Every regret your small TT?

[MudQueen22]

I've been reading quite a bit about choosing a travel trailer.

We are rather intimidated by anything large, but so many posters say they regretted buying a smaller TT and ended up trading for a larger one.

Does anyone not regret buying a small TT (under 25')?
Does anyone wish they had purchased a small TT over a larger one?

[dodge_guy]

Hmm? Yes I do regret my small trailer. I really wish we would've gotten the 35footer with 3 slides, but we settled on the 32 with one slide and 4 bunks.

I've been in places where people say you'll never fit, yet I have less problems than some people in trailers that are 10 feet shorter.

Problems are what you make of them, and I try and keep things easy.

[2gypsies1]

ppine wrote:
By the time trailers get to around 25 feet they don't fit in National Forest campgrounds very well, they start to get hard to pull and get blown around in the wind.

Huh? With our 40' motorhome we've stayed in many, many national forest campgrounds. . . also, national parks, state parks, Corp of Engineers, county and city parks. In addition, much boondocking on BLM and national forest lands.

[falconbrother]

MudQueen22 wrote:
Thanks so much, everyone, for the replies.
We are a family of 4. It is dh & myself (in our 40s & both educators) and our two children (grade schooler and toddler).

We love to go different places. We have a minivan, and we love road trips. We've enjoyed various places in Texas (our home state), Colorado mountains, Grand Canyon, and Disney.
We would like to visit the Smokey Mountains and also the Northeast.

We went to an RV show recently. We liked the small ones, but noticed people (both sales and other shoppers) saying that people end up trading in the smaller ones for the larger ones.

We considered buying a pop-up camper (we could tow it with our minivan and start using it now), but we decided we wouldn't really be happy with it long-term, so we are waiting until we can buy a truck. At that point, we will start seriously looking for the TT.
We want to buy the appropriate truck/TV for the TT, so trying to plan it right.

From what most posters here say, I think we will be happy with one of the bunkhouse models I've been looking at. But wanted to get more opinions.

The poster that said getting a trailer that is short but with two axles made a great point; thank you.

Before you buy a truck/SUV make sure you understand weights involved. We pull a 27 footer with a 1500, 4x4 Suburban, 5.3 V8. It does the job but, It's near the top of it's comfortable limit. When buying a vehicle you want more than you think you will need..because you will need it.

[ppine]

By the time trailers get to around 25 feet they don't fit in National Forest campgrounds very well, they start to get hard to pull and get blown around in the wind.

I like trailers around 22 feet or less, but believe in the old boat adage-

6 for cocktails
4 for dinner
2 for overnight

[falconbrother]

Our first TT was a 16 footer. It was a 1991 Prowler and it was my wife and I and two pug dogs, occasionally. It was cramped but, we had some amazing trips in that trailer. That was in the early - mid 1990s. Would I want to do a 16 footer now? No way. I would if I had to but, given a choice, no way. We sold a 28 foot class A motorhome a few weeks ago. That's the size range I really like. Our travel trailer is 27 feet and it's the perfect size for what we like. It's not crowded feeling, especially with the slide. If you're rained in you can relax and enjoy the day. The old 16 foot Prowler weight 3600 dry. This 27 with slide weights 5500 dry. Not that much more for more than twice the square footage with the slide out. If we had gone back to a small trailer I totally would regret it.

But, it's important to know what you plan to do. We like to go to the beach and hang out for a week. Or maybe the mountains for a few days. We don't go out to the boonies and dry camp. For that maybe a small camper would be the way to go. Essentially we have a vacation home at wherever we want to be. That always includes full hookups, cable TV and wireless internet. Roughing it means that the nearest restaurant is more than 10 minutes away.

[ktmrfs]

we have two trailers. the first is a 7x14 pace cargo with living quarters and used as a bike toyhauler. Shower, fridge, furnace, AC, water, grey tanks, etc. etc. fold down bed, dinette on legs.

The other is a 32' double slide rear entertainment, huge living area, lots of room.

We use both quite often. the big one for longer trips and with the kids/grandkids.

The smaller one when we go to remote spots the big one won't fit in, or when it's only the two of us remote, or riding with my son.

It would be tough to only have one. Not sure which we like the best. both serve a specific purpose and need.

[OldShu]

RedRocket204 wrote:

MudQueen22 wrote:
We went to an RV show recently. We liked the small ones, but noticed people (both sales and other shoppers) saying that people end up trading in the smaller ones for the larger ones.

We considered buying a pop-up camper (we could tow it with our minivan and start using it now), but we decided we wouldn't really be happy with it long-term, so we are waiting until we can buy a truck. At that point, we will start seriously looking for the TT.
We want to buy the appropriate truck/TV for the TT, so trying to plan it right.

MudQueen,

I see it's been over a month since you last posted on this thread but if you're still reading the responses...

I would highly recommend going out and finding a few trailers that would satisfy your needs in a trailer first. I completely agree with wanting a bunkhouse model, my kids like having their own space and along with our dedicated bed, everyone has a place to go/sleep that doesn't require making up before bedtime. That said, know what will work for your family in regards to a trailer, find out the weights of those trailers you like (TT GVWR and loaded tongue weight, do not use dry weight numbers) then start looking at trucks. Do not make the mistake of first going out and buying a truck assuming it has the payload capacity to handle any trailer as that method is far from reality.

As per the comments about people trading in for larger units, that does happen for some but not for all. We still have our original TT we bought in 2010, it was a used 2007 model. Ours is a 26BHS, so point to bumper is 30'. Do I wish I had a larger trailer, no. In fact, there are many times I wish I had a smaller trailer because of access areas I want to go with my TT. But those access areas are not RV parks or managed campgrounds, the areas I am referring to are areas in the high country of CO.

However, back to the sales peoples comments about many trading in lightly used TTs for larger units. The good news about that is the availability of smaller, lightly used TTs that could potentially be a good purchase for you.

Completely agree.

Find the camper first and then the TV. If getting the TV first, might as well get a 3/4 with all available tow options to cover all the bases. The bigger the payload of the TV the better. You can't have to much TV but you can defiantly have to small of one.

You may want a smaller TT now but then you find "the one" and it is bigger than expected.

Some smaller TT with a 600 lb published dry TW will be 900 lb camp ready. A 1/2 ton with a 1200lb payload only leaves you with 300lb for you and the DW for example. This subject can be like beating a dead horse....of course. :R

[RedRocket204]

MudQueen22 wrote:
We went to an RV show recently. We liked the small ones, but noticed people (both sales and other shoppers) saying that people end up trading in the smaller ones for the larger ones.

We considered buying a pop-up camper (we could tow it with our minivan and start using it now), but we decided we wouldn't really be happy with it long-term, so we are waiting until we can buy a truck. At that point, we will start seriously looking for the TT.
We want to buy the appropriate truck/TV for the TT, so trying to plan it right.

MudQueen,

I see it's been over a month since you last posted on this thread but if you're still reading the responses...

I would highly recommend going out and finding a few trailers that would satisfy your needs in a trailer first. I completely agree with wanting a bunkhouse model, my kids like having their own space and along with our dedicated bed, everyone has a place to go/sleep that doesn't require making up before bedtime. That said, know what will work for your family in regards to a trailer, find out the weights of those trailers you like (TT GVWR and loaded tongue weight, do not use dry weight numbers) then start looking at trucks. Do not make the mistake of first going out and buying a truck assuming it has the payload capacity to handle any trailer as that method is far from reality.

As per the comments about people trading in for larger units, that does happen for some but not for all. We still have our original TT we bought in 2010, it was a used 2007 model. Ours is a 26BHS, so point to bumper is 30'. Do I wish I had a larger trailer, no. In fact, there are many times I wish I had a smaller trailer because of access areas I want to go with my TT. But those access areas are not RV parks or managed campgrounds, the areas I am referring to are areas in the high country of CO.

However, back to the sales peoples comments about many trading in lightly used TTs for larger units. The good news about that is the availability of smaller, lightly used TTs that could potentially be a good purchase for you.

[KillerIsMe]

lantanatx wrote:
I have a 23 ft with one slide and bunks for the kids. Double axles were a must. The single width bunks may be too narrow when the boys reach full size, but by then I doubt we will be going on long trips together often. Mine also has two doors which helps a lot with the traffic flow with two pre-teen boys. I wanted a less than 20 ft trailer originally but could not find a double axle that small in my market. We go out for about 4-5 weeks each summer and a while I very occasionally wish for a smaller one, just 1-2 rainy days trapped in a trailer with two 13-year-old boys makes me glad I went for the extra space. Rarely when spending several days in one place I want a little more room, but when I pull it I'm glad I did not over stretch my tow vehicle capacity.

We have that same trailer on order. We have just one daughter - 11 now - and also will be pulling with an f150, although ours is a 5.0. Can you share your experience so far as far as towing, fit and finish, trailer size, and anything else that comes to mind? How is the Murphy bed, and did you add/replace the factory mattress? Just interested is all. The floor plan looks right for us and my wife loves it (happy wife...) so feedback would be helpful. Thanks lantanatx.

[Atlee]

double post

[ctilsie242]

My current rig (around 28 feet from ball to bumper) is great for the renaissance faire. Even though it has no slides and just one pass through basement storage compartment, it has a nice one ton OCCC. All my armor and such fits well inside, so I can just take it, store it, and come next season, pull it out and have everything ready to go.

However, because it is so big, I can't really use it for much other than that. It won't be for a while, but I do plan to eventually trade it in for a class "B" or a truck camper. Some vehicle I can use on a weekly basis to get out of town with ease.

[ppine]

I really liked the Nash 22 but it was heavy and 8 1/2 feet wide. I recently downsized to a Tahoe hybrid that is around 19 feet. It is easy to pull and roomy when set up. Storage space is much reduced. I really like the trailers in the low 20 foot range. They are easy and fit in the old USFS campgrounds.

[Atlee]

My 24' Koala is a tad to small to me. If it were about 3 feet longer, with a dinette, I'd be as happy as a clam at high tide.

I do not want anything much over 28' at the max. Don't want anything smaller than my current 24 footer.

[Big1]

We have a 36"9' TT so I think that we are okay, I find towing it is not too bad but when we get our fiver it might be a little smaller, probably 35".

[lantanatx]

I have a 23 ft with one slide and bunks for the kids. Double axles were a must. The single width bunks may be too narrow when the boys reach full size, but by then I doubt we will be going on long trips together often. Mine also has two doors which helps a lot with the traffic flow with two pre-teen boys. I wanted a less than 20 ft trailer originally but could not find a double axle that small in my market. We go out for about 4-5 weeks each summer and a while I very occasionally wish for a smaller one, just 1-2 rainy days trapped in a trailer with two 13-year-old boys makes me glad I went for the extra space. Rarely when spending several days in one place I want a little more room, but when I pull it I'm glad I did not over stretch my tow vehicle capacity.