Best family boondocking rigs?
We currently have a 29' (33' overall) travel trailer. The clearance is decent, but the long overhang behind the axles (and to a degree in front of the axles) makes off-road maneuvering tough. I can'...
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Our Pioneer 180ck is well suited for smaller campgrounds and dry camping, which is what we do most of the time. For us it is the perfect compromise in length and living space vs fitting in small campgrounds and out of the way places. It is an "entry" model, and while materials are obviously not expensive, build quality is decent, it is also a bit heavy for its size. We have 3 kids, and DWs aunt often comes along. Can sleep up to 7 with single over double in back, dinnette (72" long enough for most adults) and jacknife sofa. Yes it can get a bit snug, but we quickly worked out a plan where all the stuff goes during the day and how it gets moved at night. It literally only takes a couple minutes to drop the sofa, the dinette, and pull out the kids sleeping bags. Hardest part is getting the kids settled so they go to sleep!
Our 180 ck is 22'4" ball to bumper
HD solid steel ladder frame
Spring over axle for rediculous ground clearance. Wheels do not protrude into the box, so no wheel well penetrations required.
The waste outlet is right next to the rear tire so it won't get broken off going through a driveway
Load range D tires, no where near max even if TT ever hit 5900lb GVWR
Aluminium exterior. No delam and I can repair if I need to
No slide, a good thing in my mind for strength and ridgidity while on dirt roads.
3x30lb propane tanks and room for my 2x6V GC2 batteries for 230AH
50G fresh (heated) 40G grey 40G black tanks
Ducted heat with lower draw furnace (4.6A when running vs more common 8+) It is also surprisingly quiet compared to non ducted.
Ducted AC
Full standard residential double basin sink and faucet(easy to cover 1/2 for counter space)
Full extension ball bearings slide drawers
Water pump mounted on damping block
Our oven is one of the few that has a built in flame difuser, we don't get the burt on the bottom raw in the middle problem (and we use our oven a lot)
Swing down table, converts from dinette to bed in 15 seconds or less.
Stuff I added
22" LED backlit TV directly powered by 12V
LED replacement lights
Under sink water filter with separate spigot for drinking
Fantastic Fan in bathroom
Dividers and shelfs in all the cupboards
Circulating fan inside the fridge
Mattress topper of course
This model is not made anymore, in fact I think 07 was the last year before the changed to the "spirit" variant which retained the floorplan but lost many of the features that we like on ours. We plan to keep ours a long time. The floorplan is one of the most common in small trailers and most manufactures make it, but some are low to the ground, or have small tanks, etc. You would just have to find one that had features slanted to dry camping.
Good luck in your search, only you and your family can decide where you want to make the compromises
Our 180 ck is 22'4" ball to bumper
HD solid steel ladder frame
Spring over axle for rediculous ground clearance. Wheels do not protrude into the box, so no wheel well penetrations required.
The waste outlet is right next to the rear tire so it won't get broken off going through a driveway
Load range D tires, no where near max even if TT ever hit 5900lb GVWR
Aluminium exterior. No delam and I can repair if I need to
No slide, a good thing in my mind for strength and ridgidity while on dirt roads.
3x30lb propane tanks and room for my 2x6V GC2 batteries for 230AH
50G fresh (heated) 40G grey 40G black tanks
Ducted heat with lower draw furnace (4.6A when running vs more common 8+) It is also surprisingly quiet compared to non ducted.
Ducted AC
Full standard residential double basin sink and faucet(easy to cover 1/2 for counter space)
Full extension ball bearings slide drawers
Water pump mounted on damping block
Our oven is one of the few that has a built in flame difuser, we don't get the burt on the bottom raw in the middle problem (and we use our oven a lot)
Swing down table, converts from dinette to bed in 15 seconds or less.
Stuff I added
22" LED backlit TV directly powered by 12V
LED replacement lights
Under sink water filter with separate spigot for drinking
Fantastic Fan in bathroom
Dividers and shelfs in all the cupboards
Circulating fan inside the fridge
Mattress topper of course
This model is not made anymore, in fact I think 07 was the last year before the changed to the "spirit" variant which retained the floorplan but lost many of the features that we like on ours. We plan to keep ours a long time. The floorplan is one of the most common in small trailers and most manufactures make it, but some are low to the ground, or have small tanks, etc. You would just have to find one that had features slanted to dry camping.
Good luck in your search, only you and your family can decide where you want to make the compromises
