First time potential buyer of a TT- need advice

[zimm]

My first post, but I have lots of questions. We're a family of 4, with boys aged 2 and 4. Tow vehicle is a 2005 F250 (10,000 tow rating). We just sold our boat as she didn't like boating and I want to try out camping, but get away from tents on the ground.

I envision going more towards Virginia parks and dry camping rather than hanging out at the KOA camp ground 20 feet from my neighbors.
We'll have 3 dirt bikes (mine and two little kids 50's), but a toy hauler is probably out of budget. I'm envisioning keeping them in the bed of the truck and getting a bumper puller trailer.

We went to an RV show and have a list of wants and don't-wants. As this would be our first trailer and I'm not sure how much we'd use it, I want to keep it cheap. Around $10k would be ideal, but if I could get a get new one under $15k and finance, that could work too.
I think we want the smallest trailer we could get that has a queen up front, and two bunks in the rear for the kids. A slide out for the couch/dinette would be nice.

Must-haves- solid sides. No soft flop out beds, she's worried the kids will get stolen. So no pop ups or hybrids.
I don't care about fancy amenities like an outdoor kitchen. I plan to cook outside by the fire with my grill. I'd use a cooler for beer, no need for outdoor fridge. I own a Honda EU2000i generator, will that run a trailer if we're dry camping?

I do care about quality though- I want something build solid without spending money on "foo-foo" extras.

So that's where I stand, really looking forward to advice from RV'ers who've been there- done that.

[wbwood]

The first one we owned was in 2000. Bought it brand new and loved it. It had AC/ This last one didn't.
also, based upon percentages, you will get more of your money back on a pop up than just about any other type of units. Pop ups for some reason are harder to come by and have a good resale value.

[wbwood]

zimm wrote:

wbwood wrote:

zimm wrote:
Thanks. I do think renting one this spring will help decide how we'll use it. I'm going to try out tent camping hopefully this weekend and see how that does. At least she'll appreciate a TT after sleeping on rocks and sticks for a night! I'm an experienced backpacker, but I've never tried taking toddlers car camping...

You mentioned no pop ups or hybrid because she doesn't want the kids stolen. No offense, but tent camping is not going to really add any additional security. By all means if you want a hard sided trailer and can afford it, then go for it. But as one experienced with having owned 2 pop up's (with a child less than 2 years old with the first one and the other within the last couple years), a TT, and now a motorhome, I would not blink an eye about getting a pop up. Matter of fact, we bought one right before the motorhome and still had the TT. The pop up offers a lot for the person that wants to camp dry camp. Easy to tow and often lighter. The footprint is generally smaller, allowing you the option of parking it in smaller spaces, while being able to easily double the size of it when it's opened up. They make them where the dinette is a slide out. Beds are often king size. We gave up Rving/camping for about 7 or 8 years. I won't do that again. Even if it means back to a pop up. They are very versatile units.

Funny you should mention that. I'm reading up on pop-ups right now. If the difference comes down to affording a used pop up this summer and going camping, vs not being able to afford a TT and having nothing... that might outweigh the perceived security issues or extra noise from the neighbors vs having solid walls.

If you are camping the way you mentioned how you intended, then noise from neighbors really shouldn't be much of an issue.

Here's the used pop up that we bought a couple years ago. The owner wanted $2500 for it. We gave him $2000 or $2200, I can't remember exactly. But it was a steal at the $2500 price compared to what else was being sold at higher rates. When we traded it in with the TT on the motorhome. The dealer credited us twice what we paid for it and had it on the lot for even more.

[zimm]

wbwood wrote:

zimm wrote:
Thanks. I do think renting one this spring will help decide how we'll use it. I'm going to try out tent camping hopefully this weekend and see how that does. At least she'll appreciate a TT after sleeping on rocks and sticks for a night! I'm an experienced backpacker, but I've never tried taking toddlers car camping...

You mentioned no pop ups or hybrid because she doesn't want the kids stolen. No offense, but tent camping is not going to really add any additional security. By all means if you want a hard sided trailer and can afford it, then go for it. But as one experienced with having owned 2 pop up's (with a child less than 2 years old with the first one and the other within the last couple years), a TT, and now a motorhome, I would not blink an eye about getting a pop up. Matter of fact, we bought one right before the motorhome and still had the TT. The pop up offers a lot for the person that wants to camp dry camp. Easy to tow and often lighter. The footprint is generally smaller, allowing you the option of parking it in smaller spaces, while being able to easily double the size of it when it's opened up. They make them where the dinette is a slide out. Beds are often king size. We gave up Rving/camping for about 7 or 8 years. I won't do that again. Even if it means back to a pop up. They are very versatile units.

Funny you should mention that. I'm reading up on pop-ups right now. If the difference comes down to affording a used pop up this summer and going camping, vs not being able to afford a TT and having nothing... that might outweigh the perceived security issues or extra noise from the neighbors vs having solid walls.

[wbwood]

zimm wrote:
Thanks. I do think renting one this spring will help decide how we'll use it. I'm going to try out tent camping hopefully this weekend and see how that does. At least she'll appreciate a TT after sleeping on rocks and sticks for a night! I'm an experienced backpacker, but I've never tried taking toddlers car camping...

You mentioned no pop ups or hybrid because she doesn't want the kids stolen. No offense, but tent camping is not going to really add any additional security. By all means if you want a hard sided trailer and can afford it, then go for it. But as one experienced with having owned 2 pop up's (with a child less than 2 years old with the first one and the other within the last couple years), a TT, and now a motorhome, I would not blink an eye about getting a pop up. Matter of fact, we bought one right before the motorhome and still had the TT. The pop up offers a lot for the person that wants to camp dry camp. Easy to tow and often lighter. The footprint is generally smaller, allowing you the option of parking it in smaller spaces, while being able to easily double the size of it when it's opened up. They make them where the dinette is a slide out. Beds are often king size. We gave up Rving/camping for about 7 or 8 years. I won't do that again. Even if it means back to a pop up. They are very versatile units.

[rangerbait]

zimm wrote:
My first post, but I have lots of questions. We're a family of 4, with boys aged 2 and 4. Tow vehicle is a 2005 F250 (10,000 tow rating). We just sold our boat as she didn't like boating and I want to try out camping, but get away from tents on the ground.

I envision going more towards Virginia parks and dry camping rather than hanging out at the KOA camp ground 20 feet from my neighbors.
We'll have 3 dirt bikes (mine and two little kids 50's), but a toy hauler is probably out of budget. I'm envisioning keeping them in the bed of the truck and getting a bumper puller trailer.

We went to an RV show and have a list of wants and don't-wants. As this would be our first trailer and I'm not sure how much we'd use it, I want to keep it cheap. Around $10k would be ideal, but if I could get a get new one under $15k and finance, that could work too.
I think we want the smallest trailer we could get that has a queen up front, and two bunks in the rear for the kids. A slide out for the couch/dinette would be nice.

Must-haves- solid sides. No soft flop out beds, she's worried the kids will get stolen. So no pop ups or hybrids.
I don't care about fancy amenities like an outdoor kitchen. I plan to cook outside by the fire with my grill. I'd use a cooler for beer, no need for outdoor fridge. I own a Honda EU2000i generator, will that run a trailer if we're dry camping?

I do care about quality though- I want something build solid without spending money on "foo-foo" extras.

So that's where I stand, really looking forward to advice from RV'ers who've been there- done that.

Welcome! I recommend checking out the Trail Runner line from Heartland RVs ( http://www.heartlandrvs.com/ )...they're a tremendous value; we're on our second Trail Runner. +1 on the buying used advice too...we found our first 27' Trail Runner for about $11k, and took two cross country trips with it (California-Virginia in 2011, Virginia-California in 2014). We bought new this time because after 3 years, we knew EXACTLY what we wanted, and the Trail Runner was $10k off of MSRP, since it was a left over 2014 model.

[hyattjlbb]

A wise person told me on this forum a while back: "When shopping for your camper and you are ready to go see it, take the whole family along. When you get there, pile everyone in and close the door. Picture that you are stuck in there during a rainy day. Can you live a day like this and not get on each others nerves? If so, you have found the correct size RV." Words to live by while shopping.

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

While I am a cheap person and not against buying used, I will also say I have nothing against brand new and would not shy away from it.
I have a relative who bought recently, for their first TT, a brand new Micro-Lite TT that is almost exactly what the OP described -- and it was right about $10K, not much over.

I also know there are often better deals on new than used. The MFR's and dealer WANT to get them sold.

BY the same token, good RV dealers do offer warranties on used stuff. 4 or 5 years back, my siblings and I all threw in together to buy a $3K 10YO pop-up for our assorted young adult kids / nephews / nieces to use to come camping with us. The daeler fixed mechanical items no questions asked, under their used-sale warranty. The downside was - it was 10YO, and plastic body / trim items that where deteriorating where Not covered in the warranty and parts where NLA from the MFR. It got used for just 2 years before it began leaking water in through those cracks again (after a ton of work to attempt to seal it up when they first appeared) and we had to nearly give it away before it turned into a junk pile.

[Bill___Kate]

I go with the advice to buy used. If you want to go a little more cautious, try a used unit from a trustworthy dealer. You will pay a little more, but they often offer a short warranty and usually can offer financing. Find a unit with the layout you seem to like, and if the whole thing turns out wrong, you won't be out too much cash. Your generator will run everything except the air conditioner - if you want to run that, you will need a second 2000 and a hook up kit .....

[bikendan]

AngryBert-63 wrote:

bikendan wrote:

zimm wrote:
I own a Honda EU2000i generator, will that run a trailer if we're dry camping?

everything BUT the a/c.

we are long time dry campers and our Honda 2000 has been one of the best things we ever bought for our trailer.

but we live on the West Coast and don't camp in the summmer, due to all the crowds. so we don't ever need the a/c, since we camp spring and fall.

We live just across from you on Whidbey..

we cam see Whidbey and the Passage from our place. live on the NW side of Camano.

[Winnebago_Bob]

bikendan wrote:

zimm wrote:
I own a Honda EU2000i generator, will that run a trailer if we're dry camping?

everything BUT the a/c.

we are long time dry campers and our Honda 2000 has been one of the best things we ever bought for our trailer.

but we live on the West Coast and don't camp in the summmer, due to all the crowds. so we don't ever need the a/c, since we camp spring and fall.

We live just across from you on Whidbey..

[bikendan]

zimm wrote:
I own a Honda EU2000i generator, will that run a trailer if we're dry camping?

everything BUT the a/c.

we are long time dry campers and our Honda 2000 has been one of the best things we ever bought for our trailer.

but we live on the West Coast and don't camp in the summmer, due to all the crowds. so we don't ever need the a/c, since we camp spring and fall.

[eichacsj]

So with the dirt bikes, how will you haul them> Think about if you have to have another vehicle be driven to haul them, that may counter the cost of a toy hauler cost). I personally have them in the bed of my TV (tow vehicle). We use the 2000i for our 30U with no issues. You can't use the MW or AC though. Look at Northwood; Nash or Snow River models. If you find one used that fits your budget don't wait long to decide. They are really tough for off roading.

[zimm]

Thanks. I do think renting one this spring will help decide how we'll use it. I'm going to try out tent camping hopefully this weekend and see how that does. At least she'll appreciate a TT after sleeping on rocks and sticks for a night! I'm an experienced backpacker, but I've never tried taking toddlers car camping...

[Winnebago_Bob]

donn0128 wrote:
Shop used. As a first timer there is no logical reason to suck up the massive depreciation you will encounter when buying new not knowing if your going to like the lifestyle or not.

I would agree with this - also you can rent a TT and see what works and what doesn't.

If you go used you'll have a lot more options to get what you want.

[donn0128]

Shop used. As a first timer there is no logical reason to suck up the massive depreciation you will encounter when buying new not knowing if your going to like the lifestyle or not.