Excited Newbie Signing In!

Drysok · 09-14-2014, 11:29 PM

Excited to be here! The stickies posted above seem full of solid gold for a newbie so thank you.

Never owned an RV before, but did a lot when I was a kid. I'm nervous and excited about not messing anything up. Just picked up a 2015 White Hawk DSBH Friday right off the lot and went straight out camping. (sweating bullets) 2 nights under our belt so far and we had a blast. Kids are 2, 4, and 6.

I have a lot of questions but I guess I should ask them in the right subsections and after I've read everything I can so I don't re-post.

Nice to see such a vibrant community!

Rustic Eagle · 09-15-2014, 01:22 AM

Welcome to JOF

Lots of good information throughout the JOF forums..., and when you get comfortable with your White Hawk spend some time going through the JOF "Jayco Mods" forum, you may find a 'must-have' mod!.

Bob

oobedoob · 09-15-2014, 05:00 AM

Welcome Drysok. You will better info here than on your facebook post.

P.S. I wouldn't let Christopher anywhere near your bathroom if I were you...

UPCamper · 09-15-2014, 05:22 AM

Welcome!

Brownie · 09-15-2014, 05:30 AM

Congratulations on the new White Hawk, and welcome to The Forum! Rustic Eagle is right: lots of great info, here. And the members are top notch! I thought I was an experienced camper when I joined (decades in a tent + 12 years with a S.O.B. trailer), but I was new to Jayco. I have learned soooooo much about Jayco trailers - and trailer camping in general - from the good folks on this site. Hope you do too.

Happy Camping!

Kellys · 09-15-2014, 08:04 AM

Congrats and welcome to the forum, no need in being nervous there is a lot of info ,just ask away first piece of info i will give you is when your finished camping roll up your power cord and crank down your tv antenna before you pull out. I know they sound obvious but you would be surprised how many forget just my two

SecretCoveDave · 09-15-2014, 08:37 AM

Hello, have fun!

jtownstumpjumper · 09-15-2014, 08:47 AM

Welcome from NE Arkansas and welcome to the WhiteHawk family!!!!!!

Skaling · 09-15-2014, 09:59 AM

Welcome. I saw u picking your trailer up at Traveland while I was droping mine off for warranty work. How does the Mercedes pull?

Drysok · 09-15-2014, 02:51 PM

Cousin! Small world. I knew you were camping but I didn't know you had such a fine taste in Travel Trailers.

Drysok · 09-15-2014, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaling

Welcome. I saw u picking your trailer up at Traveland while I was droping mine off for warranty work. How does the Mercedes pull?

Speaking of a small world. That is awesome you saw us. The Mercedes seemed to pull just fine, however I have nothing to compare it too. The braking seemed perfect. I was cautious but it got up to a safe travelling speed just fine.

Pulling with the Mercedes is my biggest concern. I haven't dived deep enough into the forums yet to see who else has done this, but I know there are some concerns I need to address.

Cheers!

oobedoob · 09-15-2014, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drysok

Cousin! Small world. I knew you were camping but I didn't know you had such a fine taste in Travel Trailers.

haha! yes, if we lived closer to one another we could go camping together. I still wouldn't let Christopher near your bathroom though...

Where are you storing that behemoth?

Drysok · 09-15-2014, 03:43 PM

We have a permanent site at "The Glen at Maple Falls". It is at the base of Mt. Baker. Gorgeous area. The next time you're crossing the border, and if you have time, you should stop in for a night.

The trailer will live down there full time during the off season. We're building a structure to protect it. Then we will probably take it up to Penticton for a couple weeks next summer. I don't currently trust the Mercedes enough to do anything more adventures but slowly but surely we may try to branch out. The bunks are a big hit with the kids!

oobedoob · 09-15-2014, 03:47 PM

Nice, that's where your parents camp isn't it? They still have a site there? Have to see what's happening next year, planning a Disney trip with everyone, might have to stop by.

Skaling · 09-15-2014, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drysok

Speaking of a small world. That is awesome you saw us. The Mercedes seemed to pull just fine, however I have nothing to compare it too. The breaking seemed perfect. I was cautious but it got up to a safe travelling speed just fine.

Pulling with the Mercedes is my biggest concern. I haven't dived deep enough into the forums yet to see who else has done this, but I know there are some concerns I need to address.

Cheers!

Ya looks like you have a max tow capacity of 7000lbs. Your trailer is @ 5600lbs plus extra options u got. Plus all you put in it(food, drinks, cloths etc) and your family in the SUV. My guess is u r close to over. There is a scale on 176th by the border I use to check mine every season

Drysok · 09-15-2014, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaling

Ya looks like you have a max tow capacity of 7000lbs. Your trailer is @ 5600lbs plus extra options u got. Plus all you put in it(food, drinks, cloths etc) and your family in the SUV. My guess is u r close to over. There is a scale on 176th by the border I use to check mine every season

I'm very keen on trying out the scale. Does it go pretty smoothly down there? Planning on buying a Tongue Weight scale as well, since I like buying stuff. You are absolutely right, I feel I'm right on the edge. When the trailer finally showed up with all the options on it, it pushed the weight up to 6071lbs! The ML's capacity is 7200lbs.

My biggest concern is that the Mercedes hitch max tongue weight is based off the European standard of 8% so it is set at 575lbs which is already lower than the 635lbs the stock 28DSBH is listed at. There are no clear answers on the tongue weight dilemma in the Mercedes Benz forums or from Mercedes itself. (Still waiting for them to get back to me) Though it seems the Air Stream crowd have a liking for pulling even heavier loads with a Mercedes and seem to be doing alright with some modifications.

I'm planning on posting my concerns in the Towing section at some point. Just have to prepare myself to hear "How about you buy a truck?" a few dozen times.

oobedoob · 09-15-2014, 04:35 PM

robkelly · 09-15-2014, 05:06 PM

Congratulations and welcome! Talked to a guy pulling an SOB TT with a Mercedes last week and he raved about it. Don't know how close he was to his weight limits, but he claims to have pulled up to Hoover Dam and beyond with no problems.

Skaling · 09-15-2014, 05:10 PM

I usually go late in the evening when the truck traffic is slow.. Most trucks bypass it when they see a travel trailer there and just go to the commercial scale..
My first time with the new trailer I took my time and tried different things with my WDH to get my truck level and as close as possible to weight ratio front to back of truck as if no trailer was hooked up..
The 575 hitch weight is w/o WDH.. I see lots of class IV hitches are 500-600lbs but go to 1000lbs with a WDH installed... I am sure u will be ok there..

Drysok · 09-15-2014, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robkelly

Congratulations and welcome! Talked to a guy pulling an SOB TT with a Mercedes last week and he raved about it. Don't know how close he was to his weight limits, but he claims to have pulled up to Hoover Dam and beyond with no problems.

SOB?

Hoover Dam would be a treat!

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