Well just got back in from camping this weekend with the new trailer.

The wife made a call to the owner of the dealer we purchased the camper at Saturday AM. There are a few things she isn't happy with. Like 2 corner jacks breaking after we used them 2x's. Finish issues on the cabinets. Just little things that when you pay 28k you do not like to see.

So my learnings from this weekend.

1) 25 PSI in the airbags and the truck is happy.

2) the entrance ramp that I take to get from Ohio to KY back to Ohio has some funky camber to it. As you merge onto the loop highway you are cambered to the left on the entrance ramp. The first lane of the loop highway has a terrible crown to it. Once you crest that crown, you drop off hard to the right. So it is just like riding a motorcycle in a grooved lane. You get sucked to the low spot quickly. This would account for the tail wagging me with the old trailer. May she R.I.P!

3) just a small amount of steering wheel input translates to the rear bumper of the trailer. I knew that, just never focused on it that much before my $34k adventure in July.

4) having a properly adjusted WD w/sway control makes a huge difference!

5) I need an oil cooler in the truck soon.

6) I am still nervous as hell pulling a trailer!

7) My wife owes me for years to come for getting another Camper/TT!

 

Glad you had a nice trip and it's feeling much better on the road. You'll get more comfortable, I understand how you are feeling thus far.

Sadly, the trailer issues sound fairly typical with new RV's these days. Hopefully the dealer will spring into action and get you taken care of.

 

Ok, wife wants a TT. We are thinking about a cross country run next year and I am more concerned about weight and she wants interior space, a 25-30' model. What it the ideal weight I should be looking at for my 05 6.0L 2wd to be happy with? What tongue weight should I shoot for?

 

The RV lifestyle is most enjoyable if you let the wife pick out the ammenities she wants. Us fellas just like towing the stuff around, hooking up, and having a nice place for her to cook while we watch TV.

I have an +11K#, 27' toy hauler that I've dragged around with my 2WD X for over 100K miles. Keep the dry weight under 9000#, which will leave you with room to add a ton of extra stuff, and you'll do fine. I've pulled coast to coast, and over plenty of passes with 10% grade or more.

My tounge weight is very close to 1500#. I have 1400# spring bars on my WD hitch, and I run my rear air bags at 60psi.

Weigh your truck. GCVWR should be 20K#. Deduct loaded(passengers,gear,fuel) truck weight from that, and you'll have max recommended trailer weight.

 

We love "camping" in our travel trailer!
I don't know what the "ideal" weight would be, your Ex can handle plenty with 2WD and a 6.0. Even going by the factory ratings and hitch rating you can pull a pretty good sized TT. I would invest in a high quality WD hitch with built-in sway control like a Reese Dual Cam or Equal-I-zer (I have never used either but have read a lot of good user report) or the even better Pro-Pride or Hensley Arrow, I use a Hensley unit I bought used for $600 off craigslist. I'm hooked on it's performance now and won't tow heavy without one.
Our TT runs at 11k loaded with just over 1400lbs tongue weight, I use 1400lb spring bars on the HA hitch with modded B's on the EX, no air bags here. The TT is 41' long with three slides and is beyond roomy inside. William is correct, let the Bride make the TT pick, happy wife, happy life!


Roomy enough?

 

Man, those double slides make for a nice sized room.

 

I would have a hard time calling that camping.

 

Well it is kinda roughing it, the ice maker only puts out 27lbs a day.
The shower is bigger than the one in our master bath at home.

 

Yeah, opposing 13' slides that extend 3' make for a nice living room. Both of those sofas open up into (RV) Queen sized beds with real 5' thick matresses (in 3 segments), the kids all love em!

 

My 7.3 has handled.everything I've thrown at her. Had some transmission temperature issues but once I pulled.the Derale everything was great. I've climbed more mountains than I ever thought I would on this trip. I'm still not happy with the way it shifts under load on the mountains. I'm now.convinced.a tuner will be a worthwhile addition. I'll be buying as soon as I pay for this trip

 

Pics for proof!

Stewart

 

Sorry Stewart, no pics of our master bath. But I did measure them, MB tub/shower is 26" X 57" with a shower curtain that makes it feel narrower and the TT bath's walk-in shower is 28" X 60" with a built in seat for the Bride to shave her legs.
I like the TT shower's extra room, just right for a full figured gent such as myself!

 

I should have been more specific: I was hoping for pics of the TT bathroom.

Stewart

 

My new toy showed up today. The instruction book must have been written by some elementary school. 95% is pictures. Basic operations aren't too bad just expected a little more. Will have to work with a USCG Electrician to learn more.

 

Look if you dropped that kind of jack on a TT.....you should be a good husband and get her the laser treatment on her legs so she doesn't have to shave.....or hire her an assistant to shave her legs for her!





Disclaimer: the above is in all good fun!