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gadusfly
04-14-2007, 02:20 PM
I have an opportunity to buy a new demo 2720SL that was towed and shown at several RV shows. It has everything I need and is about 400 miles from my home. My tow vehicle is a 2000 Tundra V8. Would I need to have WDH or any kind of lifter to pick this thing up? Also, is there anything I should be careful of when buying a TM that was used as a demo? I am totally new to RVing and any help I can get will be greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance...Joe

Leslie & Nick
04-14-2007, 02:55 PM
I have an opportunity to buy a new demo 2720SL that was towed and shown at several RV shows. It has everything I need and is about 400 miles from my home. My tow vehicle is a 2000 Tundra V8. Would I need to have WDH or any kind of lifter to pick this thing up? Also, is there anything I should be careful of when buying a TM that was used as a demo? I am totally new to RVing and any help I can get will be greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance...Joe

To bring the trailer home you will need a brake controller installed on your Tundra. The brake controller activates the electric brakes on the Trailmanor, the brakes on the Tundra alone are not enough. Unless you already have one, whomever installs the brake controller will also install a 7 point connector at the bumper. This provides power for your stop lights, brake lights, brakes, and DC power to recharge your battery on the TM.

You can decide on a WDH later - some people like them because they feel they provide an extra margin of safety, others do without. I don't have a WDH, and tow with a full sized, 1/2 ton pickup.

Depending on the available space at home, or whevever you plan to park the trailer, you might want a trailer dolly to help you move the trailer around. They're less than $100 and are available, I know, at Harbor Freight, and probably other places, and online.

I don't see any problem in buying a demo TM especially if you're getting a good deal on it, and it comes with a full warranty. But I would of course still check to make sure that everything (AC, furnace, water pump, toilet, water heater, etc) works before you leave the lot. Get the sales person to demonstrate how things work, and how the trailer is set up and taken down. Make sure there is an owner's manual that goes with the trailer.

You'll learn the "in and outs" very quickly. Good luck:)

Nick

gadusfly
04-14-2007, 03:42 PM
Hi Nick! Thanks so much for the reply. I'm assuming the brake controller you mentioned can be installed anywhere, or is it specific to TM. I towed a 20ft boat with the tundra so I have light connections, but no electrical connection for the TM. Are these universal type parts or specific to TM? Thank you fo your patience...Joe

gadusfly
04-14-2007, 05:32 PM
The Bargeman is different than the one I used for the boat. Thanks Leon

Leslie & Nick
04-14-2007, 05:51 PM
Hi Nick! Thanks so much for the reply. I'm assuming the brake controller you mentioned can be installed anywhere, or is it specific to TM. I towed a 20ft boat with the tundra so I have light connections, but no electrical connection for the TM. Are these universal type parts or specific to TM? Thank you fo your patience...Joe

Brake controllers are really generic in nature. You'd need a brake controller with any good sized RV trailer that has its own brakes. Your boat trailer might not have had it's own brakes and utilized the TV's braking system. Any place that specializes in trailers should be able to install the controller for you, or you can do it yourself.


Look here for some info on brake controllers
http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/742176.cfm

Denny_A
04-14-2007, 08:10 PM
........the ever popular Prodigy Brake Controller, at a great price!

Prodigy Brake Control by Tekonsha (http://rvwholesalers.com/catalog/product.php?productid=60&cat=0&bestseller)

With video!

HTH

Denny_A

gadusfly
04-18-2007, 11:44 AM
Looks like the prodigy brake controller is the way I'll go.I have another question about parking the TM in my garage. The way I read it the 2720SL, with a 2" lifter and low profile AC will measure less than 81" in height. The lowest point of my garage opened is 93". I have a very slight incline on my driveway approach, ( less than 5 degees). I think I should be OK. Anybody have an experience with this? I am really excited about this andand I can't thank you folks enough. Everybody has been so friendly and helpful. I intend to join this website when my 30 days are up and look forward to becoming a member of this community. Thanks....Joe

mtnguy
04-18-2007, 12:51 PM
I am not sure about the measurements, but be real careful if you have an electric door opener. My TM will go through the door , and clear the opener OK, but it is really close (less than a 1/4") to the bracket that connects the door opener to the door. I will probably raise the door and clamp it in place, and then remove the bracket next time I put the TM in the garage.......especially if I decide to go with 15" wheels and tires on the TM.

mtnguy

gadusfly
04-18-2007, 06:30 PM
Thanks MTNGUY. If I can ask, What kind of mileage do you get towing the TM with the F-150? I think the TM will clear everything in my garage set-up( I hope!). I will pick it up Friday and bring it home Saturday....Joe

mtnguy
04-18-2007, 07:26 PM
gadusfly,

I haven't done any long trips with my combo yet. The only time that I have figured the mileage was when I first got the TM, with 4 trips over the Blue Ridge and 200 miles on the odometer. The mountains around here kill the gas mileage whether you are towing or not. I got 12.2 mpg on that tank. I was a little disappointed with that.

My F150 has the 5.4L V8 with a 3.73 axle. But it is a 4x4, with the super cab. The truck alone (along with a couple of add ons like the Trac Rac system) weighs 5820 with a 1/2 tank of gas and driver (me). I couldn't believe that when I got it weighed a couple of weeks ago. The TM with basic supplies (not groceries) and WDH weigh in at 3400 lbs. By the time I add the missus, some firewood, my bikes, canoe, charge the toilet, and add water, I will be near the 5 ton mark. It all adds up quickly. Weight and air displacement are the enemy.....thank goodness I am towing a TM instead of something bigger.

Towing on fairly level level road seems effortless with this combo. I hope to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 mpg on longer trips, but time will tell. I do tend to be a very conservative driver.

mtnguy

idaho-steve
04-18-2007, 07:27 PM
Welcome to the club.

I would guess a demo unit would be a great way to go since any factory "bugs" are probably already taken care of by the dealer without any real wear or tear.

Regarding your Tundra, I'd be willing to bet that Toyota has available the 7-pin connector wiring harness that would be a simple swap from your existing 4-pin connecter. You could do it cheaper but the plug-n-play from Toyota would be easiest.

I agree on the Prodigy controller just make sure you mount it so you can easily manually activate the brakes if needed and for the pre-drive test.

As far as the WDH, my experience has been that a 1/2 ton pick-up will very easily tow your TM without. I went a couple of thousand miles without one before I elected to get one as a safety precaution (after reading the various posts here). All in all I consider the WDH as pretty cheap insurance. When a group of deer suddenly popped up in front of me around midnight last fall and I was able to swerve hard and miss all but one, I was very grateful for the added control. RockyMtnRay has some great posts on the subject. Bottom-line a WDH is really for when something suddenly goes wrong -- road debris, blown tire, & other evasive maneuvers where the extra steering grip is really needed.

Finally, I get about 15mph with my F150.

Again, welcome aboard.

lnussbau
04-18-2007, 08:36 PM
My 2720SL with low profile air and lift kit fits in my 7 ft. garage with about two inches to spare.

mtnguy
04-19-2007, 06:20 AM
Finally, I get about 15mph with my F150.




idaho-steve:

What engine and axle ratio do you have in your F150??

mtnguy

kempert
04-19-2007, 07:07 AM
gadusfly -

I would say the same thing that idaho-steve said including the gas mileage for my Tundra. I would also add that I've found that I feel like I have a better "feel" or ride when towing with the WDH.

camp2canoe
04-19-2007, 07:50 AM
I. too, have garage problems and can offer 2 suggestions which you may use if you are really tight height wise. Our Sears garage door openers have connecting bars that attach the door to the opener. They have numerous adjustment holes and on the side we store our 2619 we cut off the end of the bar beyond the hole actually used which gained us about 4". Also, most overhead doors actually can be pushed up beyond where they normally rest when open. In the past I have used a 2x4 as a prop to give a little more clearance when moving a tall vehicle into a garage. - Camp2Canoe

P.S. You can also gain additional clearance by bleeding some air from the tires before backing your TM in. You do need to reinflate them to normal pressure for storage and, above all, need to remember to bleed them again before pulling out!

Bob&Karen
04-19-2007, 10:40 AM
FWIW, we tow a 3124KS with a Ford Expedition 4x4 and get 13 mpg in the mountains (towing with overdrive off) and between 14 and 15 mpg in the flats towing in overdrive. I don't think fuel mileage will be a big concern. When not towing, we get around 17 mpg on the interstate.

Bob

Bill
04-19-2007, 11:30 AM
... most overhead doors actually can be pushed up beyond where they normally rest when open. In the past I have used a 2x4 as a prop to give a little more clearance when moving a tall vehicle into a garage. - Camp2CanoeCamp2Canoe -

For what it is worth, most every garage door opener has an "open height" adjuster. This tells the opener when the door is fully up. By tweaking this adjustment, you can cause the door to open farther before it stops.

On some openers, the adjustment is a small doohicky with a pair of wires coming out of it, clamped on the rail near the opener body. Loosen the clamp and move the doohicky a couple inches toward the opener body, and the door will open a couple inches more before it stops. Repeat as necessary. A photo of this kind of adjustment (on my Genie opener) is attached below.

On others, the adjustment is a simple knob or screwdriver-adjust tweak on the opener body. It will be labelled something like "Open height" or "Open adjust" or "Open travel". A photo of this kind of adjustment (on my LiftMaster opener) is attached below.

On either kind of opener, there may also be a knob that says something about "Force" - don't tweak this one.

You should be able to change the setting enough that the door opens to a position above the top of the door frame or "header", so the TM can't hit the door. Making this tweak frees you forever from the need to disconnect the door from the opener and prop it up with a 2x4.

Bill

fcatwo
04-19-2007, 11:36 AM
gadusfly

Our Tundra is much more softly sprung (almost car-like) than my last PU and I find a WDH is absolutely necessary for towing our 2619. Also, you may already know this but Toyota recommends locking overdrive out when towing with a 1st gen Tundra. Transmission failures have been reported when towing in OD. I assume you have the factory towing package with the auxillery transmission cooler -- don't leave home without one :-).

On mpg: We average around 14 towing with a wind-assisted best tank of a little over 15 at 62-65mph. 70mph yields about 13 and it goes down quickly from there. For comparison, our best solo tank was 20.1mpg on a 700mi RT running 62-65 on I-90 that included going over and back across 3500ft Snoqualmie Pass. You can probably expect a 4-5 mpg loss when towing the TM which seems like a lot until you compare it to the 8-9 mpg you'll get towing a full-blown trailer.

idaho-steve
04-20-2007, 08:16 PM
Mtnguy -- Sorry for the delayed answer but I had a tough time figuring out the axle ratio. In my F-150, I have the 4.6l V-8 with a 3.55 axel ratio. It is a 4x4 on a Supercab configuration. My mileage can really vary depending on topography, wind and my lead foot. When I can I try to accelerate gently and, if on flat lands, allow the overdrive and cruise to help. Often that just isn't possible and mileage suffers.

Steve

One other thing I have noticed about being a TM owner is that it can sure attract a crowd when you are getting ready to get underway. Of course this always happens when I am running behind anyway and am hoping to make good time to arrive at the next place before dark. After explaining the ins-and-outs of the rig, I'm even more behind the ever. These are the trips where my mileage really suffers :eek: :eek: