02 Coleman SanteFe For Sale

[camperjohn]

Thats right.  Time for an upgrade.  Anyone in the market or know anyone that would like to buy my Pop Up?  

2002 Colemen Santa Fe
Cassette Potty
Air Conditioning
Heat
Everything works and in good condition.

JC

[tlhdoc]

What are you considering an upgrade?  You might want to post this over in the classified section.  It will get more exposure over there.

[camperjohn]

What are you considering an upgrade?  You might want to post this over in the classified section.  It will get more exposure over there.

We are looking at a Rockwood Roo 23B Hybrid.  Going to try to make a deal tommorow.

[DiW]

Was worried when I saw the title that you were giving up on camping. Glad to hear you're upgrading. Please give us a tour when you get your new camper. I love living vicariously through others. I save money that way .

[camperjohn]

No problem.  We closed the deal yesterday (Friday)  Now we have 2 campers.  We take delivery of the new one on Wednesday.  I am sure my neighbors will love me with 2 campers on our lot.  Hoping to sell the Pop up soon.  Can't wait to show it off.  

JC


[
QUOTE=DiW]Was worried when I saw the title that you were giving up on camping. Glad to hear you're upgrading. Please give us a tour when you get your new camper. I love living vicariously through others. I save money that way .[/QUOTE]

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new camper.  I can't wait to see it in April.  Wish you could make the Easter trip, but I know you have another commitment.

[dademt]

Hey, congrats on the new camper.  The roos look great.  That is the one that switched us over from our popup.  Well, congrats again.

[camperjohn]

Well all I am in deep with this new trailer.  The explorer does not do a good job towing it.  The trucks just toss me all over the road.  Is this normal for towing a travel trailer or is the mass of the explorer just not enough to keep things stable.  I am going to take another test drive this weekend.   Looking for opinions here if anyone has it.  I am due for a new car for myself but did not what to do it at this time.

JC

Hey, congrats on the new camper.  The roos look great.  That is the one that switched us over from our popup.  Well, congrats again.

[SheBantam]

That is a big trailer for an Explorer. I would be hard pressed to tow my bantam with one.  In fact after our trip with the minivan and Cabin A to Myrtle Beach last fall, we are retiring the minvan from towing except for short very local very flat trips.  Gas milage was worse than what we get on the F150.

There is a man who used to camp with us who pulled a 26' Jayco hybrid with an Explorer.  

Try this: overtighten the sway bar...it will scream like a banshee but if tight, it should help reduce the sucking and drawing of the sling shot effect.  You are using a sway bar right?  The slingshot effect is intimidating at first (like the first couple of years) then you get  used to it, that only on rare occasions do you actually feel it.  Overtightening the sway bar helps (beings that I have very little upper body strength the guys might not consider it over-tightened).

You may be feeling the wind resistance also, this is scary at first. And does limit your speed when there is a breeze, no matter how good you get towing the big trailer.

You may have to go to a WDH if you want to keep the Explorer. The dealer told me that with the old F150 (which is actually a year newer than our present F150) a WDH would be overkill with the pick up truck's set up.  The Bantam is an Ultra-light, weighing Dry just a little more than what a Niagra weighs.  Note I said Dry.  This F150 has the small V8 and an automatic, the old F150 had a large V6 and a standard trans.

[dademt]

Well all I am in deep with this new trailer. The explorer does not do a good job towing it. The trucks just toss me all over the road. Is this normal for towing a travel trailer or is the mass of the explorer just not enough to keep things stable. I am going to take another test drive this weekend. Looking for opinions here if anyone has it. I am due for a new car for myself but did not what to do it at this time.
 
JC

I guess the first question is if your weight distribution hitch / sway control is hooked up properly.  If it is, you shouldn't have that much of a problem.  My 1500 isn't to different then yours and my TT grosses close if not well over 7,000#.  I would have problems believing that it will not work for you.  I will email you with my home number if you want to call to ask any questions.

[dademt]

I did a little more checking:

Your camper is 3250# empty, 5082 full
 
Your truck based on the 2008 brochure with a class three hitch has the following:
 
With a 4.0 engine and 3.73 rear you can tow 5225#.
With a 4.6 engine and 3.55 rear you can tow 7130#.
 
So with the 4.0 you are getting close on what it can handle if maxed out for power towing but it seems that the sway is more the concern and I doubt your camper would be an issue if the same chassis can handle a 7130# trailer.  I am still leaning to your sway/weight distribution being the issue.
 
Now, if you are using this to justify a new vehicle, I will prompty stop lending any assistance.  

[copcarguy]

Hey all!
 
Good job Scott! -
 
I have the '07 Ford RV/Trailer book here... https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/2007/07RVTTgdeMay07.pdf
 
4.0 4x4/ 3.73 rear / fact. Class III hitch = 10,000 GCWR, 5,200 max
4.6 4x4/ 3.55 rear / fact. Class III hitch = 12,000 GCWR, 7,115 max BUT deduct 500 pounds from those if you have "Aux Climate Control". The ratings if the Explorer has a Class II hitch are much, much lower...
 
From my experience (think E-250 pulling my hybrid) a contributing factor here is FRONTAL AREA. The Explorer is only rated to have 40 sq. ft aiming into the wind. Nobody thinks about the aerodynamic drag. Sure you might be way under your tow rating, but slamming two brick shaped objects through the wind makes towing less than fun. I can also remember when trucks would pass me in the van with hybrid in tow I would need to have both hands on the wheel. The way those 18 wheelers sucked the hybrid over was unbelieveable... I can only imagine what would happen in an Explorer after what happened to my Heavy Duty 3/4 ton van.
 
Of course the RV dealers will never bring up frontal area when you're buying a camper from them, only if you're within your tow rating. Here is what Ford has to say about frontal area for their 07 trucks: https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/2007/07RVtwequipAug06.pdf
 
Good luck camperjohn! Frontal Area considerations were one of the factors that I went back to a pop-up.

[camperjohn]

You guys are great to have.  I am sure I will get thru this one way or the other.  I am going to try another test drive this weekend and see how I make out.  Maybe it is part getting used to and part WD hitch.  I agree on the frame being able to handle it.  If the engine seems to strain a lot I am going to look to get a bigger tow vehicle.  This was not in the cards but what am I going to do?  

JC

Hey all!
 
Good job Scott! -
 
I have the '07 Ford RV/Trailer book here... https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/2007/07RVTTgdeMay07.pdf
 
4.0 4x4/ 3.73 rear / fact. Class III hitch = 10,000 GCWR, 5,200 max
4.6 4x4/ 3.55 rear / fact. Class III hitch = 12,000 GCWR, 7,115 max BUT deduct 500 pounds from those if you have "Aux Climate Control". The ratings if the Explorer has a Class II hitch are much, much lower...
 
From my experience (think E-250 pulling my hybrid) a contributing factor here is FRONTAL AREA. The Explorer is only rated to have 40 sq. ft aiming into the wind. Nobody thinks about the aerodynamic drag. Sure you might be way under your tow rating, but slamming two brick shaped objects through the wind makes towing less than fun. I can also remember when trucks would pass me in the van with hybrid in tow I would need to have both hands on the wheel. The way those 18 wheelers sucked the hybrid over was unbelieveable... I can only imagine what would happen in an Explorer after what happened to my Heavy Duty 3/4 ton van.
 
Of course the RV dealers will never bring up frontal area when you're buying a camper from them, only if you're within your tow rating. Here is what Ford has to say about frontal area for their 07 trucks: https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/2007/07RVtwequipAug06.pdf
 
Good luck camperjohn! Frontal Area considerations were one of the factors that I went back to a pop-up.

[camperjohn]

Any opinions on a 2003 Expedition for TV?  Looks like from the tow guide it would pull up to 8200 lbs and deal with 60 sq ft of wind area.  

Going to take a look at one this weekend.

JC

You guys are great to have.  I am sure I will get thru this one way or the other.  I am going to try another test drive this weekend and see how I make out.  Maybe it is part getting used to and part WD hitch.  I agree on the frame being able to handle it.  If the engine seems to strain a lot I am going to look to get a bigger tow vehicle.  This was not in the cards but what am I going to do?  

JC

[dademt]

Any opinions on a 2003 Expedition for TV? Looks like from the tow guide it would pull up to 8200 lbs and deal with 60 sq ft of wind area.
 
Going to take a look at one this weekend.
 
JC

Well, we are getting nicole one on monday ( used ) as a backup for our primary tv.  I can't see them being a problem for towing with.  Good luck with it.