The last camping excursion at Big Bend National Park created a new excitement and a new desire to camp more often. Of course, we have already made plans to head up to Palo Duro Canyon State Park where we will camp and hike for 3 days.
But, alas, my old bones take much longer to recover the vim and vigor associated with my normal state after I have to roll off of my mattress onto a hard ground and then attempt to stand upright (somewhat) inside of our tent. Plus, it got pretty danged cold at night.
So, as usual, Sharon starts researching. Motorcoaches, fifth wheels, camper trailers, and popup tent trailers. The motorcoaches are really, really nice but just a bit much for us. I mean, I'm not looking to permanently stay on the road (although this might be an alternative to our next home purchase) so these behemoths didn't make our short list (especially since they are in the $100K and up range).
Next on the decreasing decadence list were the fifth wheelers. Wow, carpet, cedar lined closets, flatscreen TVs, full-size showers and toilets. Everything a person could ask for. Whoops! I'll need some more than an F-150 to pull these critters! That means I'll have to sell the house, the truck, and both Bengals to get the new fifth wheel and a new truck. Sorry, we'll pass.
Then, we get to the camper trailers. This category has everything from a one room crowded (but GREEN) trailer to a multi-room setup. Nice.
But we finally settled on a popup tent trailer. I can easily pull this with my existing truck, it folds down so I can even use my inside rear view mirror, and keeps us closer to nature than having steel walls surround us.
There is, however, a bit of civilization in ours! We decided on the Rockwood 2560G Tent Trailer (one of their Freedom line). It has beds on both ends of the trailer that pull out when you install it, a dining area that also pulls out (gives us much more room), and best of all, the tent is put in place with electric drives - we don't have to crank to get the top up.
This also has a porta-potty inside, both an inside and outside shower, a 3-burner gas grill inside, an extra BBQ gas grill for outside cooking, sink, hot water heater, furnace, and bed warmers. The two beds can easily sleep 4 adults and the dining table also flattens out to form a bed that, maybe, another two adults can sleep.
Overall, we are very pleased with the trailer. However, we are extremely dissatisfied with the dealer, Angelo RV, in San Angelo, Texas. They are associated with Fun Town RV in Dallas/Ft Worth. Once I wrote the check for the camper, the salesman left me to the finance guy, Hector. Why? I paid in full and with cash. Anyway, Hector wanted me to sign blank documents. Uh, oh. Should I have had a bell ringing?
We pick up the trailer on Saturday. The staff is supposed to take us through the set-up and take-down and answer any questions we have. First, they are short-handed. Then, the first guy takes us on a lightening tour of this does that, that does this, over here is that, over there is this, etc. He wants to turn the keys over to us but Sharon insists we try the keys. Hummmm, they don't work. He just wants to force them to work. Then, miraculously, another set of keys appear that actually work. We are passed off to another guy who is supposed to help us learn the take-down of the tent. He is clueless when we get close to the bottom but the top of the camper doesn't fit. "Oh, that's OK. Just push down real hard and force it.", was his answer. Wrong. We found some cushions blocking the top from going any lower.
It continued from there. Unknowing trying to teach the new customer how to operate something. I got the feeling that they expected us to already know everything since we bought the low-end instead of a fifth wheel or motorcoach or, for goodness sakes, couldn't they have at least bought a camper trailer? Gee.
Sharon asks about the awning. Salesman says, "Oh, didn't think it came with one." They looked. Found it in another camper. "We are not leaving until we get the awning installed." Salesman is gone. #1 guy is gone. #2 guy is as clueless as we are. Get Justin!
I find out Justin doesn't even work for them. He owns a business next door and does some contract work with Angelo RV. He knows what he is doing and get the awning installed in short order. #2 guy is gone.
Time to hook up. Whoops. Wrong connectors. Salesman turns the corner but I catch him before he runs away. I said, "Aren't y'all supposed to ensure electrical hookups are compatible?" He runs into the Accessories section. Wait. Wait. Wait. Finally, go into store. Can't find Salesman, #1 guy or #2 guy anywhere. Find clerk who says the part we need is sold out and I should try U-Haul. Fortunately, U-Haul has what I need.
Get ready to go. Right turn signal doesn't work on trailer. Blown fuse in my F-150. No fuses here!
Go to find all my paperwork. Salesman gone for day (it's 1 p.m.). #1 guy busy with another customer. #2 guy no where in sight. Find Salesman #2. Ask him. No idea. Calls Hector. Rushes off. 10 minutes later have contract (copy, cut off, no VIN).
Don't ever buy anything from these guys and expect them to treat you like a customer.
But I still love this trailer!
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