Need help finding first travel trailer

[Bigjewpapa]

Hello guys and gals first post here. I have always wanted to get a travel trailer and now that I finally have the funds IM READY !! I'm looking for something small that is easy to tow. 4 seasons , so we can travel to Utah and Colorado to snowboard. Also something that has a toilet and shower so we don't need a hotel. Also I'm looking for something that sleeps 4, so I can bring some friends

Only problem is there are so many brands and types that the research has gotten my head spinning lol

I went to camping world this weekend and some other RV sales places , but just don't know what to believe.

2017 starcraft ar one 15rb this is one they are selling for 11,968, and hopefully can be talked down. I like that it's brand new and comes with 2 year warranty. Bad news is most of the reviews are about how bad AC is.

http://www.scottsdalerv.com/m_vehicledetail.asp?pov=4644733

This is a jayco I went and saw got it down to 10,000, but also can't find much info on.

I also like the forest rpod but the one I was looking at was sold.


Please let me know what you recommend or if you have any knowledge to pass to me that I should know I'm looking to spend around 10,000-12000 .


PLEASE HELP

[jodiwer]

Also - just wondering why you want to buy from a dealership? We always buy from private parties and have saved A LOT. We've had to do a few repairs and upgrades but the cost still was less than buying from a dealer.

[jodiwer]

We have camped near ski resorts in a tent trailer and both of the hybrids we have had (still have one) many times. We've always been comfortable. We are typically boondockers, but not in zero degrees! It's the only time we hook up. We take electric blankets and down comforters. We run the heater all the time, even when we're on the slopes. We open the cabinet doors to keep water pipes from freezing. We use a hose heater for the connection from the rig to the water. We do this because we love the hybrids the rest of the year. Word of warning - if ice collects on the outside, don't knock it off. DH kicked one off and the black & grey water handles came with it!

[Bigjewpapa]

i have a 2008 dodge titan 4 door

[AJBert]

If you are interested in the AR-One from StarCraft, look at the Extreme models. They have a little more insulation but still have the windows. I have cut out Styrofoam to fit in all the windows, plus in the overhead vents (with a hole in the center for ventilation) and have done pretty well down into single digits. Even with that, the furnace will still use a fair amount of propane.

I don't use the tanks, toilet or shower at those temps, though. The water lines are all inside the trailer but my tanks are all below the floor, though the underside is sealed. You could always put tank heaters on the tanks but you'll use a lot of battery power keeping those tanks heater and running the furnace without an electrical hook up. Now you need to worry about keeping the battery topped off.

[tomkaren13]

How do you know a sales person is telling you what they think they can make you buy. = = Their lips are moving.!

First Item WE want to know - What is your Two Vehicle?? Then we can advise!

[bikendan]

First, you got to stop listening to salespeople, #1 newbie mistake.
Military grade is total BS!

Forget buying a hybrid for what you want to use it for. Two big holes with only canvas tents covering them, isn't going to retain heat very well.
And there are only a few true 4 season trailers made out there.

Then try to find campgrounds that will be open during ski season, near where you plan on snowboarding.
In California, you can find open campgrounds that are within a hour of ski resorts.

[Campfire_Time]

Military grade? What the heck does that mean?

[ScottG]

I would never tow in the snow on purpose. I'm sure people do it succesfully all the time but it's too dangerous for me.
If you want ot use it in the snow you might consider a truck camper. The do great in the snow even if you only have 2WD. (Used to have one)

[Bigjewpapa]

bikeNdan - i do understand that 2 of them are not hybrids but i thought i would post about all 3 because those are the ones i have looked at the hardest. Whats funny is the lady kept telling me the starcraft is military grade, its military grade, you wont get cold in winter. And she is suppose to be the expert at camping world.

Tvov - thank you for your input , you have definitely made me start searching in a different direction for a artic cat. YES there are facilities that we could use to shower and use the bathroom. I do understand it would make things alot easier , but this is also the reason i wanted a shower and toilet so i didnt have to go to far 🙂 . One thing i was wondering, another salesmen told me that with a 6 gallon tank you would only get 6 flushes. Is this true? then im guessing you could only take a 5 second shower lol? And sadly i do not know anyone who has done or tried this before.

ryanb - if memory serves me correctly , they did not have a great selecction , i was just thinking of going to the walmart parking lot they said that would be fine.

[ryanb-72]

If you have not already checked you may want to check on some of the campgrounds near the areas you want to stay at while snowboarding. It is not unusual for some campgrounds to close up during the winter.

Ryan

[Tvov]

There are a variety of things to think about with cold weather camping, but the biggest with a camper is water freezing. You want a bathroom and shower - that means you will have water on board and pipes filled with water. Water freezes in winter and bursts out of whatever is holding it. "4 season" campers are designed to avoid that, including using insulated/heated water tanks and pipes that run inside the camper to use camper heat to stay unfrozen.

Think about camping without using your own bathroom and shower. Can you use facilities at the mountain resorts you will be boarding at? That would make one part of winter camping much easier.

A 15 foot or smaller camper is going to get REALLY cozy with 4 adults. It certainly can be done, especially with good friends for weekend trips. As long as you don't do it for months at a time! lol

Do you know anyone who has done what you are thinking? Traveling in winter to different places for snowboarding? Ask them what their experience has been.

Also, towing on slippery roads can be rather exciting, to put it mildly. You may want to wait a day or two after snowstorms to let the roads get cleared and de-iced.

With some planning, it sounds like you might have one heck of a fun winter ahead of you!

[bikendan]

first, you posted this in the Hybrid forum.
only the Starcraft is a hybrid.
the Jayco and Rpod are NOT hybrids.

if you want to camp in cold weather, like going snowboarding, DON'T get a hybrid.
get a regular TT.\

but none of the three are appropriate for cold, snowy weather.

you need a 4 season TT and they aren't cheap, unless you can find a used one like an Arctic Fox.
i'm a snowboarder and i wouldn't take any of the three trailers for that.

you need to learn more about what a 4 season trailer is and a hybrid is definitely NOT a 4 season trailer.