We’re looking at buying our first trailer and a new one. We have rented a 22’-28’ and personally I lik the smaller one since it was nimble and agile to manuever around. However, we are expecting our first child and hoping to have a 2nd one afterwards. We also have two dogs (small and medium). Our original thinking was to start small with 22’-24' TT for a few years then upgrade to 26-28’ later once kid(s) have grown. Looking at costs – it seems we would lose a bit of money and better to purchase a bigger one now. From what I've read, it sounds like TT lost 50% value after just couple years. Going to 28' TT, I worry about biting off more than we can chew for our first TT. We have 2005 F-150 Supercrew 5.4L with 3.55 axle (not 3.73) which is rated for GCWR 14,000 and Tow Capacity is 8500 (truck’s curb weight 5281). I’m thinking as long as we stay under 5,000lb TT limit, we should be OK?Also, when I try to view camping and park vehicle regulations, if it says maximum vehicle size 30’ or 40’ – should I be calculating the length of our truck + trailer or is that just pertaining to the TT size?

dirtdivaca wrote:We’re looking at buying our first trailer and a new one. We have rented a 22’-28’ and personally I lik the smaller one since it was nimble and agile to manuever around. However, we are expecting our first child and hoping to have a 2nd one afterwards. We also have two dogs (small and medium). Our original thinking was to start small with 22’-24' TT for a few years then upgrade to 26-28’ later once kid(s) have grown. Looking at costs – it seems we would lose a bit of money and better to purchase a bigger one now. From what I've read, it sounds like TT lost 50% value after just couple years. Going to 28' TT, I worry about biting off more than we can chew for our first TT. We have 2005 F-150 Supercrew 5.4L with 3.55 axle (not 3.73) which is rated for GCWR 14,000 and Tow Capacity is 8500 (truck’s curb weight 5281). I’m thinking as long as we stay under 5,000lb TT limit, we should be OK?Also, when I try to view camping and park vehicle regulations, if it says maximum vehicle size 30’ or 40’ – should I be calculating the length of our truck + trailer or is that just pertaining to the TT size?I don't think you will find many 28ft TT's that weigh in at 5,000 lbs. Our ultralight 27ft has a dry weight of 6,000 lbs. Around here the size limits for campgrounds pertain to the trailer, not the TV. Every site we visited (not all that many, but a nice sample for Washington) had the ability to handle the TV and the TT, though maybe not hitched. At some sites we had to park the TV next to the TT.

My advice would be to get the bigger one now. Look for something in a bunkhouse model. These usually have a queen bed in front and bunks in the rear. You will, however, have a hard time staying under 5000# total, but your truck can pull more than that no problem. We just ordered a Grey Wolf 26BH (by Forest River) and I believe the dry weight of it was 4200# and it's a pretty basic TT. It doesn't take long to start adding weight to them either with clothes, dishes, pots, pans, etc. Slide-outs are nice too but add more weight and are another place to leak, also. Our last TT had a small slide that added some nice space inside, but our daughter is getting bigger and wanted her own bed instead of the fold down couch. Our new one does not have a slide, but that's ok, we don't spend much time indoors unless the weather is bad. As far as the length limit, I'd guess that is the length of the camper. It'd be hard to stay under 30' with any decent sized camper and a pick up truck. I think my DoubleCab Tundra is over 20' long, or close to it from bumper to bumper.

Thanks - this is helpful! We thought about bunkbeds but they seem so useless until you have someone to sleep in them. We're looking seriously at the R-Vision 25RKS (DVW 4740 and GVWR 6160 lbs) which is pretty light & all aluminum. We can use couch when kid(s) outgrown playard or co-sleeper options. Here's Floorplan URL since pasting the pic didn't work.

My wife and I had the typical too big, too small discussions. The dealer warned us that people get “two foot itis”. (Soon after they buy a unit, they trade it in on a two foot larger unit.) With just two of us and a big dog, we settled on a 25 ft. unit. We rented one prior to purchase and decided it was about as small as we would go.

Look at Lance 2185, length 25'8", dry weight 3930 lbs and it has triple bunks in rear.http://www.lancecamper.com/floorplans/lance-2185-travel-trailer.png

What would you do? 24’ or 28’? | Good Sam Community

53 Replies

dirtdivaca
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
Thanks - this is helpful! We thought about bunkbeds but they seem so useless until you have someone to sleep in them. We're looking seriously at the R-Vision 25RKS (DVW 4740 and GVWR 6160 lbs) which is pretty light & all aluminum. We can use couch when kid(s) outgrown playard or co-sleeper options. Here's Floorplan URL since pasting the pic didn't work.
AirForceAngler
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
My advice would be to get the bigger one now. Look for something in a bunkhouse model. These usually have a queen bed in front and bunks in the rear. You will, however, have a hard time staying under 5000# total, but your truck can pull more than that no problem. We just ordered a Grey Wolf 26BH (by Forest River) and I believe the dry weight of it was 4200# and it's a pretty basic TT. It doesn't take long to start adding weight to them either with clothes, dishes, pots, pans, etc. Slide-outs are nice too but add more weight and are another place to leak, also. Our last TT had a small slide that added some nice space inside, but our daughter is getting bigger and wanted her own bed instead of the fold down couch. Our new one does not have a slide, but that's ok, we don't spend much time indoors unless the weather is bad.
As far as the length limit, I'd guess that is the length of the camper. It'd be hard to stay under 30' with any decent sized camper and a pick up truck. I think my DoubleCab Tundra is over 20' long, or close to it from bumper to bumper.
Seattle_Lion
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
dirtdivaca wrote:
We’re looking at buying our first trailer and a new one. We have rented a 22’-28’ and personally I lik the smaller one since it was nimble and agile to manuever around. However, we are expecting our first child and hoping to have a 2nd one afterwards. We also have two dogs (small and medium). Our original thinking was to start small with 22’-24' TT for a few years then upgrade to 26-28’ later once kid(s) have grown. Looking at costs – it seems we would lose a bit of money and better to purchase a bigger one now. From what I've read, it sounds like TT lost 50% value after just couple years. Going to 28' TT, I worry about biting off more than we can chew for our first TT.

We have 2005 F-150 Supercrew 5.4L with 3.55 axle (not 3.73) which is rated for GCWR 14,000 and Tow Capacity is 8500 (truck’s curb weight 5281). I’m thinking as long as we stay under 5,000lb TT limit, we should be OK?

Also, when I try to view camping and park vehicle regulations, if it says maximum vehicle size 30’ or 40’ – should I be calculating the length of our truck + trailer or is that just pertaining to the TT size?

I don't think you will find many 28ft TT's that weigh in at 5,000 lbs. Our ultralight 27ft has a dry weight of 6,000 lbs. Around here the size limits for campgrounds pertain to the trailer, not the TV. Every site we visited (not all that many, but a nice sample for Washington) had the ability to handle the TV and the TT, though maybe not hitched. At some sites we had to park the TV next to the TT.

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What would you do? 24’ or 28’?

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