Community Forums

aimcom · 08-06-2011, 09:37 PM

hi everyone,
first, to let you all know that i know absolutely nothing about trailers...

i was doing some initial internet searching and planning, and really love the looks & layout of this trailer!!!
even though you are having some "niggles" with your recent purchases, it sounds like you all are very pleased overall, which is very encouraging.
On infiniti's website they say the qx56 can tow 8500 lbs...(Tow/Payload8500/1650-1700 lbs)...do i compare that with the "shipping weight" of 7625 lbs listed in the cougar brochure?
If so, then what advice could you offer, in setting this up, with the right hitches/stabilizers etc. to make this combo work best?
thanks in advance for any help.

canman84 · 08-07-2011, 12:06 AM

Ok, so I finally selected the trailer with the Silver Sage interior and I'm currently working financing with Pete's RV. I have to drive appx. 11 hours to go pick it up but I'm just going to chalk that up as another adventure. Would any of you recommend the 321RES for full-time RVing? I plan to become a full-time RVer for at least the next 4 years and the 321RES looks very liveable. Also, do any of you have solar panels installed? I've been reviewing various products and that is one of the first things that I'm going to do when I purchase the RV. Thanks.

taken · 08-07-2011, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimcom

hi everyone,
first, to let you all know that i know absolutely nothing about trailers...

i was doing some initial internet searching and planning, and really love the looks & layout of this trailer!!!
even though you are having some "niggles" with your recent purchases, it sounds like you all are very pleased overall, which is very encouraging.
On infiniti's website they say the qx56 can tow 8500 lbs...(Tow/Payload8500/1650-1700 lbs)...do i compare that with the "shipping weight" of 7625 lbs listed in the cougar brochure?
If so, then what advice could you offer, in setting this up, with the right hitches/stabilizers etc. to make this combo work best?
thanks in advance for any help.

Sorry, but no way, no how. Dry is completely dry like not propane, no battery, etc. Just adding those two things will put you over your towing limit. Ready to camp you will have close to 10000 lbs easy. A very heavily equipt half ton pickup or a 3/4 ton will be the tow vehicle for this trailer. And don't let your dealer tell you different! They will say anything to get a trailer sold. What you need to find is a trailer with a max gvwr of 8500 lbs and you will be set. That means the most the trailer can weight loaded to it's max is 8500.

taken · 08-07-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canman84

Ok, so I finally selected the trailer with the Silver Sage interior and I'm currently working financing with Pete's RV. I have to drive appx. 11 hours to go pick it up but I'm just going to chalk that up as another adventure. Would any of you recommend the 321RES for full-time RVing? I plan to become a full-time RVer for at least the next 4 years and the 321RES looks very liveable. Also, do any of you have solar panels installed? I've been reviewing various products and that is one of the first things that I'm going to do when I purchase the RV. Thanks.

Not sure if you read everyone's posts, but buying from an out of state dealer can be very problematic. Your local dealer has no obligation to do warranty repairs on a unit they didn't sell and trust me, you will have issues! I would really try to get your local dealer to match or come close to Pete's. Mine got close enough and I'm so glad it worked out that way with all the repairs and recalls these trailers need after delivery. Also be very careful with Pete's. They are high volume and sleazy with added fees and they will charge you over msrp on any accessories you ad to the deal. I dealt with a few of their salesmen before making my purchase and they outright lied to me about the trailer, vehicles towing abilities, and my favorite was their inventory. Do not believe them when the say they have one in stock at their "stock yards" out of state. Keystone confirmed to me that was complete bs and that they just order units when people give them deposits. Left a real bad taste in my mouth. So, as for full timing, personally I wouldn't. Not just in this trailer but any run of the mill TT. Everything them is cheap made for occasional use, ie: camping. Doors, drawers, cabinets, furniture, and plumbing won't hold up long in everyday use.

iluvcamping · 08-07-2011, 07:12 PM

Wow...I think you would have a big problem....and totally agree with what TAKEN has said. We tow ours with a 2010 F-150 super crew 4x4 with heavy duty tow package. Supposedly geared to tow 11,300 lbs. Keep in mind also that it is a 36 ft. trailer. Check out some of Keystone's more lighter weight rv's or even Jayco super lights. You're right though...most of us on this thread like our RES321. But..CANMAN84...we wouldn't want to live full time in it. A couple of months at a time maybe but not 4 years. Keep us posted on what you decide.

canman84 · 08-09-2011, 04:51 AM

Thanks for the heads up taken and iluvcamping! I contacted a dealership near Atlanta, GA and they flat out told me that they can't sell that unit for less than $31k so Pete's has them beat by approximately $6k. I've been on youtube looking at some of the RV's that people are living out of and they are nothing compared to the 321RES. I'm an active duty officer in the Army and I've lived in some absolute crap holes after 3 deployments. I've lived in 142 degree weather, been limited to bathing every 1.5 months and been required to eat the same food for over 3 months. I'm actually looking forward to living out of the RV and so is my wife due to us relocating frequently. It appears that the only other thing we will require is somewhere to wash clothes from time to time. A fellow Soldier purchased an RV that he lives out of and it's hideous, not to mention that it was made in 1988. I guess I just appreciate the little things because I've seen it much, much worse. Nonetheless, I will keep you posted on how full-timing goes and try to assemble some pictures. I'm still doing lots of research right now because I'm currently deployed and won't return until next spring. As for Pete's RV, they don't seem to be the most enthusiastic crew but they are going to hold my 321RES for free as well as give me 10% off of anything that I purchase from them for a year (or so they say, lol). I'll try my best to maintain the RV during this tenure but when it comes down to it, all I really need is food, clothing and shelter; regardless of how it is provided. Also, I'm 28 and as far as I know, none of my friends have ever attempted a change of this magnitude. I enjoy the look on their faces when they try to rationalize what I'm doing and how I'm able to do it. MTF (MTF=More to Follow) :-)

taken · 08-09-2011, 05:44 AM

That's amazing that your dealer won't come close. They all pay the same for the unit so they are basically saying they want to make 7-9 grand on one trailer sale. Sleazebags. If you don't mind the maintenance, then I'm sure you could make it work living out of your trailer. As far as Pete's goes, just be sure they really have the trailer in stock. They exaggerate their inventory at the time of a phone sale then worry about sourcing the trailer. Also, I would recommend going back in this thread and looking at the issues others have had and make sure they are addressed before you take delivery. Most of these units seem to have the same problems from the factory. Anyways, good luck with your purchase and thank you very much for your service!

taken · 08-09-2011, 05:55 AM

Well, my trailer is now in for the axle swap and I wanted to add a few more bugs to the list for people to watch out for. My black tank flush is also a disaster like a previous poster mentioned. Leaks like crazy at the exterior fitting and also leaks inside the trailer filling under the bathroom sink with water. My table is hitting the counter like others have had happen. One of my kitchen cabinets won't close correctly. My bedroom door won't close when it gets humid. The struts on my bed won't hold it up when accessing the storage area any more since I swapped for a new mattress which is a touch heavier than the original that failed. The sliding window next to the dinette won't open without the screen coming with it. They get stuck together. The black tank holding valve doesn't seal completely. At the edge of the carpet where it meets the vinyl flooring, Keystone used round staples instead of flat ones or nails and they really hurt bare feet when stepped on. The guide for the sliding bathroom door is very cheap plastic and has already bent and deformed allowing the door to swing out into the bedroom. Lastly, the insulators that cover the holes where the slide cables enter the trailer are all peeling off and are now dangling on the slide cables. I'm really starting to worry about the quality of this trailer. Again, it is the best looking with the best floorplan I've seen. The workmanship and materials quality is just awful though. Now I'm just worried that I won't find all the issues before the warranty is out. They just keep arriving in waves.........

taken · 08-09-2011, 07:15 AM

PS: The latch on the entrance door is a mess as well. Door won't close unless slammed. Another for the list......

JimEli · 08-09-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taken

At the edge of the carpet where it meets the vinyl flooring, Keystone used round staples instead of flat ones or nails and they really hurt bare feet when stepped on.

Oh, I forgot to mention this. I drew blood on one of these staples.

Quote:

Originally Posted by taken

I'm really starting to worry about the quality of this trailer. Again, it is the best looking with the best floorplan I've seen. The workmanship and materials quality is just awful though. Now I'm just worried that I won't find all the issues before the warranty is out. They just keep arriving in waves.........

Agreed. There is a SERIOUS lack of basic quality control at Keystone.

ScoobySue · 08-10-2011, 07:51 AM

Canman -- I bought my 2012 High Country 321RES from Pete's RV and honestly the experience was overall very good!! I was in the same boat as you. Local dealers couldn't even come close to the deal Pete's was giving me. So, we took the plunge and bought from Pete's. My salesman was Louie Cooper. He was pretty good -- could have been a little more attentive to emails but that's okay. I, like the others here, am having some of the same issues with the camper but that has nothing to do with Pete's. That's completely Keystone's poor work quality. I ended up paying to have the unit delievered to my home by their transporter since I live about 20 hours each way from them. The delivery was perfect. The guy showed up exactly when they said he would and parked it right where I wanted it. He filled the 2 propane tanks and showed me all around the camper. I have 2 dealers within 2 hours of me. One is willing to do warranty work and the other is not. Since I did not buy from them, I'm not at the top of the list for service BUT honestly, that does not bother me. I saved over $8,000 buying from Pete's and I would do it again in a heartbeat. They are legit and put everything in writing. Soo, long story short, go for it. You will not be disappointed. :-)

taken · 08-10-2011, 08:32 AM

Wow, our dealer got within a thou. Close enough.

ScoobySue · 08-10-2011, 02:48 PM

I was actually working with about 4 or 5 dealers within 2 hours of me and the closest any of them could get was about $5,000 and trust me, I negoitated over and over and over again. They said the price Pete's was giving me was UNDER the price they paid. I have a hard time believing that but whatever.... They also tried to tell me they wouldn't provide warranty work or any of that just to get me to buy from them. BUT when it came down to it and I bought the camper from Pete's they sent me an email offering to do the warranty work.

taken · 08-10-2011, 02:59 PM

That's such BS. I've heard that from dealers too. It's never true. Glad I worked out for you. As you recall, I was talking with Pete's at the same time as you and they didn't even offer me the same price as they did you. Maybe it depends on who you deal with there, but to me it felt very sketchy. They tried to charge me over MSRP on hitching equipment and some fantastic fans. Never mind the discount they promised. (I ended up buying my items online for 30-40 percent less than Pete's. You'd think that when someone is buying a trailer from you, that you would be straight with them. Plus, I found out they were lying to me about their inventory lot out near the Keystone factory. There is no such lot and that was a straight up lie to get me to leave a deposit. Then they would order my trailer and make me wait. Their inventory on their webs site is also BS. Again, I'm glad you had a good experience there. I wouldn't buy a dog house from them......