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Messages - klaker

#31
Travel trailer tongue weight is usually around 14% of trailer weight. This is not a hard and fast rule though as many things can change it.

If Dry tongue weight on the 11 is 350 then add the weight of propane bottles, the battery, and factor in anything stored close to the tongue. I can easily see the weight climb to 500 on that trailer.

Fresh water tanks are usually right over the axle so that has very little affect, if any on tongue weight.

#32
The Grand Cherokee will run out of payload capacity long before you get near the towing capacity. The factory rated "towing capacity" is basically for marketing purposes only, it is the last number to consider when towing a travel trailer.

Do a deep dive online search and read as much as you can about tow ratings, it will be an eye opener. With options and all your camping gear that gulfstream will be way above the tow rating and payload capacity of the GC.


Your camper is too new for a good resale value, it will be better than a cheap wood camper but I don't think you'll be very happy with the offers you get.

The gulfstream has aluminum tubing in the walls, the actual frame is a cheap metal lippert one that all campers use.

Personally I would get used to cramped quarters when it rains, how many days per year will that be? 3, 4, 5? why take a financial hit on a quality camper and buy a run of mill junker for that.
#33
CampLite Travel Trailers / Re: Camplite Decals
May 18, 2018, 09:39:37 PM
I doubt any decals are available, sure you could have one made but finding the correct font or artwork to copy isn't possible.

Removing old decals requires a heat gun and the patience of a saint.
#34
You will not be able to replace the entire beam however you will have to find a place that can weld aluminum properly.

It won't be any RV dealer, it will have to be a specialty metal fabrication shop.

Start calling hot rod shops or signage manufactures, if they can't do it ask them if they know of any places that can. Eventually you'll find someone who has the welding and engineering knowledge to fix it correctly.
#35
Might want to get used to calling the people who actually made the component you need parts for.

Dealers are often useless and manufacturers buy pretty much everything to put in the trailer so spare parts will be easy to get as always.

Call Dexter with your axle number, they will know what brake shoes are needed.

#36
CampLite Travel Trailers / Re: Hail?
May 18, 2018, 09:23:28 PM
All campers can be damaged by hail, makes no difference what they are made of.

If you are unlucky enough for this happen you call the insurance company and they will most likely total it out.

That livinlite is gone is irrelevant because the camper wouldn't be returned to the factory for repairs anyway.
#37
I wasn't able to work on my camper, the valance is held on with 2 small l-brackets and screws. Shouldn't be an issue unscrewing it and then screwing it back in when the mods are done.
#38
Why, there is the cost and complexity plus more holes where water can enter.

With so many stand alone speaker options out there like the UE Boom doesn't make any sense to add outdoor speakers.
#39
New Members / Re: New to RV'ing
February 20, 2018, 11:31:45 PM
Will be nice to spend a lot of time with your soon to be new camper, I'm still grinding out the 9 to 5  :)
#40
It is typical for campers to have 12 to 14% of trailer weight as tongue weight, and it can be more if you load up the front baggage compartment.

The "8%-10% U.S. guideline for the ratio of tongue" is correct for boats, not travel trailers.

You can't compare Europe with the US, they have small roads, small cars, and gas is like triple what we pay. Why is it that the Ford focus is rated to tow something like 2,500 pounds in Europe and ZERO in the US and it is the exact same car.

If you want a low tongue weight on a camper move the battery to somewhere in the camper above the axle, get rid of the propane tanks, and don't put anything at all in the front baggage compartment. all unrealistic things to do.

Don't forget frontal area of the trailer, many tow vehicles limit the square footage. For the 16TBS loaded up and ready to camp I'd say you'll need a 1/2 PU or a full size SUV with the maximum payload (if available) and towing package.

#41
Don't have any advice yet but I will soon, one of the valances on my camper sticks out too far so I plan on removing it and cutting it back.

When I do that I will check the shade mechanism pretty sure it is separate from the window so it can be unscrewed and rotated 180 degrees.

Planned on going to the camper later tomorrow.
#42
Upgrades and Modifications / Re: Winter time upgrades
February 16, 2018, 06:19:24 PM
Great mods and excellent workmanship  :D



#43
New Members / Re: QS 10
February 14, 2018, 10:30:44 AM
Nice set up   ;D

The QS 10 is a great trailer
#44
New Members / Re: My first outing
February 14, 2018, 10:28:46 AM
Great post, those 11FKs are cool little campers  ;)

When I had my 10.0 tent trailer I removed the benches and table to open up the floor space. Maybe you could do that in your camper and put a loveseat or 2 chairs from IKEA in there.

In my 21BHS I plan on removing the dinette and putting in a couch, we mostly eat outside and if tables are needed inside a few T.V. tray tables can used.
#45
Quote from: DavidM on February 12, 2018, 09:39:43 AM
Quote from: klaker on February 12, 2018, 09:04:53 AM
The early camplite models were lighter. The 21BHS was 3,499 dry weight when first introduced, my 2016 is 4,088. Don't know about the other models, probably are similar.

I doubt if that 589 lb growth is all due to design changes. Maybe some of it is including options in the base weight or just being more honest. But the design changes do add weight. Sheet aluminum for the roof or sides is lighter than rubber or fiberglass, and those two changes probably add several hundred pounds. The wood cabinets also add almost a hundred pounds I would guess.

Probably aren't many design changes between the early and later 21BHS. My camper does have tile over the aluminum floor, while it looks great it added close to 200 pounds.

With the tile, wood cabinet fronts, and maybe some changes in weight for appliances and such the pounds add up fast.

While I would rather have a 3500 pound camper, 4000 is fine, as long as I get the aluminum roof and floor, slide storage, square baggage doors, etc.  ;D