New to travel trailers. Seeking guidance
Hi everyone. While I am not new to camping I am new to the whole RV style of camping. My name is Jason. My wife and I are in the market looking to purchase a new (not used) tow behind travel trailer...
Forum Discussion
I also have to chime in about buying new...
It's all relative. If you've never camped or been RVing, I'd say dont buy new. You really need to figure out what you want by getting out there and RVing for a few years to really narrow down your wish list.
If you've tent camped a long time, and are seasoned in camping, I'd say buying new is fine. That's where I was at, and I bought new. I also camp with 5-6 other families, all of which have RV's. Pop-ups, TT, fifth wheels.. I was able to talk to them and see what they would have done differently.
I won't go over the weight tow capacity ect ect, as everyone else already has... But here's a few other things to consider...
1. How do you like to camp? Are you going to spend all day in your RV? Or are you outside all day and only use the RV to sleep in. If you're inside all day, you want a residential style floor plan, with lots of seating, space, and amenities. I'm primarily outside so I wanted a big bed inside, and an outdoor kitchen. I also like "camping", since I've always had a tent, so having a house on wheels wasn't as important to me, my Floorplan isn't as roomy as most, but it suits me better. It feels more "camping" than "RVing" since I use it more outdoor oriented.
2. What type of sites do you go to? Are they full hook up or dry? If you like sites without electric or water, find a unit with large tanks so you can stay out longer. Remember some sites have a length limit, so going over 30ft can limit your choices at some campgrounds.
3. How tall are you? Many ceilings are lower than you expect, so if you're over 6ft tall, you'll hit your head on the AC unit. Also camper queen beds are smaller than residential queen beds. This is why I found a unit with a king bed, 7ft ceilings, and a skylight in the shower so I can fit.
4. Do you have kids, plan on kids, or have others stay with you? Most would agree having a bunk model is a must with kids. Putting up and down a dinette can be more of a pain than you think. Having a bunk area really helps, and even without kids, it gives guests a place to stay. If it's just the 2 of you always, I'd look for non-bunk models.
5. If there's an RV show near you... go to it even if it's a drive. It really helps narrow things down. Go to more than 1 if you can... They're alot of fun too.
It's all relative. If you've never camped or been RVing, I'd say dont buy new. You really need to figure out what you want by getting out there and RVing for a few years to really narrow down your wish list.
If you've tent camped a long time, and are seasoned in camping, I'd say buying new is fine. That's where I was at, and I bought new. I also camp with 5-6 other families, all of which have RV's. Pop-ups, TT, fifth wheels.. I was able to talk to them and see what they would have done differently.
I won't go over the weight tow capacity ect ect, as everyone else already has... But here's a few other things to consider...
1. How do you like to camp? Are you going to spend all day in your RV? Or are you outside all day and only use the RV to sleep in. If you're inside all day, you want a residential style floor plan, with lots of seating, space, and amenities. I'm primarily outside so I wanted a big bed inside, and an outdoor kitchen. I also like "camping", since I've always had a tent, so having a house on wheels wasn't as important to me, my Floorplan isn't as roomy as most, but it suits me better. It feels more "camping" than "RVing" since I use it more outdoor oriented.
2. What type of sites do you go to? Are they full hook up or dry? If you like sites without electric or water, find a unit with large tanks so you can stay out longer. Remember some sites have a length limit, so going over 30ft can limit your choices at some campgrounds.
3. How tall are you? Many ceilings are lower than you expect, so if you're over 6ft tall, you'll hit your head on the AC unit. Also camper queen beds are smaller than residential queen beds. This is why I found a unit with a king bed, 7ft ceilings, and a skylight in the shower so I can fit.
4. Do you have kids, plan on kids, or have others stay with you? Most would agree having a bunk model is a must with kids. Putting up and down a dinette can be more of a pain than you think. Having a bunk area really helps, and even without kids, it gives guests a place to stay. If it's just the 2 of you always, I'd look for non-bunk models.
5. If there's an RV show near you... go to it even if it's a drive. It really helps narrow things down. Go to more than 1 if you can... They're alot of fun too.
