Seeking th perfect Couples Trailer - just me and my wife ...

[cwmoser]

I'm trying to find the perfect "Couples Trailer" for just me and
my wife. I'm 6'2" but can deal with a short mattress if necessary. We are first timers but have been looking and asking lots of questions. Just haven't found anything that jumps up and tells me to pull the trigger.


These are some things I think I want:
- Queen-size bed - Murphy be nice, prefer North/South bed
- Full bathroom - not a wet bath - separate toilet and shower (wife demands this)
- Under 4,000 lbs - towing with my 2002 Lexus LX470 SUV, 6,000lb tow capacity
- Prefer 7' to 7.5' wide so I can see the rear more easily.
- When not in use, it will be parked outside in driveway - no shelter - water, sun deterioration?


Some Travel Trailers on my short list so far:
- R-Pod 180 - 2800lbs 19’ Slide, dry bath
- Lance 1685 – 4032lbs, 21’ x8’ Slide dual-axle
- Lance 1575 – 2915lbs 20’ single axlefold out arm shower Front window, power jack. Slide
- Apex Nano 191RBS – 3315 lbs, N/S bed, 7.5’ wide, 22’ long, Slide
- Starcraft Launch Mini 17QB – Queen Bed, 3,000lbs, 21.5’L, 7’W
- Rockwood Mini Lite 1905 – 3127lbs, 20’ long, 8’wide single axle

Love to dump the dineete table and replace with a Sofa.
Don't want to overtax my SUV.

My questions are:
- Of these Travel trailers, what is your opinion as to function and quality?
- Got any better suggestions?

Thanks -- Carl

[IdaD]

SoundGuy wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
You don't need electricity to make coffee out camping. We bought a French press coffee maker. All you have to do is heat up some water in a pan on the stove, once boiling just pour it into the press. The press won't keep it warm so we pour the coffee into insulated mugs.

Of course, but that has nothing to do with the real issue at hand - i.e. the fact that many wives just aren't interested in camping in an RV without shore power, and although dry camping aficionados will argue the point ad nauseam it won't change this reality in any way. :R My wife happens to be one of them - as long as I make sure the fresh water holding tank is well supplied and any grey / black that needs to be off loaded is taken care of by me she could care less BUT she doesn't want to hear about not having shore power available. :M Whether I like it or not my reality is we're going to be camping on an electric site if at all possible ... and for those few occasions when we may lose that power (for whatever reason) I've installed a 1000 watt PSW inverter that at least allows us to continue making coffee and toast just as we normally would. She can still use her hair dryer and I can run a couple of fans ... about the only thing I can't run is A/C but hey, it is what it is. :W As has oft been said, if she's not happy you can be sure you won't be either. :E The OP has declared a definite preference for camping on electric sites and as a married man myself I know precisely where he's coming from. Will that ever change? ... could, but I wouldn't necessarily count on it. :W That Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS the OP has expressed interest in is a perfect solution for the type of camping the OP indicates he's likely going to be doing ... I should know 'cause WE have one. :B

That's all your fault. My wife wasn't a camper growing up, so it was all new to her when we started dating back in college. Always start her in a cold leaky tent and if she enjoys that, anything else is an improvement. She was in 7th heaven when we bought a pop up. I have used hookups a few times starting in our fifth wheel but those were on non-camping family vacations, so it hasn't ruined her. Actually it was funny this summer we did an overnight in an RV park on our way down to LA for a family vacation and we told the kids were were camping that night. My three year old daughter got legitimately mad at us when we parked because there were so many people around when she thought we were going camping. :B

[huachuca]

Nothing at all wrong with 'resort' camping; the important thing is to get out and do whatever you enjoy. When you get your camper, if you want to try a more 'rustic' experience, drop me a PM. We'd welcome having you folks join us for a weekend in the mountains or on the Outer Banks - your choice. Your missus can talk to mine before we go. And I promise, if you're with us, there will be coffee EVERY morning.

This retirement thing is great and there is so very much to see and do in this great Country of ours. Get out there and have some fun!

Al

[SoundGuy]

goducks10 wrote:
You don't need electricity to make coffee out camping. We bought a French press coffee maker. All you have to do is heat up some water in a pan on the stove, once boiling just pour it into the press. The press won't keep it warm so we pour the coffee into insulated mugs.

Of course, but that has nothing to do with the real issue at hand - i.e. the fact that many wives just aren't interested in camping in an RV without shore power, and although dry camping aficionados will argue the point ad nauseam it won't change this reality in any way. :R My wife happens to be one of them - as long as I make sure the fresh water holding tank is well supplied and any grey / black that needs to be off loaded is taken care of by me she could care less BUT she doesn't want to hear about not having shore power available. :M Whether I like it or not my reality is we're going to be camping on an electric site if at all possible ... and for those few occasions when we may lose that power (for whatever reason) I've installed a 1000 watt PSW inverter that at least allows us to continue making coffee and toast just as we normally would. She can still use her hair dryer and I can run a couple of fans ... about the only thing I can't run is A/C but hey, it is what it is. :W As has oft been said, if she's not happy you can be sure you won't be either. :E The OP has declared a definite preference for camping on electric sites and as a married man myself I know precisely where he's coming from. Will that ever change? ... could, but I wouldn't necessarily count on it. :W That Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS the OP has expressed interest in is a perfect solution for the type of camping the OP indicates he's likely going to be doing ... I should know 'cause WE have one. :B

[goducks10]

cwmoser wrote:

huachuca wrote:
What type of camping do you think you'll be doing? We camp year round mostly on public lands without hookups so holding tank capacities, insulation, battery reserve, furnace, vent fan, LED lighting, awning etc are important to us. If you'll be staying where WSE are available, these are obviously much less critical.

FWIW, we've found we spend very little time in our camper and, if we're in the campground, we're outside under the awning or in our screen room in inclement weather. The stove has been used only a few times for coffee and I don't even know if the microwave works. We did have a. custom mattress made for the bed and it's as good or better than what we have at home.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Al

Al, primary interest in Camping is currently "resort-like" campgrounds.
We might venture into more primitive camping - I'm open to explore
but wifey is a little reluctant. Maybe as we learn more we will
be more adventurous.

If camping means being without my morning Coffee, it ain't for me 🙂

We have been mostly homebodies most of our lives and going to the
Beach, visiting relatives, or Disney World has been about all the
exploring we have done. Now that we are retired, I'm thinking we
need to find out if we have been missing a lot in life.

You don't need electricity to make coffee out camping. We bought a French press coffee maker. All you have to do is heat up some water in a pan on the stove, once boiling just pour it into the press. The press won't keep it warm so we pour the coffee into insulated mugs.

I guess we're opposite of you we tend to stay away from the resort RV parks. We like dry camping or even staying at State parks that offer elec and water with some having sewer. Don't get me wrong we still hit a few RV parks during the season. RV parks tend to be more of a base camp. State parks and forest service campgrounds tend to put you in the center of the action. At least where we're located.
Either way it's all good.

[ppine]

It sound like you know what you want. I would strongly encourage you to stay with the lighter units, say around 3,200 pounds or less. You tow vehicle will be much happier which makes for easier travelling. The newer RVs have aluminum frames and fiberglass shells saving a lot of weight. The tradeoffs with lighter units are no big deal if it is just the two of you.

[SoundGuy]

cwmoser wrote:
We have been mostly homebodies most of our lives and going to the Beach, visiting relatives, or Disney World has been about all the exploring we have done. Now that we are retired, I'm thinking we need to find out if we have been missing a lot in life.

Since investing in a new travel trailer seems to be more of an "interesting idea" to you, apparently without the benefit of any previous first hand experience, you might want to consider first renting an RV of some description, perhaps a Class B or C motorhome (to keep the process as simple as possible) so you can familiarize yourselves with this "sport". Who knows, you may love it :B ... or once you experience reality you may be really disappointed 😞 ... this is something only you can determine for yourselves. You certainly don't want to discover after you've made a sizable investment in a new trailer that this just isn't something you're cut out for. :E

[drsteve]

If camping means being without my morning Coffee, it ain't for me 🙂

Campgrounds would be empty if that were the case.

A good way to get a taste of boondocking is to spend a single night in a hookup-less location, then head for a more civilized campground to recharge batteries, dump tanks, etc. Some people enjoy the quiet and privacy of a more primitive experience, while others (my DW) prefer flush toilets, shower houses, and people watching.

[cwmoser]

huachuca wrote:
What type of camping do you think you'll be doing? We camp year round mostly on public lands without hookups so holding tank capacities, insulation, battery reserve, furnace, vent fan, LED lighting, awning etc are important to us. If you'll be staying where WSE are available, these are obviously much less critical.

FWIW, we've found we spend very little time in our camper and, if we're in the campground, we're outside under the awning or in our screen room in inclement weather. The stove has been used only a few times for coffee and I don't even know if the microwave works. We did have a. custom mattress made for the bed and it's as good or better than what we have at home.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Al

Al, primary interest in Camping is currently "resort-like" campgrounds.
We might venture into more primitive camping - I'm open to explore
but wifey is a little reluctant. Maybe as we learn more we will
be more adventurous.

If camping means being without my morning Coffee, it ain't for me 🙂

We have been mostly homebodies most of our lives and going to the
Beach, visiting relatives, or Disney World has been about all the
exploring we have done. Now that we are retired, I'm thinking we
need to find out if we have been missing a lot in life.

[huachuca]

What type of camping do you think you'll be doing? We camp year round mostly on public lands without hookups so holding tank capacities, insulation, battery reserve, furnace, vent fan, LED lighting, awning etc are important to us. If you'll be staying where WSE are available, these are obviously much less critical.

FWIW, we've found we spend very little time in our camper and, if we're in the campground, we're outside under the awning or in our screen room in inclement weather. The stove has been used only a few times for coffee and I don't even know if the microwave works. We did have a. custom mattress made for the bed and it's as good or better than what we have at home.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Al

[cwmoser]

Oh no, have not left the building.
Have enjoyed conversing with you guys and have learned a lot.
I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions once I purchase a Travel Trailer
and do hope you all don't mind if I bother you some more.

I have browsed through that huge thread on this forum where folks
post pictures of their trailers and tow vehicles and for those
with SUV's I did some googling on their weight and tow specs.
Some folks there look like they are towing trailers three times
the length of their tow vehicle.

Maybe sometime in the near future I'll get the chance to meet some
of you at some camp sites. If you see a black Lexus SUV with an
old gray hair fool and a blonde wifey, it just might be me -- give
me a howdy, or maybe a finger - in jest I hope 🙂

[SoundGuy]

Last Train wrote:
Well, after all the flurry of information and discussion, it looks like you've had a happy landing. That Lexus ought to do fine - given your axle ratio and the transmission cooler - as a tow vehicle for the 192 RBS (or similar if you find what strikes your fancy).

I predict that you will be posting here about some fun adventures ...

Perhaps. With 18 pages of discussion, 6500+ views, but nothing recently but crickets from the OP it would seem that he, like Elvis, has left the building. :W

[Last_Train]

cwmoser wrote:
Now that is some encouraging information.
Thanks.
Not sure why the 4.3:1 axle makes it a good tow vehicle but I like.

I'm assuming I will need to tow with the Over Drive OFF.
I've already wired in a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller.
My Lexus LX470 does have a big Transmission Cooler located forward of the radiator.

Well, after all the flurry of information and discussion, it looks like you've had a happy landing. That Lexus ought to do fine - given your axle ratio and the transmission cooler - as a tow vehicle for the 192 RBS (or similar if you find what strikes your fancy).

I predict that you will be posting here about some fun adventures . . . let us know when you pull the trigger and are ready to set out. Will you be able to hit the road during the last bit of Fall? Don't know your camping season expectations/limitations in your part of NC but hope you can go.

[SoundGuy]

cwmoser wrote:
Went to this calculator which calculates Engine RPM based on tire diameter,
Axle Ratio, and Transmission Ratio ...

http://www.crawlpedia.com/rpm_gear_calculator.htm

... and find that with Over Drive OFF at 3,400 RPMs that vehicle speed is
just over 68 mph.

With OD ON, the same RPMs should be 2559 - 840 higher RPMs with OD OFF. 33% more Engine RPMs, so I assume 33% less MPG. I typically
get 14-15 MPG - so I should expect approx 10MPG towing.

I'll have to take my LX470 out and verify that 3,400 is at 68 with OD off.

You're overthinking this. First, you won't want to be towing at 68 mph, especially with a vehicle with such a short wheelbase, even with properly sized and adjusted weight distribution system. If that's your "usual" highway speed forget about when towing, it's just too fast. Secondly, you can't "calculate" in advance what your fuel mileage returns will be when towing a barn door down the highway as there are so many influencing factors such as head wind, side winds, upgrades, passing trucks, slippery road conditions, and all those combined. Most typically cite +/- 10 miles to the US gallon when towing any trailer that sticks up in the air ... under favourable conditions I typically averaged ~ 10.5 mpg towing our previous 5500 lb, 25' Spree, these days I typically average ~ 12 mpg towing our 4500 lb 19' Coachmen. Smaller vehicles like yours, with engines spinning at higher speeds, are likely to be at the lower end of the fuel mileage scale, meaning if you see an average 10 mpg count yourself lucky. You might also want to check your owner's manual as I recall that although my friend's 4.7L Sequoia would run on regular it did far better running premium, particularly when towing ... yours may be the same. As oft has been said, if you're concerned about the cost of fuel then RVing isn't a sport you should get involved in. :W

[SoundGuy]

cwmoser wrote:
I read a lot that one should tow with Over Drive OFF - and 3-rd gear ratio in my LX470 is 1.000

I have little doubt you'd be towing in 3rd with OD off and your 4.7L V8 coupled to a 4.30 axle will be spinning pretty high at 60 mph ... no worries, that's what it's designed to do. 🙂 In contrast, my 5.3L GM V8 runs ~ 2200 rpm in 3rd, my only choice when towing because in 4th it's only running ~ 1500 rpm which is way too slow when I'm dragging a barn door down the highway. Given a choice I'd rather be running a 3.73 axle so my engine would be running just a bit higher at the same speed but it is what it is and does well enough under most circumstances ... significant upgrades though do force me to manually downshift to 2nd so the engine can spin closer to 3000 rpm and thereby manage to maintain sufficient road speed.

As you have surmised tire diameter does play a role as well but rare would be the case when an owner would swap out the tires / wheels for a new set with a smaller diameter if they weren't otherwise required. In my case I could have my ubiquitous 3.42 GM axle replaced with a 3.73 but for me it's just not worth the cost. If I were replacing my current truck I'd certainly be looking to another GM 1/2 ton but with the narrow ratio 6 spd transmission coupled to at least a 3.42 axle or if possible a 3.73.

I wouldn't overthink this too much ... now that we know your Lexus is equipped with a 4.30 axle I'd have every confidence you'd be satisfied with how the vehicle tows a 192RBS or some other trailer similar in size. If in doubt find a dealer that will agree to a test tow and put your mind at rest ... but in the meantime go weigh your Lexus as described earlier so you then have accurate information to plug into that towing weight calculator. 🙂

[cwmoser]

Delving into the 4:3 axle issue, I noted this.
My LX470 develops 320 lbs-ft torque @ 3,400 RPMs.
I'm not sure but I assume the Engine develops its maximum torque at this RPM.
I read a lot that one should tow with Over Drive OFF - and 3-rd gear ratio in
my LX470 is 1.000

I found a website that shows my 275/16 R70 tires are 31.157" -- BUT, I
measured them and they are actually 29" in diameter.

Went to this calculator which calculates Engine RPM based on tire diameter,
Axle Ratio, and Transmission Ratio ...

http://www.crawlpedia.com/rpm_gear_calculator.htm

... and find that with Over Drive OFF at 3,400 RPMs that vehicle speed is
just over 68 mph.

With OD ON, the same RPMs should be 2559 - 840 higher RPMs with OD OFF. 33% more Engine RPMs, so I assume 33% less MPG. I typically
get 14-15 MPG - so I should expect approx 10MPG towing.

I'll have to take my LX470 out and verify that 3,400 is at 68 with OD off.

Is this the reason for the towing performance of the 4:3 axle?