Help buying a small travel trailer

[Max-4]

Hello, this is my first post and I am very excited to be joining this great group! My family of 4 is in the market for a small travel trailer in the near future. I am looking for something in the 21' overall length and around 4000 pounds gross weight. I own a 2017 Toyota Highlander with 5000 towing capacity so id like something that this SUV could manage without too much difficulty.

The particular model that we are looking for is called a "bunkhouse" so when you walk in we are looking for a permanent queen size bed on your right (not Murphy bed) and the bunk beds in the back. I guess most of these models have the designation "BH" after their model numbers to specify this.

I am fully aware of the way the industry works I know that there are only two major manufactures Thor and Forest river and they are all made within 10 miles of eachother. I am also located in Canada so if we quote prices you will have to keep in mind that I will be paying the CDN premium.

I have gotten an idea of what new models like the Wolf PUP 16BHS sells for which is $26,000 or the Salem 177BH which is $23,000 the Rockwood Geo Pro G19BH is $32,000 the Apex Nano 185BH sells for $26,000 and Jayco Jayflight SLX7 174BH is $23,000.

I guess my questions are am I going to find something with aluminum construction for the lower price of the Salem or Jayco? in these smaller travel trailers how does the quality of a Wolf Pup vs an Apex vs a Coachman vs a Jayco compare? I am also looking at a Salem FSX 177BH which im assuming is the same as a Forest River FSX 177BH?

Also is a 54x80 going to be the biggest "queen" bed I can get in this type of model trailer? Any information you guys could give me about build quality, add ons ownership would be awesome. is there any other manufactures by THOR that I should consider besides Jayco? Thanks

[NamMedevac_70]

Just for your general information only. I once owned a well made non aluminum R-Vision Trail Cruiser rear Bunkhouse (BH) model with a permanent queen bed up front. The trailer was 28 feet long and weighed 4500lbs plus when fully loaded and towed great behind my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 V8 on the plains of Texas.

However I towed the same trailer in the Rockies and west coast mountains with a larger 2002 Ram 2500 V10 4x4. Both trucks had 16 inch wheels and I used Equalizer WDH. Although my Ram 1500 was authorized to pull a 6000 lb trailer I would never and did not attempt to pull the this trailer in the mountains with this truck.

Except on delivery one will never pull a empty dry weight trailer so the dry weight is only a starting point as one will add water, propane, personal items, food, drinks, bedding, etc., etc,. to the dry weight of TT.

In addition to the authorized gross combined truck and trailer load limits and hitch limits even with WDH one must not exceed the load limits of the current tires and wheels on the vehicle plus total gross weight of the vehicle per axle with driver, passengers, fuel and other items included. I used the much stronger LT truck tires with load rating of E on both trucks.

CAT scales at truck stops are your friend.

This information may be useful to others if not the OP. Cheers