Addition to the flock...

[NMrockeater]

Picked this up yesterday, wanted something the family could fit in and still get off the beaten path. Should be light enough to pull with the 100 with out any issues. Since I knew we were going this route that is why I posted about a break controller. My son and I plan to go to CO next weekend to test it out and do some fishing! I will post some pictures when we get back. This is not our first pop up, our last one was a off road style Palamino however this Starcraft seems to sit even high then that one and the ground clearance should be adequate for what we are planning. Here are some pics from the pic up and at the house. Need to clear a few things out in the garage to make room and put it away.

 

[jstncse]

I like that. l like plenty of storage without being too big. How much do you think it will weigh when all your stuff is loaded?

 

[Poupon]

nice rig and just in time for the season. enjoy!

 

[NMrockeater]

Dry is 1900lbs, hitch weight is 215lbs and I figure once I get it loaded and add water and gear It would be around 2700lbs?

 

[marcfj60]

I like the size and ground clearance of that one. It's about the same size as the popup I regularly borrow from a coworker (Fleetwood Santa Fe). It's GVWR is 2500 lbs. The 100 has no problems with it and towing is pretty easy. I wish the brakes on the trailer were a little bigger. I cannot lock up the tires on the trailer at any speed. But I can tell it has brakes when I press the controller lever, but just barely.

 

[NMrockeater]

Do you think it would be ok to pull it on a couple trips prior to getting the brake controller installed?

 

[marcfj60]

I don't tow enough things to give an opinion on how safe it would be to tow the trailer without brakes. Keep in mind your truck is probably pushing 6000 lbs so a 2700 lbs trailer isn't quite half of the truck weight. Your braking distance will suffer and your pads will wear faster with hotter components. I imagine the brakes would be most useful on big mountain passes and less than perfect road conditions. I've towed plenty of times without brakes in town and I just go slow and give myself plenty of distance to stop. I would be nervous to have towed more than about 1,500 lbs on the highway without trailer brakes.

I'm assuming your truck already has the lights wired for the trailer. Is it a 4-pin flat connector or a 7-pin round connector? To add a brake controller you will need to have the 7-pin round to have enough conductors for brakes, 12V power and the larger ground wire.

 

[NMrockeater]

I have a 7 and a 4 pin now need to make sure they work and then wire in the 12v power and the brake controller.

 

[mbarela]

I do it a lot but I think it would be fine has long as you could see your lights.... The trailer is light and I don't see it being an issue... My opinion only....

 

[evanz80]

My two cents for trailer brakes - you just never know when some idiot is going to do something stupid on the road in front of you. So if you're running without brakes, be very, very careful.

I still have memories of pulling a pop-up with my 80 series on I-25 in the left hand lane, when a Corolla in front of me decided to stop in the left hand lane so they could do a U-turn. If it wasn't for trailer brakes, I would have ended up in their back seat. I don't think I missed them by more than a foot WITH the brakes.

BTW - nice pop-up! You'll enjoy it.

 

[alia176]

Get the brake controller operational before the trip- don't be that guy who jeopardizes his own family and others.

 

[NMrockeater]

Going to tow it with the Dodge this coming weekend. The Dodge has the factory brake controller built in and seems to be a nice unit. Worked great when I used to pull the 5th wheel. I think we want to do another trip mid May and if I don't have the controller done by then we will just use the Dodge again. I also want to get a controller for the wife's Sequoia that way all of our vehicles can pull it. The Sequoia came with a nice tow package, both a 7 pin and a 4 pin all built into the bumper.

 

[marcfj60]

If you get the Tekonsha P3, then you only need to buy one and then buy an extra mounting bracket and harness.
They are designed such that you can switch them between vehicles.

 

[alia176]

That Dodge won't even feel that trailer back there!

 

[marcfj60]

You might not even be able to see it in your mirrors. Don't forget it's back there.

 

[NMrockeater]

Here are some pics from our trip this weekend. Camper pulled like nothing behind the dodge.

 

[BionicCruiser]

looks good!

 

[marcfj60]

I didn't see in the post if this was a new or used purchase. Also, you said you've had a Palomino before. Was it of a similar style, high clearance with front cargo/toy deck? I see a nice looking 2007 Fleetwood E2 for sale on Craigslist but I'm afraid to buy anything Fleetwood/Coleman because of their notorious roof leak problems. I'd like to buy something like this but am not willing to spend the $12k - $16k of the new ones.

 

[alia176]

Or just keep borrowing the one you're using now and don't worry about the headache goes along owning one.

 

[marcfj60]

Definitely my preferred route. Just wish I had an easy way to get my 2 '68 Honda Trail 90s to the campsite when I use the pop up. Right now it's pop up or trail bikes or go with a group and find someone willing to bring the trail bikes in their pickup.