Your Thoughts on Camping with a smaller Travel Trailer

[Campin__Nana]

Sorry for all the questions. Hubby and I are doing so much research and getting opinions from others on things has helped us immensely! Thank you again to everyone who has helped and offered suggestions.

We have been looking at the Jayco 27 RLS's which have an overall length of 31' 6". My husband has never camped before and while he has pulled boats and flatbed trailers, he is concerned about pulling and backing something so long. (We have a F250 Super Duty truck.) We are wondering what your thoughts are on an adult couple camping in a smaller TT. We won't be fulltimers. Just random camping trips and 1 or 2 week long trips. Are there any couples here that camp comfortably and HAPPILY 😉
in a smaller TT, say 24'-26"? What are your experiences with that? Thank you!

ETA: Our 2 year old grandson will come with us sometimes.

[SilverEscape]

I agree with toedtoes, that it depends on your definition of camping. We've got 5 people in a smaller trailer than what you are looking at. 😉 And we had those same 5 in a pop-up trailer prior to that. Although that only lasted 2 years and we realized the PUP was too small for 2 adults and 3 kids. (Prior to that we had 2 adults and 2 kids in the PUP for 7 years) 😄

We wanted something that would fit into well treed, private, non-parking lot style spots so we wanted shorter. We mad it longer by getting one with a rear slide. So we don't hog the width in narrow spots with side slides, and the rear slide can go over stumps, bushes, etc. if the spot isn't as long as we'd like. Ours is 24' hitch to bumper for travelling and 29' with the rear slide extended.

[rexlion]

I know plenty of folks who enjoy camping in TTs from 13' to 17'. DW and I started with a 23' with slide, then I replaced it with a 17', then a 16', then a hardsided popup. Small is good! It lets me get into small spaces and it's really easy to tow and maneuver.

All you really need in a trailer is a place to sleep, a place to sit (eating or otherwise), a place to cook, and (most would say) a bathroom. You can find all of that in a 16' TT.

It's funny, 10 years ago I said I was done tent camping, but next week I'm planning to go tent camping again and I am looking forward to it.

[mbopp]

My wife and I get along fine in our North Trail 21FBS. We've gone 11 days w/o hookups and this year it'll be a full 2 weeks. FHU campgrounds are easy.......
Caveat - we look at the TT as "base camp." We'll eat breakfast there but then we're gone for the day and return for dinner. And the dinette's on a slide, giving us some extra room if we're rained in for a day or two.

[toedtoes]

Campin'_Nana wrote:
The tent was when I was in my early 20's and I'm 50 now. Never again...LOL!

I just meant that for most people the "never again" part of the tent is the set up, sleeping on the ground, and the rain. If you were happy in a tent as a family, then you'll be fine in a small trailer as a family - you'll just have more comfortable beds and a bathroom.

[pasusan]

Are there any couples here that camp comfortably and HAPPILY in a smaller TT, say 24'-26"?

Ours is even smaller - 23' all together. We wouldn't have it any other way. We wanted the very smallest trailer we could find that had dedicated beds separate from the couch area. We don't even have a slide and we don't find it cramped at all. We spend a lot of time in our trailer as we like to be with our 2 cats when we're not out hiking or exploring.

It's all about the floorplan. Is there a bottleneck where 2 people can't pass one another? Can one person be sleeping while the other is reading on the couch? Ask questions that matter to you...

We don't feel a camping trailer needs to be as big as an apartment - and we like being together. 🙂

[Campin__Nana]

The tent was when I was in my early 20's and I'm 50 now. Never again...LOL!

[toedtoes]

Campin'_Nana wrote:
In a past life, I had a 20' TT with just a dinette, no couch or recliners. 2 adults and 2 kids traveled in that and it was fine. We're older now, though and wonder about having a comfortable space. Heck, we used to camp in tents at one point, but I'm not going back there! (Last time I camped in a tent, it was pouring down rain for days. Everything was soaked and in the middle of the night, my then 5 year old son had to pee. I put on my shoes and carried him outside and let him stand on my feet in his pj's and bare feet. He peed all over me and him. LOL!! That night I vowed to get a TT!) 😄

If you're used to tents, etc., then I don't think you'll have a problem with a small trailer. But, you might rent one and try it out for a weekend before making the purchase - even if you just camp out in your driveway.

[Campin__Nana]

Great replies and it gives us a lot to think about. Thanks!

I should clarify, that by "happy", I didn't mean my husband and I couldn't share the same space and be happy. I just meant if you're stuck inside for 3 days straight because of bad weather, we probably would want enough space where we weren't tripping over one another. We love to play board games, etc. It's such a hard decision to decide which length TT to get.

In a past life, I had a 20' TT with just a dinette, no couch or recliners. 2 adults and 2 kids traveled in that and it was fine. We're older now, though and wonder about having a comfortable space. Heck, we used to camp in tents at one point, but I'm not going back there! (Last time I camped in a tent, it was pouring down rain for days. Everything was soaked and in the middle of the night, my then 5 year old son had to pee. I put on my shoes and carried him outside and let him stand on my feet in his pj's and bare feet. He peed all over me and him. LOL!! That night I vowed to get a TT!) 😄

[NewTTcamper]

We have owned a camper since 1996, yes 1996. We raised our kids camping. As they grew they up they transitioned to tents. We traveled to Oregon the last two years. Our last trip was 7 weeks with two large dogs that slept inside. This year we are moving up!!! My point is, if you both enjoy camping you can make anything work. I just want a good bed and not trip over my dogs any more. Lol

[SoundGuy]

Campin'_Nana wrote:
Are there any couples here that camp comfortably and HAPPILY 😉
in a smaller TT, say 24'-26"? What are your experiences with that?

Sorry, but I have to chuckle at your definition of a 24' - 26' trailer as being "smaller" ... I guess for some it would be but we downsized from a 24' triple bunk bed family trailer to a 19' couple's trailer and haven't any regrets at all. It has all the amenities of a larger unit but is just that much easier to tow and can be placed on virtually any campsite without any effort at all. I park it here at the house during the camping season and use it pretty well every day, even for just chillin' away from all the racket going on in the house. Certainly if we lived in it for months at a time we'd want something larger but for weekend to week, two week long trips we just don't have the need for anything larger. It's all in the eye of the beholder. 😉

[NYCgrrl]

I neglected to point out that we don't consider visitors a reason to get a bigger RV. For my sight, once a child/grandchild, reaches the age of around 15, they want their own space and tents fulfill that need nicely. Oh they are happy to use the bathroom in the middle of the night or raid the kitchen anytime of the day but that's about it. They are not gonna sit in the RV with ya watching a National Geographic Special.

Something to consider.

[tpi]

Every foot left off is less roof to leak, less seals to maintain, something less to go wrong, less to wash and wax, and less to initially $. Possibly less expensive to store.

I think there are many who bite off too much-too much hassle-not enough use. Get what you need, consider guests and grandkids, but don't err on the side of too much.

[ScottG]

Our TT is "only" 26' long overall and it fits out needs perfectly. We've enjoyed it for 11 years and have no need for anything bigger.

[F1bNorm]

I always preferred the smaller units. They're easier to tow, more campsites available, storage was cheaper etc. As for the cabin fever or getting in the way of each other, you can always step outside, this is what camping is about? If you need a quiet spot for a nap or reading, you can sit in the tow car.

Norm

[Oasisbob]

Two thoughts not yet shared. 1. there are some USFS campgrounds where longer trailers simply not allowed due to length. 2. Your swing space is larger. That is the space from reat trailer axle to rear bumper which swings as you turn. It is a preference thing. We often camp 6 people in our 19 hybrid but would ditch it in a minute if we could pull more weight. Best of luck.