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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / January 2008

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Starcraft hybrid

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Chris Cowles - 10 Jan 2008 15:18 GMT
"miles" <nope@nopers.com> wrote in message
news:6kfhj.27685$Gr4.4614@newsfe08.phx...

> My current 2004 Starcraft Hybrid weighs just under 5,000 lbs loaded
> with
> water and to me gives far more space for the weight than most of
> todays
> popups.

Would you care to describe your selection process? I've been in
pop-ups since I was a kid. We've done the same with my kids for ~12
years but I'm tiring of the setup hassles and my wife wants an indoor
shower.

We bought a new TV a year or so ago with allowance for a hybrid. We've
walked around in a few and got the feeling that, for long-term
ownership, we'd end up with something in the 21-23 foot range. We're
not in the market immediately but I'd appreciate any shared wisdom.

We have a 12- and a 15-year old and want to allow for them to bring
friends.
Signature

Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

Wesley - 11 Jan 2008 00:55 GMT
The indoor shower can be found in the bath house at the campground...  ;-)
We just upgraded to a larger (from 18ft to a 20.5ft) travel trailer last
spring.  The old one had a bathroom that was a joke in size.  The new one
has one with a smallish tub sort of thing.  I've only used it once, and that
was at a campground with pretty yucky bathrooms.  It was only moderately
worth it...the trailer shower is just too small.  Of course I'm also 6'
tall...

If I was in the market to actually buy something brand new (or something
newer than late 80's to early 90's), I'd be looking hard at a hybrid.  We
camp a lot without hookups, and sometimes at the beach, so lots of airflow
is a must.  The newer trailers have no windows to speak of...it's just
crazy.  We looked in a 24' Fleetwood (can't remember the brand) hybrid
probably 2 years ago at the local dealership.  We both absolutely loved
it...it had a bunk out the front and one out each side at the rear, plus a
small slideout where the sofa was on the side.  It was enormous inside, and
weight was only like 3900#.  Plus the bunks had big screen openings to let
air through.  But...I'm not sure we could ever use it enough to justify the
20-25k price tag on it!!

As for the kids and friends...just do what my parents did when my brother &
I got old enough...we slept in tents.  It was great having your own space.
Of course we always camped at places with decent sized campsites where you
had some elbow room...  But, I see you're in FL, so I guess it could get a
bit too hot for that...

Wesley

> Would you care to describe your selection process? I've been in
> pop-ups since I was a kid. We've done the same with my kids for ~12
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> We have a 12- and a 15-year old and want to allow for them to bring
> friends.
Chris Cowles - 11 Jan 2008 02:43 GMT
> The indoor shower can be found in the bath house at the
> campground...  ;-)

That argument's losing ground in my house.
Signature

Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

miles - 11 Jan 2008 01:56 GMT
> Would you care to describe your selection process? I've been in
> pop-ups since I was a kid. We've done the same with my kids for ~12
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> ownership, we'd end up with something in the 21-23 foot range. We're
> not in the market immediately but I'd appreciate any shared wisdom.

Hybrids offer the greater sleeping room over a traditional trailer but
all the other amenities.  I have really enjoyed ours.  The setup time is
about 1/2 that of a popup, maybe much less.  Much of the setup time in
our popup was from unpacking all the gear we stored on the floor.  In
the hybrid everything is stored in cabinets making setup time quick and
easy.

We picked the Starcraft Travelstar 21SSO.  It's also available in a
white interior as the Antigua 215SSO.  Its about 22' closed and has a
super slide out (Sofa and dinette) making the floorspace quite roomy.

Like a popup it has 2 queen sized beds.  The sofa folds out to a bed but
I feel its only adequate for a child.

The bathroom is small but more than enough room for the toilet, shower
and a sink.

This size trailer is easily pulled by a 1/2 ton truck with a decent V8.
 I have pulled mine with a Dodge 1/2 ton 5.9L and a Hemi Durango.  Both
pull it with ease.
Chris Cowles - 11 Jan 2008 02:51 GMT
> ... Much of the setup time in our popup was from unpacking all the
> gear we
> stored on the floor...

Indeed. That's one of things that aggravates me most.

> ... We picked the Starcraft Travelstar 21SSO.  It's also available
> in a white interior as the Antigua 215SSO...

Is there a difference between Starcraft and Antigua, besides color?

> ... The bathroom is small but more than enough room for the toilet,
> shower and a sink.

I've seen some where the shower is the whole bathroom. That's a bit
smaller that I'd like. If I'm getting a bathroom I want the shower
separate, at least, even if I can't spread my elbows much.

>  I have pulled mine with ... a Hemi Durango.

Which is what my TV is.

Thanks.

Signature

Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL
2005 Hemi Durango pulling a 2000 Coleman Mesa.

miles - 11 Jan 2008 03:15 GMT
> Is there a difference between Starcraft and Antigua, besides color?

Starcraft makes the Travelstar and the Antigua line of hybrids.  They
are identicle except for color schemes.  The Antigua has a white cabinet
interior while the travelstar is a more traditional wood finish.

> I've seen some where the shower is the whole bathroom. That's a bit
> smaller that I'd like. If I'm getting a bathroom I want the shower
> separate, at least, even if I can't spread my elbows much.

Ya, my old popup was like that.  Just a shower curtain around a pan that
contained the potty.  My hybrid has a conventional bathroom with solid
walls and door, seperate shower, toilet and sink.

> Which is what my TV is.

The Hemi Durango is a great tow vehicle.  Especially if you have the tow
package as it comes with an auxillary engine and transmission cooler.  I
pull in steep mountains in very hot summers without trouble.  5,000lbs
pulls very well but I'd stay under 6,000 loaded if you live where there
are steep grades.  If you live in Kansas etc. then up to 6,500lbs loaded
would be fine.
Chris Cowles - 12 Jan 2008 06:40 GMT
>If you live in Kansas etc. then up to 6,500lbs loaded would be fine.

Even flatter: Florida. But my goal of having a hybrid is to get OUT of
Florida. Longer vacations being taken in summer, we seek mountains to
escape the heat.
Signature

Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

miles - 12 Jan 2008 22:34 GMT
>> If you live in Kansas etc. then up to 6,500lbs loaded would be fine.
>
> Even flatter: Florida. But my goal of having a hybrid is to get OUT of
> Florida. Longer vacations being taken in summer, we seek mountains to
> escape the heat.

Out west its common to be pulling 6%+ grades for 15-20 mile stretches in
105F+ temps.  My Hemi Durango handles our 5,000lb (loaded) hybrid very
well. In these conditions I'm not sure how much heavier I'd go.  Maybe
up to 6,000lbs tops.  I like to pull these hills without having to shift
to 1st gear and crawl.  Currently I can pull the steepest grades in 2nd
gear at 45mph.  It will go faster but the RPM's get too high.  On the
flats or moderate grades I can pull our trailer pretty much as fast as I
want to go.  I average right about 12mpg towing at 65mph.
Chris Cowles - 12 Jan 2008 23:50 GMT
> Out west its common to be pulling 6%+ grades for 15-20 mile
> stretches in 105F+ temps.  My Hemi Durango handles our 5,000lb
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I can pull our trailer pretty much as fast as I want to go.  I
> average right about 12mpg towing at 65mph.

Good news. Thanks.
asadi - 30 Jan 2008 10:43 GMT
>> My current 2004 Starcraft Hybrid weighs just under 5,000 lbs loaded with
>> water and to me gives far more space for the weight than most of todays
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> We have a 12- and a 15-year old and want to allow for them to bring
> friends.

I had a Jayco Kiwi...loved it...especially when I was doing a solo road trip
(I do a lot of fishing)...in a one night location I would not even unhook or
set up, just sleep on the sofa bed and I had plenty of room.  Early
retirement forced me to consider a few things....

I don't even notice the pop-up that I have now, when I am towing (wish I had
a smaller engine - I bought the van specifically to tow the hybrid).  But,
with the hybrid, my mileage was cut in half at best....add in the insurance
and storage fees...it does require a little more maintenance....

I liked the Jayco but found some of the finish parts....curtains, fold out
step, cabinet drawers to be on the cheap side and I was always have to
re-secure screws and the sewing on curtains and such....good structure,
corners were cut on final assembly.

john

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