Help me with choices of new TT!?

I wouldn't buy a TT that didn't have a walk around queen bed. I had a corner bed in my first RV and crawling over someone in the middle of the night got old real quick.

Aimcat wrote:
Towing with an 08 ram 1500 hemi tow max 7900 which all of these are way less!

Which unfortunately doesn't change the fact that your Ram with a rear coil suspension suffers the same lack of payload capacity of all Rams, compared to similar offerings from Ford & GM. I recently turned down a low mileage 2015 Ram Hemi for that very reason as the math showed quite clearly that with us in the truck and only 600 lbs of trailer gross tongue weight the Ram's limited payload capacity would be pretty well tapped out towing our 19', 4600 lb Coachmen. I instead opted for a 2012 Silverado with ~ 400 lbs more payload capacity. :B

As is the case with all vehicles specs can vary considerably so you'd want to identify those for your particular truck and plug those into a tow capacity worksheet so you'll know what your truck is rated to safely tow, not just be assuming.

2008 Ram Specs

All I can say is I have a 2003 Fleetwood Prowler Lynx 722F and bought it brand new in July of 2002 and still own it to this day and it's been a very good rig for the most part. To date, I have not had an appliance fail on me yet.. Knock on wood!

It did have some initial stuff that got fixed under warranty, but that was just a door fitment thing and a shower drain thing..

Also, some cabinet door fitting things, but I fixed those myself..

Other than that, after the first 2 years of owning it, I ended up fixing all those things AGAIN myself and I haven't had a problem with them since I fixed it myself.. I have also made a lot of "custom" changes to make it fit our camping style over the years as well..

So, how good of a DYI person are you?

Can you handle basic home repairs yourself?

Do you mind yearly maintenance routines or will you hire that kind of stuff out?

I fix a lot of stuff around the house too, but do know when to hire out a project if I can't or don't want to tackle it.. Just ask the wife! ha, ha..

Anyway, just about any "RV" out there that does not cost in the mid 6 figure range is gonna be your most cheaply built unit out there...

Been doing this "RV" thing for some time and they are all basically ****... But, I have had the best times of my life doing it and would not trade a second of any of that maintenance time, or repair time, or paying the invoice time for the time I have spent in my "RV".. :)

Good luck!

Mitch

Looking at what you have.. get the oldest but the sturdiest unit you can handle. Do not buy anywhere near newest and prettiest, even though they look nice. You stated you have three dogs. With much respect for your animals, they age campers much faster than most humans.

Just think of quality units that have been well kept, and enjoy every chance you have to not worry about your animals and what does happen and will happen to your rig.

I would recommend an inspection before purchasing. Especially for leaks that may have been poorly repaired, or a roof that needs to be resealed. A good deal on an RV that has hidden water damage is a bad deal indeed. A good inspector will find that and other things you didn't think to ask.

We are new to this but the slide does seem nice and does seem to open it all up more!

Rainier wrote:
If only one of your options has a slide, then I would lean toward that one. I feel like a slide adds so much space. After having a RV without a slide and one with a slide, I would never not have slide. Just my thoughts. As for quality, I don't know much about that - everyone has an opinion based on personal experience. Good luck.

This is very good advice. Personally, I would never own a trailer without a slide, but that's just me, and I've owed a couple. 19 ft trailers get real tight, real quick. IMO, the trailers you're looking at in that price range are all going to be similar quality so pick the floor plan and features you like best. You've got a good tow vehicle so you're in good shape there.

If only one of your options has a slide, then I would lean toward that one. I feel like a slide adds so much space. After having a RV without a slide and one with a slide, I would never not have slide. Just my thoughts. As for quality, I don't know much about that - everyone has an opinion based on personal experience. Good luck.

All of the ones I posted I can buy OTD for 13k or less. Towing with an 08 ram 1500 hemi tow max 7900 which all of these are way less!

First things first; what is your tow vehicle?