Hi everyone! Husband and I are discussing downsizing our Keystone Laredo 302LT. Two kids in college and 3rd heads off next year leaving us with one son left at home. Our current RV is a monster to haul, clean, and with much bigger bodies to fit into the beds (and loft is pretty much done as a space for them now) it's not a great fit for our family.We like the set up of one trailer the best so far, the Sunset Trail 28BH (crossroads RV) but the tow weight isn't much of an improvement. We do have 3 small dogs so space for them is important also (they are not outdoor puppies!)We'd like the one son to have his own bed and one that does not feel like a coffin, as the boys have so lovingly dubbed the one dedicated twin that we do have in our Laredo. We are also not keen on having to make up a bed every night (got old fast as well as walking into the frame on the way to the bathroom at oh-dark-thirty).When we were at the beach we popped into a camping world to pick up a couple of things and we took a stroll through their trailers and that Sunset was the only one we liked. But I know that there's so many brands and floor plans that one can't begin to scratch the surface which is why I figured asking here for some ideas could help in our search.Thanks in advance!

We are in the same situation as you. Most of the time the boys do not come and they out grew the bunk. We purchased a Sunset Trail 30RK that is working out great. If one of the boys decides to come with us, we can push the chairs aside and a queen size blow up mattress fits perfect in the living area.

Sorry, I thought you were looking to downsize the kids. I was looking for other ideas. Look at some of the lite models to reduce towing and still offer more sleeping than just two. Also works if your bathroom has two doors and not one. The Open Range Lite fits that criteria.

Downsizing from a 30 footer to a 28 footer? How much of a downsize is that for the money that it will take.

Dick, I should have clarified, we like the layout on the sunset but as you mentioned, it's not much of a downsize so we're hoping to find something that might be similar but smaller.

Whe are in just the opposite situation ( I.e. upsizing to accommodate growing kids) but have some of the same needs. Like you, we want to have a dedicated sleeping space (bunks) that are not "coffin"-ish.What I am finding, and it sounds like you are running into as well, is that a 28-footer is about as small as I can go to get the layout we want ( for us, that means a corner, double-over-double bunk).. Once you get down into the 26-foot range, it seems like you start getting into the narrow bunks.Just thought of is while typing... If I recall correctly, there are a number of 24 - 26 footers that have the Jack-n-Jill bunks. The larger bunk is on the bottom and would probably accomodate your remaining, camping son fairly well. It's still partially enclosed by a wall, but I don't think it would deserve the term "coffin". If you are open to that kind of bunk arrangement, it opens up your choices immensely. Will get you down into a shorter rig and, with some of the ultra-lights they are building now, I wouldnt be surprised if you could get down into the sub-5,000# dry-weight range.Good luck, Dean

Kids growing up and we want to downsize | Good Sam Community

Kampfirekid
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
I'm all over the toy hauler idea too. Problem is the weight compensation and ingenuity for storage and beds seems to drive the price way up. I have always considered gutting a bunkhouse and building a large bed setup myself. A rear kitchen usually has a larger bunk that could be modified into a queen with some Polish ingenuity.
People considering room for large kids should consider the Jayco 32THSB. You could stack 19 kids 7'-3" tall like cordwood in there. Of course, length and weight grow, too.

I suggest considering setups like we have with the J-cube style lower bed. It offers space for a long Larry, but is very accommodating for other uses as well.
kebmw
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
We are in the same boat with a 14 y/o son who is going to soon be taller even than my DH. We wanted the same scenario as you, don't want to have him sleeping in the living area. We are currently in a "smallish" Fifth Wheel with a small bunk room for him that is too small. Also two medium sized dogs (that do go out).

Our solution is that we are looking at Toy Haulers. The back "garage" room offers a large bedroom actually and many come with a full size bed instead of a twin. The garage areas are also perfect for dogs to have space and some can open up to become sort of like a patio for good weather days. Since we don't have any real "toys" like what normally go in the garage part, we don't need a huge one. We probably will transport bicycles and a grill back there though and maybe firewood sometimes too. It will really open up space in our truck bed. The challenge for us is finding one with an interior that we like now that we are used to the fiver.

Take care,
~Karin
Kampfirekid
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
The DW and I were sitting in our monster trailer last week giggling that now that we are spoiled with room, once the kids stop camping, we'll never be able to downsize.
We started with pop-ups... one 10' box, then 14' with a slideout. Then a 26 foot hybrid with four bunks and a king hybrid bed. Moved up to a 31 footer you could bowl in, and after major trailer horrors, we moved down to a 23 footer. Three years in the 23 footer, two kids growing like weeds, added a dog, and no storage, we found our dream trailer in 32 feet. I promise you, we will never downsize that far again.

Dont get hasty. Make a list of everything you want... need, like, can do without if needed. Then start looking. Consider the possibilities of friends that may come along that dont camp. While im not interested in buying a Polish Hilton on wheels in my later camping years, I still want to have fun camping, and many times that could be with friends who dont camp regularly.
bradnailer
Explorer
Jul 16, 2013
When our family camps together, our oldest daughter and her husband bring their travel trailer. Our middle daughter, husband and two kids sleep in a tent as does our youngest daughter and her son. My wife and I sleep in our travel trailer. Since we mostly cook outside anyway, meals aren't a problem.

I grew up camping as did our kids and now our grandkids. When our kids left the nest, we told them they'd have to provide their own accommodations when we camped and they had no problem with it. In fact, I think we all enjoy our privacy.

We spend most of the time outside anyway so the trailer / tent set up is mostly just for sleeping.
Doug33
Explorer
Jul 16, 2013
I work long hard hours and have a stressful, but rewarding career. When I vacation, I don't want to rough it any longer. I want to be reasonably comfortable when I take time off from work. Otherwise, I might as well be comfy at home, where I've spent a lot of time and investment in making a nice place to live and entertain.

When RVing, I do enjoy trying to boondock when I can. I am an engineer, so I am fascinated with what my RV can do without any hookups.
kbc
Explorer
Jul 16, 2013
I grew up in Alaska and that's all we did. I had fond memories so I dragged our boys tent camping. The spiders dropped out of the trees at night and a baby snake sought shelter at the base of our tent. I decided I was done tent camping. It's hot, humid and bug-infested in our area. Camping in the south takes some nerves I don't have and I guess because of that I'm less inclined to shove the kids into a tent LOL. We did camp another time at a different lake and it wasn't as bad with spiders at night (literally set up tent on the lakeshore away from trees) but I wouldn't say the kids are fond of tent camping. :/
Doug33
Explorer
Jul 16, 2013
smkettner wrote:
Bring a tent for the kids when they tag along.
They might even enjoy it :B

Ironically my 19 year old daughter tent camped recently with her boyfriend, and she absolutely hated it. She felt claustrophic in the small tent. So when they get to teenage years and older, kids don't look at it as being fun any more.

I camped in tents since birth up through my late 20s before I bought my first PU camper. Now apparently my kids are too spoiled to tent camp.....:o
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 16, 2013
Bring a tent for the kids when they tag along.
They might even enjoy it :B
kbc
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
Bradnailer, I think that might be the route we take. Something has to give to go smaller and while I'd like the youngest to have his own bed, it might have to be a fold-out.
bradnailer
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
Since your kids are older, why not consider getting a trailer that fits your needs without the kids. We have a 25' Freedom Express. Has a queen bed in one end. The slide out dinette makes into a bed but we don't use it for a bed. If our kids come with us, they sleep in a tent.

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