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.

[Chock_Full_o__N]

Another vote for considering a pop-up. We started off in a tent, but when our youngest developed an unhealthy fixation on unzipping the tent in the middle of the night, we moved up to a PUP with a lockable door. It was a great match for us. Our unit was very basic, just beds on wheels. I always hooked up the stove outside so we didn't have to smell food odors all day and all night. It also kept things cleaner. We did not have a potty in the PUP--indeed, my kids (who were about 5-7yo) would have been horrified to use the potty behind a flimsy curtain. We all preferred to go to the bathhouse for toileting and showers, but you may decide to put in a little porta-potty while you have very small children.

We really loved that little PUP. It was less expensive and it helped us figure out whether we even enjoyed that kind of camping without investing a ton of money. Later, we moved up to a trailer, but it was perfect for our needs when the kids were younger.

ETA: I never really worried about someone stealing the kids from the pop-up or the tent. I don't think I have ever heard of someone stealing kids from a PUP or tent. Not even from a guy who knew a guy whose girlfriend heard about it at the hair salon. :C

[wbwood]

packpe89 wrote:
You can also keep the beds made, no converting at bedtime.

You must of had a different kind of pop up than we did. There was no converting beds at bedtime. The beds were already out and made all day long.

Another thing about a bunkhouse, when your kids get older, they will want friends to go with them, so more room the better.

Not necessarily true. At least not for everyone. We've learned to not buy based on what "might" happen. In 2010, we bought a 2010 31' bunkhouse w/2slides. It had 4 bunks in it. One was a trundle style so it looked like only 3 beds. We went with that because we knew that our daughter, who was about 9 years old then, would be bringing friends with her. In the 3 years we owned the TT, not a single friend came with us. Those bunks were only used once and it was a couple of my nieces who slept in them one night. They didn't go camping with us, but they happened to be staying in a cabin at the park at the same time and the cousins wanted to be together. For us, that last 8' or so of the TT wa a waste. She was only in there at bedtime. She dind't need all the bunks or space. We now have a Class C that is a 31' model. Her bed is above the cab. Takes about half the space of the bunk area of the old TT. She doesn't even sleep there. She prefers to sleep on the sofa (not folded out into a bed).

Bunk house RV's are like homes with a pool. To many people they are great and heavily used. Many have them, but rarely use them. And then when you go to sell it, you have a limited audience. There are people looking for a house with a pool, but there are many who are not or don't want to deal with them. The same for a bunkhouse RV. They are great for those that will actually use them and have a need for them. But I wouldn't plan my future based on what might happen. But to each, their own.

[FrankShore]

I beg to differ. Of course you can run a 9,000 btu A/C with a Honda 2000, people have even run a 13,500 at sea level with a Honda 2000. If the unit is struggling, just throw a couple of breakers and you're in business. Or if you're worried, get a hard start capacitor installed on the A/C unit.

[bikendan]

packpe89 wrote:
We had a pop-up for a few years and enjoyed it, but got a bunkhouse when we planned a 3 week trip out west. Did not want to 'pop' up every day, also some campgrounds in Yellowstone did not allow pop-ups (bears).

Only ONE campground in Yellowstone(that allows RVs), bans soft sided campers, Fishing Bridge.
All the others do allow them.

[packpe89]

We had a pop-up for a few years and enjoyed it, but got a bunkhouse when we planned a 3 week trip out west. Did not want to 'pop' up every day, also some campgrounds in Yellowstone did not allow pop-ups (bears). We purchased a 5 year old bunkhouse and have enjoyed it very much. I would definitely look for bunks. Your kids are small now, but will soon want more room. You can also keep the beds made, no converting at bedtime. I wish we had a slide, for those days it does rain and everyone is inside, wish we had more room. Another thing about a bunkhouse, when your kids get older, they will want friends to go with them, so more room the better.
You have plenty of truck for most TT's. If your's is rated for 10K, I'd look for one under 8K lbs.

[2112]

We rented for years before we bought our first one.
This gave us the opportunity to decide what floorplan and options worked for us, how much storage we could live with, etc.

You might want to consider renting one a few times to see if she is willing to continue.

[wbwood]

If you want with holding tanks, then you might look at the hybrids. It's the best of both worlds and you certainly can pull any of them with the F250.

[wbwood]

Veik wrote:

wbwood wrote:
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.

is it possible to dry camp in a popup?
Do those have any holding tanks?

Pop ups are perfect for dry camping. Holdiong tanks, not really so much. What we did was use a portable waste tank for the gray water. We used the aqua tainers in the beginning. Those we could just lift and put in the back of the truck to take and dump. The portable, we just tagged behind the vehicle on the hitch. If you have a toilet, it will have a small tank on it for you to use to dump.

The last pop up we had, had a toilet. The first one didn't and neither had a shower. We just used the bath houses. But some pop ups do have a wet bath.

[Fixed_Sight_Tra]

Veik wrote:

wbwood wrote:
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.

is it possible to dry camp in a popup?
Do those have any holding tanks?

I don't think I've run across one with holding tanks, just some with porta potties.

[Veik]

wbwood wrote:
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.

is it possible to dry camp in a popup?
Do those have any holding tanks?

[Fixed_Sight_Tra]

zimm wrote:
Will the Honda 2000 generator run a pop up A/C?

Maybe but probably not.

I like pop ups but I certainly would want one with some sort of a bathroom if I went that route. I have two kids, 5 and 8 and the bathroom is essential.

Also the problem with renting is the expense. Renting is 10 to 20% the price of just buying the thing used. Do this a few times to see what you like and you could be out a couple thousand. Where if you buy a used one you can see what you like and probably sell it after a year or two for about what you have into it.

[zimm]

Will the Honda 2000 generator run a pop up A/C?

[wbwood]

2gypsies wrote:
Keep in mind that if you camp in Virginia it could be hot and humid and buggy if you dry camp. That could be very uncomfortable for the wife and children, especially. Plan ahead. 🙂 Perhaps mixing up the types of camping - getting hookups sometimes and dry camping at other times would make it easier on the three (plus you) and a more enjoyable trip. Just a thought.

Depends on the part of Virginia.

[2gypsies1]

Keep in mind that if you camp in Virginia it could be hot and humid and buggy if you dry camp. That could be very uncomfortable for the wife and children, especially. Plan ahead. 🙂 Perhaps mixing up the types of camping - getting hookups sometimes and dry camping at other times would make it easier on the three (plus you) and a more enjoyable trip. Just a thought.