ted
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 57
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Post by ted on Jun 9, 2018 5:43:07 GMT -5
We just finished our maiden voyage in our new Durango Gold. Our old rig was 32 feet. We loved the many new features on the inside. Probably the best shower I've ever had in a camper. Loved the lighted pantry, the second spacious 1/2 bath, the self leveling feature, stable feel without so much bounce. In short we loved everything about this Durango Gold but one thing---the 40 ft length. Even though the dealer let me take it on a trial run and seemed comfortable at the time, I'm just not sure I can get use to the extra length. We pulled off once for a lunch break and I panicked when got on an extremely narrow road with a sharp turn. Almost hit the curb. Long story short, I'm thinking this may not work for us. Yep it will be an extremely costly lesson learned. 70 years old and maybe to old to teach this old dog some new tricks.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 9, 2018 10:43:31 GMT -5
ted Give it some time, many people like you have been down the same road so to speak, after a few trips you will get use to it an think nothing of it ... Over the course of many years I have been teaching over the road truck drivers for a few major companies ... Every new student always had a death grip on the steering wheel for the 1st few hundred miles, you could then see them start to relax as time an miles went by ... They were pulling 53ft trailers not 40ft trailers an some doubles at times, they like you had to learn to take the corners a little wider an look in their mirrors more often when turning a corner, they got use to it in short order an so will you  Again give it some time, take your trailer to a large parking lot, set out some cones an just drive around the cones, make some sharp turns an do some backing, the more you do such the more you will feel comfortable pulling your trailer ... Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by Edd505 on Jun 9, 2018 10:48:02 GMT -5
Not to worry ted the more you pull it the easier it will get. I drove commercially 75ft of tractor/trailer and almost quit the first year. 750K miles latter I might as well be driving the family P/U. Only issue was when I went to the P/U I continued making wide corners to the point the wife would say your not in the big truck, I'll drive. As for age it's only a number, dad pulled a TT till his 80's.
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Post by rvdude on Jun 9, 2018 21:10:44 GMT -5
I think you will get used to. I went from a pop up camper to a 22 foot bumper pull, then to a 29 foot bumper pull, and on to a 35 foot bumper pull toyhauler. Now I have a 384 which is 40 feet long like yours. It's long, but I think you will get used to it. Don't give up too early.
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Post by lynnmor on Jun 9, 2018 22:40:09 GMT -5
I think you should always get the correct tool for the job, personally I would never plague myself with something that large, but others are concerned more with the trailer and less with the ability to travel easily. Only you can know if travel is easy on the type of roads you desire, and you are able to access the camping spots and areas of your interest. You had a unit of a large size, so I doubt that you have a big learning curve.
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Post by ronc on Jun 10, 2018 10:01:58 GMT -5
As a full timer, I love all the space offered by the big rigs. Moving is a minor part of living in it. Mine is 41 feet feet long and I wish it was 45. If you are a "camper" I can see how smaller rigs work better for your application, but I'm not a camper ... I'm a tourist who travels in a 5th wheel ... I am also a FHU kinda guy. There is no right way to do this, just what works for you.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 10, 2018 11:34:50 GMT -5
Not to worry ted the more you pull it the easier it will get. I drove commercially 75ft of tractor/trailer and almost quit the first year. 750K miles latter I might as well be driving the family P/U. Only issue was when I went to the P/U I continued making wide corners to the point the wife would say your not in the big truck, I'll drive. As for age it's only a number, dad pulled a TT till his 80's.  Edd my DW use to say the same thing all the time, "your not pulling a 53ft trailer your in our car" .... Till this day after retiring now 7 years ago I still make those wide turns but after I made that 1st corner 10 or more years ago with our old 5th wheel that was only 33ft long she seem to take a different opinion on my wide turns, even though I turned the corner like I had a 53ft trailer behind me LOL .... As stated, the more you pull your trailer the more it becomes second nature in most but not all case's .... As lynnmor stated some times owners can not get use an feel uneasy as well as unsafe pulling the length of trailer ... But I also fell that as stated going to a large parking lot an doing turns, backing an getting use to the trailer in most but not all case's will make ones fear subside the more they do it ... As i said I have been teaching truck drivers for a number of years, some were made to do such an others were not an that's ok, same with pulling a larger trailer, some owners feel safe an comfortable right away an other do not, an some will never feel safe or comfortable an that's ok too ... But my point here is that in I would say 95% of 1st time 5th wheel owners feel the same way that Ted is feeling when first hooking up an pulling their trailer ... I wish I was closer an I could possibly help Ted get over his fear, but there are Truck driving an RV Schools out there that can help if need be ... Even Kz at the rally last year had a person teaching whom every wanted to learn more on pulling a trailer an offered such free to anyone there ... Again it is up to Ted if he whats to take the big hit an downsize to another trailer, we for the most part are only trying to encourage him to keep trying in a safe manor to keep a really nice trailer for him an his family .... Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by rvdude on Jun 10, 2018 14:39:44 GMT -5
As a full timer, I love all the space offered by the big rigs. Moving is a minor part of living in it. Mine is 41 feet feet long and I wish it was 45. If you are a "camper" I can see how smaller rigs work better for your application, but I'm not a camper ... I'm a tourist who travels in a 5th wheel ... I am also a FHU kinda guy. There is no right way to do this, just what works for you. I agree with ronc. I am a full timer, it is my house, and I travel with it. So, the space is a necessary thing for me. Is it bigger than what I've ever towed... yes it is. Was I a bit uneasy at first... yes I was. Is it getting easier every time I do it... yes it is. Will there be times I run into a tight space and think it's too big... yes I will. As stated by several, it's all in how each person is going to be using their trailer and what suits each person's lifestyle.
I wish you the best in your decision whether to keep your trailer or downsize.
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ted
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 57
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Post by ted on Jun 10, 2018 15:28:58 GMT -5
Thanks for all the encouraging words. I have decided to move forward and conquer my fears. I have always thought myself a rather good fifth wheel driver (with the little short 32 footer) Several things made this different.
1. The longer tail swing
2. It was impossible with my other two 5th wheels for the camper to hit the back corner of the truck. Not so with the Gold
3. Given the correct angle, the rail of the truck bed can hit the underside of the camper.
4. Somehow backing is more of a challenge.
So, careful about the tail swing, use the slider hitch, raise the hitch in the bed of the truck another notch, practice, practice on backing in a empty lot.
Hope to see some of you fellers at the rally in August.
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Post by ronc on Jun 10, 2018 17:22:12 GMT -5
Ted ... I’m pretty sure RVdude will be there and so will we. Looking forward to meeting you.
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Post by Edd505 on Jun 10, 2018 18:13:42 GMT -5
Truck driving an RV Schools out there that can help if need be ... Even Kz at the rally last year had a person teaching whom every wanted to learn more on pulling a trailer an offered such free to anyone there ... This is exactly what got me in the class 8 truck Wife picked a 40ft 5W for the 1st 5W pulled by a 99 Super duty. I looked at over all length and said I need to learn to drive something that big. The 40ft went on hold while I went to school. While in school a number of companies sent recruiters & shinny new trucks to entice us, I bit to get some experience. Experience I got 10-12K a month coast to coast. |
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Post by rvdude on Jun 10, 2018 21:39:10 GMT -5
Ted, I bet you will be a "pro" at maneuvering the trailer by the time the rally gets here. I, as well as Chuck and ronc will be there and I am looking forward to meeting you and your wife.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 11, 2018 10:57:17 GMT -5
Ted ... I’m pretty sure RVdude will be there and so will we. Looking forward to meeting you. Yep, rvdude an I both along with you ron so we can pat Ted on the back an give him more words of encouragement, shoot by then he may have concord his fears for the most part As you said ted, tail swing is a import part of the longer trailers, always be aware of such, but also the longer they are the easier they are to back do to the fact they turn slower Safe Travels Chuck |
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ted
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 57
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Post by ted on Jun 11, 2018 20:24:34 GMT -5
What are the dates of the Rally?
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Post by rvdude on Jun 11, 2018 22:44:10 GMT -5
What are the dates of the Rally? Ted, have you signed up for the rally? I assumed in the other post that you were signed up. The rally is August 5 - 12 in Shipshewana near the factory. However, the rally is full at this time but there is a waiting list for it. Go to the bottom of the thread list and see the Rally with KZ folder for more information. |
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Post by Chuck on Jun 14, 2018 23:50:58 GMT -5
Last i heard there were a few people that dropped out an that some of the people on the waiting list got in But that dozen't mean that an owner can't get on the waiting list in case others drop out Safe Travels an happy Glamping !!! Chuck |
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ted
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 57
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Post by ted on Jun 15, 2018 4:03:46 GMT -5
I'm on the waiting list. Headed out in the morning for Acadia Maine from Georgia.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 15, 2018 11:24:58 GMT -5
Ok Ted Well as I stated people do drop out for one reason or another so you may get a spot, unlike last year the rally spot filled up really quick ... Safe travels an happy Glamping Chuck |
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ted
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 57
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Post by ted on Jun 16, 2018 20:32:36 GMT -5
572 miles today, and very comfortable with it. You guys were right. Thanks for the encouragement.
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Post by Edd505 on Jun 16, 2018 23:15:20 GMT -5
572 miles today, and very comfortable with it. You guys were right. Thanks for the encouragement. 572 miles in a day? Your an animal...... That was a day in a commercial rig. Your working too hard.
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