Buying SUV and Trailer at the same time - what to get?

[chaoticneutral]

I'm so complicated, I'm sorry, but I need somebody with experience to help. I'm getting a decent sized settlement in the next few months, and at that time I'll be buying a new SUV and used trailer. I just don't know what to get. We have a 4Runner right now, but it wouldn't tow enough. I was looking at the Explorer, which might work for my needs. I'm trying to get a new SUV that has not horrible gas mileage. I only live 4 miles from work, so I'm not horribly worried about gas, but don't want a humongous truck (trucks are ugly). I don't want a Flex or anything really square because I think they're ugly.

We have a family of 3. I want a separate area for my husband and I vs. our daughter to sleep. We're big Renaissance Faire geeks and spend many weekends camping, where there is partying going on. We spend at least 8 weekends a year just doing that. This trailer would be dropped off and left there for about 6 weeks straight. And as long as I can afford it, I'll take this to Burning Man at least once so my husband can go (I've been, he hasn't). A couple of the weekends will be up in Tahoe in June, where it's really cold and sometimes snows in June. So it has to be able to get up into that area.

I've been told by a few people to get a trailer instead of an RV. Why? It seems like the cost difference in getting a smaller SUV that gets better gas mileage might make up for the costs of an RV. I need your expert opinions on that.

What kind of trailer could I tow with an Explorer? I was looking at the TrailManors. They're a great size, but they're not very common. Anybody have one of these, how is the quality? While the size is good, it would be nice to get a trailer that doesn't need to pop up so I can just keep everything in place and not have to set it all up and make sure the "stuff" is where it belongs.

Another issue is storage. We have a long driveway that would fit this, but getting into the driveway is an issue as it's very narrow. No room for messing up or I'll run into a fence or bushes. It seems an RV would be easier to put in the driveway.

If you could get a vehicle and RV or trailer, what would you get?

[Pig-Smoker]

krobbe wrote:

Pig-Smoker wrote:
I tow with a 2500hd truck. Not ugly and a lot better for towing if you plan on caring firewood , bikes , or anything even close. A 4-door truck with the bed loaded is a lot better than a SUV loaded ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

I agree trucks are not ugly. But for passengers who want their own seat to stretch out on a 2 or 3 thousand mile trip, then a big SUV can't be beat.(I still have room for firewood in the back on the weathertech liner to keep it clean:))

Never thought about the liner for the firewood. Guess it works,I just don't like the idea of wood with bugs or the chance of it flying around in case of a wreck. Also I have to agree with the idea of stretching out. Guess we are all different in our likes and dislikes. Still I would not get on here and put down trucks. I do a lot of catering doing whole hog BBQS and cut my own firewood to burn for our house and to cook with. Even with a liner I don't want a dead or live hog ha ha in a nice SUV.

[rightyouareken]

krobbe wrote:

Pig-Smoker wrote:
I tow with a 2500hd truck. Not ugly and a lot better for towing if you plan on caring firewood , bikes , or anything even close. A 4-door truck with the bed loaded is a lot better than a SUV loaded ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

I agree trucks are not ugly. But for passengers who want their own seat to stretch out on a 2 or 3 thousand mile trip, then a big SUV can't be beat.(I still have room for firewood in the back on the weathertech liner to keep it clean:))

My super crew F150 has more leg room in the back than any vehicle I've been in except a limo. It's massive inside. The seats are comfortable and they fold up to give a huge flat floor to haul stuff inside the truck if need be.

[Andy_F]

If you've liked your 4Runner, I'd highly recommend the Sequoia for an SUV tow vehicle, especially the latest generation from 08' to now for additional towing capacity. I would go with a "full" TT as compared to the Trail Manor which will involve more set-up and take-down. Any light-weight TT will tow well behind a Sequoia or similar-sized SUV. Our TT weighs in empty around 5200 lbs and has bunk beds in the rear for the kids with a queen bed up front for my wife and I.

[krobbe]

Pig-Smoker wrote:
I tow with a 2500hd truck. Not ugly and a lot better for towing if you plan on caring firewood , bikes , or anything even close. A 4-door truck with the bed loaded is a lot better than a SUV loaded ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

I agree trucks are not ugly. But for passengers who want their own seat to stretch out on a 2 or 3 thousand mile trip, then a big SUV can't be beat.(I still have room for firewood in the back on the weathertech liner to keep it clean:))

[Pig-Smoker]

I tow with a 2500hd truck. Not ugly and a lot better for towing if you plan on caring firewood , bikes , or anything even close. A 4-door truck with the bed loaded is a lot better than a SUV loaded ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

[krobbe]

The bunkhouse models from Keystone Bullet(296BHSWE or 294BHS or 298BHS) would be ideal with a separate room for your daughter. But you'll need a full size SUV to tow it. I love my 3/4 ton Suburban and bunkhouse Bullet.

[chaoticneutral]

The 4Runner is a 99. It only tows up to 3500 lbs. It also has 270K miles on it.

[camp-n-family]

Why not tow with the 4Runner? What are the specifics? Year, engine etc as the tow limits vary considerably. The '03-'09 4Runner with the V8 engine for example is rated at 7000lbs (4x4) and would tow most trailmanors easily. The V6 is rated as high as 5000lbs

[APT]

MH plus toad is fine. I prefer the TV + TT, but there are compromises for each.

[chaoticneutral]

I don't want a TT with the pop out canvas sides. I'm afraid of the bears up in Tahoe. I like the TrailManor because it's light, low and all hard shelled, but I'm not sure we'll be able to find one used, but I'll be looking.

My daughter needs a little space, she has mild autism and has melt downs. She's 10 and will end up to be 7' tall soon. My DH is 6'4", and so I forgot to add he wants something he can actually stand in. We borrowed my brother's small TT last summer and it wasn't tall enough for him.

If we get a MH, then we'd get a toad, which is one of my other considerations. I can get a small-mid size SUV and tow it, I think?

[APT]

Are you open to a hybrid travel trailer, something with full high walls, but the beds that pop out under canvas? They are generally lighter and smaller when traveling and offer multiple beds to separate the parents and children.

Do you want something like this? Separate sleeping areas and common kitchen/dining?

[mbopp]

Where to start?

If you're going to be leaving the RV parked for a few weeks I'd be leaning towards a TT.
You said you want separate sleeping areas. Do you want the main bed separated by a curtain or a solid wall from the living area?
How old is your daughter? Can / will she sleep on a converted dinette table or couch, or does she need her own space? If she needs her own bedroom then you're into bunkhouse models that are larger than your 4-Runner will tow. For towing even a small bunkhouse I'd want something more than an Explorer, more along a full-frame vehicle be it SUV or pickup truck.
How about a hybrid (HTT) where the tent ends fold out? You could fold them in if you're leaving it for a few weeks. But hybrids aren't as secure as a full TT, and heating / cooling them can be more difficult because of the tent ends. And you have to literally climb into bed at night.
With a full MH what are you going to do if you want to go someplace while camping? Drive the MH or get a "toad" (2nd vehicle) to tow behing it?
DW & I had a pop-up for 2 years, a HTT for 7, and now a full TT. We looked at floorplans, makes, and models casually for 2 years and really in earnest since last summer. But what works for us won't work for you, and neither will work for another camping family.

[rnr07]

We towed a 25' sunline with a 4runner for a couple years. the trailer weighs @ 5500 (loaded), that was all we thought we could tow based on our car specs.
It was not fun sometimes on the highway (with semi trucks) and in wind. Even with the weight distributing hitch we had a lot sway.

So the weight and tow capacity of vehicle will matter more depending on where and how far you plan to drive. (local? or all over the country)

We now have a big truck (f350) and will probably get a 5th wheel one day. We bought the truck so we could upgrade the trailer later. But with the big truck we don't even notice any sway...

You should go to your local RV dealer and look at the ones they have that would be light enough for you now. Once you know what you can tow now then you can decide if you want a larger vehicle and a larger trailer later.

Once you camp a while you will find you may want other options on your Rv that did not seem important at first.

Have fun looking and shopping... there is so much out there!!

[chaoticneutral]

No, we're not towing with the 4Runner. I want to get a bigger trailer than what would be available. The TrailManors I've looked at are about 3500 lbs and the 4Runner only hauls that, and I believe I need about 1000lbs for stuff in the TT.

That's just it. I've looked at a bunch of things, but I have no idea what's good. Since I can buy both at the same time, I wanted to get the ideal of both vehicle and RV (TT or MH).

I really like the floorplan of the MH with the little bed area in the back. I guess if I can find a TT with that kind of layout, but is small enough to be towed with a vehicle that tows 5000 lbs, I assume that's okay, but I know I don't know enough. I'm not overly worried about money, but I don't want to waste it or be dumb about it.

[the_bear_II]

First of all you need to get some terms correct.

RV is an overall term describing vehicles used for travelling and sleeping.
Travel Trailer (TT) is what you have been told to get
Motorhome (MH) is what you think you would like.

If money is a concern you would be better off to get a TT and a vehicle to tow it with.

There are TT available that can be towed by your 4Runner. They are light weight and in the 12 to 16 foot range in size. Your best bet is to determine the towing capacity of your 4runner. This can be found in the owners manual or on a sticker on the drivers door. Or ask at the Toyota dealer. You'll need a good hitch installed if you don't already have one. You need to get a hitch that will handle the TT you choose.

Your next step is to find the TT you like that can be towed safely by your 4runner or a new tow vehicle.

It's your choice... you need to find a TT with a floorplan you like and a Tow Vehicle (SUV) that has more than enough capacity to tow it safely.