Hi folks! Been awhile since I posted here but my family will be rejoining the RV community for next summer and I'm starting my research now. In the past we had a Wildcat 5th wheel bunkhouse but this time around I'm leaning toward a TT since the tow vehicle will ultimately be a full size SUV. My Wildcat was a 2005my that was purchased in early '04. It was a great camper that had almost zero issue's in the 3 seasons we used it. A lifestyle change saw the camper sold in favor of a boat but I always missed RV'ing and now it's time to come back to the lifestyle.Family description:2 Adults, 2 children (7&10), 1 dog.Camper wishes:1. Bunkhouse with quad bunks.2. I'm liking the new U-shaped dinettes I see. Worth it?3. $23,000-28,000 price range.4. 60X80 Queen bed.5. Under 7,000lb empty weight.Next year I'll tow the camper with my Ram 2500. However, the following year we'll likely be getting a new Suburban so camper weight will be important. We want to go on some long trips and I can't see 4 of us and the dog in my Crew Cab Ram going cross country.

1. Some quad bunk houses have TINY 28" bunks. Make sure you have ones big enough for your kids2. If you and your family are on the tall side, you may end up knocking knees on the u-benchHappy shopping!

Our first RV had the standard dinette. Our second has the U. We much prefer the U, though the 5 of us are a bit of a tight fit. If I was in the market for a new RV, and it had everything else I wanted except the U, that would not be a dealbreaker for me.If you do go for a Suburban, I'd highly recommend a used 2500 versus a new half-ton. I've towed with both - no comparison. And my 2500 is every bit as civilized on the interior - optioned out like an Escalade.A quad bunk trailer is going to be a stretch for a half-ton Burb.

Eowens wrote:Family description:2 Adults, 2 children (7&10), 1 dog.Camper wishes:1. Bunkhouse with quad bunks.2. I'm liking the new U-shaped dinettes I see. Worth it?3. $23,000-28,000 price range.4. 60X80 Queen bed.5. Under 7,000lb empty weight.Ed,We picked up a 2015 Crossroads Zinger 32QB this past April that meets your wish list.It has quad bunks with a real door to the second bedroom. The TT has a ton of storage. Weighs 6600 lbs dry. We've camped 27 nights so far this year, including a 17 day trip to Yellowstone and back (4200 miles round trip) with the wife and two kids (12 and 9). Camper performed admirably and was within or even under your price range.We are very pleased with the TT. I encourage you to check it out and congrats on coming back to the RV lifestyle.

The only SUV after 2007 that can handle the tongue weight of a 7k dry TT and a family including dog is the 3/4 ton GM twins, and those were discontinued after 2013. Maybe the 2015 Expy will improve payload and receiver limit beyond the 900-1000 pound limitations. Heck, even the tow rating of the 2015 GM half tons is in the 8k range which will be exceeded with a 7k TT loaded for a cross country trip.So if you accept the prices and limited availability of a 3/4 ton SUV (or 1-ton van), then I recommend Keystone Outback 301BQ. It's probably me next TT. Quad bunks, large master bedroom (for a TT - hahahahaha), large tanks, lots of storage. Otherwise, the more popular floorplan is something like this Primetime Tracer 3150:The standard u-dinette are not exactly useful for more than 3 people. Maybe you want something referenced in this thread?

Eowens wrote:Hi folks! Been awhile since I posted here but my family will be rejoining the RV community for next summer and I'm starting my research now. In the past we had a Wildcat 5th wheel bunkhouse but this time around I'm leaning toward a TT since the tow vehicle will ultimately be a full size SUV. My Wildcat was a 2005my that was purchased in early '04. It was a great camper that had almost zero issue's in the 3 seasons we used it. A lifestyle change saw the camper sold in favor of a boat but I always missed RV'ing and now it's time to come back to the lifestyle.Family description:2 Adults, 2 children (7&10), 1 dog.Camper wishes:1. Bunkhouse with quad bunks.2. I'm liking the new U-shaped dinettes I see. Worth it?3. $23,000-28,000 price range.4. 60X80 Queen bed.5. Under 7,000lb empty weight.Next year I'll tow the camper with my Ram 2500. However, the following year we'll likely be getting a new Suburban so camper weight will be important. We want to go on some long trips and I can't see 4 of us and the dog in my Crew Cab Ram going cross country.It is my wife, 2 kids (6 and 8), 2 dogs and myself.I have a 2012 Passort 3220 BH. 2 slides, slide in the bunkhouse with 4 bunks, large side with couch and dinette. It also has a small outdoor kitchen. 35 feet overall. 6280 dry. Was 7450 loaded for 5 days of camping. Tow with a 6.0 Chevy 2500 HD(gasser, 4.10s, 4 speed does just fine). We have the u shape dinette...Eh. I don't care for it but the wife likes it. I think we paid 24,000 out the door brand new. This is our third season with it. We have been really happy with it.

Rentering the RV lifestyle. Questions on Bunkhouse TT's.

wallacemf
Explorer
Aug 23, 2014
We went with a Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE, similar floor plan as posted previously. Ours is optioned well, it comes in at 7050# unloaded. Our kids are 12 and 10, and they love the full size bunks. The master bedroom has a door as well for privacy. The other big plus is that it has a huge full-size shower. We tow it fine with an F150 4x4.

If that's too heavy, there is similar floor plan in the Jay Flight Swift line and the lightweight fiberglass line as well.
tkoden
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
I just purchased a Keystone 32FB. Some things we really liked:

-Separate rooms with real doors for bunk house and rear master
-Large counter top area
-Good size beds for a QBH
-Separate entrance for master bedroom
-Plenty of room to walk around master bed with slides out
-Sleeps 8 comfortable (4 bunks, 2 queen beds)
-6300 lbs
Doug33
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
Sillybugs2 wrote:
Just some thoughts from someone with a similar family size.

Your kids are a little younger than mine but they hate the single bunks. Our next trailer will likely have a double over double bunks without a full bunkhouse room for that reason. The are 9 & 13.

We have the same double over double, and my 20 and 23-year old daughters came to stay with us on the last camping trip. No way would they sleep in the single bunks, which is a big reason we upgraded last year to this TT.

When we were looking at TT models at the dealer, we told the salesman we wanted the U-shaped dinette, but he talked us out of it based on lack of leg room. We all sat at the dinette and agreed with his assessment. Realistically we don't sit four people at the dinette very often - usually only two at a time because it really isn't wide enough to accommodate shoulder room. If 4 people are eating at the same time we're usually out on the picnic table. The dinette table becomes more of a storage counter for food items, reading materials and electronic devices.
APT
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
Eowens wrote:
Well I appreciate all the feedback. I'm 99% on a 1/2 ton Suburban/Yukon. This will be my wife's daily driver so I want the fuel mileage of the new direct injection engine vs. the 6.0's 10mpg.

If you guy's have recommendations or advice on models with the floor plan seen above I'm all ears.

We get 14mpg mixed commuting as our main family vehicle in our 3/4 ton and over 17mpg highway. 10mpg doesn't even happen in the winter with 4WD locked.

The 2015 GM twins have about 1500 pounds of payload. I'd look for something near 6k dry and you should be happy. Make sure to get the HD towing package as it's the only way to get the trans cooler and 3.42 ratio. And check out the 2015 Expedition too. I don't know the real world payloads or receiver limit, but the drive train is IMHO better.
Eowens
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
jmaul wrote:
This is ours and we love it. Many others with this floorplan.

Cruiser RV Viewfinder Signature 28BHSS

Cruiser RV website

I took a look at this models slightly larger sibling today the 28BHOB and I liked it. While I originally thought a quad bunk arrangement would be ideal most have very narrow bunks. With the full bed bunks my girls would have plenty of room to sleep comfortably.

I'm also 95% resolved to the fact that my Dodge 2500 will be the tow rig. As stated earlier a 1500 series Suburban will not handle a trailer as well as my truck. I'll just have to purchase a cap for my truck and hope the dog likes it back there.
Eowens
Explorer
Aug 17, 2014
Well I appreciate all the feedback. I'm 99% on a 1/2 ton Suburban/Yukon. This will be my wife's daily driver so I want the fuel mileage of the new direct injection engine vs. the 6.0's 10mpg.

If you guy's have recommendations or advice on models with the floor plan seen above I'm all ears.
Whitehawkmn
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
Whitehawkmn wrote:
Sillybugs2 wrote:
Eowens wrote:
jmaul wrote:
This is ours and we love it. Many others with this floorplan.

E beds
Cruiser RV Viewfinder Signature 28BHSS

Cruiser RV website

We have the same exact floor plan with the Jayco Whitehawk 28DSBH and love it, our two girls love all of the room in the bunks. When you compare the bunk size also look at max bunk weights. Whitehawk's are 600lbs and most others are 250-350. We've had grown-ups sleep in our top double bunk and they were comfortable. Good luck shopping, there are alot of choices.

Sorry I meant to include only the picture, not the whole post...

We have the same exact floor plan with the Jayco Whitehawk 28DSBH and love it, our two girls love all of the room in the bunks. When you compare the bunk size also look at max bunk weights. Whitehawk's are 600lbs and most others are 250-350. We've had grown-ups sleep in our top double bunk and they were comfortable. Good luck shopping, there are alot of choices
Whitehawkmn
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
Sillybugs2 wrote:
Eowens wrote:
jmaul wrote:
This is ours and we love it. Many others with this floorplan.

E beds
Cruiser RV Viewfinder Signature 28BHSS

Cruiser RV website

We have the same exact floor plan with the Jayco Whitehawk 28DSBH and love it, our two girls love all of the room in the bunks. When you compare the bunk size also look at max bunk weights. Whitehawk's are 600lbs and most others are 250-350. We've had grown-ups sleep in our top double bunk and they were comfortable. Good luck shopping, there are alot of choices.
Sillybugs2
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
Eowens wrote:
jmaul wrote:
This is ours and we love it. Many others with this floorplan.

E beds
Cruiser RV Viewfinder Signature 28BHSS

Cruiser RV website

I looked at a similar model to this. I really want a separate bunk room with a door but weight issue's may keep us in a similar floor plan. I do like the double bed bunk size and the 60X80 queen.

This is our next floor plan. My kids hate the single bunks so dd sleeps on the dinette bed and it is a pain each night. Wish they made a bunk house with two full size beds.
chasmatt45
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
Check out the Salem 29QBSS. Everything you are looking for in a half ton towable

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