tire on my bumper. I also have the wireless router piece permanently mounted inside and wired into my 12v system. It has a very wide angle so I have a great view of the road behind me. It really helps when backing into a camp site also. Do-it-yourself CHEAP rear view camera solution685Views0likes0Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 13, 202544,029 Posts
