by ClakarEQ » Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:01 am
I think I told this story to tikker a while back but I started with a coleman pop-up and then went with a travel trailer. I love our travel trailer. I've not seen one like it since. One big plus is the two back bunks are full size, not the "coffin" type bunks most have today. So we've got a queen up front and two full size bunks in the back. Has a slide out, etc etc, love the thing.
I've used expeditions and f150 to pull the thing. Unloaded it is 5k in weight, I never haul water but I do probably put a good 500-1000 pounds of "stuff" (food, clothes, bikes, mini-fridge, etc) so I'm thinking my real weight is around the 6k mark.
The f150 does a great job and I tend to only have issues one long steep inclines (Zilwalkee bridge here in MI comes to mind). That bridge, pedal to the floor, I almost slow down, I would fully expect to have serious issues if I were hitting the hills of TN or something.
As for the break harness, I didn't hit any of those links, IMO I would have it installed. The one I have uses a dial to hone it and a button to force it. You have to find that sweet spot on the dial so the camper doesn't tug on you when you break but also that it doesn't push on you at the same time. I've had that situtation where the roads were wet, an asshole cuts in front of you as you come up on a stop light and the feeling of the camper pushing your locked up tires BLOWS (I didn't hit the guy but still, NOT a good feeling).
Ours is a Keystone Lerado '02 (I think, maybe '03)