TruckDriver
Ram Guru
2 Weeks to go! Super excited to buy our first TT - a Coachmen Freedom Express 257BHS (Coachmen Link)
I've been pouring through this subforum for a couple days now, tons of great info and reminders on towing safety.
So far towing our ski boat and a ~21' enclosed trailer have been a cakewalk, but with this TT, I'll be doing about 900mi each way for pickup and want to be as best prepared - I'm handy with a wrench, so I hope y'all can sanity check my gear and provide your suggestions & opinions on how to improve. Plus I plan to buy some new equipment (WDH, Generator, Basic TT Gear?) and could use some advice.
Truck Details:
Confirmed with the door jamb sticker as well. Stock setup, tentative 2" level puck to install later this summer, but keeping OE wheel/tire setup. Air Suspension as well (hence the lack of payload), There was a good thread on WDH Setup w/Air Suspension that I'll use when hooking up this trailer at the Dealer.
Trailer Details
Towing Math:
1396 - 300 (Driver and WDH) = 1096
1096 - 665 (Trailer HW is 11% per this calc) = 431 Payload remaining
Pretty low remaining payload but l think it'll cover the family with lunch in the cab haha. I may have to see this build with coils and eventually go that route just to reclaim a couple hundred in payload...
WDH:
This is where I'm learning as I go. A quick search online brought up some decent pricing on an EAZ Lift WDH with sway control - my BiL had great things to say and this seems like it'll do well; I know with something like this I'm ok to buy once, seems like WDH opinions are all over as are their prices
Tools:
I'll take a tool kit with me with Wrenches / Sockets / 18v impact driver / straps / flat repair / jump box / lights and the usual things you'd take for a long trip and unexpected repairs - are there any TT specific things one would say is almost a must have? The only item I can think of is to take a full floor jack (or bottle jack?) or a wheel ramp to help change a tandem axle tire if required. Oh and full rubber wheel chocks as well.
Generators:
Not required on this trip, but I might camp a night or two on the way back, plus I hit a tax free state on my way and might as well buy a few bigger ticket items I'm looking for.
I'm leaning toward a 4250W Open Frame Inverter Gen (Champion Link) - This is a dual fuel model but they make a gas only; The flexibility to run LP would be nice but not necessary; the running wattage does drop a bit but iirc using LP will keep the cylinder a bit cleaner no? 64dba rating should be safe (or no?) I plan to have some sound deflecting panels in the truck to help damp the sound. I've seen similar competitively priced units from Westinghouse,, WEN and a few others before climbing into Yamaha/Honda territory.
and it's pull start - a friend recommended remote start but of course that'll add weight to the unit and this sucker's pretty compact at roughly a 20" cube vs many others. Seems like the minimum wattage to allow AC use with a cushion of power for other things if needed, rather than parallellng two smaller units.
Back up Camera:
The TT doesn't have it stock - it's overpriced to have the dealer install it so I'll have to handle it after the trip. Looking at a 4 Camera wireless system with either a 7" screen (~400) or a 10" screen (~500) with a DVR which would be a good safety net when travelling. If you've got an amazing recommendation (or one to avoid) lmk. I suppose might as well go 10" for ease of split screen view/usability
Front Hitch:
This will be a later addition but thinking it'll really aid me in threading this into parking at home - I've been following the front hitch threads for a while, I'm ok cutting an 'access panel' into the rebel's tin 'skid plate' and just creating a license plate mount to keep it tidy.
I think that's it... for now! Lots to learn and I plan to post updates and share my experience for anyone going down this path as well
I've been pouring through this subforum for a couple days now, tons of great info and reminders on towing safety.
So far towing our ski boat and a ~21' enclosed trailer have been a cakewalk, but with this TT, I'll be doing about 900mi each way for pickup and want to be as best prepared - I'm handy with a wrench, so I hope y'all can sanity check my gear and provide your suggestions & opinions on how to improve. Plus I plan to buy some new equipment (WDH, Generator, Basic TT Gear?) and could use some advice.
Truck Details:
Confirmed with the door jamb sticker as well. Stock setup, tentative 2" level puck to install later this summer, but keeping OE wheel/tire setup. Air Suspension as well (hence the lack of payload), There was a good thread on WDH Setup w/Air Suspension that I'll use when hooking up this trailer at the Dealer.
Trailer Details
Towing Math:
1396 - 300 (Driver and WDH) = 1096
1096 - 665 (Trailer HW is 11% per this calc) = 431 Payload remaining
Pretty low remaining payload but l think it'll cover the family with lunch in the cab haha. I may have to see this build with coils and eventually go that route just to reclaim a couple hundred in payload...
WDH:
This is where I'm learning as I go. A quick search online brought up some decent pricing on an EAZ Lift WDH with sway control - my BiL had great things to say and this seems like it'll do well; I know with something like this I'm ok to buy once, seems like WDH opinions are all over as are their prices
Tools:
I'll take a tool kit with me with Wrenches / Sockets / 18v impact driver / straps / flat repair / jump box / lights and the usual things you'd take for a long trip and unexpected repairs - are there any TT specific things one would say is almost a must have? The only item I can think of is to take a full floor jack (or bottle jack?) or a wheel ramp to help change a tandem axle tire if required. Oh and full rubber wheel chocks as well.
Generators:
Not required on this trip, but I might camp a night or two on the way back, plus I hit a tax free state on my way and might as well buy a few bigger ticket items I'm looking for.
I'm leaning toward a 4250W Open Frame Inverter Gen (Champion Link) - This is a dual fuel model but they make a gas only; The flexibility to run LP would be nice but not necessary; the running wattage does drop a bit but iirc using LP will keep the cylinder a bit cleaner no? 64dba rating should be safe (or no?) I plan to have some sound deflecting panels in the truck to help damp the sound. I've seen similar competitively priced units from Westinghouse,, WEN and a few others before climbing into Yamaha/Honda territory.
and it's pull start - a friend recommended remote start but of course that'll add weight to the unit and this sucker's pretty compact at roughly a 20" cube vs many others. Seems like the minimum wattage to allow AC use with a cushion of power for other things if needed, rather than parallellng two smaller units.
Back up Camera:
The TT doesn't have it stock - it's overpriced to have the dealer install it so I'll have to handle it after the trip. Looking at a 4 Camera wireless system with either a 7" screen (~400) or a 10" screen (~500) with a DVR which would be a good safety net when travelling. If you've got an amazing recommendation (or one to avoid) lmk. I suppose might as well go 10" for ease of split screen view/usability
Front Hitch:
This will be a later addition but thinking it'll really aid me in threading this into parking at home - I've been following the front hitch threads for a while, I'm ok cutting an 'access panel' into the rebel's tin 'skid plate' and just creating a license plate mount to keep it tidy.
I think that's it... for now! Lots to learn and I plan to post updates and share my experience for anyone going down this path as well
