travel trailors

buckeyefarmer · Sep 28, 2009

Thinking about getting a travel trailor of some kind for camping. My wife has always been against getting one, want's to tent camp, but after an attempt at camping this weekend in the middle of a two day rainstorm, and visiting a friend in their new travel trailor, she is starting to reconsider. any good advice for a first time buyer? I don't want to trade up in a couple yrs. any recommended models? Any word on which companies are going belly up in this recession, I heard several are really hurting. We know we want one with a seperate bed area for the kids, like a bunk bed.

Iplayfarmer · Sep 28, 2009

I'm on my second trailer. Neither has been new or expensive. IMHO the biggest advantage to having a camp trailer is that you come home from work on Friday, you back up to the trailer, and you pull out and go camping. There's no pack this, pack that, put it all in the truck, cover it with a tarp, etc.

The same thing goes for when you arrive. After we find our spot, the Mrs. starts making dinner while I drop the jacks and level her up. 30 minutes after we arrive at the camp site we're eating dinner.

Bigger is not always better. Bigger trailers look all nice on the dealer's lot, but you're quite limited in where you can go and what you can do. It's not just about purchase price. I'd recommend getting the smallest thing you think you can be comfortable in.

Another recommendation is to know what you are going to do with it before you go to buy. Are you hauling it long distances? Staying mostly in RV parks? Do you want to camp off the beaten path? My second trailer is just as functional without hookups as it is with them. I really like that because I camp in undeveloped sites as much as I can. The previous trailer had a lot of stuff on 120 volt circuits (porch lite, oven light, etc.)

What works for me may not be what works best for you. It's so dependent on your lifestyle.

tommu56 · Sep 28, 2009

No matter what you buy try on the bathroom for size.

I'm not kidding my wife is left handed and it just doesn't work for her.

We have hybrid center trailer and 2 fold out beds at each end.

I here about the bathroom every day we are camping but it wasn't like I bought it with out her input.

tom

Uncle Doug · Sep 28, 2009

Too old to tent camp anymore.

The mistake I made on my first trailer was buying too much trailer (weight) for the truck I had at the time. I ended up having to move up to a larger truck. We did use it quite a bit when the kids were still at home. Sold it after they were grown.

A few years ago, now that we have grandkids we started to look for one again. Not wanting to make same mistake we went with a smaller model. We bought new at about 12K$ not wanting a problem unit. It has held up good. We like to keep it packed and ready to roll.

While we will go months without using the trailer for now it still meets our needs. I would suggest going to one of the RV shows with different dealers so all options are available. Pay attention to things like bathroom size, head room, storage, weight etc.

Western · Sep 28, 2009

My advice would be to scrutinize the heck out of the "good" deals you will find and get familiar with appliance replacement (ac/heat) cost so you can add that in on the ones that say "every thing works but the heater". also keep a good eye out for water damage, always check the top and sides.

A good wall tent will cost you $1000 with the pole kit, then add for optional wood stove and pipe, camping utensils.

I love tent camping , it has a certain "nostalgia" but as I get older, a warm toilet seat and a shower sure seem worth more.

Phils · Sep 28, 2009

tommu56 said:
No matter what you buy try on the bathroom for size.

I'm not kidding my wife is left handed and it just doesn't work for her.

We have hybrid center trailer and 2 fold out beds at each end.

I here about the bathroom every day we are camping but it wasn't like I bought it with out her input.

tom

What Tom said times ten!!!

Before we bought our first fifthwheel we lived in a neighbor's motorhome for a couple of months. It was an older one that had the shower, toilet, and sink in a tiny space. To take a shower you could sit on the toilet or stand between the toilet and sink. We then found a trailer that had the bathroom spanning the entire width of the unit, toilet and sink on one side, shower on the other, with a few feet of carpet between.

The fifthwheel we now have has a somewhat smaller bathroom but by closinig the doors at both ends, it opens it up almost as big.

I went beer-hunting with a friend a couple of weeks ago. He'd bought a 35' three-slideout fifthwheel to live in while his house was under construction. When the house was done, he put it on a consignment lot for a couple of years with no success in selling it, so now is using it for camping and hunting. This trailer is HUGE!!! And yet it has the SMALLEST toilet room I've ever seen. Like sitting in a closet, and if you are very tall your knees would hit the wall. Don't EVEN think of reading a magazine. Well, you could if you pinned it to the wall.

Another thing we now insist on is the freestanding dinette and chairs, rather than the two benches with a table between. You can do more with the table/chairs, including taking them outside for meals or games. Of course, the bench/table CAN be made into another bed if you need the sleeping space.

Phil

Nat · Sep 28, 2009

I'm a long time camper, well make that an RV'er. I have a 32 foot triple slide fifth wheel rv that I love. I take several 2-3 week vacations per year, and also live in it for 4-5 weeks on a job 3 times a year, so I feel I'm a pretty good person to answer any rv questions. Except what you should buy. There are 100's of different rv's for 100's of different needs. No-one but you know what you need, but I'll do like Brutus and" take a stab at it".
First thing is what is your tow vehicle? then what is it to be used for, then how long at a time. One major mistake a lot of folks make is to buy more than they can pull comfortably. If you are worried about the next hill or the next stop it makes for a bad trip. Then if it's to be used for a rare weekend trip smaller is better, but if it's a temperary home the bigger the better. Ask these questions for us and we can help a little, Later, Nat

radioman · Sep 28, 2009

I think what iplayfarmer said it the best- HOW are you going to use it ? I currently have a 22'er and it fits our needs. I got it aftetr tenting for years and last one was miserable with rain and hard ground. I grew up spoiled with my folks who had a 12 footer for 10 years then moved up to 35 footer. I dont use the bathrooms as the places I go to have thier own bathrooms. I can use toilet if needed but don't. I love travel trailer for use of setting up, carrying things and no need to pack or unpack last minute! Love the gas fridge when going to non-electic sites.

buckeyefarmer · Sep 28, 2009

thanks for the suggestions so far. For pulling, I have a 2500HD with the 6.0l gas engine.
I already know I don't want too big. decent bathroom size is a must, no toilet in the shower.

Raw Dodge · Sep 28, 2009

Given you have a 370 ft lb torque engine in your tow vehicle,Id keep the trailer under 8000lbs esp 5th wheels since they drag more with there height.Your truck itself is plenty capable of a good sized trailer,youve got a pretty stout tow truck,engine aside,IMO. I have a 2002 sunnybrook 3310,its about 8500 lbs ready for the road,Id buy it again in a heartbeat,great camper. I tow with either my 01 2500HD 8.1L/Allison or my Dodge/Cummins.You really want 420+ft lb of torque to pull something like this ,although you dont NEED it,it makes it much easier.
Campings fun and addictive,although the last few years fees have risen sharply,along with fuel putting a damper on it for us....