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A new Travel Trailer?

Shaners

By Shaners
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Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
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I currently own a 1998 Jayco 314BHS (31'8") and am seriously considering trading on a new '04 Jayco 298BHS (32'6"). Both travel trailers are the Eagle models with lot's of options. The new one would have fiberglass sides and alot of other goodies including a built in Dolby 5.1 sound system. Here's the layout of the new TT.

 

model_floorplans_pic_166.jpg

blue2kzr2 Enthusiast

blue2kzr2

Posted
Posted

My parents LOVE camping. They're leap-frogging trailer size and trucks. Had a 26' Sunline with a G20 conversion van, then upgraded to another brand truck (5.9L engine and 3.92 rear axle will give that away), an SUV. Now they have a 2 year-old 28' trailer and a new 2500 pickup on order, with a 5.7L engine and 4.10's. I couldn't sell him on a Chevy for his new truck, but he looked at a few.

 

Best part was when they got home from a trip cross-country, they used a pop-up, they weren't comfortable towing the TT over the mtns., my mom said "I'm NOT doing that in a pop-up again, let's go look at bigger trucks". I think my dad left tire marks in the driveway....

 

Cool that you're looking to upgrade the trailer. Careful with the length. Some friends of ours were towing a trailer the same length but heavier than my parent's, with a 4-Runner. Trailer rode higher, it had slides like your new one would. Wind caught it on the return from a campground, they left it there all summer and had used it a few times the first year, started the trailer swaying he couldn't get control of it and the trailer flipped right off the vehicle. They got lucky.

 

I enjoy meeting up with my parents some of the places they go. The camraderie among campers is incredible, and really cool that you can sit down and share camping stories and talk with them like old friends even when you just meet them. We have some favorite campgrounds and make an annual trip to at least one.

tps0424 Enthusiast

tps0424

Posted
Posted

I did it yesterday. I traded my 2001 Sunline 2980 (30'4") for a 2003 267SR (27'7"). The new trailer has a slide and it is a leftover so we got a really good deal. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
  • Author
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Just curious, but what's wrong with the one you have? It sure looks nice to me. :thumbs:

There's really nothing wrong with the one I have now... It has been a great and trouble free vehicle. It also has an electric 14' slide-out and a very similar layout except it has a rear bathroom.

 

We're just looking to upgrade to a unit with a larger bathroom, and the bottom bunk is a double bed as opposed to the two small bunks I have now. (Darn kids keep growing!!!) The new model also has a true "sofa bed".

 

Also I would love to have fiberglass sides. As it is now, it takes about 6 hours to wash and wax the aluminum sides because of the "hills and valley's".

Shotgun Enthusiast

Shotgun

Posted
Posted
Also I would love to have fiberglass sides.  As it is now, it takes about 6 hours to wash and wax the aluminum sides because of the "hills and valley's".

I feel your pain.I have been looking too. Those d**n black streaks are my enemy :thumbs:

Shotgun Enthusiast

Shotgun

Posted
Posted

I have been looking too and I think the two best family friendly floor plans out there are the Jayco 298BHS and the Dutchmen 31BK-DSL. Here is a layout of the new Duchmen floorplan.I really like it.

 

45836075.jpg

 

 

 

45837714.jpg

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
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Shotgun, I like the shower in the Dutchman, but I still give the girls a bath, so I need a tub unit.

 

I'm leaving it up to my wife, and she thinks we need a new one, so if she gets the T's crossed and the I's dotted, I'm guessing we'll be ordering a new 298BHS.

 

I ordered a new 30' Coachman in '93 qand traded it on my Jayco, and the Jayco has been a better unit, so I'm guessing we'll stick with Jayco for now...

 

Maybe when the kids are gone, We'll look at a Travel Supreme 5'er!!! :shakehead:

Greg Senior Enthusiast

Greg

Posted
Posted

My wife and I will probably buy some type of RV when the last kid is gone and we sell the vette. Since she uses a wheelchair, we'll probably get a travel trailer from someone like Sunline that will build accessible units. However, my wife wants a small motorhome that we can also use for day trips. Decisions, decisions...

 

 

Shaners, if you want a 5'er, you don't you go with a bunkhouse model now?

 

http://www.sunlinerv.com/sec_showroom.cfm?...d=134&prdctid=4

 

http://www.jayco.com/html/catalog/floorpla...d=35&mod_id=162

 

http://www.jayco.com/html/catalog/floorpla...d=35&mod_id=256

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
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Posted

Greg, I almsot bought a bunkhouse 5'er last year, but the reason I decided against it because I use the bed of the truck too much now hauling bikes and firewood and stuff.

 

A fifth wheel would be much easier to manuver though...

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