Justardnck
Loxahatchee, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 01/01/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
I'm about to pull the trigger on a Forest River Wolf Pack 27DFWP. The deal seems pretty good at just about $20k before tax. Let me tell you why this unit suits me... I can fit 4 ATVs in this unit without much hassles at all. Forest River put everything on one side which allows me to put payload all the way to the front. One thing I don't like is that it's a stick and tin instead of fiberglass. I have no reason for liking the fiberglass other than the look and possibly the resale value.
A few questions I have is that the new unit has a 15k btu A/C and a 50 amp service, this is set up with the fueling station and set up for a built in genny but doesn't come with the genny. Should I buy a portable or invest the big bucks on the Onan? Which size is best? Which genny is best? Built in or portable? I will be doing a lot of dry camping but only on weekends so the genny is important.
2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD, EC, LB, 4X4, 6.0L, 4:88 gears, 6" Fabtech suspension lift on 35" tires
2006 Coachmen Adrenaline 228 FB/TT
The Equalizer hitch with a Primus brake controller
Just the woman, myself and Beuford our Rottahoula (yeah... you read it right)
|
old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
Senior Member
Joined: 03/15/2006
View Profile
|
hope they have a good set of tires to haul four ATV's in it. Forest River doesn't use quality tires on their stuff.
|
MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
Senior Member
Joined: 03/12/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
If you will be dry camping and not worried about noise to others, then a portable is fine. There are a ton out there that will support the 15K AC for under $500. If you want/or need quiet generator, look into Honda or Yamaha. No need to go Onan when you can get the above for around half the price. Do a search on the gen sets and you will have hours of reading to suit you.
Seems like a decent price, but once you load that trailer, you are going to kill that 6.0l. 
Mav
Maverick
'08 Dodge 3500 SLT Mega Cab Dually, 6.7l/6 speed. Oh yeah!
'08 Winners Circle 36SRV-H5
1 wife, 2 kids, 3 dogs, 1 cat
|
star6443
Buffalo, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 04/07/2004
View Profile
|
I agree with Old Guy, you really need to check your weight and the tires. The tires that came on my forest river were WAY too small for the camper loaded for a trip and wore quickly. I also could not replace them with as large of tires as I would have liked due to wheel and space limits.
But wow have fun, sounds like a great family bonding experience
2005 Ram 2500 CTD Quad Cab
|
Rvndave
Medina, Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 01/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
As for the fiberglass and resale, I would rather buy an aluminum sided unit with a few dings over a fiberglass unit delaminating. The delamination of the fiberglass and filon sided units is going to happen, just a question of when. I don't care if it was vacuum bonded or pinchrolled. The glue will dry out, coupled with the flexing of going down the road, is to much for the glue.
As for the generator, thats going to be a matter of preference, each has its plus and minus side. For the built in gen such as an Onan, the ability to be able to not have to go outside to start or fuel it is nice. It is much harder for someone to steal. On the negative side I feel they use more fuel, add vibration to the rv, and make more noise than some of the quiet gens. If you ever have need for power other than the rv, your going to have to drag the whole rv along.
2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]
|
|
|
Justardnck
Loxahatchee, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 01/01/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Theft of a portable is a big concern and the weight of dragging a portable outside of the unit and chaining it to the frame is not very appealing to me but it is an option. Having a quiet genny for my neighbors while camping is also important to me, saving fuel takes a back seat to these 2 issues. I have spend hours and hours reading genny threads and gave myself a headache while doing it. Most of my research was to power a 13.5k btu on the old TT so this new 15K btu unit with 50amp service starts a whole new research that I just don't know if I'm up to the task all over again. If I'm willing to spend $3k or so for an Onan then you can bet I'd be willing to spend $1900 for a nice Honda. I'm more out for convenience than price.
|
Justardnck
Loxahatchee, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 01/01/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
star6443 wrote:I agree with Old Guy, you really need to check your weight and the tires. The tires that came on my forest river were WAY too small for the camper loaded for a trip and wore quickly. I also could not replace them with as large of tires as I would have liked due to wheel and space limits.
But wow have fun, sounds like a great family bonding experience I agree with you guys, I will have to watch it closely. I was reading threads about the axles being under sized and will be paying very close attention to them
|
bkc650
Troy, MO
Full Member
Joined: 06/18/2008
View Profile
|
Please take note of the following!!!!!!
I ordered the 27dfwp about 10 weeks ago and it finally arrived yesterday at the dealer.
They had an 08 on the lot but ONLY had 3500# axels. It has the space for up to 4 quads, depending on size, however only had a CCC of around 2100 pounds. There has been a lot of discussion on what the overall weight the unit can carry, depending on what numbers you read, including those provided by Forest River. Bottom line, 3500# axels will not make the cut IMHO.
I ordered mine with the 5200# axels at a cost of around $ 500.00 along with several other options I and the DW wanted, specifically the electric down beds in the garage for both kids.
I did not opt for the genny- for the extra $4000.00 the 6250 watt one in my garage will do fine the few times I plan to dry camp.
The deal cost me consideribly more over the 08 on the lot, but for the long haul I'm banking it will be worth it (scheduled for the PDI this Friday).
Just curious- any idea why they opted for the 50 amp. It snot required for the air upgrade, only if you went with the 5.5 Onan.
Good luck,
Brian
* This post was
edited 08/26/08 08:24pm by bkc650 *
|
OlderThanSand
Tollhouse, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 12/09/2007
View Profile
 Online
|
Definitely 5.2K axles!
Looks like a nice rig to me, but in the pics I saw it looks like it has limited counter space in the kitchen. Make sure the Missus can live with that. Price seems OK.
As for the genny I'd say if you plan on running your a/c much or have a 110v compressor get the onboard. If not I'd get a Honda 2000 and call it good. I have both and the only time I use my onboard is when I am using the compressor to air up my tires or running the microwave and wafflemaker at the same time.
2002 4x4 Super Duty PSD
2006 22' Carson Titan
2006 Polaris Ranger
2007 Suzuki LTZ 400
2007 Honda TRX 250EX
1995 model dune crazed granddaughter
|
Justardnck
Loxahatchee, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 01/01/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
You guys are right and my buddy just sealed it. If I load 4 500lb 4x4 ATVs in this thing that leaves a gear payload of 100lbs remaining and that's if I don't fill the water tank. There is no way I can buy this trailer with a payload like that. I need to keep shopping, it just sucks because that's the floor plan I need.
|
|
|
|
