New To TT game, need some help/advice/smacking

I am in the Marietta area, north of Atlanta, GA. I have been reading https://www.wanderfilledlife.com/buying-first-rv/ and talking to my cousin who just bought a bigger Forest River Wildwood, and finding out piles of info from him.

So I have been backpack camping since scouts. Then as I got older I moved to Car/Tent camping. As I have gotten even older I have decided that I hate air mattresses and sleeping pads. I also despise completely freezing late fall and completely sweating in the summer. Plus the tear down of everything and setup of everything is horrible. I have taken my neighbors Rockwood Mini-Lite out a couple of times and setup and tear down is much less, plus no unloading piles of stuff once we get home. So the wife and I have decided that we want a rolling tent with A/C and a toilet.

I have a 2018 Chevy Crew Cab with 3.42 gears, and a roughly 1900 cargo capacity. It does not have the heavy duty trailering package, but does have the anti sway assist. I will be purchasing a brake controller and anti-sway hitch. Currently has the hitch on a draw bar, which since I am looking at smaller trailers will be fine weight wise.

I AM NOT camping at 0* of brutally cold temperatures. Sure there may be some nights where it is 20-32*, but I have plenty of blankets and sleeping bags. I prefer cooking outside already, an awning and a 10 x 10 pop up takes care of that.

I will be storing this away from my house(huge swinging hill driveway and a HOA that won't allow it). It will be mainly my wife and myself in the trailer, there may be times our two kids are in there with us, but they will mainly be staying in a tent. I see mainly 3 and 4 day weekends with it, and maybe she and myself occasionally on a 4-5 day trip during the summer.

Looking in the 17 - 23 foot models, and with and without a slide, but with the bunkhouse config. 2019 Forest River RV Salem Cruise Lite FSX 207BH, is at the top of my wife's list. We also have looked at a Coleman no slide bunkhouse, and a couple others. Any brands/models I should include/exclude?

Also, as far as once we make a decision, what kind of walk through and what kind of paces should I make the dealer show me working before signing on the dotted line?

11 Replies

kellem
Explorer
Aug 06, 2019
golferplus1 wrote:
I am positive I will be using a WD hitch.

Good for you, being responsible.
I cringe everytime I camp with my sister and BIL....he pulls an 8K 30ft trailer with an F150 which sags mightily.
He simply won't listen to me.
golferplus1
Explorer
Aug 06, 2019
I am positive I will be using a WD hitch.
drsteve
Explorer
Aug 06, 2019
If you decide not to use WD, make sure your receiver is up to carrying the tongue weight of the TT. There should be a sticker on the receiver.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Aug 06, 2019
Really any make/model that fits your needs will do. Your budget will dictate how many bells and whistles there are. Buying used for a first camper makes sense for a lot of folks.
If you buy at a dealer, the PDI (predelivery inspection) should include every last thing in and on the camper. All the appliances, how to winterize, the electrical systems, etc. I’m sure you can find a list to follow.
If you buy used from a private party, you are on your own. You can hire an RV tech to look it over.
golferplus1
Explorer
Aug 06, 2019
The Coleman Apex Nano, is not available anywhere remotely close to my location, but the layout and stuff is pretty nice.

We found this one last night. Going to look at it today.
https://www.campersinn.com/product/used-2017-keystone-rv-summerland-2600tb-1090497-29

Looking at bunkhouses, and the one I listed in my first post in general because you have some room for the kids if it is raining/cold/hot and they don't want to sleep in the tent and the bottom bunk folds up and there is a door to access more outside storage.

I have found a couple of Used(2-3) year old campers I liked, but most seem to be new that we are finding.

A good walkthrough (plugging in everything) and letting it run for awhile will catch a lot of stuff. I know it won't catch roof leaks and the like, but hopefully sitting on the yard as most of these have been will help with some stuff.

Running a 5.3, 4x4, hill descent and ascent control, anti sway, but not heavy duty trailer package, 6spd.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Aug 06, 2019
Your 2018 5.3 chevy 3.42 gears with the 6 or 8 speed tranny won't need any help with towing duties.
I tow a 10k trailer with the wifes 2016 crew cab chevy 4wd 5.3 6 speed tranny. I use a Husky Centerline TS with 1200 lb bars.

The newer 1500 trucks don't have much in common with the older 1500 trucks with 5.3 engine and 4 speed trannies. Get a good WD hitch and go enjoy the new camper of the wife's choice :B.
BarabooBob
Explorer III
Aug 06, 2019
We bought a bunkhouse trailer "just in case" the grandkids wanted to go with us. After the first month long trip, we sold it and bought a rear dinette unit with huge rear windows and love it. It is like having a greenhouse to eat in. The bunkhouse was like being in a cave due to limited outside views.
afidel
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2019
theoldwizard1 wrote:
Why bunk house ? Ones with 4 bunks are hard to find and likely will be >24' !

As for your tow vehicle, there are some "upgrades" I recommend (these would probably come with the factory tow package anyway). Auxiliary transmission cooler, HD radiator and most important, a higher gear ratio, >3.7

I will also repeat what I tell every first time TT buyer. Buy used, 2-5 years old. It will have depreciated a lot, and you can see if you like the floor plan. After a couple of years, then buy your first new TT !

3.42 gears are fine for towing with any GM transmission with >4 gears and a >5L engine. The cost of replacing the rear end just for a marginal increase in towing is absurd.

As far as what trailer to buy, honestly coming from a very similar background any 18+' Bunkhouse with a slide is a huge step up from tent camping. After 3 years and 30k miles the one thing I wish I had in my trailer is a couch, but to fit a queen, a couch, and bunks you have to be at a different weight and length category than I was looking at.

We've been well served by our trailer and the $12k price was very attractive for a new trailer, it's not the Taj Mahal but it'll fit our needs for the next 6 years until our youngest graduates and we move on to the trailer that will be the bridge between this one and our retirement trailer.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2019
Why bunk house ? Ones with 4 bunks are hard to find and likely will be >24' !

As for your tow vehicle, there are some "upgrades" I recommend (these would probably come with the factory tow package anyway). Auxiliary transmission cooler, HD radiator and most important, a higher gear ratio, >3.7

I will also repeat what I tell every first time TT buyer. Buy used, 2-5 years old. It will have depreciated a lot, and you can see if you like the floor plan. After a couple of years, then buy your first new TT !
badercubed
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
Depending on your budget, check out the TT in my signature. Rather light for one with double bunks and I wanted dual axles over a single. I put dual 30lb tanks and batteries up front because I like to boondock. I tow it with a newer model Canyon and it tows like a dream. I downsized from a 35ft bunkhouse and have two kids aged 7 and 4 and there is ample room and storage.

There are plenty of smaller campers in your range, all will have something the others don't have. You will have no problem towing any of them. Also, when negotiating, 30% off MSRP is your baseline, and you can probably get some extras thrown in as well.