Cougar 321 RES

[Grizz]

In regard to price we purchased ours last May from a dealer just outside of Portland OR. MSRP was 46K, we paid 30K including hitch. When we signed the papers we were told we did not know how lucky we were as Keystone had just increased the price by 4K. We have been very pleased with the trailer. We have had to take it in to the dealer (hour and half away) twice. Once for the axle recall and once for warrenty work. As part of the warrenty work the dealership upgraded our hitch. Because of information I got off of this list at no cost to us. I probably owe Taken a beer!

[iluvcamping]

golfpro....sorry to be so long to answer your question about my 2010 F-150 and our 2012 321 RES.....
Our F-150 is equipped with the max heavy duty trailer towing package from Ford....which helps....supposedly to tow 11,300 lbs. We haven't been in any (so called) mountains but the hills here in Missouri haven't been a problem. The only small problem I have is the trans. is always switching between 4th & 5th gears. Everytime I hit a very small grade it goes down to 4th for a short time. I've had it to 2 local Ford dealers and they took a test drive with me pulling the 321RES so they know what it's doing but both places say it is normal for the truck....not sure I believe them. I've talked with the Ford district service manager and got no where.
We bought the Huskey Centerline hitch when we bought the trailer. There has been some slight swaying issues and I've had the hitch checked by 2 different dealers. They both said that it is installed correctly....I guess I was expected NO sway at all....if you believe their advertisements (ha). I'm not new at towing (35 years) so I know what to expect and what to watch for.
As far as purchase price...we bought ours right before the increase at about $29,+++ which included a 1 year membership in the Route 66 RV club, admin. fees, dealer prep. Our price doesn't sound too bad compared to what some of you are paying. We bought ours from Walnut Ridge RV in New Castle, IN.
If some of you haven't heard about the JACK HDTV antenna....you ought to check it out...unless you take your satellite with you. You can buy just the 'wings' and attach it to your present antenna mast....cost about 45.00. Picks up all kinds of digital channels plus local ones.
Our 321RES is in storage waiting for spring. I'm going to work on the plans that were mentioned here by JimEli to correct a 'sagging' mattress. The dealer replaced ours already but it didn't help much.
The info that you all put on this thread is very helpful...keep it up. I may not put much on here but I do try to read it all. There have been some very good ideas and information about our trailer.
SORRY to take up so much space.....

[JimEli]

Originally Posted by iluvcamping

The only small problem I have is the trans. is always switching between 4th & 5th gears. Everytime I hit a very small grade it goes down to 4th for a short time. I've had it to 2 local Ford dealers and they took a test drive with me pulling the 321RES so they know what it's doing but both places say it is normal for the truck....not sure I believe them.

Thanks for the post. As for the shifting, have you ever considered leaving the transmission in 4th, except for long flats or descents? My Tundra has a 6 speed transmission and even in Tow Haul Mode it will occasionally hunt for the correct gear. Under these conditions I simply select manual mode, with only the gas mileage suffering.

Originally Posted by iluvcamping

There has been some slight swaying issues and I've had the hitch checked by 2 different dealers. They both said that it is installed correctly....I guess I was expected NO sway at all...

I’ve had no sway issues, so I’m curious.

1. When you tow, what level of water is in your fresh water tank?
2. How much propane in your tanks?
3. Do you have any suspension modifications?
4. Does the rear axle sag at all?

I ask because the fresh water and propane tanks are perfectly situated to increase what is termed the “polar moment of inertia” of the trailer. You could easily load the equivalent weight in the center of the trailer and it that would tend to decrease swaying.

Good luck and happy camping.

[iluvcamping]

JimEli....to answer your questions....1. our F-150 doesn't have manual shifting option. 2. I don't have any suspension modifications and 3. There isn't any rear axle sag. It does have a few second vibrate on slow take off when were pulling the trailer. Again, 2 different dealers say there isn't anything wrong with the truck. Go figure!
We travel with very little water ...just enough for an emergency if needed and our propane tanks are usually full....at least 1 of them always is. I've heard the theory before that there should be some water in the tank for equal weight....Guess I'll give that a try. Our truck does have the so called 'trailer sway' feature that you can turn on and off which, I guess, is part of the max towing feature of a Ford.
Lots of good information and suggestions on this forum...really appreciate it!

[martyf]

ordered mine today!! should be here first week in March,

[Jimmie2]

Originally Posted by martyf

ordered mine today!! should be here first week in March,

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will love it!!!

Jimmie

[cfwin]

Our original plan when we ordered the trailer in October was to do our trade in and complete the deal in May...but, the dealer called at the end of December to say the trailer was in and wanted to complete the deal ASAP. I guess they didn't want to sit on our trailer for the winter while they had their money out on it. So, on a weekend when it wasn't snowing, we made the trade. Now we are excited and can't wait for Spring!

The one thing I will miss is our Jayco Eagle's RVQ. I know I have heard from others who have attached a BBQ mount to this unit, but we're not sure we want to do that right away and the quick connect coupler seems to be in an inconvenient spot. I would love to hear what all of you do for a BBQ when travelling.

Thanks!

[taken]

Originally Posted by cfwin

Our original plan when we ordered the trailer in October was to do our trade in and complete the deal in May...but, the dealer called at the end of December to say the trailer was in and wanted to complete the deal ASAP. I guess they didn't want to sit on our trailer for the winter while they had their money out on it. So, on a weekend when it wasn't snowing, we made the trade. Now we are excited and can't wait for Spring!

The one thing I will miss is our Jayco Eagle's RVQ. I know I have heard from others who have attached a BBQ mount to this unit, but we're not sure we want to do that right away and the quick connect coupler seems to be in an inconvenient spot. I would love to hear what all of you do for a BBQ when travelling.

Thanks!

A quick connect must be a new feature if your trailer does indeed have one as ours and none of the others I've talked to have one. I added one to ours up front in the ideal location and added the mounting rail to the side of the trailer. I did paint the rail black as the white finish it comes with would have certainly stuck out on the gray fiberglass. Worked great!

Grill: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Rail: http://www.amazon.com/Camco-57268-Mo...xgy_auto_img_c

[dgrant09]

Originally Posted by cfwin

Our original plan when we ordered the trailer in October was to do our trade in and complete the deal in May...but, the dealer called at the end of December to say the trailer was in and wanted to complete the deal ASAP. I guess they didn't want to sit on our trailer for the winter while they had their money out on it. So, on a weekend when it wasn't snowing, we made the trade. Now we are excited and can't wait for Spring!

The one thing I will miss is our Jayco Eagle's RVQ. I know I have heard from others who have attached a BBQ mount to this unit, but we're not sure we want to do that right away and the quick connect coupler seems to be in an inconvenient spot. I would love to hear what all of you do for a BBQ when travelling.

Thanks!

We simply use a stainless steel grill from Fred Meyers / previous grill that went with the old trailer was from Sears.. Simple, picnic table or the small portable table holds the grill where ever we want it, no worries with cooking so close to the trailer, and for 100.00 and a little care, they last several years.. We store ours in the front compartment..
I cannot come to terms with the need for a grill "attached" to the trailer, let alone the expense, plus, I would prefer to keep flames away from the trailer..
RVQ's are very nice grills.. To bad they did not fold into the side of the camper, where they mount, for storing! That would be sweet.

[golfpro]

I read about storing BBQ's in the storage compartments. do you put them in plastic bags or a box. I can not see getting grease etc all over every thing. OH yes, today is such a beautiful day. we went shopping for airplane parts and we are taking care of our grand son. live is good.

[taken]

We kept ours in the front exterior storage. No bag or box and no problem with grease etc.

[dgrant09]

Originally Posted by taken

We kept ours in the front exterior storage. No bag or box and no problem with grease etc.

2nd that one.. I have plastic containers for everything except the grill.

Flew 7.8 yesterday, sort of scosh in Juneau, great for training..

How is the new camper Taken?

[taken]

Not in yet. Will be picking it up in a little less than a month if all goes well. Very excited. This better be the right one as the wife made an announcement two weeks ago that will prevent any further upgrading for the next 18 years.

[martyf]

has anyone mounted a hitch reciever to the back ? Im talking a frame mounted 2" hitch reciever. not to pull any thing, but to mount one of those hitch carriers