Our tow vehicle is a 2004 Chevrolet Z71 Suburban (1500 model) with a tow package. Right now I have about 200,000 miles on it and it still runs like a top. The tow package provides a heavier suspension, bigger alternator, beefier cooling system and an overdrive mode on the transmission. Without Mabel Rubain behind us (the travel trailer's name is Mabel Rubain) we average about 16 mpg. Hauling the trailer drops that down to 7-8 mpg and a top speed of about 60 mph. The gas tank holds a little over 26 gallons. That means we get about 250 miles between fill ups when we're towing. Not great. We have to stop pretty frequently to gas up. We have a mobile app on our iPhones to track down Pilot or Flying J truck stops which generally have easy access for RVers. Some truck stops have separate islands for RVs and trailers. That is always a good thing to find.
The tow rig is designed to help level the two vehicles. Without it the trailer would weigh too heavily on the back of the truck and cause the trucks front end to point up. We had trouble getting this rig right the first time we used it but once we figured it out we were good to go. If it's not set up correctly truck doesn't handle well so it's important.
The tow rig is designed to help level the two vehicles. Without it the trailer would weigh too heavily on the back of the truck and cause the trucks front end to point up. We had trouble getting this rig right the first time we used it but once we figured it out we were good to go. If it's not set up correctly truck doesn't handle well so it's important.
Mabel Rubain is a 2007 MaxLite travel trailer. She's 31 feet long and rides on two axles. The outer shell is made of fiberglass instead of the corrugated aluminum siding that you see on most RVs. The frame is aluminum and the trailer base is steel. We can carry 60 lb. of propane on board in two tanks. When we're tied up to shore power we use 30 AMP service to our power inverter that outputs 12V DC for lights and 120 V AC for the air conditioner and refrigerator and 120 V AC wall plugs. We have a battery that charges when we're hooked up to shore power. That battery will run the lights and move the slide in an out when we don't have shore power.
The refrigerator runs on propane or electricity and will switch between the two based on what is available. If there is shore power to the trailer the refrigerator runs on electricity. When we're on the road the refrigerator automatically switches over to propane. I like this since I don't think we'd consistently remember to manually switch over when we were ready to hit the road.
There is a connection for city water. We have a pressure regulator and an in-line water filter that protects the water system on the trailer. The first time we used the water filter it blew black powder all over the place and colored the water black for a few minutes. Turns out that is normal as the loose activated carbon is flushed out of the system. For times when we don't have access to city water we have a fresh water tank and an electric water pump that pressurizes the system. Theoretically we could shower with nothing but battery power but I don't know we'll ever do that unless we go someplace like Burning Man and don't have access to hookups.
This trailer is unique in the way it handles waste water. The toilet empties into what is called a black water tank. Water from the sinks and shower empty into a grey water tank. What is unique is that the sink in the kitchen empties into it's own tank so we have plenty of grey water storage space. Nice feature when you don't have access to sewer on your camp site. However, it is an unpleasant task to deal with the waste water in general.
The layout is pretty sweet. The kitchen is up at the front of the trailer. There is a three burner propane stove and a small oven. I've looked in the oven and I can't imagine that you could cook much in there. Maybe a casserole or some cookies. It would definitely need to be something flat.
The dinette has been removed and we use that space to house Gracie and Charlotte's kennels. Next to that, in the living area, there is a couch. It wasn't very comfortable at first so Matt took the cushions off of the sectional in the lanai and used them on the couch frame in the trailer. It is much better now. Also in the living area there is a small entertainment center that has a connection for cable. We carry a small satellite dish with us that we can use if we want to hook up DirecTV. We haven't done that yet. Too many other little projects that are taking up time and money right now. The floor is a laminate which is good. I can't imagine carpets with Gracie and Charlotte.
The bathroom consists of a pretty standard RV toilet and small shower. The trailer can use propane or electricity to heat water. We haven't tried out the shower yet since all of the parks we've stayed in so far have had shower facilities and right now the shower is a catch all for dog stuff. I think when we get a little more organized we'll actually use the shower. The bathroom sink is on the other side of the trailer from the bathroom/shower and is surround by a lot of shelves. We haven't organized ourselves to the point that things have found a permanent home yet but we're getting there.
Finally the bedroom. There is a luxurious memory foam queen bed in the bedroom. This is a major upgrade from the typical RV mattress and we love it. So comfortable. We fit quite nicely in it together and even have room to turn over. Charlotte still insists on sleeping on Matt's head. Some things never change. She's done that since she was a puppy. I thought that moving out of a big king bed to a queen would be a problem but so far it's been fine. The hanging space is really limited but the bed pops open and there is a ton of space under the bed. Eventually we'll keep folded clothes and bulky items under the bed. When we've been on the road for a while we find that all the hanging clothing are on the floor of the closet when we stop. It appears that things fall off when we hit bumps. We need a better solution there.
We have ducted air-conditioning that really keeps the trailer cool. I was worried about leaving the dogs in the trailer by themselves (in their kennels) until I figured out the air-conditioner was up to the task of keeping things cool. We had a test of the heating system (forced air through vents in the floor) when we took delivery of the trailer but haven't had it on yet. I like the fact that it's ducted and not just a roof unit. The bottom of the trailer is enclosed. This is actually not the standard in the industry but is for a Max Lite. Having a closed in bottom means that the plumbing and heating ducts are protected from road damage and when the heat is on in the winter it keeps the pipes from freezing (to a point). I don't know how much cold weather we'll encounter but we might linger someplace to get a taste of snow before heading back south.
It takes about 15 - 20 minutes for both of us to get the trailer ready for the road. Most of that time is dedicated to getting the truck lined up with the trailer. I have a checklist on my iPhone that I use to make sure we don't forget anything like driving off with the stairs down or the stabilizer legs still extended.
That's about it. We love it and can't wait to hit the road as soon as the house closes. I think we're going to be very happy for a couple of years at least. The idea of being able to pick the city we want to live in and go there with just a little planning is really exciting. I'm looking forward to being in DC for part of the summer. It's one of my favorite places to be.
Todd
The refrigerator runs on propane or electricity and will switch between the two based on what is available. If there is shore power to the trailer the refrigerator runs on electricity. When we're on the road the refrigerator automatically switches over to propane. I like this since I don't think we'd consistently remember to manually switch over when we were ready to hit the road.
There is a connection for city water. We have a pressure regulator and an in-line water filter that protects the water system on the trailer. The first time we used the water filter it blew black powder all over the place and colored the water black for a few minutes. Turns out that is normal as the loose activated carbon is flushed out of the system. For times when we don't have access to city water we have a fresh water tank and an electric water pump that pressurizes the system. Theoretically we could shower with nothing but battery power but I don't know we'll ever do that unless we go someplace like Burning Man and don't have access to hookups.
This trailer is unique in the way it handles waste water. The toilet empties into what is called a black water tank. Water from the sinks and shower empty into a grey water tank. What is unique is that the sink in the kitchen empties into it's own tank so we have plenty of grey water storage space. Nice feature when you don't have access to sewer on your camp site. However, it is an unpleasant task to deal with the waste water in general.
The layout is pretty sweet. The kitchen is up at the front of the trailer. There is a three burner propane stove and a small oven. I've looked in the oven and I can't imagine that you could cook much in there. Maybe a casserole or some cookies. It would definitely need to be something flat.
The dinette has been removed and we use that space to house Gracie and Charlotte's kennels. Next to that, in the living area, there is a couch. It wasn't very comfortable at first so Matt took the cushions off of the sectional in the lanai and used them on the couch frame in the trailer. It is much better now. Also in the living area there is a small entertainment center that has a connection for cable. We carry a small satellite dish with us that we can use if we want to hook up DirecTV. We haven't done that yet. Too many other little projects that are taking up time and money right now. The floor is a laminate which is good. I can't imagine carpets with Gracie and Charlotte.
The bathroom consists of a pretty standard RV toilet and small shower. The trailer can use propane or electricity to heat water. We haven't tried out the shower yet since all of the parks we've stayed in so far have had shower facilities and right now the shower is a catch all for dog stuff. I think when we get a little more organized we'll actually use the shower. The bathroom sink is on the other side of the trailer from the bathroom/shower and is surround by a lot of shelves. We haven't organized ourselves to the point that things have found a permanent home yet but we're getting there.
Finally the bedroom. There is a luxurious memory foam queen bed in the bedroom. This is a major upgrade from the typical RV mattress and we love it. So comfortable. We fit quite nicely in it together and even have room to turn over. Charlotte still insists on sleeping on Matt's head. Some things never change. She's done that since she was a puppy. I thought that moving out of a big king bed to a queen would be a problem but so far it's been fine. The hanging space is really limited but the bed pops open and there is a ton of space under the bed. Eventually we'll keep folded clothes and bulky items under the bed. When we've been on the road for a while we find that all the hanging clothing are on the floor of the closet when we stop. It appears that things fall off when we hit bumps. We need a better solution there.
We have ducted air-conditioning that really keeps the trailer cool. I was worried about leaving the dogs in the trailer by themselves (in their kennels) until I figured out the air-conditioner was up to the task of keeping things cool. We had a test of the heating system (forced air through vents in the floor) when we took delivery of the trailer but haven't had it on yet. I like the fact that it's ducted and not just a roof unit. The bottom of the trailer is enclosed. This is actually not the standard in the industry but is for a Max Lite. Having a closed in bottom means that the plumbing and heating ducts are protected from road damage and when the heat is on in the winter it keeps the pipes from freezing (to a point). I don't know how much cold weather we'll encounter but we might linger someplace to get a taste of snow before heading back south.
It takes about 15 - 20 minutes for both of us to get the trailer ready for the road. Most of that time is dedicated to getting the truck lined up with the trailer. I have a checklist on my iPhone that I use to make sure we don't forget anything like driving off with the stairs down or the stabilizer legs still extended.
That's about it. We love it and can't wait to hit the road as soon as the house closes. I think we're going to be very happy for a couple of years at least. The idea of being able to pick the city we want to live in and go there with just a little planning is really exciting. I'm looking forward to being in DC for part of the summer. It's one of my favorite places to be.
Todd
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