Thank you all for your tips and suggestions. We are seriously considering two very different trailers but both should serve our needs well. Because there were some questions, My tow vehicle is a 2012 F150 5.0L (3:55) with integrated trailer brake controller. The truck is rated for 7700 lb towing capacity. (5.0L V8 - 360 HP / 380 ft lbs torque)
Trailer #1 - 2008 Forest River Rockwood Ultra Lite 2501SS (total length 27.5 feet)
Fiberglass outer with aluminum construction. 5014 lbs dry (6650 lb GVWR)
Trailer #2 - 2008 Jayco Jayflight 29BHS G2 (total length 30.5 feet)
Aluminum outer with wood construction. 5575 lbs dry (7500 lb GVWR)
Both are immaculately cared for and in excellent shape with very few deficiencies. After careful inspection and thanks to the tips I feel comfortable that neither have water leaks. Both sellers are including the weight distribution hitches unfortunately neither have anti sway but so be it. The Rockwood sellers are asking $1000 more than the Jayco sellers.
We like both trailers and the floor plans work. Both have a queen bed for us and two bunks for kids and both have plenty of storage.
From a construction perspective I do prefer the fiberglass siding with aluminum frame of the Rockwood as, not only is alloy lighter than wood but, it eliminates the worry of wood rot caused by leaks. That said, I suspect, aluminum siding repairs on the Jaco would be much cheaper than Fiberglass siding repairs on the Rockwood but then I suspect this will vary with the size of the repair and may be opposite for small repairs.
The Rockwood also has heated tanks which is nice if we use it in cooler weather but honestly it's unlikely. The Jayco does have insulated tanks although only offers radiant heat from the living space.
With the Rockwood I have a couple of concerns I'm struggling with...
1) No skylight over the shower. I'm a tall guy at 6'3" (75") and the Rockwood only having a 78" high ceiling minus the raised tub and less a rounded ceiling contour over the tub at the back of the unit showering would be a major pain in the neck.
2) No dedicated bedroom for us. Only a curtain divider. The Rockwood has a very unique floor plan that includes one huge slide out. The unique part is with the queen bed it is a (sort of) Murphy bed. With the bed folded up you have a three seater sofa but flatten the jackknife sofa and the queen bed makes overtop of it. It is a full size queen not limited to the size of the jackknife sofa. Clever and functional allowing for a smaller trailer which I like but we lose a permanent bed and the privacy of the dedicated room offered by the Jayco.
With the Jaco I have a couple of concerns...
1) length of the trailer (30.5') may create some maneuverability issues as we prefer to NOT stay in pull through sites as we prefer privacy.
2) GVWR is only 200 lbs shy of my pickups towing capacity. It's under so all is fine with respect to safety and capability. I am concerned about towing performance particularly in the mountainous country we live in.
In the end I think we would be happy with both trailers however I am curious about each of your experience. Would you suggest getting the larger living space with the dedicated bedroom and sacrifice the maneuverability or would the towing hassles outweighs the benefit of the added space?
I should mention I have towed many trailers just on a much smaller scale. Utility, tent trailers and small boat trailers etc. I am not as concerned with my ability as I am of the trucks capability and overall ease of getting into good camp sites :-)
Let's take a poll...
Go for more living space?
-OR-
Go for lighter weight and maneuverability?
Cheers!
Steevo
