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Post by jetzen on Feb 27, 2017 19:04:57 GMT -5
no chuck not yet
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Post by jetzen on Feb 27, 2017 16:30:40 GMT -5
OK all you KZer's here is some info you have been waiting for. Working with the reps from KZ and LCI. The rally is a go and the dates and campground have been set.
So mark your calendar for July 30th thru August 6th, at the Shipshewana South campground. We will be sandwiched between the Redwood rally (the week before) and the Open Range rally (the week after).
As more information becomes available such events and a itinerary etc. I will post them here.
Any suggestions or comments you wish to leave would be appreciated.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 27, 2017 15:51:17 GMT -5
And now THOR owns Jayco.
johnr who did you purchase you KZ from?
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Post by jetzen on Feb 27, 2017 15:14:30 GMT -5
wxtrader, let me try to explain. I have been camping for a LONG time and have had some sort of RV since 1982. KZ is a small niche/ever expanding RV manufacturer. They started as a slide in truck camper manufacturer and became an overwhelming favorite in the travel trailer market. They also manufacturer mid to high end 5th wheels and Toy haulers. This is what I believe that you see happening, if you look at the MSRP of a particular model/style/size trailer you will see a price that is close throughout the manufacturers with KZ most likely right in the middle. KZ being just recently purchased by THOR is also most likely trying to increase the sales of KZ and is offering incentives to the dealers which in turn pass them on to you. This is the case with me, I am coming out of a M-----a into a Durango Gold because of incentives. The DW and I were ready to pull the plug on a new M-----a but a similar model Durango Gold with some different (not necessarily better) twists and a MSRP within $1,000 of each other and a bottom line price tag that was $10,000 less for the KZ.
Second, KZ quality is going to be about the same as any other Thor product which is better than all the other manufacturers (ie Forest River products). THOR will not let one of their companies fail because of quality. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with another manufacturer or that a THOR product is perfect, I saying that the chances of a poor product is less likely with a THOR than with others. You must also realize that a RV is the some of MANY manufacturers and the likely hood of a failure of say a furnace or A/C unit or refrigerator is more likely than a structural problem. So many RV manufacturers get a bad rap for a component problem that was not their fault like bad Norcold refrigerators (read No cold).
Third your Selling/servicing dealer can also effect your experience with any brand of RV. If the service department of dealer XXX sucks your opinion of the dealer and the brands he sells will suck also, just sayin'.
Forth and final, if you buy an RV and never expect to have a problem your in for a big surprise.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 25, 2017 9:05:01 GMT -5
Thanks rvdude , I think that is the way the DW and I are heading, stackable Ariston W/D. There is another RV brand I would like to check out it's called Equator and is slightly less expensive
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Post by jetzen on Feb 23, 2017 11:01:50 GMT -5
Hi dragonflight,
couple questions/comments, first the wheels, don't know what year or model Durango you have but as far as I know the Durango 2500 and Durango Gold already have 110 psi rated wheels on them just need to change out the valve stems so you might want to check it will save you some bucks. Second the Goodyear G614's are a great tire no doubt about that but there are several lower cost options that are just as good, the Sailun S637 and the Kenda Klever A/P both come G rated and substantially less expensive. The Sailun's are ST's while the Kenda's are LT's. On my Current 5ver I'm running the Kenda's, when the new Durango comes in I will be swapping them out with the Kenda's within the year.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 21, 2017 9:13:03 GMT -5
Hi johnr, The DW and I are originally from Pittsburgh (Gibsonia) and we both retired and moved to "the lake" about 11 years ago. As far as vacationing in the upper tier of Indiana, it was a tough sell for me to try to convince the wife. However if you ask her today she will tell you it was one of the best vacations she ever had. So much to do, things to see, cultural, recreational, leisure. If you are going to Lancaster for all things Amish, times it by 10 for that part of Indiana.
Now to our original question you may want to check your dates as most campgrounds in that area of NY don't open till late April or early May. I personally pick KOA because you can almost always count on them being clean and be able to fit your rig. They may not be the cheapest but they are overall the most dependable.
I don't know what you guys are into so each one that I recommend has a different flavor of activities. If you are anywhere near the fingerlakes there are 2 thing you can count on casinos and wineries. At the Lewiston KOA you obviously have Niagara Falls and everything that goes along with them and the original Anchor Bar. The Chautauqua KOA every time I have been there is just plain peaceful and if that is what you are looking for I would suggest a site in row X or Y. Chautauqua also has The Institute and Bemis Point. Herkimer can be a fun place because you can prospect for diamonds and people are quite successful. We like Herkimer in the autumn (October) because of where it is located it is just beautiful with color and they have one of the best haunted house attractions I have seen. Now The Associations/1000 island KOA is actually an island kind of at the end of Lake Ontario beginning of the ST. Lawerance River, it's kind of like being in a small seaport town, the camp ground is nice nothing real fancy and is one of the least expensive in the area (that I have found and would be willing to stay at). Some get pretty pricey in that area just because they can.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 20, 2017 19:38:09 GMT -5
Hey johnr, jetzen here first off what part of NE Ohio are you from? I'm From Andover. Right now the DW, the dogs and I are in Florida for the winter, plan on coming back the first of April. Now to answer your question, the DW and I are fond of 4 KOA campgrounds in New York. The KOA in Herkimer Where you can actually prospect for Herkimer Diamonds, The Thousand Islands KOA were you are actually on an island in the ST. Lawerance, our favorite the Chautauqua KOA which has views of Lake Chautauqua and is close to the quaint town of Bemis Point and The Chautauqua Institute, and lastly the Lewistown KOA which is on the Niagara river downstream of the falls and close to the original Anchor Bar where Buffalo wings were invented. The Lewistown KOA is the smallest but all can handle big rigs and the Chautauqua KOA is best in the summer for activities. Hope this helps. Also I see that you are a long time member of this site, what are your thoughts of a KZ rally this summer?
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Post by jetzen on Feb 20, 2017 15:41:42 GMT -5
I would not leave home without one. I have read so many horror stories that I purchased a portable 50amp Camco from amazon about 3 years ago. I think at the time it was about $80.00. Not only is it a surge protector it monitors the incoming electric for problems. The only down side is that with a portable unit (any brand) it will not protect you trailer electrical if there is a problem with your landline electric cable.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 17, 2017 21:38:33 GMT -5
Hi everyone, just watch this thread for updates
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Post by jetzen on Feb 17, 2017 21:35:26 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!!!!!
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NEW K Z
Feb 17, 2017 9:04:48 GMT -5
Post by jetzen on Feb 17, 2017 9:04:48 GMT -5
shogunles, I am partial to Chautauqua and 1000 islands area however the only campgrounds I am familiar with are the KOA's in those areas..... and they are very nice and accommodating. Having a rather large 5th wheel limits the places the DW and I can park it.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 17, 2017 8:54:50 GMT -5
If it is what I think it is, this could be very interesting. I am a retired chef and am always looking for new way/ideas to cook. Could you please go into a little more detail.
Thanks
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Post by jetzen on Feb 14, 2017 9:54:07 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Trying to find out if there is any interest in having a national rally in Indiana near the KZ headquarters/factory. see my previous thread in the General discussion board
Thanks Jetzen
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Post by jetzen on Feb 14, 2017 9:34:51 GMT -5
Chuck, The problem with me being locked out seems to be fixed today. The poll is a good idea to find out if there is any interest, but before you put the cart ahead of the horse there is already a couple of months that are not available. As a mater of fact when I spoke with the KZ reps for right now August is the only month that will fit into their schedules and also have a vendors show. They schedule things like this around big rv shows. The biggest show in the US is in Hershey Pa in September and it takes a lot to pull that off. So you may want to consider redoing your poll. Yes there is enough time to plan and have a successful rally but not much. If you would like to help PM me and we can talk out the details.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 14, 2017 1:02:32 GMT -5
Hi rydog, this would be my recommendation. 3m makes 2 products. You will need to figure out exactly how faded your front cap is. If it will clean up with wax and last for a short period of time then I would try some 3m finesse-it with a slow speed buffer using a foam egg crate compounding pad then wax to seal. The finesse-it product will rejuvenate and moisturize faded gelcoat. However it will need to be done every year. The second 3m product is called perfect-it. It is used when the fading is more severe. It also will rejuvenate and moisturize gelcoat. It is applied the same way as the finesse-it product, then wax to seal. After the first year you can most likely get away with using just the finesse-it. JMHO
Just to let you know you will never stop the fading process once it starts without major work (like a paint job).
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Post by jetzen on Feb 14, 2017 0:26:30 GMT -5
Hi bstewart, I'll be real honest I'm not familiar with the setup of you trailer so I don't know how the vinyl eves come off. When ever I have a problem with mold and mildew on vinyl trim I use just plain undiluted household laundry bleach. I soak a sponge and wipe it down and let it sit for a few hours then wash with soap (dawn) and water. For stubborn staining I will repeat the process until all is gone. Usually no matter how bad the mold and mildew I have only needed to do the process 3 times. I would try this on a very small surface to see the effects. Clorox also makes a outdoor cleaning bleach. I have tried this product but have found that the laundry bleach works better and is less expensive. I have used this method on my 5th wheel outside vinyl trim, vinyl boat interior seating and vinyl patio furniture cushions and on vinyl house siding. Wear old clothing that is ok to ruin and you may want to wear some sort of respirator or mask so as not to breath to much of the fumes. Hope this helps.
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Post by jetzen on Feb 13, 2017 16:04:55 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
I was trying to start a thread on the KZ Rally section but for some reason it has me locked out. So I am posting here instead. Talked for a short time with a KZ rep this morning about the feasibility of having a KZ Rally this year. we talked briefly about the format, vendors both factory and aftermarket, factory tour, tech issues and most important timing. It looks like August is best for them. What say you? Any interest??? Any ideas???. We will need at least 20 participants to make it worth while and we need to act pretty quickly to secure a camp ground. I would also appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks jetzen
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Post by jetzen on Feb 13, 2017 10:22:56 GMT -5
Wanted to start a new thread about 2017 rally but am being locked out for some reason
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Post by jetzen on Feb 11, 2017 13:28:26 GMT -5
I opened a poll on the KZ facebook page yesterday to see how much interest there is in having a national rally this summer in/at the factory/headquarters in Indiana. A lot of the current KZ factory reps are ex Montana reps since Thor took over. I was going to try to contact them for assistance. We will see what happens
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