New Roamer1

[FordGuy1]

The top of the drawbar tongue is about equal to the bottom of the receiver opening. So, I guess you could call it a 1or 2" drop. But of course, it depends on the style of hitch too. I came home with a Cruisemaster, but it will get a McHitch before I tow it again. And also, the truck was pretty much empty, so when geared up it will squat a bit more. The tongue is just a bit high with no gear in the truck. I took a few drawbars with me to get it hooked up at ROA and it came out pretty good. Look for the R1 in this clip.



View attachment 766924

I sell a lot of the Rhino hitches. They work very well, and are super easy to raise or lower depending on tongue weight. I love my McHitch, but they have closed down. Get one for sure while you can, they are amazing.

 

[Treefarmer]

I sell a lot of the Rhino hitches. They work very well, and are super easy to raise or lower depending on tongue weight. I love my McHitch, but they have closed down. Get one for sure while you can, they are amazing.

We thought they were closed as well, but they are alive and well in the US. We just purchased a big beautiful 6.5 tonne model. Raspy can provide more details about McHitch availability in the US.

 

[Raspy]

I sell a lot of the Rhino hitches. They work very well, and are super easy to raise or lower depending on tongue weight. I love my McHitch, but they have closed down. Get one for sure while you can, they are amazing.

McHitch is not closed down. Nobody in the US has purchased from the Australian site in three years. All US sales go through McHitch.us.

 

[Raspy]

Did not mean to rain on your parade. Your trailer looks awesome. Love the gray. She does look lonely on the loneliest road in America. Are you going to install the positive air pressure deal in your R1. I want to do that on my trailer

I'm gonna wait on the positive pressure setup to see if it is needed. The main door and the storage doors are all sealed better than on the X22. I wasn't sure about the gray at first, but I really like it now.

You definitely need a lot of Pink Floyd to make it across the Loneliest Highway. From the angle in the photo above, it looks ball hitch is on about a two inch rise from the truck receiver to where the "ball" is located.

It's been snowing and blowing here, so I'm waiting till the weather clears a bit before working on the hitch. But I'll post some before and after pix when I put the McHitch on.

 

[FordGuy1]

McHitch.us

I was told that all the US parts come from Australlia, and that they shut down for now. The US McHitch is selling what they have in inventory. I am not sure of the validity of this info.

 

[Raspy]

I was told that all the US parts come from Australlia, and that they shut down for now. The US McHitch is selling what they have in inventory. I am not sure of the validity of this info.

I would really like to know who told you that. Who was it?

 

[FordGuy1]

I would really like to know who told you that. Who was it?

It was in a conversation on the Kimberley AU owners Facebook page. I guess the guy who invented it and manufactures them is a well known local sports car racer.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

No need to pay extra, if there is no extra value. But there is a lot more to it than bed sheets, etc. However, I agree, it is a lot of money and was a stretch for me.

I'd like to know more about the outdoor kitchens being offered by other dealers as the R1 Kitchen was difficult to make and it is very nice. The slideout is designed for 1,000 lbs and needs no support post, it has a Blackstone griddle, sink with water and drawers.

Here is a partial list: Outdoor kitchen that is very well designed, gun safe, upgraded upholstery, complete tool kit and torque wrench, tire monitor system, backup camera system, Bluetooth leveling system, auxiliary power supply/charger in case the batteries get too cold and shut off, bedding, silverware, dishes, glasses, mugs, induction ready pots and pans, folding chairs, trasharoo style rear bag, High Lift mount, television, prewired for Starlink and media input, propane quick connect. Rear storage box/High Lift jack mount (think this is optional on the X195).

So maybe 10k more stuff then the x195 for 21k more. I guess 100% markup is expected from ROA. But hey they don't care if you buy a trailer they just want to go camping. God bless them if that's genuine. His Barry White/yacht rock voice in the R1 mini tour was hilarious. Hey if your spending this much why not get it decked out for 21k more.

It is a nice rig and you will have so much fun in that bad boy.

 

[Treefarmer]

So maybe 10k more stuff then the x195 for 21k more. I guess 100% markup is expected from ROA. But hey they don't care if you buy a trailer they just want to go camping. God bless them if that's genuine. His Barry White/yacht rock voice in the R1 mini tour was hilarious. Hey if your spending this much why not get it decked out for 21k more.

It is a nice rig and you will have so much fun in that bad boy.

In terms of quality, it's definitely a cut above almost everything else on the market. Unfortunately, all of the "luxury" items that add to the cost of the trailer ended up not being important for us, so we had to pass. In watching the ROA video tour today, I was a little shocked at how narrow the space is between the dinette table and the kitchen counter. This would be an incredible rig for a single guy or a young couple (full size bed, not a lot of space). Two people and two dogs living in there for long periods of time would take some getting used to!

 

[Raspy]

In terms of quality, it's definitely a cut above almost everything else on the market. Unfortunately, all of the "luxury" items that add to the cost of the trailer ended up not being important for us, so we had to pass. In watching the ROA video tour today, I was a little shocked at how narrow the space is between the dinette table and the kitchen counter. This would be an incredible rig for a single guy or a young couple (full size bed, not a lot of space). Two people and two dogs living in there for long periods of time would take some getting used to!

I agree that a lot of the luxury features are not on my must have list. Bluetooth leveling, fully arranged silverware organizer, 32" TV, engraved plates, etc. But the outdoor kitchen, unique to the R1 is a really nice option. It is very well made with a Blackstone Grill and custom designed to work with the available door size. Other standard things that I probably would have added myself are included, such as the nice set of tools, torque wrench, gun safe, upgraded mattress, upgraded upholstery, pre-wired for Starlink, folding chairs, utility bag similar to the Trasharoo with shore tie hoses, filter and regulator, propane quick-connect, tire pressure monitor system and rear view camera. These all add up to a nice package. And yes, it is expensive. Of course, these can all be avoided with the X195. Or added over time by the owner, with the possible exception of the outdoor kitchen, which is more important on this trailer because of the induction stove inside. I love cooking outdoors on a griddle, and it could not be more convenient than with this system.

As far as interior width, if that is a priority for some, then there are plenty of trailers with pop-outs, or with an overall width of 8'. I will not buy a trailer with either of those. Pop-outs are completely out of the question. My maximum acceptable width is about 7' or a little more. That's it. It makes a real difference when towing on the road or off-road. These trailers are best for couple, or a couple with one kid or an occasional guest. The R1 rolls in almost the same wheel track as my F250 and I can see around it without extending the mirrors. Off road it will squeeze through anywhere the truck can. I do like conveniences inside to make "camping" or traveling fun and comfortable,
but I draw the line at overall width. This also factors in on bed size. So many are complaining that it has a "Full" sized bed. True, it does. But to get a walkaround queen would require an 8' overall width. To me, not acceptable. That is what Airstreams are for. Everyone has their priorities and there are lots of choices. And every trailer has compromises to prioritize its stated purpose.

 

[Treefarmer]

I agree that a lot of the luxury features are not on my must have list. Bluetooth leveling, fully arranged silverware organizer, 32" TV, engraved plates, etc. But the outdoor kitchen, unique to the R1 is a really nice option. It is very well made with a Blackstone Grill and custom designed to work with the available door size. Other standard things that I probably would have added myself are included, such as the nice set of tools, torque wrench, gun safe, upgraded mattress, upgraded upholstery, pre-wired for Starlink, folding chairs, utility bag similar to the Trasharoo with shore tie hoses, filter and regulator, propane quick-connect, tire pressure monitor system and rear view camera. These all add up to a nice package. And yes, it is expensive. Of course, these can all be avoided with the X195. Or added over time by the owner, with the possible exception of the outdoor kitchen, which is more important on this trailer because of the induction stove inside. I love cooking outdoors on a griddle, and it could not be more convenient than with this system.

As far as interior width, if that is a priority for some, then there are plenty of trailers with pop-outs, or with an overall width of 8'. I will not buy a trailer with either of those. Pop-outs are completely out of the question. My maximum acceptable width is about 7' or a little more. That's it. It makes a real difference when towing on the road or off-road. These trailers are best for couple, or a couple with one kid or an occasional guest. The R1 rolls in almost the same wheel track as my F250 and I can see around it without extending the mirrors. Off road it will squeeze through anywhere the truck can. I do like conveniences inside to make "camping" or traveling fun and comfortable,
but I draw the line at overall width. This also factors in on bed size. So many are complaining that it has a "Full" sized bed. True, it does. But to get a walkaround queen would require an 8' overall width. To me, not acceptable. That is what Airstreams are for. Everyone has their priorities and there are lots of choices. And every trailer has compromises to prioritize its stated purpose. View attachment 768361

That's a nice rundown of the R1 amenities. These comments aren't intended to be negative or provocative. I bet we actually like to camp in pretty much the same way and in the same areas as you. The R1 comes in at a width of 91". We are OK with going up to a width of 96" if it means you can have a walk around queen size bed. That's too much of a quality of life issue if you live in the trailer. We've never been on a paved or a dirt road where we've said, "Gee, I wish the trailer was five inches narrower." That extra five inches also comes in handy throughout the trailer, not just for the bed. You do seem to like to get into crazier off road stuff than we do, so that five inches could make a big difference to you. For the real overlander market, single axle and a helluva lot narrower/lighter than the R1 would be the right choice anyway.

Like you, we're always amazed at how different everyone's "needs" are when it comes to a trailer. That's why we've always thought that manufacturers should move to a more modular build option rather than trying to figure out everything a potential buyer might want and piling it all into a trailer.

For example:
Outdoor kitchen - We'd rather buy our own portable and be able to move it around the trailer to the lee side away from the wind as needed. It also frees up that basement space for things like solar components.
TP monitoring system - Many of us who have been doing this a long time already TPM systems that we would just transfer to a new trailer. Having a built in system pushes you into whatever the manufacturer has provided. If you have your own and want to change it out or upgrade it in the future, it may be easier if it's not already built into the trailer.
Tools/chairs/dishes/silverware/mattress - We already have all of these things. We don't need to pay extra for them.
Gun safe - If you think you need a gun, it should be stored loaded and in an quickly accessible location, not in a more more time consuming spot to access like a safe (unless you have kids around). Plus, if you skip the heavy safe, that frees up extra CCC for ammo.
Fancy fabrics - Adds no value for us, but other people may want to pay up for that. You can get high quality fabrics without logos pretty easily. Better yet, skip the dinette concept and go with a flip up bar table instead.
TV/camera/propane quick disconnect - Almost all trailers costing over $90k come with this stuff anymore.
Starlink port - I though this was odd. What you really need is just a simple weather proof "port" to pass the Starlink cable through. Starlink likes to make change to it's cables. Will that specialized connection still work with their new cable(s) and is it easy to replace? In any event, that's not worth paying extra for. Plus, maybe a potential customer doesn't want to spend $600 for equipment and $150/month for the Starlink RV package. They may like their current internet provider.

While the R1 is an excellent product, it doesn't meet our requirements for having everything we need AND nothing we don't need. BTW, we feel the same way about the Bruder. Awesome product, but it feels like you're paying for too much unimportant (for us) stuff.

All of that said, if we were new to the RV market and money was no object, the R1 would be a great choice.

 

[Raspy]

That's a nice rundown of the R1 amenities. These comments aren't intended to be negative or provocative. I bet we actually like to camp in pretty much the same way and in the same areas as you. The R1 comes in at a width of 91". We are OK with going up to a width of 96" if it means you can have a walk around queen size bed. That's too much of a quality of life issue if you live in the trailer. We've never been on a paved or a dirt road where we've said, "Gee, I wish the trailer was five inches narrower." That extra five inches also comes in handy throughout the trailer, not just for the bed. You do seem to like to get into crazier off road stuff than we do, so that five inches could make a big difference to you. For the real overlander market, single axle and a helluva lot narrower/lighter than the R1 would be the right choice anyway.

Like you, we're always amazed at how different everyone's "needs" are when it comes to a trailer. That's why we've always thought that manufacturers should move to a more modular build option rather than trying to figure out everything a potential buyer might want and piling it all into a trailer.

For example:
Outdoor kitchen - We'd rather buy our own portable and be able to move it around the trailer to the lee side away from the wind as needed. It also frees up that basement space for things like solar components.
TP monitoring system - Many of us who have been doing this a long time already TPM systems that we would just transfer to a new trailer. Having a built in system pushes you into whatever the manufacturer has provided. If you have your own and want to change it out or upgrade it in the future, it may be easier if it's not already built into the trailer.
Tools/chairs/dishes/silverware/mattress - We already have all of these things. We don't need to pay extra for them.
Gun safe - If you think you need a gun, it should be stored loaded and in an quickly accessible location, not in a more more time consuming spot to access like a safe (unless you have kids around). Plus, if you skip the heavy safe, that frees up extra CCC for ammo.
Fancy fabrics - Adds no value for us, but other people may want to pay up for that. You can get high quality fabrics without logos pretty easily. Better yet, skip the dinette concept and go with a flip up bar table instead.
TV/camera/propane quick disconnect - Almost all trailers costing over $90k come with this stuff anymore.
Starlink port - I though this was odd. What you really need is just a simple weather proof "port" to pass the Starlink cable through. Starlink likes to make change to it's cables. Will that specialized connection still work with their new cable(s) and is it easy to replace? In any event, that's not worth paying extra for. Plus, maybe a potential customer doesn't want to spend $600 for equipment and $150/month for the Starlink RV package. They may like their current internet provider.

While the R1 is an excellent product, it doesn't meet our requirements for having everything we need AND nothing we don't need. BTW, we feel the same way about the Bruder. Awesome product, but it feels like you're paying for too much unimportant (for us) stuff.

All of that said, if we were new to the RV market and money was no object, the R1 would be a great choice.

I agree with most of your comments. And the discussion is fun. The X195/R1 body is less than 85" wide, and the outside of the tires are at about 88". The steel fenders stick out three inches on each side from the body, for a total of 91". This means visibility is not impaired and the tires can be out as far as possible, to where the fenders just cover them, for maximum stability with minimal wheel well intrusion into the interior, while still being a narrow trailer. I've been using Starlink for some time now and my way of doing so is to simply plug the router in to the outdoor plug and set it under the trailer. Pre-wiring for it may actually make it harder to use for me, but if it is a dedicated system, I can see the reasoning. I use mine at home too. No trailer plug or pass-through is needed. The new cushions are nice, not because of the embroidery, but because of the foam thickness, hardness and the heavier fabric. Much more comfortable and durable. I've never had a tire monitor system before on a trailer and I have mixed feelings about it. I adjust my air pressure regularly and check them casually at every fuel stop by looking at their appearance and checking the temperature by hand. The sensors are lock nutted on and I'm debating about going back to a standard stem. Internal sensors, as used on the truck, would be better. The rear camera is a little more useful as I end up backing into places or backing up close to trees or other vehicles pretty often. Both the tire monitor and the camera system are wireless to the truck. Many of these things are fluff though. The real meaningful points are the Cruisemaster air suspension, the composite insulated body, the enormous battery bank and solar system, the disk brakes, the good cabinetry, insulated and heated tanks with skid plates, the Truma heating system, the excellent aluminum heavy duty storage boxes, the premium 12 volt Isotherm fridge, as well, of course, the outdoor kitchen. The long tongue means no tailgate interference and helps make the trailer tow beautifully. For years I've used a tire table and set my Blackstone on it for outdoor cooking. It has worked very well. I had an outdoor kitchen on the Black Series that I never used, but this one is more practical and needed because of the induction cooktop. Back to the cabinets for a moment. They are WAY better than the ones in the X22, which I never liked. The interior wall surfaces too, are much better with a real gel-coat surface, instead of moisture resistant paper on luan paneling. The X22 ceiling though, is beautiful, with T&G cedar planks. I'm done with black tanks, but even the gray tank is improved. It has a macerator pump to eject the water. It may drain by gravity too, but I haven't checked. I hope so. The pump makes draining it more reliable if the hose is longer or must go uphill. It also means the tank drain is away from the cold and in an insulated and heated area. This is my fifth trailer in about seven years. I've sold every previous one for more than I paid for it, so the hit is not as large as it seems. Some years ago, while moving on from a more spartan camping style, I wanted a small pop up style to tow behind my 2 door Rubicon. I do like them and their ability to go just about anywhere. But it was better for me to get a more versatile trailer, able to travel longer distances easily in any weather. More of a travel trailer, than a hard core four wheeling trailer. But I never camp at organized places like KOA. And I want to be entirely off-grid all the time. Nevada is perfect for this with its vast open spaces and limitless points of interest. Eastern California, Colorado, Utah and Arizona are also amazing.

 

[Treefarmer]

I agree with most of your comments. And the discussion is fun. The X195/R1 body is less than 85" wide, and the outside of the tires are at about 88". The steel fenders stick out three inches on each side from the body, for a total of 91". This means visibility is not impaired and the tires can be out as far as possible, to where the fenders just cover them, for maximum stability with minimal wheel well intrusion into the interior, while still being a narrow trailer. I've been using Starlink for some time now and my way of doing so is to simply plug the router in to the outdoor plug and set it under the trailer. Pre-wiring for it may actually make it harder to use for me, but if it is a dedicated system, I can see the reasoning. I use mine at home too. No trailer plug or pass-through is needed. The new cushions are nice, not because of the embroidery, but because of the foam thickness, hardness and the heavier fabric. Much more comfortable and durable. I've never had a tire monitor system before on a trailer and I have mixed feelings about it. I adjust my air pressure regularly and check them casually at every fuel stop by looking at their appearance and checking the temperature by hand. The sensors are lock nutted on and I'm debating about going back to a standard stem. Internal sensors, as used on the truck, would be better. The rear camera is a little more useful as I end up backing into places or backing up close to trees or other vehicles pretty often. Both the tire monitor and the camera system are wireless to the truck. Many of these things are fluff though. The real meaningful points are the Cruisemaster air suspension, the composite insulated body, the enormous battery bank and solar system, the disk brakes, the good cabinetry, insulated and heated tanks with skid plates, the Truma heating system, the excellent aluminum heavy duty storage boxes, the premium 12 volt Isotherm fridge, as well, of course, the outdoor kitchen. The long tongue means no tailgate interference and helps make the trailer tow beautifully. For years I've used a tire table and set my Blackstone on it for outdoor cooking. It has worked very well. I had an outdoor kitchen on the Black Series that I never used, but this one is more practical and needed because of the induction cooktop. Back to the cabinets for a moment. They are WAY better than the ones in the X22, which I never liked. The interior wall surfaces too, are much better with a real gel-coat surface, instead of moisture resistant paper on luan paneling. The X22 ceiling though, is beautiful, with T&G cedar planks. I'm done with black tanks, but even the gray tank is improved. It has a macerator pump to eject the water. It may drain by gravity too, but I haven't checked. I hope so. The pump makes draining it more reliable if the hose is longer or must go uphill. It also means the tank drain is away from the cold and in an insulated and heated area. This is my fifth trailer in about seven years. I've sold every previous one for more than I paid for it, so the hit is not as large as it seems. Some years ago, while moving on from a more spartan camping style, I wanted a small pop up style to tow behind my 2 door Rubicon. I do like them and their ability to go just about anywhere. But it was better for me to get a more versatile trailer, able to travel longer distances easily in any weather. More of a travel trailer, than a hard core four wheeling trailer. But I never camp at organized places like KOA. And I want to be entirely off-grid all the time. Nevada is perfect for this with its vast open spaces and limitless points of interest. Eastern California, Colorado, Utah and Arizona are also amazing.

You will really like having a tire pressure monitoring system. They are a must have for anyone doing serious distances with a "heavier" dual axle trailer or larger. In the past 11 years, the tire pressure monitors have saved our bacon three times.

 

[Raspy]

You will really like having a tire pressure monitoring system. They are a must have for anyone doing serious distances with a "heavier" dual axle trailer or larger. In the past 11 years, the tire pressure monitors have saved our bacon three times.

Wow. But I wish it had internal sensors like my truck has, so I could easily adjust the pressure.

 

[LabLover]

Raspy, wondering how you are liking your R1 so far? After a little over a year with a truck-based overlanding vehicle we think we are better suited for a tow vehicle-trailer combo. We are looking for significant but not crazy off-road capability, comfort, and quality—and considering the Roamer1 and the Kimberley T3. Interested in perspectives of anyone who has had one (or both).