Help to narrow down TT with Bunks

[jukes]

Hi, looking into getting a TT and driving it across country. Family of 5 plus our pet pig. Would like a separate full or queen bed plus bunks. kids are 13, 11, 4 (boys).
Ideally don't want to spend more than $10,000 but looking here on Craiglist there aren't many to choose from and the ones at that price are 14 years old!
What to look out for?
Where to shop for a bargain?
Should we try to spend more and get one that's a little newer?
Husband is handy so can fix it up a little but want it to be nice 🙂
Will be towing with a Diesel Excursion but still ideally a more lightweight one with a slide out would be great! Also, most with bunks are 28' or more, will that limit National Parks we can stay in?
Thanks

[jukes]

thanks everyone, good info. oh and yes, pigs can be cuddly, on their terms, in their way, only when they want! They don't like the please!

[SprinklerMan]

I tow a 29 ft quad bunkhouse , weighs in about 9000 lbs with a V 10 excursion with a pro pride hitch . Pulls great .

As far as used , heres what you are running into , people bought their trailers with 15 year loans . When they sell them they generally owe more than they are worth . They put little or nothing down , they have no cash to pay the difference and they want what they owe plus some . then they look at the NADA guide and put on every option under the sun . The problem NADA gets its info from Dealer sales , not private party .

[GrandpaKip]

jukes wrote:

chesterb wrote:
No comment other than it's awesome you have a pet pig and travel with it! Good times...

Ha ha yes, not traveled with her yet, hope the campgrounds won't mind, she's cleaner and quieter than a dog...
She hates the car, working on that issue! but loves rooting about in new places..

When we in Hunting Island State Park last year, there was a family who had a pig. First one I ever saw on a beach. Not as cuddly as our Shih-Tzu, though.

[jukes]

chesterb wrote:
No comment other than it's awesome you have a pet pig and travel with it! Good times...

Ha ha yes, not traveled with her yet, hope the campgrounds won't mind, she's cleaner and quieter than a dog...
She hates the car, working on that issue! but loves rooting about in new places..

[RPreeb]

jukes wrote:
Hi, looking into getting a TT and driving it across country. Family of 5 plus our pet pig. Would like a separate full or queen bed plus bunks. kids are 13, 11, 4 (boys).
Ideally don't want to spend more than $10,000 but looking here on Craiglist there aren't many to choose from and the ones at that price are 14 years old!
What to look out for?
Where to shop for a bargain?
Should we try to spend more and get one that's a little newer?
Husband is handy so can fix it up a little but want it to be nice 🙂
Will be towing with a Diesel Excursion but still ideally a more lightweight one with a slide out would be great! Also, most with bunks are 28' or more, will that limit National Parks we can stay in?
Thanks

My Jay Feather X213 is 24' (box is 21, the rest is tongue), and it has 2 bunks, a jackknife sofa and a king "master" bed (the dinette can also be a single bed if it was needed). It's just one room, but my family did multi week trips in a 15 foot camping trailer (no electricity at all, no toilet or shower, just a single gas light, 2 burner stove, and tiny gas fridge) when I was in high school, along with my brother and sister (3 and 9 years younger respectively) then it's possible for accommodations to be made to let something work for you. That is especially true when you are working with a small budget. The worst you'll find these days will have more than we had back in the 60's.

[Sarvi]

I have a 2010 Keystone Sprinter Select 29BHS. 33' long, I towed with my 2000 7.3L Diesel Excursion with no problems whatsoever (I have just upgraded to a 2015 F250, but haven't towed with it yet). It has 4 bunks in the back, along with a table and couch bed in the slideout. I love the fact that there are doors both to the bunk area, and the main queen bed to give a little separation and privacy.

[chesterb]

No comment other than it's awesome you have a pet pig and travel with it! Good times...

[krobbe]

I highly recommend you look at a bunk room model for a family of 5(6?). Mine is 33.5' bumper to ball and have had no issues getting into National or State Park sites which is my preference. I'll make reservations when possible but have stayed in first come parks many times. The rangers always try to accommodate.
The couch in the bunk room may fold out to a full size bed and there is usually 2 more bunks. There is usually a good amount of storage back there as well. Best part is the kid's room helps to keep them from taking over my room(usually).
I found my 3-4yr old Keystone Bullet for 12K. Am very happy with it's performance on 2 separate month long trips across country with 3 adults and 4 kids. It has also seen several month long Mich UP trips and several shorter long weekends.
Good maintenance and fixing/upgrading things as needed is a must. These things are fairly easy to work on.
When buying used, if there is any water stains on the inside ceiling or walls, or soft floors, Pass on it. Get a ladder and check the roof. Water damage is too expensive to fix. The rest of most things can be repaired or replaced.
Good luck on your search!

[Merrykalia]

If you have a 13 year old, especially if that child is a MALE, make sure he goes with you. Many of the bunks are only 6' long, so he won't much growing room left in the bunk. My daughters were 5' tall and they complained that they couldn't stretch out well in them.

Also, if they are stacked bunks, that can be a problem if they can't comfortably sit up in them.

In Greeneville, TN

In Blountville

[SoundGuy]

You didn't specify but if you're looking for a triple bunk bed model there aren't too many out there and most of those that do exist have the 3 bunks stacked one atop the other, with the bottom bunk at floor level - no ideal at all. 😞 One notable exception was the KZ Spree 240BH - ours was the 2008 non-slide model which was replaced beginning in 2009 with the slide version 240BHS. Two of the bunks run laterally across the width of the trailer and as such are HUGE - 92" x 32" - while the middle bed that runs along the length of the trailer at the rear is a more conventional 75" x 28". Ours served us well for six years, no major issues. :B