moving on up

tdiller wrote:
I'm comfortable with our TV (ram 1500) and don't plan to go more than 1/2-3/4 of its rated capacity for towing.

I'd suggest you first work the numbers for your particular truck, as equipped, as I seriously doubt you'll be anywhere near 50% to 75% of the truck's "rated capacity", whatever you think that may mean. :h With a Ram 1500 you could easily max out it's real world payload capacity long before you get anywhere near exceeding it's GCVWR, particularly anytime there may be more than just two adults in the truck. My advice - get your ducks in a row and know what your particular truck can comfortably tow before you purchase any trailer. ;)

2. She who must be obeyed often mentions taking the grandkids with. Of course that would mean our son and his wife as well.

I'd have to agree with DutchmenSport - buy a trailer that suits you, not someone else that may or may not come along camping with you, otherwise you could well end up paying for and dragging around more camper than you really need. Kids sleeping on the sofa, or dinette, or even the floor isn't going to kill them, neither is having their adult parents sleeping in a tent. We ourselves downsized from a triple bunk bed 27' travel trailer to a 22' couple's model but occasionally our youngest who is now 2nd yr university will decide to tag along so he either sleeps on the sofa or in a compact 2-man tent I keep stored in the trailer just for the purpose. Next summer we expect good friends from Australia to visit and since they want to go camping while they're here they'll be sleeping in a tent - no biggie. JMO, but considering the limitations of your 1/2 ton Ram (yes, it is limited) I'd be looking for a couple's model no more than 25' to 27' in total length (coupler to bumper), no more than ~ 5500 to 6000 lbs loaded and ready to camp - towable with most current 1/2 ton trucks and just that much easier to park on pretty well any campsite. Experience in having been there, done that countless times tells me so. :W