On the payload of the Pathfinder, in fact I did recheck it last night, and I'm not sure where that sticker gets its ideas from; capacity may be significantly less (my first guess, and I will look into this further, is that the sticker uses true dry/driverless weight, so carrying capacity has to include all humans, cargo, and 20gal tank of gas, while but I will absolutely research further, I promise). I didn't actually mean to shut down conversation on that aspect, I just felt newbed at and got defensive. I remain moderately confident that my gvwr aims for a trailer are realistic, and welcome additional math.
Let me give some more details! Probably way too many...
I am a solo adult, kids are girls, 12 and 15, none of us are huge people. We've got a 50lb permanent dog, and an 80lb guide dog "puppy in training" who is scheduled to go away for real training in mid-winter (and if he succeeds, he will not come back to us). For the past three years we've gone camping with a group of families 3-4 times per year, 5-7 nights per trip (we homeschool, and these are spring and fall trips). I'm done with sleeping in a tent, on account of old and cranky. I expect the 3-4 trips per year to continue, and hope to take road trips to take the kids to see family, but probably staying within the western US. We have a real house which will be replaced soon with a different real house, no intentions of full-timing in a 19' trailer (and though it could become an office annex at home, I'm such a **** slob that it would be best if I did not do this, as prepping the trailer for an actual trip could become onerous).
The campgrounds we have gone to and expect to go to with the group mostly do not have hookups, but as well the culture of the campouts is more tent than RV: I will still be bringing an ez-up and some outdoor kitchen supplies to remain social with the group, as we set up our kitchens all together. The campouts are mostly (but not entirely) near civilization, so mostly don't involve having to completely prepare for boondocking 7 days. All have some level of personal waste facilities, which in my head I plan to encourage the use of over our trailer's built-in facilities. I am not hugely intrepid, though when faced with a problem, I can solve it.
I am definitely looking for other make/model suggestion that would suit us. I think this was the 3500GVWR w/slideout I'd found before, for example:
KZ Sportsmen Classic 181BH (formerly 19BHS)
