Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Travel Trailer/Campers questions....help guys...

OK, I hope some of you like to camp or vacation and own Travel Trailers/RV's? We are looking at a new brand on the market that is totally green made and light weight, called Evergreen Ever-Lite. They are the only MFG of this kind....anyway....

I have some questions about additional options, so we can start negotiating a price. We live in Iowa, but there is a HUGE RV dealer in Michigan called Terrytown, they are the Walmart of the RV industry. They are the best prices of anyone by far, and people come from western Canada, just to deal with them....they buy in such huge quantities, the little guy can't compete...

There are some options available, that would increase the price, can you provide input if you think they are required. We are looking at a Evergreen Ever-Lite 31DS which is 32.4ft overall and 5,347 dry weight. I have a 2000 Chevy Silverado Z71 offroad package with towing package...

Options

• ALUMINUM WHEELS - not sure what comes standard for wheels, does have radial tires.
• 15K BTU AIR CONDITIONER - standard is 13.5 ducted, karen has read that longer trailers might need the 15k?
• 20” LCD FLAT PANEL TV - maybe we would be better buying one locally, but mfr says it might be standard, checking...
• GAS OVEN - I think we will just stay with standard electric...
• HIGH OUTPUT EXHAUST FAN - BATH ROOM - versus standard fan?
• SOLAR BATTERY CHARGER - not sure about this...
• POWER TONGUE JACK - is this a nice "have to have" or are the crank types ok?
• 20# SEE THROUGH COMPOSITE LP TANKS - comes standard with 30# tanks hard covered with top access door, I've heard some places won't will these new composite tanks...

If you have any input that would be great...also, I think I may need some additional things for my truck to make this all work (sway bars?, different receiver hitch? and maybe electric brake system?) If you can review that also that would be great.. I was looking at the hitch bar under my rear bumber, says 11,000 towing and 900 hitch weight, but my current receiver that slides in is only a 2" ball and is rated at 6,000 towing and 500 hitch down weight. I assume I need a different receiver assembly that slides into my existing cross bar?

thanks, Randy

We gave up ownership of RVs after hurricane Wilma destroyed our 30 footer in a campground on Lake Okeechobee in '05 ... can't remember all of the specifics regarding the camper but I do know my 3/4 ton diesel wasn't pulling it with a 2" ball.

Sorry for your loss Rick.... We don't have to worry about hurricanes up here, but tornadoes and blizzards might be a concern.

If we get one Rick, we plan to head down your way to take the kids on vacation.

Actually it wasn't that bad at all Randy, insurance took care of it for us and at the time we were not really using it nearly as much as we probably should have, although we do miss having one occasionally.

Randy, try not to plan a vacation with your new RV between August through October near Lake Okeechobee.

I used to have a 20ft fishing boat that I towed with my 2001 Silverado until I sold it(the boat). Anyway, the trailer/boat/gear weighed in at around 3500lbs which was well below the tow limits of the truck. I was using a class 3 hitch(I think) and my trailer had hydraulic self activating brakes, triggered by inertia at the ball hitch(no electrics involved). You'd need at least a class 4 hitch and I would think that a trailer of that weight would come with either hydraulic or electric brakes. I can't remember exactly what the towing capacity was on my truck but I doubt if it was much more than 7000 lbs give or take(3.90 rear).

Don't know if there's any info there that helps or not...

Pick me up on the way

I'm a little out of the way, but a ride would be nice....

It claims to sleep upto 8, so what the heck.

Randy, I will say (not like my opinion matters) that it's very commendable of you to be purchasing a RV like that; every little bit makes a difference!

Wow Rick, insurance aside, it must have been pretty sad to see a big, family item destroyed like that. I can certainly relate at this time.

Randy, I'm a tent guy but here is what popped into my mind on a few items as I read your list.


• ALUMINUM WHEELS -- Just a cosmetic thing. I doubt that the weigh advantage of aluminum verses a vehicle that big is going to net you any notable payback in Miles per Gallon.

• 15K BTU AIR CONDITIONER - As I said, I'm a tent guy but based on my summer living in a travel trailer while our house was being built, I would not cheap out on the AC.

• GAS OVEN - Gas burners on the stove top are certainly nicer to cook on. Instant heat levels, instant cool... Gas also ensures you can cook without worry in places where there is no electrical hookup. (("C'mon, Get er level before that thar Walmart closes! I need a new Nascar hat. Get er Dunnnn!!!"))

• HIGH OUTPUT EXHAUST FAN - BATH ROOM - An entire family or pile of friends in a small, enclosed space after a big Chile dinner? Do you even need to ask this question?

I know nothing about anything else in the list.

As for towing.
Your hitch receiver and ball are all rated combined maximum up to 6000 lbs and that is for the GVW. So unfortunately, you have to use the 7543 lbs number, not the lower, dry weight.

6000 lbs is the max for a Class II hitch, which I'm assuming you have, so you can't just add a stronger tongue/ball. You will need to replace the entire thing with a Class III hitch.

Also, you need to consider tongue weight which even at your dry weight, is over the allowable 300 LBS for a Class II hitch.

(Also, don't mess around with tongue weight by redistributing the load somehow in the trailer, that can lead to very dangerous driving conditions.)

Some would say these mandated load ratings are conservative and would have no problem exceeding them. Unfortunately, your insurance company won't think that way if you have an accident.

Hope that helps a bit.