School me on travel trailers

[Thumper]

We had to buy one for travel assignments and couldn't figure out what to buy, there's just so many sizes and models to choose from. So we bought the biggest and cheapest one we could find with a floor plan we liked, Cherokee 26RL with one slide, 19k total length is 33'. Berryland in LA had the best price on a 2014 but got a local dealer to match their price with a year newer model 2015. It's now a year old and in 2 more it will have paid for itself and as planned become the lease camper.. We choose a travel trailer over a fithwheel because the travel trailers are lighter weight for towing with a half ton pu.

Next one will be 34' living space with two full opposing slides in the rear and a small slide for the master bed.

[expressfish]

Id stay under 30ft with a 1/2 ton. Sure it can be pulled around, but a 30ft+ is a beast of a trailer to pull around to state parks and such. I went from a 34 to a 28' and love it. Make sure you get a slide and bunks. Inspect the inside corners of the cabinets and such for water damage. Make sure EVERYthing works before you make a purchase.

[Planner]

Lots of great information on here regarding size, options, truck pulling capabilities. One thing I might add... We walked into the dealership last Labor Day and were greeted with a 35% off sale on all 2014 models to liquidate inventory. We had already done tons of research, so we knew exactly what we wanted and bought it. Strangely, they hadn't advertised the sale and I even checked the dealer website before we went over. I tell you this so you know there's plenty of mark up to negotiate.

[BigL]

Cant really add much to this thread other than my 4x4 F150 tows my 28' with one slide well. Get a weight distribution hitch and sway control bars. On days that its windy you will be glad you did.

First trip take the kids to jellystone park in burlesone. We go annually and i just booked our summer trip there earlier today.

[basschump]

I have a 29 jayflight with a slide. Pull with a 1/2 ton tundra- it works but it's not enjoyable for me.
It's hard to know what you want when you haven't previously had a trailer. Everything is a compromise- size, tow ability, features. Go to an rv show. Walk through every model there. Stay in a buddy's. Don't rush. Rv's are easy to buy and hard to sell.

For deer camp- a simple camper might be best. Does camp have electric? Water? Rat infestation?

[Bowtech32]

If it were me I'd find a nice old school one with a metal roof and stay away from any newer model with a rubber roof.

Or fiberglass, I believe the roof is the most important thing. Leak = a lot of headaches

[Hoyt Man]

I'm looking myself and it looks like the fiberglass siding ones are lighter. How well do they hold up compared to the aluminum siding campers?

[DaveC]

School me on travel trailers

I'm looking myself and it looks like the fiberglass siding ones are lighter. How well do they hold up compared to the aluminum siding campers?

Usually the smooth sided trailers have an aluminum shell frame and the corrugated aluminum ones have a wood frame. Not a big deal until you have a small undetected roof leak start rotting the wood behind the walls.
As for which will last longer, I'll leave that to the experts.

We are on our second traveling trailer- 3rd trailer (one was a deer lease only job).
We went with one main slide on or current one and our next will also have a main bedroom slide in addition to the living area slide.

But that will be a while since we just paid ours off .

One thing we looked for was real interior doors instead of the pull curtails and an outdoor kitchen - which we find a nice convenience, but not overly necessary.

[mav918]

Take a look at the Open Range Lite models. The fifth wheel models in the Lite have an interesting hitch design that allows for a 90* turn radius and 1/2 ton towable capibilities with the ultra short 5 1/2' to 6' beds of the newer trucks. This model offers a slick goose neck adapter also, if thats your set up. I pull a 31' fifth wheel with my Tundra Crewmax. We are in the market for a new one. If I pull the trigger, it will be on the Open Range Lite model fifth wheel. They offer bumper pulls as well. One has slides on both sides that allow it to open to the largest area on the market. You won't believe how much space is avaliable in a travel trailer with that dude. If you're serious and don't want to go from 1/2 ton to a bigger truck, do your self a favor and check them out.

[Stan R]

Check out the ppl. Web site

They have 100's then go look inside them
You will find out fast what you do and no not like.

[Drycreek3189]

Be prepared to work on it for as long as you own it. At the most inopportune times.

[wsteffen]

Pay attention to loaded weight. With a 1/2 ton, I'd stay under 5000 lbs. I had a 26 ft and down graded to an 18 ft. It pulls a lot better on the freeways at 75 mph. I have a f150 SC with the 4.6L engine and get around 11 mpg with the trailer.

[Stick-Launcher]

Thank all of you for the great information. I feel like I have an idea of what to look for and what to avoid... I appreciate it!