Fortkentdad
Member
We are looking at buying a travel trailer, and I've been doing lots of research. Much more complicated subject than I first thought. We used to have a Class B camper van and a soft top tent trailer before that. But we have not been camping since the kids left home.
We are a 50+ couple who will travel with little dogs. Indeed the dogs were a big part of the reason we are getting an RV. We do not anticipate any other people camping with us, but it could happen, we just don't have any grandchildren YET.
Our T.V. is a 08 Dodge half ton. It has the "hemi" motor and 3.92 tranny,and the "Big Horn" tow package - giving it a 8,350 max tow capacity. But we weighed the truck, and with us and some luggage it was about 5,800# - packed for a trip we'll probably have 6,000# in the truck - leaving 8,000# from our CGVW max of 14,000#'s.
BUT I don't want to run at the max and would like to leave about a 1,000# safety margin. (any comments on the wisdom of this limit?) Therefore our travel trailer will be about 7,000# max, loaded and ready to roll. I'm looking at UVW about 5,000# or so, max 5,500 or so.
It has not been easy, my dearly beloved's tastes would probably be better severed with a one ton (or at lease 3/4 ton) but I'm already choking with the price of gas ($1.34 / litre CDN). The truck only gobbles 14 litres/100 KM now, I expect half that towing a trailer of 7,000# . Driving the truck without trailer costs about $18.75 per 100 kms (60miles). Any Dodge owners out there with reality check for me?
We've developed a MUST HAVE list
1 A toilet with elbow room. I'm a big guy - as in 5x shirts
2 A neo angle shower with wide door. (see above)
3 An Island Queen Bed (would love king but not in our weight range)
4 Some counter space - can't figure out where the cook cooks with some of these units with zero counter space. I'm the cook in this house BTW so elbow room in the kitchen is needed.
5 Comfortable sofa. My wife thinks the hide-a-bed sofa's are more comfortable than the jacknife sofas. An extra easy chair or two is nice to have.
6 Nice decor - my dearly beloved is firm on this, can't look too tacky or boring.
7 SAFE tires - I will require the vendor to change them if the tires it comes with are cheapo tires that have a rep for blowing out.
8 Good suspension system, don't want to see my trailer bouncing over every railway track. I would like to know what kind of suspension system Heartland uses? I see the emphasis on the Wide Trak but I'm interested in the suspension system.
We have several "would be nice if ' features.
1 Dining table and chairs instead of booth. I can't fit into a booth and will have to bring a chair to put at the end of the booth if we don't get a dinnette.
2 Outside shower - three White dogs...
3 Easy access to utilites, I don't want to have to crawl under the trailer to dump the water. (this is almost a must have).
SO
Based on the above I've been kicking a lot of RV tires and checking out what the RV manufactures have to offer, and I read RV forums on line - a lot. I've developped an aversion to Forest River products based on my forum reading. It would take a super salesman to convince me to take a chance on any Forest River product.
BUT I also noticed two manufactures that seem to get lots more thumbs up than thumbs down. KZ and Heartland. Also ran's include Jayco (no floor plan I like in my weight range) and Fleetwood - especially their Terry line. It was a Terry trailer that first caught my beloved's eye and she still likes the look of them. They are a little too heavy for what we want (UVW is 5931 on their 250-ORL
Hence: our current short list pits KZ vs Heartland
The KZ's trailer we are most keen on is the 261RK - it is 28'9" with UVW of 4882. It's a Rear Kitchen design, bathroom walls are not square - interesting effect on space.
Heartland has several that we've looked at.
North Trail 31RED has incredible space but at 32'6" I'm a little warry of the length. 5,390 UVW is within the limits. Got a nice write up in an RV magazine we read. If the guidelines for TV wheel base vs length of trailer are good guidelines my max length should be about 28 feet, at 32'6" the 31RED pushes the limit and may be too much for my anti-sway bars and anti-sway system on my truck (some electronic braking system).
North Trail 280 RLS and 26RKS are both getting a hard look, a little shorter than 31RED and each has their own benefits. Saves a few thousand but that is not the big issue, a thousand or two either way is OK - we do want it under $30,000 - and the more under the better.
Sundance 260RKS seems to be identical to 26RKS. QUESTION for Heatland REP - is there a difference? They have identical UVW 5154 - which leads me to think they are identical. The salesman said there is a difference - different decals, fabrics and his point, different dealers.
Anyone with comments on the KZ versus any of these Heatland units? And thanks to those who read this LONG post.
FKD
We are a 50+ couple who will travel with little dogs. Indeed the dogs were a big part of the reason we are getting an RV. We do not anticipate any other people camping with us, but it could happen, we just don't have any grandchildren YET.
Our T.V. is a 08 Dodge half ton. It has the "hemi" motor and 3.92 tranny,and the "Big Horn" tow package - giving it a 8,350 max tow capacity. But we weighed the truck, and with us and some luggage it was about 5,800# - packed for a trip we'll probably have 6,000# in the truck - leaving 8,000# from our CGVW max of 14,000#'s.
BUT I don't want to run at the max and would like to leave about a 1,000# safety margin. (any comments on the wisdom of this limit?) Therefore our travel trailer will be about 7,000# max, loaded and ready to roll. I'm looking at UVW about 5,000# or so, max 5,500 or so.
It has not been easy, my dearly beloved's tastes would probably be better severed with a one ton (or at lease 3/4 ton) but I'm already choking with the price of gas ($1.34 / litre CDN). The truck only gobbles 14 litres/100 KM now, I expect half that towing a trailer of 7,000# . Driving the truck without trailer costs about $18.75 per 100 kms (60miles). Any Dodge owners out there with reality check for me?
We've developed a MUST HAVE list
1 A toilet with elbow room. I'm a big guy - as in 5x shirts
2 A neo angle shower with wide door. (see above)
3 An Island Queen Bed (would love king but not in our weight range)
4 Some counter space - can't figure out where the cook cooks with some of these units with zero counter space. I'm the cook in this house BTW so elbow room in the kitchen is needed.
5 Comfortable sofa. My wife thinks the hide-a-bed sofa's are more comfortable than the jacknife sofas. An extra easy chair or two is nice to have.
6 Nice decor - my dearly beloved is firm on this, can't look too tacky or boring.
7 SAFE tires - I will require the vendor to change them if the tires it comes with are cheapo tires that have a rep for blowing out.
8 Good suspension system, don't want to see my trailer bouncing over every railway track. I would like to know what kind of suspension system Heartland uses? I see the emphasis on the Wide Trak but I'm interested in the suspension system.
We have several "would be nice if ' features.
1 Dining table and chairs instead of booth. I can't fit into a booth and will have to bring a chair to put at the end of the booth if we don't get a dinnette.
2 Outside shower - three White dogs...
3 Easy access to utilites, I don't want to have to crawl under the trailer to dump the water. (this is almost a must have).
SO
Based on the above I've been kicking a lot of RV tires and checking out what the RV manufactures have to offer, and I read RV forums on line - a lot. I've developped an aversion to Forest River products based on my forum reading. It would take a super salesman to convince me to take a chance on any Forest River product.
BUT I also noticed two manufactures that seem to get lots more thumbs up than thumbs down. KZ and Heartland. Also ran's include Jayco (no floor plan I like in my weight range) and Fleetwood - especially their Terry line. It was a Terry trailer that first caught my beloved's eye and she still likes the look of them. They are a little too heavy for what we want (UVW is 5931 on their 250-ORL
Hence: our current short list pits KZ vs Heartland
The KZ's trailer we are most keen on is the 261RK - it is 28'9" with UVW of 4882. It's a Rear Kitchen design, bathroom walls are not square - interesting effect on space.
Heartland has several that we've looked at.
North Trail 31RED has incredible space but at 32'6" I'm a little warry of the length. 5,390 UVW is within the limits. Got a nice write up in an RV magazine we read. If the guidelines for TV wheel base vs length of trailer are good guidelines my max length should be about 28 feet, at 32'6" the 31RED pushes the limit and may be too much for my anti-sway bars and anti-sway system on my truck (some electronic braking system).
North Trail 280 RLS and 26RKS are both getting a hard look, a little shorter than 31RED and each has their own benefits. Saves a few thousand but that is not the big issue, a thousand or two either way is OK - we do want it under $30,000 - and the more under the better.
Sundance 260RKS seems to be identical to 26RKS. QUESTION for Heatland REP - is there a difference? They have identical UVW 5154 - which leads me to think they are identical. The salesman said there is a difference - different decals, fabrics and his point, different dealers.
Anyone with comments on the KZ versus any of these Heatland units? And thanks to those who read this LONG post.
FKD
