looking to get first tt

[AWILLIAMS64]

I posted in another topic and then I found this subforum. Seemed to better fit now that I have kind of narrowed down choices. I am looking at out first travel trailer. Only have tent camped up to this point. My daughter and I, and if I had somewhere nice to sleep, my wife are looking for a nice small travel trailer. I came across adds for the 185rb and 195bh models. Either one can be bought for just under 10k new for the 2014. 2014 Forest River Wildwood X-Lite 185RB Travel Trailer Troy, OH Arbogast RVs

has anyone had any experience with either of these? or let me know if they would be good for basic camping. I ride trials motorcycles and we camp at least 10 weekends a year just for that activity. Usually only 1 night at a time, maybe 2 nights. Dealer is also local to me, so service would be good I would think.

I have a 2010 Honda ridgeline to tow, that is why I am trying to keep the tt as small as possible and keep the weight low. I have a capacity of 5k. I already have electric brakes for my work trailer.

[jawga]

We have the 195bh and like it. we also went from tent camping to this so we were looking for something basic. Now i dont think i could go back to a tent. we try and camp once a month. the max weight of our trailer is around 3900 but we are actually closer to 3500-3700. We pull it with a 2005 ford explorer with a V8. Not sure if you plan on taking the motorcycles in the ridgeline also. If you do they will cut back on what you can tow.

[Terier]

That floor plan is very similar to the one I have (different line) & it works well for my use. I didn't notice any slide outs which could make a difference with more than one person in it. With that said not having slide outs is one less thing to maintain.

[AWILLIAMS64]

My bike only weighs about 170 lbs so I would still be under 5k total. Thank for the replies on these smaller ones. Going to try tomorrow to take a look. Not even sure if I want the bunkhouse model. I may get the rear bath model because there will be a max of 3 people camping.

[AWILLIAMS64]

Wife and I went and looked today and we definitely liked the rear bath model over the bunkhouse. They had several so I let her pick out the one she liked with the fabric color. Applied for the credit which should be no problem. I hope we got a good deal. $10880 out the door w/ tax and fees and they are installing a deep cycle battery and filling up my propane tank. Hopefully picking it up tomorrow. They did offer a 7 year complete warranty but it was $1100.. are these warrantys work buying? seems kind of pricey but...

[Terier]

Forest River offers a second year warranty on most of their units and can be as low as $150 depending on which unit you have. I will search for the link to the warranty thread and post it for you to review.

Here's the link. The 2nd year warranty discussion is located in the Dollars & Cents forum but there are several threads on this topic.

[AWILLIAMS64]

Thanks. That's much more reasonable.

[Terier]

Key note - dealers are not required to inform you of the 2nd year warranty and many will act like they know nothing about it. Remember that the dealer makes money off of the plan they sell.

[AWILLIAMS64]

going to pick her up Friday at 1:30. I now have thought of other questions to ask that I forgot to when I was there. I didn't ask if the fridge will work on 12v. I highly doubt it but I forgot to ask. I know its not a propane based one in this model.

[jawga]

If its not the propane one then its like a standard bar type fridge like ours and it only runs on 120v

[kdp1897]

We have a '12 XLite 181BH (I'm guessing similar to the 295BH) and we love it. Perfect fit for my wife, daughter & I as our first camper. I like that it has 4 "beds" - double bunk, single bunk, jackknife couch & dinette.

[AWILLIAMS64]

Yep fridge on ac only. Got it home today. Now the fun begins.

[AWILLIAMS64]

I wanted to add one if the bumper mount hitches for my trials bike. It weighs about 165lbs. I noticed on the bumper it said adding anything to it would void the frame warranty. What are the thoughts in that? I have seen many Tt with luggage style racks on the back of them with generators strapped down.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by AWILLIAMS64

I wanted to add one if the bumper mount hitches for my trials bike. It weighs about 165lbs. I noticed on the bumper it said adding anything to it would void the frame warranty. What are the thoughts in that? I have seen many Tt with luggage style racks on the back of them with generators strapped down.

Different brands, models all have different specification.
Some do not allow for anything not added at the factory.
Some add the racks like you posted about while others like mine have a weight rating of only 125 pounds of added weight.

At 165 pounds your bike plus the weight of the rack for it would tear a 16 gage steel bumper right off the frame.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by AWILLIAMS64

I wanted to add one if the bumper mount hitches for my trials bike. It weighs about 165lbs. I noticed on the bumper it said adding anything to it would void the frame warranty. What are the thoughts in that? I have seen many Tt with luggage style racks on the back of them with generators strapped down.

that's because those trailers are not ultralight, like yours is.
and they might have had a receiver welded and braced to the FRAME, not the bumper.
of course, doing this on an ultralight trailer, will probably void the frame's warranty, which is usually 5 years long.
not even for bicycles should you do it but definitely NOT for a motorcycle!

if you wanted to do this, you should have bought a regular TT, with a much beefier frame, not an ultralight.

[laurarice26]

We just bought the wildwood xlite 185br but haven't picked it up yet. We get it Easter weekend. I've been buying some kitchen and bathroom supplies but need a list of hoses (length & type) etc that I should buy in advance of picking it up so we don't have to buy it at the dealership. We are going to go right out and camp that evening. I also just joined Good Sam's so I should get a nice discount from Camping World, right? Are their club prices/brands better than Walmart? What kind (brand) of outdoor mat do people use? Thanks so much!

[laurarice26]

Congratulations AWilliams! We will be following in your footsteps. Enjoy!

[Ford Idaho]

Go to Wally world and pick up a 25 foot Rhino hose for the black and gray tank a 10 foot extension.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...178,bs.1,d.b2I

Then get a 50 foot or two twenty five foot fresh water hose/s they are white.

Buy an ordinary 50 foot garden hose, use this for other than water that goes into the trailer.

Give thought to a heavy duty 110/120/115 extension cord in the 50 -75 foot range.

The Wally world mat will do just fine ours is 9X12 foot.

[AWILLIAMS64]

that explains the bumper much better. I don't have to do that, just a thought. I will be able to fit my bike in the truck, the whole bumper idea was just that, an idea. The rear bumper seems pretty beefy, I plan on mounting a spare tire to it at least. Do you think that would be ok?

Originally Posted by laurarice26

We just bought the wildwood xlite 185br but haven't picked it up yet. We get it Easter weekend. I've been buying some kitchen and bathroom supplies but need a list of hoses (length & type) etc that I should buy in advance of picking it up so we don't have to buy it at the dealership. We are going to go right out and camp that evening. I also just joined Good Sam's so I should get a nice discount from Camping World, right? Are their club prices/brands better than Walmart? What kind (brand) of outdoor mat do people use? Thanks so much!

I got a couple thinks at walmart to just get started. They actually have a pretty good selection of rv accessories. I got a couple of adapter plugs, one to plug trailer into a regular socket, $8.97 and then one to plug in if you only have a 50a service it was around $18. Both look really well built. The also have hoses to drain your water tanks there.

[AWILLIAMS64]

Originally Posted by laurarice26

Congratulations AWilliams! We will be following in your footsteps. Enjoy!

The dealer I went to had several in stock and had pretty good price I believe. I was happy with it at least.