@Roaddude -- I now have watched the video a dozen times. That auto lift is awesome. I've inquired about availability and pricing. Will pass along what I find out, but seems like a necessary upgrade for you...
Outlets I will have to double check tomorrow when unloading the trailer, we are currently on the way back to MO from COLO. However, I believe there is an outlet in each corner of the bed.
@ClearwaterScott - I'll most likely get the new powered lift assist at some point, as I'm not getting a RTT right away and won't have quite as much load up on the rack for awhile. I have the van to sleep in. I'm trying to get into Colorado Campervan's schedule to get a powered lift top on it, so I have both a raised, out-of-the-way sleeping area and a full van-length stand up area during the day when I want to use it as a blind for photography or when weather is lousy and I'm writing/working/reading in the van.
Though, when I get the top done, and then at some point get the 4x4 conversion done (hopefully from the great guys at
Sportsman4x4 in Kamloops, British Columbia), I may need the XV-2 and a RTT to stay in while the van is getting worked on. Then more of an assist would be helpful, as I'm old as original sin and short, too.
The trailer I'm picking up this month does have gas struts on it, though, that can help lift a rack with a load. Hell, a lot of people with an XV-2 and a tent up top have no assist at all and lift the rack on their own. I'll be using my trailer solo most of the time, so some assist will be helpful. Fireman78 uses his hi-lift jack, I think, to help raise the rack on his.
I also think waiting a bit might be wise. Schutt has been experimenting with a few different rack-lift assists and I think it might be worthwhile to wait and see how they perfect this new set-up or if they've done all the tweaking they need already.
I saw somewhere on here or OB a guy that rigged a very clever chain-driven lift assist for the rack on his trailer. Simple screw drive inside four posts with a bike-type chain going to each at its base inside the tub, protected and out of sight. He'd power the whole thing with a cordless drill and it went up and down slicker than ********.
I don't remember if you were on this thread or not, but this may be of interest to you for your XV-2, about taking care of rattle in the rack posts:
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/t...-XVenture-by-Schutt-Ind?p=2148626#post2148626
In any event, Scott, I'm anxious to compare our trailers and see the similarities and differences. I think it would be really cool to have a get-together of XVenture trailer owners sometime to compare models, options, after-market mods, etc and to swap stories. I'm down for helping to organize something like that. As Schutt marketing used to say we're "part of the legend."