Hello All!We are a family of 4 - with two kids ages 7 &10. We currently have a small 20' Aruba Starcraft TT with a pullout queen bed and use the sofa and table for our kids to sleep on. This isn't working as well as it did when they were toddlers!With that in mind & seeing some great deals on TT's, we're looking to upgrade. This is what we are looking for:1. Our price point is around $15K - $18K tops 2. We live in Nebraska - but will only camp late spring / summer / early fall and probably mostly within 2-3 hours of home.3. We'd like something with a more modern/contemporary decor.. an updated look if such a thing exists?4. We drive a 2011 Chevy Tahoe LTZ with a V8 - this is our tow vehicle5. Would like Double bunk beds so the kids can each bring a friend and we don't have to use the living space as a bedroom.So with that laundry list.. and suggestions / recommendations? We've seen some great deals on Patriots and are wondering how well they hold up? Any other brands we should focus on?Thanks!Erin

I don't believe you will find a double bunk TT light enough for the Tahoe or in that price range. The limiting factor in your decision making will be the cargo capacity on the Tahoe. You may have to scale back and watch your weight limits or plan on upgrading your TV.

There are several brands that make a TT that would work. I like the Coachmen Apex...they make a few bunkhouse models that may work for you.Thanks!Jeremiah

Thanks - the tow capacity on our Tahoe is 8500 - so I'd like to stay Gross around 7-7500 tops. We've seen a few patriots with quad bunks on sale around $18k, so looking for others that are similar. Off to check out the Apex! Thanks!!

GCWR,,,1000 lbs under that....good camping is arriving at destination and having something fail, bad camping is not making it to destination because tow vehicle is too small...we all want bigger, but check campgrounds when you are camping and see what people tow with on regular basis.....good luck be safe WDH though can make towing a better experience can also be false sense of security is TVis not large enough.....

Had a Tahoe and it just wasn't a good idea to pull anything over 25' and around 5000# with it. To short a wheel base and its only a light duty 1/2 ton. So we waited until we bought a 3/4 ton Suburban, then bought a 27'TT. Now as we have a good TV we upgraded to a 30' TT at 7500#. This TT would bury the Tahoe. Upgrade your TV first otherwise your not going to be happy or safe on the road.

Looking for a new 28-30' TT.. Recommendations? | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

tbred
Explorer II
Jul 29, 2015
xteacher wrote:
I like this one: Jayco Jay-Flight 26BHS

Jayco also has the lightweight Jayfeather line. Quite a few bunk options and as Jayco is a popular manufacturer you could probably find some gently used in your price range.

Actually if you check on rv trader, there are a few brand new right in your price range.
xteacher
Explorer
Jul 29, 2015
I like this one: Jayco Jay-Flight 26BHS
APT
Explorer
Jul 29, 2015
At 7500 pounds loaded, a TT will have about 1000 pounds of tongue weight. That's the receiver limit when using a weight distributing hitch. If you have 1500 pounds of payload and 1000 pounds of TW, does your family of 4 plus friends weight less than 500 pounds? These are some limits you need to keep in mind. Check your driver's door for the Tire and Loading sticker and note what it has listed for max combined weight of occupants and cargo.

Are you only shopping new? Jayco Jayflight SXL 267BJ and Jay Feather 26BHSW should be in that price range. Here are some more examples.
poppin_fresh
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015
I think you can easily find something you can tow safely and meet most of your needs.

Forest River and Keystone both make lightweight TTs that should fit your requirements (Wildwood X-lite, Hideout, etc.).

Worse case scenario, you might need to skip a floor plan with a slide to save some weight, but even that might not be necessary. We would need more info about your Tahoe to advise further.
Ekkloke
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
Thanks for the info on the Tahoe & towing capacity.. we've seen several towing 28-30' campers at the local camp grounds, so I just figured we were good. Never a good idea to "ASS-ume". :)

We don't have an option to upgrade from the Tahoe right now.. 95% of the time I'm hauling 4 kids to sports & school, and that takes priority over hauling a trailer 3 or 4 times a summer. However.. my step-dad has an '10 Ford F250 that we can borrow when we need to haul the camper, so we're still looking for something in the range I listed above. Trying to find something that doesn't look like my Grandmothers house and isn't a $55,000 Airstream is proving to be more difficult then I imagined...
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
Tow capacity is only part of the equation. You don't have enough available payload in that Tahoe to tow a trailer that big. Check the sticker in the driver door for payload. If it's as high as 1400# I'd be surprised. A 7500# trailer could have a tongue weight of 975 or higher. Add the 100# for the WD hitch and you only have 325# left for your family and "stuff". With growing kids, you'll be over capacity in a heartbeat.

If you go with a trailer that big, you'll be buying a 3/4 ton truck in less than a year.

Have you considered a hybrid trailer with 3 beds? Much more in line with what your Tahoe is capable of.

Jayco X23F
Crabbypatty
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
Had a Tahoe and it just wasn't a good idea to pull anything over 25' and around 5000# with it. To short a wheel base and its only a light duty 1/2 ton. So we waited until we bought a 3/4 ton Suburban, then bought a 27'TT. Now as we have a good TV we upgraded to a 30' TT at 7500#. This TT would bury the Tahoe. Upgrade your TV first otherwise your not going to be happy or safe on the road.
sail2liv
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
GCWR,,,1000 lbs under that....good camping is arriving at destination and having something fail, bad camping is not making it to destination because tow vehicle is too small...we all want bigger, but check campgrounds when you are camping and see what people tow with on regular basis.....good luck be safe WDH though can make towing a better experience can also be false sense of security is TV
is not large enough.....
Ekkloke
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
Thanks - the tow capacity on our Tahoe is 8500 - so I'd like to stay Gross around 7-7500 tops. We've seen a few patriots with quad bunks on sale around $18k, so looking for others that are similar. Off to check out the Apex! Thanks!!
jerem0621
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2015
There are several brands that make a TT that would work.

I like the Coachmen Apex...they make a few bunkhouse models that may work for you.

Thanks!

Jeremiah