I'm working on getting a hybrid!

[griffsmom]

We're getting a Harley!!!!!!!!

Hmmm...you typed Harley, but I'm pretty sure you meant Hardley.

[griffsmom]

I Have Spoken!!!!!!!!!!

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain....

[OC Campers]

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain....

Don't worry, we know who wears the pants in the family.  
 
We are also looking at a new camper.  Unfortunately, we are having a difference in opinion.  I want a hybrid and Randy wants a hard-slide.  We are also having a heck of a time finding dealers that have hybrids in stock.  Everyone stocks tt, moho's and 5-ers.  We are going to go look at the Rockwood Roo and the Jayco this weekend.  We found a Wanderer just like Dee's that the dealer is ready to deal on but we just want to look at everything available.  One problem we have (just like Dave and Lori) is I am 6 ft 2 and my head hits the a/c unit in the roof.  I don't want to remember to duck.  I already crack my head on the door.   There are a couple of makes that now have ducted air and heat.  
 
Jacqui

[griffsmom]

Don't worry, we know who wears the pants in the family.
 
We are also looking at a new camper. Unfortunately, we are having a difference in opinion. I want a hybrid and Randy wants a hard-slide. We are also having a heck of a time finding dealers that have hybrids in stock. Everyone stocks tt, moho's and 5-ers. We are going to go look at the Rockwood Roo and the Jayco this weekend. We found a Wanderer just like Dee's that the dealer is ready to deal on but we just want to look at everything available. One problem we have (just like Dave and Lori) is I am 6 ft 2 and my head hits the a/c unit in the roof. I don't want to remember to duck. I already crack my head on the door. There are a couple of makes that now have ducted air and heat.
 
Jacqui

Hey girlfriend!!! :W
 
Yes, the height in hybrids is definitely a problem for you tall types. The Roo has ducted air and 80" beds which we like for Dave's height, and they make a flooplan which is exactly like the Starcraft we like (one bunk up front and out back and then third bunk on back right hand side). The Roo also comes with heated mattresses whihc sounds lovely on a cold, rainy campout--not that SCCampers ever camps in such conditions.... But the Roo that my mom I looked at didn't have the finishing details that the Starcraft seems to have. In fact, the one end of the couch had a gigantic gap in it so that you could see all the plywood framing. Yuck! The other thing, which is a huge deal breaker for us, is that the nearest Rockwood dealer is in Beaumont about 90 miles away, and I couldn't find a Forest River dealer closer to our home who would agree to work on it if necessary. The Starcraft dealer is 10 minutes from our house (at Traveland USA) so we will probably end up with a Starcraft. I guess I'll just have to put some sort of neon tape on the a/c unit to help Dave remember to duck.
 
The hardsides are nice--especially when I think about setting up and taking down...in the rain.  But we camp with four (mom and Griffin) and so, the hybrids would give us the luxury of space that gets eaten up by the beds in a TT.  Plus we're not fond of the bunkhouse styles--the bunks are so narrow!  I'm not even remotely claustrophobic, but they're too constricting for me!  Dave and I won't make a move to a TT until it's just the two of us, so in about 15 years!

[OC Campers]

We haven't looked at the Roo yet.  I was worried about the craftsmanship.  I will definately pay attention to this when we look this weekend.   I don't think we would go with a solid tt.  It would be a tt with the queen bed slide out.  We really like the Outback but they are pricey.   The Outback we like is right around $22,000. :yikes: .  We can get the Wanderer for about $15,000.

The Roo has some neat floorplans.  We like the 23ss and the 233.  The 233 has 3 queen fold downs.  2 in the front and 1 in the back.  The 23ss has the kitchen and sofa slide out.  I really want a side slide out because of all the extra room you get.  The 3 queen bed model doesn't have a side slide out.  I also really like the Jayco 23B.  Fold downs on each end, couch slide out and a u-dinette.  The weekend we went camping we had 10 people in Zambonies Jayco and there was still a ton of room.
 
At first I wanted a bunkhouse model but we have since changed our minds.  We plan on keeping this camper for quite a while and the kids are all growing up so fast and will be gone before we know it.  I would like to invite my parents to go with us sometime and I can't see them in bunk beds:yikes: .  They will however fit nicely in a queen bed on the end:)
 
Jacqui

[griffsmom]

We liked the Roo 233--same floorplan as the Stacraft Travelstar 21Sb (wood interior-our preference)/Antigua (white interior) 215SB. BUT....Starcraft just came out with a new floorplan, the 23sbs, which still has the same three bunk floorplan we like in the 21sb but it also has a slide out couch across from the dinette and bucco storage.
 
I keep checking to see if the local dealer has one in stock, but no such luck. We want to see the 23sbs in person to see how it measures up against the 21sb. The slideout is awfully attractive--all that interior space!!!
 
Starcraft Floorplans: http://www.travelstarrv.com/travelstar_expandables_floorplans.html
 
+Edited to add: This TN dealer has some pictures of the two models we like (only in the white interior--we like the wood)
 
23sbs: http://www.catheysrv.com/database/inventory_item.asp?id=234883
21sb: http://www.catheysrv.com/database/inventory_item.asp?id=208064

[Camping Coxes]

.... But the Roo that my mom I looked at didn't have the finishing details that the Starcraft seems to have. In fact, the one end of the couch had a gigantic gap in it so that you could see all the plywood framing. Yuck! The other thing, which is a huge deal breaker for us, is that the nearest Rockwood dealer is in Beaumont about 90 miles away, and I couldn't find a Forest River dealer closer to our home who would agree to work on it if necessary.

That's so funny, Lori.  We looked at the Roos at a dealer in Pomona (www.westcoastrvs.com), which is not Beaumont, and we liked the same floor plan you're talking about for us (although we like another one more, but the third bunk is probably going to win out).  I looked at the Starcrafts in Irvine, and I didn't like the couches at all.  There is a big hump in the middle where the back and bottom are supposed to mesh and you'd be sleeping on that when you convert it to a bed.  I felt the Starcrafts cost more for what you're getting and really, really was impressed with Roo's finish work.  One example is the dinette seats.  They have a frame that is not a typical rectangle shape, and the cushion comes out of that frame to make the bed.  So you don't have cushions falling forward on your dinette when it's in use and the dinette has a little bit of styling to it.  Paul was all over and under the trailer and he gave it a thumbs up.  I liked that a lot of the usual optional stuff is standard on the Roo.  If you go out to West Coast, talk to Brian Caswell.  He knew the product, never gave the impression we were taking up his time or he had other things he needed to do, and there was no pressure at all.  We were happy to deal with him while we were there.
 
It's like the example of two people seeing the same accident and then describing it completely differently I guess.

[Camping Coxes]

We liked the Roo 233--same floorplan as the Stacraft Travelstar 21Sb (wood interior-our preference)/Antigua (white interior) 215SB. BUT....Starcraft just came out with a new floorplan, the 23sbs, which still has the same three bunk floorplan we like in the 21sb but it also has a slide out couch across from the dinette and bucco storage.
 
I keep checking to see if the local dealer has one in stock, but no such luck.
 

233 is the one we like too, but even more we like the 23SS. It has so much counter space with the kitchen/couch slide out area and it has a ton of storage near the back bunk in the wardrobe/pantry area. Plus I like the way the back bunk kind of has it's own private area because of the way the bathroom is positioned. If we're confident the kids can continue to deal with sharing a bed (it's a queen, for crying out loud!) , we'll go with the 23SS. If not, we'll sacrifice some storage (a lot actually) and get the 233, which I think is probably smarter to do.
 
Look at me, talking like this will actually happen some day. So Lori, explain how buying the trailer will help your taxes. Remember, I'm self-employed too and I never get that lovely bonus from Uncle Sam in April that all my friends who are not self-employed get.
 
Edit:  I forgot, I was at Irvine and saw the Starcraft you're talking about with the slide.  It was the only one they had and they were prepping it for delivery, but let me take a look.  It is roomy.  I still didn't walk away totally impressed, and in fact, ruled Starcraft hybrids out at that point.

[griffsmom]

That's so funny, Lori. We looked at the Roos at a dealer in Pomona (www.westcoastrvs.com), which is not Beaumont, and we liked the same floor plan you're talking about for us (although we like another one more, but the third bunk is probably going to win out). I looked at the Starcrafts in Irvine, and I didn't like the couches at all. There is a big hump in the middle where the back and bottom are supposed to mesh and you'd be sleeping on that when you convert it to a bed. I felt the Starcrafts cost more for what you're getting and really, really was impressed with Roo's finish work. One example is the dinette seats. They have a frame that is not a typical rectangle shape, and the cushion comes out of that frame to make the bed. So you don't have cushions falling forward on your dinette when it's in use and the dinette has a little bit of styling to it. Paul was all over and under the trailer and he gave it a thumbs up. I liked that a lot of the usual optional stuff is standard on the Roo. If you go out to West Coast, talk to Brian Caswell. He knew the product, never gave the impression we were taking up his time or he had other things he needed to do, and there was no pressure at all. We were happy to deal with him while we were there.
 
It's like the example of two people seeing the same accident and then describing it completely differently I guess.

Pomona? I could do Pomona! We already drive to Ontario for our PU dealer. Actually, I liked the 23SS as well, especially once I saw all that counter space. I have heard, though, about warping issues with the pantry wall right next to the stove from cooking. Not really a concern for me since I don't cook inside the camper. And you're right about storage on the 233--it absolutley sucks! I like that Paul looked it all over--Dave and I aren't very mechanically inclined that way, so we couldlook, but I'm not sure we'd know what we were looking at! Maybe we'll take a little drive out to Pomona and check them out again. Ultimately for us, it'll come down to making a pro and con chart for each brand and model and then figuring out what's most important and which model has the most of those things. But I wonder why West Coast RVs wasn't at the RV show in Pomona? At least I didn't see them and we were hot on the trail on any and all hybrids.
 
You get a second home deduction for a hybrid because it is self-contained and has its own potty and shower.  Cool, huh?

[Camping Coxes]

Pomona? I could do Pomona!
 
But I wonder why West Coast RVs wasn't at the RV show in Pomona? At least I didn't see them and we were hot on the trail on any and all hybrids.
 
You get a second home deduction for a hybrid because it is self-contained and has its own potty and shower. Cool, huh?

I just was looking at all the manufacturer's websites, narrowed it down to what I liked, and then looked at their "find a dealer" section.  Because I'm on the border of LA and OC, I usually will put in an OC zip so I don't end up getting referred to Ventura or something.  That's how I came up with the dealer in Pomona.
 
Hey, that's all I had to do to get Paul to get me a potty and shower?  I think I may call our tax man and see what he says that would mean in a practical sense.

[griffsmom]

I did the "find a dealer" thing too, but it only gave me Beaumont and Hemet for Roo dealers.

[Renee]

The other night I was passing time (aka wasting time) and checked RVtrader.com for trailers, which I do from time to time.  Lo and behold, there was a 21' Bantam hybrid for sale just down the road from me.  I mean, literally, this neighborhood is walking distance from my house!  I called last night and got the lowdown.  The price is good -- she's asking $8K, which means she'll take $7,500, which is right in the NADA price range.  I took Paul by the house today and he said it looks nice, but he doesn't want two trailers in the driveway.  I asked if we could have two just for a month or two while I sell our pop-up (mind you we have a four car driveway, double wide and double deep, but we have three vehicles and the trailer currently).  He just gave me "the look" and then asked if we NEEDED it or just WANTED it.  I hate it when he gets all logical on me!
 
Anyway, keep me in your prayers, that I can figure out how to make this work.  I'm going to call her Friday morning and see if we can go look at it, since tonight, the day before Thanksgiving, she and I probably both have a lot to take care of and there won't be time.
 
One concern Paul had is the difference in towing since the hybrid will be a lot taller.  Dee, Brian, what is your experience as far as a harder load on the vehicles?  My theory is this:  We don't go on long extended trips except once a year where it will be a big factor, we have the manly-man diesel turbo Suburban, and the ease on his back in setting up will be worth the trade in gas mileage.  
 
 
The first two things Emily said about it was, "Ooh, an oven.  We can make cookies!"  And, "Ah, our own toilet."  It's the little things that count.  :p

Hi We have a 21sb travel star hybrid. we had a viking popup prior. and my husband says the  hybrid tows alot better no swaying. we are using the same truck we towed the viking  99 dodge ram it the viking was all over the place.

[Dee4j]

Hi We have a 21sb travel star hybrid. we had a viking popup prior. and my husband says the  hybrid tows alot better no swaying. we are using the same truck we towed the viking  99 dodge ram it the viking was all over the place.

My hybrid tows and backs in much better than my PU did

[zamboni]

Our hybrid, with the Equal-i-zer hitch, tows much better than our Niagara with a single sway bar.

[SheBantam]

It is all in the wheels and where they are. I can't back the Jayco 1006 worth squat...but the 21' Bantam, it may take several trys in a tight (trees planted where the camper should sit) spot. It is double axiled and longer...much much easier to back.

Just brought home a new baby today. an Aliner Cabin A #3. 11' box no canvas, no popping no heavy doors to drop and raise.

I have 3 in the drive, one is for sale (the Jayco) after the Gathering @ the Glen in NY last weekend...Hubby decided it was too much work for me (he did help with the awning) and agreed to let me get this smaller camper since I normally go with COTOC by myself and it is totally plug and play.

We have the Bantam for family things and the Aliner Cabin for me. I wonder when the county is going to start throwing fits...3 campers, 3 sheds, 1 car, 1 minivan and an F150...Oh yes there is a house with an addition on the lot too...