Purchasing a 2016 Camplite 21BHS from Sunny Island RV

[dg53]

Greetings all,

I am considering buying a 2016 Camplite 21BHS from Sunny Island RV in Rockford, IL.  I am buying it new and it will be my first RV purchase.  We are long time tent campers and looking to move to the RV life.  We have two, young children and a dog, so it just seems like the perfect size for us.  

I have read about Thor buying LivinLite and changes in quality, etc.  I would appreciate any information that you all may have regarding this as well as opinions about:

1.  Your experience with the 21BHS.
2.  buying/service experience with Sunny Island RV.  It seems that many members have bought from them.

I am slightly suspect about a 2016 model still being available on their lot and wonder why it has not sold, but perhaps it will lead to a good deal.  

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions!!

Dan

[charleschapman]

I cannot help you with #1 &2.  We bought from Harolds in PA and had it built for us.  If you do order one built from the factory here is a couple of options I recommend:

- Decal Delete

- 4x4 rear bumper for a attaching a bike rack.  

- Off Road Package (Keeps you from scraping)

- Fantasitic Fans

- Back Flush Kit built in (Might be standard now)

- Hot Water tank By Pass (Might be standard now)

[dg53]

[quote source="/post/25712/thread" author="@charleschapman" timestamp="1478360296"]I cannot help you with #1 &2.  We bought from Harolds in PA and had it built for us.  If you do order one built from the factory here is a couple of options I recommend:

- Decal Delete

- 4x4 rear bumper for a attaching a bike rack.  

- Off Road Package (Keeps you from scraping)

- Fantasitic Fans

- Back Flush Kit built in (Might be standard now)

- Hot Water tank By Pass (Might be standard now) [/quote]Thank you, good advice and things to ask when I go look at this TT.

[dan]

Dan,

I bought my 16TBS from Sunny Island in Feb 2016.  I was very happy with the experience.  Their service manager (Steve) is awesome - you will deal with him when you pick up the unit.  I had him do the coupler mod (install side bolts for the coupler - you can read about that in another thread) when we picked up the unit and he even fixed a faulty air coil installation on my tow vehicle that I had installed elsewhere.  On the way home, the lid on the propane cover blew off in a storm.  Steve mailed out a replacement - no questions asked.

[dg53]

[quote source="/post/25716/thread" author="@dan" timestamp="1478361727"]Dan,

I bought my 16TBS from Sunny Island in Feb 2016.  I was very happy with the experience.  Their service manager (Steve) is awesome - you will deal with him when you pick up the unit.  I had him do the coupler mod (install side bolts for the coupler - you can read about that in another thread) when we picked up the unit and he even fixed a faulty air coil installation on my tow vehicle that I had installed elsewhere.  On the way home, the lid on the propane cover blew off in a storm.  Steve mailed out a replacement - no questions asked.[/quote]Thanks for the feedback!  Is your TV a 4Runner with the V6 or V8?

[dan]

It's a V-6.  More than adequate for a 16TBS - plenty of power to accelerate up hill to pass trucks in the slow lane.

[gbpack]

We love our 21 BHS. It's a great trailer and tows very nicely. I don't think that Thor has messed with the 21 footers very much, so you should be OK (other than perhaps yours will have a rubber roof rather than aluminum). I wouldn't worry about it being a 2016, as they probably just started making the next model year recently. I don't have experience with that dealership, but I know they sell a lot of CampLites, so it probably hasn't been sitting there very long. As previously mentioned by someone else, if you should decide to order one from the factory (through the dealer), then come back to this board and ask for suggestions before doing so, although there aren't too many things you can add on to a 21BHS anymore (most of it comes standard now), and I agree with the suggestions of the off-road  package, fantastic fans, and the 4x4 bumper on the back.

[djsamuel]

Our 21BHS is a 2013.  We've towed it from Florida, out to Arizona and Utah and up through Georgia to Tennessee.  It has been excellent and is a very solid camper.  While you may have problems at the beginning, think of them as teething issues, and remember you have a solid foundation.  The only thing I would suggest is to read the thread about a few campers that seemed to come through with insufficient welds in the frames.  There are some pictures in that thread and be sure to check them out prior to purchasing the camper.

[a href="http://livinlite-owners.com/post/25091/thread"]Here are the pictures[/a]

Sounds like the dealer is a good one, so that will be a help as well.

Good luck!

[jimt]

I can't say enough good things about Sunny Island RV. They have taken care of me from day one even though I'm almost a 1000 miles away.
 They have done exactly what they said they would do for me each and every time. They are very honest people going over and above to take care of the customer.

[charleschapman]

Found my old want to have notes when we were shopping for our 16 TBS.  Put this list together with the other fine folks on this site.

Livin Lite CAMPLITE 16TBS Trailer want to have items:

XL Living Package (Includes 13.5K BTU Low Profile Penguin A/C, Hi?Power Vortex Vents, SINGLE 20Lb LP Tanks w/Cover, Tank Monitor System, 12' Awning, Upgraded Leatherette  Seating & Cushions, Wood Plank Vinyl Flooring)

Outside Shower connection might be standard

Deep Sink?

Solid Surface Countertop upgrade

Decal Delete

Hot water heater that is both Electric/Gas

Dual batteries consideration: two 6 volt golf cart batteries in series (GC2). - This adds tognue weight

Outside Stove LP Connections under canopy

Rear Deck

or

2" reciever hitch for bike rack (beefed up rear bumper. LL will beef up the standard bumper by adding a second 2"x4" tube to which you can attach any standard 2" receiver bike rack)

9.2 BTU Polar Cub Low profile AC (Runs on 2KW Generator)

Black Tank Flush Kit

64" Sofa/Bed with Dinette Trays IPO Dinette in Slide

Scissor Jacks

Convection Microwave

FanTastic Vent Fans with warranty & Covers?

Additional 12V outlets by the beds and somewhere near the dinette/Sofa are really useful for phones, pads, computers, etc.

Rear view camera or 12V TV power supply run for one.

Off Road Package?

No TV (Cheaper at Wally World) Will take the mount and Digial Antenna

[daplumbr]

[quote source="/post/25732/thread" author="@charleschapman" timestamp="1478445170"]Found my old want to have notes when we were shopping for our 16 TBS.  Put this list together with the other fine folks on this site.

Livin Lite CAMPLITE 16TBS Trailer want to have items:

XL Living Package (Includes 13.5K BTU Low Profile Penguin A/C, Hi?Power Vortex Vents, SINGLE 20Lb LP Tanks w/Cover, Tank Monitor System, 12' Awning, Upgraded Leatherette  Seating & Cushions, Wood Plank Vinyl Flooring)

Outside Shower connection might be standard

Deep Sink?

Solid Surface Countertop upgrade

Decal Delete

Hot water heater that is both Electric/Gas

Dual batteries consideration: two 6 volt golf cart batteries in series (GC2). - This adds tognue weight

Outside Stove LP Connections under canopy

Rear Deck

or

2" reciever hitch for bike rack (beefed up rear bumper. LL will beef up the standard bumper by adding a second 2"x4" tube to which you can attach any standard 2" receiver bike rack)

9.2 BTU Polar Cub Low profile AC (Runs on 2KW Generator)

Black Tank Flush Kit

64" Sofa/Bed with Dinette Trays IPO Dinette in Slide

Scissor Jacks

Convection Microwave

FanTastic Vent Fans with warranty & Covers?

Additional 12V outlets by the beds and somewhere near the dinette/Sofa are really useful for phones, pads, computers, etc.

Rear view camera or 12V TV power supply run for one.

Off Road Package?

No TV (Cheaper at Wally World) Will take the mount and Digial Antenna [/quote]Great list. I would only note that the 9.2 Polar Cub A/C in our 16TBS is more than obnoxiously loud, it is unacceptable inside and outside as it comes from the factory. The 64 inch sofa-bed is just ok as a sofa and does not work at all for a bed. And although it's not consensus, many on this site think the latest way LL is attaching an extra 2X4 to the rear bumper is not a safe way to enable using a clamp-on 2" receiver. I don't know how much LL is willing to customize anymore, so a good dealer becomes all the more important for help with mods. 

[dg53]

Many thanks for all the replies. I appreciate and if I go with a 21bhs I will sure be back with more questions. I appreciate all of the info.

[pegwillen]

I cannot help you with #1 &2.  We bought from Harolds in PA and had it built for us.  If you do order one built from the factory here is a couple of options I recommend:

- Decal Delete

- 4x4 rear bumper for a attaching a bike rack.  

- Off Road Package (Keeps you from scraping)

- Fantasitic Fans

- Back Flush Kit built in (Might be standard now)

- Hot Water tank By Pass (Might be standard now)

Regarding having a custom build, is this ordered through a LL dealer?  I asked a question about having a custom build through the LL website and haven't heard back from them.  What was your order-to-delivery time?  Thanks

[charleschapman]

Yes ordered from a LL Dealer, Harolds in Bath PA but they are no longer a LL dealer.

I do not think does LL Factory sales direct.

We ordered in October, built in January and we took delivery in February.

[charliem]

[quote timestamp="1481253175" author="@pegwillen" source="/post/26320/thread"]Regarding having a custom build, is this ordered through a LL dealer?  I asked a question about having a custom build through the LL website and haven't heard back from them.  What was your order-to-delivery time?  Thanks[/quote][font size="3"]It is our understanding that the factory is no longer accepting any requests for customization. Many requested items have become standard like the dual mode water heater and back flusher. The FanTastic fans may still be an option or one may be standard now. Unfortunately they have not [/font][font size="3"]adequately addressed the bent coupler problem and have not [/font][font size="3"]addressed the rear bumper at all. The coupler can be fixed with the simple addition of two bolts, but the enhanced rear bumper requires a qualified welding shop. If you don't plan to carry loads like bicycles on the rear bumper the factory installation is fine. If you do need bike carriage on the rear you should search for and read threads on this forum.


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