Travel Trailer For Family w/ 4 small kids

mamalisa08 wrote:

Tystevens wrote:

mamalisa08 wrote:
Thank you everybody. This is super helpful and we're just getting started on this journey so I have a lot of googling to do. ha ha. We haven't yet purchased the Suburban but that is our assumption, or it will be the Expedition EL that actually has a greater towing capacity with the turbo V6. (that sounds like an oxymoron to me but what do I know)

My husband has a Ram 1500 but it doesn't hold all of us! I drive a minivan. So our thought was to trade in the minivan for the TV and get the Suburban or Expedition. I really don't want to drive a minivan anyway. :) But then part of me says to upgrade my husband's truck to a 3500 that can hold 6 because the front will be a bench seat and then we have way more towing options. It's a lot to think through and research.

We're in a similar situation to you -- we have 4 kids age 10 down to 2. We have a basic 27' bunkhouse 3-bunk trailer that has been great for us (up until now). I really like having a bunk for each kid. Nice to let them have their own space, a place to put their bag, and no hassle of putting the dinette up and down. Really simplifies things for us. I say until now because the 2 yr old is ready for his own space, so we're shopping for a 4-bunk trailer now. Lots of options in the 5500-6000# range, I'm finding.

We have a Suburban 1500 and a 1/2 ton pickup. A properly equipped Suburban will tow many of the options out there. You have to make sure to check the right boxes or do your homework, though -- the 'basic' Suburban only tows about 5000 lbs. You need the right gear ratio, hd cooling equipment and all of that.

If you're looking at new TVs, I'd certainly recommend a long look at the Ford Expedition w/ the Ecoboost. My pickup has the ecoboost, and it tows exceptionally well; easily better than the Suburban. The low rpm torque really makes for an easy and hassle free tow. The Suburban gets the job done, but the Ecoboost feels like it is doing it a lot easier.

Re: 6-seat pickup, make sure that works for you. We take my pickup (seats 6) whenever I can talk my wife into it, because I prefer towing w/ the Ecoboost (see above), but it gets a little crowded for a longer trip. Make sure it is something that you are comfortable with.

Thanks, this is very similar to our situation. Our youngest is 1 and oldest is almost 7. We're trying to think about what our long term needs are although I know it's pretty common to upgrade/replace/whatever. Good point about the pickup seating...

With kids that young, you really have to be careful with the front middle seat in the pickup. Usually, you cannot turn off the air bags if there is an adult sitting in the front seat. I'm not sure the legalities of it all, but my wife has not been comfortable allowing our oldest to sit there until this year (he's only 10, but he is 5'2" and 90 lbs, so I've convinced her that he is the size of most 12 yr olds).

And then there are spacing issues! We can technically fit in the truck, but I have to admit, as much as I'd rather tow with the Ecoboost, the trip is usually much more comfortable in the Suburban.