Ok, new to the forum so please forgive stupid questions. My wife hit me with a new idea, buy a travel trailer. We have our beach condo on the market and she is looking at something different this time. First issue – I just bought a new GMC Canyon and do not want to upgrade it; just yet. Been doing some research regarding lite weight towable trailers. There is only the two of us, no need for something big. Any thoughts pleases – thanks.Don

What is your payload and tow capacity on the Canyon? Next time buy or select the TT first, then match a TV but it will work out ok.

You will need to consider the possibilities and decide what you want to do. Length of trips? 2 days, weeks, months?Staying at resort type locations with full amenities? Or out in the woods no hookups, no neighbors?Summer only? or looking to snowbird some?What you look into getting is tailored to what you want to do with it.

First....what Canyon? Motor, packages, etc.After you post this info you will get much better, experienced advice. What trailer is all about what you are going to tow it with......and, welcome to the Forum.

Get the correct tow rating and cargo capacity of the exact version of the Canyon you have. Those vary widely with trim levels and options. Add about 1000 lb to the dry weight of the trailer to get a reasonable loaded weight. Your trailer will put 10-15% of its loaded weight on the tongue, and that becomes part of the cargo of the truck. So take the cargo capacity of the truck, subtract 2 people and maybe another 200 lb for "stuff", and that is what you have available for trailer tongue weight. That is likely to be your limiting factor in the trailer weight you can comfortably handle. Tow rating is another factor. It's best not to be absolutely maxed out. Dont guess, get the numbers.The most important factor aside from weight, is the floor plan of the trailer. Most couples want an "island" bed so you don't have to climb over each other. Some people must have a big entertainment system, others don't care. Go to some dealers and just start looking, taking a list of your weight limits with you. Don't buy anything in a rush. Take your time.

Your Canyon is only rated to tow 7700 lb. and only IF you have 2WD crew cab and the Duramax 2.8L diesel. The gas engine model with other body configurations will tow much less so you will be very limited finding a camping trailer light enough to safely tow. There are small trailers but very close quarters inside them (I've seen larger dog houses). If that's OK with you then go for it.

Thoughts - Travel Trailer | Good Sam Community

47 Replies

afidel
Explorer II
Dec 18, 2017
nctraveler54 wrote:
wrvond wrote:
nctraveler54 wrote:
Ok, new to the forum so please forgive stupid questions. My wife hit me with a new idea, buy a travel trailer. We have our beach condo on the market and she is looking at something different this time. First issue – I just bought a new GMC Canyon and do not want to upgrade it; just yet. Been doing some research regarding lite weight towable trailers. There is only the two of us, no need for something big. Any thoughts pleases – thanks.
Don

Buy a class ‘A’ or class ‘C’ and tow the Canyon.

I like that option! But I checked my lotto ticket and it did not match the numbers - thanks.

Hehe, once saw a class A towing an F350 and the F350 had a golf cart in the bed, talk about a heavy train.
nctraveler54
Explorer
Dec 18, 2017
wrvond wrote:
nctraveler54 wrote:
Ok, new to the forum so please forgive stupid questions. My wife hit me with a new idea, buy a travel trailer. We have our beach condo on the market and she is looking at something different this time. First issue – I just bought a new GMC Canyon and do not want to upgrade it; just yet. Been doing some research regarding lite weight towable trailers. There is only the two of us, no need for something big. Any thoughts pleases – thanks.
Don

Buy a class ‘A’ or class ‘C’ and tow the Canyon.

I like that option! But I checked my lotto ticket and it did not match the numbers - thanks.
wrvond
Explorer II
Dec 17, 2017
nctraveler54 wrote:
Ok, new to the forum so please forgive stupid questions. My wife hit me with a new idea, buy a travel trailer. We have our beach condo on the market and she is looking at something different this time. First issue – I just bought a new GMC Canyon and do not want to upgrade it; just yet. Been doing some research regarding lite weight towable trailers. There is only the two of us, no need for something big. Any thoughts pleases – thanks.
Don

Buy a class ‘A’ or class ‘C’ and tow the Canyon.
rbpru
Explorer II
Dec 15, 2017
There is a lot od good information for the OP to digest. I have found that my F-150 E-boost is the perfect match for my 25 ft. Dutchmen trailer.

However, Just because if find it a delight, does not mean everyone would. My perfect match might be someone else's white knuckle adventure.

That is why I always tell first timers to Rent before you spend the big bucks.

We did and discover the 25 ft. was just right for us, however the 200 hp. tow vehicle was not going to do the job.

Renting is also the best way I know to check out the floor plan before you buy.
temccarthy1
Explorer
Dec 15, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
temccarthy1 wrote:
Take a look at Keystone Bulet Ultralites. You could get up to a 25 ft to pull with your TV with slide. You do not have to settle for a 19-22 ft TT.

SoundGuy wrote:
"Settling"? Who's "settling" when that's what we intentionally chose? :h

temccarthy1 wrote:
First of all Sound Guy, I was addressing the OP... that is not you! What you chose is fine, but has no bearing on this post. The OP has a smaller TV capable of only 7700 lbs.. I was giving him an Ultra Lite model idea that will give him more space and a slide and still be towable with his Canyon if he wants to move up to 25-26 ft and still be within his limits.

Doesn't change the tone of your post :( - a lot of us buy 19-22' trailers and don't feel we're "settling" in any way, nor does the OP have to feel he's "settling" for something less if that's what he prefers. My local dealer is the second largest Coachmen dealer by volume in Canada and the 192RBS is his best seller by far 'though he offers models of all sizes from Coachmen, including 25-26' which don't sell anywhere near as well. "Settling"? ... not at all.

Hey Soundguy-- relax.. ...I think your size TT is just fine.. I used to have a popup that size and we used it for 30 years! Loved it! After all I am going to spend 30 days visiting your beautiful country next fall and help the economy with my stay!...Quebec, PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.. Can't wait.. maybe I'll stop by and say Hi!
nctraveler54
Explorer
Dec 15, 2017
APT wrote:
I think you will get really frustrated towing more than a 4k dry TT. That's 4500-5000 pounds loaded with larger frontal area.

These are the sizes I have been keying on so as to not have issues. THE WIFE and I are going to sold the condo first so we have some times to research and look around.

Don
APT
Explorer
Dec 15, 2017
I think you will get really frustrated towing more than a 4k dry TT. That's 4500-5000 pounds loaded with larger frontal area.
time2roll
Nomad
Dec 15, 2017
As always I recommend you keep the trailer GVWR within the tow rating for best results. Forger dry weight, shipping weight and anything the salesman says. Verify the trailer GVWR on the actual sticker.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Dec 15, 2017
6door74 wrote:
Seems to me like you took a tone Soundguy. It appears you took that reply personal. You may not feel like you settled but others may feel that they did. Sorry for going off topic everyone.......

That's just my point ... why would you or temccarthy1 or anyone else assume that just because anyone chooses a 19' - 22' model that they've "settled" for less? The OP is a newbie and this should be important to him as that size of trailer might be just what he's looking for, whether he's figured that out yet or not. My objection is hardly "going off topic" as the last thing he needs is to feel he's compromising on his choice just because it's not a larger trailer. Fact is, many of us choose a 19' - 22' because it's precisely what we prefer, for many reasons, not because we've "settled" for less. :R
falconbrother
Explorer II
Dec 15, 2017
We started out with a 15 foot TT, back in the day. We really enjoyed it, a lot. Now we have a 27 foot TT with a slide out. That extra 12 feet and the room provided by the slide is awesomeness. I would really suggest that whatever length you get you get a slideout. Our annual two weeks traveling down the coast starts in 5 days. I can't wait. If you think you will upgrade your truck to more towing capacity in the future then don't go too small on a travel trailer. You'll loose a lot on depreciation trading that in. You have to be safe but, if you have 7000 pounds of weight rating to play with you don't have to go too small. The dry weight on our trailer is 5700-ish pounds. I figure, to be safe, that on the road we weigh 6500. I don't have water in the tanks when towing. I don't need it and it's heavy. The modern brakes and controllers are way better than they were back in the late 1980s early 1990s so, stopping feels a lot better. I think that the weight is balanced better these days as well. The hitches are better. For me it's relative. I have an experience base to know what it use to be like. These days anything new-ish that you buy will do fine, as far as towing (as long as you let the pros set up your WD hitch).