Went camper lusting today

[3girlsfun]

On our way home from Atlanta today we stopped at a camper store to look at what are choices for upgrading are. As I told ya'll we have a 4X4, Yukon XL, so, no 5th wheel for now. Anyway, we have three children, so we are looking at "bunkhouses," as we want everyone to have their own bed.

There are several different choices, and we found one we love, however, I have a question to those of you who have bunkhouses. The top "bunk" is over a full size bed, great! Two girls could share a bed, and then one sleep up top. However, the bed uptop is really small. How would you put some kind of bed rail on the top bunk so that my DD doesn't fall off if she were to roll vigorously? Just seems a little shady.

Also, if you go with the bunk house, there was NO kitchen, and I mean, NO kitchen space. Anyone have a bunk house that has a kitchen with any sort of storage or counter space?

Any other suggestions for a TT with 4 beds? My DH refuses to upgrade and then still put a child to sleep on the dining table.

Thanks for the help! And I had a great time looking, even in 96 degree weather with 3 kids!

 

[ChateauFive]

There are a lot of TT out there that offer both a good size kitchen and a BH...when we had out TT and the boys were little we used a bed rail, the kind that slips under the mattress, worked great no one ever fell out unless they wanted to.....don't ask

Forest River
Fleetwood
Jayco

 

[3girlsfun]

I understand about falling out on purpose....did that a few times in my parents old TT!!! Our bunk was above our parents bed. We would get in, and roll out when they weren't in bed, or looking!

Wow, that thing was crazy, when we were sleeping in that thing there was about 6 inches above our bodies when sleeping, I can't believe we slept there!

 

[njschultz7]

I have been lusting for our first RV for a couple years... working 2 jobs to pay cash for it... 31' puma Kbhss - we have 5 children, 4 boys, and 1 girl. We enjoy tent camping, and have just "discovered" the joy of an air-conditioner in a tent... Fort Wilderness at the end of next year if I get my vacation time aproved from work.

below is a link tot he unit... they run about $14,000, I have seem them as low as $12,000.



http://www.hitchrv.com/inventory/76032/New-2010-Palomino-Puma-31_KBHSS.aspx

 

[3girlsfun]

I looked at a couple of the Puma TT's today. They are nice. The sales person I talked with today said they are heavier, wood frames, not aluminum. What are the advantages to this, if there are other versions that are basically the same layout (we looked at a Keystone that was almost identical, weighed less, aluminum frame)?

I get very overwhelmed when salesmen are talking with me, which is nutty, bc my DH is a salesman!!! Of course, he eats it up, then tells me all the "tricks" they are trying to pull on me. Thank goodness he goes shopping with me! He just stands by quietly, smiles, and says, "Ohh, I let her make all the decisions." LOL!!!!

 

[LONE-STAR]

I have been lusting for our first RV for a couple years... working 2 jobs to pay cash for it... 31' puma Kbhss - we have 5 children, 4 boys, and 1 girl. We enjoy tent camping, and have just "discovered" the joy of an air-conditioner in a tent... Fort Wilderness at the end of next year if I get my vacation time aproved from work.

below is a link tot he unit... they run about $14,000, I have seem them as low as $12,000.



http://www.hitchrv.com/inventory/76032/New-2010-Palomino-Puma-31_KBHSS.aspx

If we didn't need a toy that's the floor plan I like. We went with the wolfpack 30wp but its heavy. Is rated to sleep 8 people but it will due 10.

 

[njschultz7]

I believe that Jayco makes a very similar model, and a lot lighter, but much more $$.

We will have a Ford E350, that will pull about anything other than a 5th wheel so the weight wasn't a deal breaker. That is why we are buying that particular van at the end of this summer.

I like the 2009 model, I don't like the outside kitchen, I could use the storage more than the kitchen, and that also brings the $$ down a little.

 

[3girlsfun]

We are planning on going to a local (HUGE) RV store on Saturday or Sunday of this upcoming weekend....they have a little of everything, so, that should help. It is very overwhelming.

 

[LONE-STAR]

I believe that Jayco makes a very similar model, and a lot lighter, but much more $$.

We will have a Ford E350, that will pull about anything other than a 5th wheel so the weight wasn't a deal breaker. That is why we are buying that particular van at the end of this summer.

I like the 2009 model, I don't like the outside kitchen, I could use the storage more than the kitchen, and that also brings the $$ down a little.

I love the idea of the out door kitchen it would be so useful

 

[3girlsfun]

Ohh, and yes, I the outdoor kitchen idea! OMG, I wouldn't feel isolated when I was "cooking" while camping. Which, is one of the things I hate about cooking while camping/vacationing! To be outside while DH is grilling, and I am cooking up a few sides, that is awesome! Not to mention having a "beer and wine" fridge!

 

[WDWFWfan]

Watch your weight! Most TT's of the bunk house size will be pushing the weight limits of your tow vehicle (assuming 1/2 ton). Don't consider dry weight, remember that the trailer and the TV will be loaded when towing...gas bottles, batteries, options, gear, luggage, passengers, etc.

 

[njschultz7]

I wouldn't feel isolated when I was "cooking" while camping.

I never thought of that, maybe the outside kitchen is worth the extra $$

I might even consider financing... Maybe not.

Your getting me all stoked about going !! I love this Board !!!!!

 

[Disney Bunny]

Ohh, and yes, I the outdoor kitchen idea! OMG, I wouldn't feel isolated when I was "cooking" while camping. Which, is one of the things I hate about cooking while camping/vacationing! To be outside while DH is grilling, and I am cooking up a few sides, that is awesome! Not to mention having a "beer and wine" fridge!

Why spend hundreds more for a camper with an outdoor kitchen when you can spend about $50 and buy a Coleman 2 burner propane stove for outside use? That's what we did......I hate to heat up the inside of the camper cooking during hot summer months and I agree that it's nice to be able to hang out with DH while he grills and I fix the sides.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Most of our cooking is outdoors - grilling and our camper has a small fold out two burner stove and sink outside. I have seen some of the large outdoor kitchens that include refrigerators, but that is a bit much for me and an extra appliance to maintain. Other than what is microwaved, we seldom use the kitchen indoors.

 

[figmentfan1]

I agree about the kitchen. I have used my stove twice?? We use the grill or our electric griddle OUTSIDE. The only "cooking" I do inside is in the microwave.

Look for something that is "ultralite" or "hyperlite" or similar in the name. These are built with weight in mind. Here is a link to what we have. When we bought it we were towing with an '03 Toyota Tundra 4X4, we have upgraded our truck since to an F-350... so weight isn't an issue- but we are keeping our TT until the kids outgrow it. We have the 26RDB (scroll down a bit). This site also lists dry weight and tongue weight.

http://www.rvingplanet.com/Brands/Hyperlite/Travel-Trailers/Default.aspx


JE

 

[Disney Bunny]

On our way home from Atlanta today we stopped at a camper store to look at what are choices for upgrading are. As I told ya'll we have a 4X4, Yukon XL, so, no 5th wheel for now. Anyway, we have three children, so we are looking at "bunkhouses," as we want everyone to have their own bed.

There are several different choices, and we found one we love, however, I have a question to those of you who have bunkhouses. The top "bunk" is over a full size bed, great! Two girls could share a bed, and then one sleep up top. However, the bed uptop is really small. How would you put some kind of bed rail on the top bunk so that my DD doesn't fall off if she were to roll vigorously? Just seems a little shady.

Also, if you go with the bunk house, there was NO kitchen, and I mean, NO kitchen space. Anyone have a bunk house that has a kitchen with any sort of storage or counter space?

Any other suggestions for a TT with 4 beds? My DH refuses to upgrade and then still put a child to sleep on the dining table.

Thanks for the help! And I had a great time looking, even in 96 degree weather with 3 kids!

You need to seriously research and KNOW what your tow vehicle is capable of towing before you start seriously looking at campers. There are a lot of factors to consider. Salesmen are notorious for telling you that your camper can tow more than it really should. They are right in that it probably will TOW it okay..... the problem is STOPPING it. You need to make sure that your tow vehicle will control emergency situations vice your camper controlling it. You are going to be very limited as to length and weight of any camper you can safely tow with your current vehicle. You need to take a lot of factors into consideration concerning your tow vehicle: gear ratio, wheelbase, and engine size just to name a few. Does your tow vehicle have an extra water cooler to keep it from overheating? If not, I recommend you install it. A 4 x 4 generally can tow less than one without that feature. Do you have leaf springs in your tow vehicle that are adequate for what you plan to tow? You also need to know what the gross trailer weight (GTW....combination of trailer and cargo) of any camper you are looking at and add it to the total weight of your tow vehicle with fuel, occupants and cargo to make sure you do not exceed the gross combination weight recommended for your tow vehicle.

Take it from someone who has totalled a tow vehicle and TT because we had too much trailer for the tow vehicle and play it safe.

 

[figmentfan1]

You need to seriously research and KNOW what your tow vehicle is capable of towing before you start seriously looking at campers. There are a lot of factors to consider. Salesmen are notorious for telling you that your camper can tow more than it really should. They are right in that it probably will TOW it okay..... the problem is STOPPING it. You need to make sure that your tow vehicle will control emergency situations vice your camper controlling it. You are going to be very limited as to length and weight of any camper you can safely tow with your current vehicle. You need to take a lot of factors into consideration concerning your tow vehicle: gear ratio, wheelbase, and engine size just to name a few. Does your tow vehicle have an extra water cooler to keep it from overheating? If not, I recommend you install it. A 4 x 4 generally can tow less than one without that feature. Do you have leaf springs in your tow vehicle that are adequate for what you plan to tow? You also need to know what the gross trailer weight (GTW....combination of trailer and cargo) of any camper you are looking at and add it to the total weight of your tow vehicle with fuel, occupants and cargo to make sure you do not exceed the gross combination weight recommended for your tow vehicle.

Take it from someone who has totalled a tow vehicle and TT because we had too much trailer for the tow vehicle and play it safe.

GREAT ADVICE! Watch those salesman... they will tell you anything to get you to buy. Get your owner's manual and READ or look at the annual Trailer LIfe towing guide here... http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175

 

[3girlsfun]

How would you suggest estimating how much the "stuff" weighs?

The TT's we looked at yesterday gave us about 3,000 to play with according to our owner's manual. We looked at Ultralites.

 

[Goofyseven]

How would you suggest estimating how much the "stuff" weighs?

The "RULE of Thumb" many use is to add about 1000 pounds for what you will put in the trailer. Also, another good recommendation is to tow only up to 80% of the TV rating, that gives one extra for hills, safety, and confort

 

[3girlsfun]

Ok, great, we were using 1,000 as our "estimate," so that makes me feel good!