New - Buying a Tralier - No Clue What I'm Doing

You came to the right place. This site is FULL of answers to the very questions that you ask (cheap to free stays of all kinds, eg).

One thing I would add if you are looking to save money is to buy Used. Half retail of a recent trailer sales price would be the ball park for a nice one.

Workamping is another thought since I have no idea how you make your money that want to save.

Also, it depends on the SUV. Factory guidelines for your model should be easy to find. The fellow that bought a trailer from me a few years back(<5000#) had no problem staying within guidelines+safety factor with his SUV. Heck my 1994 2door Blazer was rated to tow it. Just get a good weight distribution setup.

How bout post the door stickers and we will let the numbers talk

Tyler0215 wrote:
An SUV and a V-8 won't cut it. Most SUV's have a very low tow rating because they are unibody construction. They don't have a frame.
For a full timer you will need at least a 1/2 ton PU and ideally a 3/4 ton.

Seriously? Let me guess, you should have nothing less than a semi to pull a pop up too right? Most V8 SUVs are full size and built on truck frames. They are plenty capable to pull a moderate sized trailer. Even some midsize SUVs like the old 4Runner and Pathfinder had frames, 7k tow ratings and as much payload as a 1/2 ton truck.

I had an ‘04 4Runner that towed my 5600lbs 26ft bunkhouse halfway across Canada and back just fine. Be reasonable in size and weight and a V8 SUV can tow just fine.

If you are in Los Angeles go look at some RVs. Dealerships, shows, and the like. Get an idea what is out there. Then get a real tow vehicle and buy used. Don't go too big.

An SUV and a V-8 won't cut it. Most SUV's have a very low tow rating because they are unibody construction. They don't have a frame.
For a full timer you will need at least a 1/2 ton PU and ideally a 3/4 ton.

Are you tied to LA?
There are wheels under those units for a reason. If your idea in buying one is to stay in LA full time consider what the parking will cost you in both time and money.
If your dream is to stealth camp, you will be hounded by police home owners, and business owners daily. If your location of choice is the local WalMart apartment complex, go to one, and check out your neighbors.
Is that how you want to live?
If you are looking at leaving LA and truly going mobile, then you will find many options, that even a modest tow vehicle can handle, for example the 192rb Freedom Express models from Coachmen are towable by SUV type vehicles.

If you are going to travel, some resources would be
RV Parky
Ultimate campgrounds
US Campgrounds

One of the members here has a youtube channel that does videos of some areas and has one on finding campsites you may find helpful.
Finding camps
ites video

Good luck

If you want to save money on rent, get out of California area. You can go thousands of places in the midwest for $1,000.00± a month rent. You are not going to buy a Travel Trailer, pay lot rent, and get anywhere near decent internet service for that kind of money.

can rent a cheap apartment somewhere else and come out way ahead. 1000 a month is easy in a lot of places (potentially less)

trailers depreciate insanely fast especially when being used full time. They need constant maintenance and towing them burns a lot of fuel.

Full time RVing can be great but its not the best way to save money. That said if you want to go this way look out for your limits.

What V8 SUV are you towing with? whats its payload? Sticker inside drivers door will tell us. I KNOW I wouldn't be able to live in my camper with all my stuff long term and have weight numbers anywhere near what any of my V8 suvs could have handled. Heck don't know I could do it with my half ton pickup.

Whatever you do, good luck.