Got our new PARKLINER!!!

[Gretchen]

Arrived late Friday afternoon to the Gibsonville factory. There she was! They were just putting on the last bits. We are very pleased with the quality. Slept very well in it. Cushions make a nice firm bed. Chandler did some really nice custom work on it for us. We asked for a deeper golden stain, kinda retro looking, the wood all looks so warm. I don't care for the million shades of beige that are on so many things. . . BORING. They also installed a lovely green mottled linoleum we had sent there. Again, hate the beige. Chandler went above adding a nice touch by also putting the flooring in the fridge panel, yay, more color! I put on some pretty green glass knobs. Sewed some custom shades with green trim, and got the green cushions! Pictures soon to follow!

Chandler also stayed an extra hour with us trying to help us get our lights to work, apparently we have an elec prob on our end, trailer worked just fine.

So, even if they are not so great at answering phone/emails, they do make a GREAT camper and we are so glad to have one. And very helpful in person.

I have a small truck, Chevy Colorado 5 cyl, got very good gas mileage 15 mpg about. But had some wobbling. Perhaps too much tongue weight for my truck? Its having a weight distribution hitch installed today. Maybe a bit over kill, but I hated the wobble and want to feel super safe. Most likely bigger trucks would have no prob.

Weird question, but since there is no outside storage and you can't fit sewer hose connections in the hose storage tube...where do you store one? In a box in the back of the truck I guess.

Am going to build a shelf 1/2 way down from the area to the left of the bath. Think I will suspend it. Any ideas?

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Gretchen

I have a small truck, Chevy Colorado 5 cyl, got very good gas mileage 15 mpg about. But had some wobbling. Perhaps too much tongue weight for my truck? Its having a weight distribution hitch installed today. Maybe a bit over kill, but I hated the wobble and want to feel super safe. Most likely bigger trucks would have no prob.

YEA!!! Glad to hear you got your dream trailer. Please post pictures as it sounds like you have made some great chooses to make it your own personal trailer.

The wobble you mention is more common to Not Enough weight on the hitch vs to much weight on the hitch as you suggest. Is the trailer level when connects to the truck? If not it should be and if you can't get it level having it slightly down on the hitch is better than slightly up at the front. When up on the hitch a lot of the trailer weight moves to the back of the trailer which will cause wobble. Just as not loading the trailer up so that the weight inside is balanced well. To many items in the rear of the trailer vs over the axle of slightly ahead of the axle will also result in a wobble. A WDH is a good idea if you are worried you have to much weight on the hitch but you really should try and figure out what caused the wobble and fix that before relying on a WDH to keep you out a trouble. A WDH will not stop a good wobble or as some here like to call it the tail wagging the dog that can lead to big scary moments when towing.

BTW in case anyone hasn't shown you how to stop sway correctly there is a lever on your brake controller that is for that purpose. Use it to apply brakes only to the trailer which will bring the trailer back in controller much better than applying the brakes on the tug & trailer at the same time will! Using the brakes on the tug while the trailer is swaying is not a good idea! Can lead to bigger trouble.

[Tammie]

Don't ya love it!
The more color, the better. I'm a quilter and can't help it, I just don't believe in beige. And the green glass knobs- oooh, sparkly!
Your suspended shelf sounds good, especially if you're using that bunk. We keep the dinette up, so that space is just storage for us. With or without the shelf, you might be interested in Rubbermaid's All Access organizer, a bin with a clear plastic door on the front, and a snap-on lid on top. Came in a pretty color, too We've stacked two of 'em there, and with a cushion in front, they make a great backrest for the dinette. They've stayed in place during travel, too.
Congratulations and enjoy!

[stevebaz]

Great timing to get your trailer. You must be doing the happy dance. Did you trying bumping up the tire pressure on the rear tires on the truck? Adding pressure will help with the load on them. Read the tire for max pressure.

[Gretchen]

Thanks Tammie. Quilting is SO much fun. I was thinking of doing 2 8 x 12 mini quilts for those speaker areas, MORE COLOR!! I have just gotten fascinated with Batiks, so lovely. Thanks for the storage tips. Can't wait to get Fern all loaded up!

[Gretchen]

No Steve, I didn't try that. Its got the WD hitch now, so kay sarah. I have carried heavy loads of rocks before and fish tailed which scared the bejeebers out of me. So, I'll do whatever it takes to be stable. Thanks

[Gretchen]

THanks Carol. There is so much to learn here. This is our 3rd camper but so different from the others, I feel like a newbie again. Sounds like you have been doing this for awhile. As soon as I get her all tidy...making the bed in there isn't easy, I'll post some pictures. It is a fun thing, am feeling very blessed.

[Raz]

Great news

Pictures please!

[deryk]

Congratulations! And let's see some pictures. ..love pictures

[Pat in Michigan]

Sounds beautiful, can't wait to see pictures. I wanted to see the inside of one but I'm thinking it isn't really necessary. Gretchen, I will be really interested to hear what you do with the sewage hose.

[Brian M. in NY]

Gretchen,
We are so pleased for you! Congratulations. Sounds like you are well on your way to customizing things to suit you to a T.

Re: the 'ol stinky slinky, we keep the PL supplied one in its tube on the front of the rig. We use it when camping at state parks and using dump stations. If we're going somewhere with full hook-ups we have our longer hose and various fittings in a plastic tote that we stow in the bed of the Tacoma. We were thinking of some kind of attachment to the bumper but the tote turned out to be both practical and cheap, so we took that route.

[accrete]

Hi Gretchen & congrats on the new arrival.

All the decore mods sound nice and as you say "colorful".
On the next-to-shower/berth area shelf idea...Cari & I are doing something similar yet instead of suspending the shelf will use 1/2" x 1" pine supports along the walls and then a chunk of marine ply for shelving. We will most likely use the whole front area as additional storage/pantry area (the first season we simply had a Rubbermaid bin there).

Happy Trails,
Thom

[frank_a]

Good for you Gretchen! I'm doing drudge work on ours today - waxing it! Got about 70% of the roof done, and the whole right side. Working on it when the sun goes behind a cloud. By the way, make sure you have an 8' stepladder when you have a ParkLiner!

I'm so pleased that you're so pleased. ParkLiner does make a great egg, no question about it!

Frank

[Gretchen]

Just a few pics, sorry a little messy, hard to make the bed in there. Still some more to do. Install undermount radio. We had a great weekend in it!

[frank_a]

Originally Posted by Gretchen

Just a few pics, sorry a little messy, hard to make the bed in there. Still some more to do. Install undermount radio. We had a great weekend in it!

Wow! You folks sleeping sideways, or just threw the pillows over there to throw me off?!?

Gee, yours came with a guitar? I need to talk to someone in charge!

Sure looks like you folks are having fun. We're off for our first trip Saturday May 17, heading south to NC, can't wait. Just got a new plate for 006 today!

Where are you mounting the radio Gretchen? Better yet, shoot some pics when you're done.

Enjoy!

Frank

[reeves99]

It's a beauty! . Congrats.

[Gretchen]

Are we sleeping sideways?? Felt fine to us. But, now that you mention it....

Am thinking radio near the tv so we can hear it outside without turning it up TOO loud.

The guitar was one of the options, didn't you see it? ;-)

[Gretchen]

only thing about a shelf there, it will be in the way of the lower space under it which is great for clothes. hmmmmm....can 't decide just yet

[kootenaigirl]

Looks wonderful, so bright and cozy.

[Filbert V.]

If it's not already taken, you might want to get KERMIT on your personalized license plate for your new home.