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Old 10-14-2012, 12:40 PM   #1
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Wildwood XLite 261BHXL owner reviews?

For all you folks who own the 261BHXL, I would love to hear your
pros and cons. I am currently looking to buy a used one or new, if
priced right.
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Old 10-19-2012, 11:30 PM   #2
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We love ours it is just a year old and it had some cosmetic warranty things but nothing major and we added a 2nd batt with disconect switch cut another nightstand cubby in, opened up the storage under the couch added 12v plugs around inside, and added solar trickle charger to it.

We have spent about 45 days in it so far and expect to spend another 15 before the end of the year we love it it is a little big for some campgrounds but certainly do able. I pulled it with a v6 f150 but now i tow it with an f250 its over kill but i like it
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Old 10-20-2012, 09:45 AM   #3
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Thank you, sounds like you got a good one. Would love to see
some pics of your mods?

Rob
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Old 10-21-2012, 11:06 AM   #4
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We love ours, but really regret not gettin a slideout. Would highly recommend spending a little extra to get one.
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Old 10-21-2012, 01:32 PM   #5
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My only concern about getting one with a SO is the leaking and additional maintenance. I've heard alot of stories of leaky campers. I will be camping mostly on the Oregon coast, which is very rainy and windy. I lived on a submarine for 12yrs out of my 20yr Navy career. The Wildwood 261bhxl is pure luxury compared to working and sleeping in my coffin. I get to look out the windows and see sunlight. LOL...
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Old 10-21-2012, 02:03 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FT_Chief
My only concern about getting one with a SO is the leaking and additional maintenance. I've heard alot of stories of leaky campers. I will be camping mostly on the Oregon coast, which is very rainy and windy. I lived on a submarine for 12yrs out of my 20yr Navy career. The Wildwood 261bhxl is pure luxury compared to working and sleeping in my coffin. I get to look out the windows and see sunlight. LOL...
Yea, but soon as you start loading stuff up you'll realize there's not much space. Maybe next few years were gonna be looking for Somthing bigger with slide out. But it's still fun. You'll have fun either way
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Old 10-21-2012, 03:17 PM   #7
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I don't have a slideout and there's enough space for me. On really raining days I don't worry about water coming in. And when I pull into a site I don't need to worry about there being enough space for the slideout. Not having a slideout is one less thing to worry about with maintaining.

However, add in a second person the slideout space is worth the downside of possible water leaking in. People can pass by without the other person needing to take a seat. Overall there seem to be actually little trouble with slideouts.

PS
Ditto about the mods pics
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Old 10-21-2012, 09:59 PM   #8
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I guess coming from a tent, any TT will be 1000% better. I am on
a limited budget for my TT since I just recently purchased my TV.
A 26 foot TT with a slideout will cost 2-3k more. Just trying to be
practical for my first TT. I see RV Wholesalers are having a sale
end of this month. Hope I can get a good deal. Pics of my tent
and boy camping this past summer on the Oregon Coast.
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Old 10-21-2012, 10:15 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FT_Chief View Post
I guess coming from a tent, any TT will be 1000% better. I am on
a limited budget for my TT since I just recently purchased my TV.
A 26 foot TT with a slideout will cost 2-3k more. Just trying to be
practical for my first TT. I see RV Wholesalers are having a sale
end of this month. Hope I can get a good deal. Pics of my tent
and boy camping this past summer on the Oregon Coast.
to being practical - that's how I got my beloved TT on my modest income. Nice pictures of your son camping.

Hope you get a great deal with the sale at the end of the month too!

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Old 10-21-2012, 10:19 PM   #10
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I will be getting the trailer out and using it this next weekend i will take pic of all mods then and post them here
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Old 10-21-2012, 10:21 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jar3316 View Post
I will be getting the trailer out and using it this next weekend i will take pic of all mods then and post them here
We are almost neighbors. I bet we shop at the same CW too.

If you don't mind me asking where are you heading next weekend?
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Old 10-21-2012, 11:26 PM   #12
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We go to a thousand trails in menifee called wilderness lakes. Its become our quick trip place to go full hookups level ground for kids to play and ride bikes and less than half a tank there and back. But for halloween they do a big kid thing been going for years. After that its death valley for christmas and new years
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Old 10-22-2012, 07:18 AM   #13
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got ours 2nd hand so feel a good price

we have 3 medium sized Dogs that are underfoot as much as 3 kids would be and find the Wildwood doable - came from a 190 Roadtrek (2 dogs then) so the extra space seems large

do miss having a generator, but not enough to purchase one

would have appreciated having a thermostadt on the a/c

only mods done, so far, are :

a homemade "hook" with which to start awning deploy (lost the metal one ?)

a PVC framework for the folded up back seat area of the Truck, upon which 2 of the Dogs ride (looking out the windows) while the 3rd rides below (when traveling)

added a metal bathroom door hanger (hooks over the top of the door) - dirty clothes bag inside the john, trash bag outside the door

made a very strong 21" tv mount for the wall between the top bunk and the dinette

thinking about a way to better secure the 2 drawers closed - they open during travel (thinking about it, but not enough to get up right now to do it...)

WILL make a written checklist for breaking camp - almost drove off with the tv antenna raised last time out.....Bill
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Old 10-22-2012, 10:27 AM   #14
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We haven't spent a lot of time in ours, probably about 10 days total since getting it during the summer. Spent about 4 days at a more local campground, then a week in Florida.

It has towed well with my 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, and we haven't had any major issues.

So far, the only problem we have found was a leaky shower head that I have yet to replace. We're taking it out again in a few weeks, and I cannot wait!

This is our first trailer, and we love it!
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Old 10-22-2012, 12:51 PM   #15
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Awesome! I've been looking at what RV Wholesalers have in stock.
They have (2) left but they both are the single door refrigerators.
I am hesitant about buying a single door ref. My local dealer here
in Las Vegas doesn't have any in stock and a special order will cost
over 7k more than RV Wholesalers. Glad to hear that your TV is a good
match for the TT. Do you use a wdh and sway control?
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Old 10-22-2012, 01:11 PM   #16
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Yes, I use a WDH and sway control, and it helps tremendously. I had to tow my trailer to my dad's house to put the WDH on (he had a long enough level driveway), and there was a huge difference towing it to his house with no WDH and towing it back home. I cannot remember which one I bought at the moment, but I bought mine from etrailer.com. They have given me good service in the past, and had some helpful videos and instructions on installation.

I bought my Wildwood from Fun Time RV in Cleburne TX (Texas RV Dealer | Fun Town RV in Cleburne Texas | Forest River | Coachmen | Gulf Stream RV). It was about a 5-6 hour drive for me, but there prices just couldn't be touched in my area. Plus, they delivered it to me for free!

We had an older/used pop-up just before the Wildwood, and we only took it out once. It had a single door fridge. I didn't like it at all. It could have been because it was about 20 years old, but it was small and didn't cool down well. The fridge/freezer in the Wildwood is a dream in comparison. I'd like a bigger fridge/freezer (who wouldn't?), but it suits our needs well for trips.

We already have reservations for Disney in Florida for Thanksgiving week 2013. We're bringing my twin nephews and my sister-in-law, so it will be a nice test of the space for sure! We don't plan on spending a lot of time in the trailer on that trip though.

Best of luck to you.
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Old 10-22-2012, 01:20 PM   #17
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Yes! "Fun Time RV", I love their Youtube videos.
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Old 10-22-2012, 02:13 PM   #18
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the single door fridge in the Wildwood is adequate for our trips - we do carry along an Ice Chest when we foresee a need (so far just to keep bottled water cold)

if more fridge space is your requirement consider an extra, 110v unit (from Conn's, Best Buy or..) - well under $100.....Bill
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Old 10-22-2012, 10:02 PM   #19
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Good Bones

We have had our 2011 WildWood T26BHXL for 12 months($8000 CraigsList) and checked out this site before we purchased so thanks for all info out here. I’ve been lucky enough to RV all my life, my sister has a 29’ TT and my parents are now full-timers . I am quite the handy man and tend to do a lot of modifications to make sure our home away from home is as good as it can be. I am also a stickler on maintenance and organization.
As for pros and cons: I think as a week-ender several times a year this is a great camper but as a serious camper(several 2-3 weekers a year plus weekenders) it could use some work but it has good bones. I chose not to have a slide out for price, weight increase(1050lbs), maintenance and belief(a camper is only gone into to cook, sleep and bathroom every thing else is done outside)

Mods I have already done(most MODs have been posted):
double commercial 950CCA battery frame/rack up front(second battery is a must)
Axle flip(first trip out we drug-ass and hitch several times), raised 5 1/4inch, I only wanted 3inch but for 24$ this was easy and after 5000plus miles it seems to ride/tow great, we do use an extra step now.
3 Cubbies under beds, cut out and framed for easy storage access, these were very difficult spaces to use before.
Second shelf across front wall of trailer, tons of new space.
Cabinet for lower bunk bed(upper bunk already had one).
Hinged kick board of couch to give fantastic storage access.
Receiver on back for bike rack or storage rack.
DC outlets installed in bunk beds
Foot Step installed for upper bunk
Many more smaller projects done and too do: Fantastic Fan in bath and new install above couch, insolate and heat tanks for winter use, move spare tire to under camper, cutting board replacement for sink covers, counter space flip up, motion light outside quieter-fan swap for fridge……….
As you can see: I have a great wife who lets me just do it and I have way to much time.
See ya on the road,
Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down
John
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Old 10-22-2012, 10:23 PM   #20
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Great mods! On the hinged kick board of couch how hard is it to reach in for things? Do you use baskets there too?
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