New for us: 2019 Imagine 2600RB

[Chipmaker]

Hi,

Michelle and I (Steve) loved RVing so much in July we decided to buy Travel Trailer last week. We are really excited. Bought a 2018 Land Cruiser (LC) with All-Terrains, weighs 7300#, to pull trailer and then go off roading for fly fishing and sight seeing.

We found a used 2019 Imagine 2600RB, 29'8" long, on RVTrader, at a dealer. Put a down payment on it and plan to pick it up in October about 400 miles away.

Any advice anyone can provide regarding the following questions would be greatly appreciated. Trying to be safe and prepared.

1) Towing - LC has 8100 lb tow capability. The Imagine is 5700# dry, 6500-7400 loaded. Installing a Curt 17062 Weight Distribution & sway bar unit and Curt Echo bluetooth brake controller.

2) Do we need extra wide mirrors? Recommendation on type?

3) Generator - Thinking of two Honda eu2200i with parallel power cable? Was advised it is easier to manage taking them in and out of storage. Open to other options?

4) Solar panel - Get one? Make and model?

5) Driving to Chicago from Seattle in Nov/Dec. How risky is it if it snows for us, normal versus blizzard of course.

Looking forward seeing you on the road. Steve

[SKP Kirk]

Thanks for the update on your RV lifestyle! To answer your questions:
1) That does sound like what you will need and be happy with.
2) I have towed with and without the wider mirrors and it is far less intimidating to tow with the wider mirrors as you won't be able to see anything behind you for a half mile with the standard mirrors. I have also found that the temporary attaching type of mirror are poor help so invest in something that is permanently mounted.
3) Honda makes the generator that sets the standard for the portable generator user and those two should serve your RV very well.
4) Solar isn't important unless you expect to do a lot of camping where power is not available. For those of us who usually stop in RV parks or campgrounds, electric power is usually available and your generators will serve you just fine for the occasions that you need power and it isn't available. A good solar system is expensive and unless used a great deal it has a very long payback.
5) You will need to pay close attention to the weather and to the highway reports as you go, but modern highways are usually cleared very quickly when it snows. The RV could be difficult to keep comfortably warm is you spend time in it as you pass through Montana so plan carefully where you will stop and make sure that any planned RV park will be open as many there close in winter. Also you will need to keep some heat in the RV & the water heater on while traveling to be sure that no water lines freeze up. RV refrigerators also do not work well if in temperatures that are far below freezing. Be sure to allow some time in your travel plans to let you sit out bad road conditions if you should need to.