RE: Stabilizers for Starcraft Slideouts?

[RamblingWreck]

 
I have read several posts advising that the Starcraft slideouts extend further than most other manufactures giving more floor space.  The down side being that the slideout needs to be supported by either scissor jacks or screw down stabilizers.
 
 From the Starcraft website I printed floorplans for their Constellation Gemini and new for 2003 Centennial 3606.  From the floorplans, it looks like the slideout on the Gemini extends much further than the 3606.  If this is indeed the case, has Starcraft eliminated the need for stabilizers on the 3606 s slideout?
 
 The Centennial series trailers look sweet.  The high trailer walls allow for taller counters, taller refrigerator, space for optional built in small oven or microwave.  Looks there is an opportunity for taller seat backs.
 
 Has anyone seen the Centennials?  Any comments?
 
 Rambling Wreck

[forestwalker]

 RamblingWreck
Saw one at a Northern California RV show a couple of weeks ago.They are  beautiful pop ups !

[got woody?]

 RamblingWreck
R W -
 
 It seems you and I are at about the same place in our shopping, and I get the feeling we have similar taste.  I really like the Centennial 3606, although the jury is still out in our house on inside showers.  Certainly seems the fridge should be accessible with the top down based on its proximity to the door.
 
 In reading the specs, they list Double 20# LP tanks standard and 14"  tires.  That seems like a plus.  Any ideas how high the price tag goes on these, I guessing five figures?

[RamblingWreck]

 got woody?
Jim,
 
 There is a large RV Show that will be held at the Eastern States Exhibition, a.k.a. the Big " E" , in West Springfield, MA beginning Valentines day.  There will be at least 2 Starcraft dealers there.  I ll be able to tell you better about price after the show.  
 
 From our experience tent camping, unless the weather is bad, you don t spend all that much time in the tent.  So the accessability of the refrigerator in the 3606 looks appealing (easy access from add a room).  The more you enter and exit a tent the more sand you track in, seems like the same would hold true for a popup.  Have to agree that you must likely could get to it while in transit as well.
 
 With respect to indoor shower console here is my thinking on the matter.  DW and DD object to having to get up in the middle of the night and walking to bath house to use facilities.  DD wants a little privacy so curtians supplied with the shower console give her that.  The curtains also make for a small changing room.  DS is only 6 so his aim is not so great.  Having shower console will make floor clean up easier.  
 
 Most of our camping will likely be at camp grounds that have toilet and shower facilities.  We want the toilet for the middle of the night convenience.  From talking to folks, etc, empting potty console seems to be easier and less smelly than empting a portapotty.  The shower most likely will not see much use as a shower.
 
 We have been to our local Jayco dealer and seen the Eagle 14SO.  It is a very impressive trailer.  Other board members have told me that you can access the refrigerator while traveling (though it involves crawling across the trailer).  I really like the tandem axels (we have discussed this aspect before).  Its a long trailer and long trailers back more easily.
 
 In addition to the 14SO and 3606 We are looking at 2 other models: Starcraft Gemini and the Coleman Niagra.  My understanding is that the slideout for the Gemini requires stabilization.  Its hilly around here and that could be a hassle on a not very level site.
 
 In New England, we can get some rainy, chilly summer days.  The four models we are looking at have enough space that we can separate DD and DS on rainy days should the need arise.
 
 Rambling Wreck

[got woody?]

 RamblingWreck

DS is only 6 so his aim is not so great. Having shower console will make floor clean up easier.

Love this line!  My boys are 4 and 1 and i never thought of this.
 
 I know the Big E well.  I grew up in CT (Hamden) and familiy is still there.  My brother married a farmers daughter and his family show calves at fairs all summer with 4-H etc.
 
 Keep the posts coming, I am learning a great deal from your search and look forward to the days when we each post our obligatory " I finally bought one!"  messages.

[RamblingWreck]

 got woody?
Small world.  My first job after fininshing college was in Maryland.  I lived in the Mt Washington and Hamden sections of Baltimore.  That was back in 1978 and 1979.
 
 So I am slightly familar with where you currently live.
 
 I ll keep an eye out for your post on tow vehicle and trailer section and the one about which trailer you choose and why.
 
 Rambling Wreck

[Trlrboy]

 RamblingWreck
I talked with a Starcraft dealer here in the Dallas area and was told that pricing had not been set yet for the Centennials.  Did you check out the height of those in the spec sheet?  5 3"  closed.  Pretty high to accomodate those high cabinets.  They do look really different though, don t they?  Not much counter space from what I could see on the 3606.  Lots of room to move around but where do you put " stuff" ?

[RamblingWreck]

 Trlrboy
Bob and Patty,
 
 Thanks for the heads up about counter space.  I hope they have a demo unit at the show next month to check out.   (What ever counter space there is has to be more than we have in the tent, though like most things in life - more is better.)
 
 This is getting to be bizarre.  I quit the job I had in Baltimore in the late 70 s to go to work for a company in Dallas (Richardson, TX to be precise).  I Lived in Lewisville (town house on Lake Dallas with a couple of roommates - the parties we had!).  Later moved to Garland.  
 
 Position opened up in Atlanta and I grabbed it as I was born and raised in GA.  Two years later my company got bought out and I was transferred back to Dallas where I stayed for 5 years.  Fourteen years ago I got transferred to HQ in CT.
 
 Rambling Wreck
 
 (aka Bobby & DW - Patty)

[RamblingWreck]

 got woody?
Jim,
 
 I went to a show today.  There was a Starcraft Factory rep on hand.  The 3606 has not gone into production yet.  Some redesign is going to be necessary.  Location of the slideout conflicts with suspension system requirements.
 
 Looks like they most likely will need to shift the slideout s position rearward.  Other items will need to be shifted to accomodate the move.  The factory rep seemed to think that the refigerator and shower console would exchange locations.
 
 I was initially disappoined about this news as easy access to the refigerator from outside was a big selling point to me.  Then they showed me the under sink ice box (chest).  It slides to either the inside or outside with trailer opened or closed.  When you slide the ice box out it can double as a shelf conveninetly located to your optional RVQ and the outside duplex electrical recepticle.
 
 As it is not in production, firm pricing has not been established.  I pressured them for a target price and was told $12,200 neighborhood is their target.
 
 I got distracted and never got a chance to ask is stabilizers are required for the 3606 slideout.  There will be another show in two weeks up here.  I ll keep you up to date about what I learn.
 
 Rambling Wreck

[dee106]

 RamblingWreck
just a note! if you get the unit with the toliet/shower the top folds down to make another counter top! We had the starcraft pu with the slide and shower/toliet , what we did for extra counter tops space was simple, we bought the hard top, plastic three draw unit, and i kept all my kitchen stuff in it, and when i needed room to lay things on it while preparing food i lifted off the counter and put it on the floor and made two counters! we had three total one for outside stuff, one for clothes and one for kitchen stuff and if i was cooking outside i carried it out side and i had everything in the draws! so i wasn t going in and out,  and i had a place to put stuff on while i was cooking outside. We also kept the T.V. on the other one so it was easier to see it. [] just make sure its the wooden hard top, we got ours at BJ S
 
 we used scissors jacket for the slide out, much easier to use then the ones that are on the unit. that was our only complaint with that unit.  the slide made that unit, opened up a lot of space.