ob1jeeper 849 Posted September 3, 2025 (edited) On 9/2/2025 at 10:36 AM, theksmith said: i wonder if the really expensive units like Airstream are built substantially better? The folks whom I am familiar with who have the $$$ ones, report pretty much the same kinds issues, albeit with somewhat better plushness, but the construction issues and reliability seems 'on the surface anyway' to be similar... I do not know how the extreme dollar ($$$$$$) units are doing, as I'm not familiar with anyone who has that kind of funds to spend ... 😜 Edited September 4, 2025 by ob1jeeper 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curly 1,317 Posted September 4, 2025 Don't forget your tools! 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 5,778 Posted September 10, 2025 (edited) maiden voyage complete! Freya towed the trailer to the ORP Gala in Flagstaff no problemo. for now at least, i don't think a weight distribution hitch is necessary. the WK2's air suspension self levels and the 400lb tongue weight seemed to barely affect it. i've also read that a weight distro hitch might not be a great idea long term for the trailer's frame if we frequent rougher roads. we didn't have any problems with sway either, at least on this trip. with a standard hitch (2" drop) on Freya, the trailer's nose sits just slightly pointed downward. the primary storage area is in the front of the trailer as well, which helps keep the weight balanced correctly. has anyone ever heard of the Gen-Y Glyder hitch with a torsion joint? i'm wondering if it would ease some of the shock loading when taking the trailer "off-road"? or is it just a gimmick? we found that the included dual 12v lead acid batteries couldn't keep up with the giant fridge and occasional water pump usage. we managed to limp along after the first night by hooking to the running Jeep a couple times a day to recharge them a bit. i'm not sure what Amp-hour the included batteries even are, but a nicely upgraded battery system is already in the works! the only other issue we had was with the bed. the back cushion of the jack-knife/murphy bed couch is very soft and partially unsupported. this means the mattress droops down where it lays on there... so our butts were sagging all night! i'm working on a hinged board that will bridge that area when the mattress is down, but fold up out of the way in day time "couch mode". Edited September 11, 2025 by theksmith 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ob1jeeper 849 Posted September 11, 2025 (edited) The glyder hitch you referenced, uses the same technology of a torsion suspension axle for trailers. I can see where it would absorb some of the impact loads, but have not used one myself. I DO have experience with a load absorbing type of hitch, that uses an air spring (or "bladder"), from a company in N. Dakota named "Shocker Hitch". I purchased one for a heavy duty trailer I had, and it did help quite a bit in reducing the shock loads when towing, particularly on roads where the trailer's suspension got "in tune" with the spacing of the road surface joints. (Think CA & Maricopa area freeways)... If you would like to try out the shocker hitch I have, just let me know... ;) Edited September 11, 2025 by ob1jeeper 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 5,778 Posted September 12, 2025 did a couple minor fixes to the trailer, things that were wrong when we got it... the shelf above the bed was sagging a lot in the middle and had come loose from the wall. there were only a few staples holding it to start with! i took the top of the shelf off, lifted it up and put a few screws into the support that runs inside the wall in the same spot. the stove was sitting with one corner sticking up about 3/8" above the counter top. i ended up just drilling a couple holes inside of it (into the edge of the counter) while pressing down. then screwed it into the counter top through those holes. also added spring strut supports to the 2 cabinets that have lift style doors while i was screwing things! here's a bunch of the organization items and interior accessories we've added so far, in case it gives anyone ideas! adhesive shower caddy (the little built-in shelf is useless since it leans away from the wall). we're trying out various size clear bins. small hanging bins. small adhesive hooks. it remains to be seen how well these'll stay stuck in the Phoenix heat. i do always clean both surfaces well with rubbing alcohol before using a stick-on product. toilet paper and paper towel holders. we chose ones that have both adhesive and screw holes so that hopefully they don't work their way loose from the thin wood they are attached to. this SimpleHuman trash can fits nicely at the end of the counter during the day. then when the bed is down it can tuck under the dinette. it uses typical kitchen size bags. trying out these expandable shelves in a couple cabinets, may need to screw the legs down though to keep them where we want them. a couple ice bins and a few trays with lids. we haven't used the trays yet - since our storage place has free ice, we just grabbed a bag last time and filled the bins. i'd love to see any organization/interior hacks other members are using in their RV's and trailers! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jgaz 750 Posted September 13, 2025 Not in my RV (I don’t own one) but storage boxes I made for a neighbor’s toy hauler. She was tired of looking for the perfect size plastic boxes or wicker baskets. I made 7 boxes in 3 different sizes for their RV. FYI. In the box I’m gluing up you can see what looks like a lid with two knobs. It’s not a lid, it’s just a piece of wood to help me square up the box. Worth making when I have a “production run” of the same size box. I ended up making an addition 4 boxes to use in our own kitchen with the left over materials. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jgaz 750 Posted September 13, 2025 22 hours ago, theksmith said: did a couple minor fixes to the trailer, things that were wrong when we got it... the shelf above the bed was sagging a lot in the middle and had come loose from the wall. there were only a few staples holding it to start with! i took the top of the shelf off, lifted it up and put a few screws into the support that runs inside the wall in the same spot. the stove was sitting with one corner sticking up about 3/8" above the counter top. i ended up just drilling a couple holes inside of it (into the edge of the counter) while pressing down. then screwed it into the counter top through those holes. also added spring strut supports to the 2 cabinets that have lift style doors while i was screwing things! here's a bunch of the organization items and interior accessories we've added so far, in case it gives anyone ideas! adhesive shower caddy (the little built-in shelf is useless since it leans away from the wall). we're trying out various size clear bins. small hanging bins. small adhesive hooks. it remains to be seen how well these'll stay stuck in the Phoenix heat. i do always clean both surfaces well with rubbing alcohol before using a stick-on product. toilet paper and paper towel holders. we chose ones that have both adhesive and screw holes so that hopefully they don't work their way loose from the thin wood they are attached to. this SimpleHuman trash can fits nicely at the end of the counter during the day. then when the bed is down it can tuck under the dinette. it uses typical kitchen size bags. trying out these expandable shelves in a couple cabinets, may need to screw the legs down though to keep them where we want them. a couple ice bins and a few trays with lids. we haven't used the trays yet - since our storage place has free ice, we just grabbed a bag last time and filled the bins. i'd love to see any organization/interior hacks other members are using in their RV's and trailers! Damn shame these repairs are necessary after your maiden voyage. You are so right that an RV owner should be willing and able to work on their rig. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 5,778 Posted September 13, 2025 (edited) 5 hours ago, jgaz said: Not in my RV (I don’t own one) but storage boxes I made for a neighbor’s toy hauler. She was tired of looking for the perfect size plastic boxes or wicker baskets. I made 7 boxes in 3 different sizes for their RV. FYI. In the box I’m gluing up you can see what looks like a lid with two knobs. It’s not a lid, it’s just a piece of wood to help me square up the box. Worth making when I have a “production run” of the same size box. I ended up making an addition 4 boxes to use in our own kitchen with the left over materials. nice joints! that came out excellent. it had been killing us that for the 9 weeks the trailer was on order, we couldn't get anything ahead of time since manufacturers don't publish any dimensions other than overall trailer size. so the first day we had it, we measured every cabinet opening, inside area, and any other place we thought we might want to fit something! with that info in hand, we could finally browse Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Amazon for storage bins and various other items. Edited September 13, 2025 by theksmith 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jgaz 750 Posted September 13, 2025 (edited) 2 hours ago, theksmith said: nice joints! that came out excellent. it had been killing us that for the 9 weeks the trailer was on order, we couldn't get anything ahead of time since manufacturers don't publish any dimensions other than overall trailer size. so the first day we had it, we measured every cabinet opening, inside area, and any other place we thought we might want to fit something! with that info in hand, we could finally browse Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Amazon for storage bins and various other items. Dayuuum! That’s some next level organization right there Kris! Edited September 13, 2025 by jgaz 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ob1jeeper 849 Posted September 13, 2025 9 hours ago, jgaz said: Not in my RV (I don’t own one) but storage boxes I made for a neighbor’s toy hauler. She was tired of looking for the perfect size plastic boxes or wicker baskets. I made 7 boxes in 3 different sizes for their RV. FYI. In the box I’m gluing up you can see what looks like a lid with two knobs. It’s not a lid, it’s just a piece of wood to help me square up the box. Worth making when I have a “production run” of the same size box. I ended up making an addition 4 boxes to use in our own kitchen with the left over materials. Fantastic workmanship as always Jim... Well Done... ;) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
