Grey Wolf 26DBH - Replacing The Kitchen Faucet

Moonbeam .... 

On March 23, 2017 we took delivery of our new 2017 travel trailer. We actually started discussing the possibility of buying a travel trailer around October/November 2014. We were thinking maybe a used unit even if we had to do a little upgrading to it. At the time, the only vehicle we had was a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited (Maggie) that had a tow capacity of 2000 pounds, so we started discussing whether to buy the trailer first or a tow vehicle. That conversation went back and forth for several months.

In the meantime we started going to RV dealerships in Eastern North Carolina to see what was available. It didn’t take us long to realize that there was not much difference in the prices of late model used trailers and new ones. I also started reading everything I could find on travel trailers, supplies, campgrounds, and tips and tricks.

With our Maggie getting older, and more costly due to repairs, we decided to start looking for a replacement vehicle. With the travel trailer in mind we started looking for something that had a tow capacity of around 9,000 lbs. Lesson number one: Don’t trust salesmen to know what you need. Do your research. In January 2016 we found a very clean, low mileage, 2011 Ford F150 Super Crew with a 5.0 liter engine. The salesmen said it would tow in the mid 9000 lb. range. Just before closing the deal, I pulled up Fords towing information for this truck and found that it would only tow 7,700 lbs. maximum. You would think truck salesmen would know their product. We almost killed the deal until I found several nice travel trailers that this truck could tow. So we bought the F150 (Gus).

Reading and research has saved me a lot of money on this venture. For instance, I was researching the price of putting a trailer brake controller on “Gus”. I didn’t want one of those that hung down under the dash, so I started inquiring about an Original Equipment Manufacturer’s trailer brake controller. Calling the Ford dealership I was told that it would cost about $750.00 to install the OEM controller. In my research I learned that Ford trucks with the tow/haul package were already wired for the controller and all you needed was the unit to go in the dash. I purchased the dash unit for $150.00 plus tax and installed it myself. I did have to get the dealership to activate it for about $50.00. Two hundred dollars is a big difference from seven hundred and fifty.

In all my reading about travel trailering I learned of all the items that would be needed for it. Leveling blocks, stabilizer pads, drinking water hose, regular hose, waste water hose, trailer brake controller, load distribution hitch, and the list goes on and on. On the inside of the travel trailer it’s like setting up another household, pots, pans, dishes, utensils, linen, towels, etc., etc., etc. Rather than have those purchases on top of the travel trailer purchase we decided to start gathering.

We had narrowed our choices down to three trailers, the Mallard M29 (only available at Camping World), and the Grey Wolf 26DBH, and the Cherokee 274DBH. The M29 had everything we want and had the best “fit and finish”, but Camping World’s service reputation stinks. The Grey Wolf and the Cherokee were both at a dealership in Washington, NC who has a pretty decent service reputation. Both of these are nice trailers. In discussions with the RV dealer in Washington we determined that the 274dbh was a little heavy for Gus, so we decided on the 26DBH.

Two camping seasons have come and gone and the third was fast approaching since we started considering a travel trailer. It was time. The adventures began!!!

The maiden voyage was Easter weekend with a “get to know it” trip to the KOA in New Bern, NC.