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10-15-2016, 05:46 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 7
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New FE 192RBS owner
OK, I lied. I won't actually have my new trailer until next Saturday. I have some questions about it that the brochure, things I found online, and videos I've seen don't answer for me. I hope those of you who have this model won't mind my bothering you with the questions. I fully realize I could wait to ask the dealer next Saturday, but I'm too excited about the new camper to think of anything else right now.
1. Does this model have an enclosed under belly?
2. Does this model come with a butcher block cover for the stove?
3. Does this model have a winterizing fill port or do you simply use the freshwater fill to add the anti-freeze?
4. If I'm staying one night while on the road, do I have to put the slide out? Can you sit on the sofa with the slide in?
I know some of these might sound like incredibly stupid questions to some of you, but they're burning in my mind.
Thanks for the answers you might have.
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10-31-2016, 05:41 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 23
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Just saw this, I assume you have already answered most if not all of your questions since you picked it up already.
You may or may not have found the antifreeze fill pipe yet. We have a 2017 192RBS that we picked up in July. On ours it is by the water pump inside the outside grill storage area. Remove the grill and you should see the fill pipe and the shut offs to change the pump input from the fresh water tank to the fill pipe. The pipe on mine was not long enough, I had to rig up an extension to use when I do winterize in a few days.
The water heater bypass system is accessible behind a panel to the left of the converter under the fridge. Two screws and its very accessible.
I do have one question, I am trying to positively confirm the fresh water tank shape and if you are able to help let me know and I can send pictures for you to compare yours with. I've tried without success to attach pics to the forum or I would put them here.
We really like our trailer and the only real problem was a bad control board in the AC when we first got it. Everything else works great. The only mod we did was put up a curtain between the bed and living area that slides on a rod.
Hope you are enjoying yours
Thanks
__________________
Tim and Cindy
2017 Coachmen 192RBS
2016 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crewcab
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10-31-2016, 11:01 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 7
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Thanks for replying. I already found all of those things when I picked it up. I took my first trip in the new trailer this past weekend. I tried out everything. It is so much nicer than my little "no frills" trailer was.
I do want to ask how you level yours. I tried the legos this trip and it was a failure. I ended up finding the most level spot on my site. It was so far from the hookups I had to pull up to dump before pulling out of the park. I' m going to try boards next.
Let me know what you want me to look for with the water tank.
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11-01-2016, 08:25 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 7
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One other question for you- I'm having a really hard time raising the Coupler latch to unhitch. The dealer told me to bang on it with a hammer. That just doesn't seem right to me. Are you having any issues with yours? I've greased it. I've pulled forward. I've pulled backward. Nothing seems to stop it from seizing. I even tried raising the tongue a little bit. Eventually, after beating the heck out of it with a hammer it will come up.
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11-01-2016, 09:51 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 23
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As far as leveling the trailer, I also use what you refer to as legos and they seem to work fine so far. The sites we've been at are fairly level and the most I've had to use is two levels of the blocks. I usually back in to the point where I want the trailer, take a look at the 2' level I use for leveling on the floor in front of the fridge in the 192RBS. We've done it enough times that from that I know how many blocks to use. I then pull forward, put the required blocks down and back onto them. if you are on sites that require more than two or 3 of the Lego blocks I would investigate making some plank blocks for possibly more stability when stacking the plastic blocks. What exactly are the issues with your current leveling blocks?
I had the same issue with the latch on the coupler. Liberal greasing and wear and tear from 6 camping trips has loosened it up some but it still at times needs a little tap on the front of the latch lever to get it to slide back and up. Much of it has to do with the position of the truck relative to the trailer. I have found in some cases when the truck isn't on the same plane as the damper it will put tension on the coupler. I usually play with the electric tongue Jack to get it as loose as possible on the ball. This is probably all second nature to seasoned campers, but even though we've had many RV's camping with the kids over the years it's been a while and now into retirement we are taking it up once again.
Sorry for being so long winded...
As far as the tank, I'd like to see some pictures of the tank taken from the edge by the drain valve showing the position of the valve on the tank, also showing the degree of the concave bottom and how far it extends down and if there is a rectangular indentation in the middle of the bottom. My tank is held in by thin gauge angle iron, the tank can slide side to side a little if you push on it and doesn't seem very securely fastened. I'd like to beef it up but it seems like welding cross brackets might damage the tank in the welding process, and make it difficult to remove if necessary, I need to look into that in more depth. My main concern is the tank shape and if your drain valve is located in a position where it will not allow the tank to drain fully.
Thanks again
__________________
Tim and Cindy
2017 Coachmen 192RBS
2016 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crewcab
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11-01-2016, 10:23 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 7
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I'll take a look at the water tank and get some pictures for you.
My problem with the Camco Lego-like levelers was that I couldn't figure out how to make any kind of ramped stack that would fit between the two tires. I only needed to go up about two blocks. I put one stack behind each tire, but when I backed up they just pushed out-of-the-way of the back tire. Since I'm usually camping by myself, there's no one to make sure they stay under the tire. I really think backing up onto some 6 foot boards will be better.
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11-08-2016, 09:44 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knownasjim
OK, I lied. I won't actually have my new trailer until next Saturday. I have some questions about it that the brochure, things I found online, and videos I've seen don't answer for me. I hope those of you who have this model won't mind my bothering you with the questions. I fully realize I could wait to ask the dealer next Saturday, but I'm too excited about the new camper to think of anything else right now.
1. Does this model have an enclosed under belly?
2. Does this model come with a butcher block cover for the stove?
3. Does this model have a winterizing fill port or do you simply use the freshwater fill to add the anti-freeze?
4. If I'm staying one night while on the road, do I have to put the slide out? Can you sit on the sofa with the slide in?
I know some of these might sound like incredibly stupid questions to some of you, but they're burning in my mind.
Thanks for the answers you might have.
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Actually great questions - especially given that you are investing not a small amount of money in the rig, so you should know everything you can about it and feel good about how to use it. We have owned a 2016 model 192 RBS since August, 2015. We have towed it around 4700 miles and have been delighted with the rig. Our trips have been as short as two nights out and as long as three weeks - during all four seasons. My thoughts:
"1. Does this model have an enclosed under belly?"
No, but the under side of our trailer is well made and all of the potentially vulnerable points of intrusion are well sealed. Plus, a non-enclosed under belly offers you the opportunity to perform maintenance or mods easily.
"2. Does this model come with a butcher block cover for the stove?"
Our model year did not, though I read somewhere that the 2017 model did. Maybe not so with yours? It is a part that you can order from Coachmen for something over $100.00. Or, find yourself a handyman woodworker who could make one for you!
"3. Does this model have a winterizing fill port or do you simply use the freshwater fill to add the anti-freeze?"
In SE Texas we do occasionally experience freezing weather but not to the degree that we have ever had to winterize. Plus, we camp in cold weather and enjoy keeping our rig ready to go on short notice.
"4. If I'm staying one night while on the road, do I have to put the slide out? Can you sit on the sofa with the slide in?"
Absolutely yes! One of the great advantages of the 192 RBS is that it is a full 8' wide on the exterior, and the interior reflects that width. So we often enjoy sitting on the sofa without the slide extended, and we make use of a collapsible ottoman that we prop our feet up on while watching TV. (We stow the ottoman in the under bed storage area when not in use.)
We tow our 192 RBS with our 2011 Honda Ridgeline RTL, and the configuration is solid as a rock. Loaded for a typical two or three week trip we arrive at a CAT Scale weight of usually 4600-4700 lbs with a tongue weight of 480-520 lbs. So the trailer pulls well and should be a happy experience for you. We have loved ours over the first 14+ months of ownership. In fact we are, as we speak, concluding a wonderful 5 day outing in the Texas Hill Country. Even our dog enjoys our camper! I'm sure you will, as well.
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11-09-2016, 03:23 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 7
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Thanks for answering.
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11-19-2016, 09:15 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 42
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Did You Get it Yet?
The 192 RBS, that is. Let us know when you are able to get out with it.
Incidentally, just week before last we were in Bandera. Had a great week at Antler Oaks Lodge just NW of town on the road to Medina. And both times though San Antonio we were towing in the middle of rain and/or a thunderstorm. Made 1604 lots of fun!
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11-19-2016, 03:00 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 7
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Yes. I got it on October 22. The next weekend, my son and I took it to Kerrville Schreiner Park for two nights to try it out. It is absolutely amazing. I took it by myself for three nights last weekend. I made an effort to try everything out that I missed the first time. Everything is so much better than what I had in my little Retro 140. I am looking forward to two trips in December which my wife will actually join me on.
I started a blog site for this camper. You can see it at http://colbytwopointzero.postach.io/, if you are interested.
By the way... I contacted Forest River about the stove top cover. They said it was added to the 2017 models later in production. However, they sent me one in the mail at no cost anyway. Nice customer service!
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11-19-2016, 03:14 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knownasjim
I'll take a look at the water tank and get some pictures for you.
My problem with the Camco Lego-like levelers was that I couldn't figure out how to make any kind of ramped stack that would fit between the two tires. I only needed to go up about two blocks. I put one stack behind each tire, but when I backed up they just pushed out-of-the-way of the back tire. Since I'm usually camping by myself, there's no one to make sure they stay under the tire. I really think backing up onto some 6 foot boards will be better.
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You don't make a stack to fit between the tires. You make one long stack and roll up on it with both tires. So in my case, I believe, I would put down 4 legos, then put 3 on top to hook the 4 together. You now should have legos stacked two high, and the bottom line sticking out 1/2 block on each side, which makes the "ramp."
This is about as high as you can go with a 10-block lego set, as you've only got 3 blocks left, and you'd really need 5 more to go up another level and still have 3 across the top. I actually bought another set, so I've got a total of 20. But I've yet to use the 2nd set.
Another thing I did, as suggested by someone on the forum, was to cut one block in half. Then, when you do the 4 + 3 two level stack described above, you can add the 1/2 block to the top of one end, giving you a 4 + 3-1/2, with a "ramp" at one end. (You could just stick a full sized block there, but it would be sticking out and wouldn't look quite so "professional." It could also confuse your assistant who might let you pull up or back up too far.)
My tires are only 2-1/2 inches apart. If yours are farther apart, with a 10 block set, you can still go 5 + 4 or 5 + 4-1/2.
See attached PDF for some setups.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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11-19-2016, 03:24 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 7
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I went ahead and bought some boards to try. I might order a second set of the legos. They are so much lighter and easier to carry.
Thanks for the tips.
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11-19-2016, 09:17 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 42
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Re. Levelers
Quote:
Originally Posted by knownasjim
I went ahead and bought some boards to try. I might order a second set of the legos. They are so much lighter and easier to carry.
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We occasionally use our levelers (ours are the Lynx blocks-but same idea as Camco's), but more often than not we've been able to use our "old school" boards. The reason is that using two levels of the Lynx levelers often raises that side too high. So I just use a couple of 1" thick boards butted end to end. That said, the Lynx (& Camco) blocks are convenient to carry and light weight, and I do have two sets of ten that we carry for flexibility.
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