What to Look for in Purchasing a Travel Trailer

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Thanks everyone!! I had an upgraded TT on my "wish" list with slide outs. I got worried for a sec that I needed to give that idea up. Yes.. there are slide outs on SO MANY UNITS NOW!!! We travel with two dogs and added floor space would be nice. I appreciate everyone's comments!
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I'll add that we bought our first one on the first day of shopping. We rented for years prior to that so we were not total newbie's. We went to the closest dealer and selected one from the six or so that fit our weight requirement. We just knew we wanted our own and it was time.

We were a little pickier buying the second one. Shopped around for a few weeks at the four local dealers and fell in love with the monster.

It took us almost a year to select the third. We looked at no less that 100 campers and finally realized our perfect camper didn't exist. So we had to settle on what we thought was the best floor plan available. We walked in one that had the perfect kitchen and bath and said this is it. We hate the bedroom but it is what it is. We can deal with it.

There was a lady here the last few months all excited in buying her first camper. She was awarded the Most Post award from a newbie. She over analyzed every aspect of the process. I'm sure she was suffering from analysis paralysis and her brain went into vapor lock from all of it. What ever happened to her?

Point is: Don't over analyze it. Don't climb on top to count how many holes have been cut in the roof. Only you know what you like. When you walk into your camper you will know it and nothing else will really matter.

Pick one and go have fun!

I was in your shoes in 2001. At that time I didn't trust slide-outs or fiberglass. I had a 4.6L F-150 so I had to think light. We bought a 2002 26' Sportsman stick and tin. After 8 years of trouble free camping, no leaks other than the AC seal at year 6, no rot, no soft floors or roof etc. it was time for an upgrade. We wanted more room.

Bought a more capable truck and a 35' Outback with two slides, Luan under fiberglass. Wished I bought slides, large corner shower and outside kitchen from day one. Downside was the 35' beast was a bear to tow. This unit had an over range vent that DID NOT vent outside. What a nightmare. The smoke detector went off every time we cooked anything inside. We could be boiling water and it would go off.

Now my list is floor plan first, construction second and it darn well have an outside vent or I'm not buying it. Outdoor kitchen and shower are handy to have.

While looking again we found an Open Range that had cable slides. I asked about that and the salesman said they do fray but are easy to replace. That was enough to get me to walk away. Are they a bad thing? I don't know, I used to think slides were as well.

The Dung Beetles wrote:
So... slide outs/pop outs are a problem plagued concepts??
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as a whole, not true. maybe in the early days of slideouts/popouts but if you do a search on the subject, this is discussed constantly and the overwhelming majority are pro-slideouts.

if this were true, why has the number of RV's available with slideouts, increased dramatically. anymore they may outnumber the ones without them.

So... slide outs/pop outs are problem plagued concepts?? Are some better/worse then other designs?
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scbwr wrote:
We just went through the process of looking/purchasing a smaller, lighter travel trailer and we spent a lot of time looking at a lot of trailers from many manufacturers. We were hoping to buy a higher end trailer, which seems to be hard to find. We looked at Jayco trailers because of their two year warranty, but found that their light weight trailers had a few shortcomings. We ended up buying a Winnebago Minnie 2201DS http://winnebagotowables.com/models/2014/minnie/2201DS.jpg

Reasons for purchasing:

1) length @ weight met needs - I wanted the trailer to weigh under 6500 lbs. fully loaded.
2) compared to others, fit and finish was better.
3. Ducted AC & heat.
4. More storeage area than any other trailer of same size...great wardrobe and storeage cabinets in bathroom.
5. Corner shower w/door.
6. Outdoor kitchen....very nice feature for the way we like to camp.
7. Maximum lenght awning (19'). Jayco is putting shorter than necessary awnings on many of their light weight trailers.
8. Smooth exterior walls...they're laminated with fiberglass on the outside. Winnebago doesn't really provide any details on their wall construction but so far, I haven't experienced any problems. With laminated walls, I know that I'll have to be diligent about maintaining lap sealant, but my trailer is stored inside when not in use, so that really helps.
9. And, the floorplan is one that meets our needs.
10. Really like the electric awning!

After purchasing the trailer, we took it to the factory to have a roof ladder installed, and factory service was excellent. I've only had a couple of minor issues....some plumbing fittings weren't adequately tightened under the kitchen sink and the kitchen faucet had to be tightened.

But, everyone has their own preferences, so all you can do is look at a lot of trailers and find which units meet your needs and then compare construction and quality of materials.

good luck!

Doesn't have a full couch when the bed is folded up, like if there was a 'Murphy bed'.

Plus, you wouldn't have to gain the floor space with an expensive, heavy, problem-prone slide-out.

The Dung Beetles wrote:

FL Sportsman wrote:
Thanks for the clarification -- luan bad. Tomorrow I'm going to look at a Keystone Premier. Last years model 19ft. Do you have a satellite for your tv and if so, what kind?

I peeked... I LIKED! Keystone Premier 19' 2013
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I see the appeal, but doing it with pop-outs instead of a Murphy bed is more expensive, heavier, and a lot more prone to break-downs, not to mention leaks.

FL Sportsman wrote:
Thanks for the clarification -- luan bad. Tomorrow I'm going to look at a Keystone Premier. Last years model 19ft. Do you have a satellite for your tv and if so, what kind?

I peeked... I LIKED! Keystone Premier 19' 2013
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Thanks for the clarification -- luan bad. Tomorrow I'm going to look at a Keystone Premier. Last years model 19ft. Do you have a satellite for your tv and if so, what kind?

WoodGlue wrote:

Rmack1 wrote:
I'm convinced I have the best 22' trailer made.

Yeah, I'm probably a little first-time-RV-owner struck, but do check out this one;

Forrest River Rockwood 'Mini-Lite'

They have several models of these. Mine has no slide outs, and a Murphy bead. This is a bed that folds up at the head, to lie flat up against the front wall of the trailer, and a couch that serves as a support slides back and up, forming a nice living room style couch, and opening up a good sized piece of floor space in front of it.

There is a lot of storage under the couch, behind a removable kick panel. I have four large, flat-ish plastic bins that I slide in and out. Only down side; you have to fold up the bed to get to them, but that's not so bad, considering the amazing amount of space that you have in what DW and I call 'day mode'.

I really can't figure why the Murphy bed design is not used more in these small RV's. It's such a great space-saver.

The bath stretches across the whole back, and has a small tub, not just a shower. It's nice for just leaning over and washing your hair, as the tub contains splashes better than a shower bottom.

It has a microwave, three burner stove and oven, nice sinks, and beautiful cabinet work.

There is an outside shower, a grill that attaches to the side of the trailer, and hooks up to the propane supply.

I have two Yamaha generators, and they will run the air-conditioner, and the HD TV along with several lights. If I want to run the microwave, I shut off the AC for a minute.

I had a Wineguard 'Traveler' automatic satellite dish installed on the roof, but a portable type that sets up on a tripod would stow under the couch, and would actually give you better options to shoot your sats. If you have DirectTV, you can just take your home receiver with you.

Lot's of other nice features like both electric and propane settings for the hot water heater and fridge, outside speakers, a radio/DVD player, 30 gal black and grey tanks, 37 gallon fresh water, and the dinette turns into a kid bed. Our two boxers sleep on that. Well, most of the time.

Is it a stick and tin or a fiberglass & luaun type of trailer?

Thanks,

WoodGlue

I'd have to guess the latter. It's a 2013 model.

It has a really nice floor. Very tough, stain resistant, waterproof tiles that look like stone. The whole trailer only weighs 36000 lbs dry.