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Post by william davey on Oct 8, 2012 17:39:48 GMT -5
Thought I'd start a new thread specific to the Stone Ridge Sportster toy haulers. we visited the factory in July and ordered new 5er upon our return. Took delivery on 9/13/12 of our new 41CKS and so far we are very pleased.
:)Happy with: storage; fit and finish; layout especially living area and bed room; furniture quality and comfort; dinette booth (vs. free standing table); patio door opens up garage area; power awning; slide toppers.
:(Not completely happy with: gray water tank fills up in 2-3 days; ramp door needs at least 1 more spring (very heavy door); thermostat for furnace has a huge dead band between cycles; factory would not install auto leveling jacks.
Only used it for 2 weekends so far, so no comment on longer term
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Post by joecamper on Oct 8, 2012 20:14:24 GMT -5
Can't help you with all that, but replacing the thermostat with a really good one is the one thing that I changed in my Durango that I most appreciate. Just one degree change puts it in operation. If you have the standard KZ Coleman thermostat, this one wires right in using the same colored wires: www.rvplus.com/coleman-digital-h-c-thermostat-u-8330-3362.htmlGood luck with your other issues. |
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Post by william davey on Oct 9, 2012 18:36:47 GMT -5
Joe,
Thanks for the link to the digital thermostat. I'll check the model number of the installed unit, but it appears to be solid state. Printed circuit card inside with lots of little transistors etc soldered to it.
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Post by joecamper on Oct 9, 2012 19:48:48 GMT -5
Does yours look like this:  If so, the swap is a pretty simple thing. Again, the colored wires all just replace the same colors. Yep, it looks like a complicated mess when you first pull the face off. The instructions that come with the new one make it pretty simple. I'm pretty handy with stuff and found it to be easy to do. |
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Post by william davey on Oct 10, 2012 18:50:52 GMT -5
Joe,
Thanks for the picture, that's what I currently have. I'll be ordering the digital thermostat tonight.
As an aside, I've already installed a rear view camera hard-wired to a 7" monitor on the dash of the truck, added a spare 7-pin receptacle and wiring so that when parked I can turn on the camper lights or make them all flash if the trailer has to be left roadside for some reason. (I got the idea from the KZ Owner's forum). Had a bracket made to locate the motorcycle wheel chock and secure it to the tie-downs installed by the factory, and installed a Splendide washer/dryer in the garage. It's been a busy month!
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Post by william davey on Nov 14, 2012 17:32:47 GMT -5
Recent updates:
Thank you Joe Camper - I installed the Coleman digital thermostat you recommended. Very straight forward replacement. Other recent additions: Extra LED brake/tail lights mounted below the ramp door, Amber LED side signal lights about 1/2 way between front and back (I'm a little nuts about lights). Installed 12X18" mud flaps just behind the tires. Winegard Wingman antenna booster. Still on the list: balance the wheels/tires.
We're really getting ready for our first snowbird experience, Harley and the bicycles are loaded, summer clothes and beach chairs are packed, BBQ grill is cleaned and loaded. And we don't leave for another 6 weeks!
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Post by william davey on Mar 28, 2013 18:40:00 GMT -5
The following email was sent to KZ about 3 weeks ago and reflects my opinion after 3 months of living in our KZ Stoneridge Sportster. I offered my phone number and email, but to date have not had any response from KZ. That said, we're still very happy with the trailer.
Subj: Feedback from a VERY SATISFIED customer
Karalee,
You may recall our visit to the factory in July of 2012. As a result of that visit we ordered a new Stoneridge Sportster 41CKS through Family RV in Newark, New York. We took delivery on September 13th 2012 and made two short trips in New York last fall. Since January 1, 2013, we've been staying in the RV in Ft. Myers Beach Florida and will return home in early April. We are very satisfied with the workmanship, the layout and the performance of this toy Hauler.
There's a saying that you don't have to be sick to get better. In that spirit, I would offer the following feedback on some minor issues that would make a great product even better.
1) Switch the analog furnace thermostat for a digital unit – the analog unit has a huge dead-band that caused inside temperature to fluctuate by at least 5-8 degrees. My retail cost was about $65.
2) Instal a 5th assist spring on the rear cargo door. The door is very heavy to lift with only 4 springs installed. My retail cost from Lippert was $13.
3) Do more to protect the electrical switches on the front and rear sides of the trailer. The landing gear switches on the front get blasted with rain, snow, salt etc. when traveling down the road. The switches at the rear for the stabilizer jacks and the fuel pump cutoff are already showing significant corrosion on the exposed wires on the back of the switches. This trailer is only 6 months old! I will be enclosing all these switches and wires in some kind of water proof enclosure in the near future.
4) Install the Dexter “wet bolt” grease able spring shackle and bolts to compliment the Dexter equalizers (which are already fitted with grease fittings). On my previous TH, the standard (non grease able) shackles were shot after only 7,000 miles. My cost for parts was about $150 retail from Dexter. The Dexter tech rep I talked to was very upset that Lippert did not include this with the equalizers as it would be a very low-cost enhancement that would not require any additional labor on their part.
5) The small cabinet between the stove and pantry is really too small and difficult to use for trash can storage. I added 2 shelves to this cabinet and purchased a nice looking free-standing trash can. You could add a bigger cabinet at the end of the island.
6) The tie-downs in the garage area are not spaced evenly. They should be in a line straight across the trailer to make securing cargo and motorcycles easier.
7) Carpeting throughout seems to be of low quality – maybe its not, but it looks cheap.
8) The tire pressure information on the labels above the landing gear switch in not correct. The tire sidewall calls for a maximum of 80psig, but the label indicates an inflation pressure of 110psig. I think 110psig is only correct for load range G tires, my unit is equipped with load range E Goodyears.
9) I still don't understand the technical reason that prevents installing the Lippert Level-up automatic leveling system on Toy Haulers. You offer this option on the Stoneridge (non Toy-Haulers).
I offer this feedback in the hope that some or all of these enhancements could be made to future units with very low impact on the cost of the RV. If anyone at KZ would like to discuss this feedback, I would be happy to talk to them.
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