Buying first camper. Few simple questions...
Found the forum last night and read till 0300. Great info and community here. Wife and I got 9 month old son and 18 month old German Shepherd. All of a sudden, tent camping is losing its luster. Think...
Forum Discussion
This will be the longest reply I have made on any forum ever ;-)
I too am still a relative newbie in the RV world compared to lots of the experience around here. I had lots of the same questions you did when we dove it, and surprisingly enough the same TV. Here is my thoughts...
1) To figure this out correctly you really need to get actual weights of you TV loaded and ready to camp to see how much GCVWR and Cargo Capacity you have left. The primary issue with the Tahoe for us was Cargo Carrying Capacity, by the time you load your family, dog, stuff and TT Tongue Weight there isn't much margin. At the time we were family of 4 (kids 5 and 3) + 2 dogs (boxers). As mentioned we started with a '04 Tahoe 5.3 3:73 4x4 and purchased a Jayco JayFlight 26BH. We were slightly over the GVWR (less that 100 lbs) but fine on each axle rating and GCWV. The 26BH weighed 5300 off the lot, and just under 6000 ready to camp with minimal water. So a 4500 ship weight should be close, but you will still quickly approach one of more of the Tahoe's ratings.
2) We use a generator to recharge batteries whenever we don't have an Elec H/U. You never use a Gen when you have an Elec H/U. We have a Honda EU2000i; great and quiet but, will run everything but the AC.
3) Several ... Biggest is Fuel Economy will tank. On our Tahoe we got ~16 as a daily driver, 8.5-9.5 while towing. There is always some gadget to buy. At first it will be things you consider necessary, the aforementioned generator, EMS/Surge Protection Devices, extra hoses, tools to keep in the trailer. Then it will be the luxury items you see other have in campgrounds; those awning lights, flags, coolers, BBQ, Bike Rack, etc. Lastly you will start to improve you TT; change the lights to LED, High CFM vent fans, Vent Covers, Mattress Toppers, etc.
4) Covered carport would be great. Fully enclosed is nice, but really keeping UV off the roof is the most important. Might be nice if you have 30amp power there to keep you TT plugged in and be able to run the AC when loading/unloading/cleaning.
5) Take you time and look at lots of options. If you really don't want to upgrade TV (which by the way you will even if you don't think you will) I doubt you will many options in >30' range and no bunkhouses with actual bunk rooms. If I could do it all over again I would have immediately upgrade the TV and bought the larger trailer upfront. Although the Tahoe could pull my TT, it really wasn't enjoyable in the Sierras where we take lots of summer trips. Therefore 9 mths after buying the TT I bought the 3/4 Diesel PU I should have had from the beginning. Now our family has grown to add another kid, cousins and friends are often coming along, so now we are looking at larger Bunk Room Style TT. Had I known what I know now I wouldn't have looked at the upgrade from tent to no-slide mid size TT as this huge improvement, but would have looked towards the future and planned better what I would want as my family grew.
5) I have a separate RV policy that provides vacation/storage liability, GAP coverage and roadside assistance. I think separate policies are much better than an adder on you auto. Coverage is less than $300/year
6) I have yet to stay at a KOA. We still go to a lot of the same State Park CG we always used, with a lot fewer sites to choose from, and a few non-KOA privately owned campgrounds ... but none are the parking lot type places you see and read about. We still really enjoy campfires and the natural outdoors. Neither our kids or us are looking for play structures and pools they have all that at home.
Best of luck
I too am still a relative newbie in the RV world compared to lots of the experience around here. I had lots of the same questions you did when we dove it, and surprisingly enough the same TV. Here is my thoughts...
1) To figure this out correctly you really need to get actual weights of you TV loaded and ready to camp to see how much GCVWR and Cargo Capacity you have left. The primary issue with the Tahoe for us was Cargo Carrying Capacity, by the time you load your family, dog, stuff and TT Tongue Weight there isn't much margin. At the time we were family of 4 (kids 5 and 3) + 2 dogs (boxers). As mentioned we started with a '04 Tahoe 5.3 3:73 4x4 and purchased a Jayco JayFlight 26BH. We were slightly over the GVWR (less that 100 lbs) but fine on each axle rating and GCWV. The 26BH weighed 5300 off the lot, and just under 6000 ready to camp with minimal water. So a 4500 ship weight should be close, but you will still quickly approach one of more of the Tahoe's ratings.
2) We use a generator to recharge batteries whenever we don't have an Elec H/U. You never use a Gen when you have an Elec H/U. We have a Honda EU2000i; great and quiet but, will run everything but the AC.
3) Several ... Biggest is Fuel Economy will tank. On our Tahoe we got ~16 as a daily driver, 8.5-9.5 while towing. There is always some gadget to buy. At first it will be things you consider necessary, the aforementioned generator, EMS/Surge Protection Devices, extra hoses, tools to keep in the trailer. Then it will be the luxury items you see other have in campgrounds; those awning lights, flags, coolers, BBQ, Bike Rack, etc. Lastly you will start to improve you TT; change the lights to LED, High CFM vent fans, Vent Covers, Mattress Toppers, etc.
4) Covered carport would be great. Fully enclosed is nice, but really keeping UV off the roof is the most important. Might be nice if you have 30amp power there to keep you TT plugged in and be able to run the AC when loading/unloading/cleaning.
5) Take you time and look at lots of options. If you really don't want to upgrade TV (which by the way you will even if you don't think you will) I doubt you will many options in >30' range and no bunkhouses with actual bunk rooms. If I could do it all over again I would have immediately upgrade the TV and bought the larger trailer upfront. Although the Tahoe could pull my TT, it really wasn't enjoyable in the Sierras where we take lots of summer trips. Therefore 9 mths after buying the TT I bought the 3/4 Diesel PU I should have had from the beginning. Now our family has grown to add another kid, cousins and friends are often coming along, so now we are looking at larger Bunk Room Style TT. Had I known what I know now I wouldn't have looked at the upgrade from tent to no-slide mid size TT as this huge improvement, but would have looked towards the future and planned better what I would want as my family grew.
5) I have a separate RV policy that provides vacation/storage liability, GAP coverage and roadside assistance. I think separate policies are much better than an adder on you auto. Coverage is less than $300/year
6) I have yet to stay at a KOA. We still go to a lot of the same State Park CG we always used, with a lot fewer sites to choose from, and a few non-KOA privately owned campgrounds ... but none are the parking lot type places you see and read about. We still really enjoy campfires and the natural outdoors. Neither our kids or us are looking for play structures and pools they have all that at home.
Best of luck
