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8:47 am March 20, 2011
| kpspring
| | Spring, TX | |
| Member | posts 9 |
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Hi there. Been lurking for a month now but it's now time for me to introduce myself. First-timer at owning an RV, and I guess you can blame the Houston RV show for this!
It's the 2011 Spree Escape 16BH. We're just hours away from our first trip with it. Not very far, just up the road to Double Lake Rec Site in the Sam Houston National Forest.
Think I have most things worked out, including how to light the water heater, except for one issue: Tire PSI. All I'm finding on the tire (Freestar M-108) is max weight "at 50 PSI". Does that mean I should inflate them to 50 PSI, or is the recommended something less than that?
Oh yeah, my TV is 2009 Kia Borrego. Very few of these on the road. Kia discontinued it after one year. But, they are the largest Kia vehicle you can buy and comes with towing package including connector for brake controller and tranny cooler. Didn't buy it last summer with towing in mind, but I'm excited to be able to use the Borrego for this purpose!
Great website and it's definitely helped us in making the purchase of our KV. We did consider Sportsmen Classic but I'm 6' and those two extra inches in the Spree Escape are a necessity!
If anyone happens to be on here in the next couple hours and can answer my PSI question I would be grateful. Thanks!
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9:25 am March 20, 2011
| pfidahospud
| | Post Falls, Idaho | |
| Member | posts 107 |
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The only advice I've seen is to keep them at max pressure, which is 50 psi. This is solely based on personal opinion, though. I don't recall seeing anything in writing from KZ. Hope that helps…
Happy camping!
Stephen
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Tow-er: 2010 RAV4 3.5L 269 hp V6 with Tow Pkg ~ Tow-ee: 2011 Sportsmen Classic 14RB ~ Director: The wife
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10:53 am March 20, 2011
| Mike Magee
| | near Tulsa OK | |
| Member | posts 204 |
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A tire store can tell you more than anyone about tire pressure. When I asked they told me that the tire is made to run at max pressure all the time. As tire pressure falls, a tire's carrying capacity also falls rather quickly. We don't want that! Pressure of 50 psi should be measured when the tire is cold, as pressure will climb a bit (52, 53 or so) when warmed up on the road… this is fine and expected.
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2008 Toyota Highlander – 2011 Escape E14RB
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7:25 pm March 20, 2011
| sandersmr
| | Texas | |
| Member | posts 338 |
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Did you buy from Terry Vaughn? They've been good to me with service issues on my 16BH (Classic). IF the Spree had been out, we might would have looked seriously at it as DBF is 6'6″ and has to duck inside.
I've enjoyed my trailer, in fact went to Goose Island State Park this weekend. It works good for 1 or 2 (and 2 huge dogs – that completely fills it!) and I've had days where I've been forced inside because of the weather, but I would prefer to be outside in a chair relaxing with a good book under the awning (what I did yesterday!)
Enjoy your Spree!
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2010 16BH towed by 2002 F-150 Super Crew 4.6L V8
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9:10 am March 22, 2011
| kpspring
| | Spring, TX | |
| Member | posts 9 |
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Just came back from Double Lake. On Sunday night, we were the ONLY people there, except for the campsite host and managers! Kinda nice. Park was full last week due to spring breakers, though. Everything's working great on the Spree Escape.
Yes we did buy from Terry Vaughn's. I was not that happy with the sales experience. They told me to get a 2 5/16 ball when I came by to get it, but they were wrong so I made them buy me the correct 2″ ball. Also, the tech who did our walkthru had never camped himself! Since this was our first time at doing this I was not that happy about that. He could have spent more time on how to use the hitch, for example, I had to figure out on my own what that wire was that runs through one of the chains (the breakaway switch). Other than that I didn't have too many questions since I had done my Internet homework ahead of time. Terry Vaughn's is only a few miles from our house so that's a plus.
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12:42 pm March 22, 2011
| sandersmr
| | Texas | |
| Member | posts 338 |
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I would caution you about running the breakaway through the chains. It might not be tripped when needed if something happens. Plus my chains sometimes drag, even with them crossed and twisted several times. You wouldn't want that cable to abrade and possibly snap.
I'm sorry your experience wasn't as good with TV as mine has been. I've been to both locations and have worked with the sales guys at both. The service guys at the Alvin location are the ones who did my bunk mod and my PDI as well as my warranty service.
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2010 16BH towed by 2002 F-150 Super Crew 4.6L V8
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5:24 pm March 22, 2011
| Mike Magee
| | near Tulsa OK | |
| Member | posts 204 |
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I agree, best to take the cable out of the chains. Have it so there's some slack in it, but not enough to let it hang down and catch on anything. I looped mine around the hitch receiver and back to one of the chain hooks (with the hook already attached to its hole on the side of the receiver); that took up some of the excess length but still left enough slack so it wouldn't pull the thing out when I turn.
Funny that you should mention them telling you a 2 5/16 ball… the tech who walked me thru also thought it was that size, but (knowing better) I asked him if he was sure, so he asked one of the dealership owners and got corrected. I'm not sure if those techs earn enough money to go camping themselves… he also thought my little 14RB had a 20 gallon fresh water tank. Oh well, at least he knew some other useful stuff that helped me.
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2008 Toyota Highlander – 2011 Escape E14RB
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7:17 pm March 22, 2011
| kpspring
| | Spring, TX | |
| Member | posts 9 |
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Ah…good points about the breakaway cable! Thanks.
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