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Looking for our first trailer - Need bunkhouse, <25ft

Proteus
Explorer
Explorer
Need some advice for our first trailer. Family of four (boy and girl, early teens), so we need a bunkhouse, or separate beds for them. TV is a 2013 ML350 diesel (7200lb tow weight, 1400lb payload, 576 hitch). We're looking to keeping at 25ft or under,so that we can camp easily in state and national campgrounds, and not pay a fortune for storage. Needs to have good capacity for dry camping. Used trailers work well, but my concern is over build quality and durability. From what I've seen so far, lots of trailers still use wood?
36 REPLIES 36

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
Shop around, go to RV shows, try to figure out just how much space you want. Small trailers can be equipped with bunks, as small as 16-foot if you are willing to convert living space to bed space, and deal with a small kitchen and bath. Our family had an 18 footer that would sleep 10 (in five beds) after everything was converted and the bunks hung, but living space was minimal, we used it for sleeping at night and lived outside in the campground.

Is it enough to have the bunks, or do you want a bunkhouse with two distinct bedrooms, in addition to the living space?

Looking at a couple brochures from my last RV show visit, you can have bunks at 18 feet in Forest River's R-Pod, if you will accept a dinette converting to a bed, or a queen in a fold-out tent space. But the R-Pod has a very small bath, tiny kitchen, not much living space, it is for camping rather than living.

Skyline's Nomad lightweight shows two bunkhouse models (queen at one end, bunks and bath at the other, living area between) at 27 feet, a couple more at 29-32. Nothing smaller in that line, because all models have at least one permanent queen size bed.

At the small extreme, Casita's Spirit model has one dinette converting to a queen, another to a single, with a bunk installable above that. Bathroom is tiny, storage almost nil, living space is tight, but it will sleep four. That's either 16 or 17 foot, max 3500 pounds. If you give up the bathroom, you can have two more single beds, bunked, up front, to sleep six or seat 8-9 people.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

Z1derful
Explorer
Explorer
We bought a Crossroads Z-1 (ZT251BH) and pull it with our Silverado 1500. It's got 3 bunks, a jackknife sofa, the main bedroom, plus the dinette which converts to a bed as well. It has the handy feature of a second door that opens directly to the bathroom so the kids aren't going through the entire trailer to use the facilities. We really like it so far - we've been out 3 weekends in a row ๐Ÿ™‚
2014 Crossroads ZT251BH
2001 Chevy Silverado 1500

Opie431
Explorer
Explorer
Our 03 Keystone Outback has four bunks. It is one foot over your 25 foot limit. I do not know if they make them anymore.

Goldstalker
Explorer
Explorer
Look into these.

http://www.crossroadsrv.com/sunset-trail/super-lite/floorplans/travel-trailers/item/st240bh

http://www.cruiserrv.com/shadow-cruiser/s_260bhs/specifications.html
2007 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4X4 3.73
2013 CrossRoads Sunset Trail Super Lite 250RB
2-2012 Yamaha VX Deluxe
2012 Toyota Highlander

Elite130
Explorer
Explorer
We have a GulfStream AmeriLite 25BH. It has a 25' box, 27.5ft ball to bumper, has the rear bunks, sofa, and front queen. GVR is 7200lbs, but weighs in loaded (clothes, water, battery, propane, etc) at 5100lbs. Tongue weight is right around 600lbs +/- though.

Proteus
Explorer
Explorer
The Lance looks good, with one problem. We saw one at a show, and the bathroom was unusable, as there was no shoulder room. No way to close the door while in use, even for kids.

Jetta03
Explorer
Explorer
We've been eyeing the Lance 2185 as our next camper. 25 feet (and change) bumper to hitch, 3 bunks, slideout, seems close to what you are looking for.

APT
Explorer
Explorer
The diesel has lots of torque. That hitch rating will be your issue. 600-ish pounds loaded means about 400 pounds dry. something under 4k dry/400 pounds dry TW would be good. KZ Spree Escape and Sportsmen have a few models. Rockwood Mini-lite 2306, Lance 2185, although I hear the loaded TW is more like 750 pounds.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2x 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV (Gray and Black Twins)

LukeS
Explorer
Explorer
To be honest Mike the 50# not really sure what it means. I guess I should look it up all I know is the girls liked the Bunks. Or they enjoyed hiding from the parents. Have we met somewhere sure sounds like it.

wapitichaser
Explorer
Explorer
I have a Northtrail FX235 with triple bunk and queen bed for my family of five. Each kid has their own bunk and we do not have to make the dinette into a bed. The FX235 is 23.5 feet long minus the tongue, so it is right at 26.5 feet total length. We boondock in the high country of colorado all year long and spend about 45 days a year camping.

mike_t
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 27' and also looked at this.Good price if you go through Camping World.
JMO
Sorry link did not work. Call camping world and ask the about a Pioneer 25' bunk. You will like the 27' more however. We did.

Luke. The 5 is just wonderful isn't It ;o)

pnwsnow
Explorer
Explorer
We bought a Skyline Eco Camp 21bh. We looked at the Alumilite too, but the tongue weight was heavier than we wanted. The bunk beds are longer than average. Also we love the enclosed shower. The dry yellow tag weight is 3400 lbs. It is narrower 7.5 feet instead of 8 feet wide, making it better to tow with a mid sized SUV. Less wind drag. It measures just shy of 25 feet from tip to tail. The 2012 models were sold as Skyline Koala's.

LukeS
Explorer
Explorer
Just went out for three days with a 2013 Heartland 2650BH and pulled very nice with my Suburban 1500 set up for towing. It is taller than my previous trailer but has a nice floor plan. 4 kids and two adults and eveyone was happy. Big test was running in traffic and the hills through La Canada 210 and the 14, and pulled fine. A few things I would have designed different or added but that is with any trailer.

Now I run as light as possible drain the tanks and eliminate unnecessary weight and each person has their bag etc. The only real issue was the roads terrible in LA county.

Deer_Camp_RVer
Explorer
Explorer
I am also looking at the 209BH!! Take a look at it in person. We really like it. it is basic with nice extras. LED interior lights, etc. You can use the money you save to get some upgrades, like Maxx Fans, power jacks, and BBQ.
2004 Chevy Silverado
Looking for a TT

jimbo98
Explorer
Explorer
We have a 2010 Jayco Jayflight 19BH. It has a bunk over a double size bed in rear area and a couch and dinette that convert to beds. So it actually sleeps 7. It was about 4000lbs dry. We didnt want to go with hybrid beds because of bears in Yosemite and New Mexico mountains. We bought it thru RV Direct and had a good experience with the purchase and pickup.
2008 Itasca Navion 24J
245 watt solar panel w/Tristar 45 MPPT controller
2004 Toyota Tundra DC V8 4x4
2012 Mitsubishi I-MiEV SE