Introduction November 2019 My "Trailer Research" Webpage started after ordering our 2019 Subaru Ascent, with Premium trim and the towing receiver hitch installed, in August of 2018. I continued to research possible travel trailers that could be "reasonably" and safely pulled by the Ascent with its maximum 5000 lb. towing capacity and maximum 500 lb. tongue weight. I shared my findings, online, through May 16 of 2019, the date that we purchased our Coachmen Apex Nano 187RB from Haylett RV in Coldwater, MI. This is a link to a LONG YouTube video with a lot of information, in minute detail, about OUR Apex Nano 187RB. This is a link a Webpage that compliments and extends the information in the video. The page contains much, much information, including more problems and fixes, regarding OUR Apex Nano 187RB. Learning what "reasonably" and safely actual meant was completed by investigating what "experts" had to say online about this topic. The information garnered during the investigation played a large part in our final decision. On this page, and its linked pages, I shared my findings. The Webpages were frequently updated online when new information was found or modified. We also had to determine if this was something that we really wanted to do once again. During the thought and research period, I joined the Ascent Forums. I became very active in the Towing Forum using the user name of Ken Myers. The members of the Towing Forum were exceptionally helpful and welcoming. I shared my thoughts with them and they, in return, provided a lot of useful information about towing with the Subaru Ascent. At the beginning of November, 2019, I created a Webpage titled, "Subaru Ascent Real World Towing Examples". That page contains all of the trailers that have been reported as being towed by a Subaru Ascent on the Ascent Forums. Most of that information was originally posted to the Towing Forum. ALL TYPES of trailers are listed on that Webpage, not just travel trailers. The "Subaru Ascent Real World Towing Examples" page is a good place to start to get an idea of the type of trailers that the Ascent is actually reported as towing. The information found on all of my Webpages is also useful for people with tow packages on the Chevy Traverse, Ford Explorer and other vehicles with tow packages and that are rated with a 5000 lb. towing capacity and 500 lb. tongue weight. The information on this page was left as is, so that anyone wanting more detailed information could still find it. It is also interesting to note that there are a few broken links, and yet the links were created only one year ago or less. That demonstrates how transient the information found on the World Wide Web actually is. The original, last updated, Webpage follows as an archival document. Trailer ResearchArranged by MY NEW Point System
The above link is to a useful guide that lists USA produced Travel Trailer Specifications by brand and year of production. It goes back several years and allows used trailer specifications to be found. To help narrow the decision on a possible new couple's travel trailer, a spreadsheet was created near the end of November, 2018. A point system was created on a spreadsheet to compare the various features of couple's travel trailers with either a Murphy bed or north/south oriented bed, as that is our personal preference. Point System Excel Spreadsheet The first section of the spreadsheet calculates a 'towability' value that is subtracted from the exterior and interior features and desires. The purpose of the point system is to derive a total point score to evaluate each of the trailers against one another. Twenty-six travel trailers, with Murphy or north/south beds, are compared. Robert Mauro's 2011 Heartland Edge is included for comparison purposes even though it has an east/west bed orientation. It was pulled by his 2019 Ascent Touring trim line. A Winnebago Micro Minnie was also added to the list, but it suffers from an east/west bed orientation, but has a tandem axle arrangement. The 'towability' value were adjust in the middle of February, 2019 to add a length factor to the values for the fontal area, weight of the trailer ready to go on a camping/travel trip, and tongue weight. The these factors create a towing impact value. The interior and exterior desires are shown on the spreadsheet. The final total point value is the sum of the 'exterior' and 'interior' points minus the 'towing impact' value. MY new total point value, shown in parentheses, follows the name of the trailer. There are no KZ-RV brand trailers in the list. I find their roofing suspect. The E181RB Escape, that I might have considered, has an Alum-a-Tough aluminum roof. The 2017 KZ Maintenance Manual, p. 12 notes, "Aluminum material is a smooth mill-finish requiring little care. Washing with soap and water plus rinsing should suffice. There is no hard substrate material underneath and aluminum, will show slight waves due to sun and heat causing expansion of the aluminum material." Having no hard substrate material underneath the aluminum is a problem for ME. January 12, 2019: Added links to local dealerships within 100 miles from my house.
They may, or may not carry the specific trailer The tools I used to locate a dealership
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8796 lb. 89% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Murphy bed, TV & solar panel included, ladder, walk on roof, grill included, Morryde steps, nice full across the bathroom with storage & medicine cabinet, good storage for a small trailer with drawers and silverware organizer, convection/microwave option, water purifier option, spare tire mounted under the trailer out of the sunlight, AZDEL used in construction, 3-burner stove w/cover, torsion axle suspension, shower surround w/caddy, a full size (AKA double) bed is 54" wide & 75" long so bedding for that size bed should work as the bed is 54" wide and 72" long (3" sort of a full size double bed), flip-up extension on counter, oven option (which we want), stabilizers on all four corners, solar panel standard, very firm, comfortable mattress tested at Novi RV Show, weight and length are well within range, aluminum framing under the bed in the pass through storage Cons: no range hood - but Maxxair fan should take care of that, spare tire not stored in good place for changing a flat along side a road, problematic single pedestal leg under center the dinette (I broke the table off the pedistal by leaning on it with my arms resting on it at an RV show) but the newest ones have single pedestal on outside of table and slots on wall on inside, grayish-whiteish "contemporary" cabinets Recalls
UPDATED 2019 Rockwood 19FD Geo Pro Murphy Bed Solar Equipped AZDEL Ultralite Carpetless Camper July 20, 2018 Noted as 2980 lb. dry Steps different from previous models, TV & solar panel included  Rockwood construction video created for Rockwood's marketing deptartment Identical Flagstaff construction video created for Rockwood's marketing deptartment - yes, Rockwood A 2019 Rockwood Factory Tour Doesn't appear to have been produced by Rockwood Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8890 lb. 90% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: tradem axle, torsion suspension, oven, campside dinette, ladder, weight and length are well within range Cons: east/west bed!, no kitchen prep space, no good place for coffee pot, seating to just watch TV is not optimal User Video of Bed Failure and Fix
This is not really considered but it is a dual axle trailer with a UVW of 2980 lb. It would have worked weight-wise, but the east/west bed was just not acceptable. The lowest weight Winnebago Micro Minnie with a north/south bed or Murphy bed is the 2106DS. Its UVW is 3705 lb., which is too heavy. Update 04/26/2019 Values changed to reflect the new GCVWR of 9673 lb, which may or may not be too low. New spreadsheet is "Apex187RBalt.xls". Note: This is placed before the Palomini 180FB because it has 2 more features, in Summit edition, than the 180FB. The loss of 0.1 point is due to it being 6" wider than the 180FB causing a higher frontal area factor. Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8738 lb. 88% of the new guesstimated GCVWR of 9,900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: decent across the back bathroom, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", double sink in kitchen, mirrors on shirt closet doors, pass through storage & storage under the bed, campside window at dinette, AZDEL used in wall construction, double door 6 cu.ft. refrigerator, pantry next to refrigerator, 4 stabilizer jacks, solar prep, about 200 lb. lighter than Palomini ready for towing and 4" shorter (Weight difference might be less if Apex has Summit trim), TV plugs on end of cabinet over the sink and faceing the front of the trailer, no slide Cons: TV placement is less than optimal, no TV shown, no over the stove vent, no drawer for silverware except on Summit trim - but the drawer is on the floor!, pull out 2 step entry NOT Morryde steps, 2-burner stove, no cover over stove burners, no shower surround, no backup camera prep, small sink area in bathroom, no oven option, 4" too long, no lift or holding devices for the under the bed storage Recalls
Forest River/PaloMini 180FB
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8971 lb. 91% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
180 FB Pros: decent across the rear bathroom, shower surround, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", lots of storage, nice looking interior, front windshield, mirrors on front hanging closet doors, pretty good refrigerator/freezer, torsion axle suspension, Nitro filled tires, very large campside window by dinette, window in door and passenger side front, shower surround, nice vanity, medicine cabinet and nice storage in bathroom, fiberglass exterior, TV mount goes on wall by bathroom door, the 2019 has steps that look like MORryde type, backup camera & solar prep, weight okay Cons: heavier than some, 2-burner stove with no cover, small doors on pass through storage, the dinette table could be a potential problem, NO OVEN OPTION, rubber roof, 4" too long, no convection microwave option, seating to just watch TV is not optimal, only one small sink which is giving better prep space than Apex Nano 187 Recalls
That is not the outside of the 180FB showing on the video before it starts. Door is more toward the front on the 180FB Forest River RV/Rockwood Mini Lite 1905 (13.2 points)
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9276 lb. 94% GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: First Murphy bed I found, very full featured
Forest River/PaloMini 181FBS (12.6 points)
Note 1: The weights on the Palominorv Website are considerably heavier than those listed on the National RV Detroit and Price Right Dewitt Websites. This trailer MIGHT end up considerably lighter than the data used to calculate it. Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9091 lb. 92% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
Pros: slide out sofa, decent bathroom, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", mirrored shirt closets, walkable roof, torsion axles, 4 stabilizer jacks, front windshield, single door frig/freezer 5 cu.ft., backup and solar prep, drawers in kitchen, shower surround, sofa good for watching TV, Cons: 2-step fold under the trailer type not MORryde, 2-burner stove w/no cover, not a two door refrigerator, but still okay, not as much storage as the Apex Nano 191RBS, no real pantry, NO OVEN OPTION AVAILABLE, 8" too long, close to 4000 lb. when loaded and ready to go on the road, sofa would require TV trays to be practical Recalls
181 FBS I keep finding a UVW of 3034 for this unit. If true, could be a good one. In another video he says, "weighs in under 3300 lb.". The video Finally found video showing where TV goes. It mounts on the bed side of the pantry
Travel Lite Falcon F-23RB GT (17 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9112 lb. 92% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: 4 stabilizer jacks, dinette in slide, solar prep, tandem axle, nice looking cabinetry with glass doors, 2-door frig, Cons: Only one campside window by the bed, the hood vent & frig are on the campside, not a lot of windows, 1' 9" too long, loaded weight for trip close to 4000 lb., no really good place to just sit and watch TV, very close to 4000 lb. when loaded and ready to go camping Sunset Park/Sun-Lite 21WQB (11.4 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9152 lb. 92% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
 Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
This showing the slide option on the 21WQBS. Without sidle it is the 21WQB. Pros: decent across the back bathroom, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", double sink in kitchen, pass through storage & storage under the bed, double door 7 cu.ft. refrigerator, 4 stabilizer jacks, solar prep, back up prep, oven is 13" deep and 17" wide Cons: too long, very close to 4000 lb. loaded and ready for travel, siding hard to keep clean This is 21 WQBS w/slide, not WQB without slide Jayco/Hummingbird 17MBS (11.2 points) Dealerships Within 100 Miles
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8764 lb. 89% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: front pass through storage, power awning w/remote, Murphy bed w/unique bifold that allows bed to stay made, 32" TV standard, covered 2 burner stove, overall good storage, good storage in bathroom, small slide, Dexter torsion bar suspension, backup camera and solar prep, 4 stabilizers, good length, weight is good, one piece fiberglass roof, Cons: no dinette, no sink in bathroom, pass through storage is small and narrow, 2 step fold under steps, not MORride, very small frig, small kitchen sink, same UVW at Geo Pro 19FD without the room and connivence, not molded counter tops Prolite Supreme (9.5 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8657 lb. 87% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Excellent layout for a couple, tandem/dual axle, this really does have it all including a wine cooler for the wife's wine, two small slideouts, kitchen island, includes 19" TV, on-demand water heater, table folds up in front of sofa for eating, Cons: Price: $45,900 on linked Website, where is battery?, no stone guard on lower front, no solar or backup camera prep
Forest River/Coachmen Apex Nano 189RBS (9 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9169 lb. 93% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: dual sink in kitchen, sofa on slide, AZDEL, laminated walk on roof, 4 stabilizer jacks, double door refrigerator/freezer, solar & backup camera prep, window in door, pretty good storage, TV should be in good place for sofa and bed view, shower surround, good size pass through storage, good kitchen prep counter top Cons: 2 foldunder steps - Not MORryde type, no oven option, only uncovered 2 burner stove, bathroom not all the way across the rear, Recalls
Dealers as noted for other Apex Nano trailers Thor/Dutchman/Aspen Trail 1800RB
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8902 lb. 90% GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: decent rear bathroom w/some storage, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", range hood, 3 burner stove w/oven, 60/40 double sink, front & rear stabilizer jacks, lots of kitchen prep space
Forest River/Coachmen Apex Nano 191RBS, Summit trim (7 points) Updated Info: 04/26/2019 Used my new "Apex191RBSalt.xls " spreadsheet for the new values below. Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9153 lb. 95% of guesstimated GCVWR (was 92% when using 9,900 as GCVWR) of 9673 lb. (new GCVWR based on my latest info of how to calculate it.)
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: decent across the back bathroom, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", double sink in kitchen, mirrors on shirt closet doors, pass through storage & storage under the bed, AZDEL used in wall construction, double door 6 cu.ft. refrigerator, 4 stabilizer jacks, solar prep, about 200 lb., window in door, pretty good storage, front windshield Cons: TV placement is less than optimal, TV plugs on end of cabinet over the sink and faceing the front of the trailer, no TV shown, no over the stove vent, the silverware drawer is on the floor!, pull out 2 step entry NOT Morryde steps, 2-burner range, no cover over stove burners, no shower surround, no backup camera prep, small sink area in bathroom, no oven option, 10" too long, no lift or holding devices for the under the bed storage, slide Recalls
This is Haylett video for 2020 Summit version. Keystone Bullet Crossfire 1800RD (6.5 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9132 lb. 92% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Weight note: I found 3290 lb. as the weight at A & S and heard 3200 lb. in a video. Pros: Mirrors on front closet doors, Murphy bed/jackknife sofa, large double kitchen sink, pass through storage, 4 stabilizers, covered 2-burner stove, lots of storage including some pull out drawers for silverware, 7 cu.ft. frig, very nice bathroom w/medicine cabinet and lots of storage, campside dinette, aluminum framing under the bed through the top of the pass through storage, Cons: trifold Murphy bed, No rear camera prep, regular 2-step entry not MORryde, Microwave not noted as convection as well, TV in center of cabinet area over the dinette, TPO rubberized roof, no passenger side front window, it appears that none of these 1800RDs are equipped with an oven. Recalls
Forest River/Cherokee Wolf Pup 16FQ (6.3 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8871 lb. 90% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
Note: The new ones have a round kitchen sink. It is placed farther to the right and there is not as much kitchen counter space. Pros: full across the back bathroom, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", HUGE campside window, campside 2 pedestal dinette, 2-door full 6 cu.ft. frig/freezer, MORryde-like steps, 4 corner jacks, comes with valve stem air pressure caps, full walk on roof, aluminum nose sweep over stone guard, good kitchen counter top space (but not in the new ones), shower surround, TV mounts on wall near bathroom door, backup camera ready (did not see that on newest video), solar prep, shirt closets are angled, stove vent, Cons: aluminum siding, no window in door, no silverware drawer, no medicine cabinet, no front window, not pass through storage (water heater on other side), 2-burner stove with no cover (Note: the new ones do have a cover.), no skylight over the shower, only four windows total Recalls
03/10/19 The following videos show differences and they don't even match the Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16FQ Features page. This video dated Feb. 21, 2019 shows medicine cabinet with 'icky' inside door and skylight over shower. It has no backup prep. The place this was videoed is in California. This video date March 8, 2019 shows a round sink towards the right of the counter, less counter space, no skylight over the shower, and no back up prep, and no medicine cabinet. The video was made in Wisconsin.  Forest River/Coachmen Clipper/Viking 17FQS (5.4 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9176 lb. 93% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: 2-door refrigerator/freezer in newer versions, 4 stabilizer jacks, front window, dinette in slide, solar prep Cons: Murphy bed option appears to be a unicorn, 2-step fold under steps - not MORryde, very low cargo carrying capacity (CCD)/payload, no back up camera prep, 2-burner stove no cover, very little prep area in kitchen, no drawers in kitchen area Recalls
Forest River/Wildwood FSX 187RB (5.1 points)
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8935 lb. 90% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: TV looks to be in a good place & is shown in video, nice looking across the rear bathroom with storage, no fold mattress Murphy bed, a lot of counter space, MORryde-like steps, campside dinette, good storage for a small trailer, shower surround, 4 stabilizing jacks on Select (FXS) version, backup & solar prep, Cons: Aluminum hard to keep clean from black streaks, small refrigerator (truck camper style), no front passenger side window or window in door, 2-burner stove with no cover, no convection/microwave option, doesn't mention if roof is walkable for maintenance, spare tire mounted on back of luggage rack on back of trailer, roof seems problematic, no medicine cabinet, gas only water heater, very poor feature information on Website, saw Wildwood factory tour video which was unimpressive
Recalls
This is a Wildwood version TV placement shown in this video This is a select model only built once a year.
The Roofing IS a Huge Problem! I found a company that re-roofs RVs on December 1, 2018. It is RV Roof Install in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Their Website has a lot of useful information about roofing on many types of RVs. Rv roof replacement and repair wildwood 2014 Prolite Classic (4.9 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8282 lb. 84% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Sort of a bifold Murphy Bed, lightest and narrowest of all, outside shower, Maxxair type vent fan Cons: bifold Murphy Bed, small, 4.5 cu.ft., combined refrigerator/freezer, no mirror in bathroom, bathroom sink faucets control shower, no shower surround, TV placement unknown and doesn't looked to be prepared for TV at all, small dinette table 26" x 64", kitchen sink not very large, no back-up camera prep, no mention of walk on roof 2011 Heartland Edge M18 (tandem axle) (4.3 points)
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8950 lb. 90% GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from linked Website:
 Pros: tandem/dual axle, wardrobe, pantry, slide out, extremely light for a tandem/dual axle trailer of this size, could possibly sleep four with fold down bed over the master bed
This is here for comparative purposes because the owner of a 2019 Ascent Touring has reported towing this trailer. The trailer weight, ready to go camping value, uses my estimated weights, not what Robert thought his might weight. Also known as the Gulf Stream Capri 189DD Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8808 lb. 89% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Lists TV hook-ups in a decent place, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", lots of kitchen counter space, really nice bathroom all the way across the back, backup camera prep, 6 cu.ft. 2-door refrigerator, kitchen drawers, medicine cabinet and some good counter space in the bathroom
There are only two videos on YouTube pertaining to this trailer, and they are not from my favorite sources. It looks like the Gulf Stream Capri is the same unit with a more retro look. Gulf Stream Vista/Vintage Cruiser 19ERD (2.8 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9209 lb. 93% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Intersting floor plan, double sink in kitchen, unique split bathroom set up, door will close between bathroom/sleeping area and dining area, 3 burners covered w/oven option, nice refrigerator, shower surround, spare tire under bed, good storage space at head of bed, 2-door 6 cu.ft. frig/freezer, AZDEL vacuum bonded, solar & backup camera ready, interesting rear dinette Cons: Noted weight is way over the stated UVW, TV mount is by the door facing the dinette but has second mount in bedroom for second TV, questionable quality (see personal use video below), counters and table are not solid surface and allow for water penetration, Recalls
Video notes UVW as 3397 lb. This is a 2017, posted March 21, 2017 Personal use review of the Vintage version showing some quality control issues with a Vista/Vintage Cruiser. Gulf Stream Vintage/Vista Cruiser 19MBS (2.6 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9275 lb. 94% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Murphy bed, full across bathroom, good TV placement, really nice layout, 3-burner stove w/oven option, windows on both sides of sleeping area, shower surround with a door not curtain, the design, layout & storage are all very good, AZDEL laminated roof and walls, backup camera & solar prep, double kitchen sink, two pullout drawers, overall good storage Cons: Not true walk-around bed, looks like the floor is OSB not plywood, trifold Murphy Bed, no cover over stove burners, counters and table are not solid surface and allow for water penetration,
This is the Vista Cruiser 19MBS January 2018 Video notes 7' wide, but it is 90" or 7' 6" wide
Personal use review of the Vintage version showing some quality control issues with a Vista/Vintage Cruiser. KZRV/Venture Sonic SN190VRB (1.5 points) Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9532 lb. 96% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: tandem/dual axle, Murphy bed Cons: bifold Murphy bed, weight Recalls
Forest River/Prime Time Manufacturing Navi 16FQ (0.7 points)
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8638 lb. 87% guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Campside dinette, full bath across the back, possible TV placement looks good, 7.4 ft. wide, walkable TPO rubber roof, solar & backup camera prep, 6 cu.ft. refrigerator, good counter space in kitchen, pullout drawers in kitchen Cons: aluminum siding is hard to keep clean and to clean, no shirt closet(s), doesn't appear to be a lot of storage, only two rear stabilizer jacks, expect the PTX to be heavier, Navi can be found at General Trailer, no MORryde steps, one pullout step, may or may not be the lightest as I could not find a weight as delivered to a Dealership UVW, no convection/Microwave option noted, PTX version also has walkable TPO roof, no front window, only 2 rear stabilizer jacks - no front jacks, 2-burner stove w/no burner cover Recalls
Forest River/Prime Time Manufacturing PTX 160FQ (0.6 points) This the fiberglass version of the Prime Time Manufacturing Navi 160FQ Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8683 lb. 88% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
This is a repeat of the Navi 160FQ as it is the same Pros: Campside dinette, full bath across the back, possible TV placement looks good, 7.4 ft. wide, laminated walkable roof, solar & backup camera prep, 6 cu.ft. refrigerator, good counter space in kitchen, pullout drawers in kitchen Cons: no shirt closet(s), doesn't appear to be a lot of storage, only two rear stabilizing jacks, expect the PTX to be heavier, Navi can be found at General Trailer, no MORryde steps, one pullout step, may or may not be the lightest as I could not find a weight as delivered to a Dealership UVW, no convection/Microwave option noted, PTX version also has walkable TPO roof, no front window, only 2 rear stabilizer jacks - no front jacks, 2-burner stove w/no burner cover Recalls
Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 8689 lb. 88% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: Good kitchen counter space, north/south "travel trailer queen bed", campside dinette, front window, 2 Warranty, rear bumper has tube for sewer hose, full walk on roof, large storage closet back by bathroom Cons: aluminum sided, smaller 8K A/C mounted on the side of the trailer, TV area on the space on the kitchen counter, NO BATHROOM SINK, no window in the door at the rear of the trailer, one pullout step, small - 3 cu.ft. refrigerator, only 2 rear stabilizer jacks and no front jacks, no solar or backup prep, no drawer in kitchen, no MORryde steps! Recalls
Jayco Jay Flight 195RB Coachmen Apex Nano 213RDS (-1.4 points) I fell in love with the floor plan and features of the Coachmen Apex Nano 213RDS. It is the first trailer that I spent considerable time with trying to figure out if the Ascent could actually pull it. It has a dual axle, which, subjectively, pulls better than a single axle travel trailer. I noted that it had a delivered weight of 3806 lb. At that time I did not know that weight did not include the weight of a battery and propane in the propane tank. At the time I was investigating this trailer, I had not realized that I should be looking for travel trailers with an unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) of around 3000 lb., give or take a little, and with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of about 4000 lb. 4000 lb. is 80% of the Ascent's stated towing capacity of 5000 lb. Unfortunately, this could be a great 'couple's coach' when pulled behind a 1/2-ton truck that is equipped with a towing package, but not a Subaru Ascent. Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9499 lb. 96% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: AZDEL in sidewalls, dual axle, 2 door frig & freezer, drawer in kitchen, solar & backup prep, front windshield on Summit edition, lots of storage, dinette and sofa convert to kids sleeping areas, medicine cabinet, mirrored doors on shirt closet, doesn't note walkable roof but since it is laminated it probably is Cons: 2 burner stove w/no cover, no range hood, no shower surround Video notes UVW as 3850 lb. Note: I spent a lot of time collecting many more YouTube videos about this trailer. I was extremely enamored with everything about it. Unfortunately, it was all for naught. While researching this trailer, I first learned about the use of AZDEL in some fiberglass coach construction. I left the following company produced video as a reference and reminder. This is the Coachmen video regarding their construction. I found it informative, but whether it is truthful at all is questionable. In MY opinion, ALL of the manufacturer's lie. It is endemic to the industry. Combined Fully Loaded Weight (My Ascent Premium & trailer) 9296 lb. 94% of guesstimated GCVWR of 9900 lb.
Important Specs from Mfg. Website:
 Pros: back-up camera prep, campside dinette w/large window, mirrored front shirt closets, Murphy bed is true queen size 60" x 80", kitchen drawers, good storage, great rear bath with lots of storage and mirrors, medicine cabinet, 60/40 kitchen sink, drawer in kitchen, double door refrigerator/freezer, good storage in bathroom
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