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Old 10-09-2017, 08:01 PM   #1
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My take on my new 2018 2109S

My wife and I have been camping in an A-Liner Ease for several years and decided to move up a little. After researching, we both like the size and floor plan of the 2109S, so we bought one in September.

We have camped in it four nights already and here are some things I noticed:
(Some of these have already been mentioned by others)
1) No HDMI outside. I have the IRV32 system. I can insert a DVD and control it with my phone, but if I wanted to watch outside, I wouldn't have a HDMI port.
2)Analog Thermostat. Mentioned many times on this forum. I changed mine to a Honeywell digital.
3)One Light Switch. All the lights come on (except the sink light) with one switch. Turn that switch off to go to bed and it is dark. A better solution would have been a 3-way switch, with one near the bed. I realize that the lights can be turned off by pushing the center, but that is not convenient. There is a "reading light" over the bed, but is also goes off with the switch. I added LED push lights under each wardrobe.
4)Black Tank Flush Water Inlet directly over the cable and shore power connections. Every time I disconnect the hose, water drips all over the connections below it.
5)Collapsible Table takes up too much room in storage position. When stored behind the couch, the outdoor storage access is useless. If the table was 2" shorter, it would slide between the couch sides and free up the storage. I took my table out and bought two TV tray tables.
6) Bed Too Short for my 72" body. I did the hinged extension mod and added 6 inches. I bought a piece of 6 x 6 x 60 foam and insert if after the slide is out. (Bed length is limited by slide when retracted)
7)GFCI Cover Broken already. I replaced it with a metal one from Home Depot.

Of course, some of these issues are because we own a "entry level" camper. It might be entry level to some, but it is all I can afford!
All in all, we love the camper. I did have A/C issues that I will mention on another post.
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Old 10-10-2017, 06:55 PM   #2
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Hello - Interesting observations. After going thru the research, that was my top pick as well. It is the only model where the door does not open up right near the bed. I liked that feature, and the couch. But, my wife liked the 2104S (21DS) better, so we are going with that one. I am 72" as well and did not notice the bed being short. I believe it is 80".
Well, good to hear that all of the issues are minor and easily modified. Thanks.
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Old 10-10-2017, 09:06 PM   #3
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On the 2109S, the bed is limited by the slide. They could have made the trailer 6" longer and a full queen would have fit.
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Old 10-10-2017, 11:08 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sportbikenut View Post
Hello - Interesting observations. After going thru the research, that was my top pick as well. It is the only model where the door does not open up right near the bed. I liked that feature, and the couch. But, my wife liked the 2104S (21DS) better, so we are going with that one. I am 72" as well and did not notice the bed being short. I believe it is 80".
Well, good to hear that all of the issues are minor and easily modified. Thanks.
It's 60 x 74, what's known as an RV Queen. See floor plan here:

https://www.funtownrv.com/product/ne...109s-741063-29

Some RV's have full queens, but not many.
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Old 10-11-2017, 07:14 AM   #5
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I knew that going in... Just one of the downfalls of being 6 foot tall.
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Old 10-11-2017, 01:11 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
It's 60 x 74, what's known as an RV Queen. See floor plan here:

https://www.funtownrv.com/product/ne...109s-741063-29

Some RV's have full queens, but not many.
I'm 6'5", so a 74" length is way short for me, especially with a front bed with a front that has a distinct curve to it. That can cut out a good 6" of otherwise usable bed.

My wife and I have not had an RV for a number of years. I'm a pastor, and when our kids were little and she was home caring for them, we could take off during the week when the campgrounds were basically empty. When the kids were all in school, and she went back to school, and then to work, it did not make sense to have the money tied up in something we could only use a couple of weeks a year. Now that retirement is fast approaching, we are doing the research.
I had a trailer all picked out. Seemed to meet all our needs. Had a "queen" bed. Then, at the state fair we were looking at one, and my wife said, "That bed looks awfully short for you." So I tried it out. Feet, ankles, and part of my shins all hung out. Back to square 1, paying special attention to what dimensions were really given to the "queen" beds. (Also, paying attention to the amount of slope in the front end, if the bed is in the front. I've found a few, but it has definitely cut down on the number of choices.
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Old 10-11-2017, 03:22 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Bogy View Post
I'm 6'5", so a 74" length is way short for me, especially with a front bed with a front that has a distinct curve to it. That can cut out a good 6" of otherwise usable bed.

My wife and I have not had an RV for a number of years. I'm a pastor, and when our kids were little and she was home caring for them, we could take off during the week when the campgrounds were basically empty. When the kids were all in school, and she went back to school, and then to work, it did not make sense to have the money tied up in something we could only use a couple of weeks a year. Now that retirement is fast approaching, we are doing the research.
I had a trailer all picked out. Seemed to meet all our needs. Had a "queen" bed. Then, at the state fair we were looking at one, and my wife said, "That bed looks awfully short for you." So I tried it out. Feet, ankles, and part of my shins all hung out. Back to square 1, paying special attention to what dimensions were really given to the "queen" beds. (Also, paying attention to the amount of slope in the front end, if the bed is in the front. I've found a few, but it has definitely cut down on the number of choices.
Some people have "extended" the bed and replaced the RV queen with a real one. Some have even gone king. But you have to have a bed with adequate room around it to do that. So you might keep a "potential bed mod" in mind as you're looking.

See post #5 (and maybe some others) here:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ss-107352.html
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Old 10-11-2017, 04:03 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
Some people have "extended" the bed and replaced the RV queen with a real one. Some have even gone king. But you have to have a bed with adequate room around it to do that. So you might keep a "potential bed mod" in mind as you're looking.

See post #5 (and maybe some others) here:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ss-107352.html
Yep, that is the other option. As long as there is room to access the bed with the mod. Just keeping in mind that I either need the bed upfront, or a way to modify.
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Old 10-11-2017, 07:59 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by sportbikenut View Post
Hello - Interesting observations. After going thru the research, that was my top pick as well. It is the only model where the door does not open up right near the bed. I liked that feature, and the couch. But, my wife liked the 2104S (21DS) better, so we are going with that one. I am 72" as well and did not notice the bed being short. I believe it is 80".
Well, good to hear that all of the issues are minor and easily modified. Thanks.
We have the 2104S and love it! My husband is 6 feet and his feet are very, very close to the end of the bed. Take into consideration though that we have pool noodles in the space between the bed and front wall to keep the pillows from falling through. (Our first couple trips we fought our pillows falling into the deep hole). Hope you love your new 2104S as much as we do.
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Old 10-11-2017, 08:34 PM   #10
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Bogy:

You didn't mention what trailers you've been looking at, and I'm not sure how you got on this thread. So as explanation (excuse me if you already know), what Lovestogo is talking about is a Mini Lite 2104S; Sahall has a Mini Lite 2109S. Most of the Mini-Lite line has Murphy beds that swing up when not in use. They are the usual RV queen length of 74", but because of the folding there is another 6" or so at the head of the bed where there is an opening into the area where the head of the bed goes when the foot of the bed is swung up.

As Sahall stated he does, most of us fill that space by either inserting some kind of foam blocks OR some folks have made a hinged shelf that they fold out to fill the gap. In either case, it buys you an additional 6" of length or so. (BUT you can't install a longer queen, as the 6" goes away when you swing up the bed; you have to fill the gap with something when the bed is down.)

Here's a pic of a Micro-Lite bed up:
Click image for larger version

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And here's a pic of the bed down. The gap is at the head of the bed between the bed and the front wall of the trailer.
Click image for larger version

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So that's something to consider if you think it might work for you. Note that the Flagstaff Micro-Lite line is identical to the Rockwood Mini-Lite line except for interior colors and external graphics.

Hope this helps.
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Old 10-11-2017, 09:23 PM   #11
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A lot of RVs have beds that are too short. Especially for people taller than about 5'10". There are some that have King beds but you will need a truck with a better towing capacity.

As for your list:

#3: Each light has its own switch on the light itself. The one switch is a master switch to turn the lights on as you enter the trailer without having to stumble around in the dark trying to find a light.

#4: My black-water tank flush is located above the main shore power connector, along with the cable tv/satellite connector jacks. If you are worried about water getting on the connectors, don't; you plug that in first when you arrive and disconnect it last when you are rigging down and have turned the power off at the pedestal and unplugged power cord. Besides, what will you do when it rains? The coupler at the trailer end is relatively water proof when connected correctly. Don't worry about it.

Safe travels!
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Old 10-11-2017, 10:09 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sportbikenut View Post
Hello - Interesting observations. After going thru the research, that was my top pick as well. It is the only model where the door does not open up right near the bed. I liked that feature, and the couch. But, my wife liked the 2104S (21DS) better, so we are going with that one. I am 72" as well and did not notice the bed being short. I believe it is 80".
Well, good to hear that all of the issues are minor and easily modified. Thanks.


The Queen bed in our 2017 2109 is 75 inches.
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Old 10-12-2017, 05:36 PM   #13
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Thanks. I was thinking of a regular queen, but the brochure shows 74". No biggie. I laid on the bed and it seemed fine, and long enough. Also seemed really nice and firm.
By the way, I know it comes with pillows and bedspread, but does a set of sheets come with it as well? I did not see them. Thanks again.
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Old 10-12-2017, 05:58 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by sportbikenut View Post
Thanks. I was thinking of a regular queen, but the brochure shows 74". No biggie. I laid on the bed and it seemed fine, and long enough. Also seemed really nice and firm.
By the way, I know it comes with pillows and bedspread, but does a set of sheets come with it as well? I did not see them. Thanks again.
Our 2104S didn't come with sheets.
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Old 10-12-2017, 06:17 PM   #15
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Our 2503S didn't come with sheets OR pillows. Only pillows we got were for the dinette/sofa. They're not suitable for sleeping on.
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