Newbie from connecticut

Hello All,
Dave here,(I LOVE this forum)eventhou I just joined Today. I have been thinking and looking at the camp-inn teardrops for a year now and I'am ready to order my 560 ultra (loaded). After reading ALL the forums,Internet and talking to cary its time to place my order within the next wk or so. The only worry I have is that I will be towing with a 2008 KIA spectra SX 2.0ltr(automatic) with a MFG rating of 1500lbs with a draw-tite hitch and electric brakes.

My Ouestion is will this be OK ?? and what options do you think are a waste of $$.

any replies please

 

The question is what options are not needed can only be answered by you. What are your needs?
Where do you plan on camping? Primitive campgrounds or full hook-ups?

Obviously you have indicated a loaded model, to me this includes:
AC
TV/DVD
Electric brakes

Do you desire or need:
Hot water on demand
Solar
Side tent
porta potty
generator
shaving mirror
SUV or standard height


Welcome and looking forward to your posts.

Jean

 

Jean, You are correct.
I plan on camping @ state parks,primitive campgrounds and full hook-ups. what I have planed on is A/C,TV/DVD,Electric Brakes,Hot Water on Demand,Side Tents,porta Potti,Propane Gen,Standard height (I dont think I can go with the suv height due to my cars height??),(2) SS tables,Fan,Sunroof,Furnace(Heat),LG Batt,Isolater,Park Brake,Bumper,Windscreens,tank Level,AC/DC cooler,Alcan cover,Spare tire,Gas meter,Cover,25ft hook-up cord,door screens.

Still I have the Question about my car. I haven't seen anyone yet or that can tell me if they tow one with the make of car I have ??

 

Loaded, indeed. Can't think of much you DON'T have planned. Although, have you considered the built-in expresso machine, clothes washer/dryer, dishwasher, hot tub, and satellite dish?

Keep in mind that you will have an opportunity to refine your order between now and when your build is irreversibly underway, and from what I can discern (and from Cary's notes to me while I was at that stage), "mission creep" is commonplace at that stage and to be expected. So you will certainly have a chance, and probably will want to, make changes to your order.

Welcome aboard, Dave! Keep us posted on your plans, and after your purchase, your activities, experiences and recommendations!

 

Dave,

I can't help you with advise about your TV. I have a 2008 Dodge Dakota with a V8. Overkill as Cary says.

Cary has a very good knowledge base of TV capabilities.

Jean

 

Thanks,Jean w & jim
talking with cary you are right some items may change and some will change.

I will keep in touch !!!

satellite dish does sound good.

Dave

 

Dave, I do use a dish with our Camp-inn. I sometimes even use the receiver with an inverter, 100w. The TV is already on the DC system in the camper. I can hike back "home" after full day in the woods to Fox News, Discovery, and the Weather Channel, miles from nowhere.(Who remembers that song?) What could be better?.
Welcome to the forum. Lots of good stuff here.

Steve

 

Dave, welome to the forum. (I just finished adding you to the user's map - check it out.)

My Honda CR-V also has a #1500 capacity. I have a VERY fully loaded 560 and tow with no problems - trailer brakes for sure.
I have never officially weighed my trailer, but I suspect I'm right at the weight limit - who knows, maybe even a bit over when I pack ALL my gear.

How tall are you? If you and your wife are short, then you are probably OK without the SUV option. However, if either of you are close to 6' you will be hitting your head on the hatch unless you get the SUV option. My 560 is 61" high (not including the fan), and my Honda CR-V is 63" to the roof. What is the height of your vehicle? Oh, wait... a KIA spectra? That's my second car. I never thought I'd see anybody towing with one of them. Hmm... it's rated for #1500! Wow! Are you absolutely certain it can tow? I just looked up the towing specs and it said: N/A.

Either way, get the 560 exactly the way you want it. You will have it long after you have traded in your tow vehicle.
Even if it is less, I'm not sure that this would be an issue. Perhaps Cary will weigh in on this...

The option I didn't think was worth the money was the parking brake for $800+. I'd rather just chock the wheels.

 

Evan,

"All your gear", that is good. I bet you are over a bit.

When talking to Dave I looked up the specs for his year Spectra and it does indeed have a 1500lb rating. My concern is more in the way of the power of the smaller displacement engine in it. Would be interesting to see how well it does in hills. I like Dave's comfort level though and he seems pretty competent in his trailering ability. That means alot too.

Cary

 

Evan,
its great to talk to you I have read alot of posts and answers from you.

About our height I'am 5'6" and the wife is 5'8".

Overall height of my KIA is around 58"

About our KIA today we will be going and having the Draw-Tite Class II hitch and Electric Brakes installed today.In my owners manual it states that the "MAX" towing capacity with "electric brakes" is 1500# I think it is on page 5-16 thru 5-23 under Driving Tips.
It goes on about how to drive exc.
The Option that we are not getting is the trailer parking brake due to the weight adding another 35# and the cost of about $800 give or take.

last we have always been camping 1st we camped with a "NIAGRA" series pop-up than to a class "B" and than to a 40' class "A" forest river RV (which has been just sold a few months back), having (4) kids and as they were growing up we had to move up.So by saying that the kids are all grown up now and (no longer living at home) and we all know how teens get and into there 20's,they are no longer interested in camping with mom and dad.

We know that this is going to be a huge change from a class A to a 560 but I'am sure we can adjust.

Dave

 

Cary,
I Hope the 2.0 ltr has enough power !!!. I will have to experiment with my friends trailer and load it up to 1500# and see what happens.

 

To ALL,
OK today I had my 2008 KIA Spectra SX trailer hitch installed. Here is the scoop:

They installed a Draw-Tite Class I hitch (made for my KIA) also a Draw-Tite Activator II Electric Brake Controller and the (7) pin connector which was pre-wired for your standard lights and I also had them wire up the back-up lights and a Inverter. The combined weight of occupants & cargo is 849 lbs and a towing capacity of 1500 lbs. The hitch is rated for 2250 lbs with a tung weight of 125 lbs to 200 lbs but they said that the best ride would be if i can set the trailer tung @ 150 lbs.

My buddy let me pull his trailer with (2) jet ski's which was approx 1400-1600 lbs and it did EXCELLENT !!!!.

I just thought I would let other people who may have a 2008 KIA Spectra SX know that it can be done !!!. the real test will be when I get my 560.

thanks ALL

Dave N.

 

Nice!!

 

Since I am new to towing, I have a question. Under the circumstances described, would it be best for Dave to have as much of his 'gear' in the tow vehicle as opposed to the trailer?

 

Joan,
Anyone Else can correct me if I'am wrong.

The MAX weight that I can put into my car is 849 lbs with myself and my wife our combined weight is 330 lbs - 849 is 519 lbs. so I can put up to 519 lbs of gear but remember that will max my vehicle weight out as stated on the capacity chart on my "B" post piller tag. As far as the trailer the MAX that I can tow by the mfg suggested is 1500 lbs. You never want to go over your Max capacity's.

To put it simple, I think if your trailer is TOO heavy/overweight it will cause your tow vehicle to loose control / unsafe to Drive,also not good for your trans,motor,tires exc.

As far as having too much weight in the tow car again not good for driving bad on the axles,tires,transmission,motor and suspension.

I hope that answers your concerns

Dave

 

That is a great question. I have been wondering the same thing. Where *should* one stow gear if there is a choice?

 

Dave,

Thanks for the information. I think you also need to include the tongue weight in the tow vehicle but I could be wrong. I am interested in what people have to say about jeverhart's question.

 

Given a choice I always recommend in the trailer. This is so you have better control over the weight on the tow vehicle's rear axle. The logic is if you have a limited tongue weight rating on the vehicle, stuff piled in the back can create an overage on the tongue weight. But, if the stuff is in the trailer and you are still maintaining the trailer's tongue weight to trailer weight ratio you end up with a better balanced axle situation. The trailer's axle is rated for 2000lb so you really can carry alot of stuff in the trailer. And you only need 10% minimum of that weight on the tongue. So, if you have a 50lb item and put in the trailer located near the back of the bed it might add about 5lb to the tongue weight the car sees. But, if it is the trunk of the car is adds probably 40lb to the tongue weight. Either way, the car's engine and transmission is still pulling the 50lb down the road.

So, unless you have Hilditch's slick sedan delivery for a tow vehicle which allows a bunch of stuff in the back I say go with trailer.

Cary

 

all,
Cary you are correct the trailer is always a better place.
sorry all I forgot to include the tongue weight on the reply to Joan.

Dave

 

Thanks guys. That makes perfect sense.

Joan