Buying 1st Travel Trailer

[EPauli]

Hi,

After years of tent camping we've finally decided that "Were too old for this SH#@"

Our tow vehicle will likely be a Ford Explorer or Chevy Traverse so we need something weighing around 3K.

We have our eyes on:

Coachmen Clipper 3K 17BH 2025 Clipper Travel Trailers 17BH Floorplan - Coachmen RV
or
Coachmen Clipper 3K 17FQ 2025 Clipper Travel Trailers 17FQ Floorplan - Coachmen RV

These seem to be decent entry level trailers.

Are there any better options out there that we aren't seeing?

Thanks

E & D

 

[tlmgcamp1]

Personally, a unit without a bathroom sink was an automatic "no" when I was shopping

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Both the Explorer & the Traverse have a 5000 lb max tow rating, so something like the ones you picked (4000 lb GVWR each) is about as big as you can tow. You need to allow for some other weight in/on the tow vehicle, so cannot expect to tow a trailer that actually weighs 5000 lbs. Maybe 4500 lbs tops.

As you say, those are "decent", or at least "typical", small, entry level trailers. Some might say that "decent" and "entry level" don't belong in the same sentence, but all the entries in this length/weight category are pretty much the same level of quality. There are a few high-end builders o f small trailers, but they get pricey in a hurry. Check out InTech as an example. What else have you looked at? Casita is a well respected small trailer maker. Oliver too. And FR RPod and Jayco have a variety of small trailers too. Do a lot of looking before you decide.

They key question becomes "how well does it suit your wants & needs". That's a tough question when you make the transition from tent to trailer because everything is so different than your experience. It's hard not to be dazzled by the Wow! factor.

 

[weighit]

We learned right away after buying a trailer we hated the bed that we were not able to at least walk along the sides. That trailer stayed with us exactly 2 trips and we sold it off and bought one with the bed we could live with. Everything is a trade off, and having to crawl over the other person was not going to work.

 

[SpencerPJ]

IMO, if you don't need the bunks, they are wasted space that gathers clutter.

 

[Firstime RVer]

I would definitely focus on the cargo carrying capacity and the North south bed (where you can walk on both sides). Both seem doable with the tow vehicle you describe. From what I see the explore 2025 would be my choice. Climbing over each other to get in and out of bed is no fun... I would suggest you check out some of the Keystone Aspen trail series. We love the layout of our Aspen trail 1900 RB. At 6600 lbs fully loaded it would be a bit much for what you are looking for.

Safe travels and all the best.

 

[Sunnyfalls]

If comfort, convenience and practically ranks higher than big and wow factor, perhaps look at a 17' 3500 pound molded fiberglass Casita trailer. The Casita LD model has king size north-south beds so you don't have crawl over your partner. Fiberglass trailers don’t fall apart/leak like all panel RVs, hold their financial value well and can be easily modified to meet your unique desires and needs. Google our below trailer name to see all of our many Casita trailer modifications if interested.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

IMO, if you don't need the bunks, they are wasted space that gathers clutter.

Welcome to The Forum!

Agreed. If you are not hauling around a kid or two, they are a total waste of space that could be used for more room for the bed or bathroom.
The second model you are thinking of is a pretty common layout for smaller TT that fit the bill for many first-time buyers.

Whatever model you choose, don't be surprised if you find yourself in the same position as WE wrote, looking to make a change after becoming more accustomed to RV'ing. Perhaps not after just 2 camping trips, but many first-time buyers do make a change within the first 2 years of ownership.

 

[EPauli]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[DutchmenSport]

Our second travel trailer had bunks (expecting grandkids to someday go camping with us). Well, by the time we had grandkids old enough to actually go camping with us, we were on our 3rd travel trailer with no bunks.

I cannot say the bunks were a waste of space. Actually, for us, they came in quite handy. We had limited outside storage, and the bunks were great for storing a lot of things, including lawn chairs and quick shade canopies, extra ice chests (for road traveling and sight seeing), pet supplies, and a bunch of other stuff. But, everything we stowed away on those bunks was stuff we actually used. So, for us, the bunks were not wasted space, nor were they "junk collectors" either.

Everyone uses their campers in a different way. And actually, what you "think" you want and need in your first camper may be completely wrong for you when you actually start using it. We had our first travel trailer only 18 months because the main bed was a corner bed. Crawling over each other to get in and out became a bit too much. But, in the show-room, it looked so cozy and cute! Looks can be deceiving. Actually using the camper will reveal what you really like and don't like.

By the time you purchase your 3rd trailer, you'll have "it" down pretty good. For some, it does take that long to figure out what actually works.

All you can do right now is find the floor plan, size, and design of the camper that you think meets your present needs and get it. Once it no longer serves your purpose, or it becomes uncomfortable, too small, to cramped, or simply missing something you wish you had in a camper and don't in your current one, THEN it's time to consider the second one.

One thing is probably 75% certain ... within 2-5 years, you'll be trading for something different. So ... keep an open mind.

 

[CharlesinGA]

The problem with a small trailer is that there is no room for wasted space. Being able to walk down the sides of a N-S bed may be nice, but in a tiny trailer is wasted space and you will find very few that have that feature (not saying you won't, just saying you will have to look long and hard to find one in a small <4500lb GVWR size.

It sounds as if you have not yet purchased a vehicle you will use to tow with (and I assume, a daily driver.) Quite frankly, a pickup truck such as an F-150 will provide extremely good fuel economy as a daily driver, and do a much better job of towing, and allow you to pick a larger trailer with a few more features.

An ideal trailer because of a low gross weight (3500lbs) and has a bath, bed, dinette, fridge, stove top, etc, and is only 7 ft wide (so you don't need tow mirrors) is the Escape 17, either the F2 or F3..... but, in that small size, you are getting and E-W bed.

The Casita Independence with twin beds gives you bed access with least wasted floor space and the beds make a dinette in the day.

In any case, a slightly larger tow vehicle will allow you to broaden your choice of trailers.

Charles