First Trip Report 2619

[ChillEDog]

After years of web browsing, reviewing makes & models, realizing that no upright trailer would fit under my carport and not wanting a popup tent, I discovered TrailManor, and about the same time found a 2007 2619 for sale near me. Within about ten minutes of viewing the unit I knew I wanted it.

Around a month after the purchase, we had our first trip scheduled, to Eisenhower State Park in north Texas. Intended Friday morning departure, time off scheduled, camper/TV/bike rack & bikes all ready to go Thursday night. Everything in place, but of course work kept me from departing until around 6pm Fri evening.

We got to the park as quickly as possible, but it was dark by the time we got to our campsite. They gave us one with quite an incline, near the facilities (nice) but also near the dump holding (not).

So it’s Friday night, well past nine, the DW is having a kidney stone episode, and I’m trying to get systems functioning. Translation: the toilet. Because DW has been drinking a LOT of water. That took at least an hour (seems the regulator had a blockage). Finally get water resolved. Time to charge the toilet. Chempak instructions say: 2 packages into the toilet, then 3 gal water. Let me tell you, the chemicals darn near asphyxiated me. Was like snorting ammonia. Had to step outside the bathroom for air.

Got toilet working (MAJOR confidence boost). After half-hour search for the electric water heater switch, hot water working (very hot, nice!). All lights ok. A/C super powerful, and cold. Refrigerator seems to finally be cooling. My worries about systems not working gone, everything seems in good shape.

To bed. Not sleeping well at all. Like sleeping on the side of a mountain. And the rooftop a/c unit is like a tornado. Around 2am I seem to feel the trailer shifting. Realize I forgot to chock. THAT will get your attention. Step outside, the air smells fantastic, put some chocks in place. In the morning I realize I also forgot to level. Hence the mountain-side sensation. Got us leveled, using cordless drill technique (thanks trailmanorowners.com), what a difference that makes.

Saturday, feeling pretty ragged from lack of sleep, but we’re camping in our new TM so we’re pretty happy. DW feeling better too. She tries the shower, reports it’s a-ok, good news indeed (if the wife likes it…). Toilet seems to be working as advertised, no odor issues, all good. Coffee never tasted better. DW fixes fantastic bacon+egg breakfast on TM stove. A few blunders but we are making progress.

The day flies by. Spend the day re-arranging, figuring out what goes where, a nap for DW, trip to Wal-Mart for me (nightlight, spices, Jimmy Buffet CD, all the things we forgot) We walk around the campground once or twice (we find our beloved TM is small potatoes compared to some of these units, but we still love it. And it’s paid for…). I start to install new curtains from factory (more of a chore than anticipated, only got one done). That evening, steaks, salmon, grilled asparagus, all on the campsite grill. A fire going, the TM with exterior lights, no unresolved issues. We are camping now. And it is as enjoyable as we’d hoped, even with the blunders.

Sunday, we have breakfast, I take a quick trip on the new mountain bike, we drive around the park, spotting another TM (2720 SL I think). Time to start packing up, more work than setup it seems. Trip home uneventul.

Now the interesting part... I have an alley, carport, dips and inclines, telephone poles and fences, limited space. Challenging constraints for parking a TM. Had tried backing in several times, ended up positioning by hand. (A strong young son helps.) Per a post from happybeebob, I got a front-mounted hitch + extension to be able to push the TM into place. After a few false steps, I got the TM in place, and I mean perfectly. The front hitch definitely does the job!

So, from fairly late Friday night until Sunday departure, we learned a ton about the TM, we had some fun, we enjoyed some music and good food. Not the smoothest trip but successful, all things considered, and we loved every minute.

[countrygirl]

Congratulations! It will only get better and better!

[LoveToCamp]

Thanks for sharing! Wondered why it felt like you were sleeping on the side of a mountain. Didn't even think about forgetting to level! Oops!

Very glad you enjoyed it. Our 2417 is a midget next to some rigs in National Parks, but we sure like ours, also.

[countrygirl]

Some on here use a motorized dolly and it seems to help with positioning the TM in tight areas.

We park ours under a canopy in the back yard and use a hitch on the front to get it back there.

[ShrimpBurrito]

In our first night camping in a public campground, we pull in at dark to a private RV park in Massachusetts. Sites are poorly marked, poorly cleared of vegetation, and well, just poor. But we needed to get off the road to get some sleep. It was POURING rain, with a little mix of lightning to make things exciting. Humid as all get out....Florida humid. Did I mention it was dark?

It probably took us 2 hours to get setup......

Dave

[FujiPedaler]

So, we are on our first extended trip from Minnesota to New Mexico and Utah.

We are doing just fine untill we stop in to Ute Lake State Park New Mexico, just over the eastern border.

Really nice state park and eletectric and water for $18.00 per night. Temp is about 87, so we start the process of set up and get to the final leveling and I just am not getting it right and I am hot. I decide to pull over to another more level spot (lots to choose from). Did I mention the 25 plus mph cross winds all day across Oklahoma and Texas panhandle.

As I start the set I look north and the entire horizon is dark and moving rapidly toward us. I get it level and almost done and the storm hits us so we jump inside.

The dust storm hits with wind gust well over 50mph. DW is putting towels and tape everyware to stem the dust from getting in. The trailmanor is shaking violently from side to side and up and down, as we wonderred if we were going to servive.

The next morning my wife discovers that I had left the diver's window open on our 4Runner so now the inside gray color is rust red. Only took about an hour to vacum up most of the dust that sticks to everything.

The Ranger told us that the storm was worse than any storm during the "Dust Bowl" and they haven't had any rain for 3 years.

We washed the sheets and pillow cases today and continued to mop up from the dust.

[TinkerToy12]

After years of wanting a TM (1st saw them years and years ago),finally found a 2720 for a very reasonable price.
previously owned a Palomino pop up and then a Lance 5th wheel, knew the "backing up" needed some practice. The Lance was fairly easy to back up, but it's been about 5 years.
Thought about the front hitch, but truck belonged to a friend, so didn't think he'd go for that. Even after he dented his bumper.
Found a GMC Quadrasteer. Best investment I could have made. Makes it SOOOO much easier.
Back wheels turn just like the front wheels, so you don't have to keep trying to get if where it needs to go.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by TinkerToy12

Found a GMC Quadrasteer. Best investment I could have made. Makes it SOOOO much easier. Back wheels turn just like the front wheels, so you don't have to keep trying to get if where it needs to go.

I've never even seen one of these, let alone driven one. I bet it is fun!! At least until the inevitable day comes when you have to replace it - and then you finally have to learn how to back up.

Actually, backing up is not that hard, but it does take practice to learn how to do it smoothly. You will hear of a lot of methods for getting a driver and a spotter co-ordinated. Ours is "spotter points in the direction the back of the TM should go" and "driver holds the bottom of the steering wheel and turns it in the direction the spotter points". Works well for us. Apparently not for everyone.

Bill