Finally! Our custom Camplite!

[gnies]

[quote source="/post/4366/thread" timestamp="1413993236" author="@leslie"]This is the list that I ordered for my 21-BHS:
No slide
In place of the slide, a tip-out bunk
No queen bed
In place of the queen bed, a dinette/bed
No wardrobe cabinet
Jack knife sofa in front of tip-out bunk, the way the 16 DB is set up
With the jack-knife sofa came a table
Maple azdel on the walls
Aluminum cabinetry with silver finish
Paint to match my deep cherry red Jeep
Outside table with a propane connection

I think that is everything
[/quote]Nice!

[leslie]

My 2015 Camplite 21-BHS has an electric/propane water heater, a Jensen radio, and the speakers work well. If you look at the sink, it looks like an upgrade to me. What we really like is the combination of the tip-out bunk and dinette in the front section of the 21 foot unit leaves us with a nice open space between them.

When I first saw the amount of room we had, I thought I would like to put in a cabinet. However, my 2 dogs used that space to play. They had enough room to wrestle, so I am thinking we might just keep it as it is.

The beagle mix is so nosy. I wanted a picture of the dogs on their beds in the lower bunk, looking out their window. However, Daisy the beagle just had to look out to watch my husband behind me pack things up.

[drdave]

My 2015 Camplite 21-BHS has an electric/propane water heater, a Jensen radio, and the speakers work well. If you look at the sink, it looks like an upgrade to me. What we really like is the combination of the tip-out bunk and dinette in the front section of the 21 foot unit leaves us with a nice open space between them.

When I first saw the amount of room we had, I thought I would like to put in a cabinet. However, my 2 dogs used that space to play. They had enough room to wrestle, so I am thinking we might just keep it as it is.

The beagle mix is so nosy. I wanted a picture of the dogs on their beds in the lower bunk, looking out their window. However, Daisy the beagle just had to look out to watch my husband behind me pack things up.

Leslie I love the red color.   I hope you are prepared to get many visitors asking about your trailer while you camp.   You might want to bug livinlite for some broshures to hand out!         Your sink is actually the same as mine in my stock 2013 16DB.     I really like the grey cabinets against the azdel wood grain... VERY sharp looking!    Congrats and enjoy.    I feel bad you you getting it so late in the season.   You will have a long winter waiting to camp if you don't make a trip with it south.     

[gnies]

My 2015 Camplite 21-BHS has an electric/propane water heater, a Jensen radio, and the speakers work well. If you look at the sink, it looks like an upgrade to me. What we really like is the combination of the tip-out bunk and dinette in the front section of the 21 foot unit leaves us with a nice open space between them.

When I first saw the amount of room we had, I thought I would like to put in a cabinet. However, my 2 dogs used that space to play. They had enough room to wrestle, so I am thinking we might just keep it as it is.

The beagle mix is so nosy. I wanted a picture of the dogs on their beds in the lower bunk, looking out their window. However, Daisy the beagle just had to look out to watch my husband behind me pack things up.

Leslie I love the red color.   I hope you are prepared to get many visitors asking about your trailer while you camp.   You might want to bug livinlite for some broshures to hand out!         Your sink is actually the same as mine in my stock 2013 16DB.     I really like the grey cabinets against the azdel wood grain... VERY sharp looking!    Congrats and enjoy.    I feel bad you you getting it so late in the season.   You will have a long winter waiting to camp if you don't make a trip with it south.     

I have the same sink in my 2015 13QBB

[woodwringer]

Hello, Leslie! Your custom 21BHS looks so great! I never would have thought to do plain aluminum on cabinets or the maple on the walls... very cool!  I am curious to know what type of hitch you are using.  My husband and I are looking at ordering the 21BHS and purchasing the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 ecoDiesel as our TV.  We will be close to our tongue weight/payload and I'm trying to determine what hitch would work for us.  Our payload is 1155 with a max tongue weight of 720 lbs.  We'll have about 90 lbs of kids in lieu of fur babies We estimate about 500 lbs in the vehicle with adults/kids and the very few items we'd carry in the truck.  That would leave us with 655 lbs for tongue weight if I'm understanding this all correctly.  The ecoDiesel is rated to tow 7,200 (before factoring in extra weight in vehicle).  Very curious to know what your tow experience is like.

We are first-timers and have fallen in love with Camp Lite. This forum has been so helpful while doing research.  Thanks in advance for the info.

Amanda

[leslie]

It is good to hear from someone else who wants to tow with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I am using an Equalizer E2 600 weight distribution hitch which also provides some sway control. The Camplite is not yet loaded for travel because we haven't even had it for a month yet. We have just packed up a few things to go camping on weekends. We camped in it with the overnight temp down to 29, and we were comfortable. It is winterized now.

I have been familiarizing myself with how it handles by driving in all kinds of traffic, including interstate driving. It seems to be very stable. I have never towed or backed up a trailer before, so I have had a lot to learn. I have spent a lot of this time learning to back it up, and I can now say that I can back it into  campsite.

I have a Prodigy P3 brake controller with the electric brakes that come standard with the trailer, and I seem to have plenty of stopping power. Although I don't have much in my trailer yet, my husband and I plan to travel with a light load in there, just us and our 2 dogs, no children since they are grown, and no toys like bikes or boats.  

I can feel the push and pull of the big trucks passing me on the interstate. I have driven with wind gusts up to 20 mph with my husband following me in our Ford Ranger, and he says there was no sway at all.

I did not try to tow without the brake controller or the weight distribution hitch, so I can't tell you what it would be like without them. However, with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and a light load in the Camplite set up this way, it has been very steady on the road.

[david]

Amanda:

Look at the various threads on weight and installing an Andersen WDH. The tongue weight for that trailer has been reported by one member to be 525 lbs and another at 650 lbs, both loaded. The loaded trailer weight has been reported to be 4,500 lbs.

So you should be ok, maybe even without a WDH, particularly if you have rear self leveling. But I would at least consider using one. But look at the posts on the coupler bending with the extra force of a WDH and also LL's reticence to recommend a WDH with their aluminum frame. At the very least put some bolts through the bottom of the coupler to strengthen its attachment to the frame, with or without a WDH.

David

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Amanda,

You should be OK with the Jeep, but definitely plan on a WDH and definitely have two 1/2" bolts added to the sides of the coupler. The factory installed coupler needs these added bolts to work with the WDH and you will want WDH. Read the threads on bent couplers here. The E2 6000/600 WDH works very well as does the Prodigy P3 brake controller. As they say "Don't leave home without them"  .
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[woodwringer]

thanks for the info on WD hitches and LL hesitation to recommend... I spoke to Hensley today about their SwiftCub hitch and he stated that with the aluminum A-frame they recommend that instead of using self-drilling bolts you would substitute and additional u-bolt.  I've not read anything on an Anderson hitch.  You tow with an Anderson hitch, David?  I'll check them out.  My husband and I are sold on using WD and anti-sway style hitch... just to help off-set some of our newbie-nerves.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/5069/thread" timestamp="1415920400" author="@arady"]thanks for the info on WD hitches and LL hesitation to recommend... I spoke to Hensley today about their SwiftCub hitch and he stated that with the aluminum A-frame they recommend that instead of using self-drilling bolts you would substitute and additional u-bolt.  I've not read anything on an Anderson hitch.  You tow with an Anderson hitch, David?  I'll check them out.  My husband and I are sold on using WD and anti-sway style hitch... just to help off-set some of our newbie-nerves.



[/quote][font size="3"]I think you understand the issues. The U-bolt suggestion from Hensley is consistent with other recommendations to not drill the AL frame. The E2 mounts with clamps, no drilling. This is important. The added bolts on the coupler sides are not a problem since there is no load in the ends of the frame where they go. However, the holes still should be centered vertically in the frame members.
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[leslie]

Something that was important to me with the E2 weight distribution hitch is that you do not need to remove it before backing it into your campsite. I like to keep things as simple as possible. I am not sure about all other hitches, but when I was researching them, it seemed they recommended removing them before backing up.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Leslie,

You're right about the E2 and backing up. No need to remove it.

BTW, since you'll be hitching/unhitching by yourself, get an Atwood power tongue jack. Take it from the old lazy guy it's the best gift your husband will ever buy for you  .
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[leslie]

[font size="3"]Leslie,

You're right about the E2 and backing up. No need to remove it.

BTW, since you'll be hitching/unhitching by yourself, get an Atwood power tongue jack. Take it from the old lazy guy it's the best gift your husband will ever buy for you  .
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Charliem, that is exactly what my husband suggested last night. I told him that I wasn't really interested because it would add to the tongue weight and use power.

[leslie]

Actually, what I need is a little dolly to support the ball hitch when I pull it off the Jeep. The first time I unhitched by myself, I removed the ball hitch without moving the Jeep. I did not realize how heavy it was, particularly with the WDH included. The coupler lock was upright. When I pulled out the ball hitch, I was pulled right down by its weight, and I stabbed myself in the neck with the coupler lock! That hurt!

Now I always pull the Jeep a little forward before I pull out that hitch! Plus, I am getting used to the weight now.