Chuck5395
Explorer
Joined 22 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
RickLight wrote: Our light rig has served us well. We've been increasing our trip times every summer. 2, 3 and now 5 months a year. We've certainly had some breakdowns and wear. We haven't been tender with it either. Lots of FS dirt roads and a certain wrong turn put us on an ATV road! The worst is the interior wood finishes that can't be repaired. Be prepared to do some repairs on the road! The strangest issue is drawer slides. They aren't over loaded but the most used needed replacement last year. Of course even the cheapest hardware store one are better than the OEM. Our Jayco Eagle HT looked great inside. It was under the skin where the failures happened. Way too under designed for its own good. Sure, less frame means lighter weight, but it also means weak.993Views0likes0CommentsRe: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
ReneeG wrote: Friends of ours bought a lightweight Arcadia Fifth Wheel. It came with a 12v fridge and one solar panel. They added a solar suitcase for additional solar. It also came with a tankless water heater. After one trip and wasting two gallons of water before thevwater heated up, he added this add on and they love it. We are just about to start our first dry camping trip with this new camper. While there appear to be few fixes to the water wasting issue with the tankless water heater, if we do anything, I'm currently leaning towards pulling it out and putting a tank heater in its place.993Views0likes0CommentsRe: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
Curly2001 wrote: We have a 2013 Heartland Sundance XLT which is light and gone up to the pacific nw with it and Colorado a few times. Worked out well for us. It is a rear kitchen with OA legnth of 29 feet. I think what was light back then could be "well built" compared to the later models especially the Covid specials. We were on the cusp of buying a new one but decided to keep old faithfull and run it. Even if we need to put a roof on it we would still be dollars ahead. Just my two cents.....Curly We did really like our 2017 Jayco HT, but it did not hold up well to being towed around. I'm thinking it's no longer a HT because they have realized their mistake and now are using a sturdier frame.994Views0likes0CommentsRe: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
laknox wrote: I'm with you on both counts, Jeff. I had the stuipd solid steps and, as boondockers, am not a fan of the tankless water heaters (though I've not had experience with them). I've read about too many people not having hot water when running on the pump =and= people using a =lot= more water. Lyle We've just spent our first 5 nights in the new rig. We have the newer flip style steps that help knock the dirt off of them before you raise them into the doorway. Worse than dirt, if they're wet they bring that water in with them. And so far, we are not a fan of the tankless water heater. It does seem to use a lot more water and we boondock a lot. I'm sure we'll figure out a solution. -Chuck625Views0likes0CommentsRe: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
Well, it turns out the HT rig really are lightweight constructed. We have traded in our 28.5RLTS for a lightly used Grand Design 337RLS. One interesting note, the new 2023 28.5RLTS rigs are no longer listed as HT and have a dry weight about 1,000 higher than our old 2017.457Views0likes0CommentsRe: B&W Companion hitch removal
Showme 5vr wrote: Just got a new truck with the puck system. Bought a B&W Companion hitch that weighs about 230 pounds. What have those of you that have a similar hitch done to remove the hitch without straining your back. I have that hitch in my 2017 RAM. After 4 (yes four) hernial surgeries, I am very careful about lifting. After releasing the pucks, I use a pry bar as a lever to raise the base up out of the pucks and slide a 2x4 under each side. This 2x4 has silicon mover sliders underneath. This allows me to slide the entire assembly to the rear of the bed (the factory bed line makes it tough to slide it without the silicone mover sliders). I then use a deer hoist that slides into the Class IV hitch receiver on the truck. Once I have the hitch elevated about the truck bed, I use the pivot function of the hoist to swing it around and then lower it onto a cart. Here's a link to a similar hoist on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZS6M9L/?coliid=I1IQ8CA4NV5V9&colid=6PTDTPY5BRYI&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it)203Views0likes0CommentsRe: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
I hear you (and others). The small fresh water holding tank is a pain because we dry camp most of the time. I now carry additional water jugs in the bed of the pickup and use a transfer pump to refill the tank. If we keep this, I'm going to look into getting a auto-level system installed because I'm not happy with the single motor landing gear we currently have.457Views0likes0CommentsRe: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
Thanks everyone for your replies. This line of thought started after our last trip where one of our landing gear legs started to slip while leveling. Later in the night, the trailer drop down a few inches on that side. I ended up our bottle jack under the front end and that held us stable for the weekend. I hitched up without a problem, but started slipping again when we got home and went to unhitch. We've already replaced the other one about 2 years ago. This brought up the conversation regarding the use of lesser components to keep the weight down. I've gotten use to the soft spots in the floor because the support beams are further apart. We do really like the unit's layout. I've done a lot of upgrades to it overall so I'd hate to start over, but I wanted to pause and evaluate our options. Thank you for all your input into the conversation. You all bring unique perspectives to the table and have given us more to consider. -Chuck457Views0likes0CommentsRe: Extensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
agesilaus wrote: You might want to join the Jayco Users Group: Jayco As for a better model, Northwood (Arctic Fox etc) makes some of the best but they are not lightweight. See the above. Thanks agesilaus, I didn't post on the Jayco forum since I didn't want to be limited to Jayco options. We will have to give Artic Fox another look. -Chuck318Views0likes0CommentsExtensive Traveling with a 5th Wheel
We currently own a 2018 Jayco Eagle HT 28.5RSTS. As we get closer to retirement, our thoughts have turned to taking longer (in duration and distance) trips. I'm concerned about this rig being an HT since that implies that it was built to be light and possibly not durable. First question: Is it built strong enough for extensive travel? Second question: If we go back on the market to buy a new rig, what should we be looking for? I'd like to stay under 36' and we tow with a 2017 RAM Cummins Club cab long bed SRW. Thanks -Chuck9.2KViews0likes46Comments
Groups
Fifth Wheel Group
Interested in fifth wheels? You've come to the right spot.Jan 13, 202519,006 Posts
