Where do I start?!

[Askibum02]

I've been wanting to buy a travel trailer for years now and I think I'm finally ready. I rented a 30(ish) ft travel trailer from Ft. Bragg MWR about 6 years ago, and it seemed to work fine. We had 4 adults and 2 kids, and things were a little cramped but we made it work. I never really "shopped" for the trailer, it was either a pop up or the trailer we rented, and this guy isn't staying in a pop up. It's been a few years now, and the trailer was already a few years old when we rented it so I'm sure things are totally different. I want to finance it, but don't know what length loan to consider. Do people really finance travel trailers for 20 years? Do I buy new or used? How bad is the depreciation hit if I buy new? How much cheaper can I expect a used trailer to be over new? Just like I don't walk into a car dealer without doing research, I don't want to walk into an RV store and say I want to buy a trailer and have the salesman take me for a "ride."

Based on my previous experience I would probably want something similar to what we rented previously. Around 30', a bunkhouse, at least one slide. Another limiting factor I have is my truck. I currently have a '14 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel with the highway gearing, so I can only tow 7700#. I don't know if you saw my other post, I'm thinking about buying a new truck to so I can eliminate weight from the equation. Given the tow capacity of my current truck, can I find a trailer that meets my need or do I need to reconsider size?

[farmer_s_daught]

I'm new to 'trailering', being in my second year. What I've learned so far is to visit lots of rv dealerships, but not on the same weekend! Everything all begins to look the same and you can't remember anything. I was stuck on a certain floor plan (bunkhouse) to accommodate my adult single children who wanted to camp with me (I'm single, 63, female). However, after using the TT for one season, I realized I didn't like the floor plan, so I traded it in for a rear kitchen. The banquette will easily sleep an adult, as will the couch (and I get the queen size bed!). More usable floor space. Also the bathroom is bigger and has a shower, not the crappy tub my other one had. It's also of a higher quality--better stabilizer jacks, etc. You might be better off to rent some for the first season (a couple of our rv dealerships rent, as well as a mini-storage place) so you can decide what floor plan really works for you. Remember that your kids will grow quickly, so plan for that, too. I was misled by not only the dealership, but my car dealership as to what my truck could tow, and when I traded up on my TT, I wasn't happy with how my truck towed, so I had to get a better truck. Now I'm happy, but not with all the payments! Don't believe anything the RV salesmen tell you; I've learned all about looking at your owner's manual for your truck to see what weight it can tow safely. I also upgraded the tires and had rear-suspension air bags installed. Safety is my thing! Good luck

[DallasSteve]

Askibum02 wrote:
I drive way too much to lease. I put 30-35K miles a year on my vehicle.

Wow! That is a lot of miles. I only drive about 10K per year so it works for me. If I'm retired and towing a trailer around the country I may need to pay for more miles in the lease, but I won't have a daily commute so maybe not.

[Askibum02]

I drive way too much to lease. I put 30-35K miles a year on my vehicle.

[DallasSteve]

Another reason I'm favoring TT over motorhome is that I can buy a used trailer and lease a new tow vehicle. I've been very happy leasing new cars for the last 15 years and I'd lease a motorhome or travel trailer if it was practical, but it's general not available.

[Jbrowland]

I am also in the buy used camp when it comes to luxury items like RV's. Especially on a trailer for weekend warriors. The only thing I wish to pay interest on is a mortgage on a house and even that kills me. Don't get me wrong, I start looking at new RV's and the drool hits the floor in seconds but I have to remind myself that there is a big difference between what I want and what I actually need. The major difference is about 80k in price. 😉 Unfortunately for most of us, the only way to stay middle class these days is to owe nothing to nobody.

Be very patient and do your homework. Don't get attached to anything you see. There are thousands of options out there. Good luck and happy travels!

[doxiemom11]

We own a 16 year old motorhome and I can say that the new ones don't even compare as far as quality, construction, materials used and options that are included. When we decide to change, we will be looking at older used quality rvs no matter what type we buy.

[Allworth]

We just got home from 63 days out west (Yellowstone and Dinosaur w/ grandson, then Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Death Valley, Saguaro...you get the idea).

For the same trailer; the Rockies require twice as much engine as anything back East in order to actually be comfortable on the passes. I wouldn't consider it without a diesel.

Another thing is that well maintained diesel trucks last forever. Plan now for what you might be doing in five years

As for the trailer; a wise saleslady (yes, there are such things) told us 12 years ago to consider our first RV a "training trailer". Buy used, figure out what you like and don't like, then look for something better. The Titanium is our third, and I believe our last fifth wheel. This one we love.

[Grit_dog]

And you can always do some of the weekend trips and if you don't like it then upgrade before a long haul. At that point you're only out a couple hundred$ in suspension mods and maybe a trans cooler.

[Grit_dog]

Askibum02 wrote:
We'd likely do shorter trips, weekends at about 100-200 miles each way. I would also like to do extended trips, like a Western US National Park trip.

I know you said you bought the Eco D in haste and are re thinking its capabilities, but depending on your financial situation in general as well as related to the truck, what you owe, what it's worth, etc, you may have to shell out a bunch of money to upgrade a relatively new truck.
Look at some of the reviews of Eco D trucks pulling campers. Perrysburg dodge boy on here hauls a decent size TT iirc.
I don't worry about payload capacity much (within reason) as suspension is cheap and easy to bolster up a little and if you need heavier tires, that really is of little cost cause you'll need tires anyway soon enough. Either sell the old tires or store em and burn them up when you're not towing heavy. Maybe an aux trans cooler too? Again not expensive if you're handy.
I'd say if you can stay in the 7klb range then your current rig is a very capable vehicle for occasional short trips and the odd x country run.
No, it's no big boy diesel, but 420ft lbs regardless of altitude is as good or better than any engine of 2 decades ago and people hauled big campers then. Plus the added advantage of the robust ZF 8 speed makes for a nice combo.

[Askibum02]

We'd likely do shorter trips, weekends at about 100-200 miles each way. I would also like to do extended trips, like a Western US National Park trip.

[Grit_dog]

Was gonna say be done with it and get a 3/4 ton or bigger.
IMO half ton is a half ton. You're not moving up in the world much by getting a turbo 6 banger gasser to replace your turbo 6 banger diesel.
Don't sell the Eco D short and regardless of final gearing, the wide torque band and 8 forward speeds makes up for most of any rear gear shortfalls.
But if 30' was cramped then you're pushing yourself into campers that will be a bit of a chore behind a half ton.
Depends on your use. Several short weekend trips or X country, mountains, lots of miles with the trailer hooked up matters IMO.

[kohai]

Buy used, the depreciation hit is too much unless you can afford it (if you're financing, you can't afford it).

[Askibum02]

Payload is 1330# and GCVW is 13,750#. I'm sure we can make 30' work, we won't always have 6 with us, adult 3 and 4 was my in-laws, and they would drive separately . I realize my truck is a limiting factor, and will probably have to be replaced. When I bought it I was in a tight spot, replacing a totaled vehicle and I had two days to find one. Hoo-Ray for procrastinating. I didn't do a whole lot of researching before buying it. I'm looking at a loaded '16 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost and a modestly equipped '16 Ram 2500 CTD. Two totally different trucks I know, but both are about the same price and both will technically meet my needs. A big part of me wants to buy the Ram and the biggest 5W it will pull and be done with it, but also like the bells and whistles of the F-150, but know I will have to choose a smaller trailer if I go that route.

[tomkaren13]

Do not know how much you have read on this forum. My opinion is a 1500 truck should not tow a TT over 6000#. Got to count in you, your passengers, all the stuff you load into the TT, and even the water in the tank into the 7700# tow capacity. Adds up fast!