Lynn&Donald
Amherst New York
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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My wife, Lynn (who up and purchased our RV!), and I are new to the RV Class B gig; but we love it already. No more 12' seas, no fears of broaching, and no 300 gallon fill-ups twice-a-weekend!
We have a 2002 Pleasure Way Excel TS, with a rear-mounted spare and a single wide rear access door. We are looking at purchasing a Stowaway2/Swingaway hitch-mounted cargo carrier. Is there anyone who has had experience with this product? And does anyone know where we can find quality floor mats (Dodge chassis) that fit?
Thanks, Donald ...
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juliev
SE Minnesota
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Joined: 07/29/2004
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We have the Stowaway 2 and love it! It has plenty of room to carry our grill, camp stove, lawn chairs and other outdoor stuff. It's easy to operate and opens wide enough for our double back doors (on a Plateau). We also like the drain plug in there, makes it real easy to hose it out.
Julie
_____________________________________________________________________
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
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Gotagetgoing
Maryland
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Joined: 07/31/2004
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I put my own setup together using a hitch that telescopes out to permit the rear door to open. I got it from an outfit called Letsgoaero. I used an aluminum box that you can buy anywhere because of the durability of it. The nice thing about the hitch is that it clears the spare and also has a rise to give more ground clearance. It was the twin tube UBI unit. Be sure you can mount the stowaway with a rear mounted spare if you go that way.
I love having the extra storage space of this setup and it is very easy to put on and off.
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Rodger
Tucson, AZ.
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Joined: 03/20/2002
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If you get a Cargo Carrier make sure you can open the rear passenger door from the inside so in an emergency you have a way out the back.
I believe this is a Federal Safety Regulation that requires all RV's to have an emergency exit in the rear. It can be a door that opens, or a window that will pop out.
I know some say they will take the risk, and granted, chances are they will never need to use the emergency exit, but if you ever do......... well you can see where I'm going with this. Insurance companies not covering the injuries, law suits that could be devastating, etc.
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GizmosMom
Central Texas
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Joined: 02/18/2002
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Lynn&Donald,
Welcome to the Class B Camping Van Forum and congrats on your new purchase.
I don't know a good source for mats but I'm sure someone else on here probably knows of one.
We have also checked into a hitch mounted cargo carrier but never went ahead with the purchase. Our van scrapes the bottom occasionally and so we checked into the carriers that have the extension. But then I realized that the carrier would completely cover up our license plate. So I stopped there and we have managed nicely. I wanted the rear carrier to transport our inflatable boat to Colorado, but Joe doesn't want to take it (we don't take the bass boat out of Texas).
One thing I remember reading here in the forum is to watch your weight distribution in the rear. Try not to put too many heavy items in the carrier.
I will read further replies with interest as I still want a cargo carrier!
Marilyn w/ Joe, 2000 Xplorer Class B van, usually pulling a Ranger bass boat.
Smudge, (in photo) a Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix and Gizmo is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
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Rich_in_Florida
Tampa, Florida
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Joined: 08/30/2006
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Just researched this and decided on the EverThere foldable rack. 400 lb capacity (vs 200 for the stowaway, I recall). It folds and locks into a very compact shape for storage, light weight aluminum, and is so portable and light that you can easily take it on and off and store it in the van in seconds. Does not block the lights or plates on our Sprinter van. For under $200 it suits us perfectly.
Might be worth comparing.
Rich
Tampa, Florida
2009 Winnebago Itasca SunCruiser 35L
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Andy Pat
Cottage Grove, Mn.
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Joined: 10/10/2001
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I have the Stow Away Cargo Box & am well satisfied. I use it primarily to house my 2K Onan. Have the hitch U bolt facing upwards & you'll have no trouble with ground clearance. As for licence plates, it comes with a lighted plate holder. The only change I would make is to buy it in black. The white is just about impossible to keep clean.
Andy
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Rodger
Tucson, AZ.
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Rich, read this thread about cargo carriers. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseac........d/14129792/gotomsg/14140838.cfm#14140838
Also, handbasket has done a lot of research on the issue of cargo carriers, and weight distribution, hopefully he will chime in to this thread.
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GizmosMom
Central Texas
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Joined: 02/18/2002
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For anyone who is interested here are links to Everthere Folding Aluminum Cargo Carrier and also for some Stowaway Products
Andy, thanks for the info about the license plate holder. (This may cost Joe some more money!!!)
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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Rodger wrote:....
Also, handbasket has done a lot of research on the issue of cargo carriers, and weight distribution, hopefully he will chime in to this thread.
Well, I don't think I'd call it research, exactly...  .. but years of teaching intro 'Statics & Strength of Materials' has maybe given me some feel for it... 
It's basically a leverage issue... every lb. you add any noticable distance behind the rear axle amounts to more than a lb added over or ahead of it, in terms of adding to your rear axle weight. In the case of the Dodge RamVan 3500, the already-long rear overhang increases this issue.
I'd strongly advise a loaded-for-travel trip to the scales _before_ adding one of thiese things... truck stop, or look in the Yella' Pages under 'Weighers'. Get F & R weights and compare to the allowable axle weights. This'll give you some idea of what you're working with.
The leverage issue will also take some weight _off_ of the front axle. This may or may not contribute to drivablity issues.
Of course, there are other issues... longer to park, blocking the 'emergency exit', and scrapping / hanging up going up & down ramps. But each person can weigh & decide those, I suppose.
And I don't present myself as an expert ... my decision was to find smaller substitutes, or leave it behind. But that's a lot easier for a solo traveler...
Jim, "Conserve water! Dilute it!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
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