2008 London Aire w/stacker questions

[john123go]

john123go here new to RVing with a 2008 London Aire wanting to get a 26 ft Stacker.

Would appreciate any feed back regarding what kind, problems, issues with using a stacker in lieu of dragging my 09 Caddy Escalade Hybrid flat????

thanks

[Perry White]

I hope your not the one with the London Aire that I turned the water off on in Midsouth RV park in Tunica ms. Water was running out of every basement compartment.

["007"]

Welcome john123go to the Newmar forum & IRV2.
The stacker Bob had I believe was with a ESSEX he had. The problem with it which was a large stacker the weight he was carrying was to much and the hitch frame collapsed at the ball location.
He sold the ESSEX & stacker and picked up the LA because of all his problems with the Essex.
Bob has retired from RVing.

[john123go]

Thanks all for comments and communications.
My L.A. came from the estate of Mr. Frances L. Delay who lived in a suburb on the north end of the Atlanta Metro area. This unit had some issues associated with Rodents getting into the basement chewing on water lines and repaired at the factory. The unit is a LADB 4545, Build # 500015.
Love the coach and particularly the K3 Chassis. Going to Spartan June 14 for the Motor Coach Chassis School.
My interest in talking to anyone whom has towed a Stacker behind any motor coach goes to their experiences associated with "mobility", "access to RV Resorts or Parks", "coach handling", "vendor quality", "ease of loading and unloading", etc.
I started with a Monaco 2001 Signature and an "all aluminum flat bed" with storage box in front to carry my car and motor cycle. The coach was nothing less than extra poor quality. Even Buddy Greg in Dallas could fix the coach or sound system. Very poor handling. The Signature could only "dream" of being a London Aire. The trailer experience was not good as everything on the trailer was filthy when trying to load or unload.
I am trying to avoid this experience and am hoping to get positive feed back on a Stacker but need to know if maybe "Dinghy towing" remains the simplist and easiest way to travel.

Thanks in advance for anyone that can lend insight to these questions.
John123go

[Iron Man]

We met the Delay's in Gilette at 2007 International rally. Kind of sad they outlived there 2 sons. I think they made 2 or 3 08 London Aires. We had thought about purchasing it after they passed away. I will send you a PM of a contact who you can talk to about pulling you stacker, he pulls one with his 07 London Aire. Go to the factory and have them check your roof for leaks. Seems a leak can develop and cause the slides magically go in and out by themselves.

[Cruzer]

You're new to RVing and your first coach is a London Aire. The only thing wrong with that is it's going to be tough to find something to trade up to later on.

Hey, a guy's gotta start somewhere.

[rebelsbeach]

I pulled the stacker with the LADB.... My issues were with the way the Stacker was loaded and that it caused the front of the trailer to porpoise a bit which in time wore on the hitch mount. This caused a failure in the horizontal weld that holds the tube to the upper mount.I'm not totally convinced loading was the entire issue, but it contributed to the issue.
FIRST THING I would do is contact someone at Blue Ox and tell them what you're doing. They can help you a lot.
There are a LOT of people pulling things out there with motor homes who have no business pulling them, I'd be very careful with what you pull and how much it weighs,compared to what your coach weighs loaded.
Might pull fine one thousand times, but sooner or later you'll have to stop all that weight in a panic stop.
As far as the roof leak causing the slides to go in and out, my slide issues were caused by a failure of the Eplex panel.... You've never lived until you've been in your coach and all of a sudden EVERY light starts going up and down, the slide lady starts talking and ALL FOUR slides go in and out on their own. Pulling the fuse was the only way to get them to stop.
Adrienne and I met the Delays in Gillette, Wyoming and spent some time with them. They were wonderful people.

[goldwingerx2]

While not a stacker, we do pull and enclosed trailer with our Smart car and Goldwing conversion it it. I use a TrailerToad between the MH and trailer. It carries all the weight of the trailer and steer much like a tow dolly. The only thing on the MH is the pull or push. It also allows the MH to ride like it is not hitched to a trailer. Many race drivers use this set up. TrailerToad.com is a link to the web site. I have no interest in the company, I just like the product.

[john123go]

Thanks you Goldwingerx2, Cruzer, and rebelsbeach for all input. I am familiar with loading & balance in trailering as well as knowing not to overload the L.A., however can anyone advise if you have had problems with finding places to pull in with a 25 ft or so trailer length behind a 45 ft Coach?? I realize a Stacker will be too heavy and will be at Spartan Chassis on June 14-17 at the Coach Chassis School and will determine from Engineering there about a modifiation IF a Stacker is the final selection. It is now looking like a Stacker is too heavey and maybe a standard enclosed Aluminum 26 ft may be better to only take the Caddy Escalade ESV (rather than dinghy tow) and put the motor cycle inside. I had a very nice Hydraulic Lift installed last summer and it will need to come off of the Coach.
***I am interested in a Trailer for several reasons including the ability to Back-Up (I am an old farmer and I am very good at backing) and can not do this when Dinghy towing the Escalade. Has anyone found that using a Trailer causes problems in day to day RVing???
Thanks again for all input.

[rebelsbeach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldwingerx2 While not a stacker, we do pull and enclosed trailer with our Smart car and Goldwing conversion it it. I use a TrailerToad between the MH and trailer. It carries all the weight of the trailer and steer much like a tow dolly. The only thing on the MH is the pull or push. It also allows the MH to ride like it is not hitched to a trailer. Many race drivers use this set up. TrailerToad.com is a link to the web site. I have no interest in the company, I just like the product.

I have seen this unit firsthand and it was something I was seriously considering purchasing at the time I had my Stacker....

As I said earlier, there are many people out there who, in my opinion, are pushing the envelope of safety with some of these combinations they're going down the road with.

You would be interested to know that, by the formula Blue Ox uses for their rear frame mounted motorcycle carrier, your LADB is not rated to handle it. The formula takes into consideration many factors and measurements and is available on their web page. That simply blew my mind, but I spoke directly with the lady at Blue Ox and had the tech at high line confirm my measurements at the time.

As far as the 45 foot coach and the 24 foot Stacker are concerned, you will most definitely limit the places you can go without dropping the trailer.... I recall one time pulling into a Newmar Club event in FL and within minutes there were no less than fifteen retirees on bicycles sitting there watching me unhook the trailer from the coach...Sometimes you're the entertainment.
When my daughter lived in rural Arkansas, I awoke one morning and opened the blinds to find a dozen or so locals standing in awe of the trailer and rig setup... I could tell you a dozen more stories about being in truck stops and the comments....LOL

[KenSherwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by john123go ***I am interested in a Trailer for several reasons including the ability to Back-Up (I am an old farmer and I am very good at backing)

I think you are REALLY going to like the Comfort Drive when backing. It will make life a lot easier when backing a short trailer with a long coach.

[goldwingerx2]

As with any unit of length you have to look ahead to see your escape so to speak. I have a 2nd rear view camera mounted on the enclosed trailer and a 2nd monitor, this allows me to watch the TrailerToad and the road behind me. I have no trouble backing with the TrailerToad, you just drop in 2 locking pins and away you go backwards pull them to to hit the road again. We have had good luck finding pull thrus so we don't have to unhitch until arriving at the destination. Never have had a problem at truck stops.