Complete Newbie to TTs Here. First-time Buyer Advice

[Xanthais]

Good morning!

First time TT buyers, looking for advice on brand, etc. We live in Riverside, CA., and have been to about 5-6 different places, and have a decent idea on what we think we need.

We have a 2017 Nissan Armada 2WD, with a max towing capacity of 8,500 lbs, so we're thinking a 6,000 lb. TT max.

Family of 5, with two oldest boys being 17, and probably off to college and jobs within a year or two max, but right now we do need to sleep 5. Looking at bunk floor plans with pull-out dinette. I know you can sleep 5 without bunks in many floor plans, but it seems a hassle to break down the dinette table every night, or convert a couch and put sheets on it, etc. Then un-do it all again the morning. We want beds ready to go.

Preferably new, and the wood-frame TTs are our price range ($19-$24k)

Our driveway parking location is 30 feet, sidewalk-to-roof overhang, so that needs to be taken into consideration. Ideally I'd like the tongue of the TT to not be sitting literally on the sidewalk line.

So far we've looked at the following, with their factory listed dry weights:

Aspen Trail 2340BHS (5,599 lbs.)
Coleman Lantern 244BHWE (5,500 lbs.)
Jay Flight SLX 242BHSW (5,335 lbs.
Salem CruiseLite 241BHXL (5,165 lbs.)

Anything I've found online in regards to most TTs, has been from dealerships, so looking for actual user-based experience with those brands, or even those specific models.

Thanks! 😄

[kerrlakeRoo]

Xan; all the brands/models you listed are basically entry level, Jayco's offer a better warranty than most, and have a good following, but even then you have to have a good dealer to work with the warranty, so often it makes little difference. With two sons likely being gone in a year or so, any type of bunks will provide enough sleeping spots, but look at the bunks length's, many are only 6 feet long. You will probably be making up and tearing down a couch or dinette any time all 5 of you are present , no matter what.
As with anything, look for the better quality in the details. Screwed and glued wood cabinets are better than stapeled particle board with shelf paper covering them to try to look like wood, and so on.
If you believe you want to dry camp, (open land, no hookups) bigger tanks become important, so consider tank sizes.
Nobody with a travel trailer ever complained about having too much storage.
Nor did they ever complain that the truck was too big for the trailer.

And I still suggest the rental as the best way to narrow your field of possible units by better knowing what your family's preferences are.

[lhenry8113]

See you are in Riverside--Have you looked at Dennis Dillon RV, in Westminster? If you do ask for Patrick McGonigle(salesperson)-good guy, been there for quite a while. We just bought a Class C(used) there--from him and traded in our Arctic Fox, 5th wheel. Lars

[Lwiddis]

Did any of the dealers/salespeople determine your potential TV’s payload before showing you any TT? Max tow is good to know but payload usually runs out first.

[qtla9111]

I agree to buying used. We had a 6V 1998 Pathfinder. It pulled an 18ft TT for six years with no issues. The Pathfinder still exists in the hands of a neighbor. I sold it with 675,000 kms.

JMHO

[MarkTwain]

donn0128 wrote:
As a newby new is really a bad idea. Unless your ready to absorb the huge depreciation of a new trailer, instead buy used.
OK, now for some numbers. Your Armada does not have a real world tow rating close to 8000 pounds. Once you load your family on board you will be lucky to be at 6000 pounds. Even at 6K your tongue weight is going to be north of 700 pounds. With all your family and junk on board how much do you weigh? Between that and its GVWR how much capacity do you have?
As for picking, and being in Riverside find a used Lance.
As for trailers, stick the kids outside in tents would be far smarter.

X1 for the Lance trailer if you want a quality built Trailer. Start looking right away as used Lance trailers are hard to find because people buy them and keep them.

[oyarsa]

Watch out for payload capacity. That was the problem with us and our Sequoia. We only have two kids right now and they're still small. Your Armada may have more payload capacity than our Sequoia, but probably lot by much.

[Xanthais]

gbopp wrote:
Buy used for your first RV. You may be selling or trading it in a year or two.
Yes, setting up and taking down a dinette/couch every day gets old, real quick. It's okay for occasional use, just not all the time.

Don't be in a hurry to buy. Look at everything and ask lots of questions BEFORE you give a seller any money or sign any agreements.
Salesmen are not your friend. Their only goal is to sell you something. You'll find that some of them know less sbout RV's than you.

Someone on the forum will have an answer to your questions. Don't hesitate to ask.
Enjoy your travels.

Yeah, we're "ready" to buy right now, but definitely in no super rush. As it is, we have to have a couple trees removed and concrete that area as a driveway extension for the trailer parking. We definitely have time to do our due diligence.

As for cost, depreciation, and buying used, is that primarily in case we don't like it, or figure something out and realize we need to sell that one, and get something different? Makes sense. I've always been a little wary of used, though.

[jfkmk]

I'm in the other camp when it comes to buying new vs. used. Unless I knew the person selling the unit and knew how it was maintained, I would never buy used. Even among the folks who post here, there are a lot who simply don't maintain their campers, and they do need to be maintained. I don't want someone else's junk!

As for the armada, I agree it might be a bit light in the payload department for a trailer AND a family of five. You might be able to get away with it, but it might not be a comfortable drive.

I would try renting first to get a better idea of how the vehicle tows and what you might like.

[kerrlakeRoo]

Payload capacity on that truck is less than 1600 lbs. 5 people is going to eat a lot of that without even starting on the trailer tongue.
If you dont mind the kids travelling separate you would have upwards of 1000 or so still available after you add 100 lbs for the weight distributing hitch along with whatever else you carry.

When looking at trailers, forget the empty weight the salespeople all point to. The only time that trailer weighs that is as it leaves the assembly floor. Before you ever get it you have to add for the battery/batteries, propane tanks and contents, as well as any options added by the dealer.

If possible you may want to try to rent a trailer similar to one that your considering, see how your truck does, and learn a little about what you do and dont like in the trailer.

As to the "buy used" suggestions, new folks coming in to this often go through 2 or 3 units in a few years time learning what fits for them, taking that depreciation hit becomes a 2 or 3 time event which can hurt.
Also when talking to salespeople require "out the door" pricing, Car dealers are fairly standardized and competitive in their markets, RV dealers while competitive are varied in the approach they take. Some will advertise extremely low prices to get you excited and on the lot, and then hide thousands of dollars in "fees" to the transaction after you have agreed to a price. Make sure you can compare apples to apples. Some dealers are very upfront and will immediately give you the out the door price, and are proud of that, others are a little less forthcoming.

[gbopp]

Buy used for your first RV. You may be selling or trading it in a year or two.
Yes, setting up and taking down a dinette/couch every day gets old, real quick. It's okay for occasional use, just not all the time.

Don't be in a hurry to buy. Look at everything and ask lots of questions BEFORE you give a seller any money or sign any agreements.
Salesmen are not your friend. Their only goal is to sell you something. You'll find that some of them know less sbout RV's than you.

Someone on the forum will have an answer to your questions. Don't hesitate to ask.
Enjoy your travels.

[badsix]

I would look at toy haulers and convert the rear to a bunk house sleeping area. I was thinking it might be more weight friendly but maybe not?
Jay D.

[donn0128]

As a newby new is really a bad idea. Unless your ready to absorb the huge depreciation of a new trailer, instead buy used.
OK, now for some numbers. Your Armada does not have a real world tow rating close to 8000 pounds. Once you load your family on board you will be lucky to be at 6000 pounds. Even at 6K your tongue weight is going to be north of 700 pounds. With all your family and junk on board how much do you weigh? Between that and its GVWR how much capacity do you have?
As for picking, and being in Riverside find a used Lance.
As for trailers, stick the kids outside in tents would be far smarter.