The camper thread! Pulling, using, equipment, maintenance!
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
Yes, the Outback has an awesome outdoor kitchen. That is one of our requirements on a new trailer. We have one now where we do 95% of our cooking. I now want a larger outdoor kitchen with the bigger fridge, etc. I seem to find several things to nit-pick on everything we look at. The Outback just has virtually nothing for me to nit-pick (and everything we are looking for !).
The Open Range was very nice also. I had very high expectations, but unfortunately, I felt the quality was consistent with what I see across the industry. Not trying to say it was bad, just not any better IMO. Considering the price and reputation.... I just expected better. It had a lot of features I loved, and had the best outdoor kitchen (or at least would with the simple addition of a bumper mount grill).
They had a non-lightweight version (Open Range 310bhs) at their other store that I would have liked to walk through, however it was already prepped for delivery, so we couldn't go in it. That one also has a wardrobe slide in the master, which is awesome. They are a beast at 9200lbs empty though. Probably heavier than we are wanting ??
There are a few Jaycos we want to check out also, but I can't find a dealer within a reasonable driving distance that keeps the big bunkhouses in stock. I'm trying though....
The Open Range was very nice also. I had very high expectations, but unfortunately, I felt the quality was consistent with what I see across the industry. Not trying to say it was bad, just not any better IMO. Considering the price and reputation.... I just expected better. It had a lot of features I loved, and had the best outdoor kitchen (or at least would with the simple addition of a bumper mount grill).
They had a non-lightweight version (Open Range 310bhs) at their other store that I would have liked to walk through, however it was already prepped for delivery, so we couldn't go in it. That one also has a wardrobe slide in the master, which is awesome. They are a beast at 9200lbs empty though. Probably heavier than we are wanting ??
There are a few Jaycos we want to check out also, but I can't find a dealer within a reasonable driving distance that keeps the big bunkhouses in stock. I'm trying though....
The outdoor kitchen is one thing we don't have that would be nice, we improvise with setting up our own outside prep and cooking, but it would be nice to have the real deal.
How you described the Open Range pretty much matches what our experience was at the Hershey show checking out the Tiffin Motorcoaches, they look great and are priced high but inside the fit and finish wasn't any better than most of the others and was a notch below some other equally priced rigs.
The bigger, more highly optioned TTs do get heavy..........ask me how I know.
We are very happy with our Jayco, so far (3 years) it's holding up very well and the couple of very minor issues when new were quickly and painlessly corrected (and then some
).
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 495
From: NC
The Surveyor and Ex did well on the nice fall mountain trip this weekend. I finally have the ProPride dialed in, without airbags pumped I am sitting level and the air from passing trucks does not budge me at all. All this time I had the stinger angled wrong, should have been pointed down, not up.
We had a bunkhouse but found the bunkhouse area turned into wasted space and a couch and dinette was just not enough space for the four of us and 2 dogs. With our camper now we move the recliners around, my daughters air mattress goes where the chairs were, my son gets the pullout couch, my big dog gets a recliner and the smaller dog sleeps with us in the bedroom. We have plenty of room now for watching a movie or just sitting around. We did sacrifice a rear kitchen for the two rear slides but a grill and burner on the picnic table works for us.
We had a bunkhouse but found the bunkhouse area turned into wasted space and a couch and dinette was just not enough space for the four of us and 2 dogs. With our camper now we move the recliners around, my daughters air mattress goes where the chairs were, my son gets the pullout couch, my big dog gets a recliner and the smaller dog sleeps with us in the bedroom. We have plenty of room now for watching a movie or just sitting around. We did sacrifice a rear kitchen for the two rear slides but a grill and burner on the picnic table works for us.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 60
From: Central NH
I'll admit I'm a little jealous of you guys with the rear entertainment floor-planned trailers...... they sure are nice ! No way I can get away from a bunkhouse floorplan at this point. After having the outdoor kitchen, I could never go without. We are outside any time it's not raining. We rely so heavily on the outdoor fridge for cream, condiments, dog food, kids drinks, beer, cheap wine, etc. Back when we had the pop-up we decided we no longer wanted to pack and unpack all our outside cooking equipment, cooler, etc. Kudos to anyone who does.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,888
Likes: 3,435
From: Ohio
The Surveyor and Ex did well on the nice fall mountain trip this weekend. I finally have the ProPride dialed in, without airbags pumped I am sitting level and the air from passing trucks does not budge me at all. All this time I had the stinger angled wrong, should have been pointed down, not up.
We had a bunkhouse but found the bunkhouse area turned into wasted space and a couch and dinette was just not enough space for the four of us and 2 dogs. With our camper now we move the recliners around, my daughters air mattress goes where the chairs were, my son gets the pullout couch, my big dog gets a recliner and the smaller dog sleeps with us in the bedroom. We have plenty of room now for watching a movie or just sitting around. We did sacrifice a rear kitchen for the two rear slides but a grill and burner on the picnic table works for us.
We had a bunkhouse but found the bunkhouse area turned into wasted space and a couch and dinette was just not enough space for the four of us and 2 dogs. With our camper now we move the recliners around, my daughters air mattress goes where the chairs were, my son gets the pullout couch, my big dog gets a recliner and the smaller dog sleeps with us in the bedroom. We have plenty of room now for watching a movie or just sitting around. We did sacrifice a rear kitchen for the two rear slides but a grill and burner on the picnic table works for us.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 6
From: West Hills, Ca.
The sailor in me can't quite deal with Hungry Mother State Park with a straight face.
Was there a real mother that needed some food?
Was it a statement on the attitude of the local bear population?
Or is my sailor thought on target?
Was there a real mother that needed some food?
Was it a statement on the attitude of the local bear population?
Or is my sailor thought on target?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 495
From: NC
Legend has it that when the Native Americans destroyed several settlements on the New River south of the park, Molly Marley and her small child were among the survivors taken to the raiders’ base north of the park. They eventually escaped, wandering through the wilderness eating berries. Molly finally collapsed, and her child wandered down a creek until the child found help. The only words the child could utter were "Hungry Mother." The search party arrived at the foot of the mountain where Molly collapsed to find the child's mother dead. Today that mountain is Molly’s ****, and the stream is Hungry Mother Creek.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,888
Likes: 3,435
From: Ohio
I'll admit I'm a little jealous of you guys with the rear entertainment floor-planned trailers...... they sure are nice ! No way I can get away from a bunkhouse floorplan at this point. After having the outdoor kitchen, I could never go without. We are outside any time it's not raining. We rely so heavily on the outdoor fridge for cream, condiments, dog food, kids drinks, beer, cheap wine, etc. Back when we had the pop-up we decided we no longer wanted to pack and unpack all our outside cooking equipment, cooler, etc. Kudos to anyone who does.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 495
From: NC
Could you elaborate on the stinger position? It is my understanding up or down on the stinger only controls how high off the ground the hitch head sits. That will vary depending on vehicle height and trailer height. The washers control the angle. So what else changes with how the stinger sits?
I had my stinger pointed up, I could never really get the back end of the truck from sinking and when I tightened the WD the bars were really bent. After reading in the Airstream Forum I found that the stinger is best pointed as far down (pointing to the ground) as it goes.
I unbolted the stinger, added all 4 shims and the mushroom pivot and worked the bolts back in. If you do this the bolt threads can get damaged and you have to work to get the nuts back on.
When I hooked up I lowered the jacks all the way down so the hitch head was pointed up. I connected the truck, cranked each jack 30 turns, the truck leveled and there is little bend in the bars.
The truck tows like a dream, big rigs, wind and the road didn't mess with it. It was the easiest tow I have ever had. Took me 6 years to do it right. That is saying a lot for the ProPride, even when setup wrong it still did a great job.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 495
From: NC
I'll admit I'm a little jealous of you guys with the rear entertainment floor-planned trailers...... they sure are nice ! No way I can get away from a bunkhouse floorplan at this point. After having the outdoor kitchen, I could never go without. We are outside any time it's not raining. We rely so heavily on the outdoor fridge for cream, condiments, dog food, kids drinks, beer, cheap wine, etc. Back when we had the pop-up we decided we no longer wanted to pack and unpack all our outside cooking equipment, cooler, etc. Kudos to anyone who does.
Yes, the awning has lost space due to the slide but we use a pop up tent when we need extra covered space.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 42
From: Almost back in TX biotche
HELP ME SPEND MY MONEY.....
I need some help guys. I can't seem to find a trailer that has everything we want, do any of you have an ideas?
Bunkhouse, 1-2 slide-outs for the bunkhouse so the kids have plenty of room
At least 3 beds in the bunkhouse, any form of bed works. (Fold Out, Dinette, hide away, etc)
Outdoor kitchen
Full Size fridge
A pantry
This will be for living in and will not be moving a whole lot.
It does not have to be brand new, I don't mind having to go back a few years.
I need some help guys. I can't seem to find a trailer that has everything we want, do any of you have an ideas?
Bunkhouse, 1-2 slide-outs for the bunkhouse so the kids have plenty of room
At least 3 beds in the bunkhouse, any form of bed works. (Fold Out, Dinette, hide away, etc)
Outdoor kitchen
Full Size fridge
A pantry
This will be for living in and will not be moving a whole lot.
It does not have to be brand new, I don't mind having to go back a few years.
