Towing went fine.  TV has plenty of power and handling was smooth.  My rig has the lift kit and seems to be close to level with my hitch having about an inch or two of rise.  I do not have a brake controller installed yet -- one is on order.  The TV brakes did a great job with normal driving.  4 wheel disks handle braking well.  I still want the controller.  Even when I had my 36' DP with Air Brakes, I still connected an air line to my toad, and it saved my bacon one day when a little Miata jumped in front of me one day, then hit the brakes to not mis an exit...   He got full braking but he also got full air horn.

 

I seem to remember feeling my Coleman popup more than I feel this.  May be the softening of memories due to the passage of time.  According to my TV fuel consumption computer, I am getting around 11 or 12 MPG if I don't go much past 60/65.  However it did 75 on open Interstate with no trouble (I was just testing... !).

 

My dealer experience was typical or a little better.  The people at PawPaw's Camper City are doing a lot of business now due to the very warm winter we are having.  Early cases of spring fever are rampant.

 

After going to the weigh station, and getting my new tag, I went to a local BBQ joint here (ShoNuff) and parked it in an open area.  I soon had a couple of people walking over for a closer look..  I guess some of you experience this.   My next stop was WalMart.  I measured some openings and got some plastic boxes with lids to slide under.   Had, more comments from people in the WM parking lot. I am not sure how much I can post, so I will break this into another post.

 

From Walmart, I went home and backed into my barn.   This was the former home of my 36' DP so the 14x14 doors made that an easy task.  DW was at work so I did not have any parking help. 

 

I used my cordless drill to set up the stablizers after weighing the tongue.  The drill makes it easy, especially using my Lynx Levelers -- Reduces cranking. 

 

At Walmart, I had purchsed a dogbone to drop my 50amp former MH connection down to 30amp.  I plugged it in and went inside to inspect closely with a little quiet.   The first thing I noticed was that I could not sit on the front dinette due to microwave/convection oven carton being left there, and the table was down in travel position.  I threw out the box and unstraped the table.  WOW.... I cannot believe how super heavy this thing is.  This table/bomb shelter went outside. I doubt If I will ever bring it in. 

 

I have some aluminum folding tables with slat tops.  I think this will be all I need inside.  I can probably save 30# by ditching  the table.   We don't plan to have company and don't want to be asked.  No bed needed forward, thank you very much.

 

More.......

 

Then looking aft, I took a close look at the queen mattress.  It was pretty thick.  Is this a change for 2013?  I also had previously read that a mod posted was to put a door accessing this space under the mattress, mine already had a door?  Is this new also. 

 

The mattress felt better than average, so I am going to stick with it until I try it out.  But if i do change, it will not need to be lifted to access storage.

 

At WallyWorld, I had purchased a large box with top that fit fine, and a laundry basket that also fit.  Not sure what we will put in it yet.  DW is the master of organization. 

 

With most all previous rigs, we never cooked inside, so I did not think that not having a vent hood would be an issue.  We go camping to smell the bacon and wood smoke, not watch TV.   If I want big kitchen and large screen TV, I stay home.

 

Over all, after about 24 hours of ownership, I give the whole experience two thumbs up.

 

The 171's have an access door for the storage in front of the bed.  What some of the newer ones don't have is top-access door to the water heater compartment (to the right as you face the rear).  My older model did, and I took the screws out permanently so it is easy to get into every spring/fall.  More recent models I believe required a mod to get that top to come off.

 

I'm sure many here will be interested in your mattress if it is different from past years.

 

As for cooking, we are like you and rarely cook inside.  But if you do, just turn on the bathroom fan for ventillation, it will work as well as an overhead hood.

 

Good point, I will remember that.  I am sure the day will come on a rainy afternoon with a steak planned for supper.  On my MH I had the big awning..  could get by with a light rain if not storming.  If windy, I  pulled it...  (electric). 

 

I got the RDome with the deal but have not unboxed it yet.  I am sure we will find many times that we do not put it out. 

Enjoy!!