Wife added new requirement that has me back to square 1

[funpilot]

[p]My wife has now said she wants room to bring our Alaskan Malamute with us.  Up till then, I was focusing on the 21RBS, but after seeing it, and her new requirement, it will not work as we will be stepping all  over the dog.  So, now I am looking at the Quicksilver and Axxess toy haulers (how appropriate so that I can bring her "toy") but am limited on what I can tow.  First, I am having a tough time understanding the differences between the two models for someone who is not going to use it to take real toys.  I like them because I can get the Happijac beds and when raised will have the room I need. [/p][p]
[/p][p]On first blush the 8.5x20 Quicksilver looks interesting.  But I like the bathroom better in the Axxess 8.5x22 and it has a bigger black tank.  I wonder if they can put the larger black tank in the Quicksilver?[/p][p]
[/p][p]Then there is the challenge to make it more "liveable" like the Camplites.....  [/p][p]
[/p][p]I do not see any solar options  but presume they will respond favorably to that, unless you know otherwise.   But what else would I give up if I went to the Quicksilver just to make it more dog friendly that you can comment on?[/p][p]
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[tinkeringtechie]

Does the dog not fit on the couch/dinette?

[funpilot]

We have taught her not to go on furniture and would prefer her to go off on the floor.  But reasonable question.  

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/1295/thread" timestamp="1401655872" author="@funpilot"]We have taught her not to go on furniture and would prefer her to go off on the floor.  But reasonable question.  [/quote]And that's a reasonable answer. I'm putting my dog between the dinette and the bed on the floor, but I don't ever get up at night, so walking over him won't be a problem. What about a 21BHS and using the lower bunk? Would that still be breaking the furniture rule?

[funpilot]

No sink in the bathroom from what we can see....oh well.

[livinthegoodlife]

Couldn't you break down the table in the seating area of the dinette and put a dog pillow down at night? Or maybe get an add a room to be added onto the awning. My daughter has an Alaskin Malemute and she is huge!  It seems like the add a room for maybe $800 or so would be a bit cheaper than the more expensive Toy Hauler.   Have you thought about the new Fifth Wheel?

[pinstriper]

Yeah, the two dogs (100# combined) take up a bit of space on the bed with us, but I put the foam tile floor down and maybe they'll be happy there once things hot up a bit. I would think a dog that is not used to sleeping on the bed anyway would do just fine on the floor of a 21RBS with a foam floor.

[dhrvcenter]

Depending on the vehicle you're driving, but the 22' and the 26' Front bathroom Axxess would have massive space for your dogs.  We had someone purchase one from us and finish the inside with carpet and vinyl flooring to give it more residential feel.  They chose the toy hauler in order to open the back door and put the screen down. They actually added a residential sofa and chairs.  It turned out quite cool. The happijack bed can go halfway down and the dogs could sleep under it while you guys sleep above them.  They are quite comfortable and very easily towed with any 1/2 ton truck or SUV.

I've got two wiemeraners and would agree with your wife that the 21 RBS and BHS would be a bit snug.

[funpilot]

[quote source="/post/1306/thread" timestamp="1401703246" author="@dhrvcenter"]Depending on the vehicle you're driving, but the 22' and the 26' Front bathroom Axxess would have massive space for your dogs.  We had someone purchase one from us and finish the inside with carpet and vinyl flooring to give it more residential feel.  They chose the toy hauler in order to open the back door and put the screen down. They actually added a residential sofa and chairs.  It turned out quite cool. The happijack bed can go halfway down and the dogs could sleep under it while you guys sleep above them.  They are quite comfortable and very easily towed with any 1/2 ton truck or SUV.

I've got two wiemeraners and would agree with your wife that the 21 RBS and BHS would be a bit snug.
[/quote][p]Perfect!!  Did they ask if the window trim could be the same as the "residential" ones?   Now, for the coup d'état :  I am wondering if we can create a screened in porch on the ramp if we prop it up so it is a level floor?  My wild imagination for them is to create fold down/up aluminum porch rails (painted white?) on the sides to give it the real home look?  (I have to stop drinking the Kool-Aid.)  Finally, if we can change the industrial grade upholstery to something more attractive (I like that the standard can fold up but do want to understand better what was done with adding the residential furniture), they now have a whole new line with almost zero investment!!!![/p][p]
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[funpilot]

Well, we are in the final stages of negotiating pricing for a new LL....The Axxess may be our answer.  Turns out putting a "picket fence" on a leveled ramp is old news....

[funpilot]

As usual, another wrinkle has come up.  I just realized that the holding tanks are all in the front so that anything I add to them (like fresh water) adds directly to the tongue weight. When I put in the specs of my tow vehicle at http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-tt.shtml  I get that the max tongue weight I can have is around 650 pounds, which is the dry tongue weight of this TT. Not going to happen.

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/1431/thread" timestamp="1402399346" author="@funpilot"]As usual, another wrinkle has come up.  I just realized that the holding tanks are all in the front so that anything I add to them (like fresh water) adds directly to the tongue weight. When I put in the specs of my tow vehicle at http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-tt.shtml  I get that the max tongue weight I can have is around 650 pounds, which is the dry tongue weight of this TT. Not going to happen. [/quote]Bummer... I guess normally the "toy" is behind the axle reducing the tongue weight somewhat. I still think the 21BHS might work for you. You said the lack of a sink in the bathroom is a deal breaker but have you actually seen one of those sinks? They're pretty tiny...

[pinstriper]

1) It isn't a 1:1 ratio of weight added going to the tongue just because they are ahead of the axles. 150# in the tank won't be 150# on the tongue. The closer the tanks are to the axles the more weight goes there instead of the tongue. If you know the distance between the tank and the ball and the axles, you could determine how much goes where.

2) What's the tow vehicle ?

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/1433/thread" timestamp="1402409191" author="@pinstriper"]1) It isn't a 1:1 ratio of weight added going to the tongue just because they are ahead of the axles. 150# in the tank won't be 150# on the tongue. The closer the tanks are to the axles the more weight goes there instead of the tongue. If you know the distance between the tank and the ball and the axles, you could determine how much goes where.
[/quote]I glanced at the Axxess specs on the LL website and it looks like the 22' has a 650lb dry tongue weight... so any additional weight in front of the axles will push him over his limit. I had no idea those were that heavy. I figured that an empty box would be even lighter than the camplites.

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/1434/thread" timestamp="1402409730" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/1433/thread" timestamp="1402409191" author="@pinstriper"]1) It isn't a 1:1 ratio of weight added going to the tongue just because they are ahead of the axles. 150# in the tank won't be 150# on the tongue. The closer the tanks are to the axles the more weight goes there instead of the tongue. If you know the distance between the tank and the ball and the axles, you could determine how much goes where.
[/quote]I glanced at the Axxess specs on the LL website and it looks like the 22' has a 650lb dry tongue weight... so any additional weight in front of the axles will push him over his limit. I had no idea those were that heavy. I figured that an empty box would be even lighter than the camplites.[/quote][p]Oh, right. If he's already at limit dry...duh. Missed that.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Still, the general point stands.[/p][p]
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