How big is big enough?

[clarkster]

I am considering going full time.

For one person, what is the minimum travel trailer length you would be comfortable in?....

Due to size constraints in National Forest campgrounds out west, 30' overall seems to be a good size.

I am honed in on a Heartland North Trail 26LRSS model.
http://www.heartlandrvs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=170:nt-king-26-lrss&catid=82:north-trail&Itemid=398

Any input is welcome
Thank you

[RoadXYZ]

Reading you post ... what is comfortable ... we have full-timed, traveled in a 28 ft. Alpenlite Travel Trailer for 12 years ... it has a separated rear bedroom and dinette/couch/kitchen in the other half. The only thing which we wished we had considered was needing a larger bathroom for two people. But we have customized the travel trailer for us these past 6 years and shall probably stay living/traveling/volunteering in it for as long as we are able to stay in an rv park/resort/campground ...

We chose this one at the time due to our other vehicle, now have upgraded to a 2500 Suburban and are happy with our set up. Will say that should we get another dog, as our now without a dog, would be a tight fit, but without a pet this size is fine for us. No recliner, but for now that is ok.

[clarkster]

MTHome wrote:
My DH and I full-time in this exact model. NorthTrail 26LRSS. It's fine most of the time. 2 things to check. Make sure the slide motor is mounted correctly and that the heat exhaust cover isn't installed upside down. Both are coming out of the factory wrong.

Could you outline how the slide motor should be mounted?....

Heat exhaust cover?......more details please.

[MTHome]

My DH and I full-time in this exact model. NorthTrail 26LRSS. It's fine most of the time. 2 things to check. Make sure the slide motor is mounted correctly and that the heat exhaust cover isn't installed upside down. Both are coming out of the factory wrong.

[tatest]

For me, 16-18 feet might be enough, it would give me a bathroom, modest storage, a permanent sleeping area, and a work area and kitchen. I don't need a lounge area. But storage for the stuff you want with you is the big issue with full timing, and I would be covered by using a full-size van as the tow vehicle for a small TT.

But tight now, for seasonal/snowbirding, I'm hanging on to the 29-foot motorhome I've already paid for, as it has space to rattle around in (we've done trips with six people) and can carry about 2000 pounds of stuff. A 24-26 foot TT might have equivalent space, but it is not so easy to find that carrying capacity, some of what you think your life needs might have to go on the tow vehicle.

I've met folks who full time solo in van conversions, pop-up trailers on 10 or 12 foot boxes, 24-foot travel trailers (with 2-4 children). I've met couples and even singles who need 40-45 feet of motorcoach, or 38-40 feet of fifth wheel trailer. Much of this depends on how much stuff you need to carry with you, as a single human being needs very little space for survival or modest comfort.

[djc486]

2gypsies I am with clarkster in thinking it would be great if you could share that list. It would be lots of help for everyone.

[FunnyCamper]

It truly comes down to how do you want to structure your daily life in your rv?

Are you fine with smaller, if so get it 🙂
Do you need some elbow room just for yourself to feel good in your space? Make sure you buy some extra space for yourself then.

We were tent campers originally in the way younger years 🙂

So we did fine with small spaces. We were ok with minimal amenities we brought.
Then the size upgrades---Truck camper to 28 ft TT, 34 ft TT with slides, a few 5th wheels at different sizes and then the biggie, a 40 ft toyhauler 5th. AND we realized as we got larger it never made us happier truly. it was just a monster and a pain 🙂 (for us)-----so back down we went. To the 'smallest' the 3 of us are comfortable in....a total lenth 34 ft toyhauler trailer. box is 30ft. and that is the smallest we will go for the 3 of us. We also do not do private cgs, we are COE, state parks and national parks. We fit fine. The floorplan of this new toyhauler suits us great. We are happy as clams with this smaller set up...losing 6 ft seems dramatic, but in the end we don't notice it truly.

So find a floorplan that suits you, be sure if you want to stick with a size for easy convenience etc do not keep going up in size if not needed.

We can overthink for sure 🙂 Hubby said 30 ft total max length! NO way I could make that work comfortable for us 3 and how we function in an RV and our camping lifestyle. We ended up with 34 ft total length. But our eyes kept going to bigger models, 36 ft total, 38 foot total and since we wanted WAY smaller than our 40 ft monster, it was imperative we stuck to our guns and kept it as small as a floorplan that suited us.

Look around and see what will suit you and stick to your guns and get what you need and want 🙂 You can't go wrong just buying what feels best to you.

[Geocritter]

I’ve been following this thread, which asks a common but unfortunately subjective question. There are folks happily full-timing in Class B’s while others in 40’ Class A’s lament not having enough space. When I began full timing just over three years ago I purchased a 33’ Class A, basing my needed space decision on a two year period in college when I lived in a beat-up 1950’s vintage 8’X25’ travel trailer. It turned out that for my needs my 33’ Class A is too big. Half ways through my first road trip, a 6,000 mile loop from Texas to LA and then up the west coast to Port Angeles WA and back to Texas via Denver, I began referring to my RV as “The Behemoth” and the name was not meant as a compliment! I’ve since made modifications to the suspension, replaced the engine, installed exhaust headers (more power) and I’m liking my palatial manor much better, though I still wish it were shorter, not over 30’. However that’s just me, your size needs, both actual and psychological, may vary. As it is I’ve developed a work-around that suits my full-timing needs. I typically stay at places for a month at a time and use my Class A as a home base. I use my toad, a Dodge Caravan and a 250cc dirt bike, to further explore the area I’m visiting.

Of all the advice you've gotten in my opinion 2gypsies advice stands out as the most useful, though I’d never go with a 40’ RV like they did. But as I said, it’s all subjective.

Steve

[clarkster]

2gypsies wrote:
I think I need to publish my campground list of places we've stayed with our 40' motorhome - public campgrounds, not RV parks. I have 300+ word processing pages full of parks. 🙂

Putting your list up would be GREAT!!
I would even accept it by direct email if that works for you.

I see you're "enjoying" the West........this is where I am and plan on staying here.
I have zero desire to go east of the Rockies.

[Captain_Happy]

I myself full-time. I have a 30 MH that is used for long stays And it's just about all I really need. Plenty of storage inside and out. now when I do more short term traveling I use my little 17 foot Casita trailer behind my Ford Ranger. Now, if my wife was still around we'd probably need a 50 footer with 4 slides.

[2gypsies1]

I think I need to publish my campground list of places we've stayed with our 40' motorhome - public campgrounds, not RV parks. I have 300+ word processing pages full of parks. 🙂

If 35'/36' is what you feel you'd be comfortable in then get it. You'll find very nice places to stay, including national forest campgrounds, our favorite. Since you enjoy public parks many times you won't have hookups so you'll want large holding tanks, for sure.

Since we enjoy national forest campgrounds they typically are in a forest. We purposely chose and ordered our RVs with only two slides and both on the driver's side. It's hard to maneuver a RV, especially if you're single, inbetween trees so that you can open the slides. Having only two and on the same side made it super easy for us. We had the bedroom slide and a long living room/kitchen table area slide.

A table rather than a booth is great. You can use the chairs elsewhere if you have guests and they are much more comfortable on your back than a booth bench.

We don't watch T.V. so that wasn't an issue for us and we didn't want a washer/dryer. When you're using public campgrounds without hookups the washer/dryer makes no sense. Besides, we went into town for errands and 1-1/2 hour of the laundry and then we didn't have to think about laundry for a couple weeks. (Buy lots of underwear) 🙂 You don't have to change outer clothes daily.

Recliners were a must for us and the Queen bed was just fine.

Everyone is different. You'll just have to put your 'wants' on paper and see what kind of RV you can come up with. Good luck!

[clarkster]

VegasScotty wrote:


A fixed dining table

What do you consider a "fixed" dining table?.

I have seen dinette booths and free standing tables with chairs

Thanks

[VegasScotty]

When I was in the service I moved without my family once and spent 5 months in my 24', single slide.

I agree with most of the people here....
A slide is a must
A recliner is a must (pull out your cheap couch and put in a chair if you have to)
A fixed dining table
and A ROOMY SHOWER. (I think the small, camper shower was my biggest complaint the whole time.)

Anyway, I would like more room and storage if I was full timing than my 24 footer gave me, I've got a 32' now and I think it would be almost too big if I was alone... so yeah, right near 30 sounds like a nice round number solo.

[GoPackGo]

I am a single and I have fulltimed for the last 3 years in a 35 ft fifth wheel - Bighorn 3010RE. Since a fiver hangs over the bed of a truck, it may be equivalent to a 30 ft trailer (for maneuvering purposes).

I do not need nor do I want anything larger then 35 ft.

IMHO, these would be my suggestions.

Slldes ! The more the merrier ! Mine has 3 slides. I could not be a fulltimer if I didn't have the slides. Slides seem to add more room then they actually do.

A living room that can accomodate 2 recliners (I have 2 Lazy Boys) and maybe a couch that becomes a bed.

A nice big TV. Mine comes with surround sound which is great because I also subscribe to Dish and get their music channels.

A large shower that can really be used as a shower !

A permanent kitchen table that can double as your computer desk.

The option of a second AC unit.

Have the option of a king size bed if wanted.

I also added in a washer and dryer. That steals closet room so I wanted adequate closet space in addition to the w/d.

[clarkster]

JFNM wrote:
I looked more closely at your tow vehicle and where you are located clarkster. Based on that info, I am betting you are a little like me - prefer to get far away from civilization and enjoy outdoors-ie type hobbies (fishing, mountain biking, hiking, etc.).

If not, ignore me. If so, some thoughts...

I occasionally consider trading a good bit of "comfort" for a setup that would allow me to get FAR off-road out here in the west (forests and desert). A 4x4 truck (which you have). A tough trailer with big tires and lots of ground clearance - probably not a 5er as I think a big topper on the truck is needed for storing stuff (bikes, kayak, fishing gear, etc.). I most often think of this setup as I am driving my Jeep deep into the forest or desert on ratty old "trails." I start wondering if the best approach would be an enclosed cargo trailer that I converted myself. Lots of what I want and very little of 'what the masses want.' So, lots of solar, battery capacity, water, insulation (cold mountain top air), etc. Very little designer fabric, custom carpet, etc.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like fancy and comfortable. But, I think a high level of capability to get me where I want to be would be an acceptable trade for some amount of fancy and comfort. I could be ENTIRELY wrong - I've never done it and I've not spent any real time researching the possibilities. So, just rambling on, hoping to give you some ideas.

I am 70 years old.....the idea of roughing it are long gone.
I want a REAL mattress and a comfy recliner.

The rig I have now is a popup style slide in camper.
6.5 bed on the truck makes it very small.
The overhead bed is a piece of foam.....4" thick or so.
I have to climb up into it.....

Just spent 7 weeks on the road with it from Las Vegas to the Oregon coast and back.
To put it mildly, I was ready to bail out of that rig.
But.....I can go anywhere with it and short campsites are not a problem.

IMO.....that style is a short term venture. Longer periods are just too tough for my old body.

While in Oregon, I spent some time at a RV park and the quarters were close....might as well have been in an apartment complex.
No thanks....I much prefer State parks or NFS campgrounds.

Just diddling around, a tentative plan for full time would be from the Colorado river around Yuma and on northward, staying close to the river, all the way to Lake Mead (Quartzite not out of the question)........in the winter of course.
There are quite a few LTVA (long term visitor area) around the Colorado River area.....stay up to 7 months for $180 bucks I think it is.....BLM land.

Bail out for the high country anywhere in the West... in the summer and repeat as the snow starts to fall.

I have looked at scads of campground spots and 30' seems to be the max vehicle length. Sure a handful are longer or shorter but 30' seems more common. If the "norm" was 40'....I would get a 36'-38' footer.

I would ditch the F-150 and get a F-250.....pushing the weight limits is not my style.