Traveler I
Got our black series classic double back in august of 2020 and have been enjoying it for the most part, but having to fix a few things and nlt happy about some stuff that we feel was an afterthought but a good trailer overall
Black series overland trailers
- Thread starter Steven Dale Buckeridge
- Start date
Traveler III
- 4,002
- First Name
- Kelly
- Last Name
- Herrin
- Member #
-
2032
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KFØDEX
Advocate I
We had a couple things that weren't big deals, but the customer service/warranty people are not helpful. We drove down to Mesa to get ours because the dealer here in Denver wanted $1k over msrp.
The bracket, on the box side, for the kitchen slide lock wasn't installed right and allowed the slide to move, the dealership person said that happens all the time and they had a stock of locally made replacements that they put on when we did the walk around.
When we got it home and set it up we noticed they only mounted the cooktop with one bracket and it had slid around - I emailed and asked for the other three brackets and a new gasket - after sending pics and going back and forth they told me it wasn't anything they could help with and to contact Dometic... The wiring for the fridge was grounding the + cable and of course tripping the breaker - I had to run a new cable and put in two grommets where cables were passing thru but weren't protected. The battery charger wasn't hooked up.
Just small issues. A lot fewer then my friend's last $100k+ fifth-wheel had... He sold the fifth wheel in April, and after a couple stops and starts, has a HQ-15 on order.
The bracket, on the box side, for the kitchen slide lock wasn't installed right and allowed the slide to move, the dealership person said that happens all the time and they had a stock of locally made replacements that they put on when we did the walk around.
When we got it home and set it up we noticed they only mounted the cooktop with one bracket and it had slid around - I emailed and asked for the other three brackets and a new gasket - after sending pics and going back and forth they told me it wasn't anything they could help with and to contact Dometic... The wiring for the fridge was grounding the + cable and of course tripping the breaker - I had to run a new cable and put in two grommets where cables were passing thru but weren't protected. The battery charger wasn't hooked up.
Just small issues. A lot fewer then my friend's last $100k+ fifth-wheel had... He sold the fifth wheel in April, and after a couple stops and starts, has a HQ-15 on order.
Enthusiast I
Just bought an HQ19. So far, so good. We go full-time in it in just a couple weeks.
Enthusiast III
My wife and I bought a Dominator... and though I love the trailer, we had a bunch of issues to work out. Most of it was 'small' issues, however, it really showed me a high level of quality control issues. Things that simply should NEVER be an issue...
We ran into a family that got an HQ21, and got to talking about issues they had... and there was a great deal of overlap. Even though his rig was very different the same failures in quality were found. So this seems like more than a fluke in my book. As someone who has worked in production and industrial environments this experience simply had all the earmarks of a production facility with no proper QC processes prior to shipment.
In the end... I'd still have bought it though. BANG FOR BUCK hands down.
Just know you will want to check it all over and shake it down prior to a big trip!!
We have yet to find a place our black series will not go, and have yet to regret having it!! Just look at a small bit of what it gave us already... Good stuff everyone, good stuff.
DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?
- Like the alignment was so bad that in less than 10K miles it destroyed both tires.
- Wheel bearing were not tightened even close to spec.
- I found that NONE of the grease points had any grease in them.
- So many pieces of loose hardware I lost count.
- Also the power went out, and I found that the hardware on the shunt in the electrical panel was not even finger tight! That could have been a fire in the right situation.
- LED light in the kitchen was partially broken, and all the wiring going to it was a total mess and had to be replaced.
- missing wheel chock
- parking brake cable was not adjusted properly and only sorta worked
- AND MUCH MORE! ORDER TODAY! :D
We ran into a family that got an HQ21, and got to talking about issues they had... and there was a great deal of overlap. Even though his rig was very different the same failures in quality were found. So this seems like more than a fluke in my book. As someone who has worked in production and industrial environments this experience simply had all the earmarks of a production facility with no proper QC processes prior to shipment.
In the end... I'd still have bought it though. BANG FOR BUCK hands down.
Just know you will want to check it all over and shake it down prior to a big trip!!
We have yet to find a place our black series will not go, and have yet to regret having it!! Just look at a small bit of what it gave us already... Good stuff everyone, good stuff.
DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?
Advocate I
The beach pics are great.
What fridge did you go with - looks like a dual temp?
We went with the iceco 74 single temp and I’m very happy with how it works.
Enthusiast III
ICECO VL60 all the way! We love the large size and dual zone. We had some shipping damage issues, but tje company was super helpful and I ended up with a discount and a small 12.8qt GO12 mobile fridge\freezer as well... Love it as well.
Nothing more fun than pulling into a gas station or trail and seeing the look on faces when you pull cold drinks or icecream out of a trailer!
I officially joined the club last weekend. For my true "camping" trips I'm still considering a BS Alpha but when solo all those poles might be a hassle for setup and teardown.
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Advocate III
I bought my Patron in January, we have made two trips and it has been flawless. No complaints.
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Advocate I
How did the Gladiator do pulling your Patron? I haven't even hooked it up to ours yet - so was wondering about rear sag? We use the 4runner for most 4wheeling/camping trips, but will use the Gladiator a few times this summer.
Traveler III
- 4,002
- First Name
- Kelly
- Last Name
- Herrin
- Member #
-
2032
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KFØDEX
Say what you want about all the little issues, when you can roll one over, with zero damage, that’s a well-built trailer!
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Advocate III
I have a Rubicon and it pulled it just fine. No problem pulling at all the power was just fine. My only complaint is tt did sag. I just purchased airbags to prevent that. We went to the desert and had to cross over highway 80 and back over highway 88. The Gladiator pulled it very well. We also hit some twisty trails. I was amazed how well it tows for being such a wide rig, backing up and towing off and on road were great.
Airbags go on this weekend in preparation for our next trip.
Image for reference. Look at rear tires. It is on a hill, so the back looks lower than it is.
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Contributor II
What did you end up with for Airbags? I'm looking at adding the Airlift 5000
Contributor II
Influencer II
- 1,777
- First Name
- Derek
- Last Name
- Riehl
- Member #
-
28397
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KN6NUI
I am using the Airlift 5000 and very happy with them - I used soft 4" ABS caps (Home Depot has) on the bottom to allow the air bag to come up off the leaf springs when needed - separate lines to valve stems on the back bumper. Here's a pic (not mine, but from the person who originated this approach).
Advocate III
Air Lift 60830 Airspring 1000 for Jeep Gladiator 2020 So far so good,not a hard install either.
I ended up with Airlift 5000's with Daystar cradles since I have a Power Wagon. They have been great so far.
Advocate III
My previous Truck was a 2012 Power Wagon with a lift. I had a similar setup, within the cab air adjustment. I pulled a large toy hauler and it worked really well. No sag and increased stability.
I've had my Patron for over a year now and it's been amazing!
Influencer II
- 1,777
- First Name
- Derek
- Last Name
- Riehl
- Member #
-
28397
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KN6NUI
Here's the Hq15 in Mulege. BCS a couple weeks back. Currently in Los Barriles.
Ranger w suspension bits handles the roads here quite well. Less pucker factor when passing or being overtaken by 18 wheelers on narrow, no berm, pothole filled roads.
Ranger w suspension bits handles the roads here quite well. Less pucker factor when passing or being overtaken by 18 wheelers on narrow, no berm, pothole filled roads.
