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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / March 2005

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New Fleetwood Niagara

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Mark Jones - 05 Mar 2005 01:06 GMT
I made it home tonight with my new Fleetwood Niagara pop-up.

My 2004 F-150 towed it with no problem, but I could sure
tell that there was some weight back there. I can't imagine
some of the people wanting to tow with a lightweight
vehicle. Way too dangerous.
Cruzrtwdgt - 05 Mar 2005 03:23 GMT
Congrats... Now go camping.  Just make sure a Walmart is nearby so that
anything you forget can be procured.
Mark Jones - 05 Mar 2005 05:27 GMT
> Congrats... Now go camping.  Just make sure a Walmart is nearby so that
>  anything you forget can be procured.
My first camping trip will be in my driveway so I can find out
exactly what I have forgotten. It is time to make a check list
to avoid trouble as much as possible.

I have several Wal-Mart stores and a Cabela's within a fairly
short drive. Plenty of time to get everything before warm weather
arrives.
Gerry Pierce - 05 Mar 2005 11:17 GMT
thats a great idea....  put a notebook out in the camper to write things
down as you discover you need them, on every trip.  It saves the feeble mind
from having to work to hard.  :)

> > Congrats... Now go camping.  Just make sure a Walmart is nearby so that
> >  anything you forget can be procured.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> short drive. Plenty of time to get everything before warm weather
> arrives.
Stan - 07 Mar 2005 22:08 GMT
Find some place else Wal-mart is bad fore America.
>> Congrats... Now go camping.  Just make sure a Walmart is nearby so that
>>  anything you forget can be procured.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> short drive. Plenty of time to get everything before warm weather
> arrives.
Mark Jones - 08 Mar 2005 01:32 GMT
> Find some place else Wal-mart is bad fore America.
Not you too. LOL.
Jim Redelfs - 06 Mar 2005 00:45 GMT
> I made it home tonight with my new Fleetwood Niagara pop-up.

Congratulations!  Is this your first camping trailer?  A 12-ft box, no less.  
That's AT the top.   :)

> My 2004 F-150 towed it with no problem

5.4L V8?

> but I could sure tell that there was some weight back there.

Yeah?  Just wait until it's "wet" and loaded for camping and you'll be even
MORE grateful to have the pickup pulling it.

> I can't imagine some of the people wanting to tow with
> a lightweight vehicle. Way too dangerous.

We put thirteen years with the five of us, on a 12-ft box, top-of-the-line
Starcraft popup.  I pulled it with two V8 station wagons and finally a S10
pickup with the 4.3L V6.

After pulling our first and current travel trailer for two seasons with the
S10, we graduated (understatement) to what we have now (see sig below).  The
lashup is WAAAAY more than needed for what I'm pulling now but will also be
capable of pulling my NEXT trailer.

With gas now over $2US/gallon, I think we may do more local camping this
season.

            :)
JR
Signature

2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000

Mark Jones - 06 Mar 2005 04:02 GMT
> > I made it home tonight with my new Fleetwood Niagara pop-up.
>
> Congratulations!  Is this your first camping trailer?  A 12-ft box, no less.
> That's AT the top.   :)
It is my first one and it is really nice. It is set up in my driveway
so I can check out everything and get used to using it.

> > My 2004 F-150 towed it with no problem
>
> 5.4L V8?

Yes, it is the 5.4L Triton V-8.

> > but I could sure tell that there was some weight back there.
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> With gas now over $2US/gallon, I think we may do more local camping this
> season.

These pop-ups are big enough and heavy enough that I wouldn't want to
pull them with less than a full size pick-up. I had a Ranger before getting
the F-150 and decided that it wasn't a big enough truck to tow what I
wanted.
Mark Jones - 06 Mar 2005 21:45 GMT
> > I made it home tonight with my new Fleetwood Niagara pop-up.
>
> Congratulations!  Is this your first camping trailer?  A 12-ft box, no less.
> That's AT the top.   :)

I just checked the specs because it seemed like the box had to
be longer than 12 feet. It is actually 14 feet. Quite a bit of room
inside with this much length and a slide-out.
Jim Redelfs - 07 Mar 2005 01:13 GMT
> I just checked the specs because it seemed like the box had to
> be longer than 12 feet. It is actually 14 feet. Quite a bit of room
> inside with this much length and a slide-out.

Holy cow!  They really upgraded the old Coleman Niagra.

<http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/specs/specs.asp?model=HINiagara>

           :)
JR
Gerry Pierce - 07 Mar 2005 20:10 GMT
Jim, I was thinking the same thing....

that monster has an OVEN!

>> I just checked the specs because it seemed like the box had to
>> be longer than 12 feet. It is actually 14 feet. Quite a bit of room
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>            :)
> JR
Mark Jones - 08 Mar 2005 01:31 GMT
> Jim, I was thinking the same thing....
>
> that monster has an OVEN!
It has an oven with a 3 burner range, a built-in microwave
and a 3 cubic foot refrigerator. There is also an automotive
AM/FM CD player built-on. The most interesting thing is that
there is now a hard side bathroom enclosure that comes
down real easy when it is time to put the top down.

Here are 2 pictures of what I bought. One sitting in the driveway
with it opened, and the other with it stored in my garage. The
garage entry was interesting because I had about 2 inches
clearance on each side. There is about 1.5 feet of clearance at
the back where the tire is located. I took it real slow and got out
a lot of times to make sure everything was clearing the garage opening.

http://home.mindspring.com/~mejones/Fleetwood_Niagara_20050305.jpg

http://home.mindspring.com/~mejones/Fleetwood_Niagara_20050307.jpg

I am going to set up a small website as soon as I get more pictures
taken. Especially some indoor pictures.
Jim Redelfs - 08 Mar 2005 01:39 GMT
> http://home.mindspring.com/~mejones/Fleetwood_Niagara_20050305.jpg
>
> http://home.mindspring.com/~mejones/Fleetwood_Niagara_20050307.jpg

Nice pics.  Are those REAL aluminium wheels?  If yes, what's the story there?  
(Are they an option?)

              :)
JR
Mark Jones - 08 Mar 2005 03:42 GMT
> > http://home.mindspring.com/~mejones/Fleetwood_Niagara_20050305.jpg
> >
> > http://home.mindspring.com/~mejones/Fleetwood_Niagara_20050307.jpg
>
> Nice pics.  Are those REAL aluminium wheels?  If yes, what's the story there?
> (Are they an option?)
Those are real aluminum wheels and they are standard.
Gerry Pierce - 08 Mar 2005 14:41 GMT
dude, that is an awsome trailer.  I am liking it more and more.  I was
tempted to get a hardside, but now am rethinking  and may go this route.

happy camping, gerry
Mark Jones - 08 Mar 2005 17:38 GMT
> dude, that is an awsome trailer.  I am liking it more and more.  I was
> tempted to get a hardside, but now am rethinking  and may go this route.

It is a very good alternative if you don't mind the soft sides.
There is a lot more interior room than I expected.

It is supposed to be warm here in KC this Saturday, so I
might pull it out and set it up again. This time I will remember
to take some interior photos. The best thing about this one
is that the counters are at standard residential height and
they stay in place at all times. No need to rotate them out
of the way because of the height of the trailer sides.

I was original looking at a Hi-Lo, but they were too expensive
for my part time use. This one is plenty good enough for
me to want to use it a lot.
meldx - 08 Mar 2005 13:25 GMT
yes...and wait that you fill in the trailer with your stuff....

Mel

Mark Jones a écrit:
> I made it home tonight with my new Fleetwood Niagara pop-up.
>
> My 2004 F-150 towed it with no problem, but I could sure
> tell that there was some weight back there. I can't imagine
> some of the people wanting to tow with a lightweight
> vehicle. Way too dangerous.
Mark Jones - 08 Mar 2005 17:34 GMT
> yes...and wait that you fill in the trailer with your stuff....
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> > some of the people wanting to tow with a lightweight
> > vehicle. Way too dangerous.
I don't intend to place hardly any additional weight in the
trailer. I will try to limit the additional weight to about
100 lbs. The rest will go in the truck.
lfm - 09 Mar 2005 03:16 GMT
>> yes...and wait that you fill in the trailer with your stuff....
>>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> trailer. I will try to limit the additional weight to about
> 100 lbs. The rest will go in the truck.

your towing capacity includes your gear inside the vehicle and the weight of
your passengers.

Laura
Mark Jones - 09 Mar 2005 04:38 GMT
> >> yes...and wait that you fill in the trailer with your stuff....
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> your towing capacity includes your gear inside the vehicle and the weight of
> your passengers.
I could toss 1000 pounds in the back of my truck and still be below
its weight rating including the hitch weight of the trailer. I won't be
getting anywhere close to this. The GVWR of the truck isn't going
to be an issue as I will stay at least 1000 pounds below what it is
rated for. I will be at less than 50% of the truck's rated towing
capacity.

It is just me and a 10 pound dog in the truck. No other passengers.
This gives me a little extra carrying capacity. I will also be towing dry.
I will get my water at the campground.
Tony Wesley - 09 Mar 2005 05:26 GMT
> It is just me and a 10 pound dog in the truck. No other passengers.

Ten pound dog?

If you took this passenger, you might be pushing your weight limit a
little.  <grin>

http://wideopenwest.com/~awesley5155/img/mischief_01.jpg
Jim Redelfs - 09 Mar 2005 13:41 GMT
> I could toss 1000 pounds in the back of my truck and still be below
> its weight rating including the hitch weight of the trailer.

You have recently indicated that you plan to tow the new camper virtually
empty.  Beware that Coleman/Fleetwood trailers, particularly those with
floorplans that have the entry door AFT of the axle, are more disposed to
trailer sway than others.

I am confident that, if this were put to a proper test, it would easily
surpass any anecdotal disregard.

If you load ANYTHING on the camper, put it as far forward as possible.

How far and how FAST did you go when you towed it home?  Was there any sway
that you recall?

> I will also be towing dry.
> I will get my water at the campground.

I usually tow with my 30-gallon fresh water tank FULL of the water we are used
to from home.  Although we USUALLY use the cheap gallons of W-M Drinking Water
for taking pills and making coffee, I always keep the on-board fresh water
system clean enough to drink from.

Also, the 6-gallon water heater is full as are the two, 5-gallon "shuttle"
casks I use.  The casks, however, usually ride in the back of the pickup - as
far forward as possible.  Occasionally, just the two of us make it through two
nights and almost three days with this amount of fresh water.

In my popup days, I once discovered almost a cup of SAND inside each of my
water casks.  The old, state campgroundwe had visited was pumping a lot of
sand from its <ahem> "sandpoint" well.  I spent a few hours cleaning-out the
water system on the camper.  A word to the wise...

As you have said, your truck will barely be at 50% of its tow rating.  Towing
the camper with a full water tank might even IMPROVE handling.  It certainly
won't have much of an effect on MPG.

Have fun!
                :)
JR
Signature

2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000

Mark Jones - 09 Mar 2005 18:06 GMT
> > I could toss 1000 pounds in the back of my truck and still be below
> > its weight rating including the hitch weight of the trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> How far and how FAST did you go when you towed it home?  Was there any sway
> that you recall?
There are two 20lb propane tanks and a large deep cycle battery
mounted on the tongue of the trailer. This should help improve
the percentage of the total trailer weight that is on the tongue.

On the way home, I had it up to just over 65mph for a brief period
on the interstate. I use an anti-sway hitch and didn't notice anything
at all, even when other vehicles would pass. I stayed in the right
lane and drove at 60 mph most of the way home.

> > I will also be towing dry.
> > I will get my water at the campground.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> far forward as possible.  Occasionally, just the two of us make it through two
> nights and almost three days with this amount of fresh water.
I will probably keep some water in the system instead of totally draining
it. I will ask my dealer later in the week if they have any ideas about what
works best. I have to go back and pick up the final paperwork so I can
go get my license plates. The trailer will be stowed safely in my garage
until then. I have three 7 gallon casks for water and will fill at least one
of these before I leave home. That way I won't have to be looking
for water right away.

> In my popup days, I once discovered almost a cup of SAND inside each of my
> water casks.  The old, state campgroundwe had visited was pumping a lot of
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the camper with a full water tank might even IMPROVE handling.  It certainly
> won't have much of an effect on MPG.
I reset my fuel computer coming down the interstate and averaged about
15mpg on the highway. That went down real fast when I spent a lot of time
trying to get it lined up properly in my driveway. I have forgotten most
of what I used to know about backing a trailer, but it is coming back
fairly quick.
 
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