KM_Rolling
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Re: Need Help Deciding which feature for trailer
GusCalifornia wrote: Hello, we are looking to buy our first travel trailer right now. There are three models that look pretty good to us and we are having trouble making a decision. Two of the models have a panel that comes down with an outdoor sink and cooktop area. The third model does not have that but it has a second door which would lead directly into the bathroom. We will be traveling with 2 kids, 2 adults, 2 dogs. Previously, we have only done tent camping so we are unsure what would be the pro/con of these features. We don't want to make a huge purchase and then kick ourselves in a year wishing we had gone in the other direction. Thanks for any help! I believe it is near impossible to get the "right" trailer the first time without having spent some time trying out different trailers. Yes, it will cost some time and money, but it will probably be well worth it to rent a few different models and spend as much time camping as you can in them. After living in each of them a bit you will have a much better idea what features are important to YOUR family. Then you may be able to purchase your 3rd RV the 1st time, saving $$$ and time.659Views0likes0CommentsRoad condition of I-40 in Oklahoma
We're headed to the west coast this weekend. We'd like to take the 40 most of the way....BUT, I have avoided Oklahoma for many years because the road surface has been so bad in past travels. Anyone have any recent experience on Interstate 40 thru Oklahoma? Is it smooth, or still very rough/bumpy? Thanks in advance for any recent reports.2KViews0likes8CommentsRe: Multiple Tire Blowouts
It seems to have been narrowed down to 3 things- 1. Find out your loaded weight to make sure you are not exceeding GVWR 2. You may have had older and/or bad tires. Just because the trailer was only 2 years old does not mean the tires were only 2 years old. 3. Driving faster than the tires are rated for seems like a surefire way to have a failure. Sharp turns should not cause a tire failure...hitting curbs, yeah, sharp maneuvering, no.472Views0likes0CommentsRe: Love the Lance 2375 layout: but the price! Any alternatives?
TeryT wrote: We've been in our Rockwood 2502 ultralight (3600# dry - see sig) going on 15 years. We've pulled it all over the country and nothing major has failed (thank you Lord!). Admittedly I am quite handy, and have done a good job keeping up after this and that. Anyway, we've been daydreaming about what we might get if not in this trailer (for whatever reason). So I've looked around a bit and it seems that everything in the size we like (25-27') is at least a couple thousand pounds heavier! This seems to be on account of everything has slides these days . . . We like our smaller, V8 4Runner tow vehicle - it fits in the garage and is also a great vehicle for narrow mountain 4x4 roads. I did spot something which has an awesome floor plan we really, really like - the Lance 2375. The weight is a bit more, but might be doable with the 4Runner (or other smaller V8). BUT, what I'm seeing of prices on these is quite shocking (e.g., $35k for a used 2018)! This is up there in Arctic Fox or Airstream territory price-wise! Is the quality or materials that great on a Lance that they can justify a price tag of $50,000+ new!? We paid $16k for our Rockwood 2502 fifteen years ago, and just can't justify that kind of rarefied price for something we currently use no more than 4-6 weeks a year. Does anybody know of a decent light-weight with that basic floor plan, with a price that won't give us a major coronary? We have had really good experiences (20k+ miles a year) with our Freedom Express Toy Haulers. I cannot say that the Freedom Express Travel Trailers are built to the same quality, but it seems they would be. Take a look at them here, they may be what you are looking for. https://coachmenrv.com/travel-trailers/freedom-express-ultra-lite I believe you'll find the price much easier to stomach.807Views0likes0CommentsRe: Towing speed
I tow at whatever is a safe speed for the road conditions and traffic conditions. (also taking into account the max speed rating of 75 MPH on the trailer tires) Usually it ends up being between 65-68. I do get significantly better MPG at 55-57, but over 7 days driving, that extra 10 mph slower would make it 8 days of driving instead of 7. RE: the OP concerns of "getting run over"... never had anything like that happen/or come close to happening. Even when in SD or Montana where most everyone is running 85-95. They just go around me, never had anyone run me over. :) If they're jammed up because of a slow moving semi, if it is safe I will speed up a bit to lower their blood pressure. But they couldn't "run me over" even if they decided to try. When not towing the trailer I ride a motorcycle as my daily driver. I do what is safe for me...on the bike and in the truck. No small part of that is staying away from the herds/clumps of vehicles all traveling fast and too close to each other. I ESPECIALLY put a lot of distance between me and a truck pulling a trailer at 75-85, wagging their tail down the road.642Views0likes0CommentsRe: New to the RV World - Towing Mirrors Recommendation
I got these Fit System Snap on Mirrors- see them HERE They were inexpensive. Worked flawlessly, & are unobtrusive. You will need to get some that fit your model TV. I put them and they have worked well for over 36K miles. They are made to be able to take them off when not towing. I don't bother.991Views0likes0CommentsRe: "Downgrading" trucks
LIKE2BUILD wrote: I'd like to hear comments from anyone that has previously owned an HD truck (2500 and higher) then stepped back down to a 1500 series. The long of the story is our two boys are several activities and with those busy schedules we just don't have time for camping :( Rather than having valuable assets setting unused we're in the process of selling our "extras" while they still have good value. If I no longer have a 5th wheel I can't see a good reason to keep my diesel HD truck. Pretty much any 1500 truck on the market will pull the other things I'm going to keep. My thought is to get max value out of the Ram now, step down to a 1500 for my daily driver and pulling duties, and then if we get back into camping in 6 or 7 years get a new HD truck. If I keep the Ram it will be 11 or 12 years old by the time we get another 5th wheel. Not necessarily a dinosaur but I'm sure I'll have well over 200,000 miles on the clock by that point. Here's the kicker....the truck is paid off so I'm not in a situation where I HAVE to get rid of it. I'm just trying to think what makes the most sense. So, I'd love to hear from anyone that did this. Did it work out or did you regret it and jump back to an HD truck? :h KJ I had a F250 4WD Powerstroke. It was a great truck, but there came a time when I no longer needed it, and I was able to sell it at a good price. It was replaced with a HDPP F150 and we are very happy with it. Would I do it again? Yep. Less capital tied up in a depreciating asset. The HDPP F150 is a fantastic truck. Costs less as a daily driver AND while towing with it. Will it hold it's value as well as a diesel? No. But that is more than made up for by the lower cpm to operate, plus the near zero % financing from FOMOCO.308Views0likes0CommentsRe: Multiple Tire Blowouts
As others have noted, your total weight, including everything you're carrying (which includes water-fresh, gray & black) should not exceed your GVWR, which is a tad under 10,000 lbs. Many things, as already noted, can contribute to a tire failure. Being overloaded is easier than you think. Go across a CAT Scale to find out. Another big thing is speed. Find out the speed rating of your tires. Some trailer tires are rated above 65 (75), but most are 65. I see folks regularly running faster than their tires are rated for. Low psi, but you have your TPMS, so that should not be an issue. Sounds like none of your E tires have failed, so you may have found the solution. Edited to add: Meant to include. On my previous trailer I ran OEM, Made in China, Castle Rock tires. Kept them at Max recommended PSI, trailer was always loaded within 200 lbs of the max GVWR, never exceeded the speed rating of 75 mph, and ran them for a bit over 20,000 miles without a single issue. Still had good tread when I sold the trailer earlier this summer. I was concerned with everyone talking negative about "China Bombs", but my experience was not bad. The majority of my travel was in mid 80 to mid 90 degrees, and some in 100+ degrees. Additionally we traveled some really bad roads with a lot of very bad potholes. I was very impressed with how they held up. On our new trailer we have the same China Brand tires. Less than 2,000 miles on them. We'll see how they hold up.472Views0likes0Comments
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