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Hi all! My husband and I are wanting to buy a TT for vacations and weekend camping but it's a bit overwhelming. There are so many brands, options, layouts, etc. I'm trying to figure out which is best for us (me, husband and 3 kids) and which size is most manageable for our first attempt at this. Initially I wanted something smaller, like less than 25' but with the 3 kids I think that might be too small (I'd love something with bunks). We have not decided yet if we're buying new or used. Obviously used prices are better but water damage from leaks seems common and concerns me. I don't want to find any soft spots after we get it home and have to dump a bunch of money into repairing it right off the bat.
I know the most important thing is to make sure we get something that isn't too big for our truck to pull, especially when all loaded up. I've read that we should look underneath it for rust, look for soft spots and black mold, and rusty screws on the outside which indicates water damage. Apparently the appliances, especially the refrigerator, are very expensive to repair/replace so we will make sure those are in good working order.
Sure, first it appears this will be your 1st TT and that you are inexperienced in owning one. If that is the case and you can afford new that is the route you should go. Yes there are some great deals out there on used TT's but unfortunately there are some really bad deals out there also. It does not take much to hide even major needed repairs to a TT and if you don't know what to look for you will never catch it until after you paid your hard earned money to someone and then your great deal is not a great deal any more, it's a money pit you can't ever seem to get fixed.
Buying new gives you a clean slate with no unknown history issues and a full factory warranty to take care of any of the new TT issues. Plus it allows you to pick out the exact unit you want with the options, colors etc that suit you best. I strongly suggest you go with a bunkhouse TT model that offers at least 3 bunks so each of your kids have their own space. Some of the larger TT's that offer the bunk room option will have the bunks, a sofa, TV etc all in one room so the kids will have a place away from you and your husband which is nice. Going with a floor plan that does not offer this option means you will have to break down/set up the sofa/dinette every evening and every morning for sleeping areas which will get old quick. Plus remember the kids will grow bigger, the TT won't.
First figure out what the tow rating is for your truck and then use the 80% rule when towing. Then go look at as many TT's as you can that are under that number. A great place to start is with your local dealers. Also try and go to a few rv shows. Ask your neighbors, coworkers etc and find someone local that has allot of experence in rving...become that persons best new friend and let that person teach you about TT's. Try and get this person to go with you to look at TT's so he/she can show you the pros and cons of each unit.
First don't listen to salesmen, they'll all lie and tell you anything they can to sell you something.
When looking at trailers ignore the 'dry weight' because it will never be that light. Go by the GVWR (max weight) of the trailer and listen to rtandc's advice about not getting something over 80% of the trucks max tow weight. Yes you can go to it's max, but how many things do you know of that perform their best when maxed out? Not many. If you have a 1/2 ton truck you'll probably need a smaller camper than you think. They list high towing limits but half tons often run out of payload before reaching max tow limits.
If you want lots of sleeping space with a small trailer length look at the 'hybrid' trailers like the Coachmen 23 TQX. The beds tilt out, sort of like the beds on a popup camper, giving you lots of bed space with a shorter camper.
Hi all! My husband and I are wanting to buy a TT for vacations and weekend camping but it's a bit overwhelming. There are so many brands, options, layouts, etc. I'm trying to figure out which is best for us (me, husband and 3 kids) and which size is most manageable for our first attempt at this. Initially I wanted something smaller, like less than 25' but with the 3 kids I think that might be too small (I'd love something with bunks). We have not decided yet if we're buying new or used. Obviously used prices are better but water damage from leaks seems common and concerns me. I don't want to find any soft spots after we get it home and have to dump a bunch of money into repairing it right off the bat.
I know the most important thing is to make sure we get something that isn't too big for our truck to pull, especially when all loaded up. I've read that we should look underneath it for rust, look for soft spots and black mold, and rusty screws on the outside which indicates water damage. Apparently the appliances, especially the refrigerator, are very expensive to repair/replace so we will make sure those are in good working order.
Not really as good advice with a TT, unless you know that particular rig and it's history. New, with an extended warranty, will usually be the best for getting a quality rig and having any problems taken care of before they get big. yes, you can get good deals on used trailers, but that good deal can sour you on vacationing in a hurry if something big is wrong with it while out at a campsite and YOU have to pay to fix it.
Most travel trailers use the same basic mechanical parts: water pumps, tanks, water heaters, furnaces, refrigerators, etc, with just slight variations in size (seriously there are only a couple brands that make those parts, so every trailer uses them). The differences in trailers comes in sizes and build quality.
For quality, look to the now common fiberglass composite construction (fiberglass skin, foam core, luan inner wall) vs the older corrugated aluminum over 1x1 pine that is stapled and glued together. Check the type of materials inside, like the cabinet doors and their hinges. Make sure all windows are sealed properly and look at the materials used in the upholstery. It's pretty obvious; when something looks weak, it probably is. best quality is full metal construction, like the Airstreams, but you WILL pay more for it.
For size, you want, as was mentioned, to stay within 80% of your tow vehicle's rating. The tow vehicle will make the biggest difference in what you can get away with. No need for a 2500HD diesel truck to tow an 18 ft hybrid, but don't try to tow a 27 ft bunkhouse with a typical midsize SUV, either.
Our first TT was a 19ft hybrid, meaning the trailer was a standard construction trailer with fold out ends similar to the beds of a pop-up camper. it had a great floor plan that allowed for a real bathroom and kitchen, had 2 queen size beds, and weighed well under our tow vehicle's limit:
Good first rig and was perfect for the family at the time.
If you do need more space, even the ultralight bunkhouse models may be out of tow range for the typical SUV or light pickup. So at that point, you want to factor in a good tow vehicle to the cost. With 3 kids, that usually means a crew cab pickup or Suburban. I tried for a bit with an extended cab HD pickup when we moved to a larger trailer, but the reality was that it didn't do the job well for getting kids and dogs in the back seat. And a typical crew cab pickup is also going to be a long bed and just real long to park and use when not camping. I decided that this tow vehicle was not a good fit:
And switched to a Suburban 2500, which is a great driver when not towing, and easy to get people in and out of the back seat of. And cheaper, to boot:
OP, you didn't mention what kind of tow vehicle you will be using. If you tell us that, we can give recommendations on what trailers to look at (size, features, etc).
Whats a realistic estimate of your usage of this TT?, if its just for a couple of weeks per year you might be better off just renting a unit,no repair or maintenance hassles no parking the thing for most of the year.
What will you use the trailer for? That is the critical question.
I use mine for off-road camping, so small is better for getting into tight places. Mine has off road suspension. I had a 26 footer and it was too big so I down sized to 21 feet. That's enough room, because we are camping and are outdoors except to sleep. (although, it sure is nice to sit indoors if it starts snowing or raining hard)
With 3 kids I think I would look at the type called a "bunkhouse". There are two sturdy bunk beds in a nice compartment that is a great place for cargo that opens to the outside, for things like deck chairs and the barbecue. I think you must go to 26 feet to get one of those. They would work well for a family with kids.
One thing to consider, if you can pull a slightly longer one is that about 26 feet and over, it is possible to get a travel trailer with a front and a back door. That might be nice for fire safety with small kids who would not be strong enough to break a back window.
Shopping hint: whoever is the largest person in the family should sit on the toilet and evaluate the room before you purchase. Also, with 3 kids, definitely get a trailer large enough for a bathroom. You might never use the shower, but you can't beat that toilet when you travel. Kids need a stop? You can pull over at a wide place in the road.
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