Owner review after 4 years in a Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite. Did this hold up? The 2109s.
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- Опубліковано 23 жов 2020
- An exterior review of a Forest River product. Original owners of a 2017 2109s Rockwood Mini Lite. We purchased it in October 2016 and we have put this baby through the ringer. All kinds of temperatures and conditions.
This is the exterior review, an interior review will follow in a few days. I hope some of this helps you make decisions on a camper and help those who HAVE this camper. :)
Do it Garland Style folks!
Oh yeah.. I said BF Goodrich, but meant Goodyear. :)
Links to other videos as I mentioned.
Dust seal and fix up projects: • 3 Camper fixes you WIL...
Running light leak fixed: • Annual Fixes & Mainten...
Cracked Window: • Camper front Windshiel...
Crack in my slide: • Crack in the slide out...
Solar Part 1: • Renogy 200 Watt 12V So...
Solar Part 2: • Renogy 200 Watt 12V So...
Good outside tour. Thanks.👍
Thanks Ginny. I didn't want to make it too long. Heck, I can rattle on forever. LOL
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. We are in the decision process to order a 2507s and this is great information
Congratulations. I hope you love it as much as we love our 2109s. :) Glad I could help you out. Michael
I appreciate your videos. I have a sister unit Flagstaff 21fbrs same as yours but 2021 model. Not all that much has changed. Keep camping and I'll keep watching! Thanks. Take care.
Thanks! :) I hope we can camp more soon. It's NUTS out there right now.
Thanks for the update. We’re looking and Rockwood what we’re looking at the 2204s God Bless
Glad it helped. 🙂 Happy camping! Michael
Thank you for this video. We bought a 2504S this week. This is reinforces we made the right choice.
Yes, you did buy a solid camper. Virtually everything that has broken on my camper is not unique to Forest River. The fittings, lights, appliances, etc are not made by FR but used RV Industry wide. Shurflow water pumps are even used in Class A motor homes. So if a pump stops, or a valve fails, or a fridge, etc. don't blame FR. Those are what break and need repairs. But the solid build and insulation of my unit is superior! Good luck and glad you enjoyed the video.
Great thanks for the update.
Thanks Mike. :)
Nice review. We have a 2019 2019S with about 10% of the miles you’ve traveled. So far, no issues and very happy with the build quality. Great floor plan for my wife and I. We just finished a 2000 mile trip from the Midwest to Nevada over 6 days. My hat goes off to you and your wife; I don’t think I could full time in this rascal! Lol. Happy travels!
Thanks Brian. Hey, you never know. You could decide to take longer and longer trips. Then one day.. LOL Yes, I love this floor plan. Happy travels to you and the wife. Enjoy
Ty for the review.
You're welcome. :) Have a great one Lisa.
Love my 2016 2109S!!!
So do we Julie. :)
Great job !!
Thanks James. October is a busy month for us. I have to do an interior review yet, a 1 yr Full Time on the road review, and a review of this campground. LOL
Appreciate much this video. Thank you.
Thanks Maria. :) Michael
I don’t have a rv but i think rockwood are the best. I have seen one in person, and it feels solid.
It is quite solid in my opinion too. Sure it could be made more so, but with wood and heavier materials. Leveling is important in any camper, that makes them feel very stable too C C. Hope you get to travel in one some day. Thanks.
Nice camper and Pro4X, got the same truck
I love my Nissan. :) It is SO dang comfortable. wish it did better on the gas mileage though.
Thank you for all your videos! Did you have to do any work on your roof?
Thanks Tom. I have put down some Lap Sealant around the bathroom skylight, and a few inches on a small crack. That's it though. It really has held up so well. Thank heavens! LOL Get up and check it out every couple of months at the least. I'm up there a lot brushing off leaves and such, so I make a habit of checking things more often than most people. Hope that helps.
Hey GS! I asked you a question previously as my wife and I recently purchased a used '17 2109S. We just returned from a 3400-mile FL-NH trip and got a kick out of your Skidaway Island SP video as we also stayed there maybe a month after you. Though we have been thrilled with how well the trailer has performed, we do have a big issue with the sofa. During our trip, the material started delaminating terribly. From some of your previous vids it appears yours has held up nicely. Is that still the case? I hope so as we are spending a small fortune to have it reupholstered. Thanks again for another great vid...we learn a lot from them.
Wow.. cracking or coming apart? No, we've had no issues with the couch faux leather? LOL Just a bit where my wife rubs it on the corner arm getting into/out of bed. We only use a damp cloth to wipe it off, no cleaners with chemicals at all. Maybe that's it? I hope you can get it reupholstered ok. Or, just get a cover. Good luck on that SGIF. :)
Ours 2507s will be here in September
Woot Woot! :)
Hiya Garland. I enjoy your videos. I sold my Lance 1575 last summer (too small and the East/West bed was a deal breaker!) and picked up a used 2019 2109S at the end of last summer that had barely been used. My wife and I have a Grand Canyon trip scheduled this spring, misc local camping trips for the summer, and then a Glacier National Park trip in Sept. Can't wait! I saw in a different video of yours where you had some clear paint protection film installed on the front window of your 2109S. I am concerned about my window as well and was wondering if you have anything to report on its effectiveness?
Thanks Paul. I hope they help in some way. I had a "Clear Bra" installed, it wasn't painted. That's what the Window Tint shop called it. It has prevented any more cracking. I have had a couple or 3 rocks hit the windshield since then, but it hasn't cracked. It is doing just what I intended it to do. :) I highly suggest something be put on your front window. Sooner or later, it will get chipped. Oh, and HAPPY CAMPING. :)
@@garlandstyle5797 Thanks for the reply, Garland. One more question if I may: has the clear bra (aka PPF, or, paint protection film), affected the visibility looking out the front window? Since these films are usually intended for painted surfaces rather than clear windows, I have heard that they may make the clarity a bit blurry.
@@paulhartshorn8880 Hey. This was a 4 mil thick Clear Film. Didn't affect our view at all Paul. It is applied just like tint to a window.
@@garlandstyle5797 Thanks, and happy camping!
Well done review & after 40+K's of travel that's a pretty good record for a trailer costing around or less than $20 grand. We've also been pretty satisfied altho a roof leak, FWtank issue & the steps coming loose were problems needing attention. But any product is subject to errors - nothing is perfect. I do have a design question tho' on the recent 2109S - why is it that when you are hooked up to city water the storage door won't stay open - the magnet contacts don't connect. Engineer 101 mistake...
I haven't seen the newer 2019s models. I'm not much of a fan on Magnets myself. That's weird. Eventually my manual latch will break. Then I'll put on a different latch for sure. Yep, you will have some issues, no matter what you buy. :) It just is gonna happen. Thanks EH!
@@garlandstyle5797 You like that EH??? Just for clarity, if the inlet for city water were moved 3 - 4 inches it would solve the problem with the storage door. Anyway, ours is a 2019/bought July 2018... don't know if it's my being a PIA wannabee engineer/designer but there are several mindless examples of wasted space &/or illogical use of space that make an otherwise great trailer merely a good one, perhaps better than average but if you've looked at or owned other products you're still looking for your great one... I know I am......
@@ehcontrols6287 LOL I used your initials "EH Controls". Yer kidding, the water valve is above the storage door? No kidding, that's an engineering DUH! I agree there are some storage area goofs, but many have made mods to accommodate in some ways. Not sure if you are on FaceBook, but there is a really great group that are "MODIFY" crazy and super knowledgeable in fixes. Here's the group name "Rockwood Mini Lite-Flagstaff Micro Lite Fan Club". TONS if information there you can find by using searches. I researched for almost 3 yrs before settling on the Rockwood Mini Lite. It was down to a Winnebago Mini or Rockwood.
@@garlandstyle5797 Don't get me wrong it's a good trailer but my personal mantra is 'good vs. better' which leads me to be very critical of stupid. Thanks for the tip, I'll do some searching...
@@ehcontrols6287 Let's say for the "price range" I was considering and size... This fit the bill. :) If you find better for $20 some odd thousand, let me know.
can you take the light cover off after you've "silicone" sealed it?
I've recently experienced a leak when my awning "tore" or separated from the body. Insurance adjustor said it was wind damage. Have you ever had this experience? And how do I prevent it from happening?
Hey Tami. I put a small thin layer over the cover. It will come off easily with a small knife or peeling it off.
I have had some close calls with the awning, yes. I always bring it in when we leave camp to hike or whatever. You never know when a gust will come up. So far that's been the trick. Good luck getting it fixed and keep it in when not in use. Michael
Hello! Thank you for sharing, I’m second owner to a 2017 mini lite , 2504 s with the bunkhouse... was wondering why you don’t use your black tank flush?
I use my own method. FOCA laundry detergent (about 1/2 a cup) in the emptied black tank and about 1/2 gallon to a gallon of water. When we travel to the next spot, the sloshing cleans out the tanks. I don't want to get a separate hose just to flush the tanks, and a LOT of times, the water hoses at dumps don't have threading on their spigots. My way turns out easy and has worked for almost 4 yrs. :)
I use 1/4 cup dawn dish soap and a gallon of water when tank is empty while traveling to next spot also. After dumping I use the black tank spray to flush out completely. You would be surprised at how much more it cleans ( clear 90 degree ) after doing the soap and travel method and then the spray method.
@@greghomestead8366 Sounds good on the Dawn. :) I have, somewhere, a clear 45º elbow I think. LOL
@@garlandstyle5797 what does FOCA stand for? Picking up my 2022 model 2109-S next week. Your videos are informative. Keep up the good work and good camping!
@@mitchelld7583 FOCA, a Phosphate free detergent, is the name of the product. You'll find it in Walmart next to Tide and other laundry detergents. I get just the small 5 lb bag, it lasts forever. Its worked well for me for over 4 years. Happy camping out there. :) Hoping we'll be on the road after the 1st of the year.
They say women get amnesia about child birth...I think it holds true for water tank leaks 😂🤣😂🤣😘🥸😎😍❤🇨🇦‼️
LOL Probably so true! :)
Bfgoodrich ? they look like goodyear endurance tires, I've been following you for years thank you for all the information I'm looking to 2021.5 Rockwood 2109s or a Grand Design 17MKE
Oh.. Ya know what? I think back in the 60s they were Goodrich. LOL Age fart! :) Yes. Goodyear. Thanks. Good luck on your search. Just get in one and KICK the molding, bath, bed, and tires. :)
@@garlandstyle5797 BF Goodrich and Goodyear are two different companies. In fact, since 1990, BF Goodrich is owned by Michelin. Goodyear is owned by...well...Goodyear! Thanks for the review! We've ordered an Ultra Lite that should arrive end of 2020/early 2021. It's satisfaction like yours that pushed us to Rockwood and away from a second Grand Design. We cherish the days/years when we can put that kind of miles on a trailer!
LOL.. Throw back Thursday! YES I goofed. LOL Good luck on your search. Please GO INTO EACH one to see how it fits you physically! Moving around and mobility if you get what I'm saying.
How is your tongue weight? Does the equalizer bring the back end of your truck back to a unhitched height? How much weight do you think your hitch transfers to the trailer and off the truck suspension. I have a 06 Tundra and it's a wimp at CCC :)
I haven't had a chance to properly weigh the tongue weight. I would like to know of course. Funny, I looked at the distribution today. It was very level and no dipping in the back of the truck! I carry ALL our living in both since we are FT on the road for now. Last time I weight FULLY loaded (full tank of fresh water and two full propane tanks), the truck came in at 7,210, the camper at 4400. I will do it again some time to check the hitch weight. My truck handles the camper beautifully.
@@garlandstyle5797 You should be able to tell your hitch weight from looking at the weigh slip. Figure out what your truck weighs unloaded (subtract the yellow payload sticker from the GVWR of your truck) and see how much extra weight is shown on the truck axles.
I need to get it weighed again and position it properly so I get a hitch weight. I know that I can't move the bars when I've hitched up. I need to raise the camper with the tongue jack to a "near level" point and the bars come off easily. That said, the equalizer bars are definitely bearing a load. Check Matt's reply too.
Thanks for the wheel well tip are u gonna buy a new one
Elaine. Nothing wrong with the wheel well itself. They didn't seal it or put anything in the crack between the outside along that crack. :)
@@garlandstyle5797 i meant are u gonna buy a new travel trailor and im gonna go buy some great stuff for the wheel well i have learned alot on how to so thks a d keep it up tell Linda hello
@@elaineburt9129 Ohhhh. Nope, no plans to buy a new trailer at all. I haven't even thought about it in the least. We love this camper. :)
Could you talk about your truck? I'm curious about how the Nissan and how it's holding up
Hey Walter. I LOVE that Nissan. I bought it used, repo from a Construction company in Canada. No Guarantees of course. I had all the wheel bearings replaced, a couple needed it, so got them all done. Only other problem was a leaking Power Steering line. $800+ to that that fixed. But? Man? I love love this truck. Plenty of power and it so easily hauls the trailer. Go big Walter, a bit more than you need, whatever brand you choose. Never know when you may go up in size. Me? Down, so I'm good forever. I've learned a lot out here. I hope I helped out a bit.
I forgot to add. My truck can seat 5 comfortably. I love the shortbed, it was important to me. It had to fit in my Townhome at the time. It rides like a car but LOTS of visibility. I'll take it out over a car (wimp) any day. :)
@@garlandstyle5797 how miles on your Titan now?
@@garlandstyle5797 I'm driving a Silverado now. I've been looking towards the next truck/trailer combo and have heard mixed reviews on the Titan. Btw, my wife and I enjoy your videos. Thanks! Be safe!
@@markshull4810 82,201. I bought it used in 2016 with 22,000 on it. :)
How did you install the insulation in the bedroom compartment.
Under the bed I assume. Look to see if you have aluminum frames on the top of the pass through. Mine had about 1" aluminum frames, so I measured out the squares and cut the foam. You can get foam board at any Hardware or Lumber supply yard. I used 1" thick foam. Google "R-Tech Foam board", it's about $15 for a 4'x8'. I was able to just force the foam sheets, once cut, into the frames. I could have used a glue, all but one stayed in place as it was a tight fit. The one that came down, I cut too short obviously. I'll get some Gorilla glue and dab just a bit of that on the 4 corners. THAT will certainly hold it well. I hope that answers your question.
@@garlandstyle5797 I have the the Rock-wood 2516S mini light with 2 slides. The bed slides out.
@@Berrypancakes229 Ok, I looked up the floor plan. Most likely, you have a covered/lined underbelly on your camper. Removing the lining is a bit tricky getting back up, but you could do it. My concern is you can't apply much insulation from the bottom. In that case, go for insulation on the inside of the bed, lift it up and apply the foamboard to the bottom. You would lose 1" of space, but that's better than nothing.
Can I tow a miniite with a 2008 Chevy Tahoe? What is the monthly payments on these? I would like to have one but I can't take on a trailer and truck payment right now.
Vazarus. First thing you want to do is look at the towing capacity of your Tahoe. Mine was in the owners manual and comes in at 9,600 lbs capacity. You may also find that # on a sticker somewhere on your Tahoe. Our camper weighs in around 4,400 lbs fully loaded.
Regarding monthly payments on a similar camper. Honestly, I have no idea, but I'd guess between $250-$350/month. Remember, that figure doesn't include extra costs of ownership of a camper.. Monthly storage cost, Registration & License plates, and insurance. Maintenance can be, for the most part, easily done yourself. Tires, caulking, tape, etc as well as Axle greasing should be considered. Check my video on "25 Items you need" ua-cam.com/video/og6Uc1IYXAM/v-deo.html to just begin setting up the camper for travel and must have items. It adds up my friend.
Wishing you much luck. Michael
@@garlandstyle5797 Thanks for the response. I'm hoping my VA status will allow the MWR on the local base to store my trailer on base at a reduced rate. I did not know you have to get insurance on travel trailer. This looks like it will add up quick. I will pay the cost. It's too expensive to travel and stay at places in the United States. Thanks for the information.
@@vazaruspaytonas7017 That is a good deal on the storage. :) Yes, unless you pay cash for your camper and own it outright, your lending company will require you fully insure it.
Can you sit on couch when it’s in?
Yes. I my model we can do that. It doesn't give at all. What I'd check on is this to be sure for your model. Have your partner, or friend, a heavy one, Ohhhh 180lbs or more.. sit on the couch while you are on your belly with a flashlight. Look under the couch and see if there is any downward tilting at all. Not all campers will allow this, not knowing your camper model. Good luck. :)
@@garlandstyle5797 How do you check for your model? Mine is 2109S too.
Why is it, engineers/designers always screw up what works. If you have a forward facing window on a travel trailer, you put an awning cover on it so rocks don’t hit the window!!!
More income from broken windows? LOL
@@garlandstyle5797 Yeah I see the logic! But logic tells me, Don’t buy that crap! Who’s got the money? 😎
Your rubbing off on campers I stopped at a big camp ground over the summer there were six Rockwood 2019s campers at the campground
LOL. This is a great camper for sure. :) And this was a super campground. Thanks.
You say you are happy with the trailer but it sounds like you have many problems that I would not be happy with it.
Doesn't matter what camper or RV you get Wallace, some things will happen. We've put over 44,000 miles on that camper, some were VERY rough off road rides, and the problems are only minimal compared to total failure. We are VERY happy with the comfort it provides.
@@garlandstyle5797 44,000 miles is a game changer. One of your video.s was just a year in the trailer with issues. I use to have a 26’ Tiago motor home. I live 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and drove to California and back with my family with no issues, so I guess I base it on my own experience. I do appreciate your videos.
@@wallacegray7681 What gives 90% of bad impressions of "brands" of campers aren't the camper itself, in my opinion. It is the appliances, hoses, clamps, electrical, water related items, and so on. Those fail way before the structure of a camper fail. Many appliances have issues, but the brand of camper isn't to blame, it's the appliance mfr. Airstream is a quality built camper, but has many of the same parts as my half the cost Mini Lite. Andy those same "parts" go bad, break, or were faulty to begin with in Airstreams. Look for the quality in "structure", solid build, and comfort when you look for your perfect camper. Good luck on the search. :)