Is a HTT right for us? And a few other ??'s

SurfnCamp wrote:
Looking for a little guidance on improving our camping experiences (and thank you in advance for indulging a low-winded first post!):

as a former SoCaler and still a surfer for nearly 40 years, here's my answers:

Now my questions
1. Is setup and tear-down that significantly different between a PUP and HTT to the extent that it changes your perception of the level of effort? Again, we're hoping that ease of use translates into more use...
as a owner of popups for 17 years, i can say that there is much less setup/tear-down. there are other things necessary different than popups but not strenuous nor requiring to be done immediately. much more relaxed effort.


2. Are HTTs significantly more comfortable (in maintaining temperature) then a high-wall PUP with a good furnace and A/C? More comfort for DW & DD equals more trips for me!
they do maintain temps better but you'll still need to use Popup Gizmos/solar blankets and Reflectix if you want the most efficiency.

3. We really like the open, airy feeling of our PUP. The limited experience we've had with TTs makes us appreciate how bright our PUP is. Are there HTTs that are more "PUP-like" in this regard?
they are more PUP-like but won't be as airy as one. basically somewhere in between a popup and TT.

4. What are some of the must-have/should have features/options on HTT? i.e. do all HTTs allow access to bathroom and fridge/kitchen when turtled?
a slideout was a must for us. not all hybrids allow access to bathroom/kitchen/fridge but most do. a sofa allows for "turtling" so that you can sleep on the dinette and the sofa when you don't want to setup the canvas bunk ends.

5. Is it likely that our Yamaha EF2400iS 2400 watt generator will power the A/C on newer generation HTTs (elevation dependent of course)? This gennie will NOT power the AC on our current PUP (has older Coleman 15K BTU unit) even at sea level.
my Honda 2000w will run the Dometic 13.5k a/c on my Roo. so i expect your 2400 will run most modern 13.5k a/c's easily.

6. Do you have any specifics makes and models to recommend? We are not looking to go too big at the moment. We'd like to be able to use our current TV for the next year and possibly upgrade to a Tundra or other full-size truck after that. But even then, I don't see us needing a huge trailer just for the 3 of us (and possibly some tag-alongs periodically).
there's a saying in the RV community:"buy your second trailer, first".
as far as brands, it's like asking which are the best trucks or which is the best football team.
every brand has its fans and haters. there's no substitute for YOU looking at all the brands/models and finding what works for you and your family. it's a very subjective process.
i would recommend a 19' tandem axle hybrid. but since you live on the West Coast, expect very high prices for used and new, compared to the rest of the country. we drove to Chicago and back to save a lot of money on our hybrid.

Thanks for any and all thoughts on this!