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RE: Lake Superior Circle Tour
Sandman, you might get a better response if you change the title of your post to "Lake Superior Circle Tour" and ask the moderator to move your post to the Campgrounds section. Good luck! (You can send the moderator a PM.)
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kknowlton
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11/18/09 12:57pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Our new 2010 Roo 21SS is Home ***update***
Not a Roo, but we always use the slide locks; our owners manual says they're needed in order to make sure the seals are tight between slideout and trailer body.
Oh, and - congrats on the new Roo! :)
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kknowlton
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11/17/09 08:30pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: electric awning
From most of the comments on this site, we have decided the electric awning basically can't be left out (deployed) in any sort of wind or rain. Rain especially is a problem - if you have one of the newer ones that tilt, you MAY be ok leaving it out, but even light rain has given us problems with our electric awning. We both wish we had a "normal" one instead.
That said, we have used ours with a tie-down in light winds, when there was no chance of rain, and that's helped - at least I felt better about it!
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kknowlton
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11/17/09 08:28pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: losing a friend
No, it never is easy. So sorry for your loss! And it should be some comfort, however small for now, that you gave them a chance for a happy life.
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kknowlton
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11/11/09 06:34pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Bitten by Stray Dog
Ditto. Infection these days is nothing to mess with.
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kknowlton
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11/11/09 05:23pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Jumping right in - looking at a travel trailer
Just my gut feeling, but I'd go with the lighter trailer. Then you're much less likely to have issues, especially with an older truck.
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kknowlton
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11/11/09 05:20pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Suggestion for Tow Vehicle and RV
Depending on the weight of the trailer and how your truck is equipped, you may be able to tow it safely. More info is needed on both items. :) Remember you'd need to subtract the weight of your passengers, cargo, pets, etc. which you would carry in the truck from its tow rating. (As an example of what might be possible, we tow a 7000-lb (loaded), 34' TT with a 1/2 ton. I wouldn't go any heavier, but this combo works well for us.)
Unless you get a bunkhouse model with at least 4 beds, you'll be sleeping somebody on the dinette or couch (made into a bed), as that's just how RVs are configured. Sounds like 26' would be a nice size for your size family, but others have made do with less (sleeping one or two kids on the dinette or couch, though).
If you'd be ok with sleeping under canvas, you might give some of the hybrid trailers (HTTs) a look, especially the models that have 3 popout beds, or have bunks at one end. Rockwood Roo and Jayco are the most popular brands of HTT. These trailers tend to be a bit lighter weight for their size, and since the beds at the front (and back, if it's not a bunk model) fold down when you're in camp, the towed length is less than the open-in-camp length, assisting with some of the handling ease when towing.
First, find out what your truck is capable of pulling. Then work from there. Even for short trips, you need to be within your truck's specs for safety and for a more comfortable tow. Weight-distributing hitch may be needed, and sway control will definitely be needed for something as long as a 26'. Good luck!
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kknowlton
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11/11/09 02:38pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Snow load limit
Popeye, we're in your general area and so far haven't felt the need to clear the camper roof of snow, even during the last 2 winters. (I did consider it from time to time, but by the time I got really worried, we'd have a melting period.) I believe I also called our (local) dealer to ask if we should, and they said not to worry about it with the amounts we had. There seems to have been no damage to the trailer. We also use a cover - good move around here, I think.
Maybe if you lived downwind of the lake, I'd say you should plan to get up there a couple times during the winter & clear it off. Otherwise just keep an eye on it. If you get too nervous, then go up & clear it off, but use a broom, not a snow shovel, to avoid damage to the roof - and be careful not to slide off!
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kknowlton
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11/11/09 06:34am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Stupid Question Lite/Ultra-lite/Luxury Heavy
Another reason for a heavyweight is if you plan to fulltime in it. You'd want the sturdier construction and greater storage capacity then.
A complicating factor in a TT's GVWR is the axles - many of the ultra-lightweights have lighter-duty axles, and therefore a lower GVWR (and consequently lower CCC, or cargo capacity). A higher GVWR may not necessarily mean the trailer itself weighs more, but instead has heavier-duty axles and a higher cargo capacity.
Cases in point: #1 - our 34' "super light" trailer has a GVWR of about 7600 lbs, but has a cargo capacity (allowing for full LP & freshwater tanks) of only 800 lbs. That's adequate for 2 people on a long trip, but not enough for fulltiming, or for a large family with lots of stuff to bring along. #2 - our previous HTT had a GVWR of 5000 lbs, which corresponded to the lighter-duty axles. Later-year models of the same trailer had a GVWR more like 7000 lbs, only because heavier-duty axles were used. That allowed their cargo capacities to be higher, i.e. you could store more stuff in them.
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kknowlton
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11/11/09 06:29am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Class A or TT
Being a TT fan, I agree with those who have been advising renting a MH. Traveling in comfort with those little kids will be easier in a MH than a TT, and you won't have the expense of buying. If you get the TT you'll need to make sure you have an adequate tow vehicle, both for towing and for carrying your family (tough to achieve on your limited budget). As pointed out, renting is expensive, but a lot less so than buying a camper, and you won't have the hassles of licensing (often pricey) & longterm insurance. Remember you'll also have campground fees to pay, which can also mount up on an extended trip - don't plan to boondock most of the time; kids your kids' age may be happier if they get to swim in a pool, play with other kids in a playground, etc., which most private campgrounds offer - and the private CGs are on average more expensive than state/national parks & forests. (A combination of both types of CGs is a nice way to offer your family a variety of experiences on a camping trip.) You'll need to factor that into the budget too.
I don't think it's necessary - though more convenient in some ways - to get a MH with washer/dryer. The ones that have them are much more expensive, not likely in a rental, and most private CGs (and even some state ones) have laundromats. Start saving those quarters, though! Anyway, for best results plan to spend a night or two per week at a CG with a laundry (make sure it's a coin-op; "laundry" sometimes - especially in state parks - means a utility sink where you can wash stuff by hand!)
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kknowlton
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11/10/09 08:53pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Rockwood Roo 23ss Towing with Ford Explorer
If you're not used to towing a full-height trailer with the Explorer, you'll find the experience a bit of a shock at first. Make sure to check your owner's manual to see what they recommend as far as transmission settings (ours said to disengage overdrive). Gas mileage will likely be about the same as most of us get with trucks & trailers, somewhere between 8 and 13, depending on conditions.
From our experience (former combo was a V6 Explorer and a Travelstar 21SSO, which is roughly similar to your Roo), I would recommend making sure your WDH & sway control are adjusted & torqued properly. That length of trailer was all our Explorer could handle - we definitely felt wind & passing trucks, though I wouldn't say it was white knuckle most of the time. The extra power you'll have from the V8 will be welcome in headwinds, hills and other less-than-ideal towing conditions.
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kknowlton
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11/10/09 08:35pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Trip out West and back...
Welcome! I'll start off with the obligatory first question: how much time are you allowing for the trip? And the obligatory second one: what are your interests? The latter will determine what kinds of recommendations you get (i.e. don't-miss places, etc.)
Not sure what a "class 3" is, but that's less likely to be as limiting a factor as time and interests are.
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kknowlton
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11/10/09 05:55pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 09' Shamrock 21ss or 10' Roo 21ss
I agree - the newer one is not THAT much more when you consider it's new and has the extras.
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kknowlton
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11/10/09 05:51pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Is everyone using Skype ?
Nope. Haven't even gotten that far. :)
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kknowlton
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11/10/09 08:50am |
Technology Corner
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RE: screwing in the walls
Ditto. We've used Command strips with success. Trailer walls are just not set up to hang things using traditional home methods.
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kknowlton
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11/09/09 08:11pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: RV Cover for south Pa. weather
ADCO works for us & has for 4 seasons now.
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kknowlton
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11/09/09 08:08pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Sad day!!!!
I hear you! 70 degrees yesterday and we were putting the cover on for winter. Bummer. But at least we had good dry weather to do it with!
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kknowlton
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11/09/09 08:08pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: US-6 in Utah
Other than the fact that there is virtually no place to pull off for MILES, it's ok. Lots and lots of sagebrush to watch. :)
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kknowlton
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11/09/09 08:06pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: camp memberships
Passport America will have the biggest discounts, but seem to be much less common than Good Sam. KOA & Good Sam both offer 10% discounts on member CGs; probably there are more GS than KOAs nationwide. (We have both of the latter memberships.)
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kknowlton
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11/07/09 07:31pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Las Vegas to Denver to Washington State
When are you going? If soon, you may run into snow in the mountains. Between Las Vegas & Denver you'll encounter anywhere from a few to a lot of mountainous country, depending which way you go. (Stay across southern Colorado & head north on I-25 and there's not so much; take I-70 and you'll find yourselves in high country, gorgeous but could be dicey this time of year.)
Ditto for cold, snow & wind across Wyoming, etc. back toward home.
If you're going next summer, no worries. Take I-70; it's worth it for the scenery!
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kknowlton
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11/07/09 07:30pm |
Beginning RVing
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