Forum Discussion

tdiller's avatar
tdiller
Explorer
Nov 08, 2015

moving on up

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

33 Replies

  • A better option for light weight that sleeps many is for example the jayco 213..

    5500 lbs will suit the 1500 well with around 500 TW..

    You get bunks with coach and dinette and king bed..

    Bring the parents and grand kids...

    Jayco 213


    But if the parents and grand kids are a rarity get a bed/dinette/couch type unit. I myself like the opposing couch/dinette.. Or something similar..

    23 RL

    Mine is a rear bath like here.. Works out well.

    22 FQ


    I would not go too big as you will get into weight issues and white knuckle driving....
  • No 29' is not noticeably any different that towing a 24'. Mine is 31' and it tows as well as the 24'. We take is every where we want to go. The only difference is when it comes time to put it on a site. the longer the TT is, the more difficult it will be to find a site it will fit. Hint. You probably won't be able to get it on most of those pup sites you liked so much.

    As for the weight. IF you stay under your tow capacity weights you should have no problem. TTs get lighter every year. My 31' APEX is over 100lbs lighter than the 24' Pioneer it replaced.

    the APEX sleeps 10, and yes at least once a year it is full. Most trips it only sleeps 6 or so.
  • We also went from a pop-up to a TT years ago. We purchase a used 31' Trail-Bay lite and pulled it all over the country From Key West to the UP, and to south-TX) full timing. We also used a 1/2 ton Ford F150 (see pic in profile). You have to recon the gas stations good. But other than that no issues.