Looking for a new travel trailer, where to start?

[Askibum02]

I'm looking for a new travel trailer, and I don't know where to start. My budget is $20-25K, and I'm looking for a bunkhouse trailer with a bunk room, not just bunk beds. Two models that have a floor plan I like are the Forest River Wildwood X-Lite 282QBXL and the Keystone Passport 2920BH. Is there anything about either of those that I should look out for? The Wildwood is Aluminum sided and the Passport is fiberglass sided. Is there another brand that has a similar floor plan that might be better?

[gmw_photos]

"Let those 5.3's eat".

Typical small block GM....likes to..... actually "loves" to rev. You could run that sucker at 5K rpm for the rest of it's days and not hurt it.

Our 6.2 in the Silverado likes to rev too.

I am looking at replacing the aging Frontier this year, and high on my list is a new Titan 5.6 gas in a XD trim. I've driven one ( not towing ), and that's another engine that likes to rev. Stick your foot in it coming onto the freeway, and it'll happily rev on out to 5500. Sounds awesome. Pulls hard. What's not to love ?

WTH, I often see 3000 rpm and 28 pounds of boost with our powerstroke when I have the big horse trailer on it. Ok....again, let it rev, doesn't hurt a thing ( except fuel burn ).

[lawrosa]

I have a similar truck with a 1500 lbs payload.. 3:42 rear.. ( And yes a 4 speed... tow in 3rd)

Just throwing this out there for ya. You can make your own decision.

My travel trailer 4700 lbs from factory. Hitch weight 550 advertised.

Well after loading basic stuff, another battery and full propane hitch weight went to 750 and trailer about 5300 lbs.

Thats without food and clothes ready to camp in the camper.

Then comes the truck. Yes 4 passengers but I put stuff in the bed.

Ill tell you this.. I am maxed out if not over. I would not want to tow more with that 5.3. I put large trans cooler to help keep trans cool.

Ill have to check the two units your looking at..

Also a note I have 1000 lb bar wd hitch and have max washers and can restore to 150 lbs or so front axle. I cant get any better unless I stress the chains bars frame or truck and trailer.

Also long bed. I went with sumo springs in rear for sag...

[gmw_photos]

To the OP. Here is a couple of suggestions. One, try to do as much research as you can on what payload, axle and tire ratings mean. Research what spring rates ( rear of truck primarily ) are and how they effect set up.

Research as best you can how these different ratings are arrived at by manufacturers.

And very importantly, absolutely come to a complete understanding of how weight distributing hitches work, and the importance of getting them set up correctly. You "must" learn to do this yourself, as the dealer likely will not get it right. The same truck and trailer hitched together with this critical hitch system adjust wrong, vs correct is a night day difference in on the road.

I own and tow four different trailers, and tow with three different trucks. Frontier ( yes the "little mid-size", with 4.0 and six speed manual ), Silverado 1500 (6.2 six speed auto )and F350 dually (diesel with five speed auto ).

All can be set up to correctly and safely pull and carry loads within their capabilities.

Some people may tell you that a certain rear end ratio is appropriate or less appropriate for towing a load. What they seldom say though, is how this ratio in the differential works along with the ratios in the transmission. The transmission and differential work as a team to multiply the torque of the engine to the driven axles. If you are not sure how that works, research that as well.

For instance, her's an example: the overall ratio to the drive axles is nearly the same on a Tundra vs a new gas Titan. And yet the Titan has a 3.36 rear gear and the Tundra has a 4.30.
Some of the less informed may assume the Tundra would pull better "because it has a lower rear gear". To make this assumption is a failure to understand how the transmission ratios work. So again, as the end user, it's to your benefit to figure it out for yourself.

[SoundGuy]

gmw photos wrote:
Don't let the payload/weight police drag you down here. They will be along shortly to tell you that you need to go buy a 2500HD. "It's what they do". Some folks just like to rain on the parade and try to make you spend more money.

downtheroad wrote:
Count me in as one of the payload police. I wish I would have listened to them back when we bought our first trailer.

It's easy for some to take cheap shots when they have nothing better to offer. :R Numbers don't lie though and the reality is the vast majority of 1/2 ton trucks are pretty limited when it comes to payload capacity. 😞 If the OP's particular Silvy is running a 3.42 axle, the same axle I run in my own 2012 Silvy, then that certainly won't help. I'm hardly an "expert" but I have been towing with this GM configuration for over a decade now and am quite familiar with it's limitations.

[theoldwizard1]

downtheroad wrote:
Another consideration is the holding tank capacity. The Keystone only has a 30 gal. gray tank...My experience with a bunkhouse and kids is that's going to be a problem...

EXCELLENT SUGGESTION !

With 4 kids under 9, my daughter won't even THINK about staying at somewhere without full hookups.

[theoldwizard1]

Stay away from anything with and outside kitchen. You will lose space in the bunk room.

[Merrykalia]

First, it's great to ask questions from people that are in the KNOW! Or, at least should be in the know.

The 1500 will limit you on your payload, but length shouldn't really concern you as much because there's not a lot of difference between pulling a 26' or a 33' TT. Yes, there's a little more back there, but negligible difference.

I would definitely be looking for used since this is your first one. Look 3-4 years old, but one owner and appears to be taken care of. Before you decide fully, hire an RV tech to give it a once-over. It'll cost you a couple hundred $, but it will be worth it.

If you want a trailer with a bunk room, it will have to be over the 30' length. They make them that have the beds in the corner in less than 30', but not the extra room.

On Raleigh's Craigslist, I found a few. A couple are over your weight restriction, but....

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/rvs/d/2015-keystone-cougar-xlite/6469444462.html

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/rvs/d/2015-forest-river-wildwood/6466316439.html

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/rvs/d/2014-rockwood-by-forest-river/6442613316.html

[ppine]

I would go to some shows and look at a lot of rigs. Look carefully at the specs on the ones you like. Don't try to pull too much. Look for tank capacity and good storage. Modern trailers now have crummy windows. It is one of the things to look for. There is no perfect RV. Good luck.

[rbpru]

Three things have to match. 1. The cargo capacity of the tow vehicle. 2. The floor plan. It cannot be changed easily. 3. Cost, it must not be burdensome.

Your TV can pull far more than it can carry, tongue weight often uses up about half of the cargo capacity.

Floor plan stays when all else is forgotten or accepted.

RVing is a hobby, cost should treated accordingly.

Good luck

[DutchmenSport]

Here's a link to the Thor Industries family of RV. Select any brand and then drill down to the "Visit Website" link. This will take you to each brand web site. Then select any model and move to the bottom of the page and select the floor plan links. You can scan through the floor plans and select any of them, and find out more detail about the individual camper. Almost all of the brand sites will let you do this. You will find, just the "Thor" family of campers, there are lots and lots of bunkhouse style campers, many of which are similar to the ones you are considering. Just have some fun exploring. Be warned, you'll get exhausted before you can explore them all. So do this over a few days, taking note of the models that appeal to you.

Remember, this is "Thor Industries" only. There are a other manufacturers also. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Click here

[downtheroad]

gmw photos wrote:
Don't let the payload/weight police drag you down here. They will be along shortly to tell you that you need to go buy a 2500HD. "It's what they do". Some folks just like to rain on the parade and try to make you spend more money.

Count me in as one of the payload police. I wish I would have listened to them back when we bought our first trailer.

[Askibum02]

prichardson wrote:
Sounds like you are new to RVs. If so don't limit yourself to just new units as there are many slightly used used ones out there that will be cheaper. I suggest this, as once you start using your TT you will find that some features you thought were important are not and vice versa.

I'm open to used too, it just seems that, around here, for late model one to two year old TT there isn't a huge difference in price between new and used.

GrandpaKip wrote:
A lot depends on what type of camping you intend to do. Will you mostly go to campgrounds with full hookups, partial hookups, or none? Are you gonna take bikes, kayaks or other toys?
Good luck with your search.

We would likely be doing mostly campgrounds with full hook ups, split time between NC beaches and Western NC mountains. At most for recreation equipment would be two bikes and fishing poles.

[GrandpaKip]

A lot depends on what type of camping you intend to do. Will you mostly go to campgrounds with full hookups, partial hookups, or none? Are you gonna take bikes, kayaks or other toys?
Good luck with your search.

[gmw_photos]

I just looked up that 2920BH. Says ship weight of 5400. Let's say it's 5500 and you add another 1000 pounds. 6500 would be easily set up to be towed by your Silverado 1500. Use a good WD hitch and learn to set it up yourself. The dealer likely will do a poor job of setup.

Don't let the payload/weight police drag you down here. They will be along shortly to tell you that you need to go buy a 2500HD. "It's what they do". Some folks just like to rain on the parade and try to make you spend more money.
Others will tell you a 1500 series is "just a car on steroids". Try to ignore the cheap comments from the peanut gallery, and do your own research.

[prichardson]

Sounds like you are new to RVs. If so don't limit yourself to just new units as there are many slightly used used ones out there that will be cheaper. I suggest this, as once you start using your TT you will find that some features you thought were important are not and vice versa.