Not beginners, just unsure of what to buy next.

[sillynikki]

Here's a quick recap:

Started off tent camping, got a pop up, moved up to a hybrid, moved up to a 38 ft tt (WAY too big for us), was given a free pop up (FAIL).

So we are now in the market. We only camp 2-3 times a year. It's me (the wife), DH, 15 year old DD, 14 year old DD and 2 medium/large dogs that camp.

We really like the hybrids with the 3 beds that pop out. It would be great for when our girls have friends come with us (which, they usually do). because they would be on one end of the camper and have their own space without us having to put the couch or dinette down. I figured when the girls go off to college, then we would just use the beds for storage and the dogs could have their own bed.

YET, there are some amazing deals on really roomy 5th wheels with large living spaces. The con: the kids would have to sleep on the couch/table/floor.

I don't know what to do. The thought of all their stuff strewn about the main living area stresses my OCD brain out. Also, I hate the thought of them sleeping in the main living area and DH and I being confined to our room in the evenings. Teen girls like their privacy...especially when they have friends with them.

Do I focus more on what works best for us NOW? Or do I focus on the future?

We currently found a nice hybrid that has the 3 beds for a great price. We just don't know what to do.

[Spleenstomper]

7k is an excellent price to work with.

[Spleenstomper]

This is our current 21 ft Puma toy hauler. The two queen beds drop from the ceiling and the sofas make a bed. (I'm tired of climbing over whoever is sleeping on the sofa bed in order to get to the bathroom.

[sillynikki]

Isn't renting extremely expensive? Also, most rental units don't allow dogs, do they?

[sillynikki]

This particular hybrid unit is under $7,000.

[sillynikki]

My first choice would be a 5th wheel that we fell in love with about 2 months ago. It had 2 FULL size bunks. They were big enough for 2 adults to sleep on each bed. Those are way out of our price range though.

[sillynikki]

bob213 wrote:
IMO, if you are only going to use it 2 or 3 times a year you would be better off renting one. Why pay to store it, insure it, purchase all the extras, do the maintenance, etc.? I wouldn't keep mine if that's all I used it.

We can store a hybrid here with no problem. The 38 foot tt was so long that it dug into the ground when trying to park it at the back of our property. Even then, we stored it for free at a relatives house. If we got a 5th wheel, it would be a smaller one.

I'm really leaning towards the hybrid with the 3 beds. I wish we had kept the one we had before. We thought bigger was better, but it proved not to be.

It's a 2007 Rockwood Roo 233 that we are hoping to go look at. Another plus with the hybrid is that if the girls DIDN'T have a friend come with us, they would have their own beds that would be larger than the typical bunks that are in TT's and 5th wheels.

[ScottG]

There's no way I would spend that kind of money on a toy that sits so much.
I would say it's much better to rent or tent!

[Halmfamily]

We went with a front living room model, Sandpiper 366Fl. Kids are 13 and 15. The bunkhouse models we looked at the bed were not big enough nor comfortable enough. We also like the fact we lots of room at night for all of us to relax. If the kids want privacy they can go outside. This unit will also be great for us when the kids are gone. Our unit has a ton of inside storage so the kids have plenty of room to store their stuff as I am OCD about stuff just laying around. Good luck. Travel on.

[bob213]

IMO, if you are only going to use it 2 or 3 times a year you would be better off renting one. Why pay to store it, insure it, purchase all the extras, do the maintenance, etc.? I wouldn't keep mine if that's all I used it.

[Spleenstomper]

As all my friends try to tell me, what makes you think the kids are leaving any time soon? Lol. I expect our kids will occasionally RV with us through university and beyond. Plus, they can borrow ours and camp with their friends, etc.

It is a big puzzle. Do you have a tv vehicle for a 5th wheel?