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?

[APT]

Separate bedroom for you and child means a bunk house of some kind. Only one child, so a double bunk will do. Spend some time looking at floorplans of RVs. There are many brands and variations of very similar floorplans. Then you can pick a weight and appropriate tow vehicle (TV).

4 miles to work each way is nothing. You will put a lot more miles towing an RV than daily driving, so the tradeoff of more capability vs size/fuel economy favors larger vehicles.

Towing any high walled RV is hard work due to the aerodynamic drag of the travel trailer. Gas engines tend to get 8-10mpg towing. Diesels maybe 12-15mpg. If can find something under about 4500 pounds dry, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel would be good along with 2012+ Vw Touareg TDI.