Help us pick!!

We're also on our 2nd hybrid. The 1st was a Thor Wanderer but it was destroyed by a Colorado hail storm. We didn't even consider anything besides another hybrid, the "sleeping outdoors" feel is very nice, I couldn't imagine being enclosed! Like others, we've been in below freezing temperatures and simply hit the furnace when we crawl out from under our blankets.

To each their own but we'll be hybrid users until something forces us into an alternative which will be a day for us.

Thanks all!
We've been through some pretty heavy rain storms with our pop up, so we're experienced in having to care for canvass in inclement weather.
Toy Haulers have never really been on our radar, but something definitely worth looking into :)

We love our hybrid. I love how much air flow and light we get through all the windows. We like the tent feel with the comforts of a TT. We have camped in 20F weather and in 95+F weather with no issues. With hookups, the AC will freeze us out of the trailer.

When we moved from a popup to a hybrid, we had a 13 y.o. boy and a 9 y.o. girl. We decided we wanted them to have their own space. That lead us directly to the 3 bed hybrids. We ended up getting the Rockwood Roo 233S. We love this camper. We have 3 queen beds and my daughter loves the privacy of the back bunk.

I believe that most of the brands have hybrids with 3 bunks.

We're on our 2nd hybrid. The first was an '03 Jayco Kiwi 17a that we had for 10 years. As said above anyone who tells you all the negatives and has never owned one and simply doesn't know how nice and easy hybrids really are. A common misconception is that a hybrid is just a glorified pop-up. They are a different animal entirely. We wouldn't have it any other way right now.

As said, no more poles. It takes about only a few minutes to open and setup a bed. Less than 10 minutes for both beds combined. When we have had to pack up wet, if it's not raining we simply dry off the bunk ends with a towel. They are covered in vinyl and the water does not soak in like traditional canvas. Even packing while raining, simply open them up for a bit when returning home and they dry off fast.

We have camped as low as 28f and as hot as 100f. Plenty comfortable.

We've never had leaks, not from the bunks anyway. Our old one developed a leak on a roof seam when it was about 7 years old. I caught it early and sealed it with Eternabond tape. But that's an issue that any trailer can have.

What ever you pick you'll enjoy it even more than your pop-up.

We've had our HTT since 2007 and love it. Many happy memories! We are from the PNW and so we've been thru downpours, blazing sun (100+ degrees) and freezing weather (below 30) and haven't had any issues. We've even pulled it through a trip thru the SW (3,000+ mile trip). Care for it and it will pose no more issues than any other trailer (manufacturing issues aside).

With the tow vehicle you have, I'd think the HTT would be more in the zone of capability than the trailer, especially with four people. But I haven't compared the specs of your vehicle and the two different trailers.

My two cents.

First, we too are from Maine. We are now on our third hybrid, and we don't see the day when we will upgrade.

That salesman will point out everything wrong with an hybrid for the simple reason he's not educated on what the HTT look like today, and he wants to make a sale.....period!

Hybrids nowadays are so much easier to setup. Open those front and back doors and install the poles inside, and that is all.....no more poles to support the doors, or velcro to attach the tents.

We have a 2016 Rockwood Roo 23WS, and that model has a private bedroom in the back with a wardrobe.......simply beautiful hybrid.
Another Thing.....Only Popups and Hybrids have two queen size beds.

Those are all the reasons why we love our HTT, but like many are mentioning: it is not for everyone.

All the Best
Dre

Check out this KZ toy hauler with a fold out bunk. The sofa in the back makes a full size bed. You might not even need to use the fold out bunk. this KZ toy hauler

Take a look at other small toy haulers. You can use the "toy" space for some versatile sleeping arrangements.

We love our hybrid and I have not seen a camper (new or used) yet that I would rather have.

Now I am doing everything I possibly can to make it last forever!

Note - We have camped in it in 20 degree weather many times. We live in it 4 months out of the year. STILL would not trade it for any other I have ever seen.

I've owned a pop-up and two travel trailers prior to this one. I love how the beds do not take up precious floor space.

It really does come down to what YOU prefer.

Have FUN!

When we decided to switch from a pop-up to a TT, we first considered HTT's. Like you, we liked the smaller footprint, and the idea of having the tent ends, still gave us that open feeling.

But then reality finally sat in when we remembered what we did not like about having a pop-up in the first place ... rain and cold. With an HTT, if it's raining, you're still closing up shop wet. And for cold weather camping, it's still more challenging to heat.

Granted, they have come a long way with them since 2004, and folks with HTT's have found creative ways to keep them warm and keep water out. For us though, the ease of just parking and going with the extra set-up of tent ends, wet, and cold was enough to steer us to a regular hard sided trailer.

Sometimes, I miss the pop-up, the open outdoor (tent) feeling. But I've never missed the work it takes to set up or take down.

Another consideration was the usability of the trailer while in tow. If you are planning on traveling distances that require overnights on-the-road, you might not always be able to pull the bunk-ends out. Especially with kids, where does everyone sleep?

This was also another reason why we opted for the TT instead of the HTT.

Good luck in your choice. It's your choice, I can only share my reasons why we opted for something else. But there are many happy HTT's owners out there too!

With EVERY RV style, there are positives and negatives. Like I said, one negative of a regular TT is the absence of that open feeling, and lack of wind that can pass through. Trailers just don't provide enough wind-air flow.