moving on up

tdiller wrote:
We've been using a popup for years and now that the kids are grown it's time for some more creature comforts. I'm new to this whole travel trailer thing and have a boatload of questions. I've searched most of the forums and still have not found all the answers. 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've been camping most of my life, Tenting as a kid, Driving from Chicago to Acapulco in a vw camper and now with a pup.

So here's my questions.
1. I'm trying to convince my wife that something about 24 foot would be easier to tow and have seen some nice ones like the passport 199. I made the mistake of stopping at a rv place yesterday and saw a funfinder which I showed the floorplan to my wife. She really likes the floorplan but this trailer is 29 foot. How many folks regularly tow such a long unit? And how often? is it just one trip a year or what? I would think that this would be something to park at a seasonal campground.

2. She who must be obeyed often mentions taking the grandkids with. Of course that would mean our son and his wife as well. She likes the idea of more sleeping capacity of the longer camper. The passport can sleep 4. The funfinder probably 6 or so. How often do those of you with grandkids actually bring them with? And do the grandkid's mom and dad always come along? When I was a kid and we camped in the vw camper us kids always pitched our own smaller tent so sleeping space was not an issue.

3. We don't often get into mountainous regions but the difference in weight between the passport and funfinder is about 1500 pounds. Is it that noticeable? I'm thinking it is not as bad in the flatlands but when we get into the hills going west or east of the midwest what can we expect?

Thanks in advance for all your assistance

OK since I have learned a lot hear already I thuoght I would post some findings.

GCVW is 15650
GVWR is 6900
weight is listed as 5315

figure passengers and other items in the truck to 700

at 14% tongue weight I could tow 6357
at 15% tongue weight I could tow 5933

So easily the passport and with careful loading I could tow the funfinder. I'm leaning on the passport right now based on the others posting about how they deal with the kids/grandkids about letting them use whatever space my wife and I are not using or tents.