newbie here looking for help

What kind of help are you looking for? You didn't say.

Just got to look at some used ones and see what you require in a trailer. Some have couches for added comfort but such requires a bigger trailer, usually bump outs. When we first started, same as you, all we wanted was a bathroom and to sleep off the hard ground. We out aged the tent.

We have a small trailer for the 2 of us, the extra bunk we setup and use as storage or leave it closed if it's cold out for easier heating. Personally I'd love a couch, or better yet a couple recliners, but I don't want the added length and weight you get with them. I don't mind towing a trailer, but shorter is better to me. Small requires you to be comfortable with each other in close quarters, sometimes for extended periods when the rains set in. That's when the lack of more comfortable seating shows up.

I find the "buy your 2nd trailer first" kind of a crock. Who knows what your going to want a few years down the road. To some (most) it's a bigger camper with more bells and whistles then the last one. Some want to be mobile in style and go to a 40' class A, some want small and nimble and go to a class B, some want to head into the outback and go to a truck camper. Some don't like it at all and go to a hotel.

Buying used is a good idea for your first, if you can find a used hybrid. They are not big sellers so there are limited numbers of used. Figure out how to buy a used one so you don't get burned and give it a shot. Used from an individual is you best bet for a deal, but then you need to do your homework and know what to look for, just like used cars. The older you go, the more chance of water damage. That pertains to all campers, not just hybrids.

Most people trade in their campers in 2 years, so it's not like you're locked in for life.

Oh Yea, had ours for 8 years, no hybrid related issues I couldn't handle. The only "hybrid" leak was water blowing through the front hinge when driving in the rain. A strip of duct tape eliminates that one, but you have to know to put it on before the rain starts. Not like it's a lot of water anyway. The only real "leak" I've had was a plumbing issue, which is not a hybrid only thing.

From what I've read over the years, all campers are susceptible to leaks, hybrids a little more cause there are a couple more openings. Trailers with slides have more water issues too, but everyone wants them.

Well, now that you got some of the negatives...

We had a tent camper for 13 years - never leaked. Bought a hybrid, no leaks so far. For sure, the bunk ends add potential for a leak. The manufactures have made several design improvements in the last 10 years, and I would say stick with one of the companies that build a lot of them. Forest River (Roo/Shamrock, Coachmen, Soilaire, Surveyor) is probably the biggest. Jayco (including Starcraft) is probably #2. Some manufactures offered limited floorplans, but they have mostly gotten out of the market.

If you like tent camping and want to keep the true camping feel of the canvas, but don't want to sleep on the ground and want more ammenities a hybrid is a good option. We love the open feel of unzipping the tent ends at a lake front site in one of the state parks. Hybrids give you the space of a much bigger trailer when setup. We sometimes use the trailer for "traveling" or "RV'ing" so to say (and it works great for that) but we mainly use it at state parks for "camping". We've camped in all kinds of weather and in temps from the low 30's to the high 90's very comfortably.

Tent ends are a few extra minutes of work, but a lot easier than tenting. If the canvas is wet when we pack up, I just drop them down when we get home and let them dry out.

We picked our floorplan for the island kitchen and all the storage. For two people, there are lots of good floorplans. With your truck you should be able tow just about any hybrid you want to. Confirm what kind of tongue weight you have enough payload capacity for and do some shopping. I would highly recommend the Roo. We are very pleased all the features of ours. Check out the 23IKSS, 23SS, 21SS, 21DK for some possibilities. I am also fond of the Solaire floorplans & decor. Regardless, keep an eye on the cargo carry capacity - some of the smaller trailers tend to have a very low (unrealistic)rating and by the time you put a battery, propane, and your stuff in them you will be overloaded. That is mainly in the 17-19 foot single axle models.

Good luck in your search.

Ditto bikendan. We really enjoyed our HTT for the 3 years we had it, but did find it uncomfortable to sleep in when "turtled" due to bad weather (i.e. pouring rain for 24+ hours). Other than that, no real issues. If we hadn't gone "just looking" at TTs one spring, "for future reference," we'd probably have kept it a few more years. :)

there are plenty of happy hybrid owners who have had no such issues with theirs, me being one of them.

don't let the naysayers(many who have never owned a hybrid)talk you out of one, IF a hybrid meets your needs.

i will say that a hybrid will take some extra care because of the tent ends but for many of us, it's worth it to own one because it has features that many of us enjoy.

but if you have to accept some of the few negatives of the canvas ends.
the main question is: do you want to sleep under canvas?

most of us hybrid owners are former popup owners and still love that experience and actually prefer it to the "shoebox" feel of regular travel trailers.

if this experience is not a priority for you, DON'T buy a hybrid.

another vote for skipping hybrid.....get travel trailer.....either small like egg campers or 21-25 ft.

my humble opinion after restoring and fixing countless trailers is to avoid hybrids. They leak too easily and smell musty, and are a royal pain to have to mess with when putting away the tent ends in bad weather. And if you don't let the tent material properly dry before folding it up that's how you get them smell and mildew issues as well. I'd start off with a 25 ft travel trailer, floorplan based on what the wife wants for best results.