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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Which TT has the Best Kitchen and Why?

This points out the classic RV conundrum. Floor plan, tow vehicle and cost. They all have to match.
Floor plan is the most important. You can change tow vehicles, you can refinance but the floor plan stays. Unless you sell the TT.
To answer the OPs question. The best kitchen is the one the person doing the cooking likes. Considering suggestions from others is a good way to start.
Good luck
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rbpru
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01/20/21 08:13am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Quality Decline since Covid

I am not holding my breath of quality any time soon. This is another near record year for sales. They make it; it sells.
The thinking is that once the travel industry gets back on its feet, people will be able to fly, cruse, motel and dine as before. Thus a lot of used TTs will hit the used market.
Perhaps this will happen. But I do not see how crimping new TT sales will do anything but force the TT makers to cut even more corners to meet the price of what will sell.
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rbpru
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01/19/21 09:05pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Drill Holster (tip)

I am with the group that has stopped a number of times without using the stabilizers. If we are just stopping for the night, we may not even unhitch. A lot depends on what we are doing and how long we are going to stay.
Having a handy place for the drill is a smart idea.
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rbpru
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01/18/21 04:24pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Busted!

Years ago my dad asked me why I bought 20 acres in the country, I told him some folks are not fit to live with civilized people. :) :)
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rbpru
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12/31/20 06:38am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Zero-G water hoses

Speaking from experience, just on time hooked up to a campground supply that stinks, tastes funny and looks rusty; and you will appreciate that extra 15 to 20 gallons in the fresh water tank.
I prefer the taste and smell of my own well water. :)
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rbpru
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12/12/20 10:27pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 12 volt Refrigerators

I have a 12v/gas/120v unit in my pop-up and a gas/120v in my TT. Both units work as anticipated.
I have no desire to shake, rattle and roll a household compressor down the road, nor do I want to be dependent on 120 volt availability.
Other, however find this perfectly fine for the style of camping they prefer.
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rbpru
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12/12/20 01:45pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: why aren't the frame rails of TT set evenly from the sides?

As mentioned, only Jayco knows the real reason. All the rest is speculation and opinion.
Remember also,if it is not broke, don't fix it.
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rbpru
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12/11/20 05:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: RV without a WD hitch

It really is not about what it can or cannot do, so much as what you are willing to make it do.
Years ago when farming I learned that a 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickup was just a suggestion. Loading the trucks till you could hunt raccoons at night with the headlights was not all that uncommon.
They were old farm trucks you ran till they broke, then you fixed them.
But those times are gone. Trucks today are bigger, stronger and require a lot less maintenance. But the cost of repairs, parts and liability are far greater and far more complicated.
A person is free to do whatever they judge proper but if something goes wrong that judgment will certainly be questioned.
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rbpru
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12/10/20 04:14pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: RV without a WD hitch

I think the weak link in the towing chain is the truck's hitch strength without the tow bars.
As shown above, there is a 10X difference between the WD and no-WD towing weight rating.
This has little to do with how much weight your truck can carry.
The 10X factor is also found in some of the hitch manufacturers set-up instructions.
Those are the numbers, the choice is up to the individual. There may also be some State towing regulations to consider.
Good luck
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rbpru
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12/10/20 07:16am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Recommendation needed for first camper trailer

If you do not know, rent a trailer.
We were unsure about the floor plan and length we wanted, so we took our best guess. We rented a floor plan we liked which dictated the length and headed for the Ozarks.
10 days on the road and we discovered, the floor plan was wrong and my 200 hp motor and 4 speed transmission would not work well. Who knew.
We did like the 25 foot length and the weight across the CAT scales did give us a useable tongue weight for the max cargo capacity.
Since then, we upgraded the truck and found a floor plan we liked. We have towed over 40,000 miles in 5 years.
Renting was a smart move, before we spent the big bucks.
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rbpru
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11/06/20 09:13am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Thoughts on the Cost of RVing

I do not believe you can compare RVing to any other method of vacationing. In general it is a slower paced, just a bit cheaper, and to some more enjoyable.
Coming from a canoe and tent vacation background, a TT is the lap of luxury. We often travel for weeks at a time and are just as satisfied with a couple of days with no hook-ups as a full featured KOA.
I always advise folks to rent an RV before you buy; to see if you like the experience.
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rbpru
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11/05/20 09:42am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Conclusion made: 95% of all TT's are a crapshoot

Contrary to popular belief, TTs and not built by minimum wage workers. But wages are not the issue.
TT's are built as quickly as possible. With the materials that will do the job. However, if you watch some of the assembly videos on the web you can see a very quick paced assembly.
The issue is; the level of quality is sufficient to meet the consumer demands. Those afore mentioned TTs with better quality reputations are also significantly more (10 to 15%) expensive.
The really is, there is not much incentive to improve the quality, if the market will buy what you offer.
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rbpru
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11/05/20 09:30am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Grease gun/ grease recommendations

EZ lubes are here, they have been here for a long time and will remain here.
If you do not like them, do it the old way, if you worry or fret about it, do it the old way.
If you are like the majority you will use the EZ lubes as directed or take your trailer to a service center or dealer, who will use them as directed.
Just like winterizing or doing the brakes, there are as many opinions about how to do it, as people doing it.
Good luck
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rbpru
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11/02/20 04:27pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Narrowing in on Trailer Selection (need help)

Valhalla has it right, tow rating, payload rating and hitch rating tell you what the truck can do.
Payload will most likely be the limiting factor because it includes family and the loaded trailer tongue weight.
These factors tell you the size trailer you can pull. The wife chooses the floor plan.
It is not unusual to talk to other campers at the campground and find they have little knowledge or concern over these numbers. But there in no denying they affect the wear and tear on the tow vehicle.
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rbpru
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10/01/20 09:24am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Max length definition

Yup the length is supposed to be from the bumper to the hitch ball. Typically this makes the box about 3 1/2 to 4 feet less.
However, few campgrounds are stickler for such details. As suggested measure and call.
Our TT is about 27 feet bumper to hitch and we have never had a space problem but we have had very tight quarters, being wedged betweean motor coaches with slides and some very difficult to back into tree lined spots.
Some of the older campgrounds were designed around the then jumbo 18 footers, so space is at a premium. When in doubt we call.
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rbpru
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09/02/20 10:17pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: BEWARE Keystone Hideout

The situation is simple, pay a third more for a Nash or a Fox series TT, or better yet 3x for an Airstream and the odds of repair will drop drastically.
However the will not go way.
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rbpru
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08/26/20 05:49pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: What's your battery setup on your travel trailer?

Parasitic loads can be a big issue. I am not sure what all the possible loads are but in my TT I have the frig, LP detector and the antenna booster. The antenna booster can be turned off, if I remember to do it.
The single 12 volt battery will last the wife and I two days which is enough when we are traveling between campgrounds for a couple of days.
At home with shore power disconnected, the battery will last 5 to 7 days just sitting in the yard. So at home the TT is plugged into the 120 volt power or the negative battery lead disconnected.
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rbpru
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08/23/20 10:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Estimate of cargo weight

After 5 years an 40,000 towing miles at or even a bit over the max cargo limit, I cannot say that I notice much change in towing performance.
I can say that towing at or near the trucks full capacity, does increase the over all wear and tear on tires, shocks, brakes and even the suspension.
But that is the price you pay for heavy vehicle use. The CAT scale numbers simply allow you to know where you stand weight wise.
Also on long trips gasoline, water, food and such can cause significant weight variations.
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rbpru
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08/06/20 02:11pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Thinking of New Aluminum Sided Travel Trailer

I have a used 2010 Dutchmen that I put 40,000 miles on in 5 years. It has had several framing issues due to vibration, poor assembly methods and just plain hard use. But, stick and tin is easy to repair.
The roof does not leak and every time they needed to repair or brace up the frame, the siding was removed and reset.
One likes to think that such structural problems cannot happen with a laminate construction. I simply do not know. But I do know that same level of craftsmanship goes into both styles of product.
I will fret over issues I can control and both laminate and stick and tin construction have been around long enough to prove they can be built properly. While I can control the floor plan I choose, the price I pay and the size and weight of the TT I choose to tow. I cannot control the care, craftsmanship or hidden flaws in the end product.
My personal choice is based on floor plan, cost and towability; so laminate or stick and tin are about equal. Others have their own opinions on the subject. One thing is certain, neither method is going away anytime soon.
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rbpru
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08/05/20 10:22pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: First time tower - multiple questions

Your set up sounds similar to mine. I have a Blue Ox WD hitch which includes the anti-sway in the design.
We have towed over 40,000 miles in the last 5 years all over the country with very few towing issues.
I do believe that heavy towing at or near the max truck limits does take a toll on tires, shocks, suspension and brakes; as does heavy farm or construction use.
Doing the number ahead of time is smart idea.
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rbpru
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07/30/20 07:06am |
Travel Trailers
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