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Post by 1911garand on May 26, 2021 21:48:46 GMT -5
Just purchased a new 2021 KZ 181BH - nice simple unit. Starting this thread to log my travel, build, mods, and issues. Family of 6, so let the fun begin!
Dealer: Had a great dealer experience: https://www.northcountryrv.com Purchased new on 5/25/2021.
First pic with the rig:
First broken part: The red fire exit / window latch levers leave a little to be desired. I'd better get a few spares or come up with something new. Call into dealer to see what they can do for parts:
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Post by esox07 on May 26, 2021 22:00:17 GMT -5
Nice little rig there. I have a ten year old 19BH and mine has a metal Fire Exit handle. I can see where plastic would be an issue. Maybe you can craft something out of a piece of a aluminum stock. I hope they have put in a higher quality faucet for the sink since mine rolled off the line.
Six people in that camper is going to be pretty tight. But, camping is best spten outdoors anyway.
I will be looking forward to you watching your build/travel thread.
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Post by 1911garand on May 26, 2021 22:11:43 GMT -5
Thanks! I was able to shorten, re-drill, and re-rivit the lever, but feel it is not a sturdy design. A simple latch would have been much more reliable. I will be using this in cold weather (MN) so worry about that plastic getting brittle. Haven't even had water hooked up to it yet, so cant speak to faucet quality quite yet. The family of 6 started in this:  Then moved to this:
 Now the 181BH, so it feels so big and luxurious. |
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Post by Edd505 on May 26, 2021 23:02:54 GMT -5
First plastic I have seen esox07 has it rifgt always been metal.
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Post by esox07 on May 27, 2021 8:09:29 GMT -5
Exact same progression we went through in our camping. Tent, Pop-Up and then the Travel Trailer. That 181BH will start to feel small too.
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Post by 660catman on May 27, 2021 10:41:34 GMT -5
Welcome! The exit latches in my Durango D250RES are aluminum. We all seem to upgrade camping equipment. I went from a 8’ tent trailer to a 10’ tent trailer with a fridge, then a 21’ hybrid, 30’ travel trailer and just a few weeks ago, our 29’ fifth.
If you’re planning on doing some long distance traveling, you may want to invest in a WD hitch. There are lighter ones with 750lb bars as I had one on my 21’ hybrid. Big difference in towing when hitting the bumps.
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Post by 1911garand on May 27, 2021 12:19:28 GMT -5
Yes, a weight distribution hit is on the horizon. I just don't have the driveway space for a longer unit, also have a 18 1/2 foot boat in the driveway, so this is about as big as I can go...for now  . Thanks for all the feedback. We are headed out over Memorial day for the first camping trip. |
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Post by 1911garand on May 27, 2021 15:54:15 GMT -5
46F in MN today so I fired up the heater for the first time - WOW that stinks, fire alarm going off.
Lots of manufacturing oils in that heater burning off, oh my. Windows open, fans on.
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Post by esox07 on May 27, 2021 16:41:04 GMT -5
Tip: Buy a small electric fan space heater. They will heat the heck out of that little camper and you don't have to worry about smells or Carbon Monoxide or running out of LP. Use the campground shore power. Convenient and effective. I place mine towards the back where my wife sleeps and the front stays several degrees cooler how I like it too.
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Post by 1911garand on May 28, 2021 14:12:04 GMT -5
Done, got a small electric heater coming today. Is the roof supposed to be warped like this? I was not expecting to see all the peaks and valleys and dents. Normal?
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Post by 1911garand on May 29, 2021 13:52:02 GMT -5
Dealer sent me a new window handle. I will replace both with the aluminum one.
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Post by esox07 on May 29, 2021 13:54:44 GMT -5
My roof is wavy as well.
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Post by 1911garand on May 29, 2021 18:36:28 GMT -5
Alright, heading out early tomorrow morning, all set up and ready to rock.
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Post by Edd505 on May 29, 2021 18:51:46 GMT -5
Dealer sent me a new window handle. I will replace both with the aluminum one.
Good for your dealer! Stepping up and fixing what never should have been there. That's an emergency exit, with a plastic handle? Wonder how the fire department would see plastic exit handles? |
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Post by 1911garand on May 29, 2021 18:53:54 GMT -5
Dealer sent me a new window handle. I will replace both with the aluminum one.
Good for your dealer! Stepping up and fixing what never should have been there. That's an emergency exit, with a plastic handle? Wonder how the fire department would see plastic exit handles?
Yep dealer did a good job. Yeah, no plastic please. I already installed the aluminum one and it is 600% better than the plastic. |
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Post by 1911garand on May 29, 2021 18:56:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback. I did some research and it seems like they are all like this. Bummer, wish I would have seen the roof before purchasing. Check out this video:
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Post by 660catman on May 29, 2021 18:58:43 GMT -5
Alright, heading out early tomorrow morning, all set up and ready to rock.
Looks like it sits a lot better with the WD hitch 👍 |
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Post by esox07 on May 29, 2021 19:03:52 GMT -5
Good luck and let us know how the maiden voyage turns out.
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Post by 1911garand on Jun 1, 2021 17:36:29 GMT -5
Trip went well, zero issues with the KZ.
Stayed at Sportsmen's park in Sleepy Eye MN, site 7. Nice camping, clean facilities, great fishing and swimming. Nice Shady sites.
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Post by esox07 on Jun 1, 2021 19:45:40 GMT -5
Looks like great weather and a great camp site. Glad all went well.
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