Planning on purchasing a TT, what mods are recommended? - Page 2

Titan4mde · 11-04-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surferboy

I am having the same debate, and have been looking at 3/4 ton pickups, until I realized that Nissan now has a long wheel base pickup. I am getting a Rockwood 8316 which is 33' tongue to bumper. With the tow package and a crew cab with the long wheel base, this setup should be fine, right. Or am I forgetting something?

Re-read post #6.

buckeyewhis · 11-04-2007, 06:31 PM

i have a rockwood 8317 its 33' long, weighs about 8500 loaded and the tounge was about 900 lbs. I have the equilizer wd hitch and run the prodigy brake. I just put the ride rite bags on, big improvement. tows great here in ohio. 05 cc. with big tow. really like my rockwood. the only thing that i dont like is how high it sits. they put a 6" riser on top of the axles so they dont have to cut out for wheel wells. also rockwood stand by there warranty. had a leak found it 2 years out of warranty they still fixed it no cost to me..

Surferboy · 11-05-2007, 01:53 PM

Even driving a long trailer cross country to live in, through all kinds of terrain, a 3/4 ton is not needed? This is great news to me. I was hating the idea of giving up my Titan, this just means I get to go trade in on a new one!

TitanLou · 11-05-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yahooligan

I hear ya, we looked at various new trailers and they all felt about the same. The Wildcat trailers seemed to be more solid, but that comes at the expense of more weight.

Some have full welds, some use spot welds. Some have fiberglass insulation, some have foam core. Some have a wood subfloor and stringers, some have aluminum, and they all claim whatever they have is the better one.

Give me ducted heat and AC and something that won't fall apart, that's all I want.

Fleetwood has always seemed like one of the cheapest-built makers out there, so that wasn't on my list.

Forest River (Flagstaff, Rockwood, Wildcat brands), Keystone Outback, Komfort, Nomad, and Gulf Stream all sound like top-rated brands from a product standpoint from what I've read other people have said.

Anyway, I'm not expecting everyone to say the same brand, more curious to know what folks have had good and bad experiences with.

This is the one we have.http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/flo...es=LETTrailers we have been very pleased with it so far. My truck is stock except for the Magnflow muffler and it tows this trailer fine. I have the equalizer w/d hitch and sway control with the Tekonsha Voyager brake controller. One of my nest purcheses will be the RAS.

Yahooligan · 11-05-2007, 07:55 PM

We did some more looking over the weekend and we're stuck on an '08 Wildcat T27BHSS. For whatever reason, Forest River doesn't have the '08 specs and brochures online or in the dealers, but it is almost exactly like the Wildwood T27BHSS with some notable differences:

Foam core insulation
Diamond plating down the lower portion of both sides and across the front
Aluminum wheels
Bunks slide out, so it's a dual slide.

The salesman called the rep up on the phone and is told these trailers' UVW/dry weight are as they sit after complete assembly, so everything but water, propane and gear. Some makers have the dry weight as mentioned before, just the unit without appliances, etc, but these aren't weighed that way.

The Wildcat T27 seems to be 25' 4" box length, has a dry weight of 6966 (I think. I know it's under 7000).

6966 + 50gal water + 2x 20# propane (plus bottles) = 7443lb.

Going by the 80% rule (7520lb), that leaves 77lb for gear.

However, we're not planning on doing very much dry camping and if we do then we will more than likely fill up with water just prior to hitting camp, so that would leave just shy of 500lb for gear.

I think the bigger issue with this particular trailer is, as usual, tongue weight which is a claimed 759lb. Ouch.

No matter what trailer we end up with, I am going with Firestone bags, Prodigy controller, and an Equal-i-zer hitch.

Our second choice is a Keystone Springdale 298BHLGL, which is pushing the length limit but is almost exactly the same weight in all aspects as the Wildcat T27 but it's not built as solid (Obviously, if it's a few feet longer and the same weight). Doesn't have foam core insulation or as good of an R rating for the ceiling and floor, but does have an enclosed and heated underbelly which the Wildcat doesn't have.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. Looks like we're going to hold off on buying until Feb. even though I want it NOW NOW NOW.

Sean Woodruff · 12-30-2007, 02:03 PM

Hello Yahooligan,

I realize I'm coming in late to this discussion but think I may have something to offer.

I have been in the RV industry for over 10 years. First as the Vice President of Hensley Mfg, and recently started my own company.

You have received a lot of great advice here. Specifically about the Prodigy.

As for the length of the trailer, if you use a Pivot Point Projection(tm) hitch you take a lot of the length factor of the trailer out of the equation. This is due to the effective pivot point of the trailer being near the rear axle of the tow vehicle. By moving that pivot point forward you shorten the lever arm created between the pivot point and the rear axle of your tow vehicle. This helps control the advantage that a long TT normally has when applying a force against that lever arm.

Just something for you to consider in your research. You also may want to check out MyRVTalk.com for some more RV information.

Good luck with your research, I know you'll love spending the time with your family and creating the memories.

**loufish** · 12-30-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

I am having the same debate, and have been looking at 3/4 ton pickups, until I realized that Nissan now has a long wheel base pickup. I am getting a Rockwood 8316 which is 33' tongue to bumper. With the tow package and a crew cab with the long wheel base, this setup should be fine, right. Or am I forgetting something?

Still seems like a lot of trailer behind a 1/2 ton truck (even a longer one) but you won't really know until you've towed it...Hitch setup will be crucial with that trailer, also load everything you can in the trailer instead of the truck. Hopefully you bought the new 08' model with about 2000 lbs of load capacity....
Nice trailer, cool floor plan....

BTW Don't for get to break in the rear end according to the manual!

Yahooligan · 01-05-2008, 03:43 PM

So, I've been doing some thinking and trying to decide what I/we want to do about this whole travel trailer situation and other things I'm thinking about doing.

Anyway, I think I've decided to go the rental route instead of buy. Not including maintenance, it works out to $69-$139 per day if we use it 4-8 weeks out of the year or roughly $3900/yr, assuming $3000 down and keeping it for 5 years, not counting any gains/loss when selling.

Also means I don't have to insure it, worry about it being damaged in storage, deal with fixing things, etc.

The other reason I'm considering this route is...well, I'm seriously considering buying another Jeep (CJ, TJ, or XJ) to build into a rock toy and the wife said "Well, do you want a trailer or a Jeep?"

This way I can "have" both.

Decisions, decisions...

kman · 01-05-2008, 05:00 PM

where can you rent travel trailers? I looked into it and all i could find are places that will rent them, but they tow them to your location, or you rent them at there chosen locations.

Yahooligan · 01-05-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kman

where can you rent travel trailers? I looked into it and all i could find are places that will rent them, but they tow them to your location, or you rent them at there chosen locations.

There are a number of places down here in socal that rent travel trailers. Mostly toy haulers, but there are some that rent normal travel trailers as well.

One such place is http://www.happycamperrentals.com

Jerrygfd · 03-05-2008, 02:34 PM

I just purchased the 2008 Keystone 27B Hornet Hideout with all accessories which we liked in reliability and quality of the built. I pick it up tomorrow and just finished having the RV dealer install the Prodigy Brake Controller 90185. I also paid for a weight distribution hitch kit, sway bar and new hitch ball. Of course with labor the total cost including tax was just under $950. I'm not a do it yourself person but most likely could have purchased the Prodigy Kit cheaper. As for the hitch setup, I was in the blind this being my first purchase but know I paid more then necessary. Its a standard overkill in prices and labor dealing with RV Dealers and not unusual. I won't see the hitch setup until I pick up my TT. Overall, looking forward to towing this model TT and after reviewing the forums feel I shouldn't have any problems.

Derwud · 03-05-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerrygfd

I just purchased the 2008 Keystone 27B Hornet Hideout with all accessories which we liked in reliability and quality of the built. I pick it up tomorrow and just finished having the RV dealer install the Prodigy Brake Controller 90185. I also paid for a weight distribution hitch kit, sway bar and new hitch ball. Of course with labor the total cost including tax was just under $950. I'm not a do it yourself person but most likely could have purchased the Prodigy Kit cheaper. As for the hitch setup, I was in the blind this being my first purchase but know I paid more then necessary. Its a standard overkill in prices and labor dealing with RV Dealers and not unusual. I won't see the hitch setup until I pick up my TT. Overall, looking forward to towing this model TT and after reviewing the forums feel I shouldn't have any problems.

Do yourself a favor and tell the dealer you want an Equal-I-Zer or Reece Dual Cam HP hitch and you will not settle for anyless nor pay them any more.. You wwill end up buying one anyway, you might as well get it now... Don't listen to the dealers bull... As for pricing, you have a prodigy, lets say $125 for prodigy and harness and about $250 for the standard cheap hitch and sway control. so they are charging you $500 for labor? The Equal-I-Zer can be had for $400...

Jerrygfd · 03-05-2008, 03:05 PM

Thanks for the information and I believe the Weight Distribution Hitch is a Eaz-Lift. I looked up the part number on my invoice FP Number 14-0132 and it cost $258. I couldn't find information on part number 14-0029 listed as for the Sway Bar. The Prodigy Kit was model 90185 for $190, really way to much but that was the charge and yes total labor $330, go figure!

Jerrygfd · 03-05-2008, 03:26 PM

Back again and just asked the RV dealer what brand and they said the Weight Distribution Kit was a Eaz-Lift 1000 and the Sway bar a Robbin or Robin model. I case I'll research these but can't speak for this brands reilability yet or compare it with the Equal-i-zer brand which I see is more expensive. Again thoug, thanks for the feedback because this is all new to me.

Tiggrrr · 03-09-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerrygfd

Back again and just asked the RV dealer what brand and they said the Weight Distribution Kit was a Eaz-Lift 1000 and the Sway bar a Robbin or Robin model. I case I'll research these but can't speak for this brands reilability yet or compare it with the Equal-i-zer brand which I see is more expensive. Again thoug, thanks for the feedback because this is all new to me.

Go ask for your money back and check the used market for the Equal-i-zer. I picked up what was supposed to be their 10k lb. setup used (nearly new) for $200 from a guy on Craigslist. Turns out it was actually the 12k lb. setup. Overkill in this situation can't hurt anything.....other than my back lifting the dang thing. The way these things are constructed they could last forever and still perform like new. Don't hesitate to buy a used on. You can go to their website for easy instructions on setting it up ideally for your truck / trailer.