New Visa model

[brains77396]

I was just browsing the GS website and ran across a new Visa model. Shaped like the single axle models, but is three feet longer and has dual axle's. Slide-out on the road side with a sofa. Nice looking trailer. About 5oo lbs more than the smaller version. I want one. :P

[Doctor Debit]

I'm picking mine up Thursday (Cincinnati) and trying it out this weekend. We originally planned to buy a 19ERD, but by the time ours came in, the 23's were shipping so we switched our order. I'll put something up when I have some experience with it.

[brains77396]

I'm picking mine up Thursday (Cincinnati) and trying it out this weekend. We originally planned to buy a 19ERD, but by the time ours came in, the 23's were shipping so we switched our order. I'll put something up when I have some experience with it.


Looking forward to that report. I don't know if my Nissan Frontier will pull it or not. Rated at 261 HP and a 6300 lb tow rate. If not, back to the 19ERD for me. Have not been able to find much info on the 23's. Nothing on the site where you are purchasing yours. Maybe I should call Keith and speak to him about it.

[Doctor Debit]

Well, we just got back from the maiden voyage. This camper is everything we hoped for. All systems performed flawlessly. Workmanship is excellent. Our only prior travel trailer was a KZ hybrid, which was OK, but the Visa is a definite bump up in quality.

Loads of nice features like good size fridge, and a media center that would make a computer geek drool. We saw some conflicting numbers, but the official documentation shows a dry weight of a little over 3600. Hitch weight is 370. The 19ERD would have done what we needed, but the 23 gives us a little more room and the ability to lounge around or have another couple over.

We towed with my son's half ton GMC, since we decided not to try it with the Explorer. Not that the Explorer couldn't pull it, but ours is getting a little old, and we are going to get a Honda Ridgeline in a few weeks. If your vehicle is rated at 6300, you should have no problems.

[brains77396]

Thanks Doctor D. Looks like we may move up to the 25 as my wife likes it. For some strange reason she get 17 votes to everyone else's one. :roll:

[Doctor Debit]

Yup, thats the way it seems to work :wink:

A couple of areas you will want to upgrade right away though:

1. Mattress is pretty thin. A really good topper would be in order.

2. You should consider installing a retractable awning over the slide. The mechanic that did our walkaround highly recommended it, and I concur. It will save you lots of trouble later on.

All in all, I still give the unit an A+ :D :D :D

[j233]

We towed with my son's half ton GMC, since we decided not to try it with the Explorer. Not that the Explorer couldn't pull it, but ours is getting a little old, and we are going to get a Honda Ridgeline in a few weeks. If your vehicle is rated at 6300, you should have no problems.

Doc D, how was the towing experience ? Stability, mileage ? Do you really feel the difference of the shape of the trailer and that it sits low ?

J233

[frog60]

Brains, we currently own the 19 Visa RSD and tow it easily with our 07 Frontier. We are going to upgrade to the 23 RBK next week and will also be towing it with our Frontier. I'll let you know how it works out.

[frog60]

OK-we got our new Visa 23. The layout with the slide is much nicer than the Visa 19. We had them put the awning over the slide-good thing cause it rained quite a bit while we were in Mo.
We drove from Branson to Albuquerque towing with our 07 frontier. The Frontier has enough power and certainly is well within it's stated tow capacity. A little slow up hills but I kept it at 65 most of the way. I averaged about 11mpg. No overheating even though temps were in the 90s. I ran into quite a bit of sway, especially when being passed by trucks. After doing some experimenting I discovered that it is much more stable with the fresh water tank completely full. The water tank is in front of the axles so it seemed to balance the TT better and eliminated 90% of the sway. It does add more weight but well worth it. You absolutely must have an equalizer hitch and at least one sway bar. The Frontier will do the job but I will probably get a larger truck for safety and peace of mind.

[DonMitsu]

Even on our 19RSD we noticed a tendency towards sway on the highway, but adding and equalizer hitch makes all the difference! Our last trip I passed an 18 wheeler and got up over 80 MPH and the trailer felt rock solid behind me. The water tank is probably a good idea, but then you have to haul the extra weight.

[frog60]

We took our Gulf Stream 23 to Pagosa Springs, Co last week and had a great time. Towing was a breeze. No crowds and nice weather. However, the nights cooled down to the teens and the heater ran all night and could only get the temp in the trailer up to 65. I'll contact the dealer and see what they say.

[KJRitch]

Checked out a new Visa ERD today. Nice trailer but the mattress is very poor. Very thin. For the price of these trailers a real mattress should be included. Can this mattress be replaced? I noticed it was barely over 6 feet so maybe its a proprietary size? The storage under the bed doesn't have any pneumatic supports and the spare tire was there. Is that really where the spare is supposed to be stored?


If you are camping where the temperatures in the teens then 65 shoulds good with only a 20k btu furnace to keep the temperatures up. Doesn't sound like there is anything wrong.

Kelvin

[frog60]

We got the upgraded matress in ours-very comfortable. The dealer included it in the price. The standard mattress is like you said, a thin piece of foam. The spare is under the bed on both the 19 & 23 but in the 23 it is sunk down so you can store stuff on top. Lifters would be nice for the bed.

[DonMitsu]

Congrats on your new TT. We just got a mattress topper from WalMart which seems to work well

[mediaman]

Checked out a new Visa ERD today. Nice trailer but the mattress is very poor. Very thin. For the price of these trailers a real mattress should be included. Can this mattress be replaced? I noticed it was barely over 6 feet so maybe its a proprietary size? The storage under the bed doesn't have any pneumatic supports and the spare tire was there. Is that really where the spare is supposed to be stored?


If you are camping where the temperatures in the teens then 65 shoulds good with only a 20k btu furnace to keep the temperatures up. Doesn't sound like there is anything wrong.

Kelvin

The ERD I looked at had the spare in a well under the bed with a carpet board as a covering. This allows you to use all the space under the bed except for where the water tank is located. Don't all Visa trailers have the tire well?

[w2kim]

Checked out a new Visa ERD today. Nice trailer but the mattress is very poor. Very thin. For the price of these trailers a real mattress should be included. Can this mattress be replaced? I noticed it was barely over 6 feet so maybe its a proprietary size? The storage under the bed doesn't have any pneumatic supports and the spare tire was there. Is that really where the spare is supposed to be stored?


If you are camping where the temperatures in the teens then 65 shoulds good with only a 20k btu furnace to keep the temperatures up. Doesn't sound like there is anything wrong.

Kelvin

The ERD I looked at had the spare in a well under the bed with a carpet board as a covering. This allows you to use all the space under the bed except for where the water tank is located. Don't all Visa trailers have the tire well?


We attended the RV Show in Greensboro, NC today. We currently have a 1997 27ft Sunline TT. We were looking mostly at the ultra-lite TT's and were especially attracted to the Visa. The model that was on display was the 19RGU and there was no well for the spare. However, the Gulfstream National Sales Mgr - Ultra Lite Div was there and he mentioned that the current models do have the well.

[mediaman]

Thanks for the confimation on the well for the spare tire. Did you learn anything else about the Visa from the sales manager?

[w2kim]

Thanks for the confimation on the well for the spare tire. Did you learn anything else about the Visa from the sales manager?

He answered a few specific questions I had and also commented on their marketing strategy in view of the economy and high fuel prices. Also, described their manufacturing facility .... etc.
His name is Steve Jacobs and his title is "National Sales Manager - Ultra Lite Division". His e-mail is [email protected].
His phone number is 800.289.8787 ext. 5146 and cell is 574.320.2308.
He was most helpful and not at all pushy. I am sure he would welcome any questions that you might have.

[brains77396]

Wanted to buy a Visa last year and called one of the discount dealears in Ohio twice to tell them I would take the ERD. No reply. My thought was if they did not want to talk to me before the sale, they sure wouldn't after the sale. Purchased a Heartland MPG 183 instead. Two week vacation and it quickly became apparent that sleeping where I just finished eating was for the birds. Took my son up to Texas A & M and on the way, saw a lot with several Visa's sitting there. To make a long story short, we picked up our new 23RBK this last Monday :D . Spent most of the week moving in and attaching tp, papertowel, knife , clocks and the wife's shower curtain with butterfly print (must have item). Pulling our MPG with our Frontier we got 13.5 MPG. Pulled the GS home with our Titan and got it up to 13.2 MPG. Using a sway bar, but no WDH, yet.

[DonMitsu]

Congratulations on the new TT! And on your son going to A&M!

Gig 'Em

Don

[brains77396]

Thanks Don. He is going to A & M on a NROTC scholarship. My GS dealer started carrying the Visa line about two weeks after we bought the MPG. I wanted the 19ERD but my wife outvoted me. Haven't been out in it yet, but so far, we are pleased. Also like the 3,502lb weight.

[hannah1]

Congrats on your new TT... Enjoy that.. :D

[frog60]

I haven't visited this sight for a while. I'm glad to see a lot of positve remarks about the Visa23. Ours is great although the water pump went out last fall. Got it replaced under warrenty.
I attached a picture of ours also with my Frontier tow vehicle. About to get underway to the grand Canyon.

[brains77396]

Just returned from our maiden voyage in our 23-RBK. We are not very happy campers :x . Leak where the cold water goes into the hot water heater, and another leak under the right sink. The third and worst problem is the fridge door will not lock. Stopped at a Wal-Mart about 10 miles from home and noticed milk dripping from every corner of the trailer. We don't know how long it going to get the spilled milk smell from inside the trailer. We finished the trip to the state park and back home with the door taped shut with duct tape. Other than water and milk everywhere, not a bad trip :roll: .

[brains77396]

I hope your Frontier pulls your 23 ft'er better than our Titan pulls ours. Haven't tried pulling it with our Frontier, but it did pull our Heartland MPG (2,700 lbs) fairly well.

I haven't visited this sight for a while. I'm glad to see a lot of positive remarks about the Visa23. Ours is great although the water pump went out last fall. Got it replaced under warranty.
I attached a picture of ours also with my Frontier tow vehicle. About to get underway to the grand Canyon.

[frog60]

Brains,

It pulls it OK. I would think that the Titan would do better with a larger engine & wheelbase. The big problem I have is with the small gas tank. I have to start looking for gas after about 125 miles.

http://www.gsowners.com/attachments/photobucket/img_13886_209fe92c3fb6538234e2e696a38f85a7.jpg

[frog60]

Just returned from our maiden voyage in our 23-RBK. We are not very happy campers :x . Leak where the cold water goes into the hot water heater, and another leak under the right sink. The third and worst problem is the fridge door will not lock. Stopped at a Wal-Mart about 10 miles from home and noticed milk dripping from every corner of the trailer. We don't know how long it going to get the spilled milk smell from inside the trailer. We finished the trip to the state park and back home with the door taped shut with duct tape. Other than water and milk everywhere, not a bad trip :roll: .
Wow-sorry to hear about your TT problems. Reminds me of a time a few years ago when we accidently camped on an ant nest. We had ants in everything!!
As I'm sure you know-but others may not (I didn't until I read the manual)-the fridge door latch has a two position tab. I think up is locked-for travel and down is unlocked-for camping. Another feature is located on the fridge side of the latch which keeps the door slightly ajar when not in use.(very handy)
Sounds like some shoddy workmanship on the the water lines but should be covered under warranty.

[DonMitsu]

Just returned from our maiden voyage in our 23-RBK. We are not very happy campers :x . Leak where the cold water goes into the hot water heater, and another leak under the right sink. The third and worst problem is the fridge door will not lock. Stopped at a Wal-Mart about 10 miles from home and noticed milk dripping from every corner of the trailer. We don't know how long it going to get the spilled milk smell from inside the trailer. We finished the trip to the state park and back home with the door taped shut with duct tape. Other than water and milk everywhere, not a bad trip :roll: .

Tough trip! Keep us posted on your service experience, I would think the dealer would give it a comprehensive inspection with multiple water leaks. I hate to hear about your maiden voyage, hope yu can have fun on your next one and don't have to worry about any trailer issues.

[brains77396]

Up is for camping. Down allows the latch to fall all the way down, locking the door, or at least in theory. The door may just need to be adjusted, if it can be adjusted. Either way it is going back to the dealer this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Either that or travel with a dozen cats. The good news is that when the spare ribs fell out, the plastic container they were in did not open. For those that are into the high math, I can vouch that a gallon of Kroger's milk will cover the floor of a 23 ft travel trailer. Save you some pencil lead. :lol:

[jandmz]

Up is for camping. Down allows the latch to fall all the way down, locking the door, or at least in theory. ...EDIT... For those that are into the high math, I can vouch that a gallon of Kroger's milk will cover the floor of a 23 ft travel trailer. Save you some pencil lead. :lol:

On our first 23RBK trip, the first turn out of the street dumped the refrigerator. Fortunately, thanks to boxes of soft stuff on the floor under the fridge, nothing broke open. The two way latch in the "travel position" still will not hold the door shut when a gallon of milk, two 2 liter pop bottles and a half gallon of OJ all hit the door at once. We have a couple of spring tension curtain rods that we have been using to hold things in place. So far, its working pretty well.

[brains77396]

It's going to the RV doctor tomorrow. I'll let them fiddle with it but will try your method. There seems to be a serious design flaw in the fridge. I may drop Dometic a line or call and get their input. Good to know that I'm not the only one with this little problem.

[brains77396]

Got my Visa to the Dr's office today. We went into three other Visa's they had on the lot. On none of them could the Service Manager pull the door open. I'm just lucky I guess. I'll update as soon as they find a cure. They also sold a 19RGU this morning.

[jandmz]

_EDIT_
We went into three other Visa's they had on the lot. On none of them could the Service Manager pull the door open. I'm just lucky I guess. I'll update as soon as they find a cure. _EDIT_

I'll add that to the list. Ours goes in Saturday for "warranty issues".

So far- The CO alarm sounds when the water heater runs for a while (not good)
The slide makes a funny noise, and we are finding wood chips and metal shavings on the floor
The bathroom door doesn't latch
The refrigerator door doesn't latch

We'll see what they do about it...

[tinapetel]

We have never had our refrigerator door open in our Vista ERD because we never trusted it to stay closed from Day 1. We have always stretched a bungee from the shower across the fridge to the knob on the cupboard over the TV. This also keeps the cupboard door closed when traveling.

[brains77396]

My dealers service writer went out and gave some very healthy pulls on three fridge doors. None would open. Seems like some work, some don't. There has to be some sort of design, manufacturing or door alignment flaw involved.

[KristinU]

Are any of you 23 owners using BAL X Chocks? The standard/original version expands to 10", and a new extended version expands to 17"...I'm wondering if the stance between the dual axles is too wide for the originals. I'm working on my wish list of goodies for our on-order 23BHD :)

Thanks!
Kristin

[brains77396]

Received a call from my RV hospital saying my Visa has been cured. Will pick up tomorrow. Was to pick up today but the better half went for a root canal. I will see if I can find out how they repaired the fridge door since a couple more have had the "Door won't latch, comes open, spills contents" problem.

My dealers service writer went out and gave some very healthy pulls on three fridge doors. None would open. Seems like some work, some don't. There has to be some sort of design, manufacturing or door alignment flaw involved.

[brains77396]

I'll measure my 23=RBK tomorrow and post the results for you. I use four of the plastic wheel chocks. TRICK. Place the two front chocks, Pull forward a couple of inches, Place rear chocks, let it roll back. Should be a nice tight fit with no rolling. Lower the 4 jacks, steady as a rock. Send me the money you saved. :)

Are any of you 23 owners using BAL X Chocks? The standard/original version expands to 10", and a new extended version expands to 17"...I'm wondering if the stance between the dual axles is too wide for the originals. I'm working on my wish list of goodies for our on-order 23BHD :)

Thanks!
Kristin

[KristinU]

I'll measure my 23=RBK tomorrow and post the results for you. I use four of the plastic wheel ckocks. TRICK. Place the two front chocks, Pull forward a couple of inches, Place rear chocks, let it roll back. Should be a nice tight fit with no rolling. Lower the 4 jacks, steady as a rock. Send me the money you saved. :)

Are any of you 23 owners using BAL X Chocks? The standard/original version expands to 10", and a new extended version expands to 17"...I'm wondering if the stance between the dual axles is too wide for the originals. I'm working on my wish list of goodies for our on-order 23BHD :)

Thanks!
Kristin

Cool, thanks Brains77396! What about when you have to level side to side? How are you chocking that raised side? Or maybe you camp at nice level sites? We've been using a BAL single axle leveler on our pop-up (and love it), which also serves to chock on that side. Now that we'll need to go with boards or Lynx to level the dual axle we'll need to get the Lynx stop & chocks or something to use to chock that raised side...which is why I'm leaning toward the X chocks.

Cheers,
Kristin

[brains77396]

Weekend before last, we ran the left side up on the Lynx blocks. Chocked the right side, front and rear tire. Put the jacks down. We had no problem for the weekend. You mileage may vary. Parked in my drive, I chock all four tires in the front, let it roll forward until tight. When hooking up to leave, have to back up a little to remove the chocks.

[brains77396]

Kristen, from back of tire to front of tire is 7 inches. You will not need the oversize unit.

[brains77396]

Got to the RV doctor this morning and was told, "Every-things fine". The service manager proceeded to show how well the fridge door lock. Open close, open close, 5 times. Not latching, which is why I took it in. Hook up, pull around to bay 2. Tech comes out, yep, it's fixed. Same problem. Well, I took the latch off and moved it forward and it worked last week. This week doesn't count I guess. He then sprayed some silicon lube on the latch that goes up and down, and WOW, it now latches. No wonder the labor charge is $115 per hour.

[KristinU]

Thanks for the measurement, Brains! We do a lot of state park camping out here in New England, so I think the security of the X chock would make me feel better if the tires are a few inches off the ground...especially if the cheaper original model will work.

And aw man on your RV doctor visit....ugh!

[brains77396]

I installed our stove cover. Makes more counter space when not cooking. Comes in black, white or stainless steel. When open, splatter shields can be opened or left closed. $47.00 for the SS unit.

[KristinU]

Ooh, that looks nice! is it hinged?

On the topic of the kitchen...the faucet doesn't seem to reach to the second bowl of the sink, do you find this to be an issue or no?

[brains77396]

Yes, it is hinged. when open, two shields open (if wanted) to serve as splatter shields like on a Coleman gas grill. If any of you want one, look at your owners manual for the stove and there is an order form there. The black and white units go for $45 each. It is attached with four screws through the hinge. I ordered the SS and even though it will also scratch, it won't rust afterward. The faucet reaches the sink, not by much, but it does reach.

[KristinU]

Oh, I get it now...very cool...great, something else for my wish list! :lol: And thanks for the info on the faucet.