Choosing our first travel trailer! Big family

2012Coleman wrote:
Tow capacity is not a number you use to figure out what you can tow travel trailer wise. Tow capacity is determined by pulling a flat trailer with weight in ideal conditions and a driver who's first job is a jockey - with nothing else in the truck. It's not what the truck can pull - it's what it can carry. If your thinking 250/2500, consider a SRW 3500 as you most likely will want a bigger trailer/Fifth wheel in future.

Research Payload.

Good advice on Grand Design products. I've had nothing but good experiences from them including a major repair on my awning done out of warranty, and their willingness to let a mobile repair guy fix a recall issue - yes, they sent a recall notice for a possible electrical issue. Some people on here with an axe to grind will tell you that they are junk - yes stuff can go wrong, but you can learn from their two forums who to talk to to get things that should be resolved - resolved to your satisfaction. You won't get that many places.

For my first TT, I bought an entry level Coleman from camping world. After sitting between uses, I'd open it up and get overwhelmed by off-gassing Formaldehyde. Could not leave clothes or sheets in it - they would become unusable until washed. Camping world had it for warranty repairs in the first month. After not being called a few days after my promised date, I called them. They didn't know where my TT was - wasn't sure they remembered working on it as the tech I was working with had departed the day before.

They finally found it on the used lot where people were going through it and removing things that were in there. Would not accept a claim for missing items or damage caused - the vinyl wood grain on the bathroom cabinet was peeling - like someone pulled on it.

Good luck