Sweedish15
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Re: Best LIGHTWEIGHT trailers...... GO!
Typical forum responses. This is why people don't like forums. A simple question leads to a bunch of criticisms and useless answers. It's always the same whether it's guns, trucks, campers etc. For me, I have access to and regularly use a Forrest river micro lite 23lb. It's not the cheapest of the light weight trailers and it's not the most expensive. For the cost it seems to have come with some of the nicer features, and has required no warranty work after two years. The finish is holding up well after sitting in the Florida sun for two years. I would recommend it but I'm sure someone will chime in with how horrible Forrest river products are.....whatever. By everyone's standards on this site you can't tow a lawn trailer with a half ton truck. I have a half ton truck and don't plan on changing. I owned a 3/4 ton before and I would not go back for the type of driving I do. Trucks are expensive enough and people seem to think "just change trucks" which is not a viable option for most. Do your own research on your trucks towing capabilities and decide on your own comfort level. Be realistic. Personally I don't want to be at the max ability of the truck.....even though I've recently been considering it. For half ton trucks that seems to put us at a general maximum length 25ish ft plus or minus a few. I'm also in the market for a new model and am leary of anything with a dry weight of over 5000 lbs. and won't go over a trailer max capacity of 6500 lbs.406Views0likes0CommentsRe: Winnebago minnie construction
It's not that I won't ever tow with water, it's just that we usually don't need to. I figure why have the extra shifting weight for no reason. We pretty much go to commercial campgrounds and state parks. I went through my truck manual, pulled all the correct numbers out and weighed the truck at he dump. Should be just fine towing either model at their full weight carrying capacity. I will be near the top towing capacity of the truck, but still within safe limits. Surprisingly the amount of payload weight in the TV was the restricting number. An accurate weight of the tow vehicle loaded and taking passenger weights in to account really starts adding up quick. But 500 lbs in the truck vs 500 lbs in the TT really changed the capacities. Meaning, it seems weight is better if balanced in the trailer instead of filling the back of the truck. In the future it seems it makes more sense to leave the truck nearly empty except passengers and put all the luggage, bikes, etc in he trailer. On a separate note I learned the roof trusses in the Winnebago is mae with aluminum trusses, 3/8 decking and tpo. I also can't believe how many ppl are against the welded frames that most trailers are built on. I'm no professional welder but I've done a fair amount of MIG over the years. A lighter weight frame held together by "huck bolts" sounds like a cheap gimmick of cutting corners. Everyone seems to think otherwise. I think weld quality depends more on the guy laying the bead in the trailer shop. I did google the lippert frames and see they do seem to have a reputation of weld failures. Neither one seems like a great option, pick your poison I guess!!!1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Is a weight distribution hitch needed on dually?
I use a Reese w sway control. My father in law uses it on his truck too. We don't have to adjust the hitch between trucks bc they are the same. It would only take a few mins to set up the full wd and hitch on your friends truck so I say why not use it. Especially if he is taking your trailer and is not used to towing it.408Views0likes0CommentsRe: Winnebago minnie construction
Apex-dry weight is 4600 lbs with a max load of 6500 Winnebago-dry weight is 5300 lbs with a max load of 7000 The exact towing capacity of my truck is 6800 lbs With the tt we currently use, lit has a dry weight of 4100lbs and a gvwr of 5800lbs. We never carry water and we only load a few hundred lbs of stuff. It tows like a dream w a Reese wd hitch and sway control. The apex is very close in weight and capacity to what we tow now and I know it's made of the materials I want. It's also cheaper........the apex seems to be the better choice all around, I guess I should take a closer look at the apex, saving 700 lbs at dry weight is a good thing. Apex allows for 2200 lbs in people,gear, water, propane etc Winnebago only leaves 1500lbs My guess is with the Winnebago I'd be near max capacity for the truck towing while the apex would always be 700 lbs less. I also would like to not be at max towing capacity..... The one thing I didn't like about the apex is that the local dealer has horrible reviews, especially with warranty work after the sale.99Views0likes0CommentsWinnebago minnie construction
Long time reader first time poster. My family of four is in the market for a travel trailer. We have quite a bit of experience with travel trailers as we have always had free access to a forest river microlight 23lb in the family that we take out often. It has been nice because it has allowed us to see what we like and what we want in our own unit. We have narrowed it down to a popular floor plan that seems to be made by everyone. I have a half ton truck with a 6800 pound towing capacity. The two units I am debating are the coachmen apex 245bhs and the Winnebago Minnie 2455 bhs. I've researched both in depth and begun talking with dealers. The coachmen is almost 1000 pounds lighter which I assume is because it is only a 7.5 ft wide unit compared to the normal 8. I also like that the coachmen has 6 sided aluminum and is built with azdel walls instead of luan. Coachmen seems to boast these features. Sorry for the long post, but I have been trying to find out if the Winnebago also has aluminum rafters and azdel walls or luan. The Winnebago is quite anbit more expensive but is the preferred interior by my wife. I also think it is a better looking unit inside and out. Can anybody add some insight on the Winnebago construction.11KViews0likes32Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 13, 202544,029 Posts
