twiceblessed....nacole

Well, you could run the vin and get a list of factory options. Or check under the hood to see if a transmission cooler is installed in addition to the receiver hitch and 7-way plug.

 

Trans cooler will be located between transmission lines and radiator, if present.

Thank you! :)

You may also want to look at the Ford Expedition as you will likely find one newer with less miles at the same price as the Lincoln Navigator.

 

Tahoes/Suburbans do a good job.  Look up Trailer Life's tow guides for the year vehicles you are considering to be sure what specs the vehicle needs to have for a specific tow rating.

 

Buy one that already has a factory tow package. Have a brake controller installed.

 

Equal-i-zer hitch is a good and easy to use weight distributing/sway control option.  

How do you know, if it is the "factory tow package"?  I'm guessing that's different, than if someone just installed a hitch (or is it called the receiver??)??

MLM5-Judy has an Armada and a hybrid. I know she gets really busy with work and family so might not see this thread right away. I would PM her and get her opinions.

Thanks... just sent her a msg :)

If you leave the valves open and drive really fast on I-4, the tanks will be empty by the time you are out of Orlando.

You know you're a redneck.... if found this funny  :rofl3:

Darn.  I was hoping that you'd have something interesting to report.  I doubt there will be any issue.  I hope that you are successful in being assigned to the 1500 loop.  Have a great trip.

 

Oh yeah, I just remembered a photo I have of a hybrid set up in the 1500 loop.  I took this photo to show Fort CM's delivering firewood, which the front desk may tell you is not a service offered, but it also shows a hybrid trailer on the 1500 loop:

 

 

TCD

Man I love you.... :)

 

So, you have to look carefully at any Tahoe you may like to determine it's exact capacity while most of the others even at their low end will tow a 4,000 load.  I suggest that you research the towing aspects (it is a confusing subject) to make sure you don't make a mistake.  The Trailer Life Towing Guides are a wonderful starting point.  Read the stuff at the end as it talks about hitch systems, brake controllers and the like.

That's a really great reminder...thank you Tim.  We we definitely keep this in mind, when choosing the vehicle.

 

 Are you buying from a private individual or a dealer, maybe they will include what you need.

Individual...

If you do make that call, please report back with what you are told.  The information that CM's pull up on their screens is probably the same as what's on the official site available to the general public, which says that the tent sites are for tents, pop-up campers and van campers.  The site says travel trailers and motor homes cannot be accommodated on these sites.  Nothing about hybrid campers.  I would be interested to hear what the CM says to you.

 

TCD

I've booked our last two trips through AAA so...I don't think Disney can look at the reservation (or at least that's what they've told me in the past when I've called).  What I'll do, is advise our AAA agent and ask him to update the reservations from notes indicating a tent to a hybrid.  When we were there last week, there was a small hard shelled camper in the 1500 loop so, fingers crossed that it's not an issue....

We're doing a final inspection on a hybrid this weekend; praying all goes well as I think we've finally found something that's a really good fit for our family. :)

Now, it's onto a tow vehicle.  As the trailer is light (under 4000 lbs), we've decided to look at an SUV.  We think the space will work best for us.  We are considering the following (any input from my fiends, would be warmly appreciated) all used with 75K-125K miles:

Nissan Armada

Lincoln Navigator

Chevy Tahoe

Infiniti QX56

My favorite is the Armada (I like the style and size), but Tom has found several decently priced Navigators so...

Question that I have, is the hitch and drive.  A requirement for the vehicle we purchase, is the tow package and hitch however (warning: newbie question), I think we have to have the ball mount and hitch ball installed.  Is this correct?  And, if so, is there one that is better than the other?  Our driveway is very steep and in order to park the trailer, we will have to drive it in at a sharp angle... in case that means anything when buying the mount/ball.  Also, is AWD important?  We live in Georgia, so (typically) not a lot of snow...but the idea of rear wheel drive only, does make me a bit nervous.

Thoughts??

Thanks for the feedback! 

When you make the reservations just tell that what you have and how long it is when it is opened up so they can fit you in the right spot.  I always used my pop ups in those sites and see little difference in a hybrid and pop up, except maybe the hybrid is more comfortable.  Have a great time.  My next trip is in August.  Hope to see you then.  

That's a good idea.  I'll call and adjust our reservations to reflect the hybrid, just to make sure that we're "covered".  Our next trips our scheduled for May & October, so it looks like we'll miss you this time around.  Have fun in August!! :)

Hey Fiends,

We have two more visits planned to The Fort this year; both are for a tent loop however....we have found a Hybrid trailer that we think will work for our family.  My question is, can we park a Hybrid in a tent site?  This past week, we did see a couple of small trailers in the 1500 loop so, I think it's okay but...was wondering if anyone knew "for sure".

Thanks!!

Well I prefer the 2012 f-350.

I prefer the 2011 F-450 :)

I think we'll just get a semi and call it a day   

Maybe we'll just stick with our tent   :laugh:

:bump2:

That's the thing... we're trying to figure all of this out.  IF we want a TT (we're also looking at class C's and just a good ole' PUP), it sounds like you might be better off finding the trailer THEN the truck.  But again... our fiend said her father had a truck rated to pull his trailer and it didn't work.  Can you "test drive" a trailer at a lot?  I had never thought of that before...then again, this is ALL new to us :)

A short wheelbase vehicle will give you a lot more sway when towing, when the trailer pushes you around. So a Explorer is a short wheel base vehicle compared to say a Expedition, I would try for a longer vehicle plus a good hitch set up.

Haha... that didn't help me much, but I did google it and found this:  The wheelbase of a vehicle equals the distance between its front and rear wheels.  So, it makes sense that an Expedition would have a longer wheel base, as it's a longer vehicle.

What gets me, is the one fiend (Carol I think it may have been) who said her father had a truck that was rated to pull the trailer that he purchased...but it didn't work.  So... how do you know?  When you go to buy a trailer....should you hook it up and "test drive" it first?  And even then...for how long and I'm guessing up hills if possible? 

How upsetting it would be, to buy a trailer, only to have it "not work".   :-[

but the wheel base was too damned short

What does that mean?  Sorry... I know that's probably a really basic question 

:yaysmilesa-smiley:   Congrats!  

Thanks for the feedback fiends! :)

Leave early?

Why the heck would you want to leave early?

Haha... I know, right?! :)    We're in a tent, so if we have nothing but rain the last couple of days, we would probably opt to go home.

If you end up leaving early, can you ask Disney for a refund on the night (or nights) you did not stay?  

I will never again do a motorhome without a dinghy. We travel because we want to tour the destination, and touring small towns in a Moho is a pain, and so is breaking camp every time you want to go anywhere.  

That's our hiccup with a class C... but with two little ones, the pro for the class C, is access to the camper while driving so... this is why we keep going back and forth.  As of yet, when we camp, we don't leave the campsite and explore the area... but, then I keep thinking "what if want to?"...that WOULD BE a hassle with a class C.

See... lots of back and forth and our house 

Yay!!!   I've been thinking about you and praying the trip went wonderful!  Have a GREAT time!! :)

Thanks Ray! :)