Help Needed! evaluating a trailer I found

[OTW]

Sorry, I screwed up the formatting and can't find how to delete a post. Please see next post.

[OTW]

Another thought, since you are familiar with camping in a mini-van, is to just go with a full-size cargo van.

I'm on it. That's why I wanted a cargo van as a TV. Definitely will look at your link too, thank you!

Edit to add (ETA)...
Cudedog, this is later and you did a brilliant job! Very impressed with all you did. Mine would not be that fancy, and would be different, but you really did a knock-out job on it. One thing -- you mentioned magnets. When I had my horse trailer, it was a 2H steel trailer and my horse got one stall, and I got the other (I used pool noodles to stop her volumes of pee yet to be absorbed by sawdust before it could roll into my stall). So anyway, here is a really great thing I found in my hardware store in their sheet metal tools aisle. I used these a lot and want to share with anyone who has a cargo van. (Read below link for caution).
https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Handle- ... tic+lifter

Mine have wider magnetic plates but this size works also. I would clamp these to the ceiling and hang clothes off of them. Also good for stringing a clothes line for drying towels. Also good for blocking windows so you can dress or take a sponge bath. Also good clamped onto the side walls to hang tack from (or anything else). The caution is that the ad is not joking, these suckers will pick up 100 lbs. It's a "serious" magnet so when you clamp it on, do so by an edge first and make darned sure your fingers are out of the way before you rock it flat, because it's strong enough to hurt and maybe even break a finger. But these are great for "instant closet" if you have clothes you need to hang on hangers or to temporarily put on hangers so they can dry and not take up any footprint space. (Privacy panels too.)

[OTW]

Sounds as though you are fairly active and able to lift. You might however want to look at my post about 'Moving the body correctly', I included a video that is really good for neck and shoulders. They are very easy to do. Also if you are looking a rv's online note the prices are very inflated and I've found they immediately reduce the asking price by at least 20%. The one I bought was listed for I think $34,000 and I paid $28,000 and had I been a better negotiator could probably have paid less. The class B's do maintain their value very well. I see my year and model listed for as much as I paid for it several years ago. I have no idea what it actually would sell for but it looks new inside.

OMG, I saw that thread! It's on my "must read" list, and I'm sure I will be your biggest fan for posting it.

I am SO grateful for the knowledge and advice sharing nature of everyone on this forum. Assuming my formulating thoughts materialize into FTing, or even some degree, I will be a pay-it-forward poster because someone new, or having enough knowledge to be dangerous but with big gaping holes in it like me, really needs help, and at the risk of sounding sexist, I just inherently trust more what I hear from other women than otherwise. All I can really contribute at this point is what I've mickey-moused in my own limited experience. And easy recipes. If I can find my sprouting photos, I would love to contribute a post in the recipes thread (or article which the home page asks for) because I did a search and didn't find anything on it, yet it's very easy and conducive to being on the move. Unfortunately I don't yet have a lot to contribute but am so inclined, just in case I can provide something of use to others in return.

[MandysMom]

Look forward to you posting on sprouting. I have long thought that would be a good thing while RVing and microgreens as well.
Velda

[OTW]

Look forward to you posting on sprouting. I have long thought that would be a good thing while RVing and microgreens as well.
Velda

I will see if I can find my photos and when I can devote some time to it, will write it up.

[bertk523]

First - there is a lot of stuff already on this thread.. I read through most of it. One of the ladies asked me to chime in because I pull at 26ft TT. Here is what I have to say -
1. Fully evaluate realistic expenses so you don't get in over your head financially.
2. I personally have not seen a lot of campgrounds with a 10 year old limit
3. When you look at $$ remember annual maintenance - I just picked mine up and it was over $800. that was winterizing, packing the bearings (have double axel, so 4 wheels), had a repair to the propane ignitor on the refrigerator, installed new motor on stove fan - which had stopped, inspected the roof, checked on the electrical system as I had heard humming from the converter last time out.. everything on the electric was OK, but I paid labor for the "checking" which to me is worth it to know what is up.. turns out bad cell in battery likely cause hum - so new battery.
4. In the spring I will pay to have the roof cleaned and conditioned as I don't want to climb up and do it - not sure of cost should not be much. the UN-winterizing cost is included in the winterizing cost I already paid.
5. DO NOT skimp on tow vehicle. REPEAT - do NOT skimp on tow vehicle... My trailer is 4300 pounds - even loaded it is well within the tow limits of many SUVs, and half ton trucks. I tow with a 3/4 ton diesel! it tows like a charm. I have towed the same trailer with 3/4 ton gas powered - the difference is amazing. Before you decide on vehicle - where are you going to tow?? flat, mountains, etc. If there is a bit of wind, or rain, or other weather do you want to stay put or move on?? of course, if weather is horrible - no matter the vehicle stay put to be safe. That said - a lighter truck would be fine if you are a "good weather" only traveler and do not plan to tow through hills or mountains. I have seen half ton trucks with 26 ft and smaller pulled off the highway in the mountains to cool a transmission.
IN SHORT - the lighter, smaller vehicles WILL tow it, if you tow a lot - wear and tear on the engine and transmission may become an issue. A larger heavier vehicle might be smarter.
DIESEL vs. GAS
DIESEL - has more torque. you will not lose MPH going up mountains and hills. Will tow easier through rough terrain. Will be able to tow out of mushy ground. DIESEL is much heavier. Heavy is good. The greater the weight difference between TT and tow vehicle the better. If the tow vehicle weighs close to the TT weight, wind that pushes the TT around will also drag he vehicle around. The DIESEL will stay put on the road and straight ahead in moderate wind and when trucks pass. The GAS or lighter vehicle with be more difficult to keep on the road - I have experienced this. IF the trailer flips due to some wind issue or accident a lighter vehicle is gonna flip with the trailer. The heaver vehicle is more likely to stay upright - SAFETY is better the more heavy the vehicle. The overall fatigue from driving is less if you have a heavier vehicle.
DIESEL is more expensive fuel, but you will get better gas mileage.
DIESEL in the "tow mode" will down shift going down hills allowing you to use your breaks a LOT less. this saves your vehicle breaks and keeps your TT breaks from overheating
6. I prefer FORD. Trailer Life magazine is a GREAT resource regarding TT and RV stuff as well as vehicles. they rate vehicles for towing annually and Ford Trucks always come out on top of the list, so it is not just me. I don't want vehicle issues while I am on the road - so when I decided to keep my TT after my husband died - I bought brand new. it has a problem - I call FORD.
7. TT and RV living is not "cheap" as many people seem to think when they start out. The cost of the TT is one of the smaller expenses. The tow vehicle is generally a greater expense. There is maintenance on the vehicle and the TT. Insurance. gas - MPG is not great when traveling.
8. the tow packages on newer trucks/vehicles are REALLY Nice. Electric breaks built in and also some anti-sway capabilities.
9. I still use sway bar - the vehicle manufacturers will tell you it is not necessary - I personally think it is smart to use a sway bar.
10. I do not have problems putting on the weight distribution bars or the sway bar by myself. I do not have Blue Ox, have never used it so I cannot comment on them. Mine are REESE, they work just fine and while they are a bit heavy are not a problem for me.
11. the HEAVIEST part of hitching and unhitching is the hitch itself. I keep mine OFF and locked in the bed of the truck when not towing. IT IS HEAVY!!
12. also the BATTERY is heavy and must be removed for the winter. I keep it on the workbench in the garage and charge it once a month to keep up the charge in the winter.
13. I would recommend having an RV dealer help you with the hitch set up to assure you are towing well.. I have seen trucks and vans and SUVs on the road towing TT that are tilted one way or the other and that is NOT good.

14 - BE SAFE

I hitch and unhitch by myself. I am 59 and average active, I would say. I understand a lot about the electrical and plumbing system of the TT. My RV dealer has a spring and a fall seminar to remind folks about annual maintenance matters and products for cleaning, tank chemical, sealants, lubricants, etc. it is very informative and I always learn something. I do some of my own maintenance - lubing, cleaning the awning, taking off and replacing propane tanks to get them filled, etc. You will learn tips and tricks as you go along. I prefer to pay to have winterizing, roof work, bearings packed, etc.

sorry to be so wordy.

I ENJOY my TT and love my truck. I try to be thrifty. Having a TT or RV does not have to be terribly expensive, but there are expenses involved.

good luck.

roberta.

[OTW]

Wow! Please do not apologize for being so "wordy" because your words are golden to anyone needing those answers. Plus you're a really good writer. Thank you VERY much and please thank for me whoever asked you to chime in. I really appreciate it!

Diesel vs. gas: I think if I were buying new like you did, I would seriously consider diesel for all the reasons you mentioned. Buying used, not so much because of stuff I've read on issues caused by emissions control on diesels, and I'd be buying used. HOWEVER, when you mentioned having more weight in the tow vehicle? Oh, thank you for that! It makes infinite sense and especially given the following:

The way my plan is unfolding is to just tow the 26-ft. twice a year between New England and somewhere south. In other words, I'm thinking of this TT as a moveable "residence" more than as an RV to be taken all over the place. Meanwhile, however, the cargo area of my tow van would also be made cozy (insulated and paneled walls and floor) for "minimalist" outfitting as a vancamper, to be used for side tripping (GTGs or other jaunts from either home base). The experimental minivan camping that I did in summer 2015 taught me a lot, and I was able to convert it from a camping vehicle to not, in under an hour. (Most everything required to do so would also be in use in the TT.) So that gives me leeway that I would not have if I were going to be hauling it many places and over mountains, etc. (That is to start with. If things changed, so would my tow vehicle requirements and very possibly the TT itself, but this suits now.)

So from what you wrote about higher weight in the van, if I got gas, it seems I could help that along by taking as much weight out of the trailer and into the van cargo area specifically for transport, yes? Obviously packing and unpacking once arrived would be a PITA but that's twice a year at this point, no biggie. So yes?

When you say your trailer weighs 4300 pounds, is that loaded with contents, or is that the trailer's weight rating itself?

I'll be going back one more time to look at that trailer again before pulling the trigger, and will ask him to pull off his hitch so I can lift it. Sounds like one serious piece to deal with, lol.

Thanks SO much for all your writing time because I'm going to read all this several times over and I'm more than sure others who will read this thread in the future will be greatly helped by it also. Very comprehensive writing of a LOT of information!

[IrishIroamed]

Just popping inf or a quick "Hi Roberta!". She's a smart lady TT wise too, as are a lot of the other ladies and gave some good information about gas v diesel.


Roberta: Did you get another new truck? Or an old pic?

[Colliemom]

It was I who asked Roberta to chime in. I knew you were wondering if anybody really tows trailers that big on the road and I knew, she being a women who tows one that big by herself, would be able to give you some advice from her point of view and her experience. Believe me, she is a wonderful lady and very capable of handling her rig and any issues that arise with it.

[OTW]

Thanks Colliemom, I really appreciate your thinking of me! I mean reeeeeally appreciate it. That's some very good perspective that Roberta gave! (Sorry it's going to take me some time to learn first names vs. usernames).

[Cudedog]

I have no experience with pulling/hitching/dealing with a TT, although years ago I had a horse trailer and did the horse trailer thing (got pretty good at backing it up, too), could hitch it up by myself, load the horses up and away I would go.

You are a bit older than me, but not by much. We have in common the "bad back" issue. For myself, I always must be very careful with what I do, and be consciously aware of how my body is moving when bending/lifting, or I can be instantly incapacitated, with excruciating, immobilizing pain. I literally can't walk, can't move. I can maybe scoot on my butt, or crawl on my hands and knees. That's it. And once I have a back issue, it can be days - or weeks - before it resolves.

And this tendency has worsened as I have aged. Physical things I have easily done in years past, I struggle to do today. Next year I might not be able to do them at all. Getting old is not for the faint of heart. But you knew that.

I'm not you, of course, but I would be thinking that, yeah, I can do the bend-over-and-lift, hitch/level/tow bars/chains thing. Once. Or twice. Or maybe three times.

But to be hooking/unhooking every few days as I travel, for me, would be onerous. And dangerous. And would also be absolutely asking for back trouble.

I would be thinking: What if I am alone, out somewhere in the back of beyond, and my back goes out? What then?

Here's a couple thoughts: Since renting a truck/TT rig probably is not feasible, if you have a friend with a rig, ask them if you can come over every few days and practice backing up/hooking/leveling/chaining their rig (not to go anywhere, just to practice the job). Don't let your friend help in any way - not even giving you signals when backing up to meet the ball.

If you don't have a friend, it might be worth it to pay someone to let you do this.

When you get there, back up to the TT, completely hookup. Then, before you leave, unhook and drive the tow vehicle a short distance from the TT. Park the tow at an angle to the TT, so it is no longer lined up. Come back the next day, or in a few days, and do it all again.

After doing this a few times, or for a couple of weeks, see how you like it. Are you still looking forward with keen anticipation to getting over there and practicing? Or are you looking forward to it with some small amount of dread?

That might tell you more than you want to know.

Anne

[OTW]

Thanks Cudedog!

[bertk523]

Just popping inf or a quick "Hi Roberta!". She's a smart lady TT wise too, as are a lot of the other ladies and gave some good information about gas v diesel.


Roberta: Did you get another new truck? Or an old pic?

that is the truck I had in Illinois last summer. I bought end of October 2015. in one year I put over 30,000 miles on it. it drives really nicely. The bed needs cleaned at the moment - it does have a liner, but I worked fire clean up in Gatlinburg for a week and one day we used my truck to haul metal down a long driveway for pickup... was a mess. I made about 8 - 10 trips up and down. we tied the AC unit to the back and I drug it down.. The county would only pick up at the road and the driveway was almost quarter mile long - at a pretty steep incline. The 4WD came in handy down in the mountains on those skinny steep winding roads. Was sooo dirty when I got home. I washed the front out, the steering wheel, inside the door, floor mats, etc. then went to the grocery and when I looked my hands were covered in ash.. had to wash it all again to get it clean.

[bertk523]

Thanks Colliemom, I really appreciate your thinking of me! I mean reeeeeally appreciate it. That's some very good perspective that Roberta gave! (Sorry it's going to take me some time to learn first names vs. usernames).

happy to help. I might have bought smaller for just me - we bought the 26ft while my hubby was living.. BUT, smaller would not be as comfortable for using as a 2nd home. I have looked at other and looked at smaller - but I really like having the room of 26 feet.

as for weight - that is empty and I "think" I am right about the weight, that is what I remember in my head somewhere.. LOL

as for loading the van - just beware of how your weight is distributed... how much is on TT axel(s), how much on van rear axel, tongue weight, total combined weight of TT, van, and all contents. It is a very complicated process - but over loading at one place or another is not good.

I highly recommend subscribing to Travel Life magazine. LOTS of helpful information!!!
I also recommend a book called NEXT EXIT - lists everything on every exit on every US interstate. good for finding gas stations I can maneuver, finding out how far to the next rest area, exits with restaurants that will accommodate trailer parking, hardware stores, Walmart, groceries, hotels, etc.. There might be an app for that - I am not sure. Each time I stop I look ahead to see what is coming up and how far it is.

GAS stations are the other tricky matter.. start getting used to evaluating gas stations and imagine how you might be able to get in and out or if it would impossible. Once you are towing you will need to quickly evaluate things before you decide to enter or pass it up. Even the big Luvs, TA, etc. are sometimes difficult at the auto pumps - which is where you need to gas up. The "truck" area is only for "trucks". there is no regular gas and the diesel cannot be pumped into a regular vehicle.

Theft is real - in storage, in campgrounds, even sightseeing (right Sue??). gotta keep everything under lock and key. sway bar, weight distribution bars, hitch, etc. I have considered a locking battery box, but they are expensive. so at this time my battery is NOT locked down. I am not scared of much, I camp alone often. I pull my truck close to my TT and activate the truck alarm system. Never had a problem, but I pay attention to what is going on. I spent one overnight in a Walmart. I have had a number of men ask for money or help. I have been hassled at gas stations about women should not be towing - and the man refused to move so I could exit - he wanted me to "prove" I could back up and then go out the in.

roberta.

[OTW]

Roberta, thanks for the heads up re the theft and particularly the details. How does pulling the truck up near the trailer so truck alarm would go off work? (What truck alarm? and how would you connect that to your battery?) And I can see from this, the second reference to removing hitch, that's something I will plan on doing.

As for the idiot in the gas station who wouldn't move his car, wanting to make you prove (to his pathetic self?) that you could back up... I think maybe I'd just look at him sadly, glance at my watch, turn off the motor, pull out a book, settle back in seat and start reading with one hand, tapping my fingers with the other. (Beats getting arrested for bashing in his windshield with a crow bar.)

The notation about distributing the weight in van vs. trailer (and within van itself) was excellent, thanks! One more chunk down, many more to go.

As for the 26-ft., as my "plan" has refined itself, I'm thinking 26 ft. would probably not be big at all (in terms of its purpose) since I'd pretty much be using it as a FT residence to be transported 2x/year and I likely wouldn't be hauling it for travels, but using the van as my travel camper. My current quest is finding a van tow vehicle that isn't going to bankrupt me on mpg. (One of my mechanics told me to expect 10-12mpg max out of an E350 or equivalent when not towing.)

Suggestion back at ya re your very dirty truck. The way I clean out my minivan is no longer with a vacuum. I take everything out of it (including closing the coin drawer) and blast it with a leaf blower. That gets all the teensy crevices that a vacuum's thinnest tool can't get into. For the bed of your truck a disposable mask is highly recommended for fine dust and you'd want to go easy with hard chunks until you see how to angle and bank the air flow because a leaf blower can generate 100mph wind force, but once you see how an angle is blowing stuff, you can crank up the dial to gale force and whammo, in short order you could eat off the surface. Takes just minutes.