abimarye
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Re: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
2012Coleman wrote: abimarye wrote: 2012Coleman wrote: So, what are the specs on your truck? Don't stick your head in the sand on this. I haven't by any means! Max trailer weight can be 9100# GCWR 15,000# GVWR 7,200# Brake assist and transmission cooler came with the tow package on the truck so are covered by the bumper to bumper warranty Also have checked the axle weight and hitch weight and I'm well under if I proceed with the Grand Designs 2150 with the Equalizer hitch. Just don't have those numbers memorized. Both Chevy and the RV dealer gave their approval and ran all the calculations at my request. Getting closer and closer!! I asked about the info on the door jamb sticker - any reason you can't give that? Is 9100 the tow capacity? Make and model of the truck? Engine displacement? Look at the receiver and see what it is rated for. Above all, the dealer wants to make a sale. Only in bizzaro world would they tell you that your truck could not tow the TT you are interested in. Nice TT though - hope it works out. 9100 is the tow capacity. It's a Chevy Silverado 1500 crew cab standard bed with the tow package, 5,3 engine and 3.48 axle512Views0likes0CommentsRe: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
2012Coleman wrote: So, what are the specs on your truck? Don't stick your head in the sand on this. I haven't by any means! Max trailer weight can be 9100# GCWR 15,000# GVWR 7,200# Brake assist and transmission cooler came with the tow package on the truck so are covered by the bumper to bumper warranty Also have checked the axle weight and hitch weight and I'm well under if I proceed with the Grand Designs 2150 with the Equalizer hitch. Just don't have those numbers memorized. Both Chevy and the RV dealer gave their approval and ran all the calculations at my request. Getting closer and closer!!512Views0likes0CommentsRe: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
wanderingbob wrote: Abimarye , Many of my sites were pretty primitive , garden hoses running every where , grey water on the ground , every week a septic truck emptied the black tank What did you do for basic deployments like normal wind/hail? Just find a KOA or good sam?335Views0likes0CommentsRe: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
wannavolunteerFT wrote: A couple of comments, not all RV's have issues that cause them to stay in the shop. In fact, the only ones I have had in 5 years of ownership, were all self-inflicted due to my lack of attention to details/awareness of what I was doing. It seems the folks that have issues are usually more vocal in warning of dire situations than those of us who just keep rocking along with no major problems. The Whitehawk you mentioned, had a sofa that converts to a bed. I would strongly recommend a separate bed. You will not want to set up bed at the end of a long day. and you might want to sit somewhere besides at the dinette or on the bed. Take the time to spend at least an hour in the trailer before you purchase, imagining all the things you do in a day and how you would do them in the trailer. edited to add, I looked st Grand design floor plan and think it would work much better for you.. In response to how long to hook up and to set up. I am a 50+ year old female, and I can do either in less than an hour. How much less is dependent on temperature when I am setting up. I tend to work much slower in high temperatures. Be sure you have electric tongue jack as that will make setting up much much faster. I actually am not considering Jayco due to the caveat in their warranty now. I read through the warranty for Grand Design and it's much better, including if you purchase the extended 5 year warranty they will pay $250 a night for hotel/food if you are 50+ miles from home and the trailer is unusable. I agree, I tried the Murphy bed (it's a Murphy not a converter and while I like the extra room in genera, the Grand Design floor plan is exactly what I've searched for. Plus people in general seem MUCH happier with them. Since price wasn't really a problem, I'm hoping research will continue to be positive and I will soon own a Grand Design. Hoping I have the benefit during walk through that my attention to detail will help prevent some of the issues I've seen people have. A former RV dealer gave me a list of things to inspect myself on top of what they're likely to show me334Views0likes0CommentsRe: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
wanderingbob wrote: Abimarye , For most of my CAT work I pulled a travel trailer and carried a generator . For Cat work it is nice but not really necessary to have one of the quiet generators as everyone else will be running open contractor generators . I do not know how soon you arrive at the scene but we got there early so we had to carry 20 or so gallons of generator gas as there were no services many times for several weeks . For Katrina there was no fuel west of Tallahassee unless you traveled the back roads . Did you use it for basic deployments too, or just the extreme cats?334Views0likes0CommentsRe: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
webwrangler wrote: abimarye wrote: How long does it take you all to set up/hook up/break down? Is an equalizer hitch a good choice? My wife and I can set up and unhook in about 45 minutes or less. About the same to hook up and be ready to go. Once you've done it a few times, it's not that big of a deal. Of course, we're not staying in it for weeks at a time most trips. The Equalizer brand is a great choice. If the TT you've chosen has a power tongue jack, the Equalizer will be easy to hook up and unhook. Be aware that to easily hook up with the Equalizer, you'll need to first get the ball and coupler latched, then raise up the tongue and the rear of your truck several inches in order to get the weight distribution bars onto their brackets. Awesome - 45 minutes is totally reasonable. Hoping that my backup cam will help make it easier too. Going to test all of that when I do my test run, of course. My Uncle has an equalizer too, they had some small issues when learning it but after his last trip, he says he's got the hang finally.334Views0likes0CommentsRe: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
dodge guy wrote: With what you are suggesting I would consider a small class C and a small toad, or if the class C is small enough you won't even need a toad! I think for your use a truck and trailer is too much! need my truck for ladders and other equipment as well. I've got a truck anyway, so hauling a camper makes the most sense. I considered that option when I first started the math about a year ago, but even with a mid-size SUV I end up dependent on help for my two story ladders. With the truck I've got it set up that I'm more self-sufficient! But great idea, I wish it had worked out for me because that was my ideal when I started considering options.335Views0likes0CommentsRe: Unique Usage -- Looking to Buy
Gdetrailer wrote: Do what you want.. But you do need to consider in most cases you are taking a risk that the manufacturer could void the warranty.. That would mean that every repair cost will be your burden making an already expensive depreciating asset a even bigger hole in the ground that you simply dump money into. Even IF you manage to get warranty approval, you WILL lose the use of your "home".. The warranty work is done at a authorized dealer.. Very few dealers will allow anyone to live in their dealer lot (that darn "liability thing").. That would mean you would have to find alternate living quarters while repairs are done.. Often times repairs may take weeks or even months due to dealer's service department work load and or parts.. Once in a while some folks end up having to have their RV hauled back the factory.. This happens when repairs are not able to be done at a dealer (like replacing a side wall or other major parts).. Buying new and having a warranty does not assure you that it will get fixed right the first time or in a timely manor. But hey, what do I know? I have only been messing around with RVs for 16 years now.. Often times folks mix up RVs with saving money, not realizing the pitfalls that can be a rather expensive mistake.. Once you sign the papers, you HAVE lost money.. And that is before you even take it off the lot. Buyers remorse in this game can be one heck of a financial loss. If you have never towed before, you will have a huge learning curve in front of you.. I can assure you I've considered all of these options. I"m not saying that you don't know what you're talking about, I'm quite confident that you do. I appreciate your input. It's not ONLY about saving money, it's about having something to show for money I am going to spend either way.334Views0likes0Comments
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