hybrids that sleep 8-10

[mandjvanderpol]

we are a family of 8, 2 adults and 6 kids ranging from 11months-13 and need a hybrid to fit our family. we also sometimes have one extra person with us so 'just' sleeping 8 may be tight for us. we also need to fit a pack and play for a couple years yet 🙂 we need an older one as we have a tight budget. 5000ish or less and must be lightweight and half ton towable about 4500 or less pounds. since we are a family of 8 we don't fit in a pick-up with lots of pulling power. we have an 11 passenger chevy express van. any advice?

we like the triple tip out beds as it keeps the trailer short for towing but yet gives lots of sleeping space. or single tip out with quad bunks. anyone have advice on which works better? triple tip out seems more 'open' but quad bunks means no one climbing over anyone else to get in/out of bed.

we also looked at 'expandables' with the 'slide out' queen bed and quad bunks. any preference on the expandable with quad bunks versus the hybrid with quad bunks?

we also bike a lot and noticed that many older expandables that have the slide out queen bed don't have a 'real' bumper to mount a bike rack too (and remember there are 8 of us so we need lots of bikes!)

we previously had a bare bones pop-up but too much work when you are camping on the go and have to set-up/take down every night-plus not near enough storage for 8 people, plus-most don't sleep 8 well. we then had a 5th wheel-but didn't sleep enough-and yeah don't fit in a pick-up with 8 of us anymore.

any makes to avoid?

we have really liked at forest river surveyor sv-255 rs (slide out queen and quad bunks) but storage is not what we would like as much...and we are just not sure about the slide out aspect if that is a good or bad thing?!

we have also liked a jayco jay feather 232. love that it is more open and have three beds that pop out so we aren't pulling as much length. but they seem to be harder to find (any three bed pop out does though) and the one we looked at had a weird 'soft spot' in front of the front bed. but there is a storage cabinet in front of that and a dinette and couch on each side and in the cabinet, couch, and table bench the floor is all hard. not sure where it could be leaking from. it is almost like someone dropped something there and 'cracked' the floor as it isn't really soft but more 'cracky' when you step there-any thoughts on what that could be?

positives/negatives of a jayco? forest river? or jayco vs. forest river?

what are your thought/opinions and any other suggestions for models/brands/makes?

any places to look for hybrids besides craigslist?!

Thanks everyone!
~julie

[mandjvanderpol]

phil-l wrote:
Look at the tire/weight/loading sticker, which should be inside your tow vehicle's driver's door jamb. It will include important things like the vehicle's GVWR ("Gross Vehicle Weight Rating": The most the tow vehicle can weigh after loading it up, including passengers, cargo, fuel, etc.). It will also have GAWR ("Gross Axle Weight Rating") figures for front and rear.

Keep in mind that "dry weight" refers to the weight of a trailer *before* adding things like cargo (clothes, sleeping bags, kitchen gear) and other supplies (food, propane, water in the tanks). So the "dry weight" is lowest weight the trailer will ever be; it will always weigh more when you add your gear. Camping trailers often make it easy to put more stuff inside, which is a problem when you're trying to fit within a weight rating.

There are many discussions on this forum about weight concerns and towing; I won't try to repeat them here.

Thanks again! We’re familiar with the gross and dry but didn’t ever think to check weight rating for axels.

We finally found one last evening that fit our requirements I pray it will work well for us for many years!

[phil-l]

Look at the tire/weight/loading sticker, which should be inside your tow vehicle's driver's door jamb. It will include important things like the vehicle's GVWR ("Gross Vehicle Weight Rating": The most the tow vehicle can weigh after loading it up, including passengers, cargo, fuel, etc.). It will also have GAWR ("Gross Axle Weight Rating") figures for front and rear.

Keep in mind that "dry weight" refers to the weight of a trailer *before* adding things like cargo (clothes, sleeping bags, kitchen gear) and other supplies (food, propane, water in the tanks). So the "dry weight" is lowest weight the trailer will ever be; it will always weigh more when you add your gear. Camping trailers often make it easy to put more stuff inside, which is a problem when you're trying to fit within a weight rating.

There are many discussions on this forum about weight concerns and towing; I won't try to repeat them here.

[mandjvanderpol]

phil-l wrote:
I have a Rockwood Roo 25BH; quad bunks in the rear with a front fold-out hybrid bed, plus couch and dinette beds. No slide.

Some thoughts:

- Yes, it's an older model. No one seems to make quad bunk hybrids anymore. Our goal, after several years with a popup: A bed for each kid that doesn't need to become a couch or dinette during the day. Of course, I don't have 6 kids - but it does have a theoretical sleeping capacity is 10, presuming a fair number are kids.

- Its GVWR is 6500, but dry weight is probably within 4500 (sorry, haven't weighed it).

- I got a deal on it ($5000) because it had the infamous soft floor from prior water damage. I'm willing to work on it, so I am happy with it. But I have learned: Hybrid bunk doors leak. The big problem isn't while camping - it's while the unit is stored. In my experience, you *must* have some kind of additional water protection (a cover!) to avoid problems over the winter.

- Pay close attention to your vehicle's realistic tow capacity - and be sure to allow for the weight of passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle. For many larger tow vehicles with a family inside, you'll end up exceeding the rear axle rating before you reach the tow rating. Be safe!

- Our family has been happy with the layout: Good internal storage; decent for meal preparation.

- We have taken bikes inside (we've put 4 between the bunks without problem). Your bike count is bigger than ours!

Thanks Phil very helpful! I’ll look into the rear axle Vs tow capacity thing. I have no idea on that tbh! We have taken into account all the people and our ‘stuff to get our dry weight of about 4500. But not sure about the axle thing. Thankfully we have inside storage for when it’s not in use so water leaks should be less of an issue hopefully! We also are willing to fix things for the right priced camper. Our goal is to just have at least some sort of sleeping spot for everyone without using the floor (or tents)

[phil-l]

I have a Rockwood Roo 25BH; quad bunks in the rear with a front fold-out hybrid bed, plus couch and dinette beds. No slide.

Some thoughts:

- Yes, it's an older model. No one seems to make quad bunk hybrids anymore. Our goal, after several years with a popup: A bed for each kid that doesn't need to become a couch or dinette during the day. Of course, I don't have 6 kids - but it does have a theoretical sleeping capacity is 10, presuming a fair number are kids.

- Its GVWR is 6500, but dry weight is probably within 4500 (sorry, haven't weighed it).

- I got a deal on it ($5000) because it had the infamous soft floor from prior water damage. I'm willing to work on it, so I am happy with it. But I have learned: Hybrid bunk doors leak. The big problem isn't while camping - it's while the unit is stored. In my experience, you *must* have some kind of additional water protection (a cover!) to avoid problems over the winter.

- Pay close attention to your vehicle's realistic tow capacity - and be sure to allow for the weight of passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle. For many larger tow vehicles with a family inside, you'll end up exceeding the rear axle rating before you reach the tow rating. Be safe!

- Our family has been happy with the layout: Good internal storage; decent for meal preparation.

- We have taken bikes inside (we've put 4 between the bunks without problem). Your bike count is bigger than ours!

[mandjvanderpol]

Thank you! This is ‘exactly’ what we’re looking for! Thanks for the feedback. We have several small kids yet so this would work great for us. And by the time the little kids are bigger the big kids will likely be out of the house and no longer camping with us. (We plan to keep this camper a good long while!) anything will be ‘tight’ with all of us in it when it rains haha!

ETA: thankfully were pretty handy and anticipate more upkeep with an older camper and that’s ok!

And you bought it for well under 5000?!?! Jealous! You don’t want to sell it do you?! Haha!

[hybrid_dw]

It can be found. My Starcraft Antigua 215 SB (2005) claims to "sleep 10". No slide. I think it sleeps no more than 8...see the floor plan I noted below. Smaller kids can fit in the dinette converted and sofa fold out, maybe 2 in the dinette, they're just not long enough for adults. The side bunk is narrower and you wont get 2 adults in that with comfort.

We bought it used for well under $5k here in Fla. Its under 3,500 lbs +/- I tow it with a 2014 Explorer SUV.






Used, cheap even in good condition RV's will have issues and you need to be more than just handy to keep them dry and systems working. Look at my roof repair thread for some examples on that.

I've never had 8 humans in any TT and would imagine that its gonna feel pretty tight when all people are inside and active (not sleeping), like when it rains or dinnertime, etc.

[mandjvanderpol]

You guys, I will mention it again, we are looking for used! Honestly I haven’t even looked at what is available ‘new’ or even in the last couple years. They are just waaaay out of our budget (and apparently do not have an option to sleep all of us). All of the ones we ya e looked at do not have slides and can easily sleep us all even with a pack and play. And the couple quad bunk ones we looked at were about 4000 dry (yes I know they are not completely accurate but gives a ballpark which is fine) and yes I know we loose two tent beds when there are quad bunks but that’s ok. Trading 4 bunk spots for four bed spots. (In my op I said three pop outs or quad bunks not both). We are just trying to find some model options (older models!) for us and feedback on the ones I mentioned.

[Ralph_Cramden]

mileshuff wrote:

What about a 3 bed pop up tent trailer? Maybe one that will work for you.

" 3 bed popup tent trailer " ???????????????????

Having had a couple of popups over the years, and hanging at a popup related forum for a number of years, I can't say I've ever seen one of those?

bikendan wrote:

even the smallest/lightest 3 bunk end hybrid, like the Roo/Shamrock 183, will easily weigh 4200lbs before you put any cargo in it.

The 183 supposedly weighs less than 4000 dry with gas and battery, but as you say good luck finding a good one for $5K and I would go with your 4200 lbs knowing how inaccurate those manufacturer weights can be.

A comparable floorplan Jayco, the X20D, comes in over 4K dry without gas and battery. Keystone no longer makes a 3 bunk that does not have a slide, both the Bullet and Passport models are over 4500 dry. Dutchmens Kodiak line now has what is called a 179QE cub, a 3 bunk without slide but weights are not listed yet and their sister Aerolite only makes the 224ES which is a much larger 3 bunk with slide, comparable to the Roo 233.

The OP is trying to fill a tall order with their requirements.

[bikendan]

you're not going to find a quad bunk hybrid in that weight.
you won't find a quad bunkhouse in the weight either.

even the smallest/lightest 3 bunk end hybrid, like the Roo/Shamrock 183, will easily weigh 4200lbs before you put any cargo in it. and it'll only sleep 8. but i doubt if you'll find a good one in the $5000 price range.

like i said and i'm sorry if i sound discouraging but finding what you want, with all your criteria, is probably not possible.

[mileshuff]

mandjvanderpol wrote:
and we are not looking for one with a slide-most are even more out of our price range with a slide

I believe in order to get enough beds for 8-10 you'll need a slide. That allows room for a sofa bed to fold out. Without a slide your choices for that number of beds narrows.

Some hybrids do have bunks but usually those are longer, heavier and often the bunks are in place of one of the fold out tent beds.

What about a 3 bed pop up tent trailer? Maybe one that will work for you.

[mandjvanderpol]

mileshuff wrote:
4500 lbs loaded or unloaded? Those bikes, and all your camping gear will easily be 500+ lbs. Need to fill water tank too? That adds 8 lbs per gallon so a small 30 gallon tank adds another 240 lbs.

As others have said you want something that can sleep 8-10, under $5,000 and I'm assuming under 4,500 lbs loaded. That low of weight puts you into a rather small trailer.

We camped in a 2004 Starcraft 21SSO. It was about 5,000 lbs loaded and was small. Excellent trailer. It could sleep 4 adults on fold out beds, 2 teens on sofa bed and 2 infants on dinette. To fit all gear we filled the floor with coolers, duffel bags etc. Setting up meant first unloading everything off the floor outside. It did work well for us for 10 years but was cramped.

4500 dry (so nothing in it, no water, sewer, etc.) we expect to be cramped and tight no matter what. 🙂

[mileshuff]

4500 lbs loaded or unloaded? Those bikes, and all your camping gear will easily be 500+ lbs. Need to fill water tank too? That adds 8 lbs per gallon so a small 30 gallon tank adds another 240 lbs.

As others have said you want something that can sleep 8-10, under $5,000 and I'm assuming under 4,500 lbs loaded. That low of weight puts you into a rather small trailer.

We camped in a 2004 Starcraft 21SSO. It was about 5,000 lbs loaded and was small. Excellent trailer. It could sleep 4 adults on fold out beds, 2 teens on sofa bed and 2 infants on dinette. To fit all gear we filled the floor with coolers, duffel bags etc. Setting up meant first unloading everything off the floor outside. It did work well for us for 10 years but was cramped.

[parker_rowe]

mandjvanderpol wrote:

parker.rowe wrote:
I'm not sure if any of the 3 bed hybrids are down to 4500 dry. Maybe the ones without a slide, but with that many people in the camper I would really want the slide. It adds so much floor space!

Our's is a 3 bed with a slide, dry weight on the yellow tag is 5160lbs.

really?! am I looking at something wrong? all of the ones I mentioned are under 4500 or am I missing something? and we are not looking for one with a slide-most are even more out of our price range with a slide and we haven't seen one three bed with a slide come up for sale (nearish to us-like 250 mile radius) in the several months we have been looking. but maybe I am not looking in the right places for them....

Maybe the older ones are lighter. It's been a while since I shopped them, so I could be wrong. Installed options can make a big difference in the final weight as well vs. the weight listed on the websites.

You should be able to find something close though.

[mandjvanderpol]

parker.rowe wrote:
I'm not sure if any of the 3 bed hybrids are down to 4500 dry. Maybe the ones without a slide, but with that many people in the camper I would really want the slide. It adds so much floor space!

Our's is a 3 bed with a slide, dry weight on the yellow tag is 5160lbs.

really?! am I looking at something wrong? all of the ones I mentioned are under 4500 or am I missing something? and we are not looking for one with a slide-most are even more out of our price range with a slide and we haven't seen one three bed with a slide come up for sale (nearish to us-like 250 mile radius) in the several months we have been looking. but maybe I am not looking in the right places for them....

we would love to got 'bigger' or 'heavier' but we can't tow it then so I can't do anyting about that really.