Let's Talk RV's / Travel Trailers

[weecho]

I have been giving some thought into breaking into the world of RVing and travel trailers. This would basically be to visit locations in Texas with my wife and 2 young kids. I have never owned or operated an RV. I've pretty much zoned in on a travel trailer so I will have a vehicle to drive around in once the trailer is parked and hooked up. Probably looking at something in the 25 foot range.

Any one have experience with travel trailers? The only thing I have ever towed is a Uhaul trailer a few times. Is there some type of place that will train one to drive with one of these trailers? I'm most concerned with backing this thing into my driveway via the alley behind my house. I have been looking at the Jayco models on the internet, and they look pretty nice. Any other recommendations, tips, advice, etc?

 

[KazooMan]

A few suggestions:

1. Rent before you buy - and maybe check out several different options. There are a lot of Internet sites re renting if you want to try before you buy.

2. You can always tow a small car behind an RV, so don't get locked in on travel trailers as the only way to ensure available transportation when you get to your camping site. Plus, if you are just headed to the local lake, you can tow your boat behind your RV (and you can't do that with a trailer).

3. Practice driving late at night, when traffic is lighter. And practice on different kinds of roads. Both RV's and trailers act much differently on an expressway compared to State Rd xxx.

 

[UTEE]

I have a travel trailer, a vintage Airstream that I've renovated myself over the past couple of years. My wife and I tent-camped for years, but when our first child came along, I decided that an RV might be a good way to go. And so far, we've gone camping about 3x as often as we used to, even with a toddler and an infant that we now have.

The are obviously advantages and disadvantges to either a motorhome coach, or a travel trailer. If you already have a decent tow vehicle and you don't have a reasonable "toad" (which is the RV word for a car that is "towed" behind a motorhome), then a travel trailer might be best.

On the other hand, if you have a small vehicle that would work as a toad, and you don't already have a larger vehicle that would suffice for towing a travel trailer, then a moho might be the way to go.

One other consideration is that if you have a moho, then your maintenance effectively doubles, because not only do you have normal RV maintenance (systems, running gear, exterior, etc.) but you also have all of the parts of an automobile to maintain (engine, drivetrain, auto electronics).

I am personally partial to the travel trailer, but I already had an SUV tow vehicle that I use for my boat, so I didn't need to make any additonal purchases.

As far as hauling a boat with a moho, it can be done, but then keep in mind that the moho will be the only vehicle you will have to put in and pull out, and backing a large boat trailer down a boat ramp behind a large moho is not the simplest task. People do it successfully, but it's really not ideal, just my opinion of course.

Anyway, I'd strongly encourage anyone who thinks they're interested in RVing to give it a try. As I said, owning our Airstream has tripled the amount of camping we do. In fact, we just got back from a boondocking trip down to Padre Island National Seashore. A quarter-mile of beach all to ourselves, for the low-low price of $10!

Plus, I use the Airstream for football tailgate parties too. Pretty sweet.

Good luck!

 

[UTEE]

Here are a couple of pictures from our trip down to PINS last April. I haven't posted any of them from this past weekend yet, but you'll get the idea.

 

[UTEE]

Ah what the heck, I'm on a roll. Here's a picture of our tailgate party. My buddy's vintage 1972 Winnebago in the foreground, and my Airstream in the background.

And we also took the Airstream to TX-OU last year, you can stay right adjacent to the Fairgrounds and walk or take a 3-minute shuttle.

 

[weecho]

Looks like fun on PINS. I used to surf fish there pretty frequently. Did you have a generator to run an AC on while on PINS? I guess I'm kind of a wimp, but I got to have AC. Wonder how much a generator would cost that could power an AC? And of course i plan to rig it out with Directv for sporting events and such. I already have a sufficient tow vehicle, so trailer makes more sense to me. Going to visit some dealers this weekend.

 

[l00p]

That's awesome, UTEE. Airstreams are cool. You said you have redone some of it in the last two years. I am assuming you mean the inside, right? Would you happen to have any before/after photos?

 

[NCAAFBALLROX]

IMO, a travel trailer is the way to go vs. an RV.

I'll also add to the bit about the maintenance on an RV & point out the depreciation factor (especially on a new one vs. a used). It's huge.

Unless you have a diesel, mileage sucks either way; I think that to make it useful, you either travel less than 1/2 a day from home & stay for 2 days or less... or travel a LONG distance, but are going to base out of one spot for multiple days (like 5 or 6 straight).

We recently traveled to Florida & with my Vortec 350 (Chevy truck), & my mileage probably dropped to around 7 or 8 mpg... & this is for a somewhat light 19' long rig.

As for the renting before you buy, I'd suggest you try to save a few coins & rent from someone on CraigsList as it's significantly cheaper than Rent America or the other places. Heck, if you can stomach the potential headaches, you could always rent yours out as well... just be sure to have an iron clad contract & don't hesitate to say "no" to anyone that seems like a sketchy customer.

BTW, UTee, I'd like to know a bit more about that flag rig you have on the front of the Airstream (cost, how it mounts, a closeup pic if you have one, etc). I imagine it's pretty solid to hold up to the high winds on the coast?

 

[UTEE]

weecho:

Yes, we definitely needed AC this last trip with daytime highs close to 100 and overnight lows still above 80. You can buy cheap, LOUD generators that will drive your A/C for under $400, but to be a good neighbor (and to remain legal in many/most campgrounds) you'll need an inverter-style generator, the really quiet ones like Honda and Yamaha. You can actually see mine in the first beach picture, it's a 3kW Honda that cost $2,000. They're not cheap, that's for sure. My buddy found a used Yamaha 3kW unit on Craigslist for $1,000, so there are ways to cut the cost.

Loopy:

Yes, most of the renovation has been to the interior so far. I've done some polishing to the exterior since those photos were taken, but the vast majority of the work (400+ hours) has been on the interior and structure of the back half. I had to replace all of the old rotten subflooring, cut out old rusted steel frame members, weld in new steel frame members, and rebuild a lot of the furniture. I don't want to thread-jack this one, but I'll round up some photos and start a new thread here on Horn Depot if you're interested.



NCAAFTBLROX:

It's a welded aluminum holder that's made by the welder of a friend of mine up in NY. He has 3-pole and 5-pole units. Mine is attached with u-bolts to the barrel of the tongue jack. My tongue jack is manual, and it's a bit more difficult to mount to an electric tongue jack, but it can be done, just might involved rotating the tongue jack in the hole. I'll look for a close-up to show how mine is mounted, and if you're really interested send me a PM and I'll give you my buddy's e-mail address.

 

[ChiroHorn]

Nice Airstream. Love the flags.

 

[UTEE]

Thanks ChiroHorn, it's been a lot of fun to work on, and even more fun to use.

Just an overall clarification, both travel trailers and motorhomes are classified as RV, which is a more general term. Some people refer to motorhomes as motorcoaches or simply "coaches" but you'll also hear folks refer to travel trailers as "coaches" just to add to the confusion.

weecho:

To address some of your initial questions and concerns, I too had absolutely zero experience with RVs. I've pulled boat trailers pretty much my whole life, and all kinds of utility trailers, but never a travel trailer. It's really not that different, and in some ways much better since TTs have brakes and using weight-distribution hitching and sway control are much more common than in the boating world.

25' is probably a good size for a family of 4, but layout is actually much more important. It's sort of difficult to do having no experience with travel trailers, but try to think about the ways you'd like to use your trailer, and that will help determine the layout that is best for you.

For example, if you plan to use it solely for sleeping, and intend to do all of your cooking and entertaining outside, then more permanent beds are probably better. However, if you want to do a lot of entertaining (camping with friends, tailgate parties, etc.), then convertible beds that are made from dinettes and futon-style sofas might be better for you. Also think about where the bathroom is. If it's at one end or the other, then chances are people will have to walk through a sleeping area to get to it. That's okay, it's the way mine is set up, but it's just something to be aware of.

I don't know much about the brands/quality of new RVs, so I can't help you there. Jaycos are common and seem to work fine. One of my friends has a Dutchmen that he likes a lot.

If you search the dealers and find something you like, be sure to check Craigslist to see if you can get a deal. There are a LOT of people selling luxury items like RVs and boats right now.

 

[Brak]

Make sure you do your research on the appropriate tow vehicle to have to pull your potential trailer. It makes quite a bit of difference to your safety and comfort to be using the right size. Not every salesman is not going to provide the best advice as they are trying to make a sale.

 

[UTEE]

Brak makes a great point.

A lot of RVers will suggest that you actually pick your trailer first, and then find a suitable tow vehicle.

If you already have the tow vehicle that you're set on, then it's important to check the towing capacity, tongue weight, and gross vehicle weight limits for your proposed trailer/TV combination, and make sure that the trailer is under the limits specified for your TV.

 

[weecho]

Appreciate the info. UTEE, I love that Airstream. I'd think about getting me one too, but the news ones are pretty steep, and there is no way in hell I could renovate one. Those generators are expensive, but would be a very good investment as I would like to have the option to boondock also every now and then. Hell, I'm already looking at a $1600 Winegard Directv HD satellite receiver to mount on the top. Turn that sucker on and it automatically finds all the satellites.

As far as a TV, I've got a 2010 Tahoe 4WD with the Tow Package. I think it can tow about 8200lbs. I'd rather stay well under that weight so I'm not pushing the envelope.

 

[UTEE]

The new Airstreams are unbelievably expensive no doubt. That's how I justify all of my renovation expenses to my wife-- I show her the price tags on new models!

The Winegard antennas that auto-locate are sweet, wish we had one for our tailgate party! We just use the old tripod for the Dish, and then when I'm camping we don't have anything other than a DVD player to show movies for the kids.

Your Tahoe should be fine for the size rigs you're looking at. Mine is a 2005 Z71 4WD with tow package, and easily pulls the Airstream, of course vintage rigs are much lighter than the new ones.

 

[BigWill]

"Shitter's Full"

 

[UTEE]

 

[spidey69]

I have a 29 foot class C (this is the 'cab-over' style) with a V-10.

Trailers tend to make the most sense from a $$$ standpoint.

That being said, I love my motorhome. For what I wanted to do, I think it was the only way to go. I knew I wanted to travel long distances (see the country) and not primarily camp locally.

I have been to DC, California and the college world series. I enjoy the long trips with it. In addition to this, several runs to Destin, and other camping.The family has a lot of freedom to be comfortable during these long hauls.

Costs are higher than a trailer, but I don't think the maint. costs are where you get hit the worst. Look at the insurance. Think of it this way. I am spreading my mileage out over an additional vehicle. Most maintenance items are mileage and duty dependent (although some are more age related). Whatever you are using to tow(if you go the trailer route) will see some extreme service and lead to increased maint. costs or shorter life.

My TOAD is my old '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee. You will see a lot of 4WD TOADs as they are generally pretty simple to set up for this purpose. Its worth more as my TOAD than its actual market value.

Used lots are probably a great place to get acquainted with styles and market pricing. I frequented PPL (Houston) several times, although I wound up finding mine in the classifieds.

I could write/talk all day....... If going the trailer route, you might want to explore the FEMA trailers that are flooding the market. Some RV internet boards and some acquaintances have reported good deals and happy with their purchases.

 

[GHoward]

I just bought a 24ft Jayco trailer last month. We'll be full timing in that thing for a few months this fall, All over the country. If you are just using it for weekend in-state trips, I would look into a hybrid trailer. They have fold out sections for the beds. In that regards they are similar to a popup, but are full height so they still have a full toilet and shower. It's a good way to get the space of a 25ftish trailer at 17 or 18ft. It'll be lighter and easier to tow as well. You'll lose a bunch of insulation though. Here's a good example:
link That thing has all the stuff my 24ft trailer has except maybe some storage, and it's almost half as heavy. You could pull that with a v-6 smaller SUV, or a v8 would barely know it's there. Can probably get a used one for a little over half that price.
As far as driving around with a 24fter... it's going to be a PITA. There's nothing you can really do about it, except get out there and gain some experience. You''re going to need at least 1 spotter when backing it in someplace anyways. And depending on how wide your alley is, it may not even be possible.

 

[GHoward]

UTEE: What's it like pulling that thing on the sand? Did you have to put it in 4x4 at all? I would love to spend a few days boondocking on the beach, but I worry about getting stuck. I only have a 4x2.

 

[UTEE]

GHoward:

Mine is 26' long and not too difficult to back. As with anything, practice makes perfect. But of course, if the alley is too tight, then geometry, not experience, will be the limiting factor.


And you should DEFINITELY get down to the beach for some boondocking. Driving on the sand is fine, lots of 2WD vehicles negotiated it with no problems.. I used 4HI but honestly didn't really need to. The first 5 miles of the beach are quite accessible, after that it's 4WD only.

weecho:

I just saw this article on News8Austin's website, it's about the FEMA trailers. Sounds like many of them were never even used, so it might be worth checking out to see if you can get a good deal.

The Link