New Hybrid=new TV

[6Quigs]

 
We?ve been looking at hybrids recently, and had settled on the floorplan we liked, but we knew we would not be happy pulling it with the Safari, and would have to get a stronger tow vehicle soon after.
 Well, surfing the internet, we saw the Hybrid we wanted, a 2003 Tahoe 22BH for sale in our local dealers, We called, but he had it rented out.
 Two weeks later, I find the advert again, only this time he had dropped his price by $2,000.
 We called, and they said we could look at it on Tuesday, and it was perfect, even though it had been rented out, there was nothing major wrong with it, and after a weekend of our 4 kids camping in it, you would never know it was used.
 It just seemed so big, compared to the popup.
 We went home and decided to sleep on it.
 I had been researching getting a new truck to pull the new trailer, and the next morning, I swing by the local Chevy dealer, and there on his lot was the truck for me, a Chevy 2500HD 4 door crew cab, and the only extras were automatic and the trailer package,
 So in the one day, we went and bought the trailer, then went straight to the Chevy dealer, and bought the truck.
 We have just come back from our maiden voyage in it, and what fun.
 The popup was great, and we have really enjoyed three summers in it, but the difference in setting up and breaking camp with the Hybrid is worth it.
 We have triple bunks in the rear, and the 3 older children each have their own space, with their own little cubby for their toys, which is out of view, so we don?t have to put their stuff away, not even for traveling.
 We have the single king size bunk up front, and the 3 year old sleeps with us.
 The connivance when driving to the campsite, and being able to pullover and let the kids go to the bathroom is great. They especially loved being able to grab a popsicle from the freezer before heading back to the truck.
 Our Maiden voyage was a NNC rally at Lake Tahoe with 20 other families, and it sure was sweet pulling into the campground, as all heads turned to check out not only the new Hybrid, but also the new tow vehicle.
 This was the first time I was able to bring all 6 bikes along with us camping, and we still had plenty more room.
 Here?s a few photos of the new setup, with the floor plan, and some inside photos.
 http://community.webshots.com/album/91620283vJSsqf
 Now we just have to figure out what to fill all the inside storage places with.
 I?ve already seen a few mods I need to do, like put shelves in the wardrobe, to keep all the clothes for the 6 of us, instead of the hangers they provided, and to add an access door to the under seat storage of the dinette seats. Outside, I got to get a storage pipe from camping world, for the sewer hose.
 I can see myself having to build a whole new website for the new Hybrid mods.
 Guess I?ll be hanging around this forum a lot more in the future
 
 6 very happy Quigs.
 

[jpreiser]

 6Quigs
WOw they both look great....... Good luck with both of them...

[campingboaters]

 6Quigs
VERY nice!  Hope my husband doesn t see this!  He s been drooling over that Chevy truck for quite some time.  He needs to wait another 3 years until we pay off the Durango and then he can get ANY truck he wants!
 
 Enjoy the new camper!  It looks PERFECT for you!

[Gone-Camping]

 6Quigs
From looking at the inside pictures of the dinette and bed end, I think you re going to be facing the same problem I wound up with. Those very bright white bunk end canvas when the sun hits it. Very difficult to sleep past sunrise like that, at least for me. Even under full shade I found it to be too bright. A set of reflective bunk end covers made a huge difference. I could t bring myself to paying $80+ dollars for a custom set, so I went to Lowes and picked up a roll of Reflectix for $46 and made a complete set that included side screens. Makes a huge difference not only in heating/cooling, but does a tremendous job with the bright tent light as well...

[6Quigs]

 Gone-Camping

I think you re going to be facing the same problem I wound up with. Those very bright white bunk end canvas when the sun hits it. Very difficult to sleep past sunrise like that,

 I have a Three year old, that wakes up at sunrise every morning, so that will not be an issue for me[&:]
 I borrowed the Popup-gizmos bunk end cover from our Niagara, and it fits the end bunk, so whoever buys our Niagara, will only be getting one bunk end cover thrown in.
 
 Thanks for the tip Cliff. I had been following the progress of your Hybrid, and will be making the sewer pipe supports the same as yours.

[Y-Guy]

 6Quigs
Kevin, as I said before congrats on the new setup.  With your family I am SURE the space will be a welcome addition.

[fivegonefishing]

 6Quigs
Dude, that is the exact same floor plan as our Palomino!  The only difference I could see is the fridge, ours is by the front door; its where we keep the TV.  I love the bunk beds, that s were we keep the sleeping bags for our bed and the out door chairs.  We have the u-shape dinette as well however keep the table outside pretty much all the time, we have only had it in once while it was raining so we could play cards.  Ours has the outside shower which I use to wash the pots and pans in.  We re looking at getting a new tv sooner or later as well, we were leaning towards the suburban only because my mom is now living with us and we need at least a 6 seater, maybe for 7.  Enjoy!

[6Quigs]

 fivegonefishing
Thanks Tammy,
 and we are enjoying it.
 Yes, the floorplan is the same as the Palomino Stampede.
 The only problem is the Palomino Dealer is almost 3 hours away, and the Tahoe dealer is only 6 miles away.
 The Tahoe also weighs nearly 1,000 lbs more than your Palomino.
 
 So far we have only been away for 1 weekend, and all 6 of us love it.
 For the 3 older kids to each have their own bunk space is worth it, especially as they can keef all their toys and junk in there.
 We knew the new hybrid would be too much for the Safari to pull, so got the new 6 seater truck. Price wise, they are $10,000 less than a Surburban would have cost me, and we can bring all the bikes along.

[GeneF]

 6Quigs
Quigs
 
 Best of luck with the new tv and hybrid.
 
 I ll most likely be bothering you in the near future as I now have the 02 Silverado just waiting to pull a hybrid.
 
 Starting to do the research now and hope the Boston show will give me a lot more info in Jan.

[SheBantam]

Be sure to get a towel rack for the bathroom door. I bought a standard one (K'mart or Walmart) and used rolled up waffled shelf liner as a spacer and it keeps it from moving.
I do not think that you will be dissappointed with a hybrid, that is until you too old to lower the bunkend, but then by that time, you will want something else anyway

[dee106]

we like the hybrid, bungi cords keep everthing in its place, and baby safety latches for extra insurance on keeping the doors closed. we too use a heavy duty silver tarp  (walmart ) on the bunk end to keep the sun out and the bird poop off!

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new TV and trailer.  I don't look at the hybrid forum very often, so I am sorry it took so long to reply.