Cruise Lite 201bhxl Owners Thread

[Bikemobile]

A thread for owners of the 201BHXL Travel Trailer.

[Bikemobile]

Our first camping trip is planned for next week. I’ve made a few mods so far. I added a second battery, replaced the storage locks with tubular locks and Replaced the fresh tank drain with a lower profile valve.

[AdamBomb]

2018 Salem Cruise Lite 201BHXL
Has anyone mounted a TV where the jacks are, on the ceiling by the refrigerator? It looks like a really tight fit. What size TV do you have? Any chance you could send a photo? Any wall mount recommendations?

[Bikemobile]

TV

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0057...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seems pretty good so far, plays DVD’s, sound is ok.

The mount was added by the RV dealer as part of the sale.

I also added a small volt gauge to monitor the batteries. Tied in to the 12v power source for the radio since its “always on.”

[Bikemobile]

Here is the tv mount: Locking RV TV Mount with Easy Chain Release, 2322L Full Motion Articulating Perfect for RVs Campers Trucks Cantilever Arm Tilts Swivels Fits Screens up to 50" and 33 lbs VESA up to 200 x 200 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071XDW3LD..._-sk5AbA8BH2WC

[AdamBomb]

Originally Posted by Bikemobile

TV

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0057...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seems pretty good so far, plays DVD’s, sound is ok.

The mount was added by the RV dealer as part of the sale.

I also added a small volt gauge to monitor the batteries. Tied in to the 12v power source for the radio since its “always on.”

That looks fantastic, thanks for showing! It looks like there is a backing board it can anchor into. We are going a 24" tv well fit like yours.

[Bikemobile]

This 19” just fits from the wall to the adjacent cabinet door. If you open that door it just hits the tv. A 24” tv will fit there but will overlap that cabinet door. We are happy with this little one for now but a bigger TV is always better. It’s 12v also which was the clincher for me. DVD also for the kids.

[snufferoo]

My 2017 201BHXL has a different mounting configuration. The mounting panel is slanted and extends from the front of the fridge to the first cabinet door. I attached an extendable mount I got on Amazon, less than $15. The mount included large lag screws, so I placed a short 2x4 behind the panel for more support. The slanted mounting allows for viewing from any location in the RV, couch, dinette, or bunks. I have a 24inch Vizeo that fits perfectly with no obstruction, could possibly fit a 26 or 28in. The extendable arm allows to move the TV about 1 1/2 feet closer to the viewer. I like the 2017 mounting panel better than the 2018, but lots of unusable space behind it......only wish we had 12 volt outlets so we did not need AC and could use 12V TV instead while boondocking.

[S037474]

Looking at this model, are you guys happy so far? How do you clean out the black tank with no black tank rinse? You think there would be any issues towing this with a chevy Colorado, it has 7k towing capacity with 900lb tongue weight, 1500lb payload and 12k max total weight.

My biggest concerns are, no ladder, aluminum siding and wood framing, no black tank flush. Should I be concerned with any of this? Thanks!

[BayouCamper1]

We love ours, it's big enough for us 4 and small enough to get into any campground spot, I have a 2017. We use it mainly for weekend trips and an occasional longer trip, if we were doing a lot of long trips I would go with a little bigger model. As for as the black tank I have the"Camco 39085 Rhino Blaster Sewer Tank Rinser with Gate Valve" available on amazon, just drain your tank, and close the Rinser's gate valve and fill the tank for a minute or two then re-drain. I have a 2015 Chevy 1/2ton with the 3.08 rear-end, so my towing capacity is 6500lb and a fastway E2 WDH. I'm in the south so I tow mostly flat and hill country. Your V6 will be wound up pretty good, I wouldn't pull in the hills or mountain's. The one thing I would be more concerned about is your truck to trailer weight ratio, with the smaller truck you will be fighting the wind and passing rigs a lot more. I picked up mine with a 3/4ton diesel, you couldn't even tell it was back there, with the lighter 1/2ton you know it is there all the time. I've heard the aluminum siding last longer in the elements, alot of trailers have wood frames. What ladder you talking about? inside for the bunks or outside on the back. Inside, I made one out of 2x2 lumber, works great. I never needed to get on the roof while camping, and if I did I'm sure I could borrow a ladder from a fellow camper or the campground owners.

Originally Posted by S037474

Looking at this model, are you guys happy so far? How do you clean out the black tank with no black tank rinse? You think there would be any issues towing this with a chevy Colorado, it has 7k towing capacity with 900lb tongue weight, 1500lb payload and 12k max total weight.

My biggest concerns are, no ladder, aluminum siding and wood framing, no black tank flush. Should I be concerned with any of this? Thanks!

[Bikemobile]

First trip out. Rifle Falls State Park. Everything went great except for a small water leake under the bathroom sink cabinet. Loose supply lines to the faucet fixed the leak. Loving it so far.

We need some better outside steps for the altitude challenged.

[BayouCamper1]

Originally Posted by Bikemobile

First trip out. Rifle Falls State Park. Everything went great except for a small water leake under the bathroom sink cabinet. Loose supply lines to the faucet fixed the leak. Loving it so far.

We need some better outside steps for the altitude challenged.

Let us know if you find some that fit, I have been searching the web for some decent priced 2 or 3 step set, but have yet to find one that had the correct width measurements to fit the mounts.

[Bikemobile]

I will, i have a 3.5 year old daughter and a son still just rolling around so I will ne some better steps asap.

[jrm1493]

Originally Posted by S037474

Looking at this model, are you guys happy so far? How do you clean out the black tank with no black tank rinse? You think there would be any issues towing this with a chevy Colorado, it has 7k towing capacity with 900lb tongue weight, 1500lb payload and 12k max total weight.

My biggest concerns are, no ladder, aluminum siding and wood framing, no black tank flush. Should I be concerned with any of this? Thanks!

Originally Posted by S037474

Looking at this model, are you guys happy so far? How do you clean out the black tank with no black tank rinse? You think there would be any issues towing this with a chevy Colorado, it has 7k towing capacity with 900lb tongue weight, 1500lb payload and 12k max total weight.

My biggest concerns are, no ladder, aluminum siding and wood framing, no black tank flush. Should I be concerned with any of this? Thanks!

I think you will be Ok but you might want to double check your payload sticker. Some 1/2 tons don't even have 1500lb sticker capacity. I weighed my tongue using the bathroom scale method and I'm over 800lb loaded with full propane, so these trailers are tongue heavy for their size, maybe due to Murphy bed, not sure. Add 100 or so for the hitch and you won't have much payload left.

Mine is stable towing but I feel it back there for sure.

[jrm1493]

I should probably introduce myself, we got a 201bhxl last fall and have taken it out several times and love it. Even went to an RV show a couple months ago and didn't find anything we liked more floorplan wise. No issues with it except for a very minor slow drip under the bathroom sink. We have 2 kids age 3&6 and they love it.

Pulling with a 2017 Chevy 1500 crew cab 2wd, 5.3 3.42, 1730 payload.

[BayouCamper1]

Originally Posted by jrm1493

I should probably introduce myself, we got a 201bhxl last fall and have taken it out several times and love it. Even went to an RV show a couple months ago and didn't find anything we liked more floorplan wise. No issues with it except for a very minor slow drip under the bathroom sink. We have 2 kids age 3&6 and they love it.

Pulling with a 2017 Chevy 1500 crew cab 2wd, 5.3 3.42, 1730 payload.

Might want to check the cap on the drain line for the kitchen sink. Pulled mine out of storage and was checking for leaks and there is a "T" on the drain line under the bottom bunk by the water heater. It was not tight and had a very slow drip.

[Bikemobile]

Check the supply fittings under the bathroom sink mine were LOOSE. Hand tightened and good to go.

I definitely feel the camper behind my 2017 Gmc Sierra CrewCab 4x4. Pulling with a colorado would be nervewracking for me.

[jrm1493]

Originally Posted by Bikemobile

Check the supply fittings under the bathroom sink mine were LOOSE. Hand tightened and good to go.

I definitely feel the camper behind my 2017 Gmc Sierra CrewCab 4x4. Pulling with a colorado would be nervewracking for me.

Thanks, those were a little loose and I tightened them and it hasn't come back. Oh also I forgot to add that our black and gray indicators are swapped on the panel... Took a couple trips to figure that one out but really just a quirk now that we know about it. If we ever sell it I'll relabel them for the next owners!

[Bikemobile]

I’m curious about the black tank flush also. I dont think this model has a true black tank flush feature? There is a sticker on the outside that says:

[OzzieL]

Originally Posted by BayouCamper1

Let us know if you find some that fit, I have been searching the web for some decent priced 2 or 3 step set, but have yet to find one that had the correct width measurements to fit the mounts.

I don't know if you read this yet but, here is some insight into the stair issue.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...xl-156714.html

I saw a newer 2018 on a video of a walk around and it had COMPLETLY different stairs that for up inside the door.

ALSO: We had a whole bunch of Quality Control issues with plumbing and electric. After all of it was worked out, we now LOVE our TT!

Oz