newbie who would appreciate some advice

Hello to everyone,

first timer getting ready to buy a camper.

Have done lots of research, won't bore you with the details but let me give you the short short version...

Would like to get a camper for family time with wife, three little kids, and the greatest dog to every pee on a shrub. Primarily weekend escapes to nature across Utah, Idaho, Wyoming area. Would plan for some longer trips but not the primary intent.

The image originally in my head was the 1960's era "breadloaf" camper that I grew up with. Months of talking to friends with campers and many helpful forum members across the web have led me to change my vision....

I am now looking at a toy hauler fifth wheel. Primarily becuase everyone I talked to ended up moving up from smaller campers to larger ones and ended up with what I'm considering now. The toy hauler is becuase we will want to get toys later, but for now it's a separate, child proof, area that will keep my wife sane (and seems to be a better and more flexible option than a bunkhouse).
In preparation I've already purchased a 2011 2500 duramax and an Andersen Ultimate fifth Wheel Hitch.

SOOOOOO,
I am still really concerned about the size of the potential camper because of both pulling it around and the limits it will impose on where we can go with it. I would like to ask the forum members for advice and thoughts around this.

I've pretty much decided on going with one of two models (Though, would be very willing to look at others if someone had a suggestion that fit in the same price bracket);

(Forest River) Palomino Puma Unleashed 351THSS (aluminum siding, only 12 feet tall, 37 feet long, great reliability and build quality reviews)

(Heartland)Torque TQ325SS (fiberglass siding, 13'3" tall, 38'7" long, have heard good things about it, seems to be reliable and good quality)

My wife and I don't need anything super luxurious and were originally attracted to the PUMA because it is priced really well for what you get and had such good reviews from owners. It also has the old school U-shaped couch around a dinette that we really like.
After pricing it out with a generator and adding the Happijack opposing couches elevator bed option, it started to be not such a fantastic discount from other brands and models however.

That's how we ended up looking at the Torque. For about 6 to 7K more than the PUma, we could get the Torque, which seems to be a much nicer camper. It seems to have a nicer interior, includes two extra slides, and even has a second bathroom.

So this is where my questions come in.

Any recommendations between the two models?

I'm really concerned about size. Id love to go smaller if possible. Should the extra foot and a half of the Torque concern me? what about the extra height? at a foot and a falf taller, will this be much more inconvenient than the PUma?

How much extra pin weight should I plan on when I load the camper up? if I load it evenly front to back, will it affect pin weight at all?

Also,
Any thoughts on new vs used would be appreciated. I have so far been committed to buying new as I want something fairly new anyway and don't want to inherit someones camper that has serious problems.


thanks for any help. I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future.

Best Regards,