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Old 01-12-2016, 06:52 PM   #1
CaptnJohn
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2016 Cougar 303RLS maiden voyage.

She towed like a dream behind the 2016 F250! Great floor plan. Comfortable!

What I found now that was not found on PDI:
1. panel in storage missed screw connection
2. door side propane tank retaining strap too loose
3 furnace blows fuses after running a while ~~ ok that is a biggie and will have it fixed when I get home next month.

Anything else I'll add as time goes on. Still need to check the water heater on propane and the oven operation.

Not upset as we are in FL and the fireplace knocks the chill off.
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Old 01-12-2016, 09:39 PM   #2
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Congrats, CaptnJohn....

Good job on the PDI!

Two recommendations:
1) Pull the wheels and have the wheels/tires balanced.
2) Check the exterior screws - esp around the wheel trim skirt. These love to back out and probably will back out unless you add something to keep them there (silicone, etc).
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Old 01-13-2016, 02:21 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcg9381 View Post
Congrats, CaptnJohn....

Good job on the PDI!

Two recommendations:

2) Check the exterior screws - esp around the wheel trim skirt. These love to back out and probably will back out unless you add something to keep them there (silicone, etc).
I have replaced my wheel skirt screws 3-4 times- I finally put silicone on them it did the trick.

Good luck with the new camper-
As a A type personality, don't focus on all that it wrong it will drive you nuts, just enjoy your new rig and accept that nothing in perfect.
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Old 01-13-2016, 05:59 AM   #4
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Silicone? Why not carry some blue lock tight in your tool box and put a dab of it on any screw you find lose?
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Old 01-13-2016, 07:09 AM   #5
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Thanks guys ~~~ just a dab of silicone with a from a caulk gun will do it??? I can do that here in FL.
I have 'Trailer King' tires. They do not say Made In China but I'm watching those.
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Old 01-13-2016, 07:19 AM   #6
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Congrats, CaptnJohn....

Good job on the PDI!

Two recommendations:
1) Pull the wheels and have the wheels/tires balanced.
Is this a significant concern from the factory? Does it help with ride quality? I checked the wheel torque after about 100 miles, but didn't take them into a tire shop.
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Old 01-13-2016, 07:40 AM   #7
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Generally they're not balanced (at all) from Keystone. Balancing them should improve vibration in the trailer and help contribute to keeping things like screws, cabinets, and trailer contents where they should be.

I didn't notice any ride difference in the truck, but our factory wheels/tires took a lot of weight - they were not even close.
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Old 01-13-2016, 08:00 AM   #8
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I've towed 4 different fivers since 1989, never had any tires balanced and can't say I've had any issues with vibration.

Not saying don't do it, just saying I don't think it's as important as balance/rotation on the tow vehicle.
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Old 01-13-2016, 08:25 AM   #9
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Generally they're not balanced (at all) from Keystone. Balancing them should improve vibration in the trailer and help contribute to keeping things like screws, cabinets, and trailer contents where they should be.

I didn't notice any ride difference in the truck, but our factory wheels/tires took a lot of weight - they were not even close.
We just purchased a 2016 Passport 2890rl, should we take it to a tire dealer and get the tires balanced? This is really a concern, if Keystone does not balance the wheels then customers should know and an unbalanced wheel not only cause vibration, but they will wear out very quickly.
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Old 01-13-2016, 08:38 AM   #10
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In the December 2015 issue of Trailer life, there's a detailed article titled: "RV TIRES 101". In that article this is how the "experts" addressed balancing:

"For best performance, tire and wheel assemblies should be balanced, including the trailer tires. Out-of-balance tires put excessive forces on suspension and steering components and tend to cup and wear escessively at the heavy spot. Wheel balancing should be performed when new tires are mounted, after a flat repair and any time a tire is dismounted and remounted."
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Old 01-13-2016, 08:59 AM   #11
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I am on my 3rd set of fender skirts due to them coming loose and flying away. I, and the dealer, used locktite, silicon etc. and continued to have problems. The final, easy fix? Put 8/32 speednuts on the back of the screws and tighten. Easy to install and easy to remove while keeping the fender tight as a fiddle.
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Old 01-13-2016, 10:56 AM   #12
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I had luck putting gorilla glue on the back sides of them. No problems since. Literally, we checked every exterior screw though.
The other thing to note is that the factory bushings are known to be gone in as early as a year, which is why many people covert to the "wet bolt" kit. My *guess* is that mis-balanced wheels probably exacerbate wear of the factory bushings.
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Old 01-13-2016, 06:04 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptnJohn View Post
.
I have 'Trailer King' tires. They do not say Made In China but I'm watching those.
They are made in China. I got 5000 miles before the first failure and replaced them with Maxxis.
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Old 01-13-2016, 07:29 PM   #14
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This is what use to hold anything that a normal screw will not.
It's called "Nutsert"

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Nutserts_s/141.htm

Cheers from Florida !
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Old 01-14-2016, 08:34 AM   #15
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I think I would plan on replacing the tires sooner rather than later. Probably wet bolts too if you don't already have them.
I think anything that rotates needs to be balanced.
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Old 01-14-2016, 10:16 AM   #16
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Looked them up online and saw they were made in China. I'll soon have 2000 miles on them and will replace them before 5000. You would think if putting a MSRP over $60K on a coach they would put good tires on it too.
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Old 01-14-2016, 11:50 AM   #17
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Looked them up online and saw they were made in China. I'll soon have 2000 miles on them and will replace them before 5000. You would think if putting a MSRP over $60K on a coach they would put good tires on it too.
Airstream installs Trail King and TowMax tires on their $150K trailers.
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Old 01-14-2016, 01:42 PM   #18
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Thor owns both Keystone and Airstream. Makes for one heck of a deal on tires.
I'd run either brand, as long as we were way under rated load.. At least 30% reserve. Which wasn't the case with our trailer, so they got replaced. New tires weighed a lot more.
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Old 01-14-2016, 03:29 PM   #19
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Airstream installs Trail King and TowMax tires on their $150K trailers.
They put Michelins on their $130,000 30' TTs. Go to the AS web site and look at the standard equipment. You can see them @4:57 in the vid.

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Old 01-14-2016, 05:57 PM   #20
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They put Michelins on their $130,000 30' TTs. Go to the AS web site and look at the standard equipment. You can see them @4:57 in the vid.

You're correct, for that trailer model. The trailer in the video you linked to is a special edition Airstream Classic (limited edition) Model 30J which is the "top of the line" and includes much more than typical Airstreams. In fact, solar power, twin air conditioners, upgraded 16" wheels with Michelin LTX MS LRE tires are all a part of that package. The 16" wheels/tires (Michelin) are not available on "standard build" Airstreams which are available only with 15" wheels and LR C (16-24') and LR D (25-30'). The only tires Airstream installs (in 2015) on their trailers are Trail King or Power Max. They did install some Goodyear Marathon ST tires in 2014, but that was only a "part of the year" and they resumed Trail King tires from that change to current. I am not aware of any other Airstream trailers that are standard with Michelin tires. Keep in mind that Airstream will "special build" a trailer to customer specifications (remember the NASA isolation trailers) and most Airstream dealers will switch equipment to make a sale much easier than most RV dealers who sell "RV's for the masses".

All of the Airstream trailers at the local dealership in Traverse City are equipped with Trail King ST tires. They are all 15" including the one Classic that is still on their lot. It is a "normal classic" not a "Model J".
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