Hello from Lil Rhodie

[ChooChooMan7]

Hello Gang,

I joined this discussion group after I bumped into it by accident.

About me:
38 Year old railroader. Unmarried, but with "family". I am located in a small town in SE Rhode island, on the Massachusetts border.

Camping Experience:
In my younger age, I had a Truck Camper and Travel Trailer which I towed around with my 91 Ford F350 Diesel. I used them to camp at race tracks and also used the Dually to tow race cars. Interests changed, jobs changed, and money got tight, so bye bye dually and campers.

This year, with my "family", we rented a 24 foot Travel Trailer towed behind my Jeep Liberty Diesel. It towed decent, but little did I know that I had some engine damage due to the previous owner's lack of maintenance. This was found after I broke off a glow plug in the head and the head had to be removed for extraction. After a good sized repair bill (which took a chunk out of the funds for purchasing a camper ), the little tow vehicle is running better than ever.

I am currently in the market for a travel trailer, and have a few models in mind. Currently, the major obstacle is obtaining financing (few boo boos in the past ). But, after renting this year, the "family" is really excited about doing more camping. And with my job, having terminals spread out over 100 miles, I am thinking of making a few working vacations, where I can get a campsite for a week, while working a job at one of the terminals further from my home.

One last thing. I know my tow vehicle is small, and I don't need the weight police (if there are any here) telling me that. I know what my limitations are. It is what I have, and I take all precautions to tow safely (Company core value "Safety is a way of life"). I do want a new tow vehicle, but it is not in the immediate future.

[Francesca]

My tug's a '97 Kia Sportage, so you won't be getting any flack from me! Naturally, my trailer's sized within the tug's tow limits, as I'm sure yours will be.


So whatcha thinkin' about getting, trailer-wise??

[ChooChooMan7]

Originally Posted by Francesca

My tug's a '97 Kia Sportage, so you won't be getting any flack from me! Naturally, my trailer's sized within the tug's tow limits, as I'm sure yours will be.


So whatcha thinkin' about getting, trailer-wise??

I have a down payment on a Roo 21BH (Not from RVW, but they have good pics), which is well within the limits that Jeep has in the US, and well within the limits that Jeep has for the rest of the world (we won't go there). It is near perfect for us, with bunks in the rear, U dinette in the front, and the very front has a queen tent bed.

Right now, the financing is the sticking point. One lender, said my history looks excellent with the exception of one sticking point, which is bringing down my score. They recommended a credit repair company to "fix" that one thing, for several hundred buckaroo$. Hey, I admit, a few years ago, things got tight and I was behind (but still paying what I could monthly to let them know I was alive and not defaulting), but as soon as things cleared up, I caught up and paid them off early!!! Of course, in today's world, the banks don't care.

[Francesca]

Those Roos are pretty nice...have you checked out the used market?

Maybe a lower price would be more palatable for lenders, given your difficulties etc.

[Bruce C]

Welcome to the group. Safe trouble free travels.

[Gadget63]

Howdy and welcome to the forums

[ChooChooMan7]

Originally Posted by Francesca

Those Roos are pretty nice...have you checked out the used market?

Maybe a lower price would be more palatable for lenders, given your difficulties etc.

This is a used, although slightly. It is a 2010 build date, 2011 model. But, I have a few more options left to try to get financing.

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan7

This is a used, although slightly. It is a 2010 build date, 2011 model. But, I have a few more options left to try to get financing.

I think that's smart- let somebody else work the kinks out and take the drive-it-off-the-lot depreciation hit, right?

Hope you get the financing worked out!

[sdennislee]

Hi and

[Possum]

Welcome aboard. What railway line do you work for may I ask? I have a couple of retired and active railroader friends in your neck of the woods. One drove the GG1 hauling commuters and the other is a NS freight hauler still.

My daily driver is a 94 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and it hauled our 16 foot heavy weight without a hitch or even a minor problem. Just remember you have something following right close by and you'll have no problems, Safe travels.

[ChooChooMan7]

Originally Posted by Possum

Welcome aboard. What railway line do you work for may I ask? I have a couple of retired and active railroader friends in your neck of the woods. One drove the GG1 hauling commuters and the other is a NS freight hauler still.

My daily driver is a 94 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and it hauled our 16 foot heavy weight without a hitch or even a minor problem. Just remember you have something following right close by and you'll have no problems, Safe travels.

Thank you Possum. I work for CSX. Working in New England, I can work the mainline between Boston and Albany (Selkirk) NY, as well as the terminals of Middleboro, Readville, Walpole, Framingham, Worcester, and West Springfield.

In a Jeep Forum, one guy towed a 26', no slides, using a Hensley with his Jeep Liberty. It can do it, but IMHO, too much tail to wag the dog. I am keeping it below 24, with the 21' being what I hope to get.

I have had experience with my dually towing up to a 35' tow behind car hauler and a 46' fifth wheel car hauler. So, having a small camper behind my little diesel is manageable. I am just not use to feeling trucks and busses going by me (although the WDH setup on the rental wasn't ideal and not setup 100% the way it should have been). I like the fact that I can pull a u turn and get in and out of tighter places.

[Possum]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan7

I have had experience with my dually towing up to a 35' tow behind car hauler and a 46' fifth wheel car hauler. So, having a small camper behind my little diesel is manageable. I am just not use to feeling trucks and busses going by me (although the WDH setup on the rental wasn't ideal and not setup 100% the way it should have been). I like the fact that I can pull a u turn and get in and out of tighter places.

I always used equalizers and an anti-sway torsion bar when I hauled our trailer. The equalizers spread the load out and make the load shared between all axles and the anti-sway made it so that you heard the whoosh of the passing buses and transports but you seldom if ever felt them as you passed close to each other.

With the proper hookup you can travel through some major mountain passes on two lane highways and not be worried about control loss. I always travel with the electric trailer brakes set up to activate quickly and with slight brake peddle application that way you can remain in your lane if you need to quickly slow down on a steep downhill corner.

Safe travels and I hope all this works out for you as we do have a great lifestyle wandering where we want to and when we want. My wife and I will camp until the end.

[wincrasher]

If you go on the Forest River forum, you'll find a lot of posts about Roo's leaking tent ends. Tread carefully with a Roo that is only a couple years old - somebody may have just gotten rid of a set of headaches.

There should be alot of hard sided small tag-alongs available in a price range where you don't have to finance. Especially here in the winter months, you should be able to find a fantastic deal.

Good luck in your search!

[SarahW]

Howdy and welcome to iRV2!