TT with easy bike access
My first post here. I'm hoping to maybe post some current thoughts and see what people have to say, maybe some alternatives.
Just over a year ago, my partner and I bought our first TT. A small Dutchman T@da that we pull with our 2013 Escape 2.0 Ecoboost with tow package. We spend lots of time traveling to bike races and most of the time camping is available at the event. So after staying in a friends motorhome during a race and realizing how much better it was than tenting or getting hotels, sometimes relatively far away, I spent a lot of time searching and got lucky to find the t@da just down the street, which was exactly what we were looking for (small, light, fully enclosed, full bed and wet bath).
We ended up spending 10+ weekends in the trailer, plus a 2 week trip around the easy coast of Canada/US visiting family and biking. We absolutely loved our time away and being on the road.
Over the past 4-5 months, we've both realized we are looking to mix up life and simplify. We really would love to be on the road full-time. The idea of being able to winter down Arizona/California where we can bike in warm weather, then during the spring/fall/summer months target other prime biking destinations more north for a few weeks at a time is pretty much a dream. Plus spending more significant time in the vicinity aging parents who are 2500 km from each other would be great.
We are mid 30's and have the ability to be mobile with work, including taking 4 months off per year. (Dec/Jan/Feb/March). The other months we'd need to be back in Canada for work, but anywhere, and would likely target Vancouver island for Oct/Nov, April would likely be the tough month as we'd probably want to be around Eastern Canada. Still not sure how logistically easy that would be, any experience would be appreciated. We also have an easy ability to give this a shot for 1 year with minimal repercussions if we want to step back into our current life.
Here comes what I'm really trying to work out. And while compromise will absolutely need to happen, any ideas people have would be great.
We are cyclists. We currently have a basement full of bikes. Between the two of us, there are 10+ that we ride regularly. At best we could get down to a total of 4, but would love to have 6. This is really our only indulgence/excessiveness in life as it's our passion (and the outdoors in general).
I'm currently trying to figure out the best RV/Vehicle for us. Here are some considerations.
- Price. Not a huge investment upfront for a variety of reasons. We generally want to be frugal to ensure we can continue to cut down on things like work hours, responsibility as we get older. $50,000 would ideally be the cost of TV + RV.
- We have to be able to carry bikes with easy access. Preference is in their own unique space. We don't want to be living onto, or even see them. Security is important, they are not $500 bikes.
Here are some options that are crossing my mind:
1) Toyhauler. Problem with most toyhaulers is they are designed for quads/motorcycles and are pretty large. For an RV we'd like to live full-time in, we'd be looking at 28ft+, which generally have 10ft-12 garages and take up lots of prime living space. I definitely would want an enclosed garage area, preferably with separate entrance, not the ramp, as we really don't want to be pulling that up and down each time we go out. I'd really want an RV with at minimum a couch and a dinette (a chair would be a nice bonus) so that we have some space to spread out and work comfortably. Again, most large toyhauler 28-32 ft seem to have only a combo dining/couch, which would be tough if we are both working within the trailer and it's nice to vary where you are sitting.
2) Get a TT and keep the bikes in the back of the truck with a secure cap. This opens lots of living space in the RV if we went 28-32 ft and I could easily get everything I wanted (even down to 26-27 ft). Unfortunately access to bikes in the back of a truck is not great at all, plus if I need to work on them, it has to be done outside. In theory, something like Sprinter type vehicle would be cool, standing height to set up a 'bike shop', however they have relatively low tow capacities (5000-7500 lbs). The other issue with a Sprinter type van, or even a cargo van is that they don't come factory as 4x4 (or AWD). This is something that is pretty important to me as I do like to get off the beaten path. It seems like every time I have a vehicle that isn't at least AWD, I get myself in trouble. Yes I could be better, but that's no fun.
3) Not super interested in a 5th wheel as I'd like to have an enclosed TV for transporting bikes from campgrounds securely.
4) Obviously we a could just go bigger in an RV. We are however pretty minimalistic in nature (except the bikes) and would like to keep it as 'small' as possible. It seems once you get start getting 31+ft, the trailers jump up in price a fair amount, plus at that point you are automatically looking at HD truck, which add costs.
Ideally I'd like to stick with a 1/2 tonne truck, but I'm pretty convinced that's not going to happen.
In saying all that. I think the best option I've seen right now would be a Keystone Outback 310TB (or the 28RS a couple model years old). I think that is beyond the limit of most average 1/2 tonnes, especially given we would be full timing?
Shipping Weight 7427
Carrying Capacity 1573
Hitch 785
If you managed to read through all this. And have any cool idea's, or advice, experience, errors to correct, please contribute.
Really trying to figure out where to compromise. Financially, living space, ease of access to bikes, 4x4 vehicle.
Just over a year ago, my partner and I bought our first TT. A small Dutchman T@da that we pull with our 2013 Escape 2.0 Ecoboost with tow package. We spend lots of time traveling to bike races and most of the time camping is available at the event. So after staying in a friends motorhome during a race and realizing how much better it was than tenting or getting hotels, sometimes relatively far away, I spent a lot of time searching and got lucky to find the t@da just down the street, which was exactly what we were looking for (small, light, fully enclosed, full bed and wet bath).
We ended up spending 10+ weekends in the trailer, plus a 2 week trip around the easy coast of Canada/US visiting family and biking. We absolutely loved our time away and being on the road.
Over the past 4-5 months, we've both realized we are looking to mix up life and simplify. We really would love to be on the road full-time. The idea of being able to winter down Arizona/California where we can bike in warm weather, then during the spring/fall/summer months target other prime biking destinations more north for a few weeks at a time is pretty much a dream. Plus spending more significant time in the vicinity aging parents who are 2500 km from each other would be great.
We are mid 30's and have the ability to be mobile with work, including taking 4 months off per year. (Dec/Jan/Feb/March). The other months we'd need to be back in Canada for work, but anywhere, and would likely target Vancouver island for Oct/Nov, April would likely be the tough month as we'd probably want to be around Eastern Canada. Still not sure how logistically easy that would be, any experience would be appreciated. We also have an easy ability to give this a shot for 1 year with minimal repercussions if we want to step back into our current life.
Here comes what I'm really trying to work out. And while compromise will absolutely need to happen, any ideas people have would be great.
We are cyclists. We currently have a basement full of bikes. Between the two of us, there are 10+ that we ride regularly. At best we could get down to a total of 4, but would love to have 6. This is really our only indulgence/excessiveness in life as it's our passion (and the outdoors in general).
I'm currently trying to figure out the best RV/Vehicle for us. Here are some considerations.
- Price. Not a huge investment upfront for a variety of reasons. We generally want to be frugal to ensure we can continue to cut down on things like work hours, responsibility as we get older. $50,000 would ideally be the cost of TV + RV.
- We have to be able to carry bikes with easy access. Preference is in their own unique space. We don't want to be living onto, or even see them. Security is important, they are not $500 bikes.
Here are some options that are crossing my mind:
1) Toyhauler. Problem with most toyhaulers is they are designed for quads/motorcycles and are pretty large. For an RV we'd like to live full-time in, we'd be looking at 28ft+, which generally have 10ft-12 garages and take up lots of prime living space. I definitely would want an enclosed garage area, preferably with separate entrance, not the ramp, as we really don't want to be pulling that up and down each time we go out. I'd really want an RV with at minimum a couch and a dinette (a chair would be a nice bonus) so that we have some space to spread out and work comfortably. Again, most large toyhauler 28-32 ft seem to have only a combo dining/couch, which would be tough if we are both working within the trailer and it's nice to vary where you are sitting.
2) Get a TT and keep the bikes in the back of the truck with a secure cap. This opens lots of living space in the RV if we went 28-32 ft and I could easily get everything I wanted (even down to 26-27 ft). Unfortunately access to bikes in the back of a truck is not great at all, plus if I need to work on them, it has to be done outside. In theory, something like Sprinter type vehicle would be cool, standing height to set up a 'bike shop', however they have relatively low tow capacities (5000-7500 lbs). The other issue with a Sprinter type van, or even a cargo van is that they don't come factory as 4x4 (or AWD). This is something that is pretty important to me as I do like to get off the beaten path. It seems like every time I have a vehicle that isn't at least AWD, I get myself in trouble. Yes I could be better, but that's no fun.
3) Not super interested in a 5th wheel as I'd like to have an enclosed TV for transporting bikes from campgrounds securely.
4) Obviously we a could just go bigger in an RV. We are however pretty minimalistic in nature (except the bikes) and would like to keep it as 'small' as possible. It seems once you get start getting 31+ft, the trailers jump up in price a fair amount, plus at that point you are automatically looking at HD truck, which add costs.
Ideally I'd like to stick with a 1/2 tonne truck, but I'm pretty convinced that's not going to happen.
In saying all that. I think the best option I've seen right now would be a Keystone Outback 310TB (or the 28RS a couple model years old). I think that is beyond the limit of most average 1/2 tonnes, especially given we would be full timing?
Shipping Weight 7427
Carrying Capacity 1573
Hitch 785
If you managed to read through all this. And have any cool idea's, or advice, experience, errors to correct, please contribute.
Really trying to figure out where to compromise. Financially, living space, ease of access to bikes, 4x4 vehicle.
