Has anyone gone from a 35' TT to a HTT?

[mrgrim007]

Seems like a lot of people go the other way. We have a 35' Jayco bunkhouse that we love, but it's HUGE and heavy. We knew when purchasing it that we'd be limited on the places we could camp and what we could carry with us.

With our TT full of firewood, food, bikes, etc. we really can't take water, a generator or much of anything else. Even if we could we can't get into some of the tighter camping spots. Finding a place to camp with thing is is expensive too!

So we went to a dealer yesterday and looked at Roo HTTs. DW loves the 23IKSS. We are waiting for a 233S to come in so that we can compare the two. Overall there is a ton of living space in it with the two slides. We've never camped in a HTT before. With the HTT weighing less and being about 10' shorter, we think it will be more flexible and give us added payload in the 'Burb (rated to tow 12,000 lbs, ~2900 lbs payload). Jayco GVWR = 9,975 lbs vs Roo GVWR = 6,402 lbs. Seems like with a HTT we can load up with fresh water, a generator, lots of food, firewood, etc. and still have towing capacity and payload to spare.

I guess my questions are:

Will there be a big difference in how a HTT tows compared to our TT? We live in CO.

What will we be giving up in the name of flexibility? (Not as quiet with the tent beds? Maybe not as secure? How well will the AC and furnace work?)

How much easier is a HTT to maneuver vs our TT? Or is there not a huge difference?


Always seems like the grass is greener on the other side haha. Any input is welcome. Thanks everyone.

[mrgrim007]

dadmomh wrote:

You didn't mention, but do you need 3 beds? The 23IKSS is a drop-dead gorgeous model, but has what may be a glitch or two. When it's closed up, you're hard pressed to get to the kitchen or bathroom without opening a slide. Are they still using slide locks like we had on our '06?? If so, PIta, but we always used them. If you don't need that third bed, I would check out the 23SS before signing on the dotted line. The kitchen area is wonderful and more space than most HTT....another thing I miss, but am learning to appreciate the space I have in the 2604.

I'm not sure about the slide lock...not sure what that is. It seems like the kitchen slid would be easy enough to open to get to the bathroom and kitchen while on the road.

Yes, I think we need the 3 beds. We have a 12 (almost 13 yr old) and an 11 yr old boy and girl. They're not really excited about sharing a bed. They like to bring friends with them too.

Do the PUGs need to be set up, tore down each time you want to use them?

Thanks for the info!

[dadmomh]

We just switched from our beloved ROO 23SS to a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2604. Even that amount of difference is noticed in towing with our F150. The buyer of our 23SS asked for specific #s on length, which in nearly 8 years we had never considered, thinking 23SS meant sorta 23'. The box on the 23SS is 20' 10" and 24' bumper to ball. Go figure. We miss the openness of our ROO. Personally, we miss the "history" and fun times and memories of our ROO. Had it not been for some aging factors that crept up while we weren't looking, it would still be sitting it the ROOport. We love Rocky and he now sits in the Rockyport and we have found that it was the right change for us at the right time.

You didn't mention, but do you need 3 beds? The 23IKSS is a drop-dead gorgeous model, but has what may be a glitch or two. When it's closed up, you're hard pressed to get to the kitchen or bathroom without opening a slide. Are they still using slide locks like we had on our '06?? If so, PIta, but we always used them. If you don't need that third bed, I would check out the 23SS before signing on the dotted line. The kitchen area is wonderful and more space than most HTT....another thing I miss, but am learning to appreciate the space I have in the 2604.

The difference in towing is not significant, but there is a difference.

I miss spring and fall - coming soon - camping in our ROO when you can have the bunkends open and catch a Saturday afternoon snooze with the light breeze coming through....nothing beats it! I miss being able to wake up in the morning and look waaayyyyy down to the other bunkend. I don't miss at all the bathroom when compared to the incredible bathroom in out 2604. I do miss that kitchen area. I don't miss the extra set-up time and effort as those age things caught up. I don't miss DH griping about the PUGs, even thought they're worth their weight in gold.

If you have reached the point where you feel that your current TT is not right for you any more, make the change. Another thing that comes with that age thing creeping up is that you realize that you don't know what tomorrow brings and if making things easier and more enjoyable, then you need to give it a good look.

Happy Camping!

[bikendan]

mrgrim007 wrote:
I guess my questions are:

Will there be a big difference in how a HTT tows compared to our TT? We live in CO.
your Burb will have no problems towing even the biggest/heaviest HTT, compared to what you've been towing. you probably won't even know that it's there, as long as you've got a good WDH.

What will we be giving up in the name of flexibility? (Not as quiet with the tent beds? Maybe not as secure? How well will the AC and furnace work?)a hybrid is extremely flexible if you know that you can also "turtle". this is when you don't want to put the bunk ends out and convert the sofa and dinette into beds. this comes in handy for overnite stops or in bad weather. yes, it won't be as quiet. but any RV is easy to get into, hybrid or not. as was mentioned, using PUG's and Reflectix, temp control is easy to maintain. the furnace and a/c will easily keep it warm or cool by using these mods. you won't have a walk-around bed anymore, so ease of bed setup will depend on if you are fine with sleeping bags or decide you want sheets/covers on it.

How much easier is a HTT to maneuver vs our TT? Or is there not a huge difference?having a 5' or more shorter trailer will of course, be easier to maneuver. there is no hybrid made currently, that's over 25' long, unless you get one with a toyhauler deck or you find some older bigger hybrids that are no longer made, like the Jayco 26L.

Always seems like the grass is greener on the other side haha. Any input is welcome. Thanks everyone.

[mbopp]

Most people come out of a tent or pop-up into a HTT so they're used to the canvas. Check out Popup Gizmos for insulating the bunk ends and also using Reflectix cutouts for the windows.
Some people have issues with water leaks on the front bunk when closed & towing but our Starcraft was OK in that respect.
Storage will be something you'll need to work out.
DW's knees give her a hard time climbing into the bunk ends so that's why we went with a small TT this time.

[mbutts]

We did the opposite, went from HTT to TT. HTTs are great for packing in lots of people, they are lightweight, and also give you more of a camping feel, but there are some downsides, too.

Main reasons we switched:

• Set up: next to nothing with TT, 15-30 minutes with HTT (need to make beds each time)
• Sound: Much, much quieter in TT, canvas doesn't stop sound
• Longer season: tough to heat/cool the HTT vs. TT

Many people also have trouble with the bunkends warping, leaking, rotting (me included).