RE: We bought one too, now I d like some advice?

[fivegonefishing]

 
It was totally unexected, we only went to the show looking for a bike rack, oh well, guess down deep we knew what we really wanted.
 
 So what is the transition like?  Going from a pop up to a hybrid.  Our floorplan is pretty much just like the Kiwi 23B except instead of a rear pop-out we have three bunks aginst the end wall.
 
 We won t take delivery until probably late March. I m not too sure what to expect like where will I put everything or how well does it really travel?  Do you put food in the fridge to travel?  Is the furnance enough or do you need a ceramic heater as well?
 
 So manny questions...
 
 Thanks,
 
 Tammy

[BRADWAX69]

 fivegonefishing
QUIT SHAKING AND TELL US WHAT YOU BOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!

[BRADWAX69]

 fivegonefishing
SORRY, DIDNT LOOK AT BOTTM OF POST.

[campertime]

 fivegonefishing
Tammy - welcome to the world of expandables.
 
 Checked out your new trailer online ( http://www.palominorv.com/s235-sl.shtml ) That floorplan should fit your family perfectly.
 
 To answer your questions....
 1- You will find a place for everything and more
 2- Our kiwi travels very well with the Equal-i-zer Hitch. Gas mileage suffers a bit more and backing in is a little trickier. Make sure you look up while backing into places.
 3- Yes we cool down the fridge and load it up with food before we go.
 4- Furnace works well you shouldn t need a ceramic heater, maybe turn fan on to circulate the air.
 
 No you can start planning until your trailer arrives []

[Y-Guy]

 fivegonefishing
First of all congratulations!
 
 We always pack food in our fridge, though if its partially full you may find things tossed around a bit.  If you can pack it full or use small boxes, tupperware to limit how much things can move around.  During setup we always plug in, so our fridge operational on 110v so its really no big deal to precool it and doesn t take long either.  So far I ve had no need to drive with the propane on for the fridge things stay cold/frozen just fine.  Remember, no 12v fridge anymore.
 
 We found room for everything in our PU and then some.  Takes a few to figure out where you want items (inside/outside).  
 
 Furnace works fine, I am going to reroute one of the heat ducts to the back bunk as it gets pretty cool.  With hooks ups the ceramic heater is better, since it saves your propane, two would keep ours very hot on a high setting.  
 
 You ll see your mileage drop, but its part of the give and take.  Backing is a bit harder, need to practice all over again.  Get a good WDH hitch though, most of the hybrids exceed the hitch tongue weight without a WDH.

[SheBantam]

 fivegonefishing
The biggest diference is in the towng and backing. Set up and take down with front and back pull downs is negligible.
 
 The drag is a lot more, it feels like being sucked back and the drawn forward when a big truck (amazingly even a fast mini van) passes. It is also wider. I have the older one that is 7 3"  wide, the popup was about 6 8"  or so.
 
 Also the Jayco, I could unhook and push into place. Not so with a double axile. I also have to get a lot closer to hook up. The Jayco, it was eay to tug it ove a few inches, the Bantam, I can tug a couple of inches, but I have to be right over the ball and just adjusting.
 
 Backing a 10  box is a lot different than backing a 17  or 19  box, and you cannot see over it.
 
 These are all adjustments that you can easily make (I know I did). We also do not have to popout if we do not want to.
 Enjoy

[Camper Dan]

 fivegonefishing
Hi five[],
 
 Our transition was from a tent to a hybrid![]  But then, I d owned/towed a couple of boats in years past.  The big things, when towing, are the weight, wind resistance and size.  It s slower to accelerate/decelerate and you need more room to turn, pass and pull over.  The " bow wave"  effect is more noticeable when passing/being passed by semis.  The greater the difference in speed, the greater the effect.  Also, Jayco recommends not towing their unit over 55 MPH.  I try to drive near that as much as possible.  You just shouldn t go tearing down the highway at 70-75 MPH, like I ve read how some people do with their popups.
 
 Our trailer weighs about 4700 lbs. loaded for a trip and our F-150 Super Cab weighs about 5300 lbs. loaded with us in it.  That s 10,000 lbs. heading down the road.  If we take the Interstate...well, we have slowed down to 40 MPH when going up some of the steeper/longer Interstate hills.  Gas mileage goes way down, too.  But then, if we were really worried about gas mileage and/or driving 70-75 MPH...we d still be camping in a tent, right?[]   We prefer driving the back roads.  The down side to that is when you get stuck on a two lane road behind someone for 25 miles whose s doing 40 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. []  You have to be very selective how/when you pass.
 
 It is very easy to keep things organized with all the storage areas you find in a hybrid.  I lined the outside storage areas with plastic door mats from Wal-Mart...they protect the flooring and make it easy to keep clean.  We ve got all different sized plastic tub for storing goodies.  I bought several small tool boxes for all the little trailer gadgets to go in...we have it organized: water stuff, electrical stuff, towing/hitch stuff, awning stuff, plus even a few tools.[]  I got one of those flat clear fishing tackle boxes for storing spare trailer light bulbs (interior & exterior) and fuses.  The tool boxes really help out.[]
 
 I got a deal on some backpacker sleeping PADS...$4.99 each...20"  X 72"  X 1/2" .  I place these under/around items stored in the trailer aisle to keep the wood doors/walls/flooring from getting scratched/gouged while traveling.  It also keeps them from sliding around.  
 
 Get youself a set of those " stick-on"  levels.  I placed my T-level (or a round level will work) in the fridge on a shelf...because the most important thing you want level is your fridge... and then leveled the trailer, before I stuck the levels on the outside. (Note: My fridge is located over the axles).
 
 You ll want to weigh your trailer and tongue to adjust the load so you ve got it right.  I loaded my trailer and found the tongue to weigh 850 lbs., so I had to reposition stuff to get it down to 650-700 lbs. (truck is rated for 700 lb. tongue wt.).  I also had to re-adjust the ball mount height and increase the tension on the spring bars to get the truck and trailer closer to level when towing.  Not to fault the dealer...they set it up the hitch with an empty (lighter) trailer...then I added about a 1/2 ton of stuff.[]
 
 We travel with food in the fridge.  We ve got a set of those fridge shelf spring bars to keep things in place.  I go over to the trailer the night before a trip...hook up the battery and start the fridge in gas mode to pre-chill it.
 
 We bring a ceramic heater along to help heat.  It doesn t make as much noise as the furnace does when it cycles on.  I also made up some solar bunk end covers with " Sportmans Blankets"  and plastic clamps. So simple and cheap...and works so well.[]
 
 We found a good quality " gas match"  for lighting the HWH, outside stove and oven.  Refillable  with a replaceable " AA"  battery.
 
 The list of stuff goes on and on.  Lynx levelers are great to have...we now have 3 sets and there have been a few occassions which required us to use them all.[]
 
 Hope this helps![]