Am looking to finally get into the RV world. My goal is to do light camping while traveling with my dirt bikes to races and other off-road events.Some background...my budget is around $10k and I don't want anything larger than 23ft. I don't want anything older than 3 years (2013). I'd like to bring my family (3 of us) and on other occasions friends (3-4)for weekend trips to off-road destinations. I don't want anything larger than 23ft due to storage space.Doing this search on various RV sites gives me many good options from slightly used and even new from $9k-12k. Of course I want the best bang for the buck and want as much space as I can afford, so the small 15ft trailers are out. Also, I don't want a Toy Hauler as they just don't have the living space I would desire for my family (so bikes will go in the truck bed).With all this said, it seems to come down to 2 options. A small travel trailer with a queen and 2 bunk beds OR a Hybrid with 2 fold out tents and a dinette conversion. Either choice gives me the 3-4 sleeping arrangement I desire, BUT I lean toward the Hybrid simply because the sleeping space provides more room. I can't see 2-3 grown men being very comfortable in a bunk house configuration, and you get more floor space with the Hybrid. Going to the travel trailer section everyone says travel trailer, going to the Hybrid section everyone says Hybrid. Looking for sound unbiased advice.

I don't understand hybrids. if I wanted to deal with canvas I would have a popup for max space, easy towing, low weight, low wind resistance ect. with 3 men, a 23ft trailer and that many toys in the bed pay attention to payload on the tow vehicle. don't know what you are pulling with but it will likely limit you.

If you're going to put adults in bunks, measure the bunks carefully.You can also bring a tent for your adult guests. They might even appreciate space of their own. Even you child, depending on age, would enjoy the tent.

I was at an RV show last year and my wife and I stepped into a hybrid, the 1st thing that caught my attention was how clearly I could hear everything outside (people talking, crows in a nearby trees, cars pulling in, etc.). One reason we decided to move away from tents was the desire for peace and quiet at night, I realized right then that a hybrid wan't going to give me that. May sound silly but I'm a light sleeper and I hate sleeping with ear plugs in :D Love my TT, very quiet inside even when my neighbors aren't obeying the 'quiet time'.

The hybrid's popularity is more sleeping space in a smaller, lighter trailer, AND more similar to traditional tent camping (i.e., the canvas, the sounds, etc.)The hard-sided trailer's popularity is a greater "sense" of security (the hard walls make you feel more protected than canvas - although they aren't difficult to break into), minimal to no setup time required, more protection against outside elements (sounds, chance of leaks during rain, etc.).Which one works best is a personal choice. With that, if your family has tent camped and enjoyed it, I would lean towards the hybrid. It allows you to have more sleeping space for the buddy camping. If your family doesn't like tent camping (or has never done it), I would lean towards the hard-sided trailer and tell your buddies they can make the bunks work OR bring a tent or two. Make the choice based on your family's needs first - buddies can make do or get their own trailer, but an unhappy family (especially while catering to buddies) will make you miserable.Another thing to consider is the set-up requirements. If you're going to be using this to sight-see, then the hybrid can become a pain having to setup each night and then take down the next morning before you can move on. If you're going to be camping and staying in one spot for a weekend or longer, then the setup requirements on the hybrid become less of an issue.

I am thinking the extra sleeping space is worth the set-up break down time. Family never camped before (ever). So they won't know the difference between enclosed or tent. I am thinking if you never been spoiled with enclosed, you may not know the difference.Also, not going to ask buddies to come and then tell them to bring their own tent...not going to happen. We are all older (40+) and no one wants to deal with tenting on the ground.It seems most bunks are 72-74". This is just enough for someone under 6ft, but more than 6' and they are hosed. If I am going to invite adult friends, I want them to be comfortable as possible. Seems bunks are geared to kids.

Hybrid with pop outs vs. Travel Trailer with bunks?

24 Replies

95jersey
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
Jebby14 wrote:
what is your tow vehicle?

RAM 2500
APT
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
SoundGuy wrote:

It seems a lot of newbies trying to make this same choice also make the same mistake of focusing on the idea of more overall living space in a hybrid vs a similarly sized travel trailer. Having made this same mistake ourselves (well, my wife more than I because she's the one who insisted :R ) I'd paraphrase APR by saying there's only ONE reason to go with a hybrid - you want the amenities only a travel trailer can offer but absolutely love, adore, salivate over the idea of sleeping under tenting and are willing to put up with the many drawbacks inherent with any hybrid. Don't do this and chances are pretty good you'll regret the decision, eventually. Believe it, this exact scenario has played out for many of us, those "many" who have since moved on to a travel trailer and would much rather just sit in the backyard and not camp at all rather than go back to a hybrid. :R

Well stated, Soundguy. It seems that many RVers that upgrade from popup to hybrid end up in a TT sooner or later.
Jebby14
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
what is your tow vehicle?
95jersey
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
I have the room to dry the ends, just want to keep overall storage space down to a minimum. Also, it is not so much living space as I sat in those bunks and compared to the tent ends they are super cramp. Almost impossible for a 6+ foot person, where the hybrid can accommodate larger adults. If the bunks weren't built just for kids, this would be such an easier decision.
mgirardo
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
We owned a 23' open, 19' closed Rockwood Roo 233. The 233 had 3 fold down beds, one in front, one in back and one on the side in the back. The beds were 60x80 each, so a standard queen size bed. It also had the dinette and fold down sofa.

We went from a tent to a pop-up to the Hybrid (ultimately to a Class C). We liked having the tent ends because we had tent camped for so long. There is no comparison between a pop-up and a Hybrid. A pop-up is nice if you have a very low budget and enjoy living out of coolers and public bathhouses. A hybrid is a completely contained camper. Having the beds on the outside allows you to maximize living space inside. We liked having the tent ends, so for us, it wasn't a concern.

We now have a Class C with bunk house and those bunk beds are not very big. Unless the folks using them are small or do not move while sleeping, they maybe okay. Jayco makes a TT with full size bunks, but it's like 28' long. It's been over 10 years since we bought the hybrid, so maybe the technology has improved, but one problem we had was with the front bed leaking. Even after only a couple years, so that is something to keep an eye out for.

Our hybrid was a breeze to setup, even with 3 beds. Ours did not use poles to support the beds, it had cables attached to the camper. Poles would have taken a little longer to setup. Breaking it down took longer and hopefully it isn't raining while you are breaking it down. Make sure you have storage space to store it open so it can dry out. DO NOT put the camper in storage with wet bed ends.

The choice between a TT and a Hybrid TT comes down to personal choice. A hard sided trailer in the size you are looking for will probably be a little bit more expensive than a hybrid, but since you are looking at used too, it probably won't differ that much.

In the heat, the tent ends help keep the camper warm and in the cold, they help keep the camper cold. Even with the tent ends closed, most Hybrids are not very well insulated. We slept in ours in below freezing weather with all three bunk ends closed and the furnace ran constantly. The A/C will run a lot when it is hot.

-Michael
Jebby14
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
have you considered a high end popup?
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
95jersey wrote:
With all this said, it seems to come down to 2 options. A small travel trailer with a queen and 2 bunk beds OR a Hybrid with 2 fold out tents and a dinette conversion. Either choice gives me the 3-4 sleeping arrangement I desire, BUT I lean toward the Hybrid simply because the sleeping space provides more room. I can't see 2-3 grown men being very comfortable in a bunk house configuration, and you get more floor space with the Hybrid.

It seems a lot of newbies trying to make this same choice also make the same mistake of focusing on the idea of more overall living space in a hybrid vs a similarly sized travel trailer. Having made this same mistake ourselves (well, my wife more than I because she's the one who insisted :R ) I'd paraphrase APR by saying there's only ONE reason to go with a hybrid - you want the amenities only a travel trailer can offer but absolutely love, adore, salivate over the idea of sleeping under tenting and are willing to put up with the many drawbacks inherent with any hybrid. Don't do this and chances are pretty good you'll regret the decision, eventually. Believe it, this exact scenario has played out for many of us, those "many" who have since moved on to a travel trailer and would much rather just sit in the backyard and not camp at all rather than go back to a hybrid. :R
wbwood
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
If weight of the TT is not an issue (being that you have the capability of towing a hard sided camper), then I would go with it.
poppin_fresh
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
I had a small 18ft Starcraft 18SB hybrid for the last three years and just upgraded to a 30ft TT. At the time, the 18ft was all I could tow safely with my SUV so that is what we went with.

Mine featured two queen bunks along with a fold-able dinette, a large 6 cubic foot fridge, a good amount of storage, and decent sized bathroom. My family of 4 was completely comfortable camping in it. Yes, a few times we had to pack it up wet, but just reset it up at home to let it dry out.

While I love my new TT, I have no regrets over the three years we spent in our hybrid, it was way better then no camper at all.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jul 15, 2016
Take a look at this site to give you ideas on floorplans and sizes. Inventory #300 is a 19' 2014 Rockwood Roo which has a nice size bathroom that isn't a 'wet' one which would be a real pain with many people.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/travelt/travel-trailers.php