Travel Trailer dilemma

We just sold our truck camper " slide-in " and are going back to a TT, there is nothing easier than sitting up a TC, pull in and plug in power and water, but there are traid off's, it sits high off the ground and can be streesful to drive around with the top heavy sway, " mine was pretty big and heavy "

We have been around the preverbial horn with camping rigs, pop-up, TC, 28ft Class C, 30ft TT, back to TC, and now back to a TT, nothing beats a MH or TC for ease of set up when in a different place every night, honestly you really don't need to do anything unless you are running the A/C or need line power.

It is wonderful to pop into a camp site and hop in the back and go to sleep, but for us it is the "we need to have another mode of transportation thing" that has brought us back to a TT.

I guess it all depends on what kind of camping you will be doing, my Dad has a class B and they are wonderful for traveling but not so much for camping in for a week or more on rain or very cold days.


Dar

I, too, lust for a motorhome. But the cost of a class C and a toad is a lot of money. I would suggest, as others have, that you outfit your trailer with labor-saving things like an electric tongue jack, better mattress, easier hitch, etc. State and National Parks don't have lots of room for a 35' motor home. I have watched folks shoehorn these things into cramped spaces--no fun. We like to stay in one park for 5 days or so, so that the unhooking/hooking is minimized.

...........Dan

jerem0621 wrote:
Something to think about....

The Andersen weight distribution hitch is easy and light to use...it could be a good match to your lighter weight camper too.

When I had my TT the hitching up was a physically exhausting excercise in the heat of a Tennessee mid summers day.

Something that made hitching up a snap was the purchase of a power tongue jack. This single purchase changed the ease Of hitching up.

A power tongue jack with the addition of an Andersen hitch would make it extreamly simple and light weight to hitch up.

Thanks!


Jeremiah

X2 on the Anderson hitch.

gbopp wrote:




Plus, if you're rolling down the interstate and encounter a multi hour/mile traffic backup you have use of the toilet, refrigerator, etc. Without leaving the rig. That's nice, trust me.

We took an extra day at a campsite because the forecast was blizzard conditions on our way home. I did not want to be the only warm bathroom with hot coffee available for several miles of backed up traffic!

Something to think about....

The Andersen weight distribution hitch is easy and light to use...it could be a good match to your lighter weight camper too.

When I had my TT the hitching up was a physically exhausting excercise in the heat of a Tennessee mid summers day.

Something that made hitching up a snap was the purchase of a power tongue jack. This single purchase changed the ease Of hitching up.

A power tongue jack with the addition of an Andersen hitch would make it extreamly simple and light weight to hitch up.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Don't forget that with a motorhome, every time you need to go somewhere, you have to break down camp, unless you are towing a separate vehicle and then disconnecting that adds to set up time.

I agree with riding out the TT as long as possible to really understand your needs for when you decide to upgrade.

You are making the right choice for you now I hope. Yes the grass is always greener.

I travel alone. Well with my dog. Anyhow, first was a TT and a big diesel super duty (big diesel was meant to be a joke). Did the Alcan and then Arcadia with that rig. As I approached 67 years old a MH started to look like a better way to travel. Putting down/up the stabilizers. Hooking up the weight distribution stuff and everything else was getting harder to do. Bought a 36’ class A with just the layout I wished for. After a year or two those five steps to get in and only one door to get out got to me. Besides upkeep was very expensive.

So for the last three years a very simple 28’ class C with two steps to get into it has worked fine for me. I get some odd looks getting round a town without a car. But it only takes up two parallel parking spaces.

When I do tow the CRV. The amount of “work” hooking and unhooking it is a way less than when I had a TT. At 73yrs “work” is now defined as getting off my knees or manipulating anything heavy like WD bars or the hitch itself. The only work I do now is hooking up the electric and dumping the tanks.

or look into adding powered stabilizers to your trailer...

MH are nice.. different.. and much/much more money. in every way... and then there is a car to pull from behind.
you do not WANT to drive it in cities/towns/traffic...

Rent one First.. Weekend, Week.. try, Then Learn.

I had motorhomes from 23' Class C to a 40' diesel pusher. By far, motorhomes are easier to set up and take down. I could pull in, park, level, extend slides, crank the generator, go to bed and reverse the process in the morning and leave. All without ever getting out of the motorhome. Can't do that in a trailer of any kind.

With a motorhome you don't have to wait for it to cool down inside and you can carry just about any and everything you want without having to worry about weight. My DP had 150 gallons of fresh water and I always travelled with it full and never gave it a second thought.

I could hook up my Jeep Wrangler in less than 60 seconds and unhook it in less than 30. Towing the right car is very easy and you have two vehicles if one breaks down. You also have full use of the motorhome while travelling.

I've had a travel trailer for the last 2 years or so. It is a lengthy process to set up, take down, hitch and unhitch. You only have one vehicle, the trailer is always too hot or too cold on arrival and I have to put out the slides to even get to the bathroom in transit.

Trailers have their positives too. Less maintenance, more space for the money. No oil to change or engine to break down. It's all in how you are going to use it.

I've always told people I think motorhomes are better if you are going to "travel" and spend a few nights in one place an move on. A trailer is better if you are going to "camp" in one place and plan to stay a while.

It all depends on what you are going to do.

owensg123 wrote:

So after all this, I think I am going to keep my TT for a while and see if I can get into a groove with the setup and takedown..

This sounds wise! There certainly is a learning curve. You will get much better at setting up and taking down over time. I know I did. In fact I've been streamlining what I actually need and don't need. When my wife and I travel by ourselves or myself alone I don't use the stabilizer jacks because I don't mind the movement.