Hello,
We plan on ordering a camplite later this year(maybe November). This will be our first trailer and want to get it right as these look like they can last a long time. It sounds like some of you have worked out what you like. I am interested in having batteries installed and also some extra outlets. Any help with pointing us in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Where are the batteries and charger placed? From your posts I assume some of you have some electrical knowledge.
If you are happy with your trailers or would you change anything you have ordered?
What type of black tank flusher did you use?
Also how long did it take to order?
Cost?
I see the skylight in the bathroom is a good idea.
Thinking about the 21rbs with the dinette option.
Sorry about all the questions but I have looked around and it seems these are the trailers for us, now we are just trying to learn how to get them set up nice.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
[font size="3"][font face="arial"]Bill,
Glad to have you on board here and hope we can help you decide. The 16TBS is a fine trailer, but for four more feet and a few $$ you get a lot more with the 21RBS. Obviously that was my choice although the 16TBS was not available when I ordered. With the dinette option you get a bigger dinette, more space and a sink in the bathroom, and more walk around access if you configure for a single bed. My previous trailer was 18' so 24' is no problem. My factory order, including all the special stuff I ordered (search for my earlier posts) took 2-2.5 months in winter. Spring/summer may take longer.
If you want extra 12V or 120V outlets it's best to order them. Easy to add during construction as is the gas/electric water heater and the shower skylight. I try to get all my electronics and gadgets to run on 12V. As such you need many more 12V sockets, but don't need an inverter. Most electronic devices run on 5-12V internally so the inversion/ conversion process wastes tons of energy. The only things you can't run on the battery are the A/C, the microwave, and your electric coffee maker.
You should specify two 6 volt golf cart batteries (not 12V batteries) and dual 20# propane bottles. This will give you a very satisfactory setup. They all mount on tongue. The factory installed charger/converter works fine.
Also think ahead to what you may want to do with the rear bumper. A beefed up bumper or a small rear shelf option may be beneficial.
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[quote source="/post/1192/thread" timestamp="1401054214" author="@charliem"][font size="3"][font face="arial"]The only things you can't run on the battery are the A/C, the microwave, and your electric coffee maker.[/font][/font][/quote]
Electric coffee maker? We're camping right? :D I use a tiny tea pot on the propane stove with an Aeropress and grind the beans with a hand burr grinder. This is the northwest after all, we take our coffee very seriously :)
[quote source="/post/1192/thread" timestamp="1401054214" author="@charliem"][font size="3"][font face="arial"]You should specify two 6 volt golf cart batteries (not 12V batteries) and dual 20# propane bottles. This will give you a very satisfactory setup. They all mount on tongue.
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Did LL actually provide your golf cart batteries? I was under the impression that batteries were added by the dealer.
[quote source="/post/1196/thread" timestamp="1401075048" author="@tinkeringtechie"]Electric coffee maker? We're camping right? :D I use a tiny tea pot on the propane stove with an Aeropress and grind the beans with a hand burr grinder. This is the northwest after all, we take our coffee very seriously :)
Agreed on the tea pot and stove, but not the Aeropress. This is the rest of the US where we don't need the grounds to enjoy out Java. (puke)
Did LL actually provide your golf cart batteries? I was under the impression that batteries were added by the dealer.
The dealer does normally install the batteries, but LL needs to be aware that you will use two for the rack. My dealer did not stock the heavy duty golfers I wanted and didn't seem interested in getting them, so I picked them up cheaper at home.
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[quote source="/post/1201/thread" timestamp="1401116859" author="@charliem"]
Agreed on the tea pot and stove, but not the Aeropress. This is the rest of the US where we don't need the grounds to enjoy out Java. (puke)
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You're thinking french press, which I agree is too gritty. I use an [a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Maker-Tote/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=pd_sim_k_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1BPZXM3YV8VYG6P1R7K4"]Aeropress[/a]. No grinds and I can even use it to make espresso for my mochas. It's perfect for camping because it's non-powered and very compact.
I bought my 21RBS off the lot. Would have liked the shower sky light and battery upgrade.
As far as coffee brewing my Keurig died the first week on the road. I was really roughing it . As luck would have it Keurig customer support FedXed a replacement.
[quote source="/post/1224/thread" timestamp="1401200959" author="@shovelhead"]As far as coffee brewing my Keurig died the first week on the road. I was really roughing it . As luck would have it Keurig customer support FedXed a replacement. [/quote]At $50/lb for their coffee they should be giving the machines away. Amazon is also very lenient with their Kindle's since they'll make more on the content.
Only reason I go Keurig is I drink 1 cup a day. Small brewers like a Mr Coffee still make too much.. And I'm lazy. Too much trouble to brew 1 cup. Keurig 1 pod and 2 minutes I have my single cup.
Never thought of $50/lb maybe I should be less lazy :-)
[quote source="/post/1228/thread" timestamp="1401206390" author="@shovelhead"]Only reason I go Keurig is I drink 1 cup a day. Small brewers like a Mr Coffee still make too much.. And I'm lazy. Too much trouble to brew 1 cup. Keurig 1 pod and 2 minutes I have my single cup.
Never thought of $50/lb maybe I should be less lazy :-)[/quote]Same here, the Aeropress isn't for more than a cup or two. It's more work than a Keurig, so that $50/lb gives you the convenience. Both are still way less than Starbucks.
Can't you just take the regular ground coffee of your choice and refill the Keurig pods?
Or get, you know, a single or double cup Melita drip gizmo to make one cup at a time. Easy to clean, makes a great 16 oz mug however strong you choose. Cleanup a snap, just rinse.
Yes there is a Keurig cup adapter. Just fill with your coffee. I use one for Dunkin DoNuts coffee and a few flavored ones I like. Single servings and just rinse and repeat.
Hello, I'm actually new to this forum and wanted to tag onto this thread as well - wasn't sure if it warranted a thread of it's own?! Enjoying all of the information on here! Thanks everyone. My husband and I are planning on purchasing the 21BHS. We think it will be the perfect camper for us and our growing family; however, we're having trouble distinguishing whether to purchase a 2014 off of someone's lot or to order a new 2015. The Livin Lite website doesn't seem to be clear about what features are now standard on the 2015 21BHS. Does anyone happen to know what features would come with a newly ordered 2015 21BHS? I suppose I could just call Livin Lite too!
Does anyone have any thoughts/opnions on the 2014's vs. 2015's? Any change in quality observed since Livin Lite has been bought by Thor?
Any information would be helpful! Thank you!
[quote source="/post/1600/thread" timestamp="1403210481" author="@lewis7106"]Hello, I'm actually new to this forum and wanted to tag onto this thread as well - wasn't sure if it warranted a thread of it's own?! Enjoying all of the information on here! Thanks everyone. My husband and I are planning on purchasing the 21BHS. We think it will be the perfect camper for us and our growing family; however, we're having trouble distinguishing whether to purchase a 2014 off of someone's lot or to order a new 2015. The Livin Lite website doesn't seem to be clear about what features are now standard on the 2015 21BHS. Does anyone happen to know what features would come with a newly ordered 2015 21BHS? I suppose I could just call Livin Lite too!
Does anyone have any thoughts/opnions on the 2014's vs. 2015's? Any change in quality observed since Livin Lite has been bought by Thor?
Any information would be helpful! Thank you! [/quote]
LivinLite doesn't behave like car manufacturers that save up a bunch of new features and redesign for model year breaks. Probably nothing changed when they switched from calling them 2014 to 2015 models. But something changed during the 2014 model run, and will most likely continue to change during the 2015 run. So even if you're considering a 2014 model you'll see differences depending on whether it was built earlier or later. Technically mine is a 2014 model even though they started the 2015's a couple weeks later. If you compared a 2015 21BHS to mine there wouldn't be any differences. But if you compared mine to other 2014's on this same forum you would find a few differences (switch locations, slide depth, mattress, etc...)
I don't think there are any differences since Thor bought the company. The only perk I've heard is now you can take it to a wider service network for warranty work.
[font size="3"][font face="arial"]As TinkeringTechie says, change is ongoing at LL and they are very receptive to custom mods. I recommend carefully considering what you would really like after reading this forum to see what others have done. Then sit down with a dealer and have him order it exactly as you want it. If he seems reluctant to ask the factory for mods, find another dealer.
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I am in the 'active looking' stage, and have been for a few months. I think the XL Living Package for the 21BHS has changed, as of 5/20/14. It now includes the Wood Plank Vinyl Flooring. On the web site, that package also includes "upgraded Leatherette Seating and Cushions". My memory is not the best; these may have been on the XL Package previously, but I don't think so. Basic unit seems the same; just different interior surfaces. Because I am now looking at the 21 RBS, I have to get a tow vehicle that can tow more, complicating my process. I also find the entries on this site very helpful.
[quote source="/post/1605/thread" timestamp="1403214961" author="@farmboy"]I am in the 'active looking' stage, and have been for a few months. I think the XL Living Package for the 21BHS has changed, as of 5/20/14. It now includes the Wood Plank Vinyl Flooring. On the web site, that package also includes "upgraded Leatherette Seating and Cushions". My memory is not the best; these may have been on the XL Package previously, but I don't think so. Basic unit seems the same; just different interior surfaces. Because I am now looking at the 21 RBS, I have to get a tow vehicle that can tow more, complicating my process. I also find the entries on this site very helpful. [/quote]Good call, those are definitely new as the defaults. So we're already seeing mid-2015 model changes (you can find 2015 models online without these even though they have the XL package). If you're not into the vinyl (I'm not) I'm sure they'd be glad to leave it off on a custom order. I haven't seen the leatherette, but it sounds interesting.
I just looked over the new options list (the 5/20/14 version) and it also looks like there are a few more changes:
[ul type="disc"][li]bluetooth is now a feature on the stereo[/li][li]The vortex fan is part of the XL package instead of a separate option[/li][li]The LP tanks come with a cover[/li][li]they've added a tank monitoring system (I'm curious which one)[/li][/ul]
It also looks like from newer pictures that there's a "power center" by the stove (usb & 12v outlet). Seems like a less than ideal location, but more outlets is always a good thing.
[quote source="/post/1606/thread" timestamp="1403216317" author="@tinkeringtechie"]
[ul type="disc"][li]they've added a tank monitoring system (I'm curious which one)[/li][/ul]
[/quote][font size="3"][font face="arial"]Please tell me they didn't put the probes in. Tell me it ain't so :-/[/font][/font]
[quote source="/post/1608/thread" timestamp="1403217211" author="@charliem"][font size="3"][font face="arial"]Please tell me they didn't put the probes in. Tell me it ain't so :-/[/font][/font]
[/quote]Lets just put a few screws in this tank... and voila ... a tank monitor :D
I wouldn't get your hopes up, my bet is on probes.