A little discouraged

[snowball]

There's a lazy boy recliner that many people put in their RV's so remember you can change furniture.

do you know which one it is...I have one that is in really bad shape and would like to replace it
went to get on the computer last night and it wouldn't turn on or off so took it to a computer store today he said it must have had a glitch
as it was working ok...and is now so glad didn't need to wonder how in the world I was going to replace it
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

Yes, I am sure the slide adds additional weight to the TT. But for me, the added space would be worth it. I am a bit claustrophobic.

[MelissaD]

There's a lazy boy recliner that many people put in their RV's so remember you can change furniture.

do you know which one it is...I have one that is in really bad shape and would like to replace it
went to get on the computer last night and it wouldn't turn on or off so took it to a computer store today he said it must have had a glitch
as it was working ok...and is now so glad didn't need to wonder how in the world I was going to replace it
sheila

Recliners for RV's and boats http://www.braddandhall.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=5

La-Z-Boy http://www.la-z-boy.com/Site-Search/?wall%20hugging%20recliner/ normally they pick a wall hugging recliner since they take up less room.

Thread from RV.net http://www.rv.net/FORUM/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21851098/gotomsg/21851236.cfm

Find a comfortable chair and make sure it will fit through your door. The backs normally are separate (attached after it's inside) and the doors normally 30" wide but check your first.

[linann]

Check out the Fun Finder travel trailers. The 18'9" has a terrific floor plan with lots of storage and a good sized two-door refrigerator. A sofa with a removable table is in the small slide. It tows very well with a double axle.

[drocknut]

I have heard about that Melissa and it is an option for sure. I've also heard of putting in one of those rocking chairs with the footstool although I'm not sure how comfy those would be since I've never had one.
I did go out yesterday and look at a few dealerships although not all the way into Phoenix where the bigger ones would be located. I saw a few and got a few ideas of what I might want so it was successful. I also found out the places I don't want to go to buy. One place didn't even have a salesman come out on the lot. Two other people and I just wandered all over looking into the ones that had doors open (about 1/2 of the units). Another place the salesman was rather abrupt about money. I didn't get good vibes from him so I won't be going back there.

[WickedLady]

Drocknut: sent you a PM

[JudyJB]

If you replace your lazyboy, just get one that is a wall-hugger, or at least does not come out too far. I had one that was in good shape, and we just took the back off to fit it in. We had to turn it sideways, slide in one arm, and then slide in the other, turning it a bit as we went. It would NOT fit in horizontally.

You can see mine on Sunday.

[Cougarfan]

I've kicked around the idea of replacing my dinette with a recliner or a jack knife sofa. My service guy (who I trust) mentioned that I should make sure I don't take too much weight off one side of my trailer. All my appliances (two door fridge, full oven/stove, microwave & water heater) are on one side so if I take the weight of the dinette out and put in a recliner, my trailer may not be balanced and could handle "poorly." He also mentioned that the recliner would need to be anchored while I travel. I'm not sure I want to start drilling holes in the floor. I also found last season that my trailer tows better with about a half a tank of water (15 gallons or so) than an empty tank. I know it adds some weight but it just tows better. It just feels more balanced and I am still well within my weight limits.

A jack knife sofa would be a more prudent option for me for the reasons he gave me. I'm not interested in doing anything right away but asked the question to see if it was an option. He told me they often have extra dinettes and sofas laying around the shop so he could make me a super deal if I'm interested. If I go that way, my dinette would become one of the extra dinettes they would have in their shop LOL

There are so many small trailers out there. I know I looked for a very long time before I bought the Jayco Swift SLX. It sprung several leaks so I traded it for the Holiday Rambler Alumi-lite in my signature below (Model is a 189QB). Its a little heavier but SO much nicer than the Jayco.

You will know when you've found the right one. You'll walk inside and say "this is it." Good luck in your search and please don't be discouraged. The fact you are discouraged just means that you pretty much know what you want but just haven't found it yet. Its out there.

Laura

[MelissaD]

Ditto....When we found ours everything just fell in place. Truck too

Our sofa/bed is held in place with a strap. In other models they are bolt to the floor. Guess it just depends. With all the stuff the grandbaby drops behind my sofa I'm glad I can just pull it out.

[drocknut]

Got your pm WickedLady, thanks.
Laura, I'm going to check out the Alumi-lite. I was looking at the Jayco Jay Flight Swift 198RD but you are the second person to mention possible roof leaking issues with that brand.
The more I look the more I get the feeling that most smaller trailers really have only a few options as far as floorplans. There are a few differences between the brands but with a smaller amount of space there are only a few ways they can be configured. I just need to compare different brands with the same basic floorplans to see how they stack up with each other.
The good news is that I'm not giving up (at least not yet and hopefully not at all). Thank you all for the encouragement and help.

[Bethers]

I much prefer a sofa to a dinette and am so glad that's what I have. That said - it was really comfortable, but my rig is a 1999 - it's getting to the point it knows where I sit just a little more than I'd like it too lol.

The back corner bed has lots of good points, also - it is out of the way - giving more room for other things, and I love having my window over my head and to the side - lots of times I have scenic areas that I can wake up and look out and smile. It's not hard to make, although some say it is. I just tuck and untuck one side, except when changing the sheets. And I can moan about it then, but doesn't really take long or is difficult, just is something I can moan about anyway

[Cougarfan]

If I hadn't found the Alumi-lite, I would've probably gone with this: http://www.suttonrv.com/2013-travel-lite-idea-i15-year-end-clearance-sale-new-travel-trailer-or-i636829

They didn't have one with a roof a/c unit when I was looking (this particular unit does) and the side a/c was the first thing to leak on my Jayco so wasn't going to play that game again. The quality is really good and the table is super easy to put down for the bed. Kind of like an ironing board where as you reach under, pull the lever and you can lower the table. I believe when you make up the dinette as the bed, it is a king size or close to it. Water heater is electric and propane as is the fridge (and you don't have to light either one) I used to sit for a good 10 minutes trying to ignite the propane for my fridge in the Jayco and that was after turning on the stove burners to clear the air out of the lines. It got old pretty quick. Don't get me started on the stupid water heater....that was infuriating trying to get that thing lit. I'm happy now that I just have to simply push a button to start both.

Anyway, just thought I would throw that one out there for you to consider. They make a higher-end unit called a Cobblestone with things like a tile backsplash in the kitchen, etc. but not sure I'd spend the extra money for things like that. There are other floor plans available as well here: http://www.travellitecampers.com/traveltrailermodels.htm If there was a 15Q around, I would look at that. Can't beat the full time bed.

You could also check out these: http://www.chaletrv.com/travel-trailers/ They are made in Albany, Oregon (about 15 miles south of me) but they appear to only be available on the west coast. The dealer that carries them wouldn't even let me test tow one because he didn't feel it would be safe for me to tow with my Jeep Liberty. Well, I have a trailer now that weighs the same and have no issues. I do have to give the dealer credit for not just saying "sure! You can tow anything with that!" I did my homework and knew I would've been well within the weight limits of the Jeep but it worked out okay since I am very, very happy with the one I have now.

I think each area of the country has its own line of trailers so you might have to think outside the box and be willing to travel a ways if you find the perfect floor plan.

Laura

[drocknut]

Laura, you are right that different areas of the country have different trailers although some tend to be more widely distributed throughout the US.

I am planning on going to an RV show tomorrow in Peoria, AZ so will be checking out more units. I'm determined not to buy at the show but it will give me more ideas on trailers than just going to one dealership.

[Acadianmom]

I have never pulled a trailer but I'm familiar with an Alumi-lite trailer that has been use as a lake camp for probably 20 years. It is still in good shape. If I was ever going to buy a trailer it would be an Alumi-lite.

Martha

[Cougarfan]

I'm determined not to buy at the show but it will give me more ideas on trailers than just going to one dealership.

Keep that statement running through your head at the show. I know someone that bought an RV at a show and was very, very unhappy with the unit. It's easy to get all caught up in the shiny things and big orange sale tags. Just remember that whatever you see at the show can be purchased afterwards for about the same price and sometimes less. My trailer was at the local rv show when I first saw it. Ended up purchasing it for less than the "show price" about 4 months later.

With my particular trailer, I COULD live in it full time if I HAD to but it really doesn't have enough room for long-term traveling. There's definitely not enough room for the grown up clothes I have to wear to work. I guess if I just had jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts and didn't have to work...

Martha, that's great to hear that the Alumi-lite is still doing well on the lake after 20 years.

Laura