New model- 23RB Ultra Lite Elite

[zuley]

Hello All,
Two part question if I may?
Toying with the idea of jumping to the dark side from a high wall pop up to a new model Passport. We looked this past weekend and were quite impressed with the Passport 2013 23RB Ultra Lite Elite. There is no literature on this unit yet as it is brand new. I believe it was the proto type that they had on display at the Toronto Show. I'm not familiar with many of the brands and makes of travel trailers. To anyone who owns a Passport presently what are your thougts on the brand? Are there many warranty issues? Generally how do they hold up?
And lastly, I will be towing this with a 2008 Grand Cherokee diesel with a tow rating of 7400 pounds. I've done the math and I believe I am good, albeit on the edge. Base weight of the unit is 4600 pounds. We certainly are not pack rats and carry the bare minimum. Propane, battery, and perhaps 500 pounds (tops) loaded into the camper. 350 pounds for my wife and I and perhaps that much again loaded into the Jeep. Will certainly use a WDH and SB's. By my thinking taking into consideration the tongue weight I am still roughly 1000 pounds under. I'm due for new tires next summer on the Jeep and will probably go to Michelin LTX's. Living in Ontario our travel will be mostly flat divided hwy and certainly in the slow lane. What are the thoughts towing with this set up?
I appreciate your responses.
Cheers,
Dave

[hankpage]

First, let me welcome you to the forum. The Passport seems to be a very popular trailer. I think mainly because of the advantages of the spread axles to distribute weight and help with ride control. I am sure some of our many Passport owners will jump in and brag about their rigs. Travel safely, Hank ......... I love that Jeep diesel.

That's a great floorplan Without a dinette there is loads of room ..... nice.

[Festus2]

Congratulations on your new Passport and welcome to the group! You must be a very, very light packer as 500 pounds (tops) seems to me to be on the "conservative" side when loading and stocking a camper. I would think that 1000 lbs would be more like the "average" load but you may be right about yours. Before putting into the trailer, if you are the curious type, try weighing everything you take out and leave in there. Then add onto that stuff that you take for each trip and remove when you get back home. You might be surprised how much stuff you take plus any water, propane, hitches, gas, passengers, etc.

[Randy_K]

I think its a great trailer. I also saw it at the Toronto RV show. It going to be a big move up from our tent. I went to the dealer today and put in my order . I think they have one more in the November shipment that is not sold. They are storing mine until i pick it up in the spring.

The only extras i added were the Husky power jack and twin 6 volt battery's. I also ordered the Husky centerline hitch.

Randy

Cambridge

[f6bits]

That looks like some nice luxury. Great for two people! I pulled my trailer with a 2006 Grand Cherokee with the 4.7 gasser and it was moderately doable. Your diesel will do a much better job of pulling than mine did.

My big hangup was the length of my trailer. Even with weight distribution and sway control, my trailer was too long – *especially* in the wind. Yours should be a couple of feet shorter and should fare a little better, but it won't be a walk in the park. For local trips, I'd say go for it.

[KJcachers]

We saw a Shadow Cruiser 225RBS that has a similar floor plan but with a u dinette slide instead of the couch. We loved it but it was sold and we couldn't find another in the area so we finally landed on our Bullet 246RBS which we love even more!


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[chris199]

Wow! Very nice! We had a 199ML last year. Looks like a great improvement with the door away from the bed....larger sofa....good storage.....more counter space...ottoman.....room to eat at the counter.....all very good improvements!

If we would have had this option...not sure we would have traded.

[BruLaz]

Anybody get any more info about the 23RB at the RV show?

I've seen a sticker that says the dry weight is 4600#, but it also said something about 90kg of freshwater? Isn't that only 90L or ~24USgal?

Grey and black water capacities?
Trailer's length?
Is the queen a full 80" or ?

We have a nice 24' TT already, but would consider upgrading to a similar length, light-weight TT with slide-out, more counter and kitchen/living space and rear door. We just don't want to lose anything in the bargain (other than $$)

[Randy_K]

I had all the stats but i deleted the e-mail. You can get them by contacting layzee acres

If i remember right from bumper to hitch was 24' 10". the tanks were 30L each. They will be at the next RV show in January as well.

Randy

[BruLaz]

Originally Posted by Randy_K

...
I had all the stats but i deleted the e-mail. You can get them by contacting layzee acres

If i remember right from bumper to hitch was 24' 10". the tanks were 30L each. They will be at the next RV show in January as well.

Randy

Thanks Randy. A 25' TT with 30 gal waste tanks would be good.

I just hope that 90kg of freshwater is off. Or at least changeable.

Will contact Layzee Acres. Are they the ones you ordered from? Are they reasonable to deal with?

They would be convenient for us as we're from around Bracebridge.

[Randy_K]

Originally Posted by BruLaz

Thanks Randy. A 25' TT with 30 gal waste tanks would be good.

I just hope that 90kg of freshwater is off. Or at least changeable.

Will contact Layzee Acres. Are they the ones you ordered from? Are they reasonable to deal with?

They would be convenient for us as we're from around Bracebridge.

I think i got a good deal on mine. It is a hard purchase for me as i'm used to spending $100.00 tops for a new tent every few years.

I got a few extras thrown in on my deal but they do not move much from the show price. They make there money buy moving volume over huge profit on a few trailers. I understand they will be going up in the new year but i have no idea buy how much. They told me they plan on taking one to the next show if they can.

I am kinda nervous about pulling it though. Big change.

Randy

[BruLaz]

Originally Posted by Randy_K

I think i got a good deal on mine. It is a hard purchase for me as i'm used to spending $100.00 tops for a new tent every few years.
...
I am kinda nervous about pulling it though. Big change.

We had a tent trailer many years ago when the kids were growing up. But then we ditched that and tented, just the two of us for several years, until a cold, very, very wet week in the Colorado Rockies. Everything got soaked, and there was no way to dry it out. Next year I bought a pickup and our current 24' trailer.

Definitely there's a learning curve and expensive mistakes can be made. For example, my first pickup's tow capacity was fine, but it didn't have the payload capacity we needed. It was only about 1050# and the tongue weight of our current trailer can be up to 600#. You add us, our Leer Cap, kayaks, camping gear, firewood, and we always exceeded the truck's GVWR and payload by 350-500#. Our new F150 fixed that (and a bunch of other annoyances), but we definitely lost big $$$ by selling the old truck after only 1-2 years.

As for dealing with the trailer, that just takes practice. We picked up our current trailer in Texas, and I had no idea how to set the truck's Trailer Brake Controller. So for the first day or so we had no trailer brakes. I also just about ripped the Air Conditioner off the roof. But we got lucky and are still alive. I'd recommend driving the thing around familiar territory, parking and backing up in mall parking lots and so on, just to familiarize yourself with how your rig works.

[B&T]

Originally Posted by BruLaz

We have a nice 24' TT already, but would consider upgrading to a similar length, light-weight TT with slide-out, more counter and kitchen/living space and rear door. We just don't want to lose anything in the bargain (other than $$)

Hey BruLaz, You gonna give up that Trailmanor?

[BruLaz]

Originally Posted by B&T

Hey BruLaz, You gonna give up that Trailmanor?

Not yet. I've put too much effort into it. But maybe when we're both retired, something bigger will be in the cards.

We like these new 23'-26' pullouts with the big kitchen/living area, more counter space, and rear door. But then there's that extra ~1500# and a few other issues like the $$$. We'll see.

[zuley]

Heading out tomorrow morning to Layzee Acres to have a second look at the 23RB. Three hour drive to the dealer is not sitting well. Got it narrowed down to either the Passport or a Cruiser. Then again if I give myself long enough I can pretty much talk myself out of anything. The Arcadia in my garage is starting to look real good again.

[BruLaz]

Originally Posted by zuley

Heading out tomorrow morning to Layzee Acres to have a second look at the 23RB. Three hour drive to the dealer is not sitting well. Got it narrowed down to either the Passport or a Cruiser. Then again if I give myself long enough I can pretty much talk myself out of anything. The Arcadia in my garage is starting to look real good again.

Maybe go to the January RV show instead?

Here's an email I just got from Layzee Acres RV:

We will be at the January RV Show & do expect to display the Passport Elite 23RB.... it has been one of our very best sellers since it's arrival.

The Overall length is 25' 11"
Fresh water - 30 Gallons
Grey water - 30 Gallons
Black water - 30 Gallons
Master bed - Full Queen 60*80
Propane - 40 LPS
Dry Weight 4600LBS

Regards,
Thomas Geisser

[Randy_K]

Originally Posted by zuley

Heading out tomorrow morning to Layzee Acres to have a second look at the 23RB. Three hour drive to the dealer is not sitting well. Got it narrowed down to either the Passport or a Cruiser. Then again if I give myself long enough I can pretty much talk myself out of anything. The Arcadia in my garage is starting to look real good again.

Make a day of the trip. Bass Pro to scope out new camping gear The Casino for super and to win a few bucks if you are lucky

Can you have a look at what model the radio/DVD player is if you think of it. I have been trying to find out is i can add Sirius satellite radio to it without much luck. I just need the model #

Thanks

Randy

[zuley]

Pulled the trigger and did it. Very pleased with the deal. Thomas from Layzee Acres was great to deal with. I was not interested in negotiating and the number put forth to us by Thomas was exactly to the dollar what my wife and I had discussed previous with our trade. We don't pick it up until May but if our initial instincs are correct I would certainly recommend Layzee Acres to anyone.

[Randy_K]

Just waiting for spring. My Wife spent the day at the Toronto show drooling over our soon to be trailer. just had to share the photo.

How much longer till spring ?

[zuley]

96 more sleeps until we get ours Randy, not that I am counting or anything

Dave