Need some travel trailer suggestions...

[The_Green_Malla]

My wife and I will be shopping for our first travel trailer (owned a pop up a few years ago, but that's it) and I need some suggestions for models, brands, options, size, etc.

It's just us two and I'm towing with a standard GMC Z-71 (not a heavy duty), so I don't need a really big trailer. I'm thinking something in the 15-20 foot range. I would like air conditioning, a queen size bed that is permanent (no having to fold down the dinette or couch), a dinette area and a bathroom with shower.

Looking for brands/models gets a bit overwhelming so I thought I would just ask here and see if I could get some ideas for where to start.

Also, what is everyone's opinion on buying new versus used?

Thanks in advance for the help. Also, if anyone wants to post some pics of their trailer that fits my above criteria, that would be great!

[wmoses]

The Green Mallard wrote:
Oh, and as for that Fall RV show in Indy...just happens to be the weekend I'm out of town. Imagine that!

Okay, then I suggest you wait for another one regardless of the disdtance away (within reason). This kind of investment is worth making sure you reach out and touch, crawl under and inspect, check out all the angles, etc, etc in addition to sifting the nuggets from the sundry opinions on these fora. There is a reaon there are so many configurations to choose from - it is a subjective choice. There is NO "best".

[d_eggman2]

CharlieWhiskey wrote:

d_eggman2 wrote:
We have a Coleman ct192rd bought it 2 years ago so far we love it.



http://coleman-rv.com/floorplan/CTS192RD

Thanks for your post on the Coleman. That's one I haven't looked into. I'll check it out. The three water tanks are very large. Do you travel with them full, or near full? If so do they affect the trailer's behaviour on the road?

I do fill the fresh water tank at home when we are going camping without water hook ups. To be honest I think it pulls better with the tank full than empty.
Good luck.

[The_Green_Malla]

A HUGE thank you to everyone for the input!! I greatly appreciate it! Your replies gave me a lot to think about as well as a lot of models to start looking at.

I guess I should have mentioned in my original thread that our budget will be in the $14,000-$15,000 range. And there are two reasons I am looking at campers in the 20 foot or less size. First, that's about how big of a camper I can fit in my barn. Anything bigger will need to be kept outside or kept in storage somewhere else. Second, we will use our camper for trips up to our land in the UP of Michigan mostly. Our land is wooded and the space I have to set up and turnaround the camper is not really sufficient to a bigger size trailer. Of course, I could clear some more woods out, but I would rather not quite yet.

Thanks again for all the info. This is great.

Oh, and as for that Fall RV show in Indy...just happens to be the weekend I'm out of town. Imagine that! I've heard nothing but good things about Walnut Ridge near New Castle and will definitely check them out.

[TomG2]

Heartland Prowler 18XL. Permanent bed, dinette, full bath, micro, furnace, 13.5K AC. Should be able to buy one new for around $12,000. New has the advantage of bumper to bumper warranty. I use trailers for camping and traveling, not for something to work on.

[Speedogomer]

If you're an experienced camper, and been around RVs for a while, there's no problem buying new. It's what I did.

However, you're just getting into RVs, used is the best bet. Buy somewhere local, a well maintained used unit. Chances are, after a season or 2 you'll really decide what you want in a TT.

[Bumpyroad]

CharlieWhiskey wrote:


I've surfed the web looking for details on the Travel Lite Cobblestone 18. Their U Tube videos glance over the accessories/amenities but don't address construction and specifications of the trailer. For this reason I'm leaning towards the Scamp 16. They have a very informative website with links to excellent U Tube videos on the Scamp.

years back I was looking at Scamp's and Casitas. the bathroom in the scamps were not as nice/convenient, etc. as those in the Casitas. in the Casita you had to get the roof air, not the lower one, to get a full length closet.
bumpy

[CharlieWhiskey]

d_eggman2 wrote:
We have a Coleman ct192rd bought it 2 years ago so far we love it.



http://coleman-rv.com/floorplan/CTS192RD

Thanks for your post on the Coleman. That's one I haven't looked into. I'll check it out. The three water tanks are very large. Do you travel with them full, or near full? If so do they affect the trailer's behaviour on the road?

[CharlieWhiskey]

jackquontee wrote:

CharlieWhiskey wrote:
I'm considering the....... Travel Lite Cobblestone 18'.

If you happen to find any information, particularly reviews, could you share that information on the board? I have been researching them ever since I saw a video posted on Youtube but, outside of finding For Sale links/ads, and the Travel Lite website, there doesn't seem much information on them. I'm particularly interested in the Cobblestone i18 myself but I can't even find specs indicating the tongue weight. So little information. I don't know if that should be a sign for concern, or not.

I've surfed the web looking for details on the Travel Lite Cobblestone 18. Their U Tube videos glance over the accessories/amenities but don't address construction and specifications of the trailer. For this reason I'm leaning towards the Scamp 16. They have a very informative website with links to excellent U Tube videos on the Scamp.

[d_eggman2]

We have a Coleman ct192rd bought it 2 years ago so far we love it.



http://coleman-rv.com/floorplan/CTS192RD

[Tvov]

donn0128 wrote:
Buy used it will save you a lot in depreciation. Besides the fact at this point you have no idea what you will be happy with.
Finding a 15 to 20 foot trailer with permanent bed is going to be next to impossible. Most that size are camping trailers. You might find something that fits your needs in a hybred.

Seems that I also do not know the difference between a "camping" trailer and a "travel" trailer.

Our 21 foot Travel Trailer has permanent beds in back... small upper bunk, double bed below it - but you can't walk around it. The dinette in ours is U-shaped, which gives us a large table to use, and then it drops down to a queen sized bed. Dropping the dinette is really not that big a deal, and it gives us a huge bed.

Make sure your bathroom is laid out well - I didn't realize until after a couple camping trips that our toilet does not have a lot of leg room. I had over looked that in the excitement of getting a new TT.

[Bumpyroad]

CharlieWhiskey wrote:
If you can afford an Airstream Bambi, Good Luck! I'm considering the 16' Scamp Deluxe which can be fitted with a permanent bed and dinette for 2, the Casita 18'

that reminds me I was considering a Casita, 16 ft IIRC, where the dinette could be made up as a bed and left that way and it had a small 2 person dinette also.
bumpy

[jackquontee]

CharlieWhiskey wrote:
I'm considering the....... Travel Lite Cobblestone 18'.

If you happen to find any information, particularly reviews, could you share that information on the board? I have been researching them ever since I saw a video posted on Youtube but, outside of finding For Sale links/ads, and the Travel Lite website, there doesn't seem much information on them. I'm particularly interested in the Cobblestone i18 myself but I can't even find specs indicating the tongue weight. So little information. I don't know if that should be a sign for concern, or not.

[Arizona_Kid]

Another vote for Lance.
The 1685 has a Queen bed, and over all length is 20'9".
1985, has a walk around Queen, and the length is 23'4".
Lance Trailers

[CharlieWhiskey]

I'm in the same situation as you, Green Mallard. Wife and I camped for years in a popup. Now on my own looking for a travel trailer. If you can afford an Airstream Bambi, Good Luck! I'm considering the 16' Scamp Deluxe which can be fitted with a permanent bed and dinette for 2, the Casita 18' and the Travel Lite Cobblestone 18'. The choices are overwhelming. For reasons unknown to me the TT's that seem to be promoted here in NJ are the "stick and staple" types that do not impress me. Please allow that I am new to the travel trailer market myself.