Forum Discussion

wizwor's avatar
wizwor
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016

Help me do this right! (Plan B)

Hello! I have been away for a long time. You helped my family find and use a popup camper. We loved that 2003 Cheyenne for a decade -- still love it! We took a break from family camping while my oldest son was finishing high school and going to college and my youngster was earning his Eagle Scout rank (our troop was out most weeks in the summer). Now we are going to try something new. You guessed it -- a travel trailer. Right now, we have the popup but no tow vehicle. My objective is to choose a TV that will eventually haul a travel trailer -- the plan is to choose a travel trailer, pick an appropriate TV, buy the TV, camp with my popup with a for sale sign in the window, then buy the travel trailer.

Generally, we will be sleeping three adults in the camper but I would like to be able to accommodate a fourth in a pinch. I would prefer an F150 as a TV. Prefer no slides. Prefer wet bath. We want to do Alaska via Canada and the Grand Canyon. We are in New Hampshire, so no need to discuss RVs only available in the Pacific Northwest.

Plan A was to purchase a slide in camper. This does not seem feasible. Most seem to think I want a travel trailer, so here I am to look at that possibility.

I am concerned about four season suitability and, because a travel trailer is very expensive, build quality.

I hate bringing this up, because I don't want to initiate any flame wars and I understand people have individual experiences, but the information is important. If you are aware of links to articles attesting to the BUILD quality or durability of brands or specific models, please post them in the thread without comment. If you have a story or a personal opinion you want to share, please private message me.

The service manager at my Ford dealership who used to be a service manager at a large RV dealership warned me that there are some very poor quality campers on the market (again, PM me if you want to know which) and, in his opinion, there is no higher quality than Lance. I would have taken this with a grain of salt if he was still selling campers, or if the camper dealership he worked at sold Lance Travel Trailers, but he does not seem to have a stake in recommending Lance.

So this is a brainstorming thread where I am asking people to recommend (and link to) travel trailers that can accommodate four people and be towed by a ford f150. No need to debate or defend -- just brainstorming.

Thank you!
  • Wishin's avatar
    Wishin
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2016
    I can't comment on build quality, but this Keystone Bullet model might work. 2510BH, no slides, should be F150 towable (properly equipped F150). The lack of a slide makes it lighter, 3 adult sized beds as well, plus couch and dinette.

    Keystone Bullet 2510BH

    I am not in the RV industry but routinely find myself at a RV supplier in Goshen, IN. Multiple sources there (including talking to locals in the RV industry at restaurants during lunch) lead me to believe that Coachmen Freedom Express models are above average in build quality. They are built by a mature plant of employees. The Catalina line apparently is built at a different plant, newer employees, not as good. Not saying they are bad or even below average, but the Freedom Express models were flagged as better in my conversations.

    This one has a slide, but might work.

    Coachman Freedom Express 25SE

    I also agree with many of the others, as much as as far as you will be towing, a 3/4 ton truck will be appreciated. I think a well equipped F150 could possibly work but you may end up payload limited with 4 adults depending on how much they and their gear weighs.

    Good luck!
  • Steve_83406's avatar
    Steve_83406
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2016
    If there is any way you could see buying a diesel, you won't regret it when towing. My first TV was a 90 Chev 3/4 ton that I upgraded to a 383 engine. I used to tow a 20' car hauler with it. Loaded it was about 7500 lbs. I burned up the transmission towing at 55 mph. I then bought a 2001 GMC diesel. The old LB7 engine only had 300 hp and 550 ft-lb torque, but it would accelerate going up hills with the same load. I towed across country 6 times fully loaded without a glitch. Now I have a 2014 Ram 3/4 ton diesel with 370 hp and 800 ft-lb torque. I pull a Prowler 24C with it and averaged nearly 12 mpg over and back across three mountain ranges and speeds up to 75 mph (1700 mile trip earlier this month). Yes, diesels are more expensive, yes, their maintenance is a bit more expensive (fuel filters, 3 gallon oil changes, bigger tires), and yes, you gotta plug them in at night in a cold winter. But, for towing, you can't beat a diesel's torque.

    Just my $0.02, adjust for inflation as appropriate...
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2016
    Everyone above has stated "it" very well. All I can add to their comments is stated in my signature line below. Read it. It says it all.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2016
    If you want this done right, with your requirements, start looking at 3/4 ton trucks. The few $$$ dollars saved with an F150 will seem like the worst savings anticipated when you are less than half-way to AK.
    A 3/4 ton will also broaden your search results.
  • burningman's avatar
    burningman
    Explorer II
    Oct 23, 2016
    Just remember this: advertised RV weights are not real-world numbers.
    The advertised weight is with no water, no propane, nothing in the rig, no options, probably not even any grease on the wheel bearings or balancing weights on the wheels. I'm pretty sure they even fill the interior with helium.

    I don't understand the insistence on the least-capable truck to do heavy towing with, in my experience with many trucks campers and trailers that's a mistake, but if that's what you're dead-set on then be conservative on the trailer weight. Add 1000 - 1500 pounds to the claimed trailer weight.
  • IdaD's avatar
    IdaD
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2016
    If you're towing those distances and want a four season camper, get a heavy duty truck. They don't cost much more but are much more capable. It would also open up the possibility of fifth wheels which, imo, are generally better built.

    If you're definitely wanting a travel trailer Airstream is the best. Short of that and/or if you can't live with the compromises, Jayco, Northwood and Grand Design have good reputations.
  • temccarthy1's avatar
    temccarthy1
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2016
    If you are purchasing an F150, you will be limited in weight to under 8000 lbs for reasonable towing that you will be happy about and comfortable on hills.. I have a 2013 Expedition ( same chassis and engine selection of F150) with a 5.4 L V8. I bought a 2014 Keystone Bullet Ultralight 285RLS which is 30 ft long with 1 deep 11 ft long slide. We love the layout since just 2 of us so we have the rear living 2 easy chairs in the back where a bunkroom could go if you plan on having the kids with you a lot ( different model #). The TT weighs 6000 lbs empty with a 600 lb hitch weight, tows beautifully with the Expedition and an E2 Equalizer WD hitch. We have not had a single issue with our Bullet in 2 years and every post I have seen on this site is positive about Bullets! They come with a thermal package which has heat from the furnace ducted to the water tanks, higher level insulation, sealed underbelly. The Bullet may be an ultralight but has upgraded amenities and interior from the Keystone Passport which is also an Ultralight. You could probably go 1 size bigger than we did but I know from experience this model we have is a good match for your chassis and power assuming you have the bigger engine or the new 5.0L. Good luck!
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2016
    It's an interesting problem. You want a light duty truck and a heavy duty trailer.

    First, the truck. Yes, there are 1/2 ton trucks that can pull the trailer you want, but you are also putting in four adults and all the gear with them too. So that really cuts you back. You will need the heaviest duty truck you can find.

    Now you want to tow a four season trailer. Again, there are some made, but to go to a true four season trailer, well that makes trailers heavy. To sleep four adults in three beds usually means one on the dinette, the other on the pull out couch. That usually means a slide.

    These are some of the nicest trailers out there if you can find one. Check them out here. Triple E Topaz. They stopped making them in 2009, I have a 2009 Fifth Wheel. Beautiful rigs.

    I would still like a 3/4 ton in front of most of them. Crew cab, long box.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Oct 23, 2016
    4 season suitability in a TT capabile of being towed by a F150 with 4 passangers on board? Not going to happen. First of all, there is no TT that is 4 season in your part of the country. South GA maybe, but definitely notmnorth of the Mason Dixon line.
    Second, a F150/1500 series with 3 to 4 passangers plus stuff is going to put a serious dentmin your towing capacity.
    Probably one of your best 3+ season trailers is going to be a Nash or Arctic Fox, both from Northwood in LaGrande,OR. Not the cheapest nor the lightest, but built on their own frame and stout, with good insulation. All but their smallest models will overload 150/1500 series trucks with more than two aboard.

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