Rant - looking for a travel trailer

[johnsoax]

I wish some manufacturer made the trailer I was looking for. I have 4 children, and I use a SUV to carry the family. And from all the threads I constantly see here, and on other sites, I'm not the only one looking.

Right now I use a popup to fit everyone and still be able to carry all the gear we need. And for the type of camping we do, it is annoying to have to setup and tear down every day as we travel to our destination. Then when we are at our destination, we have to do a smaller setup and tear down everyday to convert tables and couches to beds to fit everyone.

Someone should be able to design a trailer that will give me 3 or 4 individual beds for the kids and a larger bed for my wife and I while still letting us have our gear for less than 550 lbs of tongue weight.

My vehicle is a pretty typical SUV that has a 550lb tongue weight and a towing capacity of 7700. Once I put all the gear in a trailer, I can pull the weight, but everything that has a floor plan we can use has a tongue weight that requires a 2500 or 3500 truck to pull it, before the gear is even in the trailer.

Why can't someone make something for larger families that fits the smaller vehicles that most people drive nowadays.

I know there are Hybrid trailers. If I wanted to deal with tenting issues, I would stay with the popup.

We want to be able to have a nice base camp for destination camping and be able to stop at places on the way there to make lunch/use the bathroom/ and sleep in the camper without deploying everything (stealth road camping).

Airstream used to build something like this, but they have gone $$$ high end, and super heavy. I can find much older trailers that might work, if I could actually find one for sale...

Anyone have any ideas?

[westend]

I'm not interested in giving up the unique properties it gives me to tow a giant TT.

Heart of the matter...

[johnsoax]

colliehauler wrote:

johnsoax wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
Did you look at the Rockwood 2306 on ebay?

I did. It is a two bunk model just like the brand new ones that can be purchased.

I'm searching for the 3 bunk model that it appears they quit offering in 2013, but thanks.

If I see a 3 bunk model I will post.

Thanks!

[colliehauler]

johnsoax wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
Did you look at the Rockwood 2306 on ebay?

I did. It is a two bunk model just like the brand new ones that can be purchased.

I'm searching for the 3 bunk model that it appears they quit offering in 2013, but thanks.

If I see a 3 bunk model I will post.

[johnsoax]

SkiMore wrote:
How about this one?
canyoncat 17QBC

It is under your weight limit
bunk beds + dinette(converts to bed) + big bed
2 kids can share dinette or one sleeps on floor.



http://www.palominorv.com/productinfo.aspx?model=canyoncat&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4946&RV...

I wonder if they offer a third bunk option. Thanks!

[johnsoax]

SilverEscape wrote:
I realize you're not considering the Jayco X254, but in case it comes back into consideration, I'd hazard a guess that you won't be able to keep the tongue anywhere near 550# once loaded anyway. We bought the smaller X213 last summer and can't keep that tongue anywhere near that once loaded. We had to sell our SUV and buy a truck so we could tow it. Jayco's dry tongue weights seem out to lunch IMO.

Thanks for the note on that.. I'm finding some manufacturers over estimate tongue weight, but most seem to really underestimate it.

[SilverEscape]

I realize you're not considering the Jayco X254, but in case it comes back into consideration, I'd hazard a guess that you won't be able to keep the tongue anywhere near 550# once loaded anyway. We bought the smaller X213 last summer and can't keep that tongue anywhere near that once loaded. We had to sell our SUV and buy a truck so we could tow it. Jayco's dry tongue weights seem out to lunch IMO.

[SkiMore]

How about this one?
canyoncat 17QBC

It is under your weight limit
bunk beds + dinette(converts to bed) + big bed
2 kids can share dinette or one sleeps on floor.



http://www.palominorv.com/productinfo.aspx?model=canyoncat&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4946&RV...

[johnsoax]

I have a 300 HP 4.4L V8 in my LR3, and it has been the least expensive of all my vehicles to maintain. So, please, stop with the "get a bigger tow vehicle" suggestions, I'm not interested in giving up the unique properties it gives me to tow a giant TT.

[dodge_guy]

I think it's time to ditch the LR. It's just to little for what you are asking for and it being only a V-6 with 216HP is anemic just with the 6 of you onboard. It's obvious they don't offer what you want to match the LR's small weight ratings. And you'll be better off in the long run not having to maintain something as $$$$ and problematic as a LR!

Time to look for something more suitable for your needs. I know you say you don't need or want a new (er) vehicle, but I think and so do the rest of us, that you are out of choices and ideas for your current prospects! Time to move up to the big time!

[johnsoax]

djsamuel wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
What about this: 21bhs

I'll second this option. My wife and I have taken ours from Florida as far as Arizona and Utah and love it. We're towing with a Ram 1500 with the 4.7L V-8 and have no issues, including the mountains. We know people with the 21BHS and 21RBS that tow with Jeep Grand Cherokees and have no issues, even over long hauls.

I have an email into Livinlite about the options available on that model. I see they have a front bunk option, and I have enquired if you can put a third bunk in the back. Thanks.

[Stovepipe]

The cheapest solution in my opinion is to buy a used 3/4 ton van ($5,000-$7,000) and a used quad bunkhouse ($10,000-$12,000). The van would only be dedicated to towing, keep the other vehicles. This solves all of the practical problems and for less than $20,000.

[patperry2766]

Mulberry Harbours WWII

Totally unrelated to this exact topic, but follows the spirit of my post.

I watched a TV show yesterday regarding the invasion of Normandy. Because of the tides, they were unable to get the cargo ships close enough to the beach to unload cargo to support the troops during the invasion.

Winston Churchill requested that his engineers come up with a way to unload their ships from the safety of deeper waters. The engineers complained to him that it couldn't be done. He tersely replied that he wanted it done, period, end of story and the difficulties (details) would take care of themselves.

Knowing that failure was not an option, they devised a floating pier system with interlocking road sections that could tame the rough seas of the English Channel. These two harbors were significant in the unloading of men/materials to support the war effort and eventually helped lead to the overthrow of Hitler.

My point...don't take no for an answer and figure out a way to make it work.

[patperry2766]

johnsoax wrote:

patperry2766 wrote:
Quicksilver Toy hauler

Order this trailer with the optional tip-out bunk without the optional fold-up sofa bed.

part #960012

order two of these bed systems and mount them lengthwise on the opposite side of the trailer.

Relocate the battery & propane to the rear of the trailer for traveling.

You might get close to where you need to be this way provided you have enough distance from the entry door to the rear of the trailer.

That is certainly a creative option.. Thanks.

Necessity is the mother of invention and in your circumstances, I think a certain amount of creativity and improv are going to be required to meet your needs.

[djsamuel]

toedtoes wrote:
What about this: 21bhs

I'll second this option. My wife and I have taken ours from Florida as far as Arizona and Utah and love it. We're towing with a Ram 1500 with the 4.7L V-8 and have no issues, including the mountains. We know people with the 21BHS and 21RBS that tow with Jeep Grand Cherokees and have no issues, even over long hauls.

[johnsoax]

patperry2766 wrote:
Quicksilver Toy hauler

Order this trailer with the optional tip-out bunk without the optional fold-up sofa bed.

part #960012

order two of these bed systems and mount them lengthwise on the opposite side of the trailer.

Relocate the battery & propane to the rear of the trailer for traveling.

You might get close to where you need to be this way provided you have enough distance from the entry door to the rear of the trailer.

That is certainly a creative option.. Thanks.