Hello from Scranton, PA

[TomMonger]

My wife, son and I have never had a camper (we were always tent and cabin campers). We decided we wanted to get a towable trailer camper, but it would have to be under the 1500-lb tow limit of my 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV. So we were limited to Aliners, Scamps, teardrops, or popups. The first 3 were out because they were just too small (and expensive!). We went to an RV show in NY yesterday and toured a Rockwood 1640LTD. We really liked it, and the weight was just under the limit of my tow vehicle... so we bought it! The 1640LTD is pretty room for the 3 of us, and had all the things we wanted (but really wish it had a Fantastic fan). So, I'll be doing a lot of reading here... especially for tips and tricks and maybe mods (like an easy way to ventialate)!

-Tom in Scranton, PA

[cboss]

Welcome from Upstate NY. Tons of good info here!

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by TomMonger

So, I'll be doing a lot of reading here... especially for tips and tricks and maybe mods (like an easy way to ventialate)!
-Tom in Scranton, PA

Congratulations on your new rig and welcome to the forum!

Sometimes opening the fan on top of the rig and using an oscillating fan inside the trailer can make a huge difference in the ventilation and comfort in the rig.

[dblr]

Congrats and keep a eye out for next year's Brass Ring Rally at Knoebels, close to home

[Jean D]

Welcome from the Finger Lakes of NY.
My mom grew up in Kingsley PA not too far from you.
A small fan with an open ceiling vent is great if you don’t have a fantastic fan.
Enjoy your new camper.

[bikendan]

Hi and Welcome to FRF.
Be sure to check out the Tent Camper and Popup section here.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that popup will exceed all your car's specs. The fictional dry tongue weight will exceed the car's max of 150lbs bd the loaded weight of the popup will exceed the 1500lbs max.
You apparently only looked at the fictional dry weight numbers.
Did your car come with the factory tow package?

Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum. Later RJD

[TomMonger]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Hi and Welcome to FRF.
Be sure to check out the Tent Camper and Popup section here.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that popup will exceed all your car's specs. The fictional dry tongue weight will exceed the car's max of 150lbs bd the loaded weight of the popup will exceed the 1500lbs max.
You apparently only looked at the fictional dry weight numbers.
Did your car come with the factory tow package?

Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

I had the hitch and 7-pin light kit installed by UHaul.
I was thinking about the weight issue, but I was also considering removing the fridge and not using propane at all. I have a Yeti that I can put in the back of my TV. I also have propane cylinder stoves and heater that I can pack in the TV. And I would tow the trailer empty.
-T.

[TomMonger]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

Congratulations on your new rig and welcome to the forum!

Sometimes opening the fan on top of the rig and using an oscillating fan inside the trailer can make a huge difference in the ventilation and comfort in the rig.

Thanks! I will certainly try it!

[TomMonger]

Thanks, Jean! And I have a friend that lives in Kingsley!

[Aussieguy]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Hi and Welcome to FRF.
Be sure to check out the Tent Camper and Popup section here.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that popup will exceed all your car's specs. The fictional dry tongue weight will exceed the car's max of 150lbs bd the loaded weight of the popup will exceed the 1500lbs max.
You apparently only looked at the fictional dry weight numbers.
Did your car come with the factory tow package?

Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

the V6 can tow up to 3500
cargo capacity of the suv is around 1200
(note driver is normally NOT included in the payload calculation)

should be OK for a passenger and a small doggie
keep the speed down until you get some miles on it .

[Oaklevel]

Welcome from Virginia !!

[TomMonger]

Well, I just found out that "tongue weight" and "hitch weight" are the same thing, and my TV has a 150-lb limit for "hitch weight", and the 1640LTD is rated at 162-lbs. Luckily I never finalized the sale of the trailer (only have a deposit on it). I'm surprised the dealer never looked closer at this. Thanks everyone. I'm pretty bummed now.

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome from Wisconsin.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by TomMonger

Well, I just found out that "tongue weight" and "hitch weight" are the same thing, and my TV has a 150-lb limit for "hitch weight", and the 1640LTD is rated at 162-lbs. Luckily I never finalized the sale of the trailer (only have a deposit on it). I'm surprised the dealer never looked closer at this. Thanks everyone. I'm pretty bummed now.

Dealers are only looking to make a sale and will tell you anything to make that happen.

Don't be bummed... use this experience to do some research make an educated decision about getting into a R/V.

You mentioned the first couple you looked at were too small. If that is the truly the case then you need to be thinking about trading tow vehicles. Get your tow vehicle figured out first and then buy an R/V that can be safely towed by it.

If you can't trade tow vehicles then be prepared to only be able to purchase a small enough R/V that your tow vehicle can handle.

I know you want to enjoy something other than tents and cabins but you have to be able to get your R/V to and back from a camping trip safely.

Best of luck.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by TomMonger

Well, I just found out that "tongue weight" and "hitch weight" are the same thing, and my TV has a 150-lb limit for "hitch weight", and the 1640LTD is rated at 162-lbs. Luckily I never finalized the sale of the trailer (only have a deposit on it). I'm surprised the dealer never looked closer at this. Thanks everyone. I'm pretty bummed now.

They'll tell you anything to get a sale, unfortunately. Safety be damned.

I was looking at upgrading my trailer to a "half ton towable" fifth wheel last year, which had an empty pin weight of 1700 lbs. I told the dealer that was too heavy for my truck. He asked what I drive ('18 F150), and he said "Oh, you'll be just fine with that." I asked him how he could say that without knowing the payload capacity of my truck.

My truck's payload capacity is only 1600 lbs, which I then told him. And I then told him I've got another 500 lbs of human and cargo weight, plus the weight of a loaded fifth wheel. His response was that I was calculating my payload capacity wrong. He pulls up Ford's webpage, and shows me where it says max payload is 2300 lbs. (or whatever it is). He then told me that if you tow with a hitch over the rear axle, like in a fifth wheel, that you can use Ford's maximum payload number instead of the one on the truck. I was flabbergasted. He wasn't just fudging the numbers, he was completely fabricating things to sell me the fifth wheel. I let him know what I thought, and quickly left.

Basically, knowing what your vehicle can tow is up to you. Most dealers will sell you the most expensive thing they can get you to buy.

By the way, welcome from Hazleton, PA. I went to school in Scranton.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by TomMonger

Well, I just found out that "tongue weight" and "hitch weight" are the same thing, and my TV has a 150-lb limit for "hitch weight", and the 1640LTD is rated at 162-lbs. Luckily I never finalized the sale of the trailer (only have a deposit on it). I'm surprised the dealer never looked closer at this. Thanks everyone. I'm pretty bummed now.

Which is what I said in post #7.
NEVER expect a dealer or salesperson to work in your best interests. They just want to sell you something.
Unfortunately having a car with a towing capacity of only 1500lbs and a hitch weight of only 150lbs, limits you to very few choices, like small teardrop trailers.
By the way, you're still using fictional dry weight numbers. That 162 number is without a battery, factory options, dealer add-ons, water and trailer cargo. Loaded for camping, it would be much higher. The only brochure/website number you can believe, is the GVWR number.

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[Terier]

Welcome to the forums and congratulations on your new Rockwood! Lots of good reading can be found throughout the various forums. You should find lots of good suggestions and tips.

[swamprat]

Forest River FR3 30DS.
Welcome to the forum
Jim

[Rocknoids]

Our first trailer was a pop-up similar to yours. We bought it when my first daughter was a baby. We continued to camp with another daughter until school activities stop for a while. I still say out best years were with the small pop-up camper. We have since upgraded over the years and now have 32 ft 5th wheel and still enjoy glamping now.