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

[wpostma]

Original thread guy here.

I'm actually thinking I want to buy a Suburban (or similar 6 or 7 passenger SUV on a V8 truck frame) and haul a 24 foot ultralight travel trailer.

My 2013 dodge caravan SE is gutless, and I don't want to spend money on adding electric trailer brake controls and wiring harnesses and anti-sway toying stuff on this gutless wonder.



Warren

[PAThwacker]

Ontario and British Columbia bears are not as nice as the Yellowstone Bruins. Seriously: minivans suck for all but moving point A to point B loaded with kids or invalids. For decades I've seen them overweight with popup campers. I would only recommend a 10ft nonslide pup for any minivan built in the last 30 years except for the Chevy Astro Van.

[bikendan]

aljo17 wrote:
Just want to throw in another curve traveling with a hybrid through western Canada a lot of parks will not accept hybrids because of the bears.

Strange as we have camped in Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Tetons and Yosemite, with our hybrid.

Only one campground in Yellowstone, didn't allow soft-sided campers and that was Fishing Bridge.
But you could "turtle" in your hybrid there.

[aljo17]

Just want to throw in another curve traveling with a hybrid through western Canada a lot of parks will not accept hybrids because of the bears.

[bikendan]

wpostma wrote:
Lighter than the Prolite Evasion? 1890 lb dry weight at factory base model.

http://www.roulottesprolite.com/evasion16.htm

Based on your link, that is a travel trailer, not a hybrid.

[wpostma]

Lighter than the Prolite Evasion? 1890 lb dry weight at factory base model.

http://www.roulottesprolite.com/evasion16.htm

[bikendan]

PAThwacker wrote:
Hi Bob, you will never find a modern day equivalent to the Bantam B-19.

Unloaded non-slide 19ft modern day: 3933 lbs Empty.

R-vision made the lightest hybrids ever made.

[All_I_could_aff]

Still Rollin with a B-17 Bantam here

[PAThwacker]

Hi Bob, you will never find a modern day equivalent to the Bantam B-19.

Unloaded non-slide 19ft modern day: 3933 lbs Empty.

[Oasisbob]

We have had our hybrid for 14 years and camp almost year round. We have always towed with mini van. Loaded weight was 3,490 with twin batteries, full water tank and fully loaded. Honestly I would ditch the hybrid in a minute if I could. Hands down it is the best space to weight ration out there. Down sides are outside noise, wet set up after camping. Has to dry. Some say security. I have never had an issue. If you have any questions feel free to send me a private message. We have literally camped hundreds of nights. Trailer has held up surprisingly well.

[afidel]

Yup, it didn't take but driving my 3,000lb trailer home with just the wife and I in the empty van to know that 3,600lb is a joke. I knew from forums that it would be iffy but I figured $400 for the hitch, brake controller, and install was a cheap bet compared to buying a truck, turns out it was a suckers bet. It's still be worried about a pop-up with a fully loaded van, might be better to look at a Durango or similar 3 row SUV.

[PAThwacker]

bikendan wrote:

wpostma wrote:
You are right. I have now asked three professionals who equip vehicles for towing, and they've told me not to do this. I think I could tow with my minivan to and from a house to a nearby campground over level ground, but for a cross country voyage, I've reconsidered and decided to go back to a Popup option.

Thanks folks! I appreciate having a sounding board from people who aren't trying to also sell me anything.

Warren

You're making a safe and sound choice.

Glad to hear this. I was cringing at the thought of my family sharing the roads with a cross country overweight minivan HTT combo with 6 people in the van. That would have made national news if it crashed.

[bikendan]

wpostma wrote:
You are right. I have now asked three professionals who equip vehicles for towing, and they've told me not to do this. I think I could tow with my minivan to and from a house to a nearby campground over level ground, but for a cross country voyage, I've reconsidered and decided to go back to a Popup option.

Thanks folks! I appreciate having a sounding board from people who aren't trying to also sell me anything.

Warren

You're making a safe and sound choice.

[wpostma]

You are right. I have now asked three professionals who equip vehicles for towing, and they've told me not to do this. I think I could tow with my minivan to and from a house to a nearby campground over level ground, but for a cross country voyage, I've reconsidered and decided to go back to a Popup option.

Thanks folks! I appreciate having a sounding board from people who aren't trying to also sell me anything.

Warren

[bikendan]

wpostma wrote:
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

i guess you didn't read the little print at the bottom:

"*This weight reflects the rolling average unit weight for each model. Your trailer weight will vary according to optional equipment."

add additional weight for any of these options:
Options
Front Window (N/A toy haulers, 160RBT, 180RBT)
(2) Aluminum Wheels (N/A 180RBT, 201RB, 231BH)
(4) Aluminum Wheels (180RBT, 201RB, 231BH)
Wireless Backup Camera System
Retractable Screen Wall (toy haulers only)
13,500 BTU A/C LowPro® (REQ – 180RBT, 201RB, 231BH)
U-Dinette (IPO STD dinette – 161RB, 181RB, 191BH)
6.3 CU FT Refrigerator (REQ – 180RBT, 201RB, 231BH – must OPT roof A/C)
24" TV w/Inside/Outside Bracket (180QB, 181RB, 191BH)
Murphy Bed w/Sofa (201RB)
Bedspread (N/A E140TH, E160RBT, E180RBT)

also the weights of battery, propane and water.
and dishes, silverware, food and other stuff in the trailer.