Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Community Forums > Campfire Chatter
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-12-2016, 01:51 PM   #1
BirchyBoy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 798
Moving on...

Well, the wife and I finally pulled the trigger on a new travel trailer today. After looking at dozens of floorplans, including class A/C's and fifth wheels, we bought another travel trailer. We traded in our '14 Passport 238ML for a '15 Open Range 256BHS. It has 2 slides, heated tanks and underbelly, bunks with one that flips up and is accessible from the outside and lots of other stuff we've never had. Now it's time to buy a truck! Thankfully, the dealer has free delivery in the city, so they'll take it to our storage area next weekend.

This place has been great. I'll stick around some, and hope the everyone makes the most of the time they have with friends and family out there on the open road!
__________________
Current:
'17 Winnebago Vista 31BE / Wife, pesky Eski and loco Toto dog
Former:
'15 Open Range 256BHS / '05 F350 CCLB RWD V10
'14 Keystone Passport 238ML / '13 GC Trailhawk Hemi
RIP Birch (pitbull)
BirchyBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 03:15 PM   #2
Festus2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
Quote:
Originally Posted by BirchyBoy View Post
Well, the wife and I finally pulled the trigger on a new travel trailer today.

This place has been great. I'll stick around some, and hope the everyone makes the most of the time they have with friends and family out there on the open road!
Birchy Boy -
I hope you have enjoyed being a member of our forum and you're most welcome to "stick around" for as long as you like. We've all benefited from your participation. Congratulations on your new TT!
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
Festus2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 07:27 PM   #3
Tbos
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
BirchyBoy,
Glad to hear about your new TT. We liked the 238ml we had but needed more space. When you get the chance we'd love to see some pictures. Enjoy and happy camping.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
Tbos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 07:39 PM   #4
GaryWT
Senior Member
 
GaryWT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
Congrats and good luck. Friends bought an Open Range last year, they love it.
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
GaryWT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 09:44 PM   #5
BirchyBoy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 798
Here are some pics....hopefully!



__________________
Current:
'17 Winnebago Vista 31BE / Wife, pesky Eski and loco Toto dog
Former:
'15 Open Range 256BHS / '05 F350 CCLB RWD V10
'14 Keystone Passport 238ML / '13 GC Trailhawk Hemi
RIP Birch (pitbull)
BirchyBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 11:56 PM   #6
outwest
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Okla
Posts: 363
Open Range units have lots of nice features. Enjoy your new toy!

Edit to add - I dont know if they still do (since the buyout by Jayco) but one of the nice things I saw about Open Range a few years back was that they had a service area at the factory, along with a park area w/hookups for you to park in while having your rig worked on! You had to schedule it and they had a pretty big backlog when I looked into it, but still. . . Had a used, out of warranty, unit that needed a new rear end installed (replace the entire wall on rear because of extensive water damage) and they were going to do it and at a very reasonable price. Unfortunately, the unit got totaled on the trip up to the factory Side note: be sure to have good anti-sway controls in place and check your brakes and brake controller regularly.
__________________

2012 Keystone Vantage 32FLS
outwest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2016, 05:12 AM   #7
BirchyBoy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 798
Thanks for the tip Outwest . I'm going to keep my Equalizer 10k and have them set it up for me.
__________________
Current:
'17 Winnebago Vista 31BE / Wife, pesky Eski and loco Toto dog
Former:
'15 Open Range 256BHS / '05 F350 CCLB RWD V10
'14 Keystone Passport 238ML / '13 GC Trailhawk Hemi
RIP Birch (pitbull)
BirchyBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2016, 05:18 AM   #8
bsmith0404
Senior Member
 
bsmith0404's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
Congrats. We considered an Open Range as well. In the end we didn't go that route because the floor plan we liked didn't have the drop frame so it lacked basement storage, but still a very nice unit.
__________________

Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
bsmith0404 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2016, 07:09 AM   #9
Tbos
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
BirchyBoy, your new TT looks nice. Enjoy.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
Tbos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2016, 08:11 AM   #10
koko
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southwest Wyoming
Posts: 497
Beautiful trailer. Envy your heated tank and underbelly. We'd love to be set up for better cold-weather camping!
__________________

2017 Jayco Melbourne 24k-Jeep Wrangler
2013 Bullet Premier 19FBPR-Dodge Durango V8 Hemi
2013 Rpod 177HRE-Jeep Liberty
2011 Aliner Sport-Jeep Cherokee
2008 Little Guy 5^Wide-Toyota Avalon
1980 Shasta 21-GMC Suburban
1981 Coleman Tent Camper-1981 Dodge Ramcharger
1978 VW Westfalia
Lots of tents
koko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2016, 08:54 AM   #11
notanlines
Senior Member
 
notanlines's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,306
Congrat's on the new trailer and new truck to come. Keep in mind that you have been shopping big already and seem to trade after two years. Get rid of your Jeep and just jump to a 350/3500 so the next time you "just pull in and look around" you'll be able to pull it to the storage area yourself and you won't have the regret of just having a 1/2 ton.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
notanlines is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 10:05 AM   #12
BirchyBoy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 798
Quote:
Originally Posted by notanlines View Post
Congrat's on the new trailer and new truck to come. Keep in mind that you have been shopping big already and seem to trade after two years. Get rid of your Jeep and just jump to a 350/3500 so the next time you "just pull in and look around" you'll be able to pull it to the storage area yourself and you won't have the regret of just having a 1/2 ton.
Thanks. We're definitely going with a 3/4 ton. I can't do a 1 ton due to HOA restrictions. The only question is gas vs. diesel.
__________________
Current:
'17 Winnebago Vista 31BE / Wife, pesky Eski and loco Toto dog
Former:
'15 Open Range 256BHS / '05 F350 CCLB RWD V10
'14 Keystone Passport 238ML / '13 GC Trailhawk Hemi
RIP Birch (pitbull)
BirchyBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 11:43 AM   #13
dcg9381
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texarkana, TX
Posts: 1,052
Quote:
Originally Posted by BirchyBoy View Post
I can't do a 1 ton due to HOA restrictions.
How does the HOA know a 1-ton from a 3/4 ton truck?
I'd be willing to de-badge my 3500 to 2500... :-)
dcg9381 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 01:34 PM   #14
BirchyBoy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 798
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcg9381 View Post
How does the HOA know a 1-ton from a 3/4 ton truck?
I'd be willing to de-badge my 3500 to 2500... :-)
The thought has crossed my mind. The rules are from the mid-Eighties. I'm wondering if they were trying to ban duallies.
__________________
Current:
'17 Winnebago Vista 31BE / Wife, pesky Eski and loco Toto dog
Former:
'15 Open Range 256BHS / '05 F350 CCLB RWD V10
'14 Keystone Passport 238ML / '13 GC Trailhawk Hemi
RIP Birch (pitbull)
BirchyBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 01:51 PM   #15
CaptnJohn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Ocean Isle Beach
Posts: 1,431
No question ~~ diesel. I did read the Lariat package added 300# so went with the XLT package to help offset engine weight. Best move ever going to diesel ~~ unless certain never ~~ not ever ~~ going heavier. I know we are happier with the Cougar than would be with a 'lite' model of any brand, even the Cougar Lite. Comparing Cougar and Cougar lite there is very little difference in pin weight.
__________________

2022.Montana 3855 BR
2019 F350 6.7 4X4 DRW
CaptnJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 01:29 AM   #16
denverpilot
Senior Member
 
denverpilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 487
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcg9381 View Post
How does the HOA know a 1-ton from a 3/4 ton truck?

I'd be willing to de-badge my 3500 to 2500... :-)

Maybe he's thinking one ton means dually?
__________________
Pilot for fun, Computer geek for a living, and happy 5er owner who wants more time to go play in the camper!
denverpilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 01:34 PM   #17
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,598
The trailer you are looking at, about 7k dry? and maybe 8500-9000 wet? is OK with a gas engine but you're getting close to where a diesel will be nice. I pull a 10k gvw travel trailer with a 6.4L Hemi Dodge and it does great. I've used it up and down 7% grades with no problem. It does need to rev more than a diesel and it definitely does not have the torque of a diesel. Fuel mileage is a little less than a diesel as well.

The premium you pay for the diesel upon purchase, fuel, DEF etc. has to be offset (in my mind) by either lots of use, business use or something. To spend 9k extra on a vehicle so you can tow a trailer to the campground 100 miles away 3 times a year makes no sense to me; IMO. On the other hand, I had a new 2013 Ram 1500 hemi when I bought this trailer knowing that it maxed, and exceeded some of the weights. I found I wasn't as happy as I thought I would be so bought a new 2014 Ram 2500 6.4L and I'm happy. Thing is, as much as we pull the trailer now I'm thinking about a diesel (I think 10k is about max for a gasser). I've not had any of the new ones and didn't like the old ones (90-91). I don't keep vehicles long enough to worry about the long life of a diesel so it's a bit convoluted trying to justify one for me - guess I'm just too stingy.

Your decision on a diesel will hinge on what I've mentioned and more. Keep in mind that you have now upgraded your trailer and very well may do so again in the future. The trailer you're buying now is at the upper end of a gas engine's comfort zone (imo) so you may want to seriously consider a diesel. From what I can tell, aside from the sticker shock, everybody seems to love them.
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 02:29 PM   #18
dcg9381
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texarkana, TX
Posts: 1,052
Quote:
Originally Posted by denverpilot View Post
Maybe he's thinking one ton means dually?
That may be what the HOA thinks too.... :-)
dcg9381 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 03:17 PM   #19
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
In response to sourdough's comments about the increased cost of buying a diesel vs a gas truck, I went to the NADA website and looked up the comparable diesel vehicles there. I used a 2011 XLT, 2011 LT and a RAM SLT, 250/2500 series crew cab, all with 75000 miles and all 4x4. Here's the "trade in value" for a "clean" truck diesel option. This figure is the "value of the diesel engine at trade in, not the actual truck. FORD= 7400, Chevrolet= 8100, RAM= 8500.

I did this based on my recent search (last spring) for a "used F250 diesel. Every current body style, diesel truck with "low mileage" that I found was "almost as much as a new truck. They were all "well over $7500 more than comparable gas trucks.

I found then (and I think the above figures verify it) that you get back in trade in everything the diesel costs, so essentially, the only "costs" involved with a diesel are the increased cost of filters, oil, DEF etc.

If you elect to buy a diesel and unless the market changes dramatically, you'll get back the cost of the diesel engine when you trade it in.

Here's the links to the trucks I checked:
http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/2011/...-LT-4WD/Values
http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/2011/...XLT-4WD/Values
http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/2011/...SLT-4WD/Values

ADDED: It is interesting to note that in two of the three, when you look at the diesel engine option in the "retail listing" the diesel engine "sales price" is actually more than it cost new. In the case of the Ford, the used engine value is $8225, the diesel option in 2011 retail cost was 7800.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 03:43 PM   #20
larry337
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Lagrange OH
Posts: 446
I agree with JRTJH, the money you spend up front for the diesel is retained in resale. Used diesels are crazy high resale while used HD gassers are a little harder to sell. Plus you get to enjoy the added benefit of towing with the diesel. Sourdough makes good points if you don't tow much, but diesel is my preference hands down.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
__________________


2017 Ford F350
2015 Cougar 337FLS
larry337 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.