Need Assistance on this Floor PLan

[hammersley]

OK - can you guys look at this trailer and tell me what you know about Cougar and this one in particular - if possible... . It's a new trailer - and I've looked at a lot of em. We won't be spending weeks in it but do want to take adult children and their families - 1 grandchild and two adults along with myself and wife - AND two yellow labs... .



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http://www.gregsrv.com/2005_304bhs_cougar_trailer.html



http://keystone-cougar.com/



I love the slide out bike rack - actually you can put a lot of stuff on it...

http://keystone-cougar.com/index.html?page=bike



Polar package:

http://keystone-cougar.com/index.html?page=polar

 

[SWC]

Hammersly, from what you say your expectations are much like our family. My wife and I are empty nesters but we enjoy taking our children and their families with us when schedules permit. I have not seen this design but Keystone has put some good thought into their designs. We purchased a 2004 Laredo 27RL 5ver which ends up just under 30 ft long with a large slide. We really enjoyed ours this summer and can't wait for next summer. I would consider the Cougar and Laredo to be midrange rvs with a lot of value for the dollar.



The floorplan indicates a good sized storage area at the front under the bed which is an interesting idea and ahead of the axles where you want it. A lot of the travel trailers are short of storage. The kitchen being over or ahead of the axles is better then at the back.



For towing, a good set of load levelers or sway bars will keep the trailer where you want it.



Have fun looking and dealing and get what suites your needs and budget.



Stan

 

[gonzo2]

Hammersley, I was at Gregs RV last week poking around that exact model. We are very close to ordering one. (the one in stock was already sold) I think the Oregon built keystones are decent units. The bike rack is indeed a slick unit.



Overall the only complaints we came up with are the small living room TV stand, crappy cd player, and the lack of a BBQ hook-up. Not enough to discourage a sale.



Now that this model has been around for a year, other manufacturers are starting to produce similar bunk slide units, such as Jayco and Okanagan.



Still, the Couger seems to have the best combination of storage space (inside and out), Price and features.

 

[hammersley]

THanks guys.....

Great info ----- thanks for the help... .

 

[gonzo2]

Hammersley,



Well we are getting closer, but I made the mistake of looking around again. There's just too many choices.



When I was out east last week (Toronto) I saw the new Jayco Jayflight 31 BHDS which has basically the same floor plan as the Cougar. The Jayco is not quite as "nice" as the Cougar but it is cheaper and Jayco does seem to have a somewhat stellar reputation (when you consider how many units they push out).



Here's their website Jayco



The features I liked better were:

1) extendable dinette- handy for company

2)enteretainment centre DVD/surround combo- better than the Cougers' shelf and CD player



Dislikes:

1)no overhead shelfs in the slide

2)Cougers' L shaped kitchen counter is nicer(says the Boss)



I'm unsure wether I prefer the Aluminum/Wood wall constuction or the Fiberglass/Aluminum.



I'm still leaning towards the Cougar but I think the better "deal" can probably be had on the Jayco.



Anyway, did you pick a unit or find any other floorplans you liked?

 

[E2360]

I have the 281EFS Cougar, that is the one with a rear bedroom with bunks and tthe rear garage. Love it, Travel with 2= kids and dogs and have enough room. Even on those rained in days. I have the earlier modle without the avaliability of the Bike rack. Wish I had this and have asked the dealer I work with to see if it can be retrofitted. Really no problems after two seasons (4-5 trips per season) and about 15000 miles.

 

[Bob V]

Hammersley, we have been looking for quite a while and loved the Cougars when we first saw one. After further investigation we found that the fresh and holding tanks where too small for us. We then looked at the Mountaineer line http://keystone-mountaineer.com/ , still a Keystone product but an "upper line", kinda between a Cougar and a Montana. If you are looking at a fifth wheel the 318 BHS is a nice set up.

Bob V

 

[gonzo2]

E2360,

Yeah, I saw the 281 EFS too, I don't think the '05's have the rear storage anymore. .

It got me thinking about going to a fifth wheel though. Like I said, too many choices.

How do you find yours for towing etc. I don't know if you have a 4x4, but with a 4x4 short box I am unsure how easy it is to set up for fith wheels.

I'm starting to think I might go full out and go the fiver route. I don't mind towing the trailer I have but the consensus seems to be that for the larger rigs, the fifth wheel is the way to go. What do you think?

Thanks



Bob V, I noticed the fivers all seem to have much more tank capacity.

 

[hammersley]

Nothing as yet......

Still waiting - found a great deal on an Arctic Fox - 26X

 

[E2360]

No problem with a short bed AND a sliding mount. I have used a non-slidewr for one trip when I first got the trailer. Not worth it. Much to hard to manuver and NOT hit the cab of the truck. I use the Reese, not automatic but has not been a hassel either. 4x4 has been a help a few times, like when your nice campsite turns into the boiling pit of mud after a rain storm. Had a travel trailer before the 5er, towing is night and day different with the 5er much superior, I think it is easier to hook up also

 

[mroidt]

Lets here about them COUGARS

Hi guys

We've been looking real hard at the Cougars too, just not quite as big.

We're looking at the 245 & 276EFS and really love both floor plans.

I really like the weight and storage in and out, on both are just Fantastic. Oo.

Just hoping to hear somebody either way on it.

Does anybody recommend a RV site that has a forum like this, I know it won't be as good but gotta look.

Thanks

 

[klenger]

mroidt: Check out www.irv2.com. There are others, but irv2 is the only one I frequent. A lot of experience and not much :-{}

 

[mroidt]

klenger Good site, found more than I wanted already !!

Thanks again and what a great site, both of these.

 

[gonzo2]

Did It!

Quick update,



Late last week we had basically settled on the Couger, but I wasn't all that happy with the deal offered by the dealer and was unsure if it was worth the extra dough (to me) for the fifth wheel version.



I ended up going back to the dealer I bought my last trailer from, who we had sort of written off because they didn't have a travel trailer floor plan we liked and had fifth wheels that seemed too expensive. Bottom line is we laid it all out on the table and we ended up with one of their units for less than the "deal" on the Cougars.



So now I have a Jazz 2780BH (same floorplan as the 281EFS Cougar) fifth wheel all loaded up with ensemble, bandleader, frosty packages, fantastic fans etc.



Jazz Website



Now I just have to get over butchering my truck to put a big honkin' hitch on it.



New Fiver Guy