Travel Trailer Recommendations

[WantToBeAnImagineer]

Hello All!

My husband and I have been looking into purchasing a travel trailer to use for our family. We stay in the cabins at Ft. Wilderness when we come down, but hope to lessen the expense and add to the number of trips with this purchase!

We have three kids, 10, 8 and 4. We want something that is lightweight and can be pulled easily. We have a mini van and a Tacoma right now. We could trade in the Tacoma for a Tundra. We went to an outdoor show yesterday and looked at some. I think we would want a slide out side.

Any suggestions?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) There are LOTS of "lite" travel trailers.
2) Your Tacoma might pull many of them.
3) You will get many recommendations.
4) Going to the RV show was a GREAT start for you.
5) I would also recommend renting trailers in Orlando and stay at The Fort.
6) After staying in 3-5 of them, you should have a good idea of your preferences.
. . . size
. . . amenities
. . . layout
. . . births
. . . kitchen layout and equipment
. . . etc
. . . etc
. . . etc
7) Remember, you will have it for a while, so pick slowly and wisely.

 

[PaHunter]

With three kids you may want to consider a bunkhouse model travel trailer. This gives you the most sleeping without making the dining room table into a bed every night.

RV show, visit dealerships, look at the manufacturers online at floorplans. Best of luck, it's a lot of work to decide. Take your time an make sure it is the right one.

 

[SamRoc]

DH and i love going to the rv shows. There are so many out there. but a light one we liked was a passport ultra lite by keystone.

 

[North of Mouse]

Hello All!

My husband and I have been looking into purchasing a travel trailer to use for our family. We stay in the cabins at Ft. Wilderness when we come down, but hope to lessen the expense and add to the number of trips with this purchase!

We have three kids, 10, 8 and 4. We want something that is lightweight and can be pulled easily. We have a mini van and a Tacoma right now. We could trade in the Tacoma for a Tundra. We went to an outdoor show yesterday and looked at some. I think we would want a slide out side.

Any suggestions?

There are 'way' too many types/models to choose from to be able to recommend just one to you. Everyone has different 'must haves'. Yes, you definitely need at least one slide - more would be better with 5 people.

What we did when we were still camping in TT's was to go to as many shows/dealers as possible and do walk throughs and actually 'seeing' the qualities, etc. of each one. We also did lots of 'online looking'!

As Rusty said, don't be hasty, take lots of time to look and think! Only 'you' really know what will be the best for your situation.

The best of luck!

 

[dalspot]

One general word of advice, don't buy a unit thinking, "this would do" if you've looked at something bigger you like better. We have too many friends who've traded in/up in a very short time because they thought they had enough trailer. When we got our fifth wheel, we bought the biggest unit in our particular brand. After 4 seasons, it's still "perfect". That's not to say I'd not look for a few different specs the next time around, but the things we dislike now have never been enough to want to get a new unit.

 

[ruthies12]

I have to agree with OP, you will save a ton of money just going ahead and getting something you will be happy with for years to come rather than thinking that something is good enough. The value on these things drop sooooo much once it is driven off the lot, you will always lose out when trading those in.

 

[jeepnjudy]

With three kids you may want to consider a bunkhouse model travel trailer. This gives you the most sleeping without making the dining room table into a bed every night.

RV show, visit dealerships, look at the manufacturers online at floorplans. Best of luck, it's a lot of work to decide. Take your time an make sure it is the right one.

I would agree with the bunk model. We recently upgraded to a Jayco and made the decision based on the floor plan. We usually camp with 6-7 family members and the bunks are nice so we are not having to use the dining room table to sleep on. Plenty of room for all of us!

 

[StormyCA]

Another vote for a bunkhouse model. And for being sure you don't 'settle' but get the features you really want.

Another thing to consider is that with the ultralight trailers, they are generally pretty small & very compact inside. Some of our family friends (one a couple, the other a family with 2 teenagers & dogs) pull ultralights with SUVs. What we've noticed is that most of their time is spent outside the trailer. The inside is just too small (especially for the family with kids) to spend time lounging around inside. This isn't a big deal normally since most camping IS outside, but can be difficult during bad weather or when they're trying to all get ready at the same time. Not so much the couple, but my BFF says it's like a 'clown car' when she, her DH, and their kids are all inside trying to get dressed etc. At this point, they usually pitch a tent for their son (he's 19) as he wants his own space. Your kids are a little young for that right now, but it'll happen. We originally towed a 26' & now a 31' and our boys wanted their own tent as soon as they hit about 14.

Oh, and the holding tanks for ultralights are VERY small!! Not a big deal if you only do full hookups, but a MAJOR deal if you 'dry camp'!!!

 

[jbrostek]

When you go looking, you may find you need at least a half ton truck (tundra) to be comfortable with that many staying in the RV. The alternative is looking at a bunk house class A and towing the mini van behind it on a dolly. Yes its another engine to maintain, but you have to look at what is out there and see what is best for your needs.

 

[parrothead64]

A couple of suggestions, when looking at bunks, make sure your kids are going to fit in their teen years. They may have plenty of space now, but when they are bigger they may be cramped. Most bunk models are going to require a bigger truck especially with slide outs, that is where the weight is.
Last thing, is I have a family of 5 plus my mother and we have a 3 bed hybrid (Jayco X23F). It has a slide out and there is more than enough room, also it goes from 25 ft towing to 29 feet opened up lengthwise. Just another model for you to consider. Good luck in your search.

 

[Boomer1]

We have been RVing with our three children since they were 9,7, and 5. Our first RV was a travel trailer with two bunks and no slides. Making the sofa into a bed each night was an inconvience and it meant everyone had to go to bed and get up at the same time.
Our second RV had a slide out and a bunk house. A great improvement and we enjoyed it for 5 years. At present we have a 39 ft. Fifth wheel with a bunk house and five slides. It provides sufficient space for what is now a family of 5 adults.
I would agree with previous posts, do your research, visit shows and dealers. Think about how you wish to vacation, what works for your family. As your children grow you may find that needs will change as well. If your budget allows think about when you may need to upgrade.
Have fun.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We recently traded in our pop-up for a hybrid trailer. It's 23 ft. without the beds extended (2 queens)and has a slide out. We can pull it with our Pathfinder. We looked at regular travel trailers, but they had so little living space because of the bedroom. None that were decent sized could be pulled with an SUV. The couch would be an easy make up for your 4 year old; not sure if the 2 older kids would want to share a bed.

 

[North of Mouse]

We recently traded in our pop-up for a hybrid trailer. It's 23 ft. without the beds extended (2 queens)and has a slide out. We can pull it with our Pathfinder. We looked at regular travel trailers, but they had so little living space because of the bedroom. None that were decent sized could be pulled with an SUV. The couch would be an easy make up for your 4 year old; not sure if the 2 older kids would want to share a bed.

Sounds like a great trade up - lots of open - up living space for the folded length of trailer, also would be easier to store. I am surprised that a Pathfinder could tow it fully loaded though, with three slides! May you have many happy camping trips.

 

[staceyrhood]

We have a hybrid too and just love it! It is so roomy. 2 queen beds and the couch pulls out to a bed and the table makes a bed also. We have the rockwood roo 23ikss. We also looked at one that was a roo with 3 queen size beds too, but we did not need that many. Ours has a great kitchen with an island and 2 slides. Good luck! There are so many great ones to choose from

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I am surprised that a Pathfinder could tow it fully loaded though, with three slides!

Only 1 slide. We won't travel with water, and it's just the 2 of us (and a dog) so we don't have much stuff.

We have the rockwood roo 23ikss

We have the 23s. I love your model with the island, but it was too heavy for our Pathfinder (which we had just bought) to pull.

 

[North of Mouse]

Only 1 slide. We won't travel with water, and it's just the 2 of us (and a dog) so we don't have much stuff.

Oh, I was counting the end slides also!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Oh, I was counting the end slides also!

The ends are really just fold down beds like our pop-up - not much weight there. We've only pulled it home from the dealer, but we were going through the mountains of PA and my husband said it didn't feel much different than pulling the pop-up. We're about 800 pounds under the towing capacity of the Pathfinder; if we had a family traveling with us we would never be able to do it.

 

[North of Mouse]

The ends are really just fold down beds like our pop-up - not much weight there. We've only pulled it home from the dealer, but we were going through the mountains of PA and my husband said it didn't feel much different than pulling the pop-up. We're about 800 pounds under the towing capacity of the Pathfinder; if we had a family traveling with us we would never be able to do it.

 

[rajak73]

For a "lite" you are giving up a slide somewhere, bedroom maybe, that's how they are considered lite, less weight of additional slides. I would suggest going to sports shows, also find a dealer, (we usually went on a Saturday, all the units were unlocked) and just browse. Go into most everything, even if you don't think you will like it. You will find things you really like and some things you really don't like. Just don't rush to buy one. We have took a camera and took pictures of insides of some when we have shopped before and looked closer after we have been home. Also get a idea of what you want or need before you go, ie, more kitchen area, more living area, etc. The one we just purchased we opted for 2 living room slides and a little smaller kitchen. It's just me and DW and we decided we would like more living area. Also if you are traveling and want to eat at a rest area, etc, see if the refridge can be opened with the slides in, (my DS found that out after they bought their first one.) Have fun shopping, we spent many a weekends at camper dealers checking out different campers before we bought.