granitebaygeeze
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Re: Snow birds and their RV size
Adding to our initial post, truck's camper shell made a much taller storage area great for storing our bikes indoors and locked, and like my tail gate workbench. Bigger trailer really helps cabin fever when forced to be indoors longer than usual. Again, it's all about tradeoffs.801Views0likes0CommentsRe: Snow birds and their RV size
We've been snowbird in for over a decade and prefer a travel trailer over a 5er or motorhome. No matter what you choose, you'll not like what you had to do without. Before snowbirding our camping trailer was a 19ft Prowler and we loved it. But for 2 months or more, more room was needed. We now have a duramax 2500hd truck pulling a 30 ft HR Alumascape.802Views0likes0CommentsRe: Small solar set up for TT.
Have had a solar panel on our trailers spanning 30 years. As a retired EE, this stuff was easy to do. For last 12 years have also a 5k solar array on our home feeding the grid. Now to share thoughts from our experience. 1. A solar panel only needs to replace charge lost due to consumption since the last charge. When dry camping that's often very little, especially when using propane for cooking, refrigerator, and heat in your trailer. 2. We usually camp in sunny locations. If A/C needed, we look for hookups. Solar isn't a viable solution. If camping in shade, portable solar required. 3. Never had more than 2 matched batteries, usually they last 5 or more years. 4. Mounting the small 7amp regulator in the refrigerator back access panel worked great for our 19 foot Prowler since the wiring passed through there anyway. The panel was 25 watts. Max current draw was negligible at that wattage. Have a 30 foot trailer with superslide these last 12 years and a 65 watt panel with electric jack. It's controller is mounted behind our front frame member. 5. We're not wasteful, of course, but we've also not had dead batteries. Hope this encourages you.430Views0likes0CommentsRe: '16 Jay Flight 32 BHDS Mods
Greatly enjoyed reading your article. While doing so noticed the desire to mount bikes on the rear bumper. Reason, our son did exactly that and for maybe a year all appeared fine. Then, on their way home from camping the bumper failed, bikes and rack hit the highway. Learned from every rv and welding repair shop we visited that metal fatigue from the cantilever affect of bikes mounted this way eventually leads to another failure. They recommended mounting the bikes on tow vehicle roof. So after having the bumper replaced hereafter their Yukon xl is the bike hauler.557Views0likes0CommentsRe: Here she is
We had the 1992 version of the same trailer for years. Took it up into Alberta Canada (Jasper) twice from NorCal (Gold Country), all states in western US and so on for 9 years. Most trouble-free trailer we ever had (#5 of 7). Had a custom made cushion to extend the width of the bed/couch to the front window. Made sleeping much easier. Enjoy it, preferably immensely.496Views0likes0CommentsRe: Replacement Water Inlet?
We replaced ours last year. Turned out there are a variety of different ones so be sure to get a replacement that's right for you. We replaced ours because the internal check valve failed and being internal to the valve assembly, could not be purchased separately the installed into our assemble. Replacement was easy but putty tape will be needed to assure a leak free job. We also overlay the putty with a thin white caulk as added insurance.172Views0likes0CommentsRe: What jack do you use in case of a flat?
I use a bottle jack supported by leveling boards. Place it under the leaf spring close as possible to the axle/u-bolts and centered on the flat of the bottom short thick leaf. Only lift the tire enough to remove the tire. Don't use frame for two reasons. One, we have a fully lined undercarriage with no open frame point (short of cutting off a section of undercarriage wrap material. Two, lifting height is more than desired (and necessary) when compared to simply lifting the wheel perhaps an inch off the ground. BTW, connecting the truck to the trailer's hitch, especially if in questionable terrain, makes the job even safer.340Views0likes0CommentsRe: Electric Tongue Jack advice
You mentioned your trailers tongue weight. You probably already know this but because no one mentioned it, the real weight of concern is the total weight the unit has to lift when raising the trailer AND truck so the spring bars can be attached. We've not had a problem with our Atwood unit but the combined weight exceeded our Class VI/V hitch to the point where it eventually bent up. We've replaced the hitch with a beefer unit BUT this lesson brought home to us the significant total weight this jack needs to contend with. 2 cents worth430Views0likes0Comments
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Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Feb 18, 202544,025 Posts
