In search of large family Bunkhouse

[jadcox]

Hey,

Our family has grown to 8, and need a very large bunkhouse with dual bunks. I've been looking everywhere and just can not find anything that really fits the need.

Any one have 6 large kids (4 boys / 2 girls) with 3 large dogs..

[jadcox]

Krobbe,

thank you.

[Opie431]

In theory our Outback will sleep ten. I do not think it would live eight.
Four in bunks, two on bed made up from the table and two on the sofa bed and two in the queen bed.
Two of the bunks are a little longer than average and might hold two if the children were small enough, with something down the center.

Are any of your children old enough to sleep in tents?

[krobbe]

jadcox wrote:
What I'm I missing here?

the 2016 KEYSTONE RV PASSPORT 3220BHWE has a dry weather of 6300, with a tongue of 580lbs?

even if I put 1000lbs in the trailer for good and toys, that still seem to be way under the limits, right?

That model starts out with a tongue weight of 9%. I'm guessing when you load it up, most of the weight will be forward of the axles to achieve 11 - 15% for stable towing. You could be forced to carry water even if you don't want to.
But with only a 1167# carrying capacity, I would be hesitant to choose this model for a large family. But that is just me. I don't like to run up against limits. The wife and kids like to collect rocks when we go up to Lake Superior. :E

[krobbe]

The cargo capacity(payload) sticker on the TV door jamb will show you the max weight your TV can carry. From this number you can calculate the maximum dry weight of a TT to help in your search.
1. Subtract any weight(all passengers, weight distribution hitch, anything you carry in the bed) from the payload number. That is what is available for the TT tongue weight.
2. From the available TT tongue weight, divide by .13(13%) to get the maximum loaded up weight for a TT.
3. From the maximum loaded weight, subtract everything you might load into the TT(all weight added to TT including food, water, batteries, propane, etc.) This is the TT Dry Weight not to exceed when looking to purchase.

SO, based on this example sticker of 1607, my weights calculation goes like this:
1. 1607 lbs - 800 lbs(passengers, WDH, gen, gas can, firewood, bikes) = 807 available.
2. 807 lbs / .13 = 6207 lbs (max loaded up for camping TT)
3. 6207 - 1500(weight of stuff in/on TT for 6 people) = 4707 lbs
I would look for a TT with less than 4707 lbs dry weight for this example.

[jadcox]

What I'm I missing here?

the 2016 KEYSTONE RV PASSPORT 3220BHWE has a dry weather of 6300, with a tongue of 580lbs?

even if I put 1000lbs in the trailer for good and toys, that still seem to be way under the limits, right?

[jadcox]

My F150 specs are 12,200 trailer weight and tongue weight of 1,220.

I don't expect to ever be carrying water or waste in the trailer.

Most of these trailers that I've seen are 6500 dry weight with tongue weights of less then 1000lbs.

I'm sorry I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack when it comes to this discussion. I truly appreciate your input.

[carringb]

jadcox wrote:
Thank you all for the feed back. Yes I'm looking for a TT. I have a F150 EcoBoost with max tow package. 12k tow capacity.

You won't be able to to tow any of those large trailers with your F150, unless you have the very rare "Max Payload" package. Even the "max tow" package does not have enough payload for the tongue weights on those trailers. Expect a large bunkhouse trailer to have over 1500 pounds of hitch weight. Mine is closer to 1800 pounds with full water.

[APT]

TV = Tow Vehicle

You run out of payload and receiver limits (and seats) well below the tow rating. That Open Range Roamer 310 for example at 9300 pounds dry is about 3k pounds too heavy. You claim you won't go anywhere without full hookups, but, 8 people's worth of clothes, kitchen supplies, food, toys, games, chairs, towels, etc will put you at least 1000 pounds over dry rating.

6k dry, maybe 7k if you put all the people in the other vehicle while towing and you have at least 1800 pounds of payload. What does your Tire and Loading sticker list for Max combined weight of occupants and cargo?

[jadcox]

Thank you all for the feed back. Yes I'm looking for a TT. I have a F150 EcoBoost with max tow package. 12k tow capacity.


we are looking at taking a van also to carry the kids.

I'm just looking at dry weight, given my wife would never consider going anywhere there weren't hook-ups.

What i.e. TV?

[IndyCamp]

bobndot wrote:
clicky for above

This is the trailer I would buy if I were in OP's situation.

[BoulderMountain]

A Keystone Cougar XLite 29BH is what we have. It's only 6200 pounds dry and will sleep 8 comfortably. We love it. Tons of storage.

[Mr_MrsSchleppro]

We have a 2014 Salem 29ud3 TT. Maybe you should have a look.

[krobbe]

Keystone has 5 models in the Passport line and 5 in the Bullet line and more in their other lines.
What are you towing with?

[Kavoom]

In looking around, those Bullet's by Keystone seem to keep popping up. This one has potential. 287QBSWE. It's a 32 footer. I'm not sure what kind of TV you have that will pull something like that AND haul all those people and dogs.

I can see why you need at TT or more as you couldn't afford to take a trip and pay for like four rooms a night and food out. You could pay for a TT after about a week doing that.

[bobndot]

clicky for above