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?

[BizmarksMom]

After 2 weeks in Mojave, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree NPs, with a friend using the dinette bed, I'm still pleased as punch with my little trailer. There was no limit on the campgrounds I could fit into. No worries about needing a pull through or big rig spot. And there was plenty of space for both of us to stow our stuff and live in the trailer.

[LAJMINNIEPLUS]

We are retired and have owned a Minnie 2101FBS for the past 3 years. It was sized just right with all of the conveniences. And we have been very comfortable camping for up to a week at a time. We cook and live outside until after campfire time and then retire to watch tv until bed time. We sometimes take two grandchildren, and now it is a little small because each needs their own bed. Combine that with the fact that we are headed West from Maine for about 6 weeks this summer, so we decided to upgrade to a Minnie Plus 26FBSS with a couch and dinette that can become beds for the kids when needed. We fell in love with the extra space. We hope to have it home this week. Hopefully, we made the right choice.

[steve-n-vicki]

i had a pilgrim 190 rb, 19 ft , wife thought it was too small, so then a pilgrim 241 bhss , 30 ft came along , she decided it was too small so a montana 3750 fl 39 ft came along then divorce and now I have a bullet 207 rbs , I love the little camper , I can get in the 25 foot spots that are not available to the bigger units, so I don't have any regrets going smaller ( gf is smaller than the ex too ) I down sized all the way around and cant be happier

[wbwood]

RBPerry wrote:
We kind of went the other way, went from motorcycle tent camping to a 28 ft travel trailer. We would have been just fine with a smaller trailer.
Sales people said our 1/2 ton truck would be just fine, wrong, we live in the Sierra mountains with lots of hills. So you guessed it that meant a new truck.
This has been our first year of enjoying the RV life and we really love it, but I do miss the motorcycle tent camping, but wife doesn't.

Give her some time. After a season or two, she may start seeing more advantages of a smaller unit.

[RBPerry]

We kind of went the other way, went from motorcycle tent camping to a 28 ft travel trailer. We would have been just fine with a smaller trailer.
Sales people said our 1/2 ton truck would be just fine, wrong, we live in the Sierra mountains with lots of hills. So you guessed it that meant a new truck.
This has been our first year of enjoying the RV life and we really love it, but I do miss the motorcycle tent camping, but wife doesn't.

[wbwood]

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.

We bought a pop up in 2000. Enjoyed it for a couple years. Life changed, we moved and we ended up not using the pop up for a year or so. Family of 4. We needed the money and sold it in 2003. Fast forward to 2010. Only one child left at home. We thought bigger would be better. Bought a 31' bunkhouse model (35' total length). Had to buy a 3/4 ton pickup (F250) to pull it. We bought the bunkhouse because we envisioned our daughter bringing friends with her. In 2013, we decided to trade it in on a Class C. Daughter never brought friends. We wanted something easier than towing the travel trailer and we traded in the truck on something smaller and more practical for my wife to drive daily. The class c ended up being a 31' model, but afforded us more living space. Plus its simpler to just get in and drive and go and set up. We now would like something smaller. Perhaps a Class B. We even have entertained the idea of a smaller (19') or less TT and a 1/2 ton truck. Over the years our camping style has changed. We went to only wanting to stay in full hook up resort type of places, to now enjoying dry camping on occasion, using some portable solar panels. Never did any of that with the big TT and it wasn't set up for that. Things change. Just don't hold yourself to one type. And don't be surprised if you change your style, wants or needs. My philosophy is to go with the smallest and simplest unit you can stand.

[MudQueen22]

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.

[troubledwaters]

I think most people buy in stages (at least I did). I bought a small TT at first because of my Tow Vehicle. Some people may be able to afford both at once, I think most limit themselves to starting out with a smaller camper and tow it with their current vehicle. Several years later I could afford to get a bigger tow vehicle. Several years after that I could afford a larger camper (that was about 12 years after I bought the first one). I now have what I need and am good. A few years from now I will probably buy another tow vehicle, but it still will only be big enough for my current camper (a 28'), I have no need to go bigger with either one.

[profdant139]

We have been camping in a 12 foot long trailer for 12 years -- we have had two the same size. It has all of the features of a big trailer but fits on my driveway and into tiny campsites.

It's great for us -- but it is just the two of us, and we get along well (together for 43 years!). We take long trips every year -- weeks and weeks at a time. See the blog links in my signature for more info.

But there is no right answer. You have to do what works for you, not what works for someone else.

[NYCgrrl]

SuperiorBound wrote:
I have a teardrop, 4 feet wide no room to stand. Love my lil camper and when I need or want more room just attach a side tent. However as aches and pains creep up on me I am looking at possible upsizing to a Tag. I love small and the freedom it affords me.

That line made my short list. Can't recall exactly why I didn't choose it but it's certainly a worthy line w/ several layouts:c.

[SuperiorBound]

I have a teardrop, 4 feet wide no room to stand. Love my lil camper and when I need or want more room just attach a side tent. However as aches and pains creep up on me I am looking at possible upsizing to a Tag. I love small and the freedom it affords me.

[mdcamping]

MudQueen22 wrote:
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?

No regrets

We keep our costs for camping all up front. Though we could afford a larger RV for now its about the experience not about the material.

Mike

[qtla9111]

Hard to find but we have a 24ft TT with two slideouts. One opens up the living room and the other creates a very comfortable bedroom with walkaround bed.

We love it. We boondock a lot and like to get to out of the way places. Being any bigger would make it difficult.

[Addy15]

We have a 21-foot Starcraft Launch. Haven't regretted it yet. I suppose that could change someday when we want to spend more extended time in it. We'll have to see I guess.

[wecamp04]

We went from tent to 30 tt to 36ft multiple slide 5th wheel as the kids keep getting bigger for some reason, now that we're almost empty nester s were going back to 25-28ft tt .