Why 2 tent beds and not just one on all HTT's?

[sheripoms]

Hi everyone

We are so torn between getting a hybrid or just a regular TT. I wish they had some floor plans with just one tent and a inside queen bed.
It seems all the HTT's have 2 end tents. Is there a reason for that?
My perfect floor plan would be 1 tent and one inside queen bed and instead of the j couch it would be a lazy boy kick out couch.
Any body know of such a plan?

[bikendan]

sheripoms wrote:
Wow! Pathwacker I love that Northwood t22. That is the exact floor plan I love! I see that it is 26 feet. That will be too long for my TV. I have a 2008 Chevy Tahoe. Looking to keep the length 22 and under.
Also loooove the Coachman but once again to lengthy,, ughhh.

i doubt if you can find a regular TT with a walk-around queen bed that's 22' or shorter, let alone a hybrid.

[sheripoms]

Wow! Pathwacker I love that Northwood t22. That is the exact floor plan I love! I see that it is 26 feet. That will be too long for my TV. I have a 2008 Chevy Tahoe. Looking to keep the length 22 and under.
Also loooove the Coachman but once again to lengthy,, ughhh.

[dadmomh]

Agree....nice find! The only downside may be that it's pretty lengthy. Other than that appears to be exactly what the OP described.

Re ordering and asking for something to be omitted....sometime back, possibly on Hybrid Explorer, someone was trying to have something omitted and there was a charge NOT to put it in. Also, remember that the door into an RV is pretty narrow. My cousin and DH were going to replace the sofa in their TT and the only thing that would fit through the door was the LazyBoy that had the back that was removable and it was pretty $$$. Suggest you check carefully on that before you order.

[bikendan]

electrician549 wrote:
Here is one from Coachmen. I have seen them on Ebay but have not seen one in person yet.

http://www.coachmenrv.com/products/freedomexpressul.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=5460

NICE FIND! looks to be exactly what the OP is looking for.
have never seen this kind of hybrid floorplan, in the past 9 years i've been looking at hybrids and being a member of various hybrid forums for the same amount of time.

[electrician549]

Here is one from Coachmen. I have seen them on Ebay but have not seen one in person yet.

http://www.coachmenrv.com/products/freedomexpressul.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=5460

[PAThwacker]

North trail t22 tent exp. Had front bed,couch slide. Rear bunks. Downside front u dinette

[bud121156]

Nice rig Gerald.

[gheicher]

bud121156 wrote:
We looked at those new AR-ONEs when we were shopping. Liked them a lot, but ultimately bought an almost identical used KZ, mainly because it had the rooftop, and larger BTU, air conditioner.

I looked at the KZ but chose the "room" type AC unit since it is quieter and reduces outside height (The winter shelter for the camper is a bit low). I"m sure the larger BTU AC will do a better job of cooling, especially at the bunk end.

[bud121156]

We looked at those new AR-ONEs when we were shopping. Liked them a lot, but ultimately bought an almost identical used KZ, mainly because it had the rooftop, and larger BTU, air conditioner.

[gheicher]

My Starcraft AR-One 15RB with one fold-out.

[bud121156]

My 2011 KZ Sportsmen 16RBT only has one in the back. I have seen some of the same model with two....weird!

[atreis]

Mine only has one, and the floorplan is one that's generally easy to find.

[sheripoms]

Thanks so much for all the good ideas! I like the idea of ordering one and asking them not to install the couch. I will just put a lazy boy loveseat in that section.
Love the Roo 21 bh? Wish it had the full tub instead of shower.
I guess I'm just to picky ,, ughhh, But I really want this to be our home away from home.

[bikendan]

ChooChooMan74 wrote:
I have just one. I have a Roo 21BH.

the OP appears to want a walk-around "inside" queen bed, which your 21BH doesn't have.

hybrids became modeled after popups, as a step up in amenities but keeping the feel of a popup, which has two tent ends. that's why they call them "hybrids", a cross between a popup and a TT.

i think it's because manufacturers figure that if someone wants a walk-around regular queen bed, then they'll just buy a bunkhouse TT so the kids have someplace to sleep.
they used to make ones like the 21BH, which has one tent end but that one would have had the adult queen sleeping in the one tent end.

the only such beast i've ever seen, was a huge Dutchmen v-nosed trailer that had two small tent ends in the nose for kids and a walk-around queen in the back. it only was made for one year and then dropped.

a walk-around queen bed will eat up a lot of floorspace, thus having to make the trailer much longer to accommodate it.
this ruins one of key attractions of a hybrid: lots of sleeping space in a short and light package.

what you're looking for doesn't exist nor do i think it ever has. the only one tent end hybrids made now, are extremely small compact trailers.

bottom line: don't buy a hybrid if you don't LOVE the idea of sleeping under canvas. get a regular TT, maybe a bunkhouse if you need sleeping space for kids.
most hybrid owners are former popup owners and want to continue their love of "tent sleeping" but want more amenities.

many new hybrid owners only bought it for the amount of sleeping space in a small package and end up selling it a year later because they never considered the cons of the tent ends, which most hybrid owners are fine with because it's worth it just to sleep in those tent ends and the great openness they provide inside.

[Cotay]

sheripoms wrote:
Hi everyone

We are so torn between getting a hybrid or just a regular TT. I wish they had some floor plans with just one tent and a inside queen bed.
It seems all the HTT's have 2 end tents. Is there a reason for that?
My perfect floor plan would be 1 tent and one inside queen bed and instead of the j couch it would be a lazy boy kick out couch.
Any body know of such a plan?

I feel for you, it can be a very difficult decision. We went with an HTT (Aerolite 174es) last April and initially loved nearly everything about it. The biggest complaints we had with the unit were the lack of interior storage for our growing family, the cramped space, and the setup and take down times. We determined early that we would have liked a unit with a pop out dinette to allow more efficient foot traffic. Last 4th of July we went camping in 110 degree heat and we were all stuffed inside (reasonably cool, but packed!). Additionally, we found that with four small children we simply didn't like the amount of setup needed with the HTT. If we arrived late at a campground and the kids were exhausted, we had a heck of a time not waking the neighbors. Again, with tired kids, packing up was also a drag. After some difficult discussions, we decided to trade the HTT (at a significant loss) and we purchased an Outback Terrain 250TRS yesterday. It has the space and sleeping capacity we need, but also comes in under 28 feet to allow us to get into the parks we like. It's similar to the Jayco X213 with the rear pop out King bed. I'd also suggest the Roo 23RS which is even more similar to the Jayco. Here is a link to some pictures of one http://www.wanarv.com/rv/detail.cfm?id=659. You could also try an HTT like the Kodiak 216ES (pop out couch and dinette) and just leave one of the bunk ends up (reserved for friends, etc.).

Be very carful to evaluate your space needs (both in relation to the trailer, storage and personally). I still believe that HTTs represent a perfect family camping platform. Personally, the TT is better for us. I only wish I knew what I know now last April.

EDIT: I believe KZ makes some smaller single drop downs with additional interior sleeping arrangements. The Spree Escape E16BHT doesn't have an interior queen, but it does have twin bunks, a convertible dinette, and a tent end which comes in at 17 feet.