rtguy007

Ordered my shirts a few minutes ago. I ordered a few in my normal size and then a few in the size right above. Did the same for my wife and kids. Figured if something didn't fit, I could either sell it to someone who may have missed the order window on here or just return it.

Fantastic. Can't wait foe the pics. Congrats.

Cant wait to see pics and see how you like it once it is yours.

Things from my purchasing experience last year that bit me in the rear (which is why it was in the shop for 8 months). We bought ours sight unseen and it was still on order from the factory. It was pouring down rain when we picked it up and did the inspection so looking for leaks was easy (and thank god there were none). However, because the service bays were full we had to do the inspection outside. We semi rushed the outside inspection and did a detailed inspection on the inside. Guess where we found problems when we got home (almost 150 miles away). Yep....the outside.

Check the exterior.....check it again....then again......then one last time for good measure. We had a pretty good scratch in the gel coating by the power inlet due to someone hitting it with the saw when cutting the hole at the factory. Also had a really bad warp in the front cap (yeah that one that covers the entire front of the TT). In addition, we had 2 seals that were torn on the slide outs, a roof vent that wouldn't close easily, a stabilizer jack button that was not mounted well, the front storage door had a hairline crack in it, the outside kitchen door had the hinges mounted in the styrofoam with no reinforcement (they eventually tore free and the door had no way hold itself open), and one of our outside doors was very hard to close if the trailer was not perfectly level.

The dealer took care of all of it but some of the parts took months to get in because Rockwood changed the 2015 color schemes slightly from 2014 and the early model 15's had run over parts on them (and we have one of the first 2015's of our model according to Rockwood). The doors and front cap took almost 5 months to get because Rockwood had to special order them in the old colors and that seemed to take forever.

We just got it back a few weeks ago and everything is to our satisfaction for the most part. I am going to have them adjust the kitchen door after our next outing here in a few weeks because one of the latches doesn't seem to grab the latch plate well. Other than that, we love our camper.

If you have the opportunity, and you plan on keeping your camper for years, get the extended warranty. I am not sure what CW offers but when we picked ours up from Tom Raper (which is now CW) we were able to get an 8 year extended warranty that covered everything as long as maintenance was performed. Had $100 deductible and if anything goes wrong, they take care of the rest...including leaks (which is why I got it). I normally don't buy into extended warranties but for the $400 it cost (roughly), it was worth it on a $45k (MSRP and not even close to what we paid) moving box of fun. I did check with the dealership and they do honor the warranty we got from Tom Raper now that it is CW. I called the warranty company and they also said they will work with CW on any warranty repairs.

Good luck and praying that everything works out well for you.

Heres the million dolls question, were you on your way to the fort?

I know more about the windjammer than the Laredo. I have towed a windjammer and it towed very easy on a vehicle where it was at its limits. The vnose helps a lot in the aerodynamic department and also helps to reduce sway. I have towed a unit similar to the Laredo and it was more difficult to tow.

We have a Rockwood 8312ss and have had really good luck with it. We did have one issue which was not a big problem that Rockwood addressed quickly. I prefer the appliance brands in the Rockwood over the ones in the Keystone. Seems to be easier to work on/find parts when needed.

Rockwood is known for not insulating their outside kitchen causing some issues with temp control in the room it bits up against.

Make sure you really need that 50amp service. Not every campground has 50amp access and the only big reason for it is a second ac unit. If you have to use a dog one to get connected to a 30amp only site, you wont be able to use that second ac unit anyway. A single 15k ac should cool the unit well unless you are sitting in the sun and it is 120 outside. It may not be worth the extra cost to have that 50amp and second ac added. Just something to consider.

If I think of anything else I will post it later. Good luck with your decision and welcome to the board.

Ray,

Your idea sounds interesting and cost saving. Going to each country and buying 1 beer and getting an extra cup and splitting it with someone. May work well. I was thinking of betting the BIL a beer from Germany that he couldn't make it all the way around. Knowing him, he would do it, get rushed to the emergency room, and return back to Epcot for that free beer on my from Germany.

I am not a big drinker anymore but the wife still enjoys a drink or two. She said if the BIL does the tour, she is in.

Starting to pull together some things we are wanting to do for our trip coming up. For the past few years, my BIL and Wife have been talking about conquering the beer tour of the world at Epcot. The BIL tried it 2 times starting at Mexico and never made it past Germany both times (something to do with how much he loves German beer). Aside from starting at Canada and going the other way around, what can I recommend or do to get him past the Germany hump? Has anyone on the board been able to complete the tour and how long did it take? Has anyone ever been tossed from Epcot for attempting the tour and getting to sloshed?

Glad to hear everything is working out for you. Hopefully the skylight was a factory install. I would assume that CW would have been able to provide the build sheet for the camper. That would have shown the exact options from Jayco as well. I do think calling the factory with the VIN to confirm is a great way to confirm. Also gives you peace of mind that they will back it if there is any issues.

Post pics once she is all yours.

You can't put a price on the kids happiness. When I grew up, we were at the fort 3 to 4 times a year from the time we were born up to the time we hit middle school. Now that I have kids, I understand why we were there so much. For kids it is a fail proof vacation. Maybe not for the adults at times but for the kids it is. We enjoyed it growing up and the one time my kids have been there (DD at 1 year old and DS at 4 years old) they really enjoyed it (mostly the trips on the monorail and boats which are free).

I know when I make my reservations, I cringe every time I hit the submit button because I see the cost. When I get there I know that we will have a great time. To me it is worth every penny considering the parks available to us in Ohio are fairly expensive if they are not state parks and they offer the basic amenities. We are fairly new to camping so we have not ventured out of Ohio other than the Fort and the Smoky Mountains. There may be good things around us that I don't know, but that unknown may make the kids unhappy which makes the wife and I unhappy.

RTGuy007

Travelzoo has last minute deal going on now for tickets. Not sure if it is a good deal or not compared to other discount sites. Figured I would pass it along if it hasn't been posted yet. I didn't see anything here on it.

http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Orlando/Other/140304

Derek,

If you liked the Gulf Stream, you may want to check out the Rockwood 8310SS. Similar floorplan to the Gulf Stream but it is all aluminum construction.

We have a Rockwood 8312SS and love it. It is well built and had a great list of options and features.

Regardless of what you decide, make sure your town vehicle can pull it safely. Good luck in your search and let us all know what you decide on.

Ryan

We buy our gift cards at Giant Eagle and get the .20 fuel perks. Buy enough to get a free tank of gas, go outside and fill up the truck, go back in and buy another round and save the points. Use the points on the way to the fort to get a second free tank of gas. When hauling the camper, free gas is nice.

Last trip I spent almost an hour on the phone reading off $15 and $25 gift cards. Our local Giant Eagle runs out of $50 and over quickly so I usually buy up their entire stock of smaller cards. That and the small ones make good presents for the nephews who usually go with us.

Thanks,

Ryan

I have a 6yo Siberian Husky that I have fed wellness since day 1. Started out with the yellow bag puppy formula and after a year moved her to wellness core blue bag. She has never been sick or digestive issues a day in her life. My last Husky was fed Pro Plan and she was always sick and passed away at 7yo. I tried her on multiple foods but Pro Plan is what she would eat and tolerate.

Wellness is a bit expensive but we get almost 2 months out of the big bag so I don't feel as bad buying it.

Thanks,

Ryan

Any I nuts in my thought process here? Hoping someone can do a sanity check for me.

Like many of us, we try and find the most affordable way to travel down to the Ft (and pay for the trip at the same time). I think this time I am going to try something new. Normally, I try and snag up gift cards at the local Giant Eagle and normally get them when they are .20 back in fuel perks. I hoard up gift cards throughout the year and then pay for my trip with them (and use the fuel perks to save on gas). During that time, I take the fuel perks and use them at random times throughout the year (sometimes only .20 and others up to 2.00 off a gallon of gas). When we head down next year, I was thinking about timing our gift card purchases with fuel stops at locations that offer fuel perks for buying gift cards. Was thinking it may help ease the pain at the pump when filling up the truck.

Anyone tried this before? Am I crazy thinking this may save a few bucks in gas for the trip? Anyone else found creative ways to save on gas on the way down (I am coming from Ohio)? This past summer we spent almost $1100 in gas when it was running in the high $3 a gallon range (32 gallon tank x 4 fill ups x driving down/up). Hoping next year gas prices continue to fall so I don't feel like I am being stabbed in the gut every time I fill up.

I was thinking about the reno $$$$, didn't even look at the initial purchase price.

Wow I missed that completely. I figured it looked like a pretty clean slate to start with. Minor outside work and most would be updating the interior. Looks like the fridge was replaced recently. I Doubt that was an original.

Ryan

That does look like a nice project!!  But $$$$$$$$$

I have bought 2 campers from them. They have 10k on in but normally sell for 20-30% less than what they have it listed for. I would buy it if I wasn't getting ready to buy land and build a house.

I just noticed that it has a State of Florida Used Vehicle Inspection sticker on it. Think it has been to the Fort? :D

http://www.tomraper.com/rv/richmond+in/airstream+traveltrailer/18728/airstream+airstream+29+land+yacht

Don't find these older Airstreams often around where I live anymore. Outside looks to be in good shape but could use some polishing. Interior needs work but doesn't appear to be to bad. Would be a good project camper.

Ryan

Hmmm... I get that.  Tree limbs, I have to admit, that is the fear I have with our hybrid.  Storage is actually decent in ours (I picked this model over a 3 bed pop-out hybrid because it had a good amount of storage).  As for the ends and keeping the camper cool/hot...we use Pop Up Gizmos and that has made a big difference.  On separation and being stuck inside with bad weather... that is the main reason we'll end up making a change.  Right now, there is no way for the kids to sleep with us inside, unless we too are sleeping.  Also the shower, Tom cannot use the one in our hybrid so with our next choice he will stand up inside it (BEFORE we make the purchase) to make sure that if he needs to/wants to...that he can actually use it.  This is not a big deal at the Fort as their bathhouses are clean, but not all parks have that amenity.

When we replaced our hybrid, it was actually in the shop getting a list of things fixed including the tent end that the tree limb fell on. Replacing it was an impulse buy but the wife and I agreed that we couldn't put our young ones in danger. That one time almost ruin camping for me for life. Took me almost a year on aniexty meds just to cut back on the things that would run through my mind just thinking about going camping. It really sucked. Buying the new camper helped change all that.

We did have a 3 bed hybrid (Palomino 213x). We ended up using the back bunk for storage when we were out the 4 times we had it out. The issue with that model and the back bunk was that there way no AC/Heat back there. You got what the temp was outside in that end. The shower had a cutout in the roof with a skylight that added about a foot out the top of the camper so it made the shower tolerable. Just couldnt figure out how to get rid of the blasted leak around the base. It would get so bad that water would run out under the wall into the living area within 30 seconds of turning on the shower.

Good luck on your search for a new camper if you are looking. It is always fun looking for a new camper.

Ryan

Biggest issue was the incident with a tree limb falling on one of the tent ends. Never could sleep in it after that. I posted a long write up on here under other campgrounds and twin knobs. There are pics as well. Outside of that, we found that there was little storage, shower leaked around the base and the dealer couldn't find an easy fix, with the ends out it was hard to cool during hot weather, and when the 4 of us were in it, it seemed crammed. Those were the biggest issues. I am sure there were others but at this point I have forgot what they were.

The TT has a lot more space and allows us to not be crammed together. Rainy days we can stay separated if we need some space or just sit around the table and play cards. Someone can take a nap in the back or front, close the door, and not be disturbed by someone in the living area.

It has been much easier to sleep in the TT even in the heavy rain/tornado warnings we had the first night we slept in it. I know it is a false sense of security but it feels safer and better protected from falling limbs.

Ryan

What you have (i.e. Class A, TT, 5th wheel): 2015 Rockwood 8312SS Travel Trailer 35'

If you're towing (so TT or 5th wheel) how heavy is it: Sticker say 7400 dry. We load it up to about 8200. Just got it a few months back so have not been to the scales with it loaded yet. Only been on 2 trips so far and both trips we packed pretty light.

If you tow, what is your tow vehicle: 2013 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Sport 4x4, 5.7 Hemi, 3.55 gears, short bed

Gas mileage: 9-12 towing and 17-22 not towing

Do you like it, love it or hate it (this applies to both the tow vehicle and what you're towing (or driving if Class A or C): Love it

If you'd like to make a change, change to what and why: If I could change anything, I would move up to a 2500 longbed with larger gears or just upgrade my 1500 to larger gears. Not sure. The 1500 has a nice ride but I am pushing it to the limits with our TT. When we bought it, we didn't have a camper and there was not one on the horizon. Purchased a Hybrid that weighed in at 5200 loaded and it handled fine. Sister and BIL bought a WIndjammer and I towed it home with my 1500 since their truck didn't have the brake controller installed yet. I was surprised my 1500 pulled their 35' Windjammer as well as it did. Shortly after, we traded in the cursed Hybrid and got our new 8312SS.

The TT, we were back and forth on the 8311SS and 8312SS. For the 1500, the 8311SS would have been better (lighter tongue weight) and I liked the rear bunk house layout a little better. Couldn't find one anywhere close to us to take a look at and we had seen the 8312SS. Ended up buying the 8312SS while it was in build from our dealer (they had ordered it but it had not arrived yet). When we got it home, we found some manufacturing defects in the outside body. We didn't see them when we picked it up because it was raining and crappy outside. They agreed to correct everything with no questions asked. Been in the shop getting everything fixed for about 3 months now. Some of the parts were on backorder from the factory which is what we are waiting on. I guess the best thing is that they are storing it for free while it is there and they didn't charge me to winterize it.

Thanks for all the help. Trip is booked. Arriving 11/22/2015 and leaving 12/4/2015. Requested sites 1312 first then 1310. These were the two sites I was thinking of after reviewing what you guys provided and a few different videos on youtube.

Thanks for the info. The video seemed to help jog my memory. I think it is site 1312 that I remember. I was looking for the site that you can see the camper well from Big Pine Drive. Not sure if anyone knows what I am referring to.

Unfortunately, I have a Windows Phone and no one seems to make apps for that platform. To bad because the phone is a nice piece of technology with very little following. 

Thanks,

Ryan

Anyone have any pictures of these two sites? I was down there in May and forgot to snap some. We are booking out next trip for 2 weeks at the Ft at the end of 2015 and I believe these were the two sites I liked. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks,

Ryan

I am hoping I don't run into this again. We pickup the new TT tomorrow and leave Thursday for a trip to Elkmont down in the Smokies. I am a little nervous about it to be honest.

Didn't see another thread on this so I figured I would start one. Post your pictures of your kids first trip to Disney.

Here is one of my wife and son on his first trip in 2010. We were on the bus headed to the Fort from Ticket and Transportation (we stayed off of Disney property this year).

And here is one of me and my daughter on her first trip back in May (a chance like this only comes around once so I had to do it).