First outing in new Whitehawk!

[mikmurphy]

We took our long-awaited first trip in the new TT to Palmetto State Park this past weekend. The park is only about 70 miles from our place, but is very distinctive in that four different ecological areas combine, making for very diverse plant life, and lots of birds to view.

Happily, everything worked the way it was supposed to, and we figured out a number of modifications we want to make to the interior prior to a month-long trip to OR this summer. I also learned that our TV will need an aux. transmission oil cooler, I saw 217 briefly in 95 degree ambient temps, which would not augur well for summer towing in the mountains! Even though it was quite warm, the TT cooled down comfortably in about an hour; and became chilly in about two hours. The Glacier Package option should be standard on any Jaycos that will spend time in TX in the warmer months!

[exjay1]

Nice! Looks like a brochure photo for Jayco.

[mikmurphy]

As a photographer, I thought I'd show it off in good form! I used a spotlight to lightpaint the TT over 8-15 second exposures. I hope to make many more images like this over the next few months, maybe Jayco will allow me to trade the photos in on a new trailer at some point!

[milw156]

Nice shot indeed. Love the awning lights!

[mrp116]

Are those the new factory installed LED awning lights?

[mikmurphy]

Nope, those are the owner-installed LED lights, purchased from Amazon. I also installed a strip on the awning tube, but neglected to bring a short ladder and consequently could not reach high enough to plug them in, too. Next photo should have both the awning and gutter lights on!

[Timberghost]

Looks good!

[Sticks4Legs]

We too just finished our first weekend in the new 28DSBH. Everything was great, no major issues, leaks or breakdowns. I did have a few issues or questions to see if anyone else noticed the same thing.

- The bottom bunk above the water heater is noticably warmer will heating water using propane. You can feel the temperature difference on the mattress and moreso when you pull it back. Warm enough that my daughter complained about having hot pillows.
- The water mixing while showering seems off, very hot blast of hot water before it levels out the preset temperature

[Nighthawk 96]

Just finished our first trip in our 27 DSRL at Dreher Island State Park outside of Columbia SC last week. Love our new trailer and everything worked great.

[LongIslandCamper]

Originally Posted by mikmurphy

Nope, those are the owner-installed LED lights, purchased from Amazon. I also installed a strip on the awning tube, but neglected to bring a short ladder and consequently could not reach high enough to plug them in, too. Next photo should have both the awning and gutter lights on!

I don't know what king of awning you have, but our White Hawk awning has a way to pull the tube down to the ground so you can hang lights. It's also to let the rain run off better.

When you open your awning all the way, do you have a black knob on the underside of each awning arm? If so, unscrew it a little bit and then it will allow you to pull that side of the awning down a little bit. Simply screw it back in when it reaches a comfortable position for you. When you're done, hold the awning arm down and unscrew that black knob a little bit and then hold the awning arm because it will want to spring up quickly. That's why you need to hold it while unscrewing it. Don't unscrew it all the way, just enough to loosen it.

Like I said, you can use this method to hang lights or to keep rain water from building up on the awning.

[Donedroolin]

Nice setup. Our trip with our new rig is this weekend. I was wondering did you leave your electric awning out overnight. Also did you experience any wind while it was open. Glad to hear everything worked for you.

[LongIslandCamper]

Originally Posted by Donedroolin

Nice setup. Our trip with our new rig is this weekend. I was wondering did you leave your electric awning out overnight. Also did you experience any wind while it was open. Glad to hear everything worked for you.

I wouldn't leave it out.

I only leave the awning out if we plan to be up and about by the camper. If we're going to work, the beach, shopping, or even the park we pull it in. We definitely bring it in before going to bed.

[mikmurphy]

Sidenote on the original post, where I observed seeing transmission fluid temp of 217 on a 95 degree day. Three mechanics I've spoken to don't think that installing another external cooler will help much (the truck has the trailering package, with external transmission oil cooler); they all think I need to move up to a 3/4 ton truck. And, after weighing the truck enroute to pick up the trailer, I know we're going to be overweight. TV is rated to 7000 GVWR, CAT scale weight showed 6900 lbs with nothing hooked on, or in the bed. Given that Jayco calculates a fully loaded White Hawk throws 975 lbs to the TV, I'm guessing we'd be overweight by at least that much, even with nothing more in the bed of the truck. Consequently, I'm looking to trade the 1/2 ton for a 3/4 ton Chevy gas truck. They are rated to 9500 GVWR, and should easily accommodate our TT and anything I want to throw in the bed. Of course, it will cost $$, but I'd rather err on the side of safety. ...

[jdorant]

We are out at Bayley's campground in Scarborough Maine for our 1st outing in our new 2013 28dsbh. We are with my brother who is also enjoying his 1st time out in his identical TT (pddjr25). The weather is rainy but hopefully clears up, although the forecast is not looking promising. Here is a pic on our way at a quick stop at Walmart. I hope everyone enjoys their Memorial Day Weekend!

[kris_12302]

I disagree, how would installing another cooler not help? jmo

[kris_12302]

Originally Posted by mikmurphy

Sidenote on the original post, where I observed seeing transmission fluid temp of 217 on a 95 degree day. Three mechanics I've spoken to don't think that installing another external cooler will help much (the truck has the trailering package, with external transmission oil cooler); they all think I need to move up to a 3/4 ton truck. And, after weighing the truck enroute to pick up the trailer, I know we're going to be overweight. TV is rated to 7000 GVWR, CAT scale weight showed 6900 lbs with nothing hooked on, or in the bed. Given that Jayco calculates a fully loaded White Hawk throws 975 lbs to the TV, I'm guessing we'd be overweight by at least that much, even with nothing more in the bed of the truck. Consequently, I'm looking to trade the 1/2 ton for a 3/4 ton Chevy gas truck. They are rated to 9500 GVWR, and should easily accommodate our TT and anything I want to throw in the bed. Of course, it will cost $$, but I'd rather err on the side of safety. ...

http://www.etrailer.com/question-50628.html

[Nighthawk 96]

My 27 DSRL has a toungue weight of 720 lbs from CAT scale. Trailer axle weight of 5960. Total trailer weight of 6680. Weight from factory was 5834. So additional cargo is about 850 with a half tank of freshwater accounting for about 150# of that weight. Very surprised that your truck is at at GVWR with nothing in it. Somethin' ain't right! My whole rig is 12400 with GCVWR 16000. However it would seem that you are wize in getting a bigger truck.

[mikmurphy]

Thanks, kris12302, for the link to the Derale Atomic Transmission cooler. I'll check that out. But, the problem remains that my Silverado 1500 still weighs 6900 lbs with me and a buddy in the cab; nothing in the bed. GVWR for the truck is 7000 lbs. Adding a fully loaded White Hawk 27 DSRL with 900 lbs of tongue weight puts the truck over recommended weight rating by 800 lbs. And this doesn't count anything thrown in the bed of the truck. I think this gets us back to the point of the manufacturers using the "BASE" truck for weight; and in my case, our truck is very far from base: it is a LWB Extended cab with 4WD, meaning it has the 34 gallon gas tank as opposed to the 24 gallon on non-LWB trucks; plus the weight of the 4x4 gear and the extended cab. I've also added a Ranchhand replacement front end, plus RH headache rack, and toolbox.

Total weight of the truck and TT coming back from Middlebury was 12,620, well within total GCWR of 15,000; but still over the recommended weight for the pickup.

If we weren't traveling over the continental divide this summer, I wouldn't worry as much; but we are; so I will look at the 3/4 ton truck.

[GBandPB]

Originally Posted by mikmurphy

Sidenote on the original post, where I observed seeing transmission fluid temp of 217 on a 95 degree day. Three mechanics I've spoken to don't think that installing another external cooler will help much (the truck has the trailering package, with external transmission oil cooler); they all think I need to move up to a 3/4 ton truck. And, after weighing the truck enroute to pick up the trailer, I know we're going to be overweight. TV is rated to 7000 GVWR, CAT scale weight showed 6900 lbs with nothing hooked on, or in the bed. Given that Jayco calculates a fully loaded White Hawk throws 975 lbs to the TV, I'm guessing we'd be overweight by at least that much, even with nothing more in the bed of the truck. Consequently, I'm looking to trade the 1/2 ton for a 3/4 ton Chevy gas truck. They are rated to 9500 GVWR, and should easily accommodate our TT and anything I want to throw in the bed. Of course, it will cost $$, but I'd rather err on the side of safety. ...

That's what we ended up doing. I was worried that we would be asking for trouble if we tried to tow across the Rockies with the 1/2ton. Tows much better with the 3/4 ton. Interesting is that my milage is averaging 1 mpg less unloaded and one mpg better towing with the 3/4 ton.

[mikmurphy]

Found a new 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 4WD Ext Cab Long Box at a local dealer for $10K off the $41K price tag. Will pick it up Wednesday. Time to remove all the goodies off the current truck. . ..