Forum Discussion

Hornblower's avatar
Hornblower
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015

Retired, want roomy "portable apartment" for two only

Greetings RVers from a forum newbie "maybe wannabe" looking at retirement options. I seem to have discovered an important gap in the RV market so blatant it almost makes me sense a business opportunity.

Here's what I want: A big, roomy travel trailer or 5th wheel, suitable for a single person or one couple, with an open floorplan, bumpouts and just one bed. To me all those brochures and listings that boast "sleeps 6, 10, 12" just scream, "Go away, you're not our market."

I want to live in the thing for several months at a time and not feel like I'm squeezed into a either a bowling alley or a "silverware drawer" that's all divied up into odd corners and compartments.

I want just one medium bedroom (queen but not necessarily "walk-around"), a full-blown bathroom (don't want to compromise with that), and that's it - no other full or partial partitions. I do want a small oven to cook a frozen pizza, couple burners for coffee, noodles etc., a small sink and a small freezer/fridge - but that's it, I'm not out to feed the multitudes.

In short, I want the thing to feel like a regular living room. This would be traveling apartment for one or two at most, period - not a bunkhouse for whole gang.

I suspect I'm not alone in this pursuit, and also suspect such products exist, but man, the vendors sure do a good job of hiding them from google, etc.

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An aside: Not seeing anything on the market that comes close has me thinking of contracting for a gutted rehab trailer that meets these criteria. That would also be an opportunity to give it an MCM look. Not necessarily authentic MCM though - I'm not a collector - I just like the look. (I have a pink fridge and 'sputnik' lamp in my 1950s house to prove it :-) .)
  • I you haven't done so already...I encourage you to beat the pavement a bit and actually go into some of the rigs that approach your requirements but not meet them on paper. At least for me, it was very different viewing a paper floor plan vs an "in-house" visit!
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    JAYCO has an excellent view page just showing FLOOR PLAN layouts of the variou model trailers...

    A TOYHAULER model has all kinds of open space you can fix up to any number of ideas...

    The resulting RAMP DOOR make for a great raised PATIO setup...
  • We stay fulltime in 31' Trail Bay (see profile pic). Purchased used. We removed the couch as it was not comfortable and put in two light weight recliners. We still love it and it has plenty of room for two and our border collie Duke.
  • We have an Open Range 316RLS TT that sleeps two like a little condo. Queen bed, nice kitchen and living room. We have lived in it for months at a time quite comfortably.
  • My son had a wilderness that had a bedroom in the front and another in the rear.....It was 40' I think.....