Hybrid Versus Non Hybrid Travel Trailer Across North America

[wpostma]

I am planning to buy a Hybrid Travel Trailer and travel clear across North America, in my case, Canada, with a minivan (3.6l v6). I'm aiming at a unit with a weight under 3000 pounds dry, and will be camping at campgrounds with service hookups. We're a family of six. We are moving from Ontario to British Columbia and
I am in my late 40s, and I want to see the country in between those two points, so I'm driving. If I was younger, I'd be tenting, that's how I rolled in my 20s. Nowadays my back wants a nice bed at the end of the day.

Anyone wanting to put your oar in, or has done anything similar, I'd love to hear about it. There seem to be several varieties of units I can purchase.

My big question is Hybrid or Not Hybrid?

Hybrid disadvantages that I can think of:

1. Emergency walmart camping is out of the question, unless you have a LOT of nerve.

2. I imagine that it's easier to heat a non-hybrid but with electric beds in hybrids, a spring/fall camp out is no problem, right?

Um. That's about all I can think of. Anyone got any more?

Hybrid advantages that I can think of:

1. I can probably tow a 2800 pound hybrid plus equipment, and six people in my minivan that has a towing max GVWR of 3600.

2. I can sleep 6 people (2 adults, 2 teens, 2 young kids) in a hybrid.

3. The tent material is pretty far away from the cooking area, so I'm hopeful the cooking smells won't get into the tent bed ends.


The salespeople tell me that the hybrids don't leak on you when it rains, and that the materials they make the ends out of are amazing materials.

Anyone done a long haul with four to six people, and an SUV or minivan, and a hybrid trailer? Stories? Ideas? Advice?

Thanks!

Warren Postma
Toronto Canada

[theoldwizard1]

wpostma wrote:
Nowadays my back wants a nice bed at the end of the day.

HTT have thinner mattresses so that they can fold in.

wpostma wrote:
1. Emergency walmart camping is out of the question, unless you have a LOT of nerve.

Personally, I would not be concerned, unless you were in a big city.

wpostma wrote:
2. I imagine that it's easier to heat a non-hybrid but with electric beds in hybrids, a spring/fall camp out is no problem, right?

Heated mattress pads are more comfortable that electric blankets.

[theoldwizard1]

Billbeat wrote:
... Does yours have a transmission cooler? Heavier suspension ? I towed my hybrid with a mini van when I first bought it but after a couple of trips decided to switch to a larger SUV, ...

CONCUR !

I think you are going to have a hard time finding a HTT with 3 beds that will be <3000 lbs. Most will be >4000 lbs loaded.

[wpostma]

One example, is the KZ ESCAPE E160RBT, dry weight 2690, GVWR 3500.

If my "tow rating" is 3600, that surely can't be for a van with no driver.

All this class of trailers claims "minivan towable". I expect to see some disagreement about what that means, but the most sensible dealer advice I've heard is "you can't tow a 3600 pound trailer plus stuff plus people with a van rated for 3600 tow capacity".

A 2690 lb trailer plus about 600 pounds of human being, and about 400 pounds of stuff should be within this van's capability. We are talking about a 3.2 litre V6 so it's got lots of juice, it's the transmission I would worry about and with extra preventative maintenance and frequent service, it's going to be fine, according to my brother.

Going over the rockies will be something we'll probably be doing with the blinkers on, and we're probably going to stop for a transmission fluid cooldown here and there.

My brother tells me that when he tows he checks his transmission fluid regularly and adds something to it that replenishes its magic powers. Anyone else do that?

Here's my math, take tow capacity, subtract dry weight, leaving difference (margin) of 910 pounds below, take passenger weight (say 480 lb, not including driver as an average driver weight is assumed). That leaves 430 pounds for stuff/luggage.

Tow Capacity 3600
Dry Weight 2690
Difference 910
Passengers 480
Luggage 430

Warren

[bikendan]

The only hybrids made, with GVWRs of 3500lbs, are the smallest hybrids made.
They will only have a dinette for seating and their cargo capacity will not be enough for a family of 6. They have CCCs that are barely enough for 2 people.

Plus the frontal area will exceed your minivan's max limit.
And you will have issues towing over the Rockies, with a minivan loaded with 6 and pulling a trailer loaded to the max.

[DaninNC]

You need to read your minivan's towing specs carefully. Many towing capacities don't include passengers; if yours doesn't you'll have to subtract their weight from your towing capacity. Also, I would have the unit weighed before you purchase it - many 'dry weights' don't include certain options. Those two things alone may push you close to your limits before you've loaded any equipment. Does your minivan have a maximum cargo carrying capacity? Tongue weight plus 5 passengers is another place you may exceed your limits.
A 2800 lb hybrid is going to be fairly small. Have you looked at floor plans? It might be a challenge to sleep 6 comfortably.

Dan

[OutdoorPhotogra]

I haven't owned a hybrid but did own a popup for 8 years and camped in a variety of weather from 30 degree nights without power to midsummer camping. Drycamping in 30 degrees was no fun. I expect a hybrid woudl be at least 5-10 degrees warmer but the tent ends where you sleep will get cold. We just piled up the blankets. Rain was a pain when setting up or tearing down but no issue when camping as long as we had damprid for humidity.

The thing is you have to go so big in a TT to get the sleeping space that you get with a hybrid or PUP. With your TV, I also recommend a PUP but 6 might be tight even in the bigger ones with slides. You can always put a couple older kids in a tent. The advantages outweighed the disadvantages by a lot for us.

I"ve upgraded to a. F-250 and will probably move to a toy hauler but even that is influenced by my experience with a popup. The smaller your camper, the easier is is to get a spot anywhere and some rigs won't fit in national parks period. A toy hauler keeps me at 25' with the beds in the garage which is a different solution than hybrid slides. I will really miss towing the PUP - it's so easy to tow. At least look at your options given your TV.

[Billbeat]

Our family of five have done a few long trips with our hybrid , no problems with leaks or heating. Furnaces heat hybrids up just fine , although a little noisey.If you're planning on alot of one night stops bear in mind that a hybrid takes a bit more set up time than a TT , but after a few set ups it goes pretty quick.
My only issue with a long trip would be your tow vehicle. Mini vans are not really made for towing. Does yours have a transmission cooler? Heavier suspension ? I towed my hybrid with a mini van when I first bought it but after a couple of trips decided to switch to a larger SUV, still plenty of room for the kids. There are lots of hills once you get to Alberta.
I've never heard of anyone having an issue with cooking smells in a hybrid.
I'm sure you'll figure everything out , sounds like a fun trip..good luck feel free to PM any questions

[rexlion]

Like RW said, a TT big enough for your clan will be quite long. I don't think you could, should, or would want to tow a TT that sleeps 6 with your minivan. One thought to add: a popup, even of the same weight as a HTT, will tow much easier because of the low wind resistance. With the minivan filled and a HTT in tow, your drive train will feel it; best bet is to plan on taking it slow, maybe 90 kph, and slower on the grades. Keep overdrive locked out.

[rwbradley]

There are a lot of opinions on HTT, many are based on the old style. HTT have come a long way in recent years. I would say you are mostly right on your points. re the cooking, ya the cooking area is generally far away, we have cooked bacon in the trailer a number of times and the trailer does not smell like it. Just use the fan in the fume hood when cooking smelly food. Another thought, imagine a regular trailer that has 2 queen sized beds (3 if it is a 3 tent end HTT). For a traditional TT that would require a large trailer (and thus weight). With a HTT you can get quite a lot of space for very little weight. It is like getting a 30' trailer that tows like a 20' trailer.