Shopping - DH finally said yes! Tell me about your RV...

[Dancemom03]

After much pleading by the DDs and I (4 yrs and 2 months actually - but hey, who's counting....) it looks like we may be buying something in the near future. With medical issues, DH can't tent camp with us and the DDs had given up hope of ever being able to camp as a family, when he offered to go look.
We've been to several dealers now and we're favoring TTs around 32'. There was a used Layton we both thought looked very comfortable but we need to look around/explore more options before making a decision.

In the meantime, please tell me about your RV...

Anything you wish it had that it doesn't - besides a built-in cash dispenser or beer tap, that is?
Anything you never use and could live without?

What about the floor plan? Roomy enough or too small? Would you change anything about the layout if you were shopping for another?

How about on the road? How's it handle? Any suggestions for easier transport/set up?

 

[keylime359]

I am new to this and I am sure you will get better advise but here is my 2 cents. I really like having lots of storage. I also like a walk around queen bed. It was really hard to make the other bed that was not a walk around.

 

[LONE-STAR]

Not sure what you have for a tow vehicle but you need to make sure its tow limits can handle what ever you are looking at. That being said we really like our toy hauler (wolf pack 30 wp). Its floor plan is exactly what we wanted. Its our second trailer we use to have a 27' terry 5th wheel and it was to small. A lot of people say I don't have any toys so I don't need a toy hauler. That's not true they are great for hauling everything. Bikes, kayak's, bar-b-q grills, lawn chairs, golf carts. Just saying don't rule out a toy hauler never know when you may buy a toy.

 

[thecplusplusguy]

Thats my biggest advice. Our first RV we bought way to small and ended up trading up with in a year. If you are looking at trailers and Motorhomes. Make sure you think about how you travel.

I have a motorhome and the things I wish I had gotten are, the outdoor grill that hooks up to the external propane connection, electic steps that go up and down when the door opens and can be locked into place, hydrolic leveling jacks, and (the biggie) a slide out.

Things I added, manual leveling jacks (they suck I forget the brand), 2 6v AGM golf cart batteries and replace the existing group 27 with an AGM group 27. A 1000 Watt inverter. Oh and cup holders in the dinnette.

Hope that helps,
Dan

 

[disney4dan]

Having just bought a replacement trailer, I would check the following:
1. Can you like down on the bed without hitting your feet on a divider wall - some are now set with a wall right at the foot of the bed with a TV in it.

2. Try all the appliances and see how much noise there is. If you will be using the furnace or AC - do they sound like a jet engine? Will it wake you up?

3. Storage - does it work for your current and expected future needs. Our first trailer was lacking in outside storage compartments for things like folding chairs, lanterns, "gear".

4. With kids, will there be a place for them to settle in with board games/books, whatever in an area that will not be underfoot while you cook or clean up after a meal. After spending a week in the trailer with rain the whole week, this became a big deal for us.

5. What is your camping style expected to be? Long road trips to see scenic places and just have short stays between moving to the next location or will you spend weeks at the same campground?

6. Camping with full hook-ups or dry camping? Our new trailer came with a free, new battery from the dealer. It did not last 6 hours at our first dry camping experience so I went back to our two 6-volt golf cart batteries. Those will last us a 4 day weekend.

7. If dry camping, will you be using the CG facilities or will you want/need larger fresh water tanks and waste storage? Our current trailer only holds 24 gallons of fresh water, so we bring extra along.

8. What can your tow vehicle safely tow if you are getting a trailer?

9. On our very first RV trip, I had a conversation with a guy who wished he had a travel trailer instead of a fifth wheel in order to have more storage in the bed of the truck. Most people prefer the fifth wheel (if you can afford them) due to the way they handle and for the comfort, but this guy clearly missed having the ability to store things like cooking fuel, firewood, extra fuel for the tow vehicle.

10. If you are also looking at a tow vehicle, consider the towing abilities including how much fuel the truck holds. Some have a second fuel tank or one larger one. My truck will only go about 250 to 280 miles between fill-ups while towing. Some will go well over 400 or more.

Happy hunting for the new RV! Camping is great and we spend a lot of cold, snowy days in the winter making plans for summer camping trips.

 

[stpetedisneydad]

All of the PP's are spot on but I'd like to add get the biggest bathroom you can find.

 

[des1954]

First...happy hunting!! Take your time looking & use your head and not your heart to decide what you want.

Your kids are little, but they will grow....so if you're looking for a trailer to serve you for years to come, think of the kids as teenagers & not the little darlings they are right now.

To me, the greatest issue is storage. If you plan on long vacations, you can never have enough storage. Weekend trips are no problems - but those week long or two week long trips can be a challenge.

There is another type of storage to consider: where will you be storing the trailer when you're not using it? Can you keep it in your yard or do you have to pay to store it elsewhere? Most storage places in my area charge a monthly fee by the foot. Ex: 32' trailer=$32/month. Does your development have deed restrictions prohibiting you from having a trailer in your drive for more than 24-48 hours? Check into this, cause you may be charged a fine if you store the TT in your yard or drive only to find out it's against the deed restrictions.

Another thing to consider....will the payment on the trailer put you in a financial place where actually USING the trailer will be limited? I know quite a few people who can afford the payments on their camping equipment, but cannot afford the cost of actually using the equipment. As I'm sure you've read on this board, Ft. Wilderness is not exactly the cheapest place to camp.

Two things that take up valuable space and IMHO are not worth giving up space for are:

A gas/electric oven. A convection/microwave is much more practical.

A combination washer/dryer. They only hold 4-5 small items or 2 bath towels or 2 adult jeans. They take forever to do a load, the clothes come out wrinkled and IMHO it's much easier to go to a laundry & do multiple loads simutaneously.

If you're going for a used TT, make sure the manufacturer is still in business. A lot of RV companies have bit the dust since 2007. You want to make sure you can get replacement parts in the future.

That's about all I can think of right now. Happy hunting & I hope you find the TT of your dreams!!

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

Just my 2 cents but here goes....

With kids, not only do they need a place to sleep but also room for their stuff without having their stuff all over the living space.

I know others may disagree but if we are just "camping", I don't really need the slide but if we are "vacationing" in our TT (like long stays at FW or the beach) we defintely need the space.

For us, an outside shower is a must.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[DaveInTN]

I'll just add to make sure you have enough floor space for whatever accessories you will need for your 2 month old. Our first TT did not have enough floor space when our 4th DD came along. We bought a small portacrib for her to sleep in, which was great, but you had to climb over the dinette to get to the bathroom when she was sleeping. Also, be sure to consider the day when she moves into a bed, and make sure you have adequate bed space for both (and any future?) daughters, or you'll be faced with replacing the TT within a couple years like we were.

Lots to consider, but it can be a fun process! Good luck!

 

[SCCamper]

As stated previously...make sure your tow vehicle can handle what you purchase. I would find out before even going out to look. It would be a shame if you found a TT that you really liked, but found out you couldn't pull it safely. Also, make sure to invest in a good WDH. We have an Equal-i-zer and are very happy with it. One more thing....make sure you find out your tow capacity on your own and not just go by what a salesman tells you. A lot (not all) will tell you whatever you want to hear so as to make a sale.
ps: Make sure you stand in the shower to see how much room you have. Have fun shopping.

 

[Goofy4President]

Two words - slideout and storage.....make sure you have both! Even if you find the one you like and you think the storage may not be adequate, think creatively...I make good use of every inch and have no problem taking everything the four of us need for 8-10 days. Some hints - store shoes in a storage tub outside, roll clothes and towels (takes up less space), store rarely used items in your vehicle while camping, be prepared to do some laundry once during a week-long trip to save space, too. Have fun shopping - that's a treat in itself!

 

[stacktester]

As Lonestar said a toy hauler is a great camper. I have an 8 by 10 garage in mine and it fits a golf cart perfectly. It's a side loader and I did have to get a fold up footrest for the cart but other than that it's a great area for bikes and other gear you don't like strapping in. A 5th wheel has a lot of room and usually a huge storage area under the front bed.

 

[tlh0726]

How far a distance will you be traveling for the majority of your camping trips? We opted for a motorhome over a TT or 5th wheel for more comfortable traveling for me and the kids on the longer distances. Not having to stop to use the bathroom, grab some food and the convience of going to sleep the night before in the motorhome and taking off at early hour without waking the kids is great.

2 things I recommend regardless of what type of unit you go with are
a slide out (amazing the amount of inside room it creates)
and Bunks for the kids (having to make up or tear down a bed every evening and morning is the pits. Without the bunks, our living area was off limits once the kids went to bed. Trying to make breakfast and coffee in the morning without waking someone was hard as well. )

Also try to go to an RV show. (Lets you see alot of different classes of RVs and manfacturers all in one place. Take your camera and a notepad)

Most of all take your time, make sure that it is what you really want. It is easy to get excited and jump at the first unit.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Not sure where you live, but the RV show in Hershey PA is in a couple weeks and is a great place to look at a ton of campers.

 

[devores]

I will have to echo some of the points made here.

1. Think future needs as well. We had a smaller TT for a few years. It worked fine for us when the kids where young. But as they grew, the space became uncomfortable. We ended up trading in on a fifth wheel that had a seperate bunk room for the kids.

2. Storage space runs out fast. Make sure you have enough for all of your families needs. Think of everything. Games, toys, cloths, food, dishes, etc.

3. Slides.....cant say enough about this. You may think the TT youre looking at has enough room, but one rainy day will have you thinking twice. Make sure there is enough room that everyone can move around comfortably and dwell inside for an extended period of time with out loosing your family cohesion. Ours has 2 slides, one in the living area and one in the kids bunk room. The master bedroom has a walk around queen bed and we can all (Me, DW, DD16, DD13, black lab, and a cat) move around the space without getting in each others way.

4. Make sure you can live with your floorplan. When looking for a new fiver, we almost bought one with the standard shower and bathroom in the master bedroom design. Im glad we chose to look further. Our current one has a seperate HUGE bathroom. This allows us to use the bathroom and not bother the people in the master bedroom. It also has a seperate half bath in the kids bunk room so they can move around and get ready before we rise for the day. The only "feature" I am not happy about is it has two entry doors. One in the main living area, and one in the kid's bunk room, both on the curb side. But it was a design flaw I could live with and not ruin our trips.