We are planning to full time it in another year and of course we can't decide class a,class c or travel trailer in 24-28 ft sizeMy question is does anyone know of a travel trailer that can take the life of a full timer constantly moving across country.A lot of the ones Insee don't look like hey can hold upThanks

Keep in mind that travel trailers don't have any storage space in the 'basement'. However, there are RVers who manage just fine with them. Full-timers have any size or type of RVs. You just need to think out all the ways you'll be RVing and what you'll need to store. Good luck!

All travel trailers are designed to "travel". All of them are designed to withstand hurricane winds (driving down the road at 74 mph! yup, that's hurricane velocity). Just the opposite end of the spectrum, not all travel trailers are designed for off-road travel though. Off road travel will probably destroy pretty much any travel trailer pretty quick. Just towing them won't hurt anything. And there is no set rule that says you have to "full time" in a specific type of camper either. You select the "type" that works for you and no one else, because you are the one living in it.

Miles impact any RV. We have a 2014 Flagstatt (36 ft) which has been from Texas to Key West to Maine to San Diego and a lot of places between in 39 months and 26,989.2 miles being towed. We've had a couple problems including a weld failure on an axle - Dexter Axle QC issue. We've had some things shake loose. In general most of the full-times I see in the area east of the Rockies have a 32-36 foot long fifth wheel. Most farther west seem to go a bit smaller. There really isn't a "full timers" TT brand. The folks who seem to have the fewest problems in my talks with them are folks in Castia or similar less than 20 ft eggshell trailers. We can't live that way. We need our recliners, a decent sized bath, and our queen sized sleep number bed. As mentioned above - TT have almost no external storage space, and usually have very little weight carrying capacity. Everyone I have met uses their truck/ tow vehicle as their primary storage for tools, outdoor gear, spare parts, etc. Personally I wish our budget/ income would allow a 35-40 ft diesel pusher. But that ain't gonna happen. We might move to a 36-38 foot 5th wheel in a couple years if we can find the right used model. My advice - get the best pickup you can afford with the best payload and towing capacity. Get an affordable used TT that you can afford to sell trade in two years. And hit the road. If your first choice doesn't work out, you can change. Only you and your significant other can decide if a layout/ rig works for you.I will say that I get tired/ frustrated with the more complex process of setting up, preparing to tow the TT at times, especially when we are moving every couple days. Especially when traveling with friends with a Class A or Class C. I also regret the poor fuel mileage. Not while towing. We get better mileage than a gas class A and some class C models. We get slightly less mileage than Class A dps. It is the sight seeing and 'around the area' driving where my big pickup mileage bothers me. In the near 27,000 miles towing, we have also driven almost 50,000 miles without the trailer.

The only difference between MH's and TT's is the front seats and the engine in front! Neither of which you can utilize as living area!!From there on back the innards of the RV's are all the same.You will lack some of the storage but I've seen new TT's with the same amount of bays as some MH's. But then again you do have the added storage space of the back of the pick up truck.I full time and I have seen ALL types of RV's being used as a full timers RV. It's what ever floats YOUR boat.Met one lady who's DH passed away and she traded in their Big ole Class A on a real nice Casita and continued full timing.I choose, after owning a TT...a MH. Only from the standpoint of being able to just pull in, park, and open a cold one. No fuss, no muss.:W

We fulltime in a 25 foot toy hauler .Very little outside storage but we have the bed of the pickup .Storage is important to some but not so much to us .We have lived 15 years on a small sailboat and we soon realized that a lot of the junk that we felt that we had to drag around was not really that necessary. If ya need a lot of storage maybe you would be better off keeping the two car garage !

Full time travel trailer | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

fulltimedaniel
Explorer
Apr 17, 2017
2gypsies wrote:
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
I'll talk about one aspect of warranties that have a major impact on full timers.

Mainly that if you expect warranty work, you are going to have to leave the RV / TT with a dealer for a few days to a few weeks. While you have to find alternate living arrangements. Warranties will not pay for you to live in a hotel while repairs are being done.

Very few repair locations will allow people to live on their property while work is being done in a problem. In some cases it is a zoning restriction, others insurance problem, etc.

Sorry, I totally disagree with this. We bought two RVs new during our 16 years of full-timing and never had to stay in a motel for work done. We were always graciously allowed to stay on the service premises most often with even electric hookup.

There is another issue here. A TT you can repair anything on it yourself if you are moderately handy and have a decent set of tools. there is no need to go to a dealer unless you are replacing a non working major part under warranty such as the refrigerator. An unlikely event.

You cannot do that with a Motor Home. If something goes wrong with the engine or running gear you will be in a Motel. And possibly for a very long time. MH's are often put on a back burner repair wise at the large repair facilities that cater mostly to Class 8 Trucks. They are their big customers and their bread and butter. You rig will sit taken apart while they repair the Freightliner that pulls in with an emergency repair.

As for the durability of TT's I have hauled mine for more than two years now putting on more than 40K miles (30K in the last year alone) which includes a trip to Baja with lots of off road use and two trips to Alaska.

I have a Gulfstream Innsbruck and as TT's go it is well built.
bikendan
Explorer
Apr 17, 2017
jarata, we moved from our 24' hybrid to a 26' TT in March.
We retired a couple of years ago and wanted something easier to make long trips in.
We are currently on a 7 week trip to try out snowbirding. Our TT is a couples only TT with super comfy theater recliners, a big rear kitchen and a separate but tight bedroom.
It has a big front storage area also.

We're really enjoying it but no way could we fulltime in it. It's great for a wintertime escape but we wouldn't want to live in it much longer than that.
We aren't the fulltiming type but if we were, a 5th wheel would be our choice.
tatest
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2017
I know some people who have been doing this in Airstreams, some of them for as long as 50 years. I see full timers also in old aluminum Holiday Ramblers, and aluminum framed TTs from Carriage. There are also folks still using 50 year old Shastas. I expect any well-made travel trailer can stand up to years of constant use, with regular preventive maintenance, but it will be easier with something built better (often heavier) to start with. That would likely not be the one with the lowest price.
kennethwooster
Explorer
Feb 21, 2017
We started with a 5th wheel. I do like all the storage. However the flat floor would really be jive. Also if you pull with truck the bed is empty for storage. Newer tts have more slides so you have more living space.
wbwood
Explorer
Feb 20, 2017
jarata1 wrote:
We are planning to full time it in another year and of course we can't decide class a,class c or travel trailer in 24-28 ft size

My question is does anyone know of a travel trailer that can take the life of a full timer constantly moving across country.A lot of the ones Insee don't look like hey can hold up

Thanks

That's opening a can of worms. Only YOU can decide what is right for you. You are going to get what you pay for. What your needs are will make the determination. It's really 6 in one, half dozen other type of thing.....
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Feb 20, 2017
To test an RV, jump up and down on the kitchen floor. If it caves in, the TT is no good! Our 31W Arctic fox is at 12,000 lb and its a bumper pull but it's snug at 4 degrees.
BrentB
Explorer
Feb 17, 2017
Also check out Outdoors RV: http://outdoorsrvmfg.com/

and Grand Design: https://www.granddesignrv.com/
bikendan
Explorer
Feb 16, 2017
jarata1 wrote:
caseyhoward wrote:
Look into the Northwood products either the Nash or the arctic fox... we have been pulling our Nash for 10 years now all over the country and still going strong.

I really like these trailers are they a lot heavier to pull

Yes
jarata1
Explorer
Feb 16, 2017
caseyhoward wrote:
Look into the Northwood products either the Nash or the arctic fox... we have been pulling our Nash for 10 years now all over the country and still going strong.

I really like these trailers are they a lot heavier to pull
Captain_Happy
Explorer
Feb 16, 2017
With the rest of us out here that don't relieve on warranties, we use mobile RV Techs. They come to you and it gets fixed or replaced. Now, if you had to spend weeks living in a motel and paying the bills, it adds up fast. Probably more then the cost of what has to be replaced. Just something to think about before you buy one of those overpriced warranties. Just put that money into a separate account for fixing/replacing stuff the breaks. Just learn how to fix stuff yourself. It isn't that hard.

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Full time travel trailer

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