Some of you may remember me. Quick recap. Lost my job nearly three years ago and bought a van and old travel trailer to live in until I got my esop check, where we would buy newer stuff and go full-time. That time is almost here. Between four and six months, we'll be hitting the road.
After tons of research, we're STILL not sure what to get. While the Esop is kinda substantial, we want to make the most of it that we can, assuring us a pleasent stay on the road. So... until recently we were going with getting a class a motorhome, and towing a jeep rubicon with us. In the new mindset to save money and guarantee longer stay on the road (we want to make it at least 15 years), we've been considering a larger travel trailer and a good truck instead.
My question is, I know a lot of you have fivers, but for some reason, we don't really like them, and they are far more expensive than we want to pay. We found some class a's that were still relatively new and quite cheap. Travel trailers are the cheapest, from what we've found. So... back to the question. Are any of you living in a travel trailer full-time? Pros and Cons? And what kind of truck are you using? I hope it doesn't have to be a super expensive dually. So you know, we have NO plans of being in cold weather, so it's not imperative that our rig is full time capable.
Thanks in advance.
nightsky said
07:48 PM Feb 10, 2013
I'm not actually living in a TT right now, but plan to be again in the future. I have a 2012 KZ Sportsmen 30' TT, very nice looking camper with a huge slide. I lived in it all last summer, moving from TN to MN to SD and back to TN again. Along the way I decided it is far bigger than I wanted or needed to be dragging around the country, and loaded it is very close to the limit of my truck's towing ability. I spent most of the summer checking out other travel trailers and toy haulers (I want to take my motorcycle with me), studying floor plans etc. Many if not most do not have an enclosed underbelly, and I may be in areas where colder weather is possible. None had a floor plan that really wowed me, so I started looking at buying an older camper and redoing it to suit my needs and tastes. My truck wouldn't haul a 5er, and I don't care for the steps inside (really bad knees and ankle).
The travel trailer I finally bought is a total wreck, a 1970 ALTI caboose TT that was parked at the lake and used as a cabin for 40 years. You can see it on my blog. Hopefully it's making it home to TN next week. This will be a total frame-up restoration, including a new frame! lol I currently have a 2004 Tundra that I will tow it with, depending on the final weight. I may have to get a larger truck if it comes in much more than 5000 pounds when it's done. The Caboose was about 5000 pounds off the factory floor, and it's built like a brick compared to most of the newer ones. (A new 20' TT would weigh 2-3000 pounds)
For me, hoping to stay with my current (paid for) truck, a slide pretty much boosted the weight too much so I was only searching for non-slide units or else just a shallow slide, 18" or so. There was one TT I really liked, can't remember the make or model now, but it had a Murphy bed in the front with the couch beneath it. With the bed folded up there was a lot of living space to move around, really seemed to open it up with the couch sideways and facing the kitchen/dining area instead of everything being lined up along the walls. I also like some of the TT that utilized the space over the tongue, either the bathroom or kitchen was positioned there, nice use of space that otherwise was wasted. Vibe was the brand I looked at, build quality seemed pretty good, but weight went up accordingly.
It really depends on your personal style and space needs. Visit as many dealers as you can, and spend lots of time checking the trailers out. Sit around, go through the motions of cooking, eating, dressing, showering etc and see if it seems like a good fit. Is there enough kitchen cupboard space? Enough closet space for clothing? Large enough basement/storage options for less often used items? If it has a slide, can you still access the kitchen/bathroom/bedroom if the slide is in and is that important to you?
Necro said
08:02 PM Feb 10, 2013
Thanks. We were supposed to go to the RV show in Bloomsburg this weekend, but we got hit with too much snow to make that trip. Another one is coming to Norristown soon, so we'll prolly hit that one. While we were work camping a few seasons back, we looked at everything we could. First we wanted a tt, then a fiver, then a class A, now a TT again. Because of gas, economically i think the TT will be the way we go. We won't be getting a Jeep Rubicon though, and that was a major item that we wanted. Their max towing is 4g's, and we won't be getting anything that small, unfortunately. We have too many toys to bring with us, so we need at least a thirty footer, i'm thinking.
I'm just so glad that it's almost here. Decided to do this four years ago, and have been waiting ever since for the financial aspect to arrive. Now that it's almost here, I can't believe how STILL confused we are. I don't think anyone has spent as much time on this as we have. I've read this forum, through and through, and most of all your blogs as well, as well as many facebook pages. Every time we think of one new issue or kink, it's like we're starting from scratch.
nightsky said
08:25 PM Feb 10, 2013
I debated many different types of "homes" as well. I do have an older 28' Class C as well, but don't want to have to pull a trailer for the bike behind it, and it's just to big and ungainly for sight-seeing and grocery runs once I arrive at a destination. (Plus the mileage sucks, 6mpg if I've got a tailwind on a flat piece of road lol) Same with a Class A, I don't want to pull anything else behind it. For me it came down to a toy hauler or a TT, and the caboose will function as both. The bike will ride on the platform on the back, and for me as a single the 20' interior will be plenty large enough. I basically didn't use the last 6' of the KZ this summer, that would be the swivel rockers and the jackknife sofa. If I was inside I was usually at the table with the computer. The jackknife sofa in most of the TT's I checked out should be licensed as a torture device, not a seating option! lol. My grandkids slept on it fine, (ages 5 and under) but it is too short for an adult to sleep comfortably. I toyed with the idea of tearing it out and building a desk/office, but that seemed kid of silly with a brand new camper that would still be bigger than I wanted to be hauling.
Terry and Jo said
12:49 AM Feb 11, 2013
Ken,
Welcome back.
You are already getting some good advice, especially with regards to spending time in an RV and visualizing the common day to day things one does. It can really be surprising what we discover when we look at things other than just the "fit and finish" of interior cabinets and appliances. Try to imagine what it is that you will definitely want to take along and see if there is enough storage for all of it. Keep in mind that a travel trailer will have less outside storage (and maybe inside as well) than some of the other RV options.
As for trucks, once you find a trailer you like and determine what that trailer will weigh with all of your stuff and appliances, then one wants to start looking for at truck that will tow that trailer's weight safely. Safely means being able to stop easily and handle the trailer even in side winds.
Side winds on a travel trailer are more of a factor than they are on a fifth wheel. Especially if you go as big as a 30' trailer you will definitely want a weight equalizing hitch and an anti-sway bar system.
In our past, we had a Ford F250 which would safely handle the 26-foot travel trailer and 26-foot fifth wheel that we had. Ours was a gasoline model and the wife commented that it seemed like that truck was working hard all the time to tow the trailers. If you trailer goes beyond the range of the capability of a Ford F250 or GM or Dodge 2500 series truck, you may have to look at a F350/3500 series truck to safely handle your trailer. Many of us like to say that one can never have too much truck, but it is easy to get too much trailer.
I don't know much about the GM and Dodge 3500 series trucks, but the Ford F350 can be had in a single rear wheel configuration if you really don't want a dually. Now, with all that said, a dually is a lot more stable towing and handling than a SRW configuration is, especially on windy days.
Good luck with your research and planning.
Terry
NWescapee said
07:24 PM Feb 11, 2013
Ken, We're in the process of upgrading from a Toyota Tundra with the canopy cover and 29 ft Windriver TT to a Ford F450 and DRV Mobile Suites. For 2-4 weeks on the road, the TT was fine, plenty of space for both of us and our Tazzy Kat. We've taken at least 15 trips in the rig over the past 3 years, ranging from 4 days to 30 days. For that duration, the TT was fine. For full timing we honestly didn't feel like we had enough room.
We will both be taking our careers on the road with us and while mine entails sitting in front of a computer all day so relatively minor amounts of room and space needed, Dale's art show business adding 1000 LB of weight in the truck by the time we have all the items loaded for the canopy, tent weights, shelves, glass display cases, etc.
When combining vacation with our art shows we found we were overloaded from a weight perspective, especially on the rear axles of the truck. Now, I'm sure some of that weight was due to the fact that we had our bicycles, our campfire on demand, our generator, etc. that we don't always have on every trip, but again, all stuff we needed (or wanted) for full timing. We participated in the weighing option that Howard and Linda offered at the September RV Dreams Rally and were surprised that we were that far overweight. Of course, that was the last day of a 30 day trip that had included mountain pass crossings in both the Sierras and the Cascades, now we know why our brakes were smoking as we descended Tioga Pass on the descent from the west side of Yosemite.
Terry mentioned wind and gave some good advice. Towing through the Columbia River Gorge right after we first bought the trailer we realized that we needed 2 anti-sway bars, one was not enough. We've noticed that when it's really windy we tend to slow down more than the trucks with 5th wheels or the MHs.
Items we felt weren't large enough for full timing included the refridgerator and freezer, too small, especially if we wanted to go at least a week without grocery shopping. Tank capacity lasted only about 5 days before we were needing to find fresh water, and that was when we were being really conservative with water usage. Not enough closet space unless you truly will not need any cold weather clothes or even many extra layers for the cold evenings at higher elevations. And this was with a TT that we had chosen very carefully after studying lots of options a few years ago. I can tell you that this one had more inside storage than almost any other unit we looked at in the 28-30 foot range.
So, we're in the process of upgrading the rig as we are getting the house painted and getting rid of stuff, hoping to get the house on the market and be on the road full time by summer.
Hope this helps, understand the budget issue. Our Toyota was paid for, the TT was almost paid for and here we go upgrading. But, with the sale of our house we'll end up debt free and the 5v'er gives us the storage and space we felt like we needed.
kb0zke said
03:08 AM Feb 18, 2013
Ken, travel trailers aren't as popular as 5'ers for full-time use because they are generally somewhat smaller. For example, the largest Airstream is a 34' triple axle coach, and they are somewhat rare. There is plenty of room inside for living, but storage space for the "outside" stuff is lacking. If you use a pickup as a tow vehicle you can put the stuff there, but then whatever you don't leave sitting out at your campsite has to ride around with you to the grocery store, laundromat, etc. Travel trailers generally don't have any provisions for washer/dryer, either. That may or may not be important to you.
Some of you may remember me. Quick recap. Lost my job nearly three years ago and bought a van and old travel trailer to live in until I got my esop check, where we would buy newer stuff and go full-time. That time is almost here. Between four and six months, we'll be hitting the road.
After tons of research, we're STILL not sure what to get. While the Esop is kinda substantial, we want to make the most of it that we can, assuring us a pleasent stay on the road. So... until recently we were going with getting a class a motorhome, and towing a jeep rubicon with us. In the new mindset to save money and guarantee longer stay on the road (we want to make it at least 15 years), we've been considering a larger travel trailer and a good truck instead.
My question is, I know a lot of you have fivers, but for some reason, we don't really like them, and they are far more expensive than we want to pay. We found some class a's that were still relatively new and quite cheap. Travel trailers are the cheapest, from what we've found. So... back to the question. Are any of you living in a travel trailer full-time? Pros and Cons? And what kind of truck are you using? I hope it doesn't have to be a super expensive dually. So you know, we have NO plans of being in cold weather, so it's not imperative that our rig is full time capable.
Thanks in advance.
The travel trailer I finally bought is a total wreck, a 1970 ALTI caboose TT that was parked at the lake and used as a cabin for 40 years. You can see it on my blog. Hopefully it's making it home to TN next week. This will be a total frame-up restoration, including a new frame! lol I currently have a 2004 Tundra that I will tow it with, depending on the final weight. I may have to get a larger truck if it comes in much more than 5000 pounds when it's done. The Caboose was about 5000 pounds off the factory floor, and it's built like a brick compared to most of the newer ones. (A new 20' TT would weigh 2-3000 pounds)
For me, hoping to stay with my current (paid for) truck, a slide pretty much boosted the weight too much so I was only searching for non-slide units or else just a shallow slide, 18" or so. There was one TT I really liked, can't remember the make or model now, but it had a Murphy bed in the front with the couch beneath it. With the bed folded up there was a lot of living space to move around, really seemed to open it up with the couch sideways and facing the kitchen/dining area instead of everything being lined up along the walls. I also like some of the TT that utilized the space over the tongue, either the bathroom or kitchen was positioned there, nice use of space that otherwise was wasted. Vibe was the brand I looked at, build quality seemed pretty good, but weight went up accordingly.
It really depends on your personal style and space needs. Visit as many dealers as you can, and spend lots of time checking the trailers out. Sit around, go through the motions of cooking, eating, dressing, showering etc and see if it seems like a good fit. Is there enough kitchen cupboard space? Enough closet space for clothing? Large enough basement/storage options for less often used items? If it has a slide, can you still access the kitchen/bathroom/bedroom if the slide is in and is that important to you?
I'm just so glad that it's almost here. Decided to do this four years ago, and have been waiting ever since for the financial aspect to arrive. Now that it's almost here, I can't believe how STILL confused we are. I don't think anyone has spent as much time on this as we have. I've read this forum, through and through, and most of all your blogs as well, as well as many facebook pages. Every time we think of one new issue or kink, it's like we're starting from scratch.
Ken,
Welcome back.
You are already getting some good advice, especially with regards to spending time in an RV and visualizing the common day to day things one does. It can really be surprising what we discover when we look at things other than just the "fit and finish" of interior cabinets and appliances. Try to imagine what it is that you will definitely want to take along and see if there is enough storage for all of it. Keep in mind that a travel trailer will have less outside storage (and maybe inside as well) than some of the other RV options.
As for trucks, once you find a trailer you like and determine what that trailer will weigh with all of your stuff and appliances, then one wants to start looking for at truck that will tow that trailer's weight safely. Safely means being able to stop easily and handle the trailer even in side winds.
Side winds on a travel trailer are more of a factor than they are on a fifth wheel. Especially if you go as big as a 30' trailer you will definitely want a weight equalizing hitch and an anti-sway bar system.
In our past, we had a Ford F250 which would safely handle the 26-foot travel trailer and 26-foot fifth wheel that we had. Ours was a gasoline model and the wife commented that it seemed like that truck was working hard all the time to tow the trailers. If you trailer goes beyond the range of the capability of a Ford F250 or GM or Dodge 2500 series truck, you may have to look at a F350/3500 series truck to safely handle your trailer. Many of us like to say that one can never have too much truck, but it is easy to get too much trailer.
I don't know much about the GM and Dodge 3500 series trucks, but the Ford F350 can be had in a single rear wheel configuration if you really don't want a dually. Now, with all that said, a dually is a lot more stable towing and handling than a SRW configuration is, especially on windy days.
Good luck with your research and planning.
Terry
We're in the process of upgrading from a Toyota Tundra with the canopy cover and 29 ft Windriver TT to a Ford F450 and DRV Mobile Suites. For 2-4 weeks on the road, the TT was fine, plenty of space for both of us and our Tazzy Kat. We've taken at least 15 trips in the rig over the past 3 years, ranging from 4 days to 30 days. For that duration, the TT was fine. For full timing we honestly didn't feel like we had enough room.
We will both be taking our careers on the road with us and while mine entails sitting in front of a computer all day so relatively minor amounts of room and space needed, Dale's art show business adding 1000 LB of weight in the truck by the time we have all the items loaded for the canopy, tent weights, shelves, glass display cases, etc.
When combining vacation with our art shows we found we were overloaded from a weight perspective, especially on the rear axles of the truck. Now, I'm sure some of that weight was due to the fact that we had our bicycles, our campfire on demand, our generator, etc. that we don't always have on every trip, but again, all stuff we needed (or wanted) for full timing. We participated in the weighing option that Howard and Linda offered at the September RV Dreams Rally and were surprised that we were that far overweight. Of course, that was the last day of a 30 day trip that had included mountain pass crossings in both the Sierras and the Cascades, now we know why our brakes were smoking as we descended Tioga Pass on the descent from the west side of Yosemite.
Terry mentioned wind and gave some good advice. Towing through the Columbia River Gorge right after we first bought the trailer we realized that we needed 2 anti-sway bars, one was not enough. We've noticed that when it's really windy we tend to slow down more than the trucks with 5th wheels or the MHs.
Items we felt weren't large enough for full timing included the refridgerator and freezer, too small, especially if we wanted to go at least a week without grocery shopping. Tank capacity lasted only about 5 days before we were needing to find fresh water, and that was when we were being really conservative with water usage. Not enough closet space unless you truly will not need any cold weather clothes or even many extra layers for the cold evenings at higher elevations. And this was with a TT that we had chosen very carefully after studying lots of options a few years ago. I can tell you that this one had more inside storage than almost any other unit we looked at in the 28-30 foot range.
So, we're in the process of upgrading the rig as we are getting the house painted and getting rid of stuff, hoping to get the house on the market and be on the road full time by summer.
Hope this helps, understand the budget issue. Our Toyota was paid for, the TT was almost paid for and here we go upgrading. But, with the sale of our house we'll end up debt free and the 5v'er gives us the storage and space we felt like we needed.