We're heading out to (hopefully) buy our first travel trailer this weekend or next. We've got two small kiddos and are moving up from tent camping. We've done a lot of research and (I think) settled on the Forest River Heritage Glen 24BHHL. We thought deciding on the model would be the hard part, but it turns out the questions just keep coming! That brings me to this post...What do I need to consider when I walk into the dealer? I've heard that people make deals only to find out that things like BATTERIES weren't included. What other accessories do I need to make sure I price or negotiate? What do you wish you would have known before you bought your first travel trailer?Thanks!

DO NOT EVER BUY NEW for your first ever trailer. Remember, what ever you pay for it will depreciate 30% as soon as you pull it off the lot.Looking at and finding floor plans you feel you can live with is important. But most people will find faults with their first, second, heck maybe even their third or fourth trailers and will wind up selling and moving on to something elso within a couple of years. So there is no reason, unless your made of money and like throwing it away to buy new the first few purchases.FR, and Keystone both make a wide variety of trailers in all sorts of prices. Some good, others meerly OK.

100% agree with Donn!You will likely not keep your first RV very long before you figure out what you really need and want.Happens to (almost) all of us.

I agree, buy used, save money and find out what you want. You will thank us later. Craigslist and cash!

You need an electric cord adapter, a water pressure regulator, one or two white water hoses, and a dump hose (I recommend Rhino, much better than the flimsy basic ones).I factory ordered our first and 'perfect' trailer in 2005... and I have owned 3 others since. Like the others said, better to start out with preowned... but it's your money.

Thanks everyone! I'm sensing a theme here...

Ok, here we go! | Good Sam Community

Jebby14
Explorer
Mar 03, 2018
shoebox303 wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
Have you confirmed you have a tow vehicle capable of safely towing a trailer this size, along with all the junk you're inevitably going to want to drag along with you? Tip - don't expect the dealer to help much with this. ;)

I've got a 2015 F-150 Crew Cab with the V8. Towing numbers confuse me as well, but I think we're good.

whats the payload on the door sticker say (many different configurations) I have a 2016 f150 screw with athe 5.0 and a wife with 2 little ones so im very close you you. I wouldn't want more than 900-1000 lbs of tongue weight and I have a good payload configuration.
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Mar 03, 2018
We also bought new and haven’t regretted it. However I am a compulsive researcher and spent several years figuring out what we wanted. I also bought a new TV ahead of time to have all the capability I would need. Of course, my way is more expensive but by buying new I got exactly the options and configurations I wanted, right down to the colors.

Main thing is negotiate heavily by email before you step in a dealership. We got a great, fair price by doing so.
LVJJJ
Explorer
Mar 03, 2018
I buy used because I LIKE to work on them and repair 'em. Grease the bearings check the brakes, replace light bulbs and caulk the whole thing.

So, I'd suggest the OP buy new unless he knows and wants to work on his TT a few weeks before going for his first camping trip.

I always say, every TT has leaked, is leaking now, or will leak.
Bols2DawaLL
Explorer
Mar 02, 2018
Fastercat wrote:
Hello I too am an O and looking to buy a new travel trailer a lightweight. I'm looking at the Coleman lightweight 17 20 foot 2018. Looking to buy new as I'm going to go full-time and do not want to have other people's problems they're decent price I'm going to buy cash and it has a solar hook up you probably put a solar on for boondocking. Thoughts on the durability of these as it will only be me and I tend to take really good care of things. Thoughts thank you

Hi and welcome . You might want to start your own post with this question .
Fastercat
Explorer
Mar 02, 2018
Hello I too am an O and looking to buy a new travel trailer a lightweight. I'm looking at the Coleman lightweight 17 20 foot 2018. Looking to buy new as I'm going to go full-time and do not want to have other people's problems they're decent price I'm going to buy cash and it has a solar hook up you probably put a solar on for boondocking. Thoughts on the durability of these as it will only be me and I tend to take really good care of things. Thoughts thank you
Downwindtracke1
Explorer
Feb 28, 2018
Whether you buy new or used should also depend on where the trailer is from. Here on the wet coast, anything older than 2 years will have developed a water leak . This means at the very least, rot and mold and more seriously, delamination. Polyester resin does not stick to wet wood.
afidel
Explorer II
Feb 27, 2018
jimlj wrote:
I wouldn't even think of buying a new trailer that did not include the battery or batteries. Add to the list propane tanks, fresh water, sewer hoses and stabilizers. Spare tire....you will need this at some point. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined, I'd look at some used trailers as well. Let someone else take the immediate 30% hit on the depreciation. If you can't make some repairs on your own, buy new.

It's probably not legal for a dealer to sell a trailer without a battery since most states have laws mandating that anything the size of a TT requires brakes and AFAIK no currently produced TT includes surge brakes.
jimlj
Explorer
Feb 27, 2018
I wouldn't even think of buying a new trailer that did not include the battery or batteries. Add to the list propane tanks, fresh water, sewer hoses and stabilizers. Spare tire....you will need this at some point. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined, I'd look at some used trailers as well. Let someone else take the immediate 30% hit on the depreciation. If you can't make some repairs on your own, buy new.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2018
2112 wrote:
My opinion is if you keep your TT at 6500lbs you should be a happy camper. Be sensitive to your trucks rear axle weight. When you buy things for the camper think light weight. Don't carry a full tank of fresh water unless you need it. Once you get the truck and camper loaded up to go camping stop by a Cat scale and weigh everything.

I have never bought used nor do I attend to unless it's a high end Class A DP.
Enjoy your new toy :)

Have to agree with this. We came from popup camping. EVERY thing we had is light weight, and compact. As a result. every thing we have now is light weight, and compact. From folding tables, to folding cooler, and stove / grill stands. We use aluminum pots, and pans with the exception of ONE cast iron frying pan, and ONE cast iron griddle. We carry no water in the tanks. We do have enough folding chairs for a small army, but they are light weight as well, and the TT sleeps 10.

There is absolutely no reason to carry more stuff than you use. Our TT gets lighter every year, as we take out things we didn't use last season.
arkie_guide
Explorer
Feb 25, 2018
I usually recommend new buyers - go with a used 24 foot travel trailer. bare bones to start with, a new one you may be stuck with. I practice what I preach.

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