platbr wrote:
My wife and I are in the process of selling our Class C and want to go back to a Travel Trailer. Our prior TT was an Airstream Bambi 19 (before the Class C) but with only one bed, we outgrew the trailer. Our tow vehicle is a Ford F-150 with the tow package, aux trans cooler, etc, which is rated (fwiw) at 11,100 lbs. We regularly tow our 23' Malibu which is 7,000 including trailer.
In any event, we are looking at bunkhouse trailers for us and two kids. I'm really concerned with quality, and want a TT that will last, not leak, etc., but have a hard time telling which manufacturers are better or worse, and when it's worth spending the extra dollar.
So we are considering a range starting with smaller, e.g., Kodiak Cub 175BH and the Micro Winnie 1700BH. Both have beds for four, which don't require making up or taking down. That's probably the smallest I'd want to go; I like the Kodiak for its simplicity, and the finish seems decent. Both are super light at ~3500 dry weight, and super cheap (~$16-18k).
On the other end of the spectrum is a trailer we shouldn't even have looked at, the Grand Design Imagine 2400BH, which the family loves. Of course, it's huge inside and at 5,500 dry its going to weigh less than our Malibu. But it's a big trailer, and I have some worries about towing such a large trailer with our little F-150. A bit more money, too.
In the middle (unfortunately couldn't see this one this weekend because American RV in Portland was closed four days in a row) is the Livin Lite Camplite 21BH. Seems like good construction, although probably more expensive than the above options.
So how do you decide?!? How do you "test drive" a trailer before buying to see if the size is right for you? Any thoughts on these options and our tow vehicle?
Id think your truck would be fine with the Imagine 2400BH or the larger 2800. More important is how much payload is left to handle the tongue weight after the truck is loaded with passengers. That available tongue weight will dictate how heavy of a trailer you can tow.
Check the yellow sticker on the driver door jamb then subtract the weight of the family members and anything else that will be loaded like bikes, firewood etc. That will be how much tongue weight you can handle.
FWIW we have a '17 Shadow Cruiser 240BHS. it's a common floor plan that weve had a for year. Now we regret not going bigger so that we'd have a dedicated sofa to sit on when we're stuck inside for extended periods of time.
