Newly Purchased A122S

[trailergirl99]

Hi All

I just purchased a 2015.5 Rockwood A-frame A122s. I am so excited to get it but its still at the dealers for a little while longer. Any advice or tips? Previously had a 1990 Stracraft Meteor so this is quite an upgrade!

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome from Wisconsin and congrats on your 2015.5 Rockwood A122s. Take it slow on your PDI. There are plenty of checklists you can download. If there is anything you don't completely understand ask the tech to go over it again. Make sure everything like furnace, water heater, stove, fridge, etc works.

[RedLdr1]

We just picked up our new T21QBHW on Wednesday. The PDI took just over two hours, including a test drive, and the Tech went over all the systems with my wife and I. We also checked the overall fit and finish of the trailer's paint and decals as well as the appliances. The only real issue we found was a thread pull in a curtain that was replaced on the spot.

Tips? Beyond the checklists here there are a couple things I'd add:

Water System:
Have the Tech show you how to winterize the water system and what you need to do to de-winterize it this spring. Make sure you know where the "low point drains" are located and any cutoff valves for them. Depending on your location have the unit winterized before taking it home.

Heating and Cooling:
The order you check the A/C and Heating systems depending on the outside temperature. If it is warm out check the CoolCat A/C first to cool down the trailer for testing the CoolCat's heat pump and the furnace. If it is cool out run the furnace and CoolCat's heat pump first to warm up your trailer before checking the CoolCat's A/C.

Wheels and Tires:
Have the Tech show you where the jack points are to change a tire. Confirm your jack and lug wrench will fit the unit. Note: Your trailer comes with a spare tire but no tools to install it. Also confirm the wheel lug nuts are torqued correctly and the tires are at the right air pressure.

Electrical:
Have the Tech show you the location of any inline fuses that are installed in you unit. The Power Inverter does not contain all of the fuses. I have three inline fuses in addition to those located in the inverter. Knowing about these fuses now will save you trying to figure it out later.

Towing:
Make sure you understand how to use, and properly adjust, any Weight Distributing Hitches (WDH) and or sway controls. How many links did the Tech say I should use? I'd write that number down in my Owners Manual!

I hope this helps. Enjoy your new trailer!

[Big Vic]

Originally Posted by RedLdr1

Electrical:
Have the Tech show you the location of any inline fuses that are installed in you unit. The Power Inverter does not contain all of the fuses. I have three inline fuses in addition to those located in the inverter. Knowing about these fuses now will save you trying to figure it out later.

Would you mind detailing the location of the three additional inline fuses? I am guessing that they are water pump, furnace and tongue jack? Thanks.

[RedLdr1]

Originally Posted by Big Vic

Would you mind detailing the location of the three additional inline fuses? I am guessing that they are water pump, furnace and tongue jack? Thanks.

You got two out of three...

1. The tongue jack has an inline fuse located in the battery box. Note: I have the OEM tongue jack so your results may vary if the dealership installed an aftermarket jack.

2. The furnace has an inline fuse collocated with the furnace under my drivers side dinette seat.

3. I have the Power Roof Assist and it has an inline fuse located in the CoolCat / Water Pump / Water filter compartment under the bed.

I haven't seen an inline fuse for the Water Pump yet but I haven't had a chance to really look around that compartment.

I've updated the "Sticky" Thread Fuse Identification with this info so that it is all in one thread for easy reference.

[trailergirl99]

Hey thanks for the great tips! I won't be picking it up till the end of January so I have lots of time to read up and get ready for the PDI!

[Big Vic]

Originally Posted by RedLdr1

I haven't seen an inline fuse for the Water Pump yet but I haven't had a chance to really look around that compartment.

I think you are right; I could not find a fuse near the water pump. I did find a 7.5A fuse next to the furnace and my tongue jack (according to the manual) has a built in circuit breaker which resets itself. I may add an inline fuse between the battery and jack wire just to be sure.

[mickrock]

on the tow vehicle ball than what you are used to from the older days.

This can be considered an improvement, as long as you are parking on flat grounds.

If you are parking your camper on a slight grade, you may need to use blocks(small pieces of 2' x 4' will work) to stabilize the camper when you disconnect it from the ball.

This is not a big deal, but something to be aware of, in case you unhitch on a slope.

They are good campers, and well worth it!

[trailergirl99]

She's home! Just picked her up and am thankful it fits in the garage, barely!

[Mike G]

Nice looking camper! The new tan exterior looks great. If your coming from a pop-up you will love the set-up of your A-frame.

[Happy Vibe]

Do you have any sway control on your set up. The journey is only rated for 2500 lbs towing so you will be right at max with that trailer. (sorry to be the weight police just surprised not to see some sway control)

[trailergirl99]

The V6 SXT is rated at 3500lbs?? Could you explain more about sway control?

[bikendan]

with such a short wheelbase tow vehicle and it being a single axle trailer, a anti-sway bar might be a good addition.
what's the yellow sticker weight of your new trailer?

and that 3500 number is only IF your car has the factory tow package.
if not, it's not rated for that much.

[Happy Vibe]

when I looked on the Dodge site it only has the 2500 lbs rating for 2014 and 2015. Maybe different years have different ratings. Here is a story on anti sway. RV Anti Sway Bar Basics | USA Today

[Pooneil]

The A122s has a fairly long "reach" between the axle and the hitch and is very tongue heavy. When weighted on the way to camp with a full water tank,my A122S had a axle weight of 2180 lbs and a tongue weight of 420 lbs. That makes the tongue about 16% of gross. It tows without any hint of a sway problem.

On the extended length A Frames, a heavy tongue weight appears to be the constraint for driving safety. This suggests weight distribution may be needed for smaller vehicles.

That said, I would never discourage anyone from using sway control when towing if they felt it might be more secure.

[68Triumph]

Originally Posted by Pooneil

The A122s has a fairly long "reach" between the axle and the hitch and is very tongue heavy. When weighted on the way to camp with a full water tank,my A122S had a axle weight of 2180 lbs and a tongue weight of 420 lbs. That makes the tongue about 16% of gross. It tows without any hint of a sway problem.

On the extended length A Frames, a heavy tongue weight appears to be the constraint for driving safety. This suggests weight distribution may be needed for smaller vehicles.

That said, I would never discourage anyone from using sway control when towing if they felt it might be more secure.

Can you please elaborate on the "constraint for driving safety" comment with the extended A Frame campers?

[Pooneil]

Originally Posted by 68Triumph

Can you please elaborate on the "constraint for driving safety" comment with the extended A Frame campers?

I meant this. TVs are rated for GVW of the camper with a tongue weight rating of about 10% of GVW. The A122s tongue weight, in my experience is about 16% of GVW and that is likely to be the limiting factor on the TV. That is 16% with a full water tanks, without water the % will be greater.

That is if you have a 3500 lbs tow rating, the accompanying tongue weight rating is usually 350 lbs, again in my experience. The A122S with the trunk in use and a battery and propane will be in excess of the TV rating for tongue weight.

TVs that allow weight distributing hitches will have a second weight rating, but owners will need to allow for the rather heavy weight distributing hitch equipment in that calculation.

Airbags and other lift devices do not compensate for an over heavy tongue. As an example on my Tundra, the 420 lbs of tongue weight transfers 180 lbs from the front axle to the rear. That is not an issue in my Tundra, but on a lighter shorter TV it could be.

Each of us should check the the actual ratings and all weights to double check the particular vehicle configuration. It costs less than $20 at a CAT scale to do it right. Because there is no theory or generalization that can override the actual numbers when it comes to making safety decisions. Nor is this to say that sway cannot be an issue with short wheel base vehicles, I just think the geometry and balance of the stock configured A122S makes tongue weight the major factor.

[trailergirl99]

Well I ended up upgrading my TV to a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee so the tow rating is longer an issue. Can't wait to get out there and start camping

[ridgeline1]

trailer girl you will be happy with your new tow vehicle/mine is a 2014 overland with v6/ gets 18 to 20 towing mpg at 65 mpg/8 speed trans really helps in that area/also air adjustable suspension and anti sway is a big help also 6200 lbs tow rating /unit needs no other tow bars / looks like you have summit trim line by pic you posted I have 2014 a122s