Retired and ready to get into travel trailer camping

[ricskinner]

We're retired and want to get into travel trailer camping to visit family in LA, MD, MA and National Parks. Considering used/new 22-28 ft ultra-lite TT. Seeking guidance on trailer as well as tow vehicle (do not currently have). Live in MA.

[dcason]

Go the smallest you can live with (unless you like to travel with lots of junk). We use a van (doing art shows) and a 20 foot travel trailer and that is perfect for us. For fun we use a 24 foot jayco class c.

You will fit more places, take less junk (because you cannot fit it).
Buy used and try it out; then if you like it you have a choice. BUT, what's not to like?

donna

[ricskinner]

We're really appreciating all the very helpful guidance that we get from this group. As all of you know, selecting the TT and TV in not a quick or easy decision. We continue to research, visit dealers, and read all your postings. Many thanks.

Ric

[wkrp]

We had our TV before we purchased our TT and I'm glad we did. That way we knew what we could safely and comfortably pull.

We have a 2011 4dr. Tundra 5.7L with tow package. Our TT is a Jayco 26RLS that comes in at around 6300lb. dry. This leaves of plenty of wiggle room for all the extras we take.

We are comfortable with this package and are glad we didn't get anything bigger OR smaller. I would much rather tow with ease and peace of mind than have a TT 1' or 2' longer and have to fight it every mile.

Beware when you pick out a TT you like and the dealer tells you there is absolutely no problem pulling it with your TV. Do your homework.

[JiminDenver]

We have a Ameri-lite ultra lite trailer and love it. That said some ultra lites have weight saving measures that may or may not fit your needs.

Ours is a 3 season trailer without enclosed and heated under belly, less insulation and single pane windows. We are fine if it freezes over night as long as it gets above freezing the next day. Since we don't winter camp, it works for us. Even in the 20s the furnace keeps us warm and only runs 3 times a night.

Some weight saving things have no impact on our camping like the plastic sinks and toilet. We will never know there is OSB in the cabinets unless there is a leak. Our propane tanks are 20 lb instead of 30 lb but we have yet to use one of those in a trip.

OSB in the cabinets is one thing, in the floor is another. Some manufactures use OSB or Luan in the floor and it will eventually sag from use and really give if leaked on. Ours has 3/4 inch ply and doesn't sag even under my 220 lbs +.

One thing I would have liked is larger tanks. 30 gal of fresh water doesn't go far so we take extra and conserve.

For us having the ultra lite means we can have more trailer and not strain the truck as much. It also cost half as much as a nice 4 season model of the same size. Ours seems constructed well enough as it is no pavement queen. We are usually 5-10 miles off the beaten path and NFS roads are rarely maintained well. We cross wash outs, traverse rock strewn trails and ruts to get to those out of the way spots on a ridge.

So make sure the ultra light you pick has the features you need. Replacing a sink or faucet is one thing. A soft floor is a bigger issue.

[md2lgyk]

If there are any near you, I recommend going to an RV show. That's what we did when we wanted to get back into RVing after a number of years of tent camping. You will be able to see pretty much everything that's available, and show prices are usually deeply discounted.

The other thing I recommend is looking for a decent used pickup truck for the tow vehicle. We got a 2-year-old Sierra half-ton crew cab for less than half the cost of a new one. Others here may disagree, but I'd stick to a 2WD. They are considerably cheaper and get better mileage than a 4WD. We test drove several trucks before buying, and the GMCs have a much more "civilized" ride than, say, a Ford F-150.

[ncrowley]

Take a look at the older Evergreen Everlite's that had the "no wood" construction. I had one and it was lightweight and a joy to tow. It was also very well made.

[wintersun]

If you have any RV parks or campgrounds near your house take time to talk to owners about what they like and dislike about their current and any past trailers and tow vehicles. Then you can decide if they apply to you both.

To me the most flexible RV setup is a pickup with a crew cab (seats 5 adults) pulling a travel trailer. The truck with a cap can hold bicycles, camping gear, a boat, and all the other items you do not want to hang off the back of the trailer or have to store inside. The rear seat of the cab is great for putting items you want to be able to get to without stopping and going inside the trailer, like raingear, snacks and beverages in a cooler, photo gear, and the like, or pets.

A big advantage of trucks is that they are built for towing and will better handle the trailer in every respect. A 1/2 ton truck will be adequate for a trailer under 8,000 lbs and provide a smoother ride than a heavy duty truck.

You can download trailering guides from all the manufacturers' websites and other sources that will provide exact information on the load capacity of different vehicles. I would not trust a salesperson at a RV or auto dealer for accurate information.

[Bumpyroad]

I would look at the Ascend A191RD. If I had a little more tow vehicle I would have bought that instead of my Ascend A171RD which I tow with my Highlander, not a F-550 as recommended here.
🙂 bumpy

[WoodGlue]

If you're going to be hauling an UltraLight TT, you're probably looking at a less than 4,600 lb TT and almost any kind of SUV these days can haul that load, even a skimpy 6 cyl.

That being said, you should look at a TV, something that will haul something more substantial, say a 8,000 lb TT. This is in case you change your mind about your first trailer and need to "trade up"

I'm all for researching your TT thoroughly and sticking with that choice, however many on this forum will swear by the fact that you'll go through 4-5 TT's before hitting on one that you'll truly like.

I'd suggest that you look at Lance Travel Trailers for a higher end, extremely well built TT. (look in my sig for more info)

Lance Travel Trailers - Ultra Light Weight

I say. buy once and buy well.

WoodGlue

[JKQ]

Most important thing to remember is if you buy the wrong truck your camping experience will turn out to be a camping nightmare! Purchase at least a 3/4 ton tow vehicle & a diesel if $$ allow.

[Dick_B]

If you haven't RV'd before I'd suggest renting a few times to get the hang of it B4 investing in a vehicle that only depreciates.

[CincyGus]

Do some serious reading in the towing section, especially the Can I tow this with my truck" type posts. Once you understand the considerations in matching a truck to a trailer (Payload, Hitch wieght, Weight Distribution and sway control systems, etc) Then go pick out a trailer you like. Then find a truck that will give you a nice safety margin of a couple thousand lbs in towing and 400-500 of payload is my suggestion.

If your going to use the truck mainly for towing, consider a rear gear with more grunt, a 3.73 or 4.10, depending on weight of the trailer. Will give you more "get it moving/merging power" and not work the engine to death on hills.

[mikedboyd]

Agreed. The biggest difference maker for 'happy' towing would be having more TV than you minimally need for your selected trailer. Towing with confidence is important, especially when new to towing.

For long distance towing, it is also very important to have a good quality reliable weight distribution / anti-sway setup. Start your search with the Equalizer 4-point hitch. It is the popular, been around forever choice. Several other good choices available with different selling points and price points.

Resist the urge to take the whole house with you when you travel. In these forum pages you can also find examples of 'lists' of what people pack into their trailers, what they consider 'essential' to have with them, etc. Also lots of good ideas for efficient storage.

On picking a TV, we went from a Dodge 1500 (big block V8) to a Chevy Duramax/Allison . Regardless of brand, I would go with a 3/4 ton weight truck for stability and really consider the extra $$ of diesel. The torque difference is amazing and is not just extra umphhh that you don't need. It makes a difference.

Happy Trailering.

[Snowman9000]

ricskinner wrote:
We're retired and want to get into travel trailer camping to visit family in LA, MD, MA and National Parks. Considering used/new 22-28 ft ultra-lite TT. Seeking guidance on trailer as well as tow vehicle (do not currently have). Live in MA.

A lot of the decision-making depends on your personality. I think forums attract people who are really into optimizing and even perfecting things. I know I am like that. It's great when it all comes together, but it's an obstacle some times too. Not knowing you, we might want to know your priorities. The bottom line is, it's practically impossible to get it right the first time. OTOH, My parents just went out one day and bought a new TT, and got a lot of enjoyment out of it. It is definitely possible to over think it.

Most people say to decide on the TT first, then buy a suitable TV (tow vehicle). So that's probably good advice, except if have your heart set on a particular size or style of TV. But it's very easy to end up needing a bigger TV if you buy a combo that is near the upper limits of the TV. My first cardinal rule would be to buy more TV than you need. It will make for a MUCH happier experience.

I personally favor buying a used TT to figure things out, then upgrade in a year or two. Used trailers are notorious for leaking as they get older. A good rule of thumb IMO is to buy a three year old RV and sell it when it's eight years old. You get a good value in that range, and then get rid of it when it still looks decent but is getting to be a senior citizen.