Chuck & Terry’s 2005 Pilgrim 281RBS

August 2, 2006 was a red-letter in the Mencke household. This evening I will be taking delivery of my new 2006 F250 Lariat Super Duty PSD (Power Stroke Diesel). The truck is fully loaded and has more buttons on it than the space shuttle. One of the main features that drew me to the new Super Duty is the IBC (Integrated Brake Controller). Both Terry and I were excited about taking delivery. Of course I was much more excited than Terry, I'm getting an F250 diesel! I'll finally have the proper truck to pull our Pilgrim travel trailer with power to spare. With our current F150, we were right at its weight limit. Towing our trailer with our '04 F150, we had already experienced mechanical issues. The new truck is going to make our future RV trips much more enjoyable and safe.

Our New 2005 Pilgrim 281RB-S

January 21, 2005 was a big day for us. We purchased our new 2005 Pilgrim 281RB-S at the Fort Worth RV show from FunTime RV located in Cleburne, Texas. David Kidd, our salesperson, took excellent care of us. Terry and I are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the dealership. When we took delivery of our trailer, the dealership provided an excellent walk-through and training on all the different systems that are included on the trailer. They were in no rush and took plenty of time to thoroughly explain everything and answer all of our questions.

While we were visiting the RV show, we looked at a lot of different trailers. We were most impressed with Pilgrim's product line. One of the main features that we had to have in a new trailer was a "residential" type of corner shower. I have a couple of bad knees that don't bend too well, so the tub-shower that is normally installed in RV's was out. The standard amenities that Pilgrim included was absolutely fantastic. There were basically no options that we had to consider. Over 10 years ago, we started camping in our 2-room tent. In March of 2001 we then purchased our Coleman Santa Fe popup trailer. Now we've "graduated" to our new Pilgrim travel trailer. Below is the floor plan of our new trailer.

281RB-S Floor plan

The informational text below was taken off Pilgrim's website and sales brochure. The features listed heavily influenced our decision to purchase a model from the Pilgrim line. There just were not any options to consider.

Pilgrim RVs by Pilgrim International, provides standard features that are normally only offered on manufacturer’s products that cost thousands of dollars more. Many of our standard features are sold as options or not even available from competitors within our price range.

Standard features found on every Pilgrim RV are listed as follows:

Interior Standard Features

Glass Shower Doors - residential styling that will provide easy clean up and an elegant long lasting look.

"60 X 80" Queen bed - You'll appreciate the extra length and household queen sheets will fit snug.

Stainless Steel Hardware - Pilgrim features stainless steel cabinet hardware and residential door handles. This is an upgrade from the normal RV.

Skylights - Bathroom and Kitchen skylights have been added in most models. You’ll appreciate these when you need that extra daylight.

Dometic Americana 8 cubic foot Refrigerator - This larger refrigerator automatically sets the temperature for you. No more fiddling around trying to get the right temperature inside the refrigerator.

Lexan Interior Lights - again not the normal RV lights. These are durable Lexan lights that will withstand years of use. These are 21 candlepower to brighten up those cloudy days.

Free Standing Table and Chairs or Booth - You can have it your way.

Steel Framed Furniture - Be sure to notice the comfortable sofa. This is steel-framed with a hidden hide a bed. The Booth dinette is also steel framed, not wood framed like some.

30 oz Residential Grade Nylon Carpet with Carpet Pad - Again, not the normal RV carpet. We’ve upgraded it for you so it will last.

Residential SeaLand Toilet - Don’t put up with the normal plastic RV bathroom. We do this STANDARD. Notice the two medicine cabinets in most models.

Armstrong Canyon Creek Residential Linoleum Flooring - Residential quality that resist wear and will look new for many years. Has a 7 year warranty!

Six Panel Interior Doors - These are STANDARD too. Notice the residential pewter handles that will last for many years and are easy to use.

Atwood 6-Gallon DSI Gas/Electric Water Heater - Most manufacturers make you pay more for the electric, don’t be fooled here. This water heater lights with the push of a button.

R-7 Blanket insulation - Every Pilgrim has a full R-7 insulation pack with a heated fresh water tank. You can go camping in those extended shoulder camping seasons.

AM/FM/CD/MP3/DVD System - this comes standard. Turn your RV into a theatre room.

Progressive Dynamics 60-Amp Power Converter w/ High-Capacity Battery Charger - Heavy-duty capacity for your four-season use. The extra amperage will come in handy when several appliances are in use.

Atwood Furnace - 35,000 BTU furnace- This high out put furnace combined with the tight insulation package will protect you during the four season travelling.(Most models)

Exterior Standard Features

E-Z-Lube Hubs - The hubs on Pilgrim carry a 5 Year- 100,000 mile Warranty from Dexter.

Gelcoat Fiberglass Front Cap - The fiberglass front cap provides a dramatic front look. You'll love the reflective front Pilgrim logo. It really adds class to the front cap.

Outlet for awning lights - Its a snap now to plug in your awning lights in this handy outlet. Plus, you can turn them off from the indoor switch.

Telephone, satellite and cable TV hookups - All of the conveniences of home. You'll enjoy having good, crisp TV at the campground. The phone hook up makes connecting to the internet possible. Enjoy!

Crystal Coated Side Moldings - Durable aerodynamic molding that resists chips and dents. This will also help keep road tar and debris from sticking to the bottom.

Stabilizer Jacks - Heavy-duty 5,000 lbs. capacity jacks for easy leveling and stabilizing.

In addition to the above, our Pilgrim trailer also includes:

Roof ladder provides access to walk-on roof

Rubber roof with 12 year warranty

Roof air conditioner - 15,000 BTU Duo-Therm

Large exterior entry assist handle

Extra dark tinted windows

Sleek exterior graphics

Large entry door with dead bolt lock for security

Diamond plate bumper with sewer hose storage

E-Z lube hubs

Convenient 3-step entry

66 gallon fresh water tank

2 40 gallon gray water tanks

40 gallon black water tank

Steel I-beam powder coated chassis

5/8" tongue and groove plywood floor decking

Spare tire mounted underneath

Detachable power cord

Exterior shower

Crown molding

We would soon find out that camping was once again going to be a pleasure instead of a lot of work when camping in our popup. Terry and I loved our popup, but you can't pack your clothes and food in it before leaving for a camping trip. We always had to load up the boxes and ice chests in the back of the pickup truck before leaving. Then when we arrived at the campsite, it was time to popup, then upload the truck. With the new trailer, everything can be loaded in the trailer before hand. In fact on our maiden voyage, there was nothing in the back of the pickup truck. Even when we arrived back at the RV storage lot for the first time, unloading the left over food took a matter of minutes instead of hours like it had before. Another one of the amenities that was so nice to finally have was our very own bathroom. Before, when nature called in the middle of the night, it was time to trek down to the facilities, sometimes in the early morning cold temperatures.

Terry and I decided, as we both have gotten older, it was time we made the move to a regular travel trailer. The middle of this past January, Fort Worth was hosting its annual RV show. The weekend before the show we headed out to one of the largest travel trailer and fifth wheel dealers in the state, FunTime RV in Cleburne, Texas. FunTime RV is huge, their main lot spans 67 acres! Terry and I knew we would be able to see more models on their lot than they would be able to have at the show.

We spent about 3-4 hours with our salesperson, David Kidd looking at trailers from all the different manufacturers. Our heads were swimming with all of the different features and floor plans we viewed. One line of trailers really stood out, Pilgrim. We left and told David that we'd see him next weekend at the Fort Worth RV Show.

One of the main criteria that we had to have in a new trailer was a "residential" type corner shower. We found several models / floor plans that fit our needs. To make a long story short, we headed down to the RV show Thursday evening and then back down Friday to sign the papers on our new trailer, a Pilgrim 281 RB-S.

Below, you'll also find links to our numerous trips and adventures we'd like to share with everyone in our new "Hyatt on Wheels." That's kind of like how we think of it. As I mentioned above, we started camping in a two-room tent. When we moved to our Coleman Santa Fe popup in 2001, we thought we had hit the big time. Now with our new Pilgrim trailer, we feel like we're now staying at a Hyatt.

We Take Delivery - January 30, 2005
FunTime RV - Cleburne, Texas


Proud Owner - It's Huge!	Terry - It's Cold and Rainy


Tow Vehicle - 2004 F150	Weight Distribution Hitch and Sway Bar


Side View	Another Side View


Back Garage Storage Area - Awesome	Corner Shower


Kitchen area	Sink and Counter Top


Sofa - Terry loves it!	Our Dinette


Refrigerator and Freezer	Full Queen Sized Bed


DVD/CD/FM Surround Sound	Our TV/VCR Combination

Authored by Chuck and Terry Mencke

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"Chuck & Terry's Pilgrim 281RB-S" was last modified: July 27, 2008

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Chuck & Terry’s 2005 Pilgrim 281RBS

Maiden Voyage - February 18, 2005 Daingerfield State Park - Texas

Our New 2005 Pilgrim 281RB-S

Maiden Voyage - February 18, 2005
Daingerfield State Park - Texas