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Hi again. Cindy from Mesa here.

What would you all do: We have this 2011 Gulf-stream Visa 19ft. TT that I am unable to load by myself because of the 90 lb. sway bar, needing to be connected with a 100 lb chain, using a iron pipe. Yeah...Really! DH's idea....

But I want to RV by myself now. Both for visiting, and for work. We've had MHs in the past...2 since 1985...and I want another one. I really like the class Bs. But I would look at Class Cs...after all I might get a toad later on. I would definitely be buying used.

We still owe $12K on the TT.

Have any of you "traded up" your RVs? If so what was the experience like. Or do you have any advice as to how to move a newer TT in an apparently sluggish market?

BTW; I've seen fairly newer trailers for sale in our neighborhood...and they don't move. The sellers end up giving up on trying to sell. However, ours is a "new fangled" type, being one of the low profile, lightweight and with modern interior and design. We have also had it raised up 5" so it doesn't bottom out, replaced tires, re-anchored properly the bunks and the MW after they were shaken loose on bad roads in NY state (Yeah...Really!)...etc. The TTs I see for sale are always the old-school style with boxy, heavy designs...they all look the same. Ours looks like this: http://gulfstreamvisa.com/?brand=visa However, 3 years (we bought Summer 2010) in the AZ sun is already fading the graphics.
DH pulls it with a 2000 Dodge Dakota Quad...which is "his" truck.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I would guess the easiest way to move it is to trade it in for what you really want.

Get yourself a nice class C

First, welcome!

I am on my FOURTH trailer, the last 3 requiring WD hitch and sway control. My current trailer is 26' (30' from tip to tip) and never, never, EVER have I heard of such a gigantic setup. My WD bars probably weigh 25-30# each, and my sway is a friction type and weighs less than 5#. The heaviest thing I deal with is the hitch that I have to put into the receiver on the back of my Expedition. That probably weighs close to 50# and is more awkward than anything to deal with. When you set everything up using the metal rod shouldn't be that difficult IF you've got the front end of your trailer raised up high enough to take the pressure off of the bars. If you don't have an electric tongue jack, get one. That'll make all sorts of difference.

Without knowing the exact type of WD/sway setup you have, it's hard to tell you what to do differently. My best suggestion is that you get things hitched up and take yourself to a dealer where they can help you. Hitching up isn't a matter of strength. It's about determination. And just because your husband has set things up a certain way doesn't mean they have to stay that way. Find a system that works for YOU.

Have fun, and keep asking those questions. You'll be on the road in no time!

Laura

Thank you, Liz...that is what I want, but gotta do something about this TT, first!

Azusa; forgive my ignorance, but what is "WD"?

I agree with Laura - for that size trailer I think DH has gone way overboard on the WDH and sway control. Your tongue weight is going to be no more than 500 pounds, so you shouldn't need very heavy bars at all. My 16' is probably 1000 pounds less than yours and about 360 pounds on the tongue weight (rough estimate) and I have no WDH. Granted I'm pulling with a full-size truck (F-150) but I don't think it should need as much as what y'all have. And actually, having too stiff of a bar is as bad as not having enough.

And WD is weight distribution and WDH is weight distribution hitch.

Ah! Okay.....Thank you!

Ok...I either gotta change this set up, or get a new one!

Liz wrote:I would guess the easiest way to move it is to trade it in for what you really want.

Have you done this?

The last time (and only time...many, many years ago) I traded in a car...I got shafted.

I'm assuming it's the same for RVs...but I could be wrong?

If you don't mind towing what you have, AND if your husband is willing to turn you loose with his truck, then get the hitch setup checked out. That'll be cheaper in the long run.

Anything you do with your current trailer will cost you a fortune. You'll take a bath on a trade-in. Some dealers will work with you, but no matter how you slice it, you'll lose money. It all depends on how desperately you want to trade to something different and how much you can afford to lose. RVs are money pits. There's nothing inexpensive about them. So, in my non-opinion opinion it all depends on how much you want to be on the road and are willing to pay to get there.

That said, you might think about doing something on consignment. But Mesa in the summer's got to be a pretty slim marketplace. Ever thought about RV Trader?

Laura

It's probably similar to with cars ... but it depends on how long you want to wait to sell. You can also consider using a place that sells on consignment, but then you are also paying them a percentage which you have to figure in. You will also usually get better prices buying used from an individual and selling to an individual ...if you can find what you want that way. That said, for me, being full-time, I don't know if I'd have the luxury to do that. But I also know I'm running what I have till it isn't going to be worth too much ... so it won't be an issue All you can do is figure what yours is worth and see what kind of offers you can get... then consider paying for the next several months (if you have a loan) while you try to sell outright. I had folks tell me I sold my house at too low a price, but the average home then was taking 6-9 months to sell. I sold the same month I put it up - closed a couple weeks later ... thus saved 6-8 months of mortgage payments and made out just fine!

Yeah...losing $...especially BIG $ makes me suicidal. That's why we bought a trailer, and kept the old truck in the first place...we're (read "me") all about cheap fun!

I thank you all for the sound advice...I'm going to have to get the hitch situation changed.

At the time DH set this all up...it looked like overkill to me, and it was just a hunch. I didn't say anything at the time because I'm all the time accusing him of that. But that's what he does...damn-it!

So now all you experienced RVers... have validated that...being the right gender helps. The older I get...the less I believe the "Believe you MEs" from the other gender!

ialwaysneedaroadtrip wrote:

Liz wrote:I would guess the easiest way to move it is to trade it in for what you really want.

Have you done this?

The last time (and only time...many, many years ago) I traded in a car...I got shafted.

I'm assuming it's the same for RVs...but I could be wrong?

I traded in a used Class B (2002) for a newer, larger used Class B (2006) and got a good deal, I think. (Got what I had paid for it.) But if you are trading something almost new you are apt to take a hit. I really don't have a lot of experience there. Since then I have moved on to a 25' class C and tow a car.

Thank you...that's what I figured.

I really want my own MH! That's what I really want!

ialwaysneedaroadtrip wrote:Thank you...that's what I figured.

I really want my own MH! That's what I really want!

Then maybe you need to let him have his tt and you get your own mh.

Financially it may not be doable for you....but if you don't ask you won't know just what a dealer would offer you if you tried to trade the TT in for a Class C that you really sound like you want. Once you get some figures...the you will truly know just how far out of reach that dream is...or just how close. It all starts with dreams and goals.....sometimes it just takes more patience than we would like!