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12-12-2017, 01:42 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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New toad for Christmas
Replaced our 2014 Fiat 500L 6speed with a 2017 MKZ hybrid. Guess I get to rip apart the front end of a new car and put on the baseplate. I have all the parts coming and will take pictures of the process.
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12-12-2017, 01:46 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,117
THOR #7035
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Did you trade your Fiat in? Cuz between here and IRV2 there are always people looking for toads.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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12-12-2017, 12:59 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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I thought about that too, but in the end we ended up trading it in. Just easier.
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12-12-2017, 01:00 PM
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#4
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Congratulations! Ir seems that Santa dropped off an early gift for you...
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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12-14-2017, 11:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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A person has to be pretty dedicated to Rv'ing (or nuts) to do this to there 5 day old Lincoln. My wife would probably go with the latter. It took about 2.5 hrs to get it this far. Baseplate is supposed to be here by end of day.
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12-14-2017, 11:21 PM
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#6
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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12-15-2017, 05:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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Baseplate is on, it's hard to see.
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12-15-2017, 06:49 PM
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#8
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Congratulations!
(I admit that I was holding my breath a bit...)
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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12-15-2017, 11:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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Pictures of the car done. Everything but the taillights are done. Wire is to the back but still waiting on LED light strips for the lights. Will show pictures of them when I get them on. The car has all LED lights so you can't just drill in a bulb socket.
Was a pain in the A, but saved about $1,500 doing it myself compared to letting local RV shop do it.
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12-15-2017, 11:13 PM
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#10
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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12-16-2017, 01:09 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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The local RV shop wanted (around) $2,000 to do it, I bought all the parts online for $600. I worked on it 4 hrs yesterday, 10 hrs today. That's $100 an hour. Plus I enjoy tinkering anyway.
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12-16-2017, 04:48 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
State: Alaska
Posts: 295
THOR #8813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Druff
Replaced our 2014 Fiat 500L 6speed with a 2017 MKZ hybrid. Guess I get to rip apart the front end of a new car and put on the baseplate. I have all the parts coming and will take pictures of the process.
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Thinking of a Fiat. How was quality? Easy to get tow equipment?
Thanks
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12-16-2017, 10:17 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.2
State: Massachusetts
Posts: 182
THOR #6999
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You're going to love the MkZ. I've got a 2012, gas engine and it's been a great car. A lot of people don't know that the MkZ was introduced when Ford owned Jaguar and the first MkZ was designed by a combination of Jaguar people and Ford people. You can still feel that Jaguar influence in the way the car handles.
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12-17-2017, 01:07 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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Quality of the Fiat was good. They are very easy to tow with the 6speed, there is no steering lock so all you do is put in neutral and release the parking brake. My problem with 500L was the seats were like sitting in a dinning room chair. They were flat, hard and unsupportive. Otherwise the car was a hoot to drive, peppy engine nice handling.
When we go Rv'ing we tend to take 1-2 hr drives around where we are set up so I wanted something nicer. We went with the Lincoln since we've had several of them before and always liked the comfort. After only a week of driving it, I love it already.
Yeah you are right, the Jaguar X Type was the same as the MKZ. Back in 2004 we bought a Lincoln LS, which was based on the Jaguar S Type,. That was still probably one of the best cars we ever had yet. I will see if this one measures up, I hope so. As an aside we will be in Kissimmee next month. My wife's sister lives there.
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12-20-2017, 12:52 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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Final part of installation, LED strip lights.
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12-20-2017, 01:57 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: SOB 2014 Meridian 36M
State: Washington
Posts: 981
THOR #7205
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Druff
Final part of installation, LED strip lights.
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Nicely done, Sir! Hats off to you! Are the led strips on the inside of the window? It's kinda hard to tell in the pic. They must be, huh. Otherwise they would out in the elements.
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Pat & Becky & now Katie
Wenatchee, WA
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12-20-2017, 02:03 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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They are on the outside, they are ones that are made for motorcycles. They go on like trim with 3m tape.
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12-20-2017, 02:27 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: SOB 2014 Meridian 36M
State: Washington
Posts: 981
THOR #7205
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OK, so water proof. BTW, beautiful car!
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Pat & Becky & now Katie
Wenatchee, WA
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01-23-2018, 03:15 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 29.3
State: Georgia
Posts: 128
THOR #7779
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Druff
Replaced our 2014 Fiat 500L 6speed with a 2017 MKZ hybrid. Guess I get to rip apart the front end of a new car and put on the baseplate. I have all the parts coming and will take pictures of the process.
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I have a 14 MKZ hybrid but are going with a car dolly with surge brakes . Have heard pros and cons of 4 down or dolly .
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01-23-2018, 05:11 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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It is really personal choice between dolly or 4down towing. We chose 4down because it seems simpler. You don't have the dolly to deal with when at the campground and I see others climbing under the car to put straps on the tires. But you can pretty much change cars whenever you want. With 4down once you put the rack on front you are committed to the car for a time. I can at least put the baseplates on myself so I don't have that $2,000 investment each time, it costs me about $600 a time to do it.
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