Travel Trailer Newbie

TravisGSF · 01-20-2011, 05:42 PM

Looks like a great forum here. My wife and I are starting to shop around for travel trailers. I think we have the model picked out that we want. Rockwood Signature Ultra lite 8312SS.

Question is, after you have now owned a travel trailer is there any options you wish you had or a must have that I should get? Looks like these are good products. Thanks.

Travis

campnqueen · 01-20-2011, 08:30 PM

Welcome Travis,

AWESOME! How exciting for you and your wife.

My hubby and I purchased a 2010 Cherokee Gray Wolf 19RR in October 2009. The Graywolf we have is a small toy hauler and we just love it! Works well for us, our two dogs and Triumph Bonneville.

We did research for several year and knew we wanted a toy hauler. We looked at used units and new units. When it came down to it... we could get a BRAND NEW unit with the features we wanted for a few hundred dollars more than an used unit...so a new unit was it.

If we had it to do over again and had an "unlimited budget"...we would have gotten a bigger tow vehicle. We have an Ford F-150 gas and would really like to have a Ford F-250 diesel.

Don't know what you have for a tow vehicle, but keep that in mind. Make sure what ever you get is within your tow capability.

Soooo... if we had a bigger tow vehicle we would have gotten a little larger trailer. Maybe a 27 or 29 footer. Maybe even a fifth wheel.

I would of liked to have had more counter space in the kitchen. We REALLY do use ours...many folks don't.

A bed where you could walk around it... ours is in a small front birth and the bed is a bear to make. Also getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and having to climb over my hubby isn't fun.

We had an outdoor shower added. Works for us, we have tow dogs and can clean them off when they get dirty. We also had a skylight added to the shower. Soooo nice! You can actually stand up and brings in lots of light. So worth the small cost.

I would add Maxxair vent cover with a turbofan We may be adding this to our little camper at a later date. You can drive with the vent open, also keeps rain out.

We also ordered bigger wheels and tires. I think standard was 15" and we got 16" wheels. If you have a blow out...easier to get a replacement tire.

If you plan on doing any winter camping... see if there is an arctic package. Double paned windows, tank heaters, all ready for cold weather camping.

I am sure there are several other thing I would have gotten with an unlimited budget. But what we have for what we do is just right! We are still very happy with our decision.

Good luck on your choice...and there are sooo many trailers and floor plans out there to pick from. It's just mind boggling.

j2detroit · 01-20-2011, 09:21 PM

the best option that i would recomend is a heated mattress out 30f cherroke has a heated king mat and it is great during those spring nites and fall nites

wfkssvlite · 01-20-2011, 10:13 PM

My wife and I just traded in our TT for a new one in Nov. Here are a few things that we felt were a must on our new camper from our experiences in our previous one and why. create-a-breeze or fantastic fan bathroom fan (exhaust steam from shower & odors), Fiberglass siding (easier to clean than metal siding), Living area slide out (alot more room to relax on a rainy day), gas & ELECTRIC hot water heater (saves on gas usage), Ducted A/C & Furnace (better air circ. throughout the camper), Day & night shades (Mini blinds to me are not as sturdy), Range hood (less smoke alarms while cooking), awnings over slide outs (helps keep leaves... water off top of slide outs), one last thing was the hot water heater bypass (saves you several gallons of antifreeze when/if you winterize). Hope this will help out with your decision in purchasing a TT. Good luck and happy camping!

great white · 01-20-2011, 10:22 PM

See sig.

Added a couple maxxair II vents.

Just about perfect otherwise.

campnqueen · 01-21-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j2detroit

the best option that i would recomend is a heated mattress out 30f cherroke has a heated king mat and it is great during those spring nites and fall nites

j2detroit is sooo right!

We just purchased an electric heated mattress pad and its wonderful.
You can keep the heat turned down a little in the trailer during the night... you sleep so nice and warm. We love ours so much my hubby said to get on for our house!

Round Mound of Sound · 01-21-2011, 10:35 AM

I would take a look at the axle's. What are they rated at compared to the trailer loaded weight. On my trailer the axle load rating and the trailer loaded are the same.

campnqueen · 01-21-2011, 10:43 AM

Hey Chuck...
You are so right!!

We ordered the LARGER axles to go with the bigger wheels and tires...True they DO weigh a little more but soooo worth it!

campnqueen · 01-21-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wfkssvlite

My wife and I just traded in our TT for a new one in Nov. Here are a few things that we felt were a must on our new camper from our experiences in our previous one and why. create-a-breeze or fantastic fan bathroom fan (exhaust steam from shower & odors), Fiberglass siding (easier to clean than metal siding), Living area slide out (alot more room to relax on a rainy day), gas & ELECTRIC hot water heater (saves on gas usage), Ducted A/C & Furnace (better air circ. throughout the camper), Day & night shades (Mini blinds to me are not as sturdy), Range hood (less smoke alarms while cooking), awnings over slide outs (helps keep leaves... water off top of slide outs), one last thing was the hot water heater bypass (saves you several gallons of antifreeze when/if you winterize). Hope this will help out with your decision in purchasing a TT. Good luck and happy camping!

Hey wfkssvlite,

We had our mini blinds in our trailer for just a few months... when I change out the blinds in our bedroom birth. We put in room darkening cellular blinds with the up down option... Easy to put up too. Just a few minuets and a drill! Soooo worth the cost and time!

backin15 · 01-21-2011, 01:06 PM

That is a nice rig you are looking at. You love the large slides! It looks very well equiped. Because of the lengh and weight don't skimp on a brake controller or hitch. I would go with the Tekonsha Prodigy or P# controller and an Equil-i-zer hitch. Make sure you have enough tow capacity and payload - what will you be towing it with?

TravisGSF · 01-21-2011, 10:02 PM

Tow vehicle is 2011 F-150. The trailer brake controller is integrated to the truck from the factory

Samary · 01-21-2011, 10:26 PM

We wanted to make sure our new trailer had 3 things:
-room around the bed and to be able to change in the bedroom
-a garden shower
-dining table and chairs
the walk in closet was a bonus

Happy Camping!!

MtnGuy · 01-22-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisGSF

Tow vehicle is 2011 F-150. The trailer brake controller is integrated to the truck from the factory

Before pulling the trigger on that 8312SS, take a look at this thread ( http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...cle-10138.html )talking about tow vehicles and overall trailer length......the 3212SS is almost 34 feet.....that is 1 long trailer.

rockwood06 · 01-22-2011, 08:23 AM

Hope you put your question down on paper, because once you get there if you are like me i would for get everything. Good luck i hope it all works out.

jimh · 01-22-2011, 08:36 AM

for us, the extra counter space would be nice.
i would like a rear view camera. each time i back up, it's like the first time. would also like to be able to see cars right behind me.
a heat pump. put one in on mine abt 4 yrs ago. works well when the outside temp is above 40. below 40, it uses a heater strip.

TravisGSF · 01-23-2011, 08:42 AM

Thanks for all the replies! Good info here.

MtnGuy · 01-23-2011, 09:55 AM

My post #13 did not previously include the link that I intended....I have corrected that oversight.

backin15 · 01-24-2011, 03:29 PM

That is a lot of trailer for a 1/2 ton truck. Take a hard look at payload and tow capacity and make sure it will work for you. I think a trailer that large would be happier behind a 3/4 ton.

BigRed · 01-24-2011, 06:01 PM

What engine do you have in your 2011 F-150 ?? V-6,Eco or V-8,5.4 or 6.2 you'll be Ok pulling it! Yes its a long trailer, but drive carefully and take your time you'll be ok! We pull the Rockwood Windjammer 3065,its 34'+ with a 2010 F-150 5.4 V-8, Equalizer-4PT-Sway control hitch with 1200lbs bars.w/Prodagy 3P Brake controller. Pulls great....sweaking all the way!

TravisGSF · 01-24-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed

What engine do you have in your 2011 F-150 ?? V-6,Eco or V-8,5.4 or 6.2 you'll be Ok pulling it! Yes its a long trailer, but drive carefully and take your time you'll be ok! We pull the Rockwood Windjammer 3065,its 34'+ with a 2010 F-150 5.4 V-8, Equalizer-4PT-Sway control hitch with 1200lbs bars.w/Prodagy 3P Brake controller. Pulls great....sweaking all the way!

Thanks Big Red. I'm getting the ecoboost! Haven't gotten it in yet. Thanks

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