Jerry and Lydia Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 After a few years we are returning as part timers to the wonderful world of RVing, orienting to travel/sightseeing and visiting friends and family. We have several questions about a few things we are making decisions about and will much appreciate all comments and informed advice, either specific or non-specific, about equipment choices and services. We have decided for better or worse on a Grand Design Imagine 2600RB travel trailer and seek comment/recommendation on hitch selection and leveling jack selections, as well as on emergency road service. Our tow vehicle is a F250 V10 Ford. We anticipate our trips to be between one week and six weeks with a range of 1,500 miles one way (plus return). Our home is in Fairhope, AL. We anticipate traveling 100 - 300 miles on travel days and will have FHU at each stop. We plan for no travel involving snow/ice conditions. We are seriously considering an Anderson equalizing and sway control hitch as well as hydraulic leveling jacks. Any specific information or actual experience on these items would be most appreciated. While this may be our first forum post; we were constant lurkers when we were actively RVing and always considered the SKP comments and advice to be the best and greatly appreciated it as the most outstanding counsel. Thank you one and all for pertinent responses, Jerry and Lydia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 Welcome to the Escapee forums and welcome back to the RV community! We are happy to have you back with us. I think that you have made a good choice of trailer and see no reason what it should not serve you well. Not sure how long you were gone, but it seems that you have a good handle on what is needed. If you are adding leveling jacks after-market then you may want to get several estimates. I had a great experience with Big Foot leveling jacks. For emergency road service, we have carried Coach-Net for quite some time and had excellent service from them but are planning to change to the Escapee road service when our present coverage expires because the coverage looks to be as good and it costs significantly less. Your tow truck should do the job well but it will not be high mpg. I'd suspect 8-9 mpg will be about what you get. Of course a diesel would get better mpg but they also cost a lot more. I have no experience with Anderson products but have had very good service from an equalizing hitch from Reese. I am sure that we will get some responses for owners of other brands of hitch. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl1 Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 I'm a big fan of the Andersen hitch. I've used it on two trailers and it's by far the easiest to hook and unhook as well as the smoothest riding. I've never read a critical comment by a user... only from arm chair anylists that don't understand how it works. No heavy bars to wrestle with. Very seldom have to use a wrench...just make sure you have an electric Jack then it's easy peasy. Wish I had the auto leveling but that came about after my trailer was made. 2007 Arctic Fox 32.5RL used for full-timing for several years. Sold 2114 Sunnbrook 25' RL pull trailer for summer camping and short trips. 2007 Chevy diesel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 I just bought a new WD system and did a bunch of research. I couldn't find a single thing to support the crazy cost of Andersen unless your rig is really large/heavy. I ended up with a generic system and have no complaints at all. I can hook it up in under one minute. The hydraulics are nice...until they break. I've got a friend with a class A and auto leveling. The auto thing is hit and miss. On occasion even just using the pushbutton, one will stick, or won't hold and slowly leaks down. But then you correct it, and it stops leaking for a while. Yes, everything can break, I'd just weigh the convenience versus issues. My friend with a 30-footer just carries his drill with the right socket for the jacks and is perfectly happy. My rig is very small, so the jacks also do just fine. I use a leveling ramp/chock system also. I believe that makes for the most stable trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmup68 Posted January 27, 2019 Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 Bigfoot levelers all the way. http://www.thebigfootleveler.com/. Love them. For tongue pull hitches, Propride is the way to go. https://www.propridehitch.com/ The Anderson 5th wheel conversion is nice and easy to move unless you need more suspension, like comfortride or ETHitch. 2003 International Eagle 9200i, Cummins ISX, Freedomline 2007 Teton Scottsdale XT4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALLOY Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 Bigfoot is ideal but the system will have a big impact on the carrying capacity of a trailer. For this reason, you'll find systems made with less durable aluminum cylinders. Carrying capacity is a juggling match. I looked at the weights of the Imagine but the carrying capacity is not shown 🤨 Two - 4400albs axles + 594lb hitch should provide a GVWR of 9394lb but the GVWR is 7995lbs. Also, the 594lb hitch weight is 7.5% which is shy of the recommended 10-15%. Unless you go custom (New Horizons or Spacecraft) no trailer is overbuilt. Reason for this is price and weight. There are no bad manufacturers but each manufacturer produces poorly built trailers. The higher the production the greater the percentage of poorly built trailers. It is up to the buyer to ensure the sale is subject to a thorough (2-3 day) PDI so that poorly built trailers stay on the dealer lot. Trailers that have been on a dealer lot (this is called lot rot ) for a while or have a special sale price are a signal to be extra careful. The 2011 Cameo 34SB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimK Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 A few months ago this forum had a big fuss about the Andersons and no one was going to use their products again. How quickly we forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whj469 Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 A few years ago I was amazed to see how long it took to hookup a trailer with leveling and sway control hitch! That and the fact that fifth wheel trailers pull so much better without sway that drove me to fivers. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 Yeah, I thought it would take a lot of time also. Once I got one, I was surprised that it's a two minute job. It looks more complicated than it is. (I only recently got my first WD setup.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 5 hours ago, JimK said: A few months ago this forum had a big fuss about the Andersons and no one was going to use their products again. How quickly we forget. Some of us have not forgotten. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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