Selection Help- Thank You

[jgourley]

Hello,

Well this is my first post after a weeks worth of searching the forum and visiting several area RV/Trailer dealers. Barring my missing something on the market that I could not discover, the below trailers seem to offer the ballpark of what we will need. I'd really appreciate those interested, read and comment in helping us choose a quality model that would serve us well over the next 3-4 years. We are a family of 5 (currently) with a 7,6, and 2 y/o. We will be taking a 2 week trip to the <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><?: PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:CITY><ST1:PLACE>Monterey</ST1:PLACE></ST1:CITY> area this late April, and a 4-6 week trip to the PAC NW this June-July. Normally we will not have this much travel time, and will use the trailer on long weekends and possibly up to 3 weeks for trips/year. With respect to the selections I have some concerns that you may shed some light on as well as state your general expereinces:

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1. Length: I imagine that we will be staying in a combination of private, state, and national campgrounds. I do not want to severely limit our options by purchasing a TT that is to long (say over 30 feet). Can someone tell me if they State and National Parks will look at the box length or the hitch-bumper length? Take the Slingshot GT32QB- can this be backed into a 30 foot spot without violating the campgrounds access rules? What is the ideal length for maximal availability?

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2. Quality: From your experience please rule out any of the below (or highlight the good ones) based on quality control issues. One of the dealers scared us a bit about FR/Rockwoods based on build quality, though they seem to have some of the better floor plans for our needs.

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3. Floor Plan: I've read some posts that suggest we go with the best floor plan for the rainy day. If some of you family travelers could comment here, that would be great. Value of supper slides, 2 doors, U-shaped dinette, Murphy Bed, and the like)

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4. Towing: let's keep the post to the above for now, I've selected the below TT's mostly because they tend-lighter and may provide an advantage in the MPG realm. Trying to stay below 7K packed and loaded.

-Thank You Very Much-

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Crossroads Slingshot GT32QB (32 Long, Quad Bunk, Light, short slides)*<O:P></O:P>

http://www.crossroadsrv.com/slingshot/floorplan_detail.asp?fp=GT32QB&amp;type=tt<O:P></O:P>

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Crossroads Slingshot GT29BH (less than 30 long, short slides, light) *<O:P></O:P>

http://www.crossroadsrv.com/slingshot/floorplan_detail.asp?fp=GT29BH&amp;type=tt<O:P></O:P>

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Crossroads Sunset Trail ST26BH* (Larger Slide than Slingshot, Heavier 30ft)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.crossroadsrv.com/sunsettrail/floorplan_detail.asp?fp=ST26BH_2010&amp;type=tt<O: P></O:P>

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KZ Spree 240BHS (W/ Fold Up Sofa Option, 3 Bunks, Small Bathroom)<O:P></O:P>

http://kz-rv.com/spree/2011_240BHS.html<O:P></O:P>

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KZ Spree 261RKS (Adult on Couch, Good Living Area, Large BR, Poss Mod QB into Quad Bunks)<O:P></O:P>

http://kz-rv.com/spree/2011_261RKS.html<O:P></O:P>

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KZ Coyote Lite CL32SS (Very Spacious, Light, Concerned about Storage)<O:P></O:P>

http://kz-rv.com/coyote_lite/2011_CL232SS.html<O:P></O:P>

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KZ Sportsman S242SBH (Smooth Side Option, Slide looks larger than <ST1:PLACE>Spree</ST1:PLACE> 240)*<O:P></O:P>

http://kz-rv.com/sportsmen/2011_S242SBH.html<O:P></O:P>

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Lance 2185 (Concerned About Food Storage)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.lancecamper.com/travel-trailers/2185/index.html<O:P></O:P>

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Viewfinder V-28BHSS (32 Long, Nice Exterior, Cannot Find For <ST1:CITY><ST1:PLACE>Sale</ST1:PLACE></ST1:CITY>, 2 Double Bunk)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.cruiserrv.com/viewfinder/v_28bhss/specifications.html<O:P></O:P>

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Shadow Cruiser S-280QBS (Exterior is Ugly, Light, 32 Long, Quality?)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.cruiserrv.com/shadow-cruiser/s_280qbs/specifications.html<O:P></O:P>

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Shadow Cruiser S-260BHS (Exterior is Ugly, 29 Long, Light, Quality?)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.cruiserrv.com/shadow-cruiser/s_260bhs/specifications.html<O:P></O:P>

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Kodiak 250BHSL (Slide is in Bunk area, good wt. good 28 feet, Quality?)<O:P></O:P>

http://kodiak-rv.com/index.php?p=floorplans&amp;model=250BHSL<O:P></O:P>

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Rockwood Ultra Lite 2601S (Quad Bunk, Under 30 Ft, M. Bed, H20 Ht Under Bunk-CO2 Concern?)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&amp;unittype=&amp;page=f loorviewertt&amp;model=2601S&amp;choice=rk&amp;nav =rec&amp;name=3987&amp;series=7WideTT<O:P></O:P>

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Rockwood Ultra Lite 2501S (Huge Slides, M. Bed, Under 28 Ft)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&amp;unittype=&amp;page=f loorviewertt&amp;model=2501SS&amp;choice=rk&amp;na v=rec&amp;name=2946&amp;series=7WideTT<O:P></O:P>

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Rockwood Windjammer 2609W w/ Rear Quad Bunk (Great Couch &amp; Windows, Air bed)<O:P></O:P>

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&amp;unittype=&amp;page=f loorviewertt&amp;model=2609W&amp;choice=rk&amp;nav =rec&amp;name=2964&amp;series=WJseries<O:P></O:P>

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***End of the list- for now***<O:P></O:P>

[Lloyd]

That's a BIG list!

Edited by: Old Farmer

[jgourley]

I'll take a little or a lot. Any experienced comments may help us. We've spent days at lots and researching, just trying to tie it all together. What do you think?

[Tom Holsinger]

Rockwood is an entry-level manufacturer. Crossroads and KZ are solid middle-ranking manufacturers. I'm not familiar with the other manufacturers, and not at all with any of the models you list.



Park sites vary considerably. It's really a question of each individual RV space, particularly concerning slides. Just because you can back a TT into a given RV space does not mean you can safely extend its slides. Tree branches around RV spacescan also droop more following a storm, and so rip a roof when you are leaving even though you safely parked the TT in that space.



Expect to clean your childrens' tootpaste spatters out of the bathroom sink every day.

[jgourley]

Thanks Tom, what do you mean by Middle-ranking, what makes them middle? What are some light-wt. top ranking models?

[Tom Holsinger]

Mr. Gourley,



There are manufacturers whose lines entirely, or almost entirely, are aimed at different types of markets. Some of the manufacturers aimed at the high-end, i.e., major league quality, market are Carriage, Excel, Newmar and New Horizons.



Likewise the lines of some manufacturers, such as Dutchmen and Rockwood, are aimed mostly at the entry-level market, aka first-time RV buyers who do not yet know how manufacturers can skimp in ways that don't show until after a sale. This does not mean that those manufacturers don't offer some reasonably good quality RV's, but most of their lines are mediocre.



Most manufacturers of 5th wheels and travel trailers offer a range of lines of different quality. Some try to put out a good product even for their entry-level models, in the hope of getting repeat business from customers with growing incomes. Crossroads and KZ are two ofthose.



Any manufacturer can produce alemon, though. You can buy a moving disaster from Carriage or Excel. I'd take a KZ or Crossroads entry-level RV over a comparable Rockwood any day.Edited by: Tom Holsinger

[jgourley]

Ahh, thank you for the clarity, well described. I suppose that is my concern, purchasing a polished new TT only to find out in the middle of our trip that they skimped!!! I thought you were going to say that high end was like the earthboundRV and Airstream models, you went much nicer- good to know. Would you be able to comment on the mid-range models in the original post, that you believe would offer a combination of space, quailty, and versatility?

Thank You,

Jeff

[Tom Holsinger]

I'm sorry, but I know nothing about travel trailers. I am familiar only with 5th wheels aimed at the vacation and part-timing markets.

[jgourley]

Ok, fair enough, thanks for the comments.

[Tom Holsinger]

Try http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm







It has forums for travel trailers, tow vehicles, towing issues, newbies and family campers. The travel trailer forum might be able to provide all the answers you want.

[kyle47]

I had similar concerns last year when we bought our Zinger TT. So here are a few things to think about. First, add about 500-600 lbs to any of the listed dry weights you see to account for options. Usually the dry weight listed is for a bare bones unit with no options. Next, get the super slide, it's a huge difference from the smaller one. With three kids I would get one that has at least three beds so you don't have to mess around with fold out sofas and converting dinettes every night, that gets old fast. With that said you're probably looking at a quad bunk unit and you'll be hard pressed to find one less than 32 feet hitch to bumper. In my experiences you shouldn't have a problem at most campgrounds with a 32 foot unit. Just a few things to consider.

[jgourley]

Good tips, thank you. We'd really like to make the Slingshot 29BH work due to it's wt. However considering the ST 26BH and the Slingshot 32QB. Thanks for the input on campgrounds, I can just see a personality type like the car rental lady on "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" getting out the tape meassure and sending us on our way.

Jeff

[drcook]

Unless I missed it, you didn't say what your tow vehicle is. That factors into the equation just as much as the trailer itself.



One thing that I found out through experience, is aerodynamics. Tow behinds that have a nose that is verticle or almost verticle are like dragging a parachute behind you.



Trailers like the Sunset Trail have the nose angled back a bit more than some of the others. We traded in a Forest River on a Crossroads Cruiser so we could get a bit nicer trailer and a more aerodynamic nose.