Few short TTs at RV show.

Our first "real" rv was 21 feet duel axle with real bathroom and was lots of fun. Had it over 20 years. Lots of miles, couple blow outs, bearings etc. Right size to fit most anywhere. Many good times. Finding 5th wheels in smaller sizes also limited, not many choices but they are out there.

Young families choice but hopefully they understand the larger the TT the fewer government CGs they can use and the more expensive the TV.

America, where bigger is always better and tow vehicles are getting lighter and shorter...

As we think about retirement in a few years we have been starting a search for something just a bit longer than our current RV, a truck camper.

Our TC has a 60x80 bed and a 4 person dinette. All we want is the addition of a couch in a TT or a 5th.

We really value a compact RV (coming from a TC) so we don't want a 38' monster. Not easy to find at all.

SugarHillCTD wrote:
As we think about retirement in a few years we have been starting a search for something just a bit longer than our current RV, a truck camper.

Our TC has a 60x80 bed and a 4 person dinette. All we want is the addition of a couch in a TT or a 5th.

We really value a compact RV (coming from a TC) so we don't want a 38' monster. Not easy to find at all.

I agree. The big push from dealers is towards BIG. Very annoying not to have more selection of small trailers.

And of course you can tow them with a 1/2 ton.

coolmom42 wrote:
I agree. The big push from dealers is towards BIG. Very annoying not to have more selection of small trailers.

I went to the local show last year. Mostly HUGE 5ers and very large Class A.

The price difference between a 26 foot TT and a 34 foot TT is almost a wash....so many buyers go for the biggest one they can afford. Then they join RV.net to ask how their Dakota will tow it, and why is it so hard to back into their driveway....and should they be able to fit at national parks! You all get the idea. Im sure dealers bring what sells so they are just reacting to market trends.

FLY 4 FUN wrote:
The price difference between a 26 foot TT and a 34 foot TT is almost a wash....so many buyers go for the biggest one they can afford. Then they join RV.net to ask how their Dakota will tow it, and why is it so hard to back into their driveway....and should they be able to fit at national parks! You all get the idea.

Good grief, don't say that too loudly or you'll be accused of being a member of the "weight police"! :E

What sells is also influenced by regional preferences and economics ... here in Canada smaller trailers like mine are top sellers these days, no doubt due to the fact that almost all our RVs are manufactured in the US and our Cdn$ is on the negative side of the exchange rate relative to the US$. Everything costs more here - vehicles, gas, campsite fees, you name it, and it all plays into a distinct preference here for smaller trailers that are more affordable than 30'+ models. Sure, big rigs still do sell but not nearly to the degree they do in the US where bigger is always considered "better". Not always. :W

rbpru wrote:
We went to an RV show yesterday and I was surprised that there were very few TTs less than 30 ft. I would say the average was 32 to 34 ft.

A typical RV show. That floor space is not cheap, and it's a huge amount of work for dealers to transport all those units there, set them up, then break them all back down and haul them out at the end of the show.

They make a higher profit percentage on the larger rigs, and since they lease the show space by the sq ft taking larger rigs means less unit to transport, less work, and more profits.

BTW, you're the one paying for that floor space when you buy at an RV show. Its buried in the "special show price".

RV shows aren't there to show you EVERYTHING... they are there to show you what the dealers want to sell. I've noticed that depending upon what show you attend, they have different selections of RV's. We go to Hershey every year and they have a wide selection of a lot of things. Tiny trailers and truck campers up to half million dollar class A rigs. I go to the Dulles, VA show from time to time and they don't really show too many smaller trailers.

Each show markets to a different crowd. Personally I love all the huge trailers, because I see more and more smaller and older campgrounds having vacancies as a result! Our first trailer was a 22' non slide Nash. I could put that trailer on literally any camp spot... even a tent spot if needed. Now we have a camping friend who has a 44' quad slide 5th wheel... he can only go to limited campgrounds with that behemoth!