Considering VRV

[wluther1]

Hello everyone.  I am currently not an owner, but I am considering purchasing a Quicksilver VRV.  I love the fact that I can haul my RZR, and I don't have to buy a new truck to pull the trailer.  I have a 2011 half ton GMC, and I'd rather not drive a diesel every day. I'm looking forward to learning all I can about these before I become an owner.  Thanks for setting this forum up, I am looking forward to this format. 

Bill

[djsamuel]

[p]The Camplite trailers are very light and can be pulled by your GMC. My 21BHS is easily pulled by my Ram 1500 with the 4.7L engine. Certainly nothing wrong with a Quicksilver, but be sure you get what you want and not what you think you need to get because of your truck. The Camplite 21BHS has a dry weight of only 3500 lbs  and a max weight of only 5000 lbs. That should be well within the towing capacity of a half ton. It can easily sleep 5 between the queen bed, 2 bunks, and the dinette that converts to a bed. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Edit: I just realized that the VRVs can be just as big as some of the Camplite trailers, depending on what one you get. If you need a toy hauler, than you can disregard my message.  [/p]

[wluther1]

[quote source="/post/68/thread" timestamp="1394280219" author="@djsamuel"][p]The Camplite trailers are very light and can be pulled by your GMC. My 21BHS is easily pulled by my Ram 1500 with the 4.7L engine. Certainly nothing wrong with a Quicksilver, but be sure you get what you want and not what you think you need to get because of your truck. The Camplite 21BHS has a dry weight of only 3500 lbs  and a max weight of only 5000 lbs. That should be well within the towing capacity of a half ton. It can easily sleep 5 between the queen bed, 2 bunks, and the dinette that converts to a bed. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Edit: I just realized that the VRVs can be just as big as some of the Camplite trailers, depending on what one you get. If you need a toy hauler, than you can disregard my message.  [/p][/quote]
I guess I should have been more specific.  I'm looking at either an 8.5x18 or 8.5x22 basecamps.  I really like the tip out bunks.  I would like a toy hauler so I can take my RZR when my kids are with their mother, and I need lots of sleeping room when they are with me.  It can be a little confusing with the naming of these units.  The Quicksilver VRVs are more like Camplite toy haulers.  No worries, I appreciate the advice.  Have a great day.  Looking forward to hearing from you again. 

[rider3]

Hello, I thought that I could add my situation and limited experience so far.  I have a 2011 Ford F150 with the standard V-6 engine (not the Eco-boost) and the tow package.  I purchased a 7x20 VRV in late November and picked it up in early January. Since I live in Minnesota, my towing experience so far has been limited to the 60 mile trip home from the dealer.  I did not have an Equalizer-type hitch set up for that trip but it towed OK on the trip home.  I plan on getting an Equalizer-type hitch after the snow melts a bit so I can load the trailer and truck with a typical camping set-up to determine the right size hitch to buy.  My expectation is that the VRV/F150 combination will work well enough in the Midwest where there are no mountain grades to drive.  My truck has a 6000 pound towing limit, the VRV has a GVWR of 7000 pounds, and I expect my normal loaded weight to be around 5000 pounds.  My truck configuration requires a weight distributing hitch to be used when towing more than 5000 pounds.  If I replace the truck at some future point, I expect to look for a larger engine and stiffer suspension to better handle the towing loads but at this point I don't know when that will be. I guess the performance with the current truck will have a lot to do with that.   

Other than the towing considerations, I am happy to report that the more that I have worked on and around the VRV, the more impressed I've been with the build quality and potential for it to be used for the type of camping I like to do.  The changes I've made so far have been minor (reorienting the battery box to be in line with the frame member rather than perpendicular to the frame member, moving the trailer brake safety cut off switch to a more accessible location, and installing a battery cut-off switch) but tomorrow I plan on installing tank level monitors and flush valves in the gray and black water tanks.  

I will be hauling various motorcycle combinations in the VRV, one or two bikes or a sidecar rig, depending on the trip.   [span]    [/span][span]    [/span][span]    [/span][span]    [/span]

[charliem]

[font size="3"][font face="arial"]If you haven't already bought one I can recommend the SeeLevel tank monitoring system. All external sensors; no internal probes to gum up. In a way LL did us a favor by not building in a monitoring system.
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[rider3]

[quote source="/post/80/thread" timestamp="1394324402" author="@charliem"][font size="3"][font face="arial"]If you haven't already bought one I can recommend the SeeLevel tank monitoring system. All external sensors; no internal probes to gum up. In a way LL did us a favor by not building in a monitoring system.
[/font][/font][/quote]I couldn't agree more, I installed the SeeLevel system on the VRV today. It's nice to hear that you like the SeeLevel, too.  It was easy to find a good spot for the display and connecting the sensors was easy because there was plenty of room to route the wiring along the existing loom.  I plan to get the 3M undercoating recommended by SeeLevel to apply over the strips for protection from road spray before hitting the road with it.   I really like the idea of having a percentage reading for the tanks as with the SeeLevel rather than a fractional display that seems to be the case in so many other systems.

BTW, I used 16 GA. SJ cable for the wire runs from the sensors.  The thought was that the heavy insulation would shield it from any inadvertent AC interference so I hope that's the case.

[charliem]

[font size="3"][font face="arial"]Glad you got the SeeLevel. I know you'll be happy with it. As for the 4 little LED types, If they work at all they are usually respond 1/10, 2/10, 3/10, Overflow!  
[/font][/font]

[lennnie]

Hi, my wife and I have the 7x18 vrv and we tow it with our 2012 toyota tacoma. The tacoma does a good job although I was a little suprised at the drop in mileage. Others have told me that is normal though. We haul our gold wing in the vrv and it works quite well. We did buy the weight distribution hitch and I think it was probably a good thing. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer them for up you

[lennnie]

Hi, my wife and I have the 7x18 vrv and we tow it with our 2012 toyota tacoma. The tacoma does a good job although I was a little suprised at the drop in mileage. Others have told me that is normal though. We haul our gold wing in the vrv and it works quite well. We did buy the weight distribution hitch and I think it was probably a good thing. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer them for you. Len

[kennyhen]

We have the 8.5X22 and our tow vehicle is a 08' escalade AWD with a 6.2L engine. We avg 12.5-13 MPG while towing. We don't have a weight distribution hitch but the car does have an automatic load leveler which I love. I'm not an escalade guy, I was looking for a Tahoe and found this used and got a good deal.

We can fit a quad and 5 dirt bikes and lots of camping gear. We boon dock most of our trips so I have it set up with a 235 watt solar panel and 3 12v batteries. I use a champion 3500 watt generator that has worked flawlessly running everything and the AC. I also changed the converter to 45 amp from the 30 amp which allows me to charge batteries and run accessories more since I added the 3 batteries on the tongue of the trailer.

I like the happy jack bed in the rear of the trailer. I believe there are different versions. I'm 5'10" and have to bend over when walking under it. So be aware of that when choosing what happy jack as well as how tall your side by side is.

I love our VRV. It's awesome, my kids think it's cooler than any other Toy Hauler out there. Especially when I can get it further off the road than anyone else!

Good luck on your hunt for the model you want.

Adios

Jared

[thudd3r]

another happy owner.  we have the 2013 vrv 8.5x18.  tow vehicle now is a 2500hd, but previously towed with a 1500 avalanche and it did fine (gas mileage was pretty bad though).  we tow ours with a 800 rzr s in the back.  great fit and a great camper